{"id":782,"date":"2021-02-05T22:32:04","date_gmt":"2021-02-05T22:32:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stevebelsheim.com\/?p=782"},"modified":"2024-01-17T12:57:49","modified_gmt":"2024-01-17T12:57:49","slug":"should-christians-try-to-influence-the-government-matthew-610","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/?p=782","title":{"rendered":"Should Christians Try to Influence the Government? – Matthew 6:10"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

INTRODUCTION<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Biden-Harris administration issued executive orders that glorify transgenderism and make taxpayer-funded abortions more readily available.  During the 2020 Presidential campaign, Joe Biden promised to sign The Equality Act, which is legislation that essentially would give elevated protected status the LGBTQ lifestyle and harm many Christian ministries.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Biden-Harris administration is anti-Christian.  Even so, should Christians still try to influence a government that is hostile to Christians?[i]<\/a>  The short answer is \u201cyes.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bible teaches that Christians should try to influence the government.  Let\u2019s take a little deeper look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE, CHRISTIANS SHOULD TRY TO INFLUENCE GOVERNMENT<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using a Systematic Theology Resource<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The January\/February 2021 issue of Bible Study Magazine contains an article that suggests using a systematic theology resource as a Bible study tool.   To assist with answering the question should Christians try to influence the government, I looked to my favorite systematic theology, i.e., Grudem\u2019s Systematic Theology.  At page 893, Dr. Grudem writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It is right for Christians to attempt to persuade governments to make laws that protect families and private property and the lives of human beings\u2014laws that both outlaw and punish murder, adultery, theft, and the breaking of contracts (things that violate the Ten Commandments), as well as prohibit homosexual conduct, drunkenness, drug abuse, abortion, and other things that are inconsistent with biblical standards of morality.[ii]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Footnote 11 at page 893 reads [in part]:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

The fact that Christians should try to influence government to make laws consistent with biblical standards is indicated by passages such as Matt. 6:10; 14:4; Acts 24:25; and 1 Tim. 2:1\u20134.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s look at the first passages cited in Footnote 11.  We will look at each of the other passages in subsequent posts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matthew 6:10<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matthew 6:10 is a part of Matthew 6:8\u201313 (NASB95), which reads:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

8<\/sup> \u201cSo do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. 9<\/sup> \u201cPray, then, in this way: \u2018Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10<\/sup> \u2018Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.<\/strong> 11<\/sup> \u2018Give us this day our daily bread. 12<\/sup> \u2018And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13<\/sup> \u2018And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.\u2019<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The operative language is verse 10, which reads, \u201cYour kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.\u201d   The plain meaning of this part of Jesus\u2019 instruction on prayer is to pray that God\u2019s will be done on earth as His will is done in heaven.   One commentator[iii]<\/a> writes that this requires action and not passivity (boldfacing added):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The prayer looks for the perfect accomplishment of what God wills, and that in the deeds of those he has created as well as in what he does himself. It points to no passive acquiescence but to an active identification of the worshiper with the working out of the divine purpose; if we pray that way we must live that way.<\/strong> We see something of the cost of praying this prayer by reflecting on the way Jesus used it (Luke 22:42). In heaven God\u2019s will is perfectly done now, for there is nothing in heaven to hinder it, and the prayer looks for a similar state of affairs here on earth.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

A Christian needs God to teach him or her to do God\u2019s will.  In this regard, Psalm 143:10 (NASB95) reads:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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10<\/sup> Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

