Christians in Government | The gall of some Old Testament people may surprise you (Ezra 6 – Nehemiah 2)
Should Christians be involved in politics? It seems the ‘answer’ to that question can run the entire gamut of possibilities. Comparatively, there is a call to be salt and light to a world of darkness just as there are accusations that those in politics put their faith in man. How do you reconcile the different narratives? Bring it back to the Bible. Always bring worldly questions back to the Bible. Christians in government… let’s start at the beginning.
Genesis displays the worldly nations under worldly government control. To that end, the corruption from sin affects all government leaders. For example, we see how slavery was twisted already in the first book.
It’s never too late to start….
The history of Israelite politics…
Before Israel was a nation, they lived a nomadic lifestyle falling under multiple government rules, even under oppression from slavery. The tower of Babel represents the sin and pride not only that we battle, but that political leaders strive for. Multiple examples exist of Israelites standing up or confronting leaders and kings.
- Abimilech acknowledges “God is with you in all that you do” and they strike a treaty;
- Joseph first becomes the highest respected slave in a government leader’s house (Potiphar), then rises from jail to become the number two man in the entire nation, ruling just under the pharaoh;
- Moses, the adopted son of a prior pharoah, rises up with a mouthpiece (Aaron) as he gains courage to speak in front of and lead the Israelites;
- he essentially creates the nation he is leading (through God’s direction and laws) out of slavery and into the national land;
- Moses’ second in command, Joshua, replaces him to guide the people in battle, then to settle in their land (kings and leaders were often established by military success);
- multiple judges were set in place to rule the land, enforce order, and promote obedience to Godly living;
- David works for the king and becomes the successor king;
- men were appointed by God as prophets to directly confront kings;
- Jeohoida was King Joash’s mentor;
- Ezra, a priest and teacher who had “set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel”, was entrusted by the King to “appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people in the province”; and
- Nehemiah, a cup bearer to the King, boldly requests to head up the rebuilding of Jerusalem and, in turn, becomes the governor.
Where was their faith placed…
There are countless other examples before Ezra and after Nehemiah who were involved in government; including the upcoming renowned story of Esther who became queen. Similarly, she approached the King under threat to her life and utilized her position for such a time as was offered to save the Jews from annihilation.
Thank goodness they all stepped up.
In fact, their faith was placed in the sovereign Creator of the universe, God. They all carried out immensely important political roles while keeping their footing grounded.
When God is in control…
Just as unlikely as it was for King Cyrus to send back the remnant to rebuild the temple, a successor king now sends a man completely devoted to God to further the worship of God… a God the king does not worship. These moments in the Bible point us to the complete sovereignty of God over all situations. The chances this would happen in the ‘real world today’ seem astronomically small, UNTIL we factor in God’s hand.
Ezra mentions multiple times that God’s hand covered over him, the situation, or the king’s decisions. You see, he attributes it all to God. The rebuilding of the temple did not come without challenges, the governors and leaders of the surrounding areas opposed this. Still, Ezra sees that the hand of God was over the process the entire 20 years it took to accomplish.
Who else would you want running the operation? Whether or not we want to accept it, the government has the potential to affect the church. Here, we see that prior leaders decimated the physical church building; they also had the potential to keep the Israelites as slaves in their own country.
But God had different plans.
A leader who cares…
A common thread weaving throughout the lives of the most influential leaders of the Old Testament is their heart for the people they oversee. Likewise, Moses pleaded with God to spare the people and we see Ezra carries a similar attitude.
A leader is not just one who knows the law, so to see the other side of Ezra enforces his true character.
A seasoned Pastor’s wife met me when I inquired about leading a Bible study, and encouraged me to first become involved deeply in the church; she shared that ministry takes on a whole other level when you connect with those in your community on more than a surface level. Rarely does a day go by that I don’t ponder that advice; truly Biblical and wise instruction. Of course, this comes from a woman who has read the Bible some 17 times or so from start to finish, so her advice stems from the greatest source there is because she studies it!
