A number of Scriptures, such as I Peter 2:13-14, tell us as Christians to submit to the government – even when we do not agree with it. Obviously, many Christians do not agree with the various rulings handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court in recent years.
So, what can we do?
In a democracy, we have a right to be heard. We also have a responsibility to stand up for what we believe in. Far too many Christians pronounce a “curse on both their houses” and fail to pay attention or participate in the political process. But we should be involved. If we fail to be involved, we turn the entire process over to people who may or may not agree with our values. Here is what we can do:
- Register to vote and vote regularly. And vote intelligently. We need to keep abreast of the issues and the candidates and vote for people who stand where we stand. If you do not vote for pro-life candidates, then why complain that abortion is the law of the land?
- Write your senators and congressmen. I do not hesitate to email them – either to protest their vote on a past law or to urge them to vote on a future law. I have read where your voice carries weight, because studies show that for every letter you write, there is a certain percentage of the population which stands where you do. You can “Google” and find any legislator’s email address online.
- Treat politicians with respect. If you attack them personally, naturally they are going to be defensive before they even listen to your point of view. Besides, it is the Christian thing to do – to treat all people with honor and respect (I Peter 2:17).
- Write letters to the editor. I do not write very often, because I have other forums – such as this blog, etc. But I recently sent a letter to our local newspaper. Let your view be heard!
- Pray for our leaders. The Bible tells us to pray for all our leaders – I Timothy 2:1-2. As a pastor, I had the opportunity to visit one of our lawmakers in his office – a legislator with whom I rarely agreed and for whom I did not vote. However, it was obvious he was pleased, when I asked him – could I pray for him before I left the office? We bowed our heads, and I prayed that God would bless him and use him, watch over his family, etc. Not only was my prayer sincere, but I believe my effort improved our relationship.
Pastor Jim
