Before we even begin our study on politics and the Christian, we must first understand our role as a Christian. First, as Christians, are we allowed to (and more to the point, should we) indulge in politics? There’s nothing wrong with following politics and keeping informed of our political process. But politics, like many other indulgences in life, can be absorbing and easily get us off track. We must re-acclimate to the Christian perspective. Then we can remind ourselves that the election, and politics in general, is a distraction. For some, it becomes an obsession. For the Christian, it should be neutral.
It isn’t my aim to choose a side, a candidate, or even discuss issues. We could put two names at the head of a column and write all of the stances and compare which candidate is following Christian values. Or not. The truth is, politics is a muddled business. If we do the chart, then we’ll see Christian values on both sides mixed with wildly unchristian ones. So we can’t begin our study there either, because issues are as transient as the candidates themselves.
We have to root our study in the truth and remind ourselves that God has a plan, purpose, and a structure as how we are to view authority. We find God’s plan at various points in scripture, but for our study we’ll begin in 1 Samuel 12, which is Samuel’s farewell speech to Israel.
Before moving into scripture, let me remind you of the situation. Samuel was dedicated to the temple at a very young age. He was brought up well by a not-so-well priest (Eli) and became a prophet of God. Scripture tells us that his words never fell to the ground, showing us that Samuel was a true prophet of God. This is important in the larger story of Samuel, as he is also considered the last of the Judges.
If you remember the Judges, they were a squirrelly bunch of guys who intermittently ruled Israel for about 350 years. God used a 4-part process in dealing with Israel’s sinful ways.
1. Israel would mess up and start following the Baals and Asheroths 2. Israel would be oppressed (as judgment) for their sin by an outside force 3. After a time, Israel would cry out for forgiveness 4. God would send them a judge
This process seems random, but this was the natural order that God instituted for the Israelites. Samuel, being the last of the Judges, rose up and ruled Israel well. In fact, Samuel got all of Israel together and there was peace and prosperity. But Samuel got old. In that, Israel began to wonder who was going to lead them after Samuel. They came up with the idea of implementing a king. Samuel feels rejected by this, but doesn’t react. He goes straight to God with it. God reveals to him that what Israel is doing is wrong, but He will allow it. He tells Samuel to warn Israel before he goes, and that’s where the lesson begins. We need to go to the book of Samuel, chapter 12:
2 The Lord sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, “There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, 3 but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him. 4 “Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him.” 5 David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die!
This passage tells us a few important things. First, Samuel reminds the Israelites that he was a good leader. This may sound egotistical, but there is a purpose behind it. Samuel gets the Israelites behind him by reminding them that God’s rule is the proper rule. Since the Israelites agree to Samuel’s question of if he is a good leader, he shows them that under his rule (he is the last judge) that the original order of God is actually the proper rule to follow.
He also reminds the Israelites that God is a witness against them. This is important because Israel doesn’t relinquish their demand for a king but accept God’s judgment.
6 He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.” 7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8 I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. 9 Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10 Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’ 11 “This is what the Lord says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight.
Samuel then gives Israel a history lesson. He reminds the nation that God appointed leaders to lead Israel in their time of need. This is important because inside the history lesson we learn that God has always bailed out Israel. He notes the rule of the Judges and this is important because God’s original hierarchy of authority was to send a Judge when Israel lost its way. By asking for a king, the Israelites have gone against trusting God and are trusting in themselves.
12 You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’” 13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. 14 But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for[a] the Lord, the son born to you will die.” 15 After Nathan had gone home, the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill. 16 David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying in sackcloth[b] on the ground. 17 The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them.
We learn that Israel’s reason for asking for a king was because they feared a new king rising. They forgot that God was their king. But we learn an important lesson about the nature of God here: God allows the change. God allows his structure to be changed based on the whim of the Israelites. Why: Free will. But the foundational truth is still there: The king must follow God and the people follow the king. When those things happen, then God’s blessing will be upon them. And to further prove that his words are in alignment with God’s, Samuel performs a miracle a rain and wind.
18 On the seventh day the child died. David’s attendants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, “While the child was still living, he wouldn’t listen to us when we spoke to him. How can we now tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate.” 19 David noticed that his attendants were whispering among themselves, and he realized the child was dead. “Is the child dead?” he asked. “Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.” 20 Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate. 21 His attendants asked him, “Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!” 22 He answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ 23 But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.” 24 Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and made love to her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The Lord loved him; 25 and because the Lord loved him, he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah.
The last part of this section is very important because we again see the merciful nature of God in action. The Israelites have done a great evil - they have not trusted God- even though they have every reason to. But God does not punish them, banish them, or send down lightning bolts. God allows them this deviation and forgives them. Samuel says “you have done an evil thing,” and the evil thing is not trusting in God. But he also tells them “serve the Lord with all your heart and turn away from evil.” This truth reminds us that God, in his mercy, is based in love and not judgment. It also shows us that God’s will is still done despite the mechanisms of man.
VOTING FOR A LEADER A LEADER (ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE) MUST HAVE : 1. Fear God (Deuteronomy 17:19) 2. Guided by word of God (Deuteronomy 17:18-20) 3. Wisdom A. Understanding B. Handles matters with sound discretion and judgment 4. Righteous in his judgment (Deuteronomy 1:16-17) A. Fairness for all and going to God with that you cannot judge 5. Impartial (Deuteronomy 1:17) A. Equal concern for rich, poor, can execute justice without respect to race, gender, etc. 6. Truthful (Matthew 5:37) 7. Hate Covetness (Deuteronomy 17:17) 8. Free from the love of money (Deuteronomy 17:17) 9. Faithful in marriage (Deuteronomy 17:17) 10. Tested in leadership capacity (Deuteronomy 1:15) Pray for wisdom and pray for our leaders
Once we realize that God is in charge, has a plan, and will appoint those who will exact His will, we have to understand a nuance about voting. If God is in charge, and will appoint who He desires, what good is our voice in it?
One of the great things about a political election is that it gives us a chance to connect with God and ask Him which way we should vote. Ultimately, the choice is His, but our own personal choice is very important as well. We should pray about our vote and however the answer comes, have conviction for it and vote with a clear conscience.
The bible also outlines traits of a good and Godly leader. I included that too in the packet. We can go to the book of Deuteronomy and see that the Bible has outlined what is desired of the king. On top of the list is to fear God. You’ll see many points on this list that either confirm or deny a candidate you may have in mind, so it is important to go to God with your vote and be fully convinced of it.