An influential leader…
Most great leaders inspire others. Some people have a natural gift to influence, and utilize that to enact changes or uphold the law. Ezra and Nehemiah both possessed that same trait. In Ezra 9, he pleads with God through prayer regarding the people straying from His laws. (Side note: he wouldn’t know them if he didn’t study them.)
And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, seeing that you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserved and have given us such a remnant as this, shall we break your commandments again and intermarry with the peoples who practice these abominations? Would you not be angry with us until you consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape? O Lord, the God of Israel, you are just, for we are left a remnant that has escaped, as it is today. Behold, we are before you in our guilt, for none can stand before you because of this.
Ezra 9:13-15
This petition could fall on deaf ears but didn’t. Instead, a large crowd gathered around him and began weeping. Their hearts were humbled and they were receptive to his charges of wrongdoings. They wanted to follow suit.
Then Ezra arose and made the leading priests and Levites and all Israel take an oath that they would do as had been said. So they took the oath.
Ezra 10:5
A bold leader…
Nehemiah was equally influential through his strength of character. He did not shy away from situations or hard questions; those are instantly recognizable traits of a leader. When the king noticed his demeanor and asked what he could do, what was Nehemiah’s first response?
Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ graves, that I may rebuild it.”
Nehemiah 2:4-5
He prayed. THEN answered the king… with gall.
Christian leaders who start with prayer display a different attitude than one who forges ahead without consulting God first. It is a humble acknowledgment of God's sovereignty over everything in this world. Share on XChristian leaders who start with prayer display a different attitude than one who forges ahead without consulting God first. It is a humble acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty over everything in this world.
Christians in the world…
Just because your church hires a pastor to shepherd their flock, does not give you license to limit the missional mindset you should take with you to do the same in the world. Share on XWe are called to be salt and light to the world, not to hunker down and hide from all people. One common way this is met is through work. Most Christians do not have their full-time jobs or careers within the church. However, just because your church hires a pastor to shepherd their flock, does not give you license to limit the missional mindset you should take with you to do the same in the world.
Our work provides the opportunity to share the good news with those in the world. Additionally, at church, consider all of the different businesses that hire the people sitting next to you. We are to live in the world, not of it; however, we also work in it.
Arguably, one of the most effective missionaries in the world was a tent maker who wanted to pay his own way to share the Gospel with the Gentiles. He worked among people yet cast his net of influence to all he met. Likewise, the jobs we have come in all shapes and sizes.
Similarly, the employment we enter will be both in the private and public sectors and we have the opportunity in both to be a light.
Christians in government…
The world of government and politics is also a host for Christian leaders. Can people get swept up in the lure of power or fame? Sure, just like they could as a CEO or an owner might.
Keep in mind, a government job is not inherently bad unless you are sinning while doing it. It helps to see the government as a bigger version of your family.
If you consider a typical family with a husband, wife, and children… consider who you want at the helm. A Christian leader who knows their Bible, actively studies it, begins all with prayer and humility, encourages, leads with boldness, confronts sin, and strives to live their life in complete obedience to God.
So, too, think about the country you live in as an extended family; we are called to help those around us and care for the least among us. They are a (much) broader version of the family.
Who would you want to lead?
Christians in government provide the opportunity for Godly leadership. With this in mind, would you not want the same person leading in schools, cities, states, and countries to have the same mindset as the one who leads your family? Now, are politics something every Christian should enter into? Not necessarily… but it may be something you want to consider.
A Christian leader who knows their Bible, actively studies it, begins all with prayer and humility, encourages, leads with boldness, confronts sin, and strives to live their life in complete obedience to God.
True, God will use whomever He pleases to carry out His will, however, for some His will may be for you to be one of those Christians in government.
Last Week
2 Chronicles 35 – Ezra 5
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These are deep and multi-layered questions and require so much discernment. So crucial that we know God and his word.