Answers to Objections #2

Post date: Dec 07, 2016 6:36:30 PM

Apr 10, 2011 by Buddy Hanson

Answers to Common Objections are a regular column featured each Monday on Explicitly Christian Politics. These answers were written by Buddy Hanson and published in the appendix of his book, The Christian Civil Ruler’s Handbook. Buddy has written a number of books on applying God’s Word to culture, civil-government and politics and we are grateful for the answers he gives to common objections we hear all the time. Check out his website here.

Objection #2: “Religion and Politics Don’t Mix”

The decisions politicians make have a major impact on how we live. After all, it is they who set the standards on what is a crime, how much we are taxed, etc., and to allow them to determine which actions are acceptable behavior without referring to God’s inerrant Word is to invite subjective (and ever-changing) laws as well as subjective and unpredictable verdicts. Only God’s Word provides a fixed, never-changing, and predictable ethical standard by which we can confidently strive to live.

The person making this objection should be asked to reconcile these eight Scriptural facts:

• • 1. Civil government was begun by God when He gave Noah authority to execute murderers (Genesis 9:6-7 ).

  • 2. Joseph was made ruler in Egypt (Genesis 41:38-49 ).

  • 3. Moses was the civil ruler in Israel (and because of Jethro’s counsel, appointed lesser magistrates) (Exodus 18:13-27).

  • 4. “Case laws” are provided for the government of family, church and state (Exodus 21-23).

  • 5. God instructs both priests and kings to follow His law (Deuteronomy 17:14-20).

  • 6. The book of Judges is filled with examples of civil rulers delivering Israel from political oppression: Othniel, 3:9; Ehud, 3:15; Shamgar, 3:31; Deborah/Barak, 4:4,6; Gideon, 6:11; Jephthah, 11:1; and Samson, 14.1.

  • 7. The book of Hebrews commends these civil rulers with these words: “And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets who by faith conquered kingdoms, [and] performed acts of righteousness…” (Hebrews 13:32-33).

  • 8. The books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles tell of the rise and fall of kings and kingdoms, with individual kings singled out for their obedience to God’s law.

The person who refuses to consider what God’s Word has to say about politics is failing to take advantage of the whole counsel of God .