Applying God's Word to Politics
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It was, just emphasizing what you said.
I think we can be a part of the military, the police, ICE, and the border patrol to provide protection for actual Americans and be on the Right side of God’s word.
Yes, sometimes arguing from silence is invalid, but because the military existed during the NT era,
surely it would have been condemned if wrong!
Thus, I appreciate the effort of Aquinas to derive a Just War Theory from Scripture.
Mine is this:
War and Capital Punishment
We are saved by faith (EPH 2:8-9), but God’s grace is not cheap, so genuine saving faith IS followed by good works (EPH 2:10, cf. JM 2:17). By cooperating with God’s Word = Holy Spirit (PHP 2:13) and rejecting evil desires (2TM 2:22), we can be a “good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2TM 2:3), spiritually trained and “equipped for every good work” (2TM 3:17). Speaking of being a soldier and good works leads us to address the following question: Is military soldiering a good work? Can we be both a good soldier of Christ and a military soldier?
The Bible does not condemn any occupation other than prostitution, and notice that Paul here (and Jesus in MT 8:5-13) spoke of soldiering without condemning it, and such silence speaks volumes! This silence leaves us with the freedom and consequent responsibility to evaluate vocations including soldiering. The most relevant scriptural references are RM 13:1-5 and 1PT 2:13-14. Pacifists cite Jesus’ command to turn the other cheek (in MT 5:39) and Paul’s instruction to overcome evil with good rather than seek revenge (in RM 12:17-21) as implying that policing and soldiering are wrong, but these passages refer to personal relationships rather than to governmental enforcement of criminal laws.
In the Romans passage, verses 3&4 are the key ones: “Rulers hold no terror [imprisonment or execution—a very contemporary term!] for those who do right, but for those who do wrong… the one in authority… is God’s servant to do you good [this eliminates rulers such as Hitler, Stalin and Saddam Hussein]. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword [means to kill] for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer [murderer, terrorist].” (By the way, “God’s servant” is what the word “Muslim” means.)
Similarly, 1PT 2:14 says that governors “are sent by [God] to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.” This truth applies not only to police forces in cities and states but also to soldiers in national governments, implying that (more godly, though imperfect) nations should punish evil tyrants and terrorists.
Thus, soldiers who serve God’s will to fight in righteous or justified wars to defeat murderers are agents of His wrath (Muslims). Let us note that wrath does not mean a hateful fit of rage, but rather the loving action of righteous anger, such as that displayed by Jesus when he cleared the temple of money-changers (in MT 21:12-13). God’s wrath metes out the just or appropriate consequence for those who choose to behave evilly and hatefully. Thus, any killing or other violent actions we do should be motivated by love: love for God, for divine justice and for the victims of demonic injustice.
We wage war on three levels. Within our own hearts we seek to let God’s love and wisdom overcome temptations to be selfish and foolish (RM 7:23, 2CR 10:3-5, 1PT 2:11). On an interpersonal level, we must bear with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity and peace of the Holy Spirit (EPH 4:2-3) rather than be deceived by lies and attempts of the ungodly spirit to divide and conquer us (1CR 3:3, 2CR 12:20, GL 5:20). And on a corporate level, we must cooperate and enforce just laws, so that murderers are not allowed to destroy more righteous, though imperfect, people (EX 21:12, 21:23).
Because the Bible contains detailed instructions regarding the punishment of crimes such as murder, it is logical to assume that it would contain a commandment and specific teachings against war if pacifism were correct, but it does not. The OT principle of “life for life” (EX 21:24) indicates that murder is the capital crime for which execution is just, although the NT teaching about forgiveness for minor crimes (TOJ #29 & #36) implies that a society may grant even violent criminals a chance to hear the gospel, repent and be rehabilitated. Some say that capital punishment risks unjust executions, but this concern needs to be balanced with ensuring that a penal system does not encourage unjust murders. (See the essay on Criminal Justice.)
