The subject of the Bible Reading outline, by Alex Joyce in the January magazine is, “The Political World”. In the February Forum, David Oliver answers the question, “How involved should a believer be in the political process?” The very vocal response to two recent Bible readings on this subject surprised us, and made us realize that we take for granted that basic truth is well known.
The very active work of “The Christian Coalition” in the 1996 presidential election has also brought this subject to the fore. Well known evangelicals have said, “We are yielding to evil and neglecting our moral obligation if we don’t join the struggle to improve the world.” This is a very persuasive argument.
Sincere efforts to reclaim America for Christ should be looked at with fairness. Because God is Sovereign, we cannot deny that He can use whatever means He chooses to restrain lawlessness (2 Thess 2:7). Particularly, we thank God for all who make the winning Of souls their chief priority. Paul said, “Christ is preached and I therein do rejoice” (Phil 1:18), and this was even when the motive was wrong. How much more should we rejoice when the motive is right?
We are as powerless to change the moral climate as we are to change the weather. The world will not be made better by human efforts to Christianize society. The Lord taught, “As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man” (Luke 17:26). Paul wrote, “In the last days perilous times shall come …. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (2 Tim 3:1, 13). This is inevitable, but should we not try to stem the tide? What if we expend our energies in a work that is not God’s plan?
What is God’s plan for this age? This is the age of the church, a called out people. This agrees with Acts 15:14, “God at the first did visit the Gentiles (nations), to take out of them a people for his name” (Acts 15:14). How different this is from attempting to improve the nations!
We cannot improve society, but the Grace of God teaches us that “we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:12-13). The rapture teaches us that every human effort will end in chaos, and only when the King of Righteousness sits upon His own throne can there be a “better world”.
Our obligation is to warn sinners of the coming wrath and point them to the uplifted Saviour so they will be saved from the ruin that will envelope the nations. We cannot improve society, but parents must protect their own children and object to amoral or immoral principles taught in public schools. When these objections have failed, there is the legal option of home schooling.
Should we join in protests at abortion clinics? Are these people doing God’s work? Let the Lord answer, “If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews” (John 18:36).
