The religious right and the 2010 elections
What we do know is that if God has called a man into his place of authority and calling, there is no reason why he won’t be successful. But to rule right now? To gain authority and overcome in the governance of this world, is it for those Bishops and Pastors who have long preached the Word of God? Certainly we have every right to question, ask and inquire the main reason. Do you think running for the presidency will change the very fabric of the society we are in right now? Or is it a delusion and finally he heard himself consciously and put the words, thus says the Lord, He called me to run even if this was untrue. The Apostle Paul would not have even traded one bit his calling to preach the Gospel into all the world with the position of Emperor Nero, or Peter or the apostles themselves. This is tantamount to an established Apostle of the Church already positioned and seated in his office, going down, and becoming a pauper again. I will not even do it if it’s me.
Religious tolerance
Some of the religious right have seen the corruption in this country as overwhelming, too conspicuous to be ignored any longer and the only way to overcome it is join it. But the spirit of this world cannot commix with the temple of God, and the only way to overcome in this case is to pray and keep on praying to God. Paul wrote the admonition at the time when the very leaders in the government were all pagans and there could have been no hope for them to dwell securely and at peace, but all the churches followed his epistles, which tells, “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (Timothy 2:1-2).
Unlike in China or in other communist parts of this world and in Muslim dominated countries, the Christians in the Philippines have never been persecuted as proportionate to what other Brethren are experiencing in the world. We were actually blessed with a president who is a Catholic and one who had high religious tolerance of others very much unlike her. Now we can all complain, we can all point the fingers to Mrs. Arroyo, but no one has the right to do so, unless he had been praying for her covering, for her success in the government. It is very clear that Brother Eddie has not forgotten the 2006 elections and what happened during that time. Even if corruption is the heart of the matter, as Christians our call is neither to disengage from politics nor to get involved too far when we are not called to be a public servant. The Prophets Daniel, Joseph and King David are prime examples of those who had the office of a public servant and at the same time recognized as church leaders or elders. However, very unlike this time, they did not begin as evangelists only then to seek to get elected in a public office. Are we presenting a new model before the church? Are we seeking to make a precedent?
Why can’t we be contented to share the Gospel? To mentor the succeeding new generation and prepare them to cross into their Promised Land? Are we seeking another office out of boredom from our calling? Are we laying down the torch of our movement just to ride the horse of a public office? Is this the time to rule in a public office for those who are church leaders? I bet, the Scriptures clearly speak that we are to pray for those in authority, we are to help them and expose the darkness that envelopes our present communities and then show them the light. But to become implacable and intolerant of other brethren whether Catholic or Muslims or from other varied backgrounds, this is surely unrighteous. We may feel resentment over our leaders, but every proposal of the president can only be approved if the congress approves her proposal. Ultimately, it is the majority of the congress who will really either thumbs up or thumbs down a project proposal of the president; unless it is a dictatorship, there would have been no use for congress.
Lights of the world
No one can truly lead without the grace of God. And even Saul whom God clothed with His Spirit to rule as King in Israel was so transformed to another man when he followed the Lord. This is essentially the effect of praying and anointing a person in public office God Himself saying, “you shall anoint him to be prince over My people Israel; and he will deliver My people from the hand of the Philistines” (1 samuel 10:16). Samuel in fact laid his hands upon him and when God rejected him as king, he grieved in so much that he did not look for another king until the Lord had to rebuke him, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? (1 Samuel 16:1a). He grieved not just days but weeks! The performance of our public leaders is dependent on the prayers of the saints. If we are doing our job, encouraging our leaders, praying for them and helping them see the light, there would have been no such darkness that quickly engulfed us. The light in one place is not dependent on its political leaders but the church which is called the light of the world. As Jesus had said, if we will only hide this light under our beds, beware because darkness will surely overcome you.
