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THIS WEEK’S FEATURED PROGRAM
Episode 636: Was Jesus involved with Politics
Notes:
JESUS WAS WISE BUT DID NOT COMPROMISE, HE CONFRONTED LEADERS.
If we define politics as being involved with people who wield political power then Jesus was very involved in politics. He often criticized the leaders of His nation. They were the Sanhedrin. Christ criticized these political and religious leaders relentlessly.
Matthew 16:6-11 Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducee’s.”.. because you have brought no bread? 9 “Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up?..11 “How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? –but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducee’s.”
The leadership of the nation was corrupt and Jesus was not shy about proclaiming it. Why did Jesus have to clean out the temple twice ? Because of the obvious corruption.
Matthew 23:1-3 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 “Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.
Christ was not calling for an open bloody revolution to take power. He will do that on His second coming but to NOT follow their bad example or to trust them. He is clearly meddling in politics which is all about power and control. If a democracy did exist then, they would clearly be encouraged by Jesus to vote these leaders out of power. See Mathew 23:1-39. Note.
Matthew 23:23-24″Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24 “Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
The political leadership lacked understanding justice and were blind in their policies.
PAUL USED HIS CITIZENSHIP AND HIS RIGHTS TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL
The apostle Paul used his rights as a citizen to protect himself and to spread his powerful witness to Israel. Note what he did after being arrested to allow him to speak.
Acts 21:39-40 But Paul said, “I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; and I implore you, permit me to speak to the people.” 40 So when he had given him permission, Paul stood on the stairs and motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying,
Paul used his citizenship for protection and the right to witness the gospel to nearly the entire city of Jerusalem. Further, again he used that citizenship to avoid going back to Jerusalem for a clear assassination plot against him.
Acts 25:10-11 So Paul said, “I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know. 11.. “For if I am an offender,..anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.”
Paul denied the power of these top officials and although he was not afraid of death he would BLOCK this plot with his citizenship. We should also use our citizenship to push the gospel message and, that would clearly include speaking out against evil political leaders and voting.
WE ONLY WANT TO PREACH THE GOSPEL SO WE WILL AVOID POLITICS
This is the position of many believers today, we will avoid all controversial issues. Our silence could be taken by some as tacit approval of decadence. A believer should help fashion policies that are serving the community. If the wrong people are in charge they will use such things as hate speech laws to block some parts of the gospel message.
Isaiah 10:1-2 “Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, Who write misfortune, Which they have prescribed 2 To rob the needy of justice, And to take what is right from the poor of My people, That widows may be their prey, And that they may rob the fatherless.
God thru his prophet is warning the nation about leaders who enact policies that rob the needy and devour widows estates just like the leaders in Jesus’s day. Should a believer help? How?
Matthew 25:42-46’for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 ‘I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ 44 “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 “Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.“
We should help by wisely giving to the needy as we are able, and by voting for leaders who will enact the better policies to improve society and help the needy and not make things worse. If only the evil and misguided people vote and Christians and Jews stay home what will happen to any community? The answer is obvious. They will get a government that will steal all individual rights and impose decadent and dangerous polices. Once evil get into full power they try and rig the system so they can never lose it again.
BE A BLESSING TO THE COMMUNITY THAT IS YOUR RESIDENCE
This is a biblical principle you can see in the words of the prophets. Note :
Jeremiah 29:7 And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace.
Where possible be a helpful member and resident of that city which would include voting for the better candidates for such positions as school boards and other officials. Then all can have peace and prosperity. Our prayer foremost and our votes secondarily can help hold off evil forces from dominating that community. Then we will be blessing our kids and ourselves as well.
Mark 12:14-17., “Teacher, we know that You are true,..not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?..,”Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” 17 And Jesus answered..”Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at Him.
Christ is acknowledging our civic responsibilities to pay all taxes. That obligation would include voting for the better candidate. One is not commanded to vote, but it would be the responsible thing to do, not allowing selection be done alone by the misguided in our nation.
Esther 10:3 For Mordecai …and well received by the the multitude of his brethren, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen.
We want good leadership like this that serves the entire country as much as is possible, so vote wisely and prayerfully.