Stop Using Jesus and Scripture to Justify Your Political Idolatry

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men”.-Acts 5:29

I remember hearing the grandson of an elder at a church I served in (this was long ago) say “My grandparents would vote for Satan Himself if there was a [D] next to his name.” I remember responding “Sadly, too many would do the same if an [R] was next to his name.” I was thinking about that this morning. We lose our minds during political seasons, sometimes hating people who should be brothers and sisters, demonizing politicians and their supporters because, even in the church, we’ve given political ideology a place of prominence. Now, I want to say off the bat, Jesus isn’t against politicians, or people going in to politics! Christians need to be everywhere, in every arena representing Christ! HOWEVER, Christians do not need to be deceived by people who use Jesus and the Scriptures to sate their political mind.

I’m going to say this outright, and if it offends, so be it: Jesus would not violate the scriptures. Scriptures do not affirm unscriptural marriages or living arrangements, and man and woman were made in the image of God. I see people using Jesus to justify their lifestyles, but they either are ignorant of what said, or they pick and choose things to quote. Jesus Himself affirms this:

“Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 5and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” Matthew 19:4-6

Jesus affirmed marriage, and humanity, as defined by God. This is not a political issue, but one of God’s sovereignty!

I see people quoting the Old Testament about the foreigners among the people of Israel. I will not give a political opinion, but go to the Word of God concerning this. The Stranger and Sojourner, according to the Law of Moses would be required to live according to the laws of the land, not break it, or bring their own laws (God was all about protecting Israel’s adherence to the Law, keeping it free from any influence but His own):“If a stranger shall sojourn with you and would keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised. Then he may come near and keep it; he shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you.” Exodus 12:48-49

This was written not only concerning the PASSOVER, but also the Law of the Land that God was to give Israel. Those who were living in Israel must stick to God’s laws in the boundaries He would set in Numbers 34. God affirmed, again and again, Israel was to keep the Law, that they were a people set apart to Himself, and they were not to let outside influence lead to rebellion and idolatry (Deuteronomy 7:6; 26:18–19; Leviticus 20:26).  This isn’t a political issue, it’s a matter of God’s sovereignty! 

On the other side of the issue, concerning the foreigner residing in Israel, God also said they were to be well treated (quoting gotquestions.org* ):“While the Bible supports the concept of national borders, it also calls believers to act compassionately toward foreigners and immigrants. The Lord commanded Israel, “When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt” (Leviticus 19:33–34; see also Leviticus 19:10; 23:22; Deuteronomy 10:19; 14:29; Zechariah 7:10).”

This is not an issue of national security, it’s an issue of Biblical integrity supporting God’s sovereignty! I could go on and on with issue after issue, but the fact is this: misquoting Scripture to support your political ideology and hate your neighbor is idolatry. Many of us hold the Party Line, and so support whatever issue it supports, regardless of what Scripture says, and Scripture is used as a weapon to beat down anyone in our Christian brotherhood to shut down an argument. When it all comes down to it, the Government is not my savior, Jesus is. The Government does not give me new life, Jesus does, and it’s not the Government’s job to care for my neighbor, according to Jesus, it’s mine.

Loved ones, as Christians we should do our civic duty. Vote. But do so, not according to our political leanings or feelings, but according to God’s word, testing every issue and candidate on the ballot against God’s Word. God’s word is fixed, His will is all important, and His word is what leads us to knowing His will. Don’t be tossed about by every wind of doctrine, or everyone who makes a convincing argument. Test what is said by the word, and lay aside your feelings on the matter. I stand on God’s word above all else. I will not shy away from it, and I will seek God’s word in all things, even in politically charged seasons such as this. It’s not about Conservatives or Liberals, Libertarians or Leftists, Republicans or Democrats. I don’t want to be right with man. In all things, Christ is King.

Matthew 22:17-21

Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar's.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.”

1 Timothy 2:1-7

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Titus 3:1-11Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

Romans 13:1-7

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

*you can find the article here: https://www.gotquestions.org/should-a-country-have-borders.html