The justification of capital punishment can be applied on an international scale. Godly or civilized nations must cooperate and enforce just laws so that demonic souls like Hitler and Stalin are not allowed to conquer or destroy more righteous, though imperfect, governments. (See TOJ #30.) We have a responsibility as ministers of God and disciples of Christ to share the gospel with people in all nations (MT 28:19) and thereby help them to acquire their God-given rights to life (JN 10:10), liberty (JN 8:32&36) and the pursuit of happiness (JN 15:11). To the extent we are able, we should prevent murder and stop murderous dictators from killing and enslaving people (JM 4:17). As the world’s super-power, may God grant our leaders the courage to use this power with wisdom to show divine love (RM 5:8) for the poor and enslaved by defeating ungodly regimes (TOJ #45&129, RM 14:19).
As we contemplate the deaths of our soldiers and the sorrow of their families during times of military war, may it remind us of the great sacrifices that have been made by those who have gone before us in order to preserve the blessings of freedom for our country and humanity. And may their sacrifice remind us of the sacrifice of Christ (PHP 2:8), whose death one day will free us from the sinful nature that does evil and necessitates war against extremely evildoers, so that there will be “no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (RV 21:4). This recreation of the world is the meaning of Easter, and indeed the reason for the creation of the present universe in the beginning of time. May it begin in our hearts and be evidenced by our lives, to the glory of God.
One way to show divine love is by forgiving people who do wrong (MT 5:39). Another way is by teaching people not to do wrong (HB 12:5-6&11). And a third way is by imposing just consequences for doing wrong. For those who hurt people, confinement may be necessary, and for murderers execution is deserved (RM 13:4), although a society may decide that circumstances warrant extended confinement instead or even efforts to reform them.
The problem is deciding which type of love to apply to various situations, because we should have learned from the attempts by European nations to appease Hitler in the 1930s that war may become necessary, so resisting evil sooner may be less tragic and destructive of life than waiting until it becomes more widespread. By the grace of God the United States was able to acquire the atom bomb before Germany and Japan, but it may not have been necessary to lose so many lives in the invasion of Normandy and in the bombing of Japan if Europe had stopped Hitler before he became powerful and allied with Japan.
The lesson of Hitler’s Holocaust against the Jews and Christians is that evil is real, and that we all have the potential to be as horrible as Hitler, although we may battle the tendency toward hatred and selfishness in our own souls (RM 7:22-23). The death of relatively innocent people who are killed by terrorists continues to remind us of our mortality and our need for God’s goodness and resurrection power as well as of the vital responsibility that comes with our human moral capacity and free will. Paul wrote that we should “make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification” (RM 14:19, cf. EPH 4:29). Edification means constructing moral character in those who want to be servants of God (“Muslims”). Thus, we should embrace rather than reject the opportunity of nation building, defined as protecting the right of people to share the Gospel in all nations (Matt. 28:19-20).
T
TruthDefender
Guest
Too much writing! You don’t have to write out a sermon!!
Yes, we can be a part of the governing authority to keep peace. Yes, be afraid, if you are against the authority trying to keep peace and our LEGAL citizens safe in this country.
Unfortunately, the Left is fighting against legality due to their hatred for all things Trump. They’ve derailed 10 plus years ago…..Common sense just doesn’t exist for them!
I just noticed that I have not yet changed the Scripture citations from my format to the CC format in that essay, so I will get on that.
The writing applied GW to the topic of War. I guess in your case I was preaching to the choir.
The left is Marxist and hates all things Christian. Trump is merely the main person in the way of their take down of the USA.
Yes, common sense is too similar to GW for them.
The derailing was a slow process of boiling frogs by heating the water slowly. Here is how it happened:
Today (2026) the USA that began as a Constitutional republic appears to be in danger of becoming a socialist state. While the history of wars against outside threats to its liberty is fairly well known, what is only recently becoming apparent is the threat its disunity will end in socialism, which now governs most of the world and almost every aspect of society–education, entertainment, news, social media, banking and monopolistic businesses–corrupting politicians and elections.
The main cause of this corruption is that following WWII America allowed subversive educators to infiltrate universities, including Herbert Marcuse and Marxist Saul Alinsky, whose book "Rules for Radicals" was dedicated to Satan and whose rules included deception and violence (the end justifies the means). The teachings of such radical professors has influenced many college students (including Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama) to favor socialist policies. (See "The War for America’s Soul" by Gorka, p. 59-65.) Many Americans are oblivious to the slow disintegration of the Constitutional consensus, because the owners of most news media were similarly educated and sympathetic.
