It's Finally Over!

It seemed like the Presidential election lasted several years. Regardless of whether your guy won or not, the good news is that it will be another 3½ years before we are inundated with all the reasons why the wrong guy was elected Tuesday. (Since I am writing this the day before the election, I don't have a clue who won and who lost, but it doesn't matter; the losing party's next candidate will use this as his/her major plank in his/her platform. Some things never change…)

So, what are politics doing in a religious column! Everyone knows you're not supposed to mix religion and politics! Separation of Church and State, don't you know!

Actually, the two are no more separated in the Bible than in the Constitution. In fact, Scripture clearly points out that God has always used the governing authorities to accomplish His will.

Some in the religious community think that God's Divine Will can only be accomplished by those political leaders who ardently believe, profess and follow Him. If this was the case, God would be equally paranoid about who is elected. It would bring to mind an image of God staying up past His bedtime, sitting on His heavenly throne, watching CNN with His fingers crossed, hoping that His people had prayed hard enough to sway the pagans into voting His man into office!

But, thank goodness, Scripture makes it clear that God has never been at the mercy of the leadership of any nation to get His work done.

A good example is how He freed the Israelites from the tyrannical oppression of the Ramesside Pharaoh…a ruler who was anything but a believer in God. When Moses and Aaron approached Pharaoh seeking the release of the Hebrews from Egypt, they told him: "This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 'Let my people go…'" Pharaoh's response? "Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go." (Exodus 5:1,2 NIV)

God subsequently caused several natural disasters to help Pharaoh understand how serious he was about getting the Israelites out of there. Scripture recounts that after Pharaoh hardened his heart twice (Exodus 8:15,32) to God's working, God then assisted Pharaoh with his desire to be hard-heartedly intent on keeping the religion of the Jews separate from his political aspirations. It was as if God said, "You want a hard heart? You got it!" Exodus 9:12,34, 10:1,20,27, 11:10, 14:8 tell how God hardened Pharaoh's heart beyond redemption…then did what He was going to do anyway-delivered the Hebrews from Egypt. Because of Pharaoh's stubbornness, Israel was not only freed from slavery, the people of Egypt gave them a national treasury to go quickly!

1500 years later, God inspired another Jew to record how He wanted the believers in the early Church to relate to the political authorities:

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. (Romans 13:1,5-7 NIV)

Just in case you think the Apostle Paul was telling his readers how to relate to a godly president, notice that his letter is to the believers in Rome-the seat of the government whose rulers were allowing some of the same readers of Paul's letter to be eaten by lions in the coliseum simply to satisfy the crowd's horrible appetite for gore.

A few years earlier, Pontius Pilate, the procurator of imperial Rome in Palestine, warned Jesus Christ about his power to determine His fate:

The Jews insisted, "We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God." When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, and he went back inside the palace. "Where do you come from?" he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. "Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?" (John 19:7-10 NIV)

A corrupt governor, more concerned about politics than justice was about to murder the Son of God; there has never been a more blatant contest of Evil vs. Good, State vs. Church, Government vs. God.

Had God been at the mercy of Pontius Pilate, Jesus Christ could have appealed to his mercy and avoided the crucifixion. But, God wasn't at Pilate's mercy. Jesus responded to Pilate's warning and set the record straight for Pilate about who is more powerful, God or government:

Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin." From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, "If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar." (John 19:11-12 NIV)

The crucifixion of Jesus Christ probably caused many to think civil authority is supremely powerful…even over God. On a much lesser scale, this election may have caused some whose candidate lost to fear that God will not be able to do His will, but guess what? Neither the crucifixion, nor this election are a sign that God is losing ground and about to wave the flag of surrender.

As for those who want to keep God and State separate, don't tell 'em, but the State doesn't have enough power to kick Him out!