This is a summary of a sermon given by Dr. Tony Evans to Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas regarding Christians’ civil responsibilities.
The Bible verses used for the basis of his sermon are Romans 13:1-7 (NASB).
“Every person should be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. 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. 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.”
It appears the most Christians begin with the wrong question. They are concerned with who they should vote for; but the correct question is how they should vote. Dr. Evans explained that if people should ask his help with any number of problems they may have in their lives, his first response would be to identify the cause of their dilemma and open the Bible to let God speak in addressing it. His response would be the same whether the nature of the problem was personal, family-related, or within the church.
Dr. Evans said, “Scripture holds the final and authoritative answer on all of life’s concerns. In fact, every question facing us today has two answers: God’s answer and everyone else’s. And when those two differ, everyone else is wrong.” He observed that when politics and elections are discussed, far too many Christians “change books,” relying instead on family, history and tradition, culture, racial expediency and personal preference than what the Bible teaches.
The sermon then covered some basic points regarding the role of government in the world, according to God’s will. Here are a few of them.
Government is a divine institution.
- No authority exists outside that which was allowed or established by God.
- Since there is no authority or government apart from God, one cannot discuss government without bringing God into the conversation.
- This does not mean that those in authority are making decisions in line with God’s will. In fact, many of them, if not most, do not adhere to God’s will. However, Evans noted, “The institution of governmental authority has been created, decreed, and established by God underneath His sovereign control.”
God’s Sovereignty
- God has allowed humanity to serve as representatives regarding His governmental systems, whether for good or for evil.
- Because God gave mankind free will, He will never force obedience to His rule. He has allowed us the freedom to obey or disobey his word within the sovereign lines of His boundaries.
- Even though God has granted mankind the ability to make choices, this does not mean that we get to control the consequences of those choices. This has been in effect since the first man and woman chose to disobey God and were driven out of the Garden of Eden.
Here is a frequently asked question – What side is God on?
People may ask us whose side we are voting for politically. The correct answer is not Republican, Democrat, or any other political party. The correct answer is, “I’m voting with God because He has His own side. I am going to vote for the party, person or platform that best represents God’s values to advance His kingdom.” So, once again, when we look at the issues before us, it is so important to consult God’s word to find out what He has to say about it.
For example, if you’re considering the issue of abortion and where a candidate stands on the issue, the Bible is unmistakable regarding the value of preborn lives. See Exodus 21:22-25 for God’s words about even accidental harm coming to a preborn child. Of course, Psalm 139 celebrates the forming of a baby in his/her mother’s womb. Such scriptures clearly speak against the deliberate destruction of a preborn child.
Conclusion
So, we Christians have a solemn duty to consult Scripture for every voting decision we make. If we are in doubt about God’s word on an issue, we can also approach a pastor or teacher we know who follows the Bible.
