1. 2 Do evangelism, not politics 3 We Can All agree to this God Saves people to be Holy and to do...

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Do evangelism, not Do evangelism, not politicspolitics

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We Can All agree to thisWe Can All agree to this God Saves people to be Holy and to do good

worksEphesians 2:10 – created in Christ Jesus for good

worksMatthew 15:16 let your light shine before others, so

that they may see your good works and give glory to your father who is in heaven

Galatians 6:10 as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone

2 Timothy 1:9 God has saved us and called us to a holy life

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Feeling uneasy about the Feeling uneasy about the church influencing church influencing

politicspolitics Should the church/gospel/pastor influence: individual?marriage?family?realm of education?work place?realm of government?

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Won’t political involvement Won’t political involvement distract from the main task of distract from the main task of

preaching the gospel?preaching the gospel? If Mike Gil places much of his attention

on the sound system, won’t that distract the church from the main task of preaching the gospel?No, not at all. That is what God is called Mike

to emphasizeThe whole ministry of the church will include

many emphasis

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if you’re younger than if you’re younger than 5858

In 1954 the U.S. Congress amended (without debate or analysis) §501 (C) (3) to restrict the speech of nonprofit tax exempt entities, including churches, requiring that they refrain from any advocacy of or opposition to any specific political candidates by name.

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if you’re younger than 58if you’re younger than 58 This amendment was pushed by then Sen.

Lyndon Johnson to get back at two nonprofit organizations that vocally oppose his candidacy for Senate

The penalty is revocation of the tax-exempt status of the church

A bit of a hollow threat because the IRS has never actually revoked the tax-exempt status of any church for violating this policy

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The Johnson amendmentThe Johnson amendment§501 (C) (3) to §501 (C) (3) to

Prior to the passing of the “Johnson amendment” [1954] there were NO restrictions what churches could or could not do with regard to speech about government and voting

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CChristian hristian LLegal egal AAssociationssociation

Does not argue that “pastors should routinely endorse or oppose various candidates. Rather, it contends that there are times when the moral and religious issues on which candidates differ are so blatant so clearly supported or opposed by biblical principles that pastors should have the freedom to speak out on various candidates when they think it is wise to do so”

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Pastors and politicsPastors and politicshistoricallyhistorically

Historically, churches had frequently and fervently spoken for and against candidates for government offices

Sermons date back to the founding of America including sermons against Thomas Jefferson for being a deist, opposing William Howard Taft as a Unitarian, etc…

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1. Historically1. Historically 2. Biblically2. Biblically

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U.S. Constitution and religious freedoms

U.S. ConstitutionU.S. Constitutionfreedom of religionfreedom of religion

1.Historically

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The Ultimate The Ultimate GovernmentGovernmentTheocracyTheocracy Yes

In His theocracy God rules Earth through different mediators (Abraham and Moses, etc.) at different times in history.

No2 Corinthians 4:4The final form of the

theocratic kingdom will be in the future

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DemocracyDemocracyfreedom of religion freedom of religion

There is a reason why people are coming legally and illegally to America but not Afghanistan, Syria, North Korea, Iran, Sri Lanka, etc.

2010 –1,042,625 LEGAL immigrants (India, China, Mexico, Dom Reb)Democracy is the best government in a fallen

world

Iran or North Korea?15

American HistoryAmerican History Lots of opinions but not much knowledge 66% of polled Christians believe the

phrase “separation of church and state” occurs in the Constitution

Over all, 20% of fourth graders, 17% of eighth graders and 12% of high school seniors demonstrated proficiency on the exam by the (National Assessment of Education Progress)

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Declaration of Declaration of IndependenceIndependence

Written by Thomas Jefferson and edited by the Continental Congress

The document stating that we would no longer accept rule by England; it also lists the reasons why we were declaring independence

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Declaration of Declaration of IndependenceIndependence

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

The only person to sign the Declaration of Independence on July 4th was John Hancock; officially put into affect August 2, 1776 18

Articles Articles of Confederationof Confederation

1777 After the ratification of the Declaration of Independence, establishing the "united colonies" as Free and Independent States, the Continental Congress set to work on the task of drawing up a document that would provide a legal framework for that Union, and which would be enforceable as the law of the new land 19

1787 American 1787 American ConstitutionConstitution

The Constitution was our 2nd attempt to provide a structure in order to run the country (1st was the Articles of Confederation)

The US Constitution was originally written in 1787 at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia and was then ratified by the original 13 states.

