Putting Godly Men In Office

Godless men should not rule, nor be snares of the people.” (Job 34:30)

Should Christians be involved in politics? Obviously, this is an emotive question that elicits a strong response from those who have certain opinions on the matter. The primary reason this question is often the basis of strong debate even among committed Christians is that the world has convinced Christians  that we have no right to be involved in such matters.This is evidenced by the question itself. It is obviously the wrong question. The real question is, “Can a Christian in good conscience refuse to become involved in the battle for good government.”

We know Christians are commanded to be in the world, but not of it. As someone has said, “A ship was made to be in the water, but when the water gets in the ship, you have big problems.” But we are not to use such obvious truth to abdicate our responsibilities to influence and change the world for good as the light and salt of the world. God is not asking us to gather in isolated holy huddles and sit around introspectively, as navel inspectors, venturing forth only to proclaim the gospel of spiritual redemption. He surely had more than this in mind when He said, “A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matt. 5:14)

Of course. we’re not to be of the world. Our lives are to be focused upon Christ. Our affections are to be set upon Him. We are to always seek first the Kingdom of God. But if He reached out to the world and met needs at every level, so should we. But could such a godly approach to life entail the possibility of involving ourselves in the rough and tumble world of what is known as politics in order ‘to militantly do battle for good and godly government and by placing godly men in government?

We only need to make a cursory survey of the Bible to discover such men as Daniel and Joseph. They served God with whole hearts, never compromising their faith or changing their convictions. But where did they serve Him? In the corridors of power and the cabinet rooms of the most powerful pagan governments of their contemporary world. They obviously pleased God and did His will and He blessed them and through their “political involvement” blessed the entire nation in which the people of God dwelt.

How then can it be said, “God’s people don’t belong in politics”? We should place our prayer to see righteousness restored in our land into practical effect by helping put godly candidates into office. “When the righteous become great, the people rejoice, but when a wicked man rules, people groan.” (Proverbs 29:2) - Pastor John White

“History is changed by a dedicated minority; the apathetic majority will go with the dedicated minority which out lasts the other.”

The Church In The Wildwood

Some of my earliest memories center around the farm my family moved to after we moved from the place I was born in the Frankfort area of Franklin County in North Alabama. I do not know my exact age, but assume I must have been a toddler, perhaps three or four years old. The farm was located about half way between the small towns of Rogersville and Anderson. Anderson was located just South of the Tennessee border. The name of the farming community was Hurricane. I understood the name related to a severe storm that hit the area earlier. Although hurricanes out of the Gulf of Mexico did not normally have such severe effect, they often spawned high winds and days of rain accompanied by tornados. Our area of North Alabama was known as part of the infamous Tornado Alley.

There is an old gospel song entitled, "The Church In The Wildwood," that immediately comes to mind when I think of those bygone days. In my memory the lyrics of the song go something like this: "O come to the church in the wildwood, O come to the church in the dale, No place is so dear to my childhood, as the little brown church in the vale...." It was recorded and made popular by such artists as Andy Griffith, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Burl Ives and Dolly Parton.

My father was an Elder in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church located close by our place in Hurricane. In my mind’s, eye this church fits the description of the church described in the song. It sat at the end of a lane that ran a ways through the woods. It was a beautiful sight to see this little country church surrounded by the greenery of such a forest. I can especially remember the beauty of the dogwoods in bloom in the Springtime and the pleasure of sucking the sweet nectar from the blossoms of large poplar trees in the area.

The inside of the church also fit the image conjured up by the lyrics of the song. The old timber pews and pulpit must have been there for countless Sunday Sermons, Hymn Singing and Revival Meetings. The lighting was common for the period when many country folk were just beginning to get electricity’ through the Rural Electrification Program of the Tennessee Valley Authority. Oil lamp pedestals were located on the walls between the open windows. Oil lamps were lighted all around the walls in order to give just enough light to enable the hymns to be seen and sung.

