About 95% of “Christians” in About 95% of “Christians” in America do not have anything America do not have anything close to a Biblical Worldview. close to a Biblical Worldview.

Many draw unbiblical Many draw unbiblical distinctions between “politics” distinctions between “politics”

and “religion.”and “religion.”

For an AdultFor an Adult

God has established two God has established two institutions of authorityinstitutions of authority

The Church and the State each The Church and the State each with Distinct Roleswith Distinct Roles

Romans 13:1-4Romans 13:1-4

Types of AuthorityTypes of Authority

• ParentalParental

•Ecclesiastical (Church)Ecclesiastical (Church)•CivilCivil

Hebrews 13:17Hebrews 13:17

• Obey them that have the rule over you, and Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. for that is unprofitable for you.

Romans 13:1Romans 13:1

• Let every soul [person] be subject unto the Let every soul [person] be subject unto the higher [governing] powers [authorities].higher [governing] powers [authorities].

• For there is For there is no powerno power but of God: but of God: • The powers that be are ordained of God.The powers that be are ordained of God.

Biblical Worldview FactBiblical Worldview Fact

Allegiance to God does not Allegiance to God does not negate responsibility to negate responsibility to

secular authority.secular authority.

God’s SovereigntyGod’s Sovereignty

• Compare Compare – Congregational Government (Baptist)Congregational Government (Baptist)– Representative DemocracyRepresentative Democracy

ApplicationApplication

In both cases, people vote; in both cases, In both cases, people vote; in both cases, God guides the voteGod guides the vote

Matthias is ChosenMatthias is Chosen

• Acts 1:24, 26 Acts 1:24, 26 – And they prayedAnd they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, , and said, Thou, Lord,

which knowest the hearts of allwhich knowest the hearts of all men men, , shew shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, whether of these two thou hast chosen, – And they gave forth their lots; And they gave forth their lots; and the lot and the lot

fell upon Matthias;fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. with the eleven apostles.

God’s SovereigntyGod’s Sovereignty

Is never an excuse for a lack of Is never an excuse for a lack of human responsibility!human responsibility!

Every Christian must Every Christian must vote.vote.

Romans 13:1Romans 13:1

• For there is no power For there is no power but of God: the powers but of God: the powers that be are ordained of that be are ordained of God. God.

• For there is no For there is no authority except from authority except from God, and those which God, and those which exist are established by exist are established by God. God.

Everyone in authority derives their authority Everyone in authority derives their authority from God—which, in turn, establishes the from God—which, in turn, establishes the

ultimate in accountability.ultimate in accountability.

Earlier Paul pointed to this ideaEarlier Paul pointed to this idea

Look back atLook back at

Romans 9:17Romans 9:17

Three Biblical Worldview FactsThree Biblical Worldview Facts

1.1. God raised up Pharaoh to demonstrate God raised up Pharaoh to demonstrate God’s great powerGod’s great power

2.2. Pharaoh resisted God (that was God’s plan)Pharaoh resisted God (that was God’s plan)3.3. God judged Pharaoh and Egypt for His sinGod judged Pharaoh and Egypt for His sin

Now Look atNow Look at

Romans 9:18-23Romans 9:18-23

Turn to John 19Turn to John 19

1-111-11

John 19:11John 19:11

• Jesus answered, Jesus answered, – Thou couldest have no power at all against Thou couldest have no power at all against

me, except it were given thee from above:me, except it were given thee from above:

– therefore he that delivered me unto thee therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. hath the greater sin.

Biblical WorldviewBiblical Worldview

God uses secular government God uses secular government to maintain the public good, to maintain the public good, direct the affairs of the state, direct the affairs of the state,

and accomplish His will.and accomplish His will.

John 18:36John 18:36

• Jesus answered, Jesus answered, –My kingdom is not of this world: if my My kingdom is not of this world: if my

kingdom were of this world, then would kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. kingdom not from hence.

Biblical WorldviewBiblical Worldview

The fact that Jesus is your Lord The fact that Jesus is your Lord is NOT a justification to is NOT a justification to

overthrow or disobey the overthrow or disobey the government.government.

Romans 13:2 Romans 13:2

• Whosoever therefore resisteth the Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. themselves damnation.

There is NO wiggle room here.There is NO wiggle room here.

Point #1Point #1

Resisting God-ordained Resisting God-ordained authorities is the same as authorities is the same as resisting an authoritative resisting an authoritative

decree from God—it is sin.decree from God—it is sin.

ApplicationApplication

• Hunting without a license is resisting God.Hunting without a license is resisting God.

• Not declaring cash income on a tax return is Not declaring cash income on a tax return is resisting God’s plan.resisting God’s plan.

• Text messaging while driving is resisting Text messaging while driving is resisting God.God.

• Paying someone cash to avoid paying income Paying someone cash to avoid paying income tax is resisting God’s plan to fund the govt.tax is resisting God’s plan to fund the govt.

Question Question

What does it mean to receive What does it mean to receive damnation?damnation?

Damnation isDamnation is

Judgment from the State as Judgment from the State as the State deems appropriate. the State deems appropriate. We reap what we have sown.We reap what we have sown.

Consider your “testimony” when you Consider your “testimony” when you are under damnation?are under damnation?

Romans 13:3Romans 13:3

• For rulers are not a terror to good works, but For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. to the evil.

• Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: praise of the same:

Romans 13:4Romans 13:4

• For For he [the state] he [the state] is the minister of God to is the minister of God to thee for good. thee for good.

• But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. wrath upon him that doeth evil.

The State is supposed to be a good thing.The State is supposed to be a good thing.

ApplicationApplication

What about civil liberties?What about civil liberties?

The Bible is NOT concerned about my civil liberties.The Bible is NOT concerned about my civil liberties.

Civil LibertiesCivil Liberties

Is never presented as a reason Is never presented as a reason for disobeying God in the for disobeying God in the

Bible.Bible.

ApplicationApplication

In America a Christian can vote and In America a Christian can vote and support libertarian candidates, but support libertarian candidates, but

God’s moral law must be more God’s moral law must be more important.important.

Jesus Said:Jesus Said:

• Matthew 22:39 Matthew 22:39 – Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

Voting for good candidates who will make good Voting for good candidates who will make good laws is a way of loving your neighbor as laws is a way of loving your neighbor as

yourself. yourself. Good politicians and good laws bring many Good politicians and good laws bring many

benefits to people.benefits to people.

Since governing authorities Since governing authorities are servants of God, are servants of God, Christians Christians

should only vote for should only vote for candidates who support God’s candidates who support God’s

moral lawmoral law, while affirming a , while affirming a separation of the state from separation of the state from

the church.the church.

Biblical GuidanceBiblical Guidance

• Believers in the One True God whose Son is Believers in the One True God whose Son is JesusJesus

• Sanctity of Human LifeSanctity of Human Life• Biblical Gender DistinctionsBiblical Gender Distinctions• Proper Role of GovernmentProper Role of Government– Limited GovernmentLimited Government– Punish WrongdoersPunish Wrongdoers– Protect the CitizensProtect the Citizens

Separation of Church and StateSeparation of Church and State

Matthew 22:21Matthew 22:21• Then saith he unto them, Then saith he unto them, – Render therefore unto Caesar the things Render therefore unto Caesar the things

which are Caesar’s; which are Caesar’s; – and unto God the things that are God’s. and unto God the things that are God’s.