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1787/1791 1787/1791 American ConstitutionAmerican Constitution

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America”

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1787 American 1787 American ConstitutionConstitution

The Constitution was created to form a more unified government. It states the basic principles of our society and the basic laws of our nation.

The Constitution also states how our nation is organized including the powers and authorities of our government between the different political units. It guarantees certain rights to the people and it defines and limits the powers of our government's different branches.

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Debate

Fresh in people’s minds was the memory of the British violation

of civil rights before and during the

Revolution and they demanded

a "Bill of Rights"

US Constitution

Bill Of RightsBill Of Rights

The Bill of Rights is an adjunct to the Constitution that makes clear that the federal government is either prohibited from restricting or mandated to provide certain rights to individuals and to states

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17911791 - the Bill of Rights - the Bill of Rights [Amendments][Amendments]

The first 10 constitutional amendments ratified in 1791 are known as the Bill of Rights.

The Constitution has been amended 17 times (for a total of 27 amendments) and its principles are applied in courts of law by judicial review … well, sort of…

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U.S. Constitution and U.S. Constitution and religious freedomsreligious freedoms

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

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U.S. Constitution ratified 1788

Bill of Rights1791

Amendments

1ST Amendment

America America A Christian NationA Christian Nation

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influence

influence

Amendment IAmendment I67% believe the phrase “separation

of church and state” is in the Constitution - NOT!

Amendment IJames MadisonFischer Ames

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““Separation of church Separation of church and state”and state”

Nothing to do with the 1st Amendment The phrase originates in Thomas

Jefferson's personal 1802 letter to the Baptist Association of Danbury, ConnecticutA governmental law was essentially forcing

Baptists throughout the state to support Congregational churches

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America a Christian America a Christian Nation?Nation?

Yes!But it is

fading quickly

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Amendment 1? Amendment 1? No No MysteryMystery

James Madison (1751-1836) clearly articulated his concept of separation when explaining the First Amendment's protection of religious liberty. He said that the First Amendment to the Constitution was prompted because "The people feared one sect might obtain a

preeminence, or two combine together, and establish a religion to which they would compel others to conform”

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James Madison The 1st Amendment clearly meant that

Congress was prohibited from establishing a national religious denomination, that Congress could not require that all Americans become Catholics, Anglicans, or members of any other denomination.

government could not force or coerce religion not that the church could not influence government

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James MadisonJames Madison “We have staked the whole future of

American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future of all of our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for self-government; upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God”

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James MadisonJames MadisonMadison‘s personal Bible written

notes appear in the margin of Chapter 19 of the Book of Acts: Believers who are in a state of grace,

have need of the Word of God for their edification and building up therefore implies a possibility of falling. v. 32

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Fischer Ames - 1801 Palladium Magazine“dark and murky night of pagan immorality”If the Bible ever fails to remain the preeminent

subject in our schools within one generation there will not be enough prisons to hold our prisoners

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The First Prayer offered in Congress September 7, 1774 by Jacob Duehe“O - Lord our Heavenly Father, high and

mighty King of kings, and Lord of lords, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers on earth and reignest with power supreme and uncontrolled over all the Kingdoms, Empires and Governments… All this we ask In the name and through the merits of Jesus Christ, Thy Son and our Savior

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Benjamin Rush Prominent Founding Father 1745-1813

3 x is presidential advisor Signer of the Declaration of Independence Founder of six universities Founder of first Bible society Appointed by Pres. John Adams as the treasurer

of the US mintA Defense of the use of the Bible in Schools

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SAMUEL ADAMS American Revolutionist and a Signer of The

Declaration of Independence“I conceive we cannot better express ourselves

than by humbly supplicating the Supreme Ruler of the world...that the confusions that are and have been among the nations may be overruled by the promoting and speedily bringing in the holy and happy period when the kingdoms of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ may be everywhere “

