(Christian Living Sermon) Hillside 10/96
Filename: Election Issues (1)

NEITHER JEW NOR GREEK

INTRODUCTION-- Election time is drawing very near, and we are all concerned about its outcome, because our future well-being is affected.

1. There are religious organizations that have political goals, like the Christian Coalition.
   
   1. I do not advocate joining or supporting such organizations.
      
   2. However, many of them have moral agendas I agree with completely.
      
2. The church of Christ was not formed to be a political force.
   
   1. The apostacy of the church changed this role, until Christianity, in its apostate form, became the state church (4th Century), and later a competitor to the state.
      
   2. God has given us instruction regarding our relationship to the state.
      
      1. Jesus taught that we have a dual obligation. Luke 20:21-26 "And they asked him, saying, Teacher, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, and acceptest not the person of any, but of a truth teachest the way of God: 22 Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? 23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, 24 Show me a denarius. Whose image and superscription hath it? And they said, Caesar's. 25 And he said unto them, Then render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's. 26 And they were not able to take hold of the saying before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace."
         
      2. The Apostles Paul and Peter taught this, also.
         
         1. Romans 13:1-7 "Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Therefore he that resisteth the power, withstandeth the ordinance of God: and they that withstand shall receive to themselves judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. And wouldest thou have no fear of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same: 4 for he is a minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him that doeth evil. 5 Wherefore ye must needs be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience' sake. 6 For this cause ye pay tribute also; for they are ministers of God's service, attending continually upon this very thing. 7 Render to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor."
            
         2. I Peter 2:13-17 "Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether to the king, as supreme; 14 or unto governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to them that do well. 15 For so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king."
            
3. Yet, there are issues that arise in the moral fabric of our society that we may be able to influence by our vote. We will address some of these issues between now and the time of the election.

LESSON-- The first issue I would like to address is that of our Pluralistic Society.

1. Strong efforts are being made in political circles to emphasis the ethnic, and cultural differences in our society.
   
   1. Nations made up primarily of one ethnic group do not have this problem.
      
      1. France is occupied by Frenchmen, Italy by Italians, etc.
         
      2. The US, on the other hand, has attempted to integrate hundreds of ethnic origins into one cosmopolitan whole (something the Lord has in mind for the church).
         
   2. Whereas Americans were once proud to abandon their ethnic origins for citizenship in this homogeneous nation, forces now at work are trying to re establish our cultural and ethnic divisions.
      
   3. This has resulted in alienation for some, and has generated hatred and strife on the European model (with its many ethnic and cultural wars).
      
2. The Lord's model for the church sets the example for society.
   
   1. The Lord makes no ethnic distinctions among His disciples.
      
      1. Romans 10:11-13 "For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be put to shame. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek: for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich unto all that call upon him: for, Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
         
      2. Galatians 3:28 "There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one man in Christ Jesus."
         
      3. Colossians 3:9-14 ".....ye have put off the old man with his doings, and have put on the new man, that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him: where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as God's elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye: and above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness."
         
         1. Barbarians were considered by the Greeks as illiterate, because they did not speak Greek.
            
         2. Scythians were considered in Paul's time to be the wildest of the barbarians.
            
3. The levelling field for all peoples is the Gospel.
   
   1. Romans 1:16-17 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is revealed a righteousness of God from faith unto faith: as it is written, But the righteous shall live by faith." (God will hold all men responsible for their sins, without distinction. Romans 2:8-10 "....but unto them that are factious, and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, shall be wrath and indignation, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that worketh evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Greek; but glory and honor and peace to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek:")
      
   2. Ephesians 2:11-22 "Wherefore remember, that once ye, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called Circumcision, in the flesh, made by hands; 12 that ye were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye that once were far off are made nigh in the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who made both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition, 15 having abolished in the flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; that he might create in himself of the two one new man, so making peace; 16 and might reconcile them both in one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 and he came and preached peace to you that were far off, and peace to them that were nigh: 18 for through him we both have our access in one Spirit unto the Father. 19 So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, 20 being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone; 21 in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit."

APPLICATION-- Individuality is being preached by men, but community is being taught by God. Those who wish to divide us (often for political reasons) are opposed to the will of God. In the church, we must set the example of brotherhood, and have a good conscience to show that principle in what we practice (should I say, "...how we vote?"). Some may wonder why it is important to work for this principle, but I fear what will happen to the church, if it is filled with indivualistic and factious people, who have been factionalized first by politics, and carry this into the church.