A main financier of the socialist movement has been George Soros, who became a billionaire, established a network called the Open Society Foundation to promote a global government, and since 2003 has been financing numerous socialist groups in the U.S. (See "The Shadow Party" by Horowitz & Poe, p. 78-95 & 177-82.) A main organization of the globalist cabal or “new world order” is the World Economic Forum, which meets annually in Davos, Switzerland. Its leaders envision a technological revolution that transforms the world (including America), converting humans who freely worship God into drones coerced by a fascist-communist state as in China. A prominent American participant in the WEF has been Bill Gates. (See "The Great Reset" by A. Jones, p. 4-7, 28 & 95.)
The globalists began to conspire with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 1978, when the Trilateral Commission befriended Chinese leaders and sought a New International Economic Order. Since then the CCP has pursued a clever strategy that has steadily weakened the U.S. as China gained power, currently on display as its military buildup, aggression against Taiwan and the “One Road One Belt” policy. It aims to surpass the U.S. and dominate Eurasia by the year 2049. (See "Reset", p. 40-44 & "War", p. 136.)
Recently, authoritative Democrat administration dictates weakened the U.S. and attempted to banish conservative Constitutionalist opposition led by MAGA President Trump. Most of the news media has failed to report this truth, so that many people remain ignorant of the cause of the dissolution of the American dream of liberty for all (like frogs being boiled alive because the water temperature is raised slowly). Where will we go from here?
Actually, you just applied GW, calling it common sense.
Yes, common sense should be enough to reveal the Golden Rule (Matt. 7:12),
which implies the rest of God's moral will and loving nature (1John 4:8),
so the Marxist Dems have no excuse for their hatred of MAGA (Rom. 1:20).
Is it not common sense to vote Republican? Look at all the damage the Democrats accomplished. Lol
Doesn’t God teach common sense?
Yes, He does, but not systematically in Scripture, so that folks must figure out unclear issues,
which opens the door to disagreement and denominationalism when they do not build carefully on the foundation.
Using common sense or right reasoning, I think people should realize the following, which I call the propensity principle (PP):
The PP employs linear logic (rather than circular reasoning) to propose faith in the NT God as the best belief that solves the maze of reality as follows:
1. Current scientific knowledge cannot explain how the universe came to exist by means of natural causes, thus it is possible that the cause of the universe is a supernatural Creator/God.
2. The most creative species is humanity, whose traits also include language, moral conscience and God consciousness (personality), so it is possible that these human traits reflect attributes of a God who created humanity.
3. Existential reality indicates that humans are mortal and life is painful, but when life is happy, one wishes it would continue indefinitely. Thus, it is rational to seek how to be saved or to become immortal in a heavenly existence.
4. Comparing all possible ways of achieving heaven, the best or most credible way/hope at this point appears to be the God who resurrected Christ Jesus.
5. When God's will is sought, the NT teachings of Jesus and Paul seem to be the most highly inspired when compared with other scriptures (including the OT), because its concept of one God as the just and all-loving Judge (rationale for morality) is spiritually highest or most advanced, and the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus is most credible.
6. Thus, it is wise/makes sense to believe in the NT God and to accept Jesus as God’s Messiah (John 14:6, Rom. 3:21-5:1).
Yes, but the PP is concerned with right reasoning or wisdom involved with attaining saving faith,
whereas much of the wisdom literature is about didachaic topics regarding how a believer should behave/live.
Do you want to apply something in Psalms or Proverbs to modern political issues?
My point was, God’s word is where we get our wisdom on common sense….
Need I say more?
"Yes" indicated I agreed with your point, and then I made the point that GW can be viewed as pertaining to salvation
and building on that foundation, which I proposed was what much of the wisdom literature does.
Finally, I asked whether you wanted to say more by applying some of the points in Psalms and Proverbs to modern politics.
T
TruthDefender
Guest
Nope, just putting it out there."Yes" indicated I agreed with your point, and then I made the point that GW can be viewed as pertaining to salvation
and building on that foundation, which I proposed was what much of the wisdom literature does.
