A
Message by Pastor Michael Palmer
Given
to
July
4, 2010
I LOVE MY COUNTRY ENOUGH TO GIVE
IT JESUS!
I love my
country. I love our freedom. I love the principles on which our nation was
founded. I love our history. I love the freedom of conscience we have—the
freedom of religion. I am an
old-fashioned guy.
·
My
father was in the 29th Infantry Division in WWII – D Day.
·
I
remember TV in the Fifties – “Hit Parade,” “Howdy Doody,” “The Honeymooners.”
·
I
remember when there was a general consensus about right and wrong in the
·
I
also remember the tumultuous changes of the Sixties—and 1968: the killing of
Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr, the Tet Offensive, the Democratic
National Convention, race riots.
·
I
remember the spirit of rejection of all authority that began to grip this
country.
·
I
remember the encroachment of Neo-Orthodox and Social Gospel that began to
influence pastoral training and churches and politics.
·
I
have been in the principal’s office receiving the “board of education,” and now
I watch children running wild with parents who do not know how to lovingly
discipline “little Johnny”!
Because I
love
I want to
look at three sections of Scripture this morning. First, I want to look at the sheepherder from
Tekoa called to proclaim God’s Word to the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
q
Amos
5:4-7, 10-17, 23-24
q
Amos
6:1, 11-12
q
Amos
7:7-15
q
Read
also Romans 13:1-7
I. THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER GOD’S AUTHORITY FOR
THE GOOD OF MAN
The
general function of human government, as instituted by God, may be said to be
threefold: to protect, punish, and promote.
a. The Function of Protection:
The moment Adam sinned it was obvious that civilizations would need some
form of restraint and rule to protect citizens from themselves. An example of this function is seen in Acts
21:27-37 where Roman soldiers step in and save Paul from being murdered by his
own enraged countrymen in
b. The Function of Punishment:
Both Paul and Peter bring this out.
Paul writes that duly appointed human officials are to be regarded as
God’s servants to “bear the sword,” that is, to impose punishment upon
criminals (
c. The Function of Promotion:
Human government is to promote the general welfare of the community
where its laws are in effect. Paul
commands us to pray for human leaders “that we may lead a quiet and peaceable
life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Tim. 2:1-2).
It is
impossible for a believer to be a good Christian and a bad citizen at the same
time. As children of God our
responsibility to human government is threefold.
a.
We
are to recognize and accept that the powers that be are ordained by God. “Let every soul be subject to the governing
authorities. For there is no authority
except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God” (Rom.
13:1). This truth applies even to
atheistic human governments unless, of course, the law is anti-scriptural. In that situation, the believer must obey God
rather than man (Acts 4:18-20). In fact,
when Paul wrote those words in Romans 13:1, the evil emperor Nero was on the
throne. See also Titus 3:1.
b.
We
are to pay our taxes to human government (Matt. 17:24-27; 22:21;
c.
We
are to pray for the leaders in human government. “Therefore I exhort first of all that
supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all
men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and
peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior” (1 Tim.
2:1-3).
Paul
exhorts us to pray for those who are in authority that we may lead a quiet
life. We are to pray that they hold
their offices in godliness and honesty (1Tim. 2:1-3).
II. ANY GOVERNMENT THAT TWISTS AND DISTORTS THE
RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD INTO THAT WHICH IS BAD BRINGS GOD’S JUDGMENT TO THAT
NATION
q
Amos
5:7 (NKJV), 5:15; 5:27
q
Amos
6:1,12
q
Amos
7:8-15
q
Amos
8:11
What has happened in
1. Separation of church and state is a principle to protect the
church—not to take God out of the government!
·
Education
·
Textbooks
·
Our
children are at stake
2. Abortion – Precious children are being
killed every day because the federal government says that is the right of the
mother.
3. Gender Issues – the definition of marriage and
the homosexual issue
·
We
are being forced to accept ungodliness.
·
God’s
standard is mocked by our government leaders!
·
This is natural
law. You don’t even have to be a
“biblical person” to understand that this standard is from God!!
4.
Government Fiscal Irresponsibility
·
Spending
more (a lot more) than you bring in
·
Redistribution
of wealth
·
Everyone
doing what is right in his own eyes.
Self-gain is primary, not the good of the nation.
·
Taxes
and fees increasing to pay for leader irresponsibility
·
Entitlement
systems and no production of wealth. It
is a house of cards—postponing to another generation—no discipline.
III. YES WE DO NEED TO RESPOND AND STAND FOR GOD
IN THE
·
Learn
what the issues are. Learn what God’s
Word says. Stand for God’s Word.
·
Inform
others.
·
Vote
the Bible – it has nothing to do with a political party. Vote for candidates that will promote Godly
biblical values. Be educated and
informed.
·
Why
do this? To try to bring more “salt” and
seasoning to a nation in jeopardy so that there will be more opportunity to
enable people to be saved. Our biblical
stand on issues needs to be missional—Christlike, not judgmental.
IV. BUT WE MUST REALIZE THAT THE ONLY HOPE FOR A
FALLEN MIND IS THE SPIRIT OF GOD AND THE WORD OF GOD AND THE PERSON OF JESUS
CHRIST
·
We
must love the very people doing that which brings judgment! Jesus loved
·
If
we are not broken for others who need Christ, how are we any different? The Cross of Christ demands brokenness for
ALL lost people.
·
People
will figure out if we love them or not.
If we do, God will use our intentional relationship building to
bring people to Himself!
·
People
that need Jesus ARE NOT LIKE US! The
question is: are we willing to engage others not like us so God can use us?
I love my
country. And I love my Lord Jesus
Christ. I love my country, but I EXALT
JESUS CHRIST. He is the Sovereign
and the only true God who saves! I love
my country so much that I want to do all I can to bring the message of the
Gospel to