What Hath Washington to Do with Jerusalem? Part 4

This is Part 4 of 5. This sermon was preached at Mt. Gilead UMC in Georgetown, KY on Oct 18, 2020. Click here for Part 3 and here for Part 5.

I. Introduction

• Over the past several Sundays in our series about Washington and Jerusalem, government and church, I’ve been emphasizing that the two are not one and the same, that they don’t have as much in common as sometimes people want to make it out to be. And so in answering the question “What does Washington have to do with Jerusalem?”, Scripture has shown that the two do not have much in common.
  • We’ve learned that the church’s mission is to make disciples everywhere and not make a Christian nation.
  • We’ve learned that the saints will inherit the Kingdom of God and will rule and reign with Christ when he returns and renews all things.
  • And last week, we were reminded that our citizenship is in heaven and that we as Christians can vote and let vote, that both political sides have good and not so good things about them, and that what is important, as John Wesley said, is to make sure that we don’t fight and quarrel and squabble with others about whom they voted for or didn’t vote for.
  • And so, on the whole, our answer has been in the negative, that Washington and Jerusalem have little in common, that politics should stay out of the church, that the church’s mission isn’t political, except in the truth that the church will one day reign supreme with Christ.
• But the question remains: if Washington and Jerusalem, politics and theology, government and church have little to do with one another, what is that little that they do share in common? And more importantly, what kind of relationship and responsibility do Christians have in the governments of the world?
• That’s what we’re exploring this morning. Since they don’t have much to do with each other, how then should we, the church, relate to governments?

II. Prayer (1 Tim 2:1-6)

• First of all, Scripture commands us to prayer for kings and those in governing positions of authority.
  • Pray always and without ceasing.
  • Paul says, “First of all…”
  • Pray for everyone…especially kings and those in authority.
  • Paul recognizes that
  • So today, I want us to pray for our leaders, the president, and all of those in positions of power.
    • They need prayer for wisdom. Protection, from ill will and from pride.
    • I wouldn’t want to be in that position.

III. Submission (Rom 13:1-7; 1 Pet 2:13-17)

• Secondly, the apostles Peter and Paul both command that Christians should submit themselves to governments.
  • Lots of debate has occurred over the years about these verses.
  • Some interpret the words overly literally, too literally perhaps, and think that Peter and Paul are urging that Christians blindly follow governments no matter what, even if they are doing treacherous evil.
  • First of all, there are assumptions about governments that Peter and Paul have that we must clearly bring out.
    • They assume that the government is an Authoritarian State—empire.
      • That’s different from our context in America, a democracy and republic where the people/citizens rule.
    • They also assume that the Authoritarian government is enforcing morality and moral laws.
      • Rom 13:3-4 – So the assumption is that this all powerful government is praising those who do good and punishing those who do evil. Paul is not speaking to a situation where a government does the opposite—punishes good and praises evil. In fact, had Paul written this 5 years later, he may have said things differently.
        • Nero had 5 good years and then 5 bad years (reign of terror).
      • 1 Pet 2:14 – Again, the assumption is that governments praise good deeds and punish evil deeds.
      • So Peter and Paul aren’t baptizing all governments, everywhere and always, and calling them good. They were talking about governments that know the difference between right and wrong, good and evil.
    • So that is what we are supposed to do; submit to those governments if or with emperors who reward good citizens and punish evil citizens. And that was indeed Paul and Peter’s contexts at those times.

IV. Quiet Lives (1 Tim 2:2; 1 Thess 4:11)

• Lastly, we are to live quiet and peaceful lives in the nations where we live.
• Paul was wrongly accused several times throughout his missionary journeys in Acts as subverting the empire, yet he was always found innocent by the Roman courts. If he was, in fact, trying to overturn the government while preaching the Gospel, then he would’ve been executed immediately.
• Sometimes the best thing that we can do is be quiet, live our lives for Christ, and not get involved in those overly heated political issues. In 1 Thess 4:11, Paul tells them to live quiet lives among the Gentiles/nations, mind your own business, in order to win the respect of outsiders. Don’t rock the political, governmental boat. Don’t commit treason. Things like that.
• We need to learn what James said, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires” (James 1:19-20).
  • That’s what the media is always trying to do; stir up people’s anger and strong emotions. They love to get people on their shows and start arguing with them. But that’s not what God calls us, Christians, to do. That is not how we should interact with the world or with the government and politics.
  • That is how we will win the world to Christ; not by playing partisan politics, not by making Christian laws, not by arguing and quarreling about our political opinions.
  • We will win outsiders to Christ by living our lives faithfully to God, minding our own business, being gentle and respectful in how we talk about political issues, keeping our mouths shut sometimes and listening, not jumping to conclusions and judgment, and keeping our cool and de-escalating situations when emotions run high. That will win their respect and plant the seeds of the good news of the resurrected and living Lord Jesus Christ in their hearts.
    • Every encounter with unbelievers does not have to be a “come to Jesus” moment. That’s sadly what lots of churches teach. We are called to harvest. But before then, we must plant. You can’t reap what’s never been sown. The ground must be tilled; the seeds must be thrown and planted; then they must be watered repeatedly and cared for over a long period of time for it to grow and mature; only after all of that can any crop be harvested. Sometimes we want our ministry to the world to be what I call microwave ministry or TV dinner ministry or fast food ministry. That’s not how things work in the real world. That’s not how to make real disciples. Seeds must be planted and nurtured. Meals take time to cook, if it’s going to be of any nutrition, taste, or value.
  • So let’s take the road less travelled in making disciples of Christ and winning people to the Lord. It’s okay to simply plant a seed of Christ’s love by being respectful in a conversation about politics. You don’t always have to be seeking that “come to Jesus” moment. Sometimes it’s best just to plant a little seed by showing that you care. Listen and learn. Help people find peace when there is anger.

V. Conclusion

• So what is our relationship to the government?
  • Pray for it and its leaders.
  • Submit to its authority and don’t break its laws.
  • Live quiet lives, minding your own business, so as to win outsiders to the Lord.

Click here for Part 5.