Finally, I asked whether you wanted to say more by applying some of the points in Psalms and Proverbs to modern politics.
Nope, just putting it out there.
Okay, then I will suggest four applications (some kerygmatic, some didachaic and some a little of both) from Psalms:
PS 1:1-2. “Blessed or happy is the person whose delight is in the law of the Lord.” To the extent we learn God’s law or Word or truth we can cooperate with God’s Holy Spirit and be happy on earth. There are two main aspects of this truth.
First “we” implies that no one is an island, so establishing the kingdom of heaven on earth–in a marriage, in a family, in a church, or in any group of people–is a communal project (it takes two to tango or tangle).
Second, the word “cooperate” implies that people have free will, so that although God’s truth is the best way to live, people are free to disbelieve God or to ignore His will, and many do so. Even many of those who attend church learn very little, and so they become confused, divide into denominations and behave in ungodly ways.
PS 2:1-2. “Why do the nations rage against the Lord’s Anointed One [Messiah] or Son [v.7]?” Although this question may have referred to King David, we can see that it is even more relevant today with reference to Jesus. Thus, political strife manifests spiritual struggle, stemming from the beginning disbelief and murder. We must keep in mind the warning of 1John 4:1-3, which teaches that those who do not acknowledge Jesus as Messiah have the spirit of the antichrist or Satan (John 8:42-44).
PS 3:8. “From the Lord comes deliverance” or salvation. I find the NT equivalent or counterpart to be 1Cor. 10:13, “God will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.” This life is not heaven yet, so godly people will suffer physical pain, natural disasters and political oppression, but spiritually they will learn the lessons of Paul in Phil. 4:4-11: be content whatever the circumstances, accentuating the positive, rejoicing in the Lord and becoming more loving like Him (Phil. 1:9-11).
PS 4:4. “In your anger do not sin” is quoted by Paul in Eph. 4:26. Anger can be righteous, as demonstrated by Jesus when he cleared the temple of the money-changers (Matt. 21:12-13). The need is to link our angry emotion with rational love immediately, before we say or do something unloving that we will regret and need to confess later, since two wrongs do not make a right.
Over...
Politics is about either getting absolute power or achieving a consensus. Either one requires deal making that corrupts one in what he believes. I had thought involvement was a civic responsibility and like sewer work, unpleasant but necessary. My experience led me to conclude that it is toxic at any level
My involvement now is only to vote if there is a candidate that I think will do more good than harm. I do not believe in the "lesser of two evils" I did not vote for either in many elections. Satan does indeed set the course of this world (for now and insofar as he is allowed by God).
My involvement now is only to vote if there is a candidate that I think will do more good than harm. I do not believe in the "lesser of two evils" I did not vote for either in many elections. Satan does indeed set the course of this world (for now and insofar as he is allowed by God).
I agree that discerning who to vote for frequently involves deciding which candidate will to more good than harm,
which sometimes means voting for the lesser of two harms.
In the 1960s a case could be made for either Democrat or Republican candidates, but the Dems have become so Marxist/atheist
except for Fetterman that the only possible choice for Christians now is between MAGA and RINO Pubs.
The recent issue of Epoch Times reported that on 3-31-26 SCOTUS ruled against banning sex-change operations on children!
The "reason" was because a ban violates the First Amendments protection against effort "to enforce orthodoxy in thought"!
Does this demonic decision not enforce Christians to permit unorthodoxy, namely trying to do what is impossible?!
The "reason" was because a ban violates the First Amendments protection against effort "to enforce orthodoxy in thought"!
Does this demonic decision not enforce Christians to permit unorthodoxy, namely trying to do what is impossible?!
Christians have protection of religious freedoms. So Christian health professionals should be nor forced to carry out operations against their conscience and parents should not be forced to let their kids have operations. But it shows how deep the moral rot has gone in the once Christian world. These kinds of evils were prophesied 2,000 years ago.
Well, we used to have protection, but ruling like what SCOTUS just made are eroding them quickly.
Evil rot has always been a problem in the world, but godly people are supposed to resist rather than abet it.
The problem stems from the fact that drawing the line regarding moral issues is like waves on the beach:
It is impossible for the line drawn between them not to affect both sides.
