Biblical Citizenship Briefing
October 2016
This briefing is strictly for your information. It is a summary of some current public policy issues, including
pending legislation, that involve moral and biblical principles. While suggested action may be included from time
to time, no specific position by EFCC is implied. If you do not wish to receive further briefings of this nature,
please unsubscribe as shown at the bottom of this document. Note: If you are reading a printed version of this
Briefing, please view the document online to link to the articles mentioned (www.efcc.org/biblical-citizenship).
Pastor’s Perspective
Pastor Tom Thies’ comments at the Decision 2016: General Election Forum
Our purpose here tonight is to give to you objective information about specific candidates and propositions. We
are not here to tell you how to vote and we are not going to promote any political party or specific candidate. What
you will be hearing comes directly from the mouth of the candidate, their campaign website or from the party
website. Our desire is that we all cast our votes on the principles of Scriptural truth and justice, basically – what is
good and right before the Lord.
This has been a very contentious election cycle where vitriol, character assassination and plain ugliness has
been the rule rather than the exception. We as followers of Christ need to lead out front in our society in order to
show the better way of Jesus. Jesus says it well in Matthew 9, “God blesses those who work for peace, for they will
be called the children of God” (NLT). But, as followers of Jesus, we are called to shine the light of Jesus in a dark
world.
Through this election cycle I have thought long about how we as followers of Jesus are to be lights in this
confusing world of American elections. What posture do we take as we think about voting, express our views to
others and stand for God’s truth and righteousness.
1. We must Pray! I do not say this lightly or just as something that Christians are supposed to voice. We say it
because we believe that prayer opens the door for God to work in our lives and the lives of others. The Apostle Paul
speaks to this in 1 Timothy 2.1-4, “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on
their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live
peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants
everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.”
Hear what Paul is saying to young Pastor Timothy.
a. Pray for all people, not just those you like.
b. Give thanks for them.
c. Especially pray for our leaders – so the church can be at peace and live quiet lives marked by godliness
and dignity.
d. God desires all to be saved and even politicians.
We need to pray for our leaders that they remain faithful to the truth, are humble before God and people, and will
rule justly.
2. Listen to wise counsel – the Scriptures, objective sources and those that honor the Lord. Compare all that you
hear with the truth of Scripture and Scriptural principles. Do not lean on the understanding of commercial or social
media! Value that which God values. Think about what the Lord says about love for Him and our neighbor,
passionate for life that has been created by God, and acting justly with one another. Micah 6.8 states, “No, O
people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God.”
3. Have a critical mind, but not a critical spirit. Test what you hear against God’s word. 1 Thessalonians 5.21 states,
“…, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil.” You need to read
and listen to what the candidates have written and what they have said in their own words. Do not rely on what is
said about them or what any news outlet, political action group or pundit has to say. Do your own interpretation.
The election is not just about the candidates. It is also about who is supporting them and what are the positions
held by these organizations and groups. Are they supportive of the church? Are they for life? Do they seek justice
and peace? Do they support individual freedom and liberty? Do they uphold and support the U. S. Constitution? Do
they respect the dignity of all people? Do they understand the U. S. Constitution respect the rule of law?
4. Listen actively, think critically, ask questions, research what you do not understand, pray and then VOTE!
On the Election
Election Day Is November 8 – Please pray for our nation at this critical time. We are so divided and emotions are
running high. Lord, we ask that over the next days You would mobilize your people to fervent prayer, and guide
them as they vote in this election. Lord help us remember that You are the almighty God of miracles. We appeal to
your mercy and grace and trust that Your good and perfect will be done. May You alone be honored and glorified
by our choices. (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
The Supreme Court Takes Center Stage – While there are many critical issues on voters’ minds in the final days
before the General Election, one that will affect the nation for decades to come is which of the presidential
candidates will be nominating justices to the Supreme Court. In fact, in addition to at least one, and perhaps as
many as four, nominations to the high court, the new president will also be making hundreds of judicial and
executive appointments during his or her term. Nathaniel Bruno, Senior Counsel for Allied Legal Affairs at
Alliance Defending Freedom looks at this important consideration noting, “This particular nomination will be
especially momentous, because the ninth justice is likely to control the future ideological direction of the Supreme
Court. This new justice may very well launch the Court on a new, consistently progressive trajectory. Conversely,
he or she will have the opportunity instead to preserve and build on the conservative jurisprudential legacy of
Justice Scalia, which is rooted in the practice of originalism and judicial restraint.” Read the rest of his article in
Public Discourse here.
Measuring the Cost of Legalizing Marijuana – Focus on the Family (FOF), headquartered in Colorado Springs,
has seen firsthand the negative cultural effects of making marijuana legal for recreational use. Today’s pot is more
potent than that in the 60’s and 70’s, making it more dangerous and posing a particularly serious threat to children.
The FOF