God\u2019s will is found in God\u2019s Word.  A short devotional called Answers May 27, 2019 by The Billy Graham Evangelical Association (link: https:\/\/billygraham.org\/answer\/how-do-i-know-gods-will-for-my-life\/<\/a> ) addresses Psalm 143:10:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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King David prayed, \u201c(Lord,) teach me to do your will\u201d (Psalm 143:10). Many pray, \u201cLord, show me Your will,\u201d and then never open up the Bible. When our hearts are right before Him, He promises to teach us. In teaching us, He gives us understanding. His power is put within us through His Holy Spirit. This is a wonderful truth. God\u2019s will is revealed in Scripture and it pleases Him when we desire and do what He instructs.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In reference to Psalm 143:10, one commentator[iv]<\/a> links God\u2019s will to Scripture:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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He offers the prayer to be enabled to live a God-pleasing life or to walk in the way of God\u2019s commandments, chief of which is the commandment of faith.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Going back to Grudem, at page 214[v]<\/a>, Dr. Grudem writes (boldfacing added):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rather, the prayer \u201cYour will<\/em> be done\u201d must be understood as an appeal for the revealed<\/em> will of God to be followed on earth.  If the phrase is understood in this way, it provides a pattern for us to pray on the basis of God\u2019s commands in Scripture.<\/strong> In this sense, Jesus provides us with a guide for an exceedingly broad range of prayer requests. We are encouraged by Christ here to pray that people would obey God\u2019s laws, that they would follow his principles for life, that they would obey his commands to repent of sin and trust in Christ as Savior. To pray these things is to pray that God\u2019s will would be done on earth as it is in heaven.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In summary, Matthew 6:10 provides a biblical basis for Christians to try to influence government (city, county, state and federal) to act in a fashion consistent with God\u2019s will, which is revealed in Scripture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

PRACTICAL TAKEAWAYS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The practical takeaways from Matthew 6:10 include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(1)  Because the Bible teaches that abortion is murder, Christians ought to try to influence governments to stop abortion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(2)  Because the Bible teaches that the lifestyle advocated by the LGBTQ movement is damning, a Christian ought to try to influence government not to pass laws that encourage the LGBTQ lifestyle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are reading this post and are not a Christian, unless God intervenes, your eternal destination is hell.  But, your destiny can change. <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Today can be the day of your salvation.  Please see my blog (https:\/\/stevebelsheim.com\/2020\/04\/20\/for-god-so-loves-you-2\/<\/a>) for a description of how you can be saved and a more concise description at my (https:\/\/stevebelsheim.com\/2020\/10\/20\/there-is-hope-even-when-there-seems-to-be-no-hope-2\/<\/a> ).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NOTICE OF PERMISSIONS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am mindful of and respect the rights other authors and\/or publishers possess in their works.  I thus try my best to not violate any copyright rights other authors and\/or publishers possess in their works.  The below copyright permission statement is the result of my best efforts to understand that limited usage or \u201cfair use\u201d is available and\/or to secure direct permission for specific works.  The quotations from commentaries are considered to be \u201cfair use.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture quotations marked \u201cESV\u201d are from the ESV\u00ae Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture marked \u201cNASB95\u201d are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE\u00ae, Copyright \u00a9 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture marked \u201cNCV\u201d is taken from the New Century Version. Copyright \u00a9 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Scriptures marked \u201cNET\u201d are quoted are from the NET Bible\u00ae  http:\/\/netbible.com copyright \u00a91996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright \u00a9 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture marked \u201cGW\u201d is taken from the God\u2019s Word Bible that is a copyrighted work of God’s Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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[i]<\/a>  Please keep in mind that while this article focuses on the Biden-Harris administration, the Scriptural mandate for Christians to try to influence government encompasses governments at all levels from city, county, state and federal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[ii]<\/a> See Grudem, W. A. (2004). Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical doctrine (p. 893). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[iii]<\/a> Morris, L. (1992). The Gospel according to Matthew (pp. 145\u2013146). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[iv]<\/a> Leupold, H. C. (1959). Exposition of the Psalms (pp. 966\u2013967). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[v]<\/a> Grudem, supra <\/em>at p. 214.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

INTRODUCTION The Biden-Harris administration issued executive orders that glorify transgenderism and make taxpayer-funded abortions more readily available.  During the 2020 Presidential campaign, Joe Biden promised to sign The Equality Act, which is legislation that essentially would give elevated protected status the LGBTQ lifestyle and harm many Christian ministries.   The Biden-Harris administration is anti-Christian.  Even […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[323],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-782","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-government"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/782","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=782"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/782\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2136,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/782\/revisions\/2136"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=782"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=782"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=782"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}