Religious intolerance is no other than the spirit of racism masquerading in another form. It seeks to destroy those who are very much unlike us in views, colors or perspectives. It is true that out of all the running candidates this year, we cannot see a more righteous servant, and it would be good that he wins. But again the question pops up, does God call a Bishop and place him in public service? Though we see a lot of rhetorics, the mere fact that he formed his own party is an evidence that he could not tolerate others who are much different from him or likewise, they cannot tolerate him who is much different from them. Even so, this spirit of intolerance is a combination of unrighteous judgment, spiritual pride and a spirit of control that will not tolerate differences in others. When this spirit has gained influence in a political or religious movement, the most tyrannical governments in history have been the result.
This spirit has been gaining influence in the church through political movements that have been seeking to mobilize the church. We must never forget the lessons from the past, what happened to the church that mixed political leadership with service to God. They became so tyrannical that no other party, no other system of belief could be tolerated other than they and their views. This combination of pride, judgment and control can be the most dangerous form of seeking influence or office. As James wrote, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). Only by humbling ourselves by becoming listeners can we truly walk in humility with others. To be a listener is one who tunes in to the views of others no matter how debase or out of touch these could be.
Moral issues
Many who may appear to be on the right side of moral issues have a spirit of intolerance that is potentially more dangerous than the moral issues they seek to cast out. Now if we try to come against an evil spirit with another evil spirit, we are only multiplying the very evil we are trying to cast out. We have so easily raised up our voice against idolatry, jueteng, corruption, homosexuality and abortion but how did we address the same things in the church? Many Christians are even happier to sing the songs of this world and to dance in discoes than to present themselves as a dance troupe for their churches. They who vehemently oppose jueteng and gambling, are you not gambling for a chance also on every opportunities that comes to you instead of being led by the Spirit of God? They who cry out against corruption in the government, have you been transparent in your church budget this week? Or this month? Is it even outside audited with a financial accountability as clean as filtered waters?
They who cry out against homosexuality, are they not even themselves loving only their own creeds and their own kind? They love to fellowship with their own sects but hate to see those different from them or when they are visited by a Baptist, Protestant or Catholic preacher. They also cry out against abortion but how many moves of God have been aborted because they stopped praying when it got tougher? So in fact, we do the very things we hate in this world and then try to point the finger to those who are doing the same things with us. Before we try to cleanse the world, we have to judge ourselves; we have to present ourselves a chaste bride, worthy of honor before we can even be used by the Lord to rebuke our government. Those who try to lift themselves without the grace of God will fall by the measure of their pride; they go outside their measure of responsibility and territory appropriated by God. This is pride, and He addressed it,
“Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted.” Luke 14:11
“Do not judge lest you be judged. “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. “And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. Matt 7:1-5
Paul speaking of the same thing wrote,
“For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding. But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you. For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we did not reach to you, for we were the first to come even as far as you in the gospel of Christ; not boasting beyond our measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but with the hope that as your faith grows, we shall be, within our sphere, enlarged even more by you.” 2 Cor 10:12-15
All these scriptures speak to us to abhor what is evil and cling to that which is good. To stop pointing the finger to others and do our job of praying and teaching righteousness to our congregation and the youth of this nation, to prepare them for leadership that would walk and enter their Promised Land. Some thinks that by voting the religious right, the conservative, we will win in Politics and changes will happen in the land. But this is not necessarily true. Presidents Carter and George Bush of the United States were all conservative presidents and they fought the best they could but even in moral issues, they were unable to remove abortion in their midst. Even President Angela Merkel of Germany who is a pastor’s daughter was not able to remove legal abortion, prostitution or even bring down their unemployment rate. What is the point? We have sinned! We have pinned our hopes to man! This unbelief has kept the church from walking into her Promised Land. Why not give to Caesar his work that he do his job well while we must pray for him to be successful in bringing law and order? As the prophet had said, “For the Lord is our Judge (judicial), the Lord is our Lawgiver (legislative), the Lord is our King (executive)” (Isaiah 33:22).
Or in short, God does not allow things to happen in the justice, legislative, and executive branches of the government without us praying He helps in those areas. Changes do happen and He is coming in the government through your prayers and constant intercessions for the cities and provinces, “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”
Not by flesh but by the Spirit
In the year of King, Uzziah’s death, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings; with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said,
“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts,,
The whole earth is full of His glory.”