My most vivid memory recalls the scene in the night services during the annual Revival Meeting. These meetings were the big event for the area and would last for at least a week and if there were unusual spiritual blessings, it could become what was called a "protracted meeting" and go on for weeks. The windows were open to provide some relief from the normal mid-Summer heat. Of course, this allowed flying insects free entry into the room. There was no insect repellent to deter the mosquitoes nor the moths.. Hand fans for cooling and fly swats for killing were the only defensive weapons. It was not unknown for a real energetic preacher to inhale or swallow a moth as he was making an important point.

The good country folks attending these meetings did not go in much for formalities or ceremony. Mothers with nursing children would openly dispense the necessary refreshments in order to quiet their hungry little ones. No fancy nursery was available . What was called quilt pallets would be spread on the floor for restless youngsters. I recall occupying such a pallet at times when the preacher elaborated at length on his message. There was a communal bucket of cold well water down in front of the pulpit with a dipper in it. Any thirsty person was free to saunter down the aisle and assuage their thirst any time they had the urge and many did.

It was in such a setting that I witnessed my first "shouting." The experience was a bit scary but I am sure the participants must have been quite sincere; even though looking back their actions do not seem to fit Paul’s admonition that everything should be done in decency and order and that God is not the author of confusion. It seems there has always been a tendency for some to confuse emotionality with spirituality. As if one who sits quietly contemplating the presence and blessings of God is somehow less spiritual than one who loudly demonstrates emotion.  - Pastor John White

Our Greatest Appointment

Hebrews 9:27 "It is appointed unto man once to die, and after this the judgment..."

Have you ever had an important appointment? Perhaps you were scheduled to meet an important person. Someone like a potential employer or banker who might hold the keys to your professional or financial future. Success or failure may hinge upon the outcome. Days of struggle or times of leisure may rest upon the result.

But the importance of the one vital appointment we all have with the common denominator of all men, death, and with Jesus Christ, the Judge of this universe, makes all such mundane matters pale into relative insignificance. If we will be realistic about it, we will admit we are approaching the day of that appointment at what seems to be lightning speed. We are relentlessly rushing headlong into the future at a breakneck pace. Considering this, it might be good to remember a few things.

We should always remember that life, even at its longest, is short. The Psalmist says that life is like a sleep. A good night’s sleep seems to pass as a swift breeze. He also says that our life is like grass that flourishes in the morning, but is cut down, and withers in the scorching heat of a sunny afternoon. At one moment we may be jovial, vigorous, happy and hopeful. The next we may be pale, cold, speechless and lifeless. He also compares life to a tale that is told. A really good story told be an accomplished story teller is almost always over before it begins.

As we consider our future appointment, let us also remember that death is certain. It is an appointment we all must keep. In giving the genealogy of the antediluvian patriarchs, the phrase, "and he died," is repeated nine times. It matters not how long man shall live it will always be said of him, "and he died."

As sure as we live, we die. Whether we like it or not or are prepared for it or not, that sure visitor knocks at the door of the humble or the haughty, the beggar or the billionaire. He visits the humblest hovel or the highest house on the hill of wealth.

Death may be a close as a stray bullet or the bumper guard of a speeding car. It may be lying in the luggage compartment of an air plane. It is as close as a malignant cell. It is only one heartbeat away. One piece of foreign matter in the blood stream or one submicroscopic deadly virus or bacteria may be the means by which we ultimately meet our demise.

Yet, death tends to catch many unaware. Raphael died with his last picture half finished. It was carried in his funeral procession as a mute reminder of life’s brevity. Sir Walter Scott’s penned these last words in his journal, "Tomorrow I shall..." Franz Schulbert left his unfinished symphony. When he was 89 years of age Micheangelo wrote, "I have reach the twenty-fourth hour of my day and no project arises in my brain which hath not the figure of death graven upon it"

As someone has well said we should, "In time, take time, while time does last, for time is not time, when time is past." And as some else once said, "Lost, some place between yesterday and tomorrow, one day, made up of twenty-four precious hours, each filled with sixty golden minutes, which are studded with sixty diamond seconds. No reward is offered, they are gone forever!"

If we truly understand the brevity of life we will attempt to seize the day for the Lord. We will understand that we should grasp opportunity by the forelock, because he is bald behind!  A thought worth remembering:  "Yesterday is history.  Tomorrow a mystery.  Today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present.  - Pastor John White