So what do we do?  As we seek to understand and apply God’s plan for politics and character as a reference point for policy … what are we to actually DO as Christian people who desire to be responsible stewards of the privileges and opportunities before us?
 

1. WE PRAY.  We pray for governmental leaders as well as the various decisions they face.  And we pray during elections for God’s will to be done. Click here for a prayer guide developed by my friend Rick Shepherd to use in praying about the current election. 

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.                                 1 Timothy 2:1-2

2. WE OBEY OUR LEADERS SO LONG AS IT DOES NOT VIOLATE YOUR CONSCIENCE.  We have an obligation to live according to the laws of the land and to do so as unto the Lord. However, history is full of stories of God’s people standing against immoral and unethical positions and policies developed by their own governments.

Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.  1 Peter 2:13-17 

3. WE PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTION PROCESS.  To not be informed, support your candidate and vote is to neglect your God-given responsibility … not to mention the tragic waste it represents considering the people around our world who risk life and limb in their quest for a system of government like our own.  When God’s people get involved in civil government it blesses everyone.  Click here for a link to a voter guide that will help you better understand the current candidates and issues.

Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.  Proverbs 11:11
 

4. BE INFORMED AND INVOLVED IN DECISIONS AND LEGISLATION BEING CONSIDERED. Our goal should always be to participate in guiding civil decisions to be consistent with the biblical purpose of government outlined in the last two blogs.  For instance, On November 4, the people of Florida will be voting on Amendment Two, otherwise known as the Marriage Amendment.  This is a critical issue where God’s people need to cast their vote and take their stand on the issue of what constitutes “marriage” in the state of Florida.  More on THAT subject in the next blog …

We live in the greatest country in the world … the freedoms and quality of life we enjoy in the United States are unprecedented in human history.  We must not be complacent, assuming these freedoms will always be ours, or fatalistic, believing things are too far gone already; instead, we must pray, become informed, get involved, pray some more, and vote …we must be involved in guiding our state and country to remain an open place where the gospel is freely spread.  Notice the underlying purpose for our prayers for government in the verses following the verses in 1 Timothy 2 from earlier in this blog which says,

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness … This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. (vv. 1-4)

Clearly, there is a lot at stake.