I wrote in my previous post about a Christian perspective after a disappointing election. One point I made is that those with a biblical worldview still need to serve God and HIs kingdom no matter who is elected to our local and national government offices.
My own point was proven to me when my wife and I attended two events in the same week as election day that demonstrated the powerful impact of Christian ministries apart from and even in spite of political policies.
The two events were both annual fundraisers that included updates on work being done in the name of Christ. One is focused on a specific issue. The other is focused on bringing the gospel to a specific group of people.
The Pregnancy Resource Center in Grand Rapids held its annual gala on Thursday night. The PRC acronym means more than its name, it also articulates its mission: proactive education, responsive medical services, compassionate support. Just this year so far, 21,000 received education about avoiding sexual risk, in Grand Rapids as well as around the world using the PRC curriculum.
The guest speaker at the PRC gala was Dr. William Lile. His mantra is “every patient is a person no matter how small.” He reminded the packed hotel ballroom that abortion is not health care, that babies are patients with rights, and that life and rights are from God. He then took the crowd to medical school and showed that abortion is often not necessary to save a mother’s life. He shared several stories where surgery was successfully performed on babies in the womb—to remove a tumor on the heart and to perform vascular brain surgery—and the baby remained in the womb for weeks or months after surgery to be born healthy.
The next night we attended the first “vision dinner” of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Kent County. Different venue, different night, different organization, same theme: God is at work through Christian ministry even when the government does not enact and even opposes biblical truth.
The FCA in Kent County has “huddles”—Bible studies for coaches and athletes—in 17 high schools and four middle schools. They also have a half dozen camps during the year. Testimonies from several area student leaders showed the impact. An international organization, FCA’s vision is “To see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes.” They have reached thousands with the Gospel and led many of them to an understanding of and relationship with Jesus Christ.
After an election on Tuesday in which it seemed by some—not all—elected officials that our country is turning away from Godly morality, it was a blessing on Thursday and Friday to see that God is most definitely at work regardless. And these are only two of many faith-based organizations at work.
Many of our American founders spoke of the critical role of faith in our new republic. For example, John Adams wrote to military officers in 1798:
“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
Our nation is also unique in having such a robust nonprofit sector. Ben Franklin is somewhat credited with this in forming “juntos”—groups of men who met and discussed community needs and responded to them. Alexis de Tocqueville, the French citizen who toured America in the 1800s, marveled that when Americans needed help they looked more to each other than the government.
We need to do the same now.
Our current government falsely claims there is a “separation of church and state.” That expression is nowhere in our constitution. In fact the first of five freedoms of the first amendment guarantees a right to religious expression. It says congress shall make no law that establishes religion. We have a plurality of religions, People can decide if they want to have faith or not. The phrase comes from an 1804 letter by President Thomas Jefferson to a Baptist minister, assuring the congregation that the government would not interfere in its activities. It’s a shame that current politicians and pundits twist that assurance to the church and use it completely backwards as a threat and limitation.
For Christians, the expression of our faith in word and deed does not establish it as a national religion. It merely demonstrates a freedom we have in our constitution. And, whether people share our faith or not, it blesses our nation. Getting involved in church or faith-based organization ministries is a calling, and answering that call is the best response to a government that sets aside the truth and will of God.
While our founders said our constitution was made for a religious and moral people, our culture and resulting government are increasingly sanctioning immorality and marginalizing Christians who exercise their freedom and faith. But as this week showed, power in government can swing back and forth. The power of God is consistently expressed by His Spirit through His people.
It is nice when candidates who share our faith get elected. But thinking long term, our hope should not depend on having certain people in office but having all Christians on mission. It is to about winning elections for a political party, it is about winning hearts and souls for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I would encourage Christians reading this to consider how you can volunteer, pray, give or do whatever you can to support such ministries.
