Guest Editorial by Gene McCoy, Mountain Home, AR: The new administration will officially launch its agenda on January 20. Personal politics aside, Christians must prepare for the imminent collision. We can see only the tip of the iceberg. An issue analyst at Focus on the Family wrote, “it will soon be difficult for . . . Christians to stand up for God’s created intent for sexuality, gender, marriage and the family.” Mr. Obama promises to unite and heal. The very constituency that put him in power, however, is thwarting this objective.California, Arizona and Florida voters resoundingly approved measures to preserve traditional marriage. Mr. Obama, in the name of unity and national healing, selected a preacher who supported this decision in California to pray at his inauguration. Both of these decisions met with a firestorm of protest and litigation by the militant homosexual community, which alleges that the support of traditional marriage constitutes “hate speech.”
Christians who cannot support the social agenda that violates the clear teaching of Scripture cannot be tolerated by the most vociferous proponents of tolerance! In other words, anyone who advocates Biblical teaching relating to sexuality, marriage, and life issues is regarded as an enemy of national unity and healing — even though peaceful measures provided for in our Constitution (i.e., voting) were employed to set policy and establish laws.
We are seeing only the tip of the iceberg. The new administration has promised to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and to pass the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA). These will undermine and reverse laws that reflect God’s design for marriage and the sanctity of human life. We must prepare for and respond to this collision according to Biblical precept and apostolic precedent.
The Bible enjoins us to pray for kings and all who are in authority so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity (1 Tim. 2:1,2). It also teaches us to submit for God’s sake to governing authorities, being ordained and established by God (1 Pet. 2:13-17; Romans 13:1-7). Prayers for our elected officials and government should be to the end that we may honor the Lord in worship and service in a peaceful and tranquil context. To pray for authorities does not require us to support them or their policies when they oppose God’s expressed will.
Jesus and the apostles provide a model we may emulate when government collides with Christianity. Jesus challenged the high priest when He was being treated illegally and unfairly (John 18:19-24). The apostles refused to be intimidated by the authorities (Acts 4:13-22) who threatened them. Charged not to speak in the name of Jesus, the apostles defied the ruling and refused to comply, boldly proclaiming that they answer to a higher authority. The principle they followed is succinctly stated by Peter in Acts 5:29, to wit, “We must obey God rather than men.”
There is a seismic shakedown occurring in our culture, and the government is being manipulated by the strong-arm tactics (e.g., shameless extortion) of evil forces. Advocates of truth and righteousness, like the apostles and the Lord, Himself, are accused of bigotry and homophobia, insensitivity and intolerance. Should the policies of our president-elect become law, it is likely that some preachers and teachers you know may follow in the steps of their apostolic forebears, who were imprisoned and persecuted.
In your prayers regarding our governmental leaders include this prayer from the lips of our first-century brothers: “And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond servants may speak Your word with all confidence (or boldness).” (Acts 4:29) And remember the words of Jesus to comfort and reassure His disciples who were facing persecution: “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage: I have overcome the world.” (Jn. 16:33)
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Gene McCoy is an active advocate for life. He is the past-president of the Baxter County Right to Life and is a preacher at Memorial Christian Church in Mountain Home, Arkansas.
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