Reclaiming America
Why Pastors (and Christians in general)
need to be involved in the political arena
Rafael B. Cruz
Grace for America
For no other foundation
can anyone lay than that
which is laid, which is
Jesus Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 3:11.
Jesus Christ: the solid foundation
A free society with respect for the individual
Contributing to the lives of others
Purpose in life
Love, joy, peace
A Judeo-Christian ethic
A relationship with a living God
Jesus Christ
If the foundations are
destroyed, What can
the righteous do?
- Psalms 11:3
The world has set other foundations
Socialism
A life of dependency
Social justice
Social gospel
No moral absolutes
You are your own god
Secular humanism
The unfortunate reaction
of the church
to these trends has been
to become less and less
relevant
upon society and
government
Why are we silent?
The excuse:
“Separation of Church
and State”
In a letter to the Danbury Baptist
Association, Thomas Jefferson said:
Believing with you that religion is a
matter which lies solely between man
and his God; that he owes account to
none other for his faith or his worship...
that their legislature should “make no
law respecting an establishment of
religion or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof,”… thus building a wall of
separation between Church and State.
In 1962 and 1963, prayer and
Bible reading were taken out of
public schools.
…and the church remained silent!
The excuse: It is a political issue!
The consequence: Increased
teen pregnancy, violent crime
In 1973, the Supreme Court decided
that unborn babies had no civil rights
and legalized abortion.
…and the church remained silent!
The excuse: It is a political issue!
The consequence: 55 million
babies slaughtered by abortion.
Recently, the Supreme Court ruled
against Defense of Marriage Act
…and the church remained silent!
The excuse: It is a political issue!
The consequence: The decay of
the traditional family.
How long will we
remain silent????
Will we have to answer
to God for our silence?
The excuse:
“God just called me to
share the Gospel”
The question:
What all does the
Gospel encompass?
The witness of the Apostle Paul:
Therefore I testify to you this day
that I am innocent of the blood of
all men. For I have not shunned
to declare to you the whole
counsel of God. - Acts 20:26-27
Are we declaring the whole
counsel of God?
The witness of Jesus:
You are the light of the world…
- Matthew 5:14
For light to have its effect, it has
to shine on darkness!
The witness of Jesus:
You are the salt of the earth…
- Matthew 5:13
For salt to have its effect, it has
to be applied to that which you
want to preserve!
The witness of Scripture:
He who justifies the wicked, and
he who condemns the just,
Both of them alike are an
abomination to the LORD.
- Proverbs 17:15
Are we justifying the wicked by
remaining silent?
The witness of Scripture:
When the righteous are in authority,
the people rejoice; but when a
wicked man rules, the people groan
- Proverbs 29:2
Have we been encouraging our
congregations to vote for
righteous leaders?
The witness of Scripture:
Whom should we elect?
Did you know that the
Bible speaks very clearly
about this issue?
The witness of Scripture:
Whom should we elect?
Moreover you shall select from all the
people (1) able men, (2) such as fear
God, (3) men of truth, (4) hating
covetousness; and place such over
them to be rulers of thousands, rulers
of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and
rulers of tens.
- Exodus 18:21
The essence of Federalism:
Moreover you shall select from all the
people… and place such over them to
be rulers of thousands, rulers of
hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of
tens… Then it will be that every great
matter they shall bring to you, but every
small matter they themselves shall
judge. - Exodus 18:21-22
Article 1 Sec 8, 9th & 10th Amendments
Our historical significance
Every one of the grievances against the
King of England listed in the Declaration of
Independence were preached from the
pulpits of America before they were penned
on the Declaration of Independence!
Pastors were largely at the forefront of the
movement for independence. They were
feared by the British Army who called them
“The Black Robe Regiment”.
Source: Wallbuilders
“The British are coming”
Did you know that in Paul Revere’s
famous ride he was going to the home
of Jonas Clark, a pastor, where John
Hancock and Samuel Adams were
staying?
Pastor Jonas Clark was one of many
Preacher-Patriots that were part of the
Continental Army!
Source: Wallbuilders
The foundation of the Declaration
of Independence and the U.S.
Constitution
29 of the 56 signers of the
Declaration of Independence were
seminary graduates, and the great
majority of the rest were committed
Christian leaders who spoke boldly
about their faith.
Source: Wallbuilders
The witness of Charles Finney:
Brethren, our preaching will bear
its legitimate fruits. If immorality
prevails in the land, the fault is
ours in a great degree.
If there is a decay of conscience,
the pulpit is responsible for it.
The witness of Charles Finney (cont):
If the public press lacks moral
discrimination, the pulpit is
responsible for it.
If the church is degenerate and
worldly, the pulpit is responsible for it.
If the world loses its interest in
religion, the pulpit is responsible for it.
The witness of Charles Finney (cont.):
If Satan rules in our halls of
legislation, the pulpit is
responsible for it.
If our politics become so corrupt
that the very foundations of our
government are ready to fall away,
the pulpit is responsible for it.
The witness of Charles Finney (cont.):
Let us not ignore this fact, my
dear brethren; but let us lay it to
heart, and be thoroughly awake
to our responsibility in respect to
the morals of this nation.
Rev. Charles Finney,
2nd Great Awakening
Pastor Martin Niemöller (Nazi Germany)
First they came for the Socialists,
and I did not speak out-Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade
Unionists, and I did not speak out-Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Pastor Martin Niemöller (Nazi Germany)
Then they came for the Jews,
and I did not speak out-Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me--and there
was no one left to speak for me.
We have a responsibility
to elect righteous leaders!
Let’s not be politically correct,
Let’s be Biblically correct!
We have a responsibility
to be light to those
that are in darkness
May we hear God say:
Well done,
good and faithful servant
Action Steps:
1. Set up a voter registration table in the foyer
of your church (Your civic responsibility!)
2. Preach messages on relevant Christian
principles
3. Provide Voter’s Guides showing how
candidates have voted on Christian issues
(Many Christian organizations provide them)
4. Encourage people to vote for candidates
that uphold and defend Biblical values
If you don’t vote you are part of the problem!
The Declaration of Independence
Last sentence
And for the support of this Declaration,
with a firm reliance on the protection of
divine Providence, we mutually pledge
to each other our Lives, our Fortunes
and our sacred Honor.
We can do no less!