And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. Then I said,
“Woe is me, for I am ruined!,
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I live among a people of unclean lips;,
For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” Isa 6:1-5
The Prophet Isaiah had just been mourning King Uzziah’s death when he saw how big the Lord was, seated on a throne, lofty and exalted. His eyes had previously been only on the affairs of the government as a close aide and adviser to the King, but this encounter forever changed the prophet, as he heard with his ears, the words of the angels crying,
“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts,,
The whole earth is full of His glory.”
He could not believe what his ears were hearing, is this a dream? Is this a vision? Or is it a reality? How can the earth be full of glory? It is full of murders, ravages, disasters and victims have washed with their blood the streets of their towns and cities, how can the earth be full of glory? Then a quake occurred and the prophet trembled with what he saw next, the smoke of His glory came into the temple and he cried loudly,
“Woe is me, for I am ruined!,
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I live among a people of unclean lips;,
For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”
You may think that such encounter seems to be destined only for the prophet, but this has happened even to us. Jesus has entered the Temple and took His blood as an atonement for our sake (see Heb 9:22), every sin, filthiness and worthlessness in your eyes had been taken away by the Lord so that His glory now abides in every believer. As wonderful as Isaiah had experienced, he only saw a type of the glorious infilling that happens to every believer. Just as the prophet only saw the constant bickering, darkness and sins that abound in his country until he met the Lord in the Temple, we have been bound on the contours of this earth sidestepped that the glory that we want to see is not yet manifested. We cry for glory and seek to have it down on earth. But the truth is, for every believer, Jesus has entered already His temple, only we have to see Him high, lifted up and exalted over all the earth—the Lord is both the Judge, the Lawgiver and the King. Just think about how great our King truly is, have you seen any president or prime minister on earth who can do all these without imperfections or weaknesses?
The King is truly exalted above and has entered His temple already. Let us not be left behind in this and abide in the truth that God is King over all the affairs of man, let us therefore stop pinning our hopes to the ability of man but on His ability to deliver the goods because God is able. He says to you, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” (Ps 46:10-11 NIV). How can we lose if we have Him who owns everything? We are therefore more than conquerors through Him who strengthens us. In another Prophet He says, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” (Zech 4:6-7).
Are there mountains of wickedness before you that you cannot overcome? Are there mountains of problems you are seeking to level but cannot? This is the Word of the Lord, He will make it plain before your eyes and level it so that the King of glory can pass through. The key to this power is your prayer because just as the heavens belong to God, He has given us the authority over the earth, “The heavens are the heavens of the Lord; But the earth He has given to the sons of men” (Ps 115:16). Therefore we have power so much that even the prayers of John the Baptist had been told to have done violence in the heavens. How much more a single saint who kneels and prays to God everyday? The outcome of this oncoming election depends much on the prayers of the saints because God hears only the prayers of the righteous and He delights on them.
Let us stop judging with our eyes and let us dwell securely by the fear of the Lord because this affords us the favor of God to do more for His glory and honor. The outcome of the elections in 2010 can so affect the destiny of our country so go and vote for the leaders whom you think God is calling to rule with His wisdom and integrity. Those who will have delight in the fear of the Lord, and those who shall not judge by the sight of their eyes, nor decide by the hearing of their ears.
The Christian in politics
It would be unfair to not write about the other side of the issue, can Christians run for the presidency, senate and congress or even in the local body? Clearly this is addressed in Romans 12:3-8:
“For through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.” Anyone who feel called to run for the position should run in the local and national elections because that is one way of fulfilling your destiny. Is there not a cause why we should not run for it? I think that the only hindrance to not running in the first place is to find that we have not been called for it. If you are truly called and anointed by God to do it, then go for it because each one of us have been given the grace to function in the area and position we were called.
However there are instances when this is untrue such as what we discussed above, Paul could have run for the Roman senate and it would have been legal because he was popular and at the same time had planted many churches and in addition to that he is also a Roman citizen by birth. But he expressedly repeated that everything can be permissible for him but not profitable to everyone. Nor would he boast to go beyond the call of God in his life. That mandate should be clear to us all.
In : Special bulletin
Tags: 2010 elections religious right bro. eddie villanueva
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