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1st President George Washington“Direct my thought, words and work,

wash away my sins in the immaculate Blood of the Lamb, and purge my heart by Thy Holy Spirit .... Daily frame me more and more into the likeness of Thy Son Jesus Christ”

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2nd President John Adams“We have no government armed with

power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion... Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” October 11, 1798

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Actions Speak Louder Than Words

The House of Representatives called for a national day of prayer and thanksgiving on September 24, 1789THE SAME DAY THAT IT PASSED THE

FIRST AMENDMENT

From 1789 onward, Congress has authorized chaplains, paid by public funds, to offer prayer in Congress and in the armed services

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Jefferson closed the Danbury letter, written in his official capacity as President, with a prayer: “I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection and blessing of the common Father and Creator of man."

On the very day Jefferson sent his letter to the Danbury Baptists he was making plans to attend church services in the House of Representatives.

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Jefferson signed a treaty into law in 1803 that provided for a government-funded missionary to the Kaskaskia Indians.

In response to Congress' request of July 9, 1812, President James Madison issued a proclamation recommending a day of public humiliation and prayer to be observed by the people of the United States, with religious solemnity

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The Ten Commandments are inscribed on the wall of the United States Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court begins each session with the prayer: "God save the United States and this Honorable Court."

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In the 1892 Supreme Court ruling in Church of the Holy Trinity vs. U.S. (citing 87 precedents), "Our laws and our institutions must necessarily

be based upon and embody the teachings of the Redeemer of Mankind. It is impossible that it should be otherwise and in this sense and to this extent our civilization and our institutions are emphatically Christian."

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JOHN MARSHALL - Supreme Court Justice, 1833 RuledThe American population is entirely Christian, and

with us, Christianity and Religion are identified. It would be strange, indeed, if with such a people, our institutions did not presuppose Christianity, and did not often refer to it, and exhibit relations with it. Legislation on the subject is admitted to require great delicacy, because freedom of conscience and respect for our religion both claim our most serious regard."

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Old and newOld and new

Lawsuits against the US government’s Judeo-Christian precepts, laws and rulings are not new. Atheism, evil and savings schemes have always been around him

What is new is our response to the lawsuits

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STRANGE


Oath Test“ I do believe in God, the creator and

Governor of this universe, the rewarder of the good and the punisher of the wicked, and I do acknowledge the Scriptures of the OT and NT to be given by Divine Inspiration”

Atheists could not testify in court Could not serve as a schoolteacher or

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Shortly upon completing the U.S. Constitution the government was immediately suedU.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice, John Jay

"Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers and it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest of a Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers."

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America : A Christian America : A Christian NationNation John Jay – 1st Chief Justice of the US

“What we need is a Christian nation - the only alternative is a pagan nation. By ‘Christian nation,’ I don't mean that everyone is forced to be a Christian or forced to go to church or to believe in God. People are free to be Buddhists or atheists. The job of government is not to convert or force conversion to any kind of faith…

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America : A Christian America : A Christian NationNation John Jay – 1st Chief Justice of the US

...The job of the government is to do for the people what they can't do for themselves. And the job of bringing people to faith belongs to the private citizens, the churches, the synagogues and the religious leaders of our nation. That separation should always be kept. What I mean by a Christian nation is a nation whose laws are self-consciously built on the laws and principles of the Bible.” 53

Form of GovernmentForm of Government

1.The type of earthly government makes a huge difference

2.Christianity should influence government

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““do evangelism, not politics.”?do evangelism, not politics.”?

what would the world be like if we adopted this view

Amos 5:24. Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing streamGod cares about how people treat one

another here on earth, and he cares about government because he created it and it is His instrument

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Freedom of ReligionFreedom of Religion Allows and facilitates the beneficial

influence of Christianity on governmentsResponsible for outlawing infanticide, child

abandonment and abortion in Roman empire 374Outlawed brutal gladiator battles to the deaths 404Granting of property rights protection to womenBanning polygamyProhibiting burning women alive in India 1829Outlawed painful crippling practice of binding

women’s feet in China of parentheses 1912Abolished slave trade 1840

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North and South KoreaNorth and South Korea similarities

