Guest Column: Responsibility to GOD and country

We are living in some strange times. The wickedness of mankind is forever on display and is gaining ground in the culture war taking place in this country. The Bible tells us we are in a battle for righteousness, godliness and the souls of men. We are standing against the fiery darts of Satan, the snares hidden in our pathway and the wiles of the wicked one. It is likened to a battle, a wrestling match, to determine who will be victorious and who will be defeated.

Ephesians 6:10-13 says: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

As Christians we are to put on the armor of God so as to be able to stand against the attacks of Satan. The Bible likens it to a time of wrestling, a time when one seeks to put his knee on the back of the neck of the other and be declared victorious. Our fight against Satan is to be a progressive battle and not a regressive surrender.

Jesus declared that the gates of Hell will not prevail against His church. It is not a matter of if we fight, but a matter of we will fight. It is not a matter of whether or not to stand and be counted for the war, but a matter of standing and fighting and enduring all the way to victory.

One of the difficulties facing those in the church is in determining just what part our world and its politics are to play in the lives of God’s people, the church of God and the message preached. Better, however, is to ask what part the church is to play in the world and its politics.

We have those who declare separation of church and state, and then those whose sole message seems to be political in nature on either end of the spectrum. We have those who believe that Christians have no business in politics and yet others who fight every political cause that comes along.

In both cases, Bible truth is used and verses supporting those truths are utilized. So, it is my intent to present some basic principles I have used to determine my own level of involvement.

The first passage of Scripture is Ephesians 5:18-6:9. In this passage we are admonished to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The filling of the Spirit is speaking about the Spirit of God filling all areas of our life: us surrendering all areas of our life to Him and allowing Him to have control of them. Being filled affects us inwardly, upwardly and outwardly.

Then we have presented three relationships which are affected by the Spirit of God: the husband/wife relationship, the parent/child relationship, and the employer/employee relationship. These are examples of how being filled affects our relationships. The truth is you cannot be right in your earthly relationships without being right with God. Nor can you be right with God without being right in these earthly relationships.

The premise is this: your walk with God, your relationship with God requires that you be the best husband/wife, the best parent/child, the best employer/employee you can be. It requires that you fulfill all the responsibilities associated with them. To be less or do less is to violate the commands and purposes of God.

We are to be Christian first, then whatever second. I am to be a Christian husband, Christian father and Christian employee. I am also a Christian American citizen. My Christianity demands that I fulfill my responsibilities and obligations in all areas of my life.

The second passage contains a command of Jesus. Matthew 22:16-21 says, “And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.”

When approached about the subject of tribute to Caesar, Jesus gave His classic instructions, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s. What He instructed was for them to render to God His things. But the same command that instructs them to render to God also instructs them to render to Caesar.

As a Christian I am to be the best citizen I can possibly be. As a Christian it is my responsibility to render to our country what is owed it as a Christian citizen of this country. It is God’s will that I be a law-bidding, patriotic, citizen and to see to it that things are done in this country in honor of God. I owe it to both God and my country.

The third concept found in Scripture is Romans 13:1-6: “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.”

The political systems are ordained of God. They are to be treated as such by the Christians, as is expected of them by God. Why would we think it would be God’s will for God’s people to have nothing to do with God’s institution? If it is ordained of God, then God desires His people to be involved, for only then does it have any chance of doing right.

I go through these principles to come to this point. I owe it to God and to my country to be involved in this God ordained business. It is true that wicked people are in high places, but only because we have relinquished those places to the wicked. In order for me to be right with God, I must do my part as a patriotic American and stand and demand righteousness. I must vote it, promote it and encourage it. I must get involved in it as much as I can in relation to my walk with God. Therefore, I will vote, I will get involved in the culture war as a Christian in obedience to God. Politics must not be allowed to run the church neither the church remain silent, or uninvolved, in the government of our country. We are God’s witnesses and are commanded to do our part as Christian Americans.

Therefore, I come to this conclusion. As a Christian I will get involved in all I can, while remaining true to God and His Word. I will be involved so as to represent our Lord in whatever place God puts me. I will vote as a Christian, work as a Christian, get involved as a Christian, for I am a Christian, Patriotic American.

Dr. Randy Raynes is senior pastor at Mansfield Fellowship Baptist and has authored several books including: “Pastoring the Small Church,” and “The Man of God’s Choosing.”