"May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth." ~ Psalm 67:4
In late October 1964 Ronald Reagan gave a speech in support of Barry Goldwater's presidential campaign entitled "A Time for Choosing."
Here is a small part of it:
"You and I have a rendezvous with death, if nothing in life is worth dying for. Or when did this begin? Just in the face of this enemy? Or should Moses have told the children of Israel to live in slavery under the Pharaohs. Should Christ have refused the cross? Should the Patriots at Concord bridge have thrown down their guns and refused to fire the shots around the world. You and I are told, increasingly, we have to choose between a left or right.
Well, I'd like to suggest there is no such thing as a left or right. There's only an up or down."
He's saying there are fundamental principles and values worth standing up for, and that these values transcend political labels like left or right.
I'd like to suggest that 'up' represents choices of freedom, righteousness and alignment with God's will.
'Down' would then be falling deeper into sin and unrighteousness. It is oppression and distance from God’s will.
And let us be clear that a nation can and does chart a course that either aligns with God's will or does not.
There are lukewarm 'Christian' nations.
Pray that America will not be a lukewarm Christian nation. Pray that every nation be salt and light to the other nations.
"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people." ~ Proverbs 14:34
Beke and Smalley outline of The Special Duties of Christians to Civil Government:
ReplyDelete• Christians should speak God’s Word to civil rulers.
• Christian submission to civil authority supports the church’s witness.
• Christians may work in civil or military service under wicked rulers.
• Christians must disobey and resist sinful civil decrees.
• Christians should love and pray for their civil leaders.
• Christians must remember that only Christ’s kingdom lasts forever.
Well said, Bert. What I took away as the summary of your article: “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 NIV
ReplyDeleteThat's a good take. We need to see that the Kingdom of God encompasses a nation and to seek the good for people is also to seek a nation that upholds righteousness.
Delete