Christians and Politics

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Christiansand Politics
Kerby Anderson
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Dual Citizenship

• Philippians 320 - our citizenship is in
  heaven.
• John 1715-18 - we have been sent into the world,
  and thus have a citizenship here on earth.

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Government

• Every person is to be in subjection to the
  governing authorities. For there is no authority
  except from God, and those which exist are
  established by God.
• Romans 131

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Government

• The Bible teaches us that God established the
  forms of government that rule the nations of the
  earth.
• Ours is a government of the people and by the
  people, then that means God has put us in charge.

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Government

• Our first and most fundamental right is that of
  voting.
• We elect our own leaders who in turn are
  responsible for being our representatives in
  government.

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Government

• Render to all what is due them tax to whom tax
  is due custom to whom custom fear to whom fear
  honor to whom honor.
• Romans 137

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Government

• We have a civic responsibility to vote.
• We also have a civic duty to be involved in
  society (e.g., jury duty, contacting our
  legislators).

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Government

• Submit yourselves for the Lords sake to every
  human institution, whether to a king as the one
  in authority, or to governors as sent by him for
  the punishment of evildoers and the praise of
  those who do right.
• 1 Peter 213-14

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Government

• First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and
  prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on
  behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in
  authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and
  quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
• 1 Timothy 21-2

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Civic Duties

• Obey those in authority
• Pray for those in authority
• Vote for those in authority

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Pastors and Churches in American History
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Pastors Constitution

• Writers from the founding era quoted from the
  Bible 34 percent of the time.
• About three-fourths of all references to the
  Bible came from sermons from that era.

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Election Sermons

• Pastors would preach an election sermon to guide
  their congregation.
• Here is a sermon delivered before John Hancock
  and Samuel Adams.

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Sermons on Disasters

• In past centuries, pastors would preach sermons
  after a natural disaster.
• They would ask what is God trying to teach us
  through this fire, flood, or tornado.

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Preaching on Social Evils

• Pastors were in the forefront of preaching
  against social evils.
• Christians were involved in the abolition
  movement, suffrage movement, civil rights
  movement.

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Legal Issues

• Churches lost their legal right to address
  candidates and political issues in 1954.
• Lyndon Johnson inserted language into the IRS
  code that prohibited non-profits from endorsing
  or opposing candidates.
• Alliance Defense Fund has called for pastors to
  challenge this ruling on September 28 on Pulpit
  Freedom Sunday.

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Legal Issues

• CHURCHES MAY NOT
• Endorse or oppose a particular candidate.
• Contribute to or raise money for a candidate
  (including free use of church list).

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Legal Issues

• CHURCHES MAY
• Register their members as voters.
• Pass out voters guides.
• Invite all candidates in a race to speak.
• Speak DIRECTLY about specific issues and
  legislation (abortion, marriage, etc.).

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Stewardshipof the Vote
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The 2000 Election
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2000 Election

• Presidential election decided by 527 votes,
  change of 5381 votes in 4 states would have
  resulted in a 269-269 tie.
• Senate elections 50-50 tie.
• House elections a collective shift of 5493
  votes in five districts would have put Democrats
  in charge.

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The 2004 Election
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2004 Election

• Presidential election decided by the state of
  Ohio.
• George Bush won the states 20 electoral votes by
  50.8 of the vote.
• Marriage protection amendments passed in 13
  states.

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Christian Vote

• 59 million Christian voters.
• 15 million voted in the 2000 election.
• 19 million voted in the 2004 election.
• 24 million are not registered to vote.

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Voter Knowledge

• Congress has passed 260 laws (30-year low), which
  includes the naming of 74 post offices, July as
  National Watermelon Month.
• Only 9 percent in Rasmussen poll think lawmakers
  are doing a good job.
• Also found that 40 percent still think
  Republicans are in charge of Congress.
• 
  Time, Jul 17, 2008

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Getting InformationAbout Candidates
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Representative

• How do I find out who my elected representatives
  are?
• www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us

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Representative
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(No Transcript)
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District Maps
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Primary Election

• How do I find out who is running in the election?
• www.collincountytx.gov/elections/

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Election Information
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Sample Ballot
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Who is Running?

• How do I find the values of candidates who are
  running for office in the election?

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WallBuilders
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Free Market
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www.probe.org

• Over 1200 articles, commentaries, and e-mail
  answers.
• Over 35 PowerPoint presentations.
• Various articles on politics and government.
• Over 135 Probe
  articles in Spanish.

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Church and Politics A Restrained View

• Don Closson
• Probe Ministries

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David and Goliath
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Christians Should

• Christians should be involved in politics.
• Churches should teach members to be responsible
  citizens.
• Churches should teach on difficult moral issues.

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Christians Should

• Churches should equip their members with a
  Christian worldview.
• Religious belief should not be kept out of the
  public arena.

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Mission of the ChurchMcKinney Fellowship

• Our mission is to cultivate a Christ-centered,
  Bible-based, Spirit-empowered community that
  dynamically draws people to love God, to love one
  another and to love their neighbors.

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Mission of the ChurchMatthew 2816-20

• To make disciples of all nations
• Teach everything Christ commanded
• Not to take political power or to reform society

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Mission of the Church An Evangelical Manifesto

• Evangelicalism must be defined theologically and
  not politically confessionally and not
  culturally.
• Above all else, it is a commitment and devotion
  to the person and work of Jesus Christ, his
  teaching and way of life, and an enduring
  dedication to his lordship above all other
  earthly powers, allegiances and loyalties.

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Mission of the Church An Evangelical Manifesto

• As such, it should not be limited to tribal or
  national boundaries, or be confused with, or
  reduced to political categories such as
  conservative and liberal

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Tools of the Church

• Paul
• Acts 172-3 - he reasoned with them from the
  Scriptures, explaining and proving that Christ
  had to suffer and rise from the dead.
• Acts 198 arguing persuasively about the
  kingdom of God.
• Power of the gospel (Rom. 116-17)
• Prayer (Eph. 618)

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Purpose of Government

• Gods servant
• Agent of justice
• Punish the wrongdoer
• Tools of government
• Regulation
• Taxation
• Coercion

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Two Missions

• What do the mission and tools of the church have
  to do with the mission and tools of government?
• Historys lessons
• Peters mistake
• Eusebius of Caesarea
• Charlemagne

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Any Culture and Time

• Would you advocate greater political involvement
  for churches in Myanmar, China, or Pakistan?
• If so, why was it not a priority for Paul? (1
  Cor. 59-13)

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Politics A Distraction

• Church Opportunity costs
• Unbelievers Moral improvement
• Christians Tools of political power

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What About?

• Isnt America special?
• A Christian nation?
• Gods blessings?
• Which side is God on?
• Arent we supposed to be salt and light?
• Salt Christ-like disciples
• Light Pointing to Christ