Should Christians be involved in Politics?

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Should Christians be involved in Politics?
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Politics in our studies does NOT mean

• Posturing for position and power
• Seeking favored positions
• Taking illegal contributions
• Bribing people
• Lying, Etc.

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Politics is

• Speaking out against Evil
• Making just laws
• Appointing impartial Judges
• Ensuring that Justice is served
• Making sure people are not oppressed
• Ensuring equality in opportunity
• Having Servant-Leaders not Leader-Kings

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Governments

• Where do governments come from?
• Romans 131 NASB 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.

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All Things by and for Him!

• Colossians 116 NASB
  For by Him all things were created, both in the
  heavens and on earth, visible and invisible,
  whether thrones or dominions or rulers or
  authorities-all things have been created through
  Him and for Him.

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God uses people

• God rarely acts directly in human affairs
• But when He does, we call this what?
• Miracles!
• Good News In America, God gives us the power to
  choose our leaders for Him!
• We should not wait on a miracle from God.

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Christians shouldnt be involved in Politics. Oh
really?

• So when Christians say we shouldn't be involved
  in Politics, what are they really saying?
• The Bible says that God chooses the leaders and
  time after time in the Bible, God uses His people
  to bring about His plan.
• And when His people fail to act, or act
  inappropriately, what happens?

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Israel got what they deserved and we get what we
deserve (ask for)!

• KINGS OF ISRAEL (930-722 B.C.)
• Jeroboam, Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri,
• Tibni, Omri, Ahab, Ahaziah, Joram,
• Jehoahaz, Joash, Jeroboam II,
• Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah,
• Pekah, Hoshea All bad!
• Jehu Better but still not good!
• KINGS OF JUDAH (933-586 B.C.)
• Jehoram, Ahaziah, Athaliah, Ahaz,
• Jehoahaz, Jehoiachin, Zedekiah,
• Rehoboam, Abijah, Manasseh, Amon,
• Jehoiakim All bad!
• Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joash, Amaziah
• Uzziah, Jotham All good!
• Hezekiah, Josiah Very good!

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So If Christians shouldnt be involved in
Politics, who should be?

• Should we just give up and let the Atheists and
  Non-Believers choose our leaders?

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Romans 133-6 NASB

• For rulers are not a cause of fear for good
  behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no
  fear of authority? Do what is good and you will
  have praise from the same for it is a minister
  of God to you for good. But if you do what is
  evil, be afraid for it does not bear the sword
  for nothing for it is a minister of God, an
  avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices
  evil. Therefore it is necessary to be in
  subjection, not only because of wrath, but also
  for conscience sake. For because of this you
  also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God,
  devoting themselves to this very thing.

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We are to be Salt and Light

• Matthew 513-15 NASB
• 13 You are the salt of the earth but if the
  salt has become tasteless, how can it be made
  salty again? It is no longer good for anything,
  except to be thrown out and trampled under foot
  by men.
• 14 You are the light of the world. A city set on
  a hill cannot be hidden 15  nor does anyone
  light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on
  the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are
  in the house.

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Some numbers

• gt 60 million Evangelical Christians of voting age
• 24 million are not even registered to vote
• Of the 36 million who are registered to vote, not
  all do!
• In 2004, 122 million people voted. George W.
  Bush won by barely 3 million votes!
• In 2006, only 96 million people voted.
  Republicans lost the House by 3,000 votes.

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So what? you say

• In 2004, almost 28.9M Evangelicals voted and
  voted Biblical Values. The result, 78 of the
  new senators and 63 of the new representatives
  were Pro-Life!
• But in 2006, only 20.5M Evangelicals voted and
  only 10 of the new senators and 31 of the new
  representatives were Pro-Life!

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After these Elections, then what?

• 2004 - 2006, most of the Pro-Family propositions
  passed in many of the states
• After 2006, some of the worst Anti-Family and
  Anti-Biblical laws were passed by the Senate and
  House.
• While 24 million Evangelical Christians sat on
  the sidelines, elections were lost by a few
  hundred thousand votes in various states

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Your vote does count!

• Remember, Bush won by 200 votes in Florida!
• Bush was able to appoint Pro-Life Judges
• Partial Birth Abortions were banned during Bushs
  reign
• Over 500 more state and federal laws against
  Abortion were also passed
• Abortions are now not as common because of these
  laws

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This Battle is only among Christians

• There is no need to persuade a non-believer to
  vote our values
• There is only the need to persuade like-minded
  Christians to vote Biblical values!
• If enough of us could convince just 1 or 2 other
  Christians to become politically educated and to
  vote, we could improve our Country in one
  election cycle!

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We must be involved for Self-Preservation!
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Conclusion

• Consider fitting some of these concepts into a
  casual conversation with Christian friends,
  family and co-workers, especially those whom you
  know are not politically knowledgeable.
• Next time the topic will be, Jesus was involved
  in Politics