Theology 101 No. 23

In weeks past we have been taking a look at the Christian Doctrine of Vocation. Today we turn our attention to vocation as Christian citizens. This a topic that causes a certain amount of discomfort for people. The old adage is that you don’t talk about religion and politics in polite company and you certainly don’t mix the two! We also live in a time when Christians are accused of “forcing their religious views” upon others when they stand firm on moral issues. We have fallen prey to a false notion of the “separation of Church and state” as promoted by groups like the ACLU. We also find ourselves susceptible to threats against our “tax-exempt” status if we dare mix the two. Fear, ignorance, and misunderstanding have lead to our churches and our individual Christian voices being silenced on important moral and Biblical issues. As we look at the Doctrine of Vocation as it applies to the Christian citizen some of these myths concerning what can or cannot be said and what is a social/political issue versus what is a religious/moral issue will hopefully be made clear.

Before we get to what our duty as a Christian citizen is, we must first understand what government’s God-given role is and what obligations our political leaders have to our God in heaven. Of primary importance is that we understand that God instituted and ordained government. Whether the members of that government (democracy, dictatorship or otherwise) recognize it or not, they are subject God. They do not have any right to rule contrary to God’s will nor do they have the right to demand that you as the citizen act contrary to God’s commands. Government was instituted by God to administer justice and establish peace, to protect the innocent, and when necessary, bear the sword to punish and deter evildoers. As such government is another one of those “mask of God” that we have heard about as we have studied vocation.

Government is a tool by which God accomplishes His purposes in the world. Just as God provides your daily bread through the farmer and the baker, He provides protection for you, the citizen, and punishment for the law-breaker through His agents in government. Sadly, and as a result of our sinful world, the imperfect individuals who make up our government do not always carry out their God-given duties toward their fellow man. Those in government can and do establish laws and practices that are contrary to God’s revealed will. This is where the vocation of those who govern meets the vocation of those who are governed. As Christians citizens we have the duty and the obligation to hold our government officials accountable for their governance, especially when it conflicts with God’s Word.

Herein lies part of the problem we have in our contemporary society: Even between church bodies we disagree as to what is a political issue and what is a religious issue. For example, the liberal National Council of Churches published in 2004 “Christian Principles in an Election Year.” In this publication they said their were “ten non-partisan, biblically based guidelines for voters in this election year. The ten areas they identified we: War, urban decay and poverty, foreign policy, economic justice, racial justice, environmental justice, immigration, health care, and criminal justice. Yet on the other end of the spectrum an editorial in a conservative Christian magazine outlined the following areas of concern: Religious freedom around the world, Middle East peace, expanding access to health care, fighting AIDS wisely, pro-life Supreme Court appointees and defending marriage – in that order. These are two very different lists with vastly different priorities. And you don’t have to be a “liberal” or “conservative” Christian to hold a view on any of the subjects from either of the lists. Not all these areas are, however, foundational to the Christian faith and there is room for us Christians to disagree on them without compromising our Vocation as Citizen or God’s Word.

God certainly speaks to some of the political issues of our day but in a way that gives us plenty of room for discussion. For example, God speaks of taxes. Jesus taught that we are to render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s. He does not, however, talk about tax structures, percentages, or the IRS. Therefore, Christians may debate in good conscience how much they think “Caesar” should be taking or not taking. Likewise the Bible speaks of salvation, but it does not say anything about how to save the Social Security system. So Christians may debate the pros and cons of privatization. Again, God speaks in His Word about caring for the elderly, but not about medicare. So again, Christians can debate in good conscience how best to help the elderly pay for prescriptions, medical care and the like. These are “social issues” that we should be concerned about, but at the same time we should be aware that God does not place a “thus says the Lord” on any of them.

There are, however, issues that face us as citizens that do not have any”wiggle” room for debate among those who call themselves Christians. There are topics that are not “social issues” but fall squarely into the realm of our Christian duty to speak for or against and even vote accordingly. God is pretty absolute when He tells us in His Word, “You shall not murder.” Abortion, Physician assisted suicide, fetal stem cell research, human cloning, euthanasia, and other like life issues are solidly in a moral area that is not debatable for you and me. Religiously speaking, you and I do not have the God-given authority to debate the pros and cons of rape or stealing or adultery. We wouldn’t even think of telling God that these things are right let alone a right! In the same way, abortion, cannot be a “right” when it is in God’s sight a fundamental wrong.

Understand that abortion is not a subject on par with a woman’s right to equal employment and equal pay. Abortion is just not on the same level as a tax cut. And as such it is not a “social issue.” Abortion as birth control is murder. It is the taking of an innocent human life; a life given and redeemed by God. Remember the principle of “render unto Caesar what is his?” There is second part to what Jesus said that is often overlooked. Jesus concluded His statement, His Command with, “and render unto God what is God’s.” Life is God’s. He created it. In man He made it something different; something special. He breathed into the nostrils of man and gave him life. Our very being bears the finger prints of our Creator.

But it goes beyond that: Not only is the substance of man sanctified by God, he is further sanctified by the flesh of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who left His heavenly throne to be conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary and became man – became flesh. And by the death of His flesh upon the cross, He redeemed fallen man and saved man from death and brings to him eternal life. Life is God’s. It is not man’s plaything to determine which innocent lives and which one dies. Life is not a political issue. It is a God issue. Remember the meaning to the Commandment, “You shall not murder”? What does this mean? “We should fear and love God so that we do not hurt or harm our neighbor in his body, but help and befriend him in every bodily need.” All life issues, especially abortion, is such a fundamental wrong; so violates the letter and the intent of this commandment, that Christian citizens cannot be in support of it. We do not, as citizens support politically, socially, financially, or otherwise movements within our society that violate the moral structure God has set up in His Word. Nor is silence and option.

We don’t, however, oppose whatever hot button issue is at the forefront of the news just for morality sake. We do it because our God has called us to be faithful to Him and His Word in all areas of our lives (“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” II Corinthians 10:4,5). We don’t stop being Christians just because we have left the church or entered a voting booth. Abortion, physician assisted suicide, fetal stem cell research, human cloning, Euthanasia, and yes even “gay marriage” are spiritual issues; God’s issues – not social or political issues. The Christian is to clearly delineate is his life God’s truth, but not as a mark of smug moral superiority. Rather we clearly enunciate that truth so that others can know what is right and what is wrong to Him Who is both God and Judge of all.

We must also be ready with the message of God’s forgiveness. That forgiveness is important for all repentant sinners. Not only as Christians should we stand against these spiritual problems of our day, but we should also stand ready to help those who struggle with past sins in these areas. Many women, for example, deal with feelings of guilt and even despair over their past “choices.” In our vocation as Christian we can offer them a message of repentance and forgiveness. We have a Lord and Savior who has borne the guilt of their sin and desires to bring to the repentant heart forgiveness, comfort, and peace. To this end, we Christian Citizens stand against the ways of the world not simply to be contrary, but to “let our light shine before men” so that all people might see and know Christ Who is our true Lord and King.