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Should I Mix Politics
And Religion?
Christian thoughts on every day parenting.
by Donna Shepherd
All materials copyrighted
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Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling.
-- Psalm 2:10-11
In the United States, news of the coming presidential election fills the airwaves. Does it really matter who leads our country? If you
have small children and they hear a lot of talk about politics, they may ask many questions. Our teenagers hear adults saying, “What’s
the use?” As they near voting age, they might adopt the attitude, “Why should I even vote?”
Does it matter who our leaders are? Isn’t God in control ultimately? Why do we stress ourselves out over political matters?
God has ordained the system of civil government. Without a government, we would have chaos. We see in Romans that all authority comes
from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God and permitted to lead.
“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.” (Romans 13:1).
“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.” (1 Peter 2:13-14).
We are to submit ourselves for the Lord’s sake. The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy from prison. Even though in chains, he advised
Timothy: “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.
Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This
is good and pleases God our Savior.” (1 Timothy 2:1-3).
Pray with your children for all those in authority, from the local government to those in the highest offices. This pleases our God Who
has allowed those men and women to come into their places of leadership.
At times, I’ve been ashamed of our leaders and the moral decay evident in their lives. Let’s not gloss over sin. Call it what it is, and
pray for repentance. Remember, our leaders are human – men and women prone to the same weaknesses, sinful tendencies, and temptations
as the rest of us. Don’t excuse sin, but pray for the sinner. The Contemporary English Version of Proverbs 14:34 says, “Doing right
brings honor to a nation, but sin brings disgrace.” God help our leaders to do right and live with honor!
As you pray with your children, pray for the will of God to be acknowledged, for moral choices to be made, and that godly wisdom will
prevail in the minds of our leaders.
It’s also important that you show your children that you put feet to your faith. Take your children along as you make your voice heard
in the voting booth. Pray before you vote.
While I believe it is our duty as Christians to get involved in the political process, and hopefully, to promote righteousness in our
leaders and in our nation, our greatest concern is for the salvation of our nation and its people. The apostle John reminds us that one
day this world will pass away.
“Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For
the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions.
These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But
anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.” (1 John 2:15-17).
One day one leader, Jesus Christ, will rule the entire world and the universe for eternity. We obey the laws of the land, but more
importantly, we obey our Father, God. We are loyal to our country, but our greatest allegiance is to Jesus Christ. In Revelation 22,
we read that if you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, you also will live forever to rule and reign with the King of Kings and Lord of
Lords.
But until then, we live on planet Earth. As Christians and as parents, let’s make an impact for Christ by praying for those in authority
and standing up for our moral convictions.
BUSY Parents Tip
You know how the saying goes. “Never mix politics and religion.” Ignore that advice. Sit down with your children and discuss why their
faith in God should influence the way they live and the way they form their political viewpoints.
About The Author:
Donna J. Shepherd is the author of Topsy Turvy Land
and a contributing author to Anytime Prayers for Everyday Moms.
From bird watching to the Beatitudes, her writing touches the heart with wisdom and humor while feeding the mind with
daily portions of God's Word. Read more of her writing at Donna J. Shepherd.
Information provided in this column is for entertainment purposes only.
The information in this column is not meant to be taken as legal, medical, or professional advice.
Read legal disclaimer.
* This column is available for your publication, for a F-E-E.
This column may NOT be reprinted without monetary compensation and written permission from the author.
For reprint rights or comments/questions about this article, please contact the author.
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