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HONORING THE HIGHWAY PATROL

Today's the worst day in the world to report about it, but a member of our Voice of Prophecy family recently got a speeding ticket. Tomorrow, on the Fourth of July, when we should be feeling a warm, fuzzy love for our country and for its laws and its foundations, and when we should be rejoicing in the red sparklers and the glow of fireworks, she was seeing the red of that police cruiser's light go around and around as the officer gave her an all-American, $175 lesson in life, liberty, and the pursuit of high-speed happiness.

A day or two later, she was riding around with her husband — HE was obeying the speed limit, by the way — and a cop car went by the other direction. Trying to be cute, he said to her, as one might address a very small child: "Policemen are our FRIENDS!" She gave him a look that would snuff out an entire Dodger Stadium fireworks parade. "Yeah," she responded, "but not our BEST friends." And for just a little while there, she wasn't exactly interested in being a good citizen.

Well, here in the United States, as we DO watch the rockets' red glare, and think about what it means to be a patriot, a citizen, Christians face some interesting and important questions. Because we're ALSO citizens of another Country. "My home's in heaven," we sing in church. "Just waitin' for me. And when I get there, how happy I'll be." And in the back of our minds, we might think: "So why should I pay so many taxes down HERE? And obey these traffic laws? And vote? And give respect and honor to an impeached president who doesn't seem worthy of it?"

I mentioned yesterday a new book which has caused its own fireworks in Christian circles. It's entitled Blinded By Might, and it's written by two men, Cal Thomas and Ed Dobson, who were once very active in a political group called the Moral Majority. Both of them have now exited from what is often called the "Religious Right" here in the U.S., and they're suggesting that for the Christian believer, citizenship involves something much different than simply trying to win the White House and take over Congress. In fact, these former activists now say that using political tools to solve America's moral problems simply cannot succeed.

"In view of the changing face, nature, and beliefs of many Americans," they write, "religious conservatives have an important decision to make. After twenty years of political activism and millions of dollars spent on various religious-political movements, how much longer are they willing to pursue their strategy and agenda before they realize it not only has not worked, but cannot work?"

Well, those are strong, perhaps abrasive, words . . . although they're sincerely spoken. And perhaps they're discouraging to well-meaning, humble people who HAVE tried to influence this nation through their votes and their political activism. We'll return to that topic, trying to gain wisdom from both sides, as this week continues. But for today, let's simply pause to ask the one question: What does the Word of God tell us the Christian IS to do? What ARE the obligations of the man or woman of God, who does carry around a passport to heaven while journeying here below?

These two authors do share with us two key Bible principles regarding the governmental responsibilities of Christians, besides lighting up fireworks tomorrow evening. First of all: GOVERNMENT HAS A GOD-ORDAINED ROLE TO PLAY IN SOCIETY. I hate to say this to my pouting friend, but that highway patrolman who gave you that ticket . . . believe it or not, was acting on GOD'S behalf. That's right. It says this in Romans chapter three:

"For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is GOD'S SERVANT to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword [or the ticket-book] for nothing. HE IS GOD'S SERVANT, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer."

And we all say "ouch." But friend, this is right from the Word of God. Policemen, and city councilmen, and representatives, and governors, and yes, even presidents, are God's servants to protect and commend us when we do good, and to give us speeding tickets and delinquent tax notices when we do bad. The Apostle Peter seconds what Paul has written by saying this:

"Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to EVERY authority instituted among men."

Cal Thomas and Ed Dobson then go on to explain what the government's role is . . . and also what it ISN'T. Notice:

"Both Peter and Paul argue that the primary purpose of government is to maintain an ordered and structured society," they write, "where good is promoted and evil is restrained. For this reason, government has been given the sword — the authority to inflict punishment. This is a GOD-GIVEN role, and when the government exercises this role properly, it is acting as a servant of God."

But then they go on to a kind of Part Two, which is where we sometimes get into trouble.

"We should NOT expect the government to promote the gospel or prayer or religion. This is NOT its role. We should not expect the government to promote compassion for the poor. THAT is not its role. What should Christians expect from the government of the United States? We should expect the government to maintain an ordered society so that we can live out our faith and pay attention to the greater purposes of God in calling people to faith in Jesus Christ."

That's really the focus of this book, I guess. Allow the government to do what it is SUPPOSED to do, so that we who are Christians can go about OUR business, which is to change lives and families and towns and states and countries by our godly lives bringing people to faith in Jesus Christ.

Are you on board so far? So the government does have a God-ordained role in society here in the year 2001. But now to the next agenda point, which is this: CHRISTIANS HAVE A GOD-ORDAINED RESPONSIBILITY TO GOVERNMENT. In other words, it cuts both directions. What does God want US to do regarding the affairs of state?
Dobson and Thomas include interviews with a number of key legislators, both Democrat and Republican. Former senator William Armstrong was asked about the role of a Christian citizen, and he gave this answer:

"There is a huge number of Christians who are not registered to vote, which I think is a MINIMUM duty."

So when these writers point out three things that Christians are Scripturally obligated to do regarding those who lead us and rule over us in government. Number one, we're to PRAY for those leaders. In I Timothy 2, Paul writes:

"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone — for KINGS and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness."

We're supposed to pray these prayers, Pastor Ed Dobson says, even if we disagree with those leaders. Even if we see their moral failings. On page 110 of this book, Ed includes — word for word — the prayer he prayed in the pulpit at Calvary Church in Grand Rapids the Sunday after the Monica Lewinsky story broke. I wish we had time here to read it to you; this one page alone makes the book worth its purchase price. But despite the sin in the White House, despite the obvious failings and faults, Pastor Dobson prays for the President of the United States.

Secondly, we're to SUBMIT to government leaders — good ones AND bad ones. Well-guided ones and MIS-guided ones. Republicans and Democrats and Socialists and Communists. Submit to those in charge; that's a biblical mandate.
Thirdly, we're to HONOR government leaders. Romans 13:7:

"Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor."

And maybe you think: "Surely not such-and-such a leader. Surely not You-know-who." These two writers point us to the Lewinsky-like nature of the Apostle Paul's world.

"Nero lived a life," they write, "of unrestrained sexual addiction, surrounded by transvestites, homosexuals, prostitutes, and orgies. He also hated Christians and had many of them murdered. BUT . . . Paul admonished fellow believers to HONOR Nero as the king."

You've probably read in the Bible how David, when King Saul finally died, honored the fallen monarch. Honored the man who had repeatedly disobeyed God. Honored the man who had personally tried on numerous occasions to kill him, who had allowed affairs of state to go to pot while he chased David all over the rocks and hills of Judea. But David said over and over about his ENEMY: "I won't lift a hand, or raise my voice, or mail out an attack video . . . against the Lord's anointed."
It's hard, sometimes, to be a good citizen, isn't it? On the Fourth of July we tend to have cake and ice cream, and put out of our minds the spiritual discipline of praying for and honoring less-than-perfect leaders, paying taxes into a corrupt, wasteful system, and driving on freeways patrolled by mean-minded officers of the CHP.
But the best citizens Up Above . . . are also the most faithful Here Below.
Have a Happy Fourth of July, everyone.