What does God say about politics?
Merriam-Webster defines politics as: “the art or science of government; the art or science concerned with guiding or influencing governmental policy;the art or science concerned with winning and holding control over a government.” Should we worry about who controls our government? How much of our time and energy should we devote to politics? Does it really matter who is in power? Or, is God guiding those in power to do His will and to complete His plan?
The problem seems to be our idea of God’s plan. We think it should make sense to us. However, God asks us, Job 38:1-4, “Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.” How can we possibly understand everything God, who has the power to create all that we see, is doing? How can we understand the complicated plan He is using to create His eternal family? All we can know of these things is what He has given us to know, in His Word. We must remember, He knows the end from the beginning, Is 46:10, “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:” We are not even sure of our next breathe. We think we are very intelligent until we make our next mistake. Then, we spend an enormous amount of time and energy making sure no one sees our mistake. So, when we finally accept the fact that God has a plan that takes into account all of the evil choices we will make and uses them to create good, Gen 50:20, “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive” as He did for Joseph, we will begin to see how futile our political posturing really is. Remember, He is doing all of this “to save much people alive” for His eternal family. How can we ever influence an outcome, which has already taken into account everything we will ever do? What does it really matter, if the ultimate outcome is already assured? Remember, all of it was seen before He even began the creative process.
How is this possible? An example might help; a movie producer has filmed several little league games with the intent of using parts of the games for his next production. He finds little Huxley hitting a home run, which wins the game and decides to use it in his film. Likewise, God has watched all of the potential conclusions of every possible event and action we will take, to create the conclusion caused by the lives we are living. This includes every leader throughout history. How could He watch all of them, you ask, Matt 19:26, “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” God has already answered this question and history’s fulfilling of all of God’s prophecies has pointed to the fact that everything that has happened has led us to today, with God gently and sometimes not so gently, stepping in when He was needed, to guide all history.
Take the fact that God told us thousands of years before it happened that Israel would return to claim the land He promised them, Jer 30:1-3 “The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book. For, lo, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the Lord: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.” God took into account everything Hitler would do and found a way to use it to fulfill His end-time prophecy of Israel’s return to reclaim the land God had given them. In 1922 the League of Nations created a mandate giving control of Palestine to England. At the end of World War II, the League of Nations became the United Nations and in 1948 Israel used the 24-hour period following the expiration of the Palestine mandate to claim their independence. Thus, also fulfilling another prophecy, which foretold of Israel being formed within a 24-hour period, Is 66:8, “Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.”
The forming of the new nation of Israel was only possible because another young nation was formed to be part of the completion of God’s plan, America. If anyone has doubts about God’s intent, the beliefs of our founding fathers will provide the evidence they need, and it can be found on the following link to four articles, which provide a multitude of quotes directly from the founding fathers, "Our Founding Father's Beliefs", found on http://www.reasoningwithgod.com. Without America, there would be no Israel and without America’s implied protection, Israel would not have survived the many attempts to destroy her. Was this some accident, which coincidentally fulfilled God’s prophesy?
The point is, politics today are merely people trying to hit home runs and God has already decided which ones He is going to use to produce the good outcome He has planned. The end result is already known and our foolish attempts to change it are futile and, unfortunately, only succeed in reducing our own peace and joy. God calls us to His peace and joy, Jn 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” And, we are not to confuse His peace with what this world calls peace and joy. Could the devil be involved here?
Therefore, we need not get worked up over anything that happens in politics. We just need to keep following God’s will for our lives, whether it is helping candidates who are living and working within God’s commandments, or just voting for them. When everyone involved is willing to politely reason with the issues being discussed, we should share God’s view to the best of our ability. But, we should never continue reasoning when discussions turn heated. We should never be drawn into heated debates, which serve only to divide us, and draw us into the establishment of bad feelings and/or hurting each other. God has always called us to be at peace with everyone, Rom 12:18, “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” and to pray for our leaders, whether we voted for them or not, 1 Tim 2:1-3, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;” Everything in this life is part of God’s plan and will lead to the good He is creating, Rom 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
I confess that I am a recovering politicoholic. In the past, I allowed my political feelings to rule my behavior and it only created angst. We cannot allow politics to change our lives, our opinions of our neighbors, or the peace within our communities. We should pray for all of our leaders, vote our conscience, allow our neighbors to vote their conscience, and follow Jesus to the daily lives that lead us to the feelings of peace and joy God is offering to everyone, Jn 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
A special thank you goes out to one of our followers, Mike, who suggested this topic to be reasoned with God.
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