The Gospel and Politics (Part 1)
June 9th, 2008
(By John MacArthur)
For us, as Christians in the United States, it’s easy to get caught up in all the political fervor. It can even be tempting to think that legislation is the key to solving the moral problems that plague American society. But is that a right perspective? John MacArthur addresses this important issue and underscores a biblical response.
There was a time (in the days of our Puritan forefathers), when almost every soul in America acknowledged the Ten Commandments as the cornerstone of ethics and morality. Today most Americans can’t even name three of the Ten.
There was also a time (not so long ago) when Americans universally disapproved of homosexuality, adultery, and divorce; they believed sexual promiscuity is absolutely wrong; they regarded obscene language as inappropriate; they saw abortion as unthinkable; and they held public officials to high moral and ethical standards. Nowadays, most of the behavior society once deemed immoral is defended as an inalienable civil right.
How times and the culture have changed! The strong Christian influence and scriptural standards that shaped Western culture and American society through the end of the nineteenth century have given way to practical atheism and moral relativism. The few vestiges of Christianity in our culture are at best weak and compromising, and to an increasingly pagan society they are cultic and bizarre.
In less than fifty years’ time, our nation’s political leaders, legislative bodies, and courts have adopted a distinctly anti-Christian attitude and agenda. The country has swept away the Christian worldview and its principles in the name of equal rights, political correctness, tolerance, and strict separation of church and state. Gross immorality—including homosexuality, abortion, pornography, and other evils—has been sanctioned not only by society in general but in effect by the government as well. A portion of our tax dollars are now used to fund programs and government agencies that actively engage in blatant advocacy of various immoral practices.
What are Christians to do about it?
Many think this is a political problem that will not be solved without a political strategy. During the past twenty-five years, well-meaning Christians have founded a number of evangelical activist organizations and sunk millions of dollars into them in an effort to use the apparatus of politics—lobbying, legislation, demonstration, and boycott—to counteract the moral decline of American culture. They pour their energy and other resources into efforts to drum up a “Christian” political movement that will fight back against the prevailing anti-Christian culture.
But is that a proper perspective? I believe not. America’s moral decline is a spiritual problem, not a political one, and its solution is the gospel, not partisan politics.
(To be continued tomorrow)
“Evangelicals” need to get out of politics and just keep being faithful to the Word of God and let God do what He will do. Just wait, homosexuality will be legalized in all the states and parents will no longer be aloud to homeschool their children unless they have a teaching license.
Time in running out………
Praise God for the stand Dr. MacArthur is taking here! Many are not going to like it; in fact they are going to say it means he is indifferent to the political situation. I’ll let him finish up on the series before I say absolutely not, but I don’t think that is the case. We fight for Biblical principles on every level in life, but our priority in time and money should always be evangelism and discipleship. While we are devoting our lives fully to this task there will likely be plenty of opportunities to touch on issues that are more political/social in their nature. I believe it is a matter of priorities. Bravo.
It is saddening to know so many modern evangelical Christians have left their first love - the Lord Jesus Christ - and in His place now look to politicans and government agencies as their savior.
As a side note, I believe it’s important to say, that in order to find the true god of any nation - consider what things the people are not allowed to speak out against. At one time the Scriptures did inform our morality. The Word of God did help dictate what should or should not be done and said.
But it is very different today. As you look around you - think about what gods America serves today. What people or things are we now forbidden to freely speak openly in opposition too? Once you pin-point these people/issues will will have found the gods of our land.
I agree with Dr. MacArthur 100%! As a nation we have succumbed to the subtle “wiles of the devil”. We’ve allowed the media industry, i.e., television, movie, magazines to invade our homes and our lives with impunity. As a tragic result our sensibilities have become numb to the blatant and evasive sin that manifests itself upon our eyes, ears, and minds daily.
We’ve become tolerant of homosexuality, promiscuity, drugs, including alcohol, and abortions. Our schools take God’s name out of it and teach our children that they evolve from an ape or some primal ooze billions of years ago. Our government officials are corrupted and godless.
We’ve become as the children of Israel, turning away from God to worship idols. It’s as Peter as told us: ” . . . the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”
I want to add one more thing………….homosexuality will be flaunted (as it is now) at the end of the age. Jesus warned that the last days would be like the days of Lot-who lived in wicked Sodom (Luke 17:28-30). We know that the root of Sodom’s sin was pride and complacency (Ezekiel 16:49)-as it is today.
However, Sodom’s lasting infamy stemmed from their aggressive homosexual sin (Genesis 19; Jude 1:7). Today, the homosexual agenda is flaunted and forced upon our entire society.
Time is running out……….people need the Gospel desperately. Perhaps if God throws in several more natural disasters, people just might listen to God and His warnings…..Come to Christ now or die in your sins!