Governing is a serious matter. In fact, the Scripture speaks of 4 distinct areas of government which the Lord underscores as important arenas of “rule”. These areas are:
1. Self-government
2. Marriage / Family Government
3. Church Government
4. Civil Government
The next posts will focus on these four areas because it lays the foundation for the Christian to begin to “filter” who might best be qualified or prepared for the job of civil government. Let’s review several points as we ask this question:
– The civic ruler is considered to be a “minister of God” (Romans 13:4,6).
– Our vote is to give glory to God (I Corinthians 10:31).
– The Church or its leaders may not “tell” people who to vote for, but rather “train” people how to vote. This is a part of discipleship. (Matthew 28:18-20)
After considering question one in the previous post, we should now turn our attention to the candidates preparation and success in these other arenas of governing.
2. Has the Candidate been able to self-govern their own life?
Proverbs 25:28, “Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls”.
Proverbs 16:32, “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city”.
Note how “ruling your spirit” is directly related to municipal concerns. The candidate who desires to give leadership to civic concerns is exhorted by Scripture to have demonstrated how they “rule” their own life. Do they live a life that evidences self-restraint and control? Can they overcome life’s temptations and do they have a track record of fidelity? Do not compartmentalize their private life from their public positions. If they cannot demonstrate integrity, fidelity, and restraint in their personal life or if they betray trusts at a foundational level, why should they be trusted at greater and more sensitive levels? If they cannot “rule” their own life, why would we want them providing “rule” in the citizenry?
Some politicians have had multiple marriages and affairs. This says something to us about their ability to govern their own lives. Are they drunks? Addictions? Rehab time? Of course, the Christian voter considers the redemptive and restorative road we all must walk in overcoming our frailties, but has there been sufficient time to demonstrate rehabilitation if there has been a fall? Have they provided that new, redeemed track record that demonstrates the “fruits of repentance”? You don’t promote dysfunctional people into governmental offices whose influence effects a generation.
Now the response from compartmentalized believers is often, “But what about…
Jacob, he was a liar?
David, he was an adulterer and murderer?
Moses, he stuttered?
Gideon, he feared?
Abraham and Isaac, they lied?
Rahab, she was a prostitute?
Isaiah, he preached naked in the street?
Job, he went bankrupt?
…and let’s not forget Peter, who could make you blush with his swearing.”
Yes, the Lord has used broken and dysfunctional people. Of course, following that line of logic we might also install and ordain more pastors who have mistresses, deacons who are alcoholics, and elders who frequent brothels. Why not? If one sin is no different than another and we are all self-righteous Pharisees who long for leadership standards, then perhaps the bar has been set far too high for every “minister of God”? But alas…most Christians intuitively know that isn’t the real expectation. In fact, our false mercy and counterfeit grace is only extended during election cycles because we have compartmentalized our standards out of the political arena. We no longer expect a standard of self-government from our public officials. Truthfully, we no longer expect self-restraint from any one any more. These Biblical characters may have had their defects, but they also had their moments of brokenness, repentance, and restoration. They had a walk with God which redeemed those frailties. There were indicators that their sins were not practiced or promoted. In other words, God was not endorsing this behavior unlike many today who want to do their theological acrobatics to let us know that God “approves” of their candidate.
But you say, “Hey, Jesus isn’t on the ballot!” (I told you in an earlier post that was a worn out response), or…”then no one is qualified for government service.”
That’s not true. It is a false narrative and response.
It’s no more true than stating there are no pastors qualified for leadership in the Church. Our era has simply accepted the notion that our leaders will have massive character defects and there is little we can do about. This mentality has become our Achilles heel. We have voted for candidates and overlooked their glaring defects that we later feign shock when they betray us and throw us under the bus. Ask yourself the questions; “How has this candidate ruled their own life? Have they demonstrated restraint and grace? Are they true to their word? Is there a sense of decorum in how they handle themselves? Are they constantly angry? Are they angry for appropriate reasons? Are their lusts and desires appropriately restrained?” (You are getting the gist of this point right?)
NEXT: Part 3, Family Government
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