Language ethnic backgroundCultural historyLive in the same location of the world

DifferenceSouth Korea is a robust, thriving democracy with

free peopleNorth Korea is a communist country with the most

repressive, totalitarian government in the world

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North and South KoreaNorth and South Korea

South Korea/Democracy

Freedom of religion Robust public Christian

worship 25% are evangelical

Christians Christianity is growing,

thriving and S Koreas is sending missionaries around the world

North Korea/Communism

Severe, persistent persecution has hindered the church so greatly that there is No missionary activity No public worship No known publication of

Christian literature Only a handful of

Christians who must worship covertly

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U.S. ConstitutionU.S. Constitutionfreedom of religionfreedom of religion

2. Biblically

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OT GovernmentOT Government Mosaic Law

Leadership lawMilitary lawCriminal lawLaws of humane treatmentLaws of governing the familyLaws concerning property rightsReligious law

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NT Government TeachingNT Government Teaching Jesus distinguished the realms of God

and Caesar (Matthew 22:15-22). “Therefore render to Caesar the things that

are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.”

There are two different spheres of influence, one for the government and one for the religious life of the people of God

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NT Government TeachingNT Government Teaching Freedom of religion is a biblical value

Although Jesus does not specify exactly what is outside of Caesar’s realm, certainly “the things that belong to God” must include decisions and actions regarding worship and doctrinal belief

1 Amendment –government must not establish, force or coerce religion

However, the entirety of Scripture and our past historical response encourage the gospel to invade every aspect of life including government

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NT Government TeachingNT Government Teaching

Col 1:15-17 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17

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NT Government TeachingNT Government Teaching Rom 13:1-5 Everyone must submit

himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2…

5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.

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Titus 3:1 remind the people to be subject to the rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good

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1 Peter 2:13-14,17 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every

authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.. 17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

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Summary1. God created and has supremacy over

government

2. Human governments are extension of God who ordained the institution of government

3. We are to submit to government unless clearly contrary to the higher authority of God himself (Acts 4:20, 5:29)

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We are to submit to authorities (and good or evil authority makes quite a bit of difference) ParentsTeachersLaw enforcement officersEmployersGoverning officials

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Israel had a succession of 20/20 wicked kings and was annihilated by the Assyrians

Judah had 16/20 wicked kings and thus fared a little better but fell to Babylonian captivity

Hosea 8:7 they sowed the wind and reap the whirlwind

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U.S. Constitution and U.S. Constitution and freedom of religionfreedom of religion

1. Is incumbent upon every Christian to vote

2. It is incumbent upon every Christian to vote for the candidates who will best bring about a biblically righteous governmentProverbs 14:34 righteousness exalts a nation

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What if I don’t like either candidate?

If the choice is being thrown into 10 or 5 foot of pig swill - then pick 5 foot

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The only thing needed for evil to prosper is for good men to do nothing Edmund burke

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When the gospel doesn’t When the gospel doesn’t influence governmentinfluence government

Everson v. Board of Education, 330 U.S. 1 (1947) was a landmark decision of the United States

Supreme Court which applied the establishment clause in the country's Bill of Rights to state law for the first time

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When the gospel doesn’t When the gospel doesn’t invade governmentinvade government

1940 1990Talking out of turn

Chewing gum

Making noise

Running in the halls

Line cutting

Dress code violation

Littering75


1940 1990Talking out of turn Drug abuse

Chewing gum Alcohol abuse

Making noise Pregnancy

Running in the halls Suicide

Line cutting Rape

Dress code violation Robbery

Littering Assault76


Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. F.S. 421 (1962) was the landmark United States Supreme

Court case that determined that it was unconstitutional to have school prayer due to "separation of church and state”

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Fisher Ames 1801 Dept. of Health 1963SAT - drop 100Teen pregnancy increase 553%

15 y/o/ or less increase 1000%Prison spending increase 884%Violent crime increase 798%1000 prisoners a day released

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Vote righteousnessVote righteousness

We each have a responsibility to act in accordance to biblical principles, including how we vote.

We must vote for righteous leaders. If we vote for leaders who support abortion, same sex marriage, redistribution of wealth or subordination of sovereignty to other nations, we support unrighteousness.

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