In Defense Of Politically InCorrect Callings
posted July 29th, 2007 in etcDedicated to those of like mind facing the ridicule from their own.
“Why would you ever want to do THAT?!” “You want to do what?!” “Are you sure?”
These are some of the responses Christians get from other believers when they say that God is calling them into law or politics. Many Christians don’t see these places “fit” for a Christian to be involved in. “It’s corrupt, why would you want to be involved in politics?”or “Lawyers are slimy and evil, why would you want to be one of them?” For the Christians called into these arenas, the answer is in the question. The only way to make politics less corrupt is to infiltrate with a biblical worldview. The only way to infiltrate is to be involved. There are slimy people in law, which is why the only way to cleanse it of the slime is to get Christians in there to bring justice back into the law. The only way to affect change is to get involved in the process.
We don’t ridicule people for becoming missionaries or pastors – and those are indeed worthy callings. However, we see fit to give the culture missionaries a hard time because we don’t see that job as “God honoring” or “holy”. What we seem to forget is that every occupation is a mission field for a Christian. Politics and law are two mission places that really need more missionaries involved in.
Some people say that we shouldn’t be involved in law or politics because “the system can’t be fixed”, “it’s for animals”, or “God wouldn’t call anyone there”. What they’re forgetting is that law and government are God-ordained and have been around since the beginning of civilization. You can not have one without the other.
Ever since the beginning there has always been some form of government established and laws that coincide with it. The family, the Church, Theocracies, Republics, Totalitarians are all different forms of Government. Does this mean God ordained communism? Certainly not, the Biblical role of Government is clearly outlined throughout the bible (you can also see it here). Along with government there has always been law or rules to coincide.
In fact, not only did God create and establish government, but He created and established law too!
In the garden, God gave Adam a command – Take the earth and subdue it, be fruitful and multiply, you have dominion over all the animals. The government was a theocracy, and God made the law. Later on, God gave more laws or commandments. All throughout history laws and governments have been created. God doesn’t want anarchy, neither does He want the evil in power. Proverbs 29:2 points out: When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
How can we as Christians look at two very important and inseparable aspects of civilization and deem it “not of Christ” in an attempt to deter people from what God has called them to do?
So many people see those in law as inhuman, always taking advantage of others and only looking out for themselves. While it is often true that some lawyers are only in it for the money, that is not always the case. Simply look at Jay Sekulow and the ACLJ or HSLDA. They are great advocates for justice, serving America. They are preserving God’s law and the American Constitution, not promoting an anti-God agenda. We are outnumbered, and that is why we need more people in this area with a biblical worldview.
We are called to be a light penetrating darkness, not a light trying to outshine all the other lights. We can’t penetrate darkness if we aren’t going and doing what God is calling us to, and we’re limiting the amount of light that could be spread when we don’t support those who are trying to do what God has called them to do. The Christians involved in law and politics are facing enough pressure from the world , do we as brothers and sisters in the faith really need to make following God’s call on their lives more difficult because we haven’t deemed this occupation “of God”?
It’s not a matter of do we like that fellow believers are going in to this arena, it’s a matter of are we doing what God has called us to do and encouraging our brothers and sisters in Christ to do the same and continue following Him?
That’s sooo true… can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people talking about how evil law/political jobs are (and once how someone “left the church and became a lawyer” - sort of as if the things were one and the same). Or you’ll tell them you’re going to college for that, and although they don’t necessarily tell you you’re crazy, they go into a monologue about how they could never be involved in politics, considering how evil it is
Or they’ll just flat out say, “why would you do that??” (lol, just like you say at the beginning).
Anyway, totally awesome post
Jay Sekulow is a fraud, a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Put his name in our search engine at TheAmericanView.com, please. May God bless us all — as He does when we obey Him.
John, I find it very interesting that The American View has taken Jay Sekulow out of context. Jay Sekulow’s job is to defend the American Constitution - most of the precepts of which can be found in the Bible. I fail to see how he is a “fraud” or a “wolf in sheep’s clothing”. What I see is a certain organization putting blame in the wrong place and taking things out of context to make it fit their own agenda.
It seems sir, that The American View’s biggest problem with Sekulow was that he said that Chief Justice Roberts shouldn’t have to answer questions about Roe and abortion. While their claims are very convincing, they are failing to give the full story - and that is that Roe V. Wade and abortion are non-constitutional issues and a federal Judge is sworn to uphold the constitution, not an unconstitutional mandate.
I’m pleased, however, that you do agree with me and believe that Christians should be involved in law and politics and strive to uphold justice.
Thanks for your comment
Heh, I hear this a lot. But I also hear a lot of people saying that we need _more_ Christian lawyers and politicians. So it cuts both way. I read a book by Hugh Hewitt called “In, But Not Of” which discussed influencing the world and how to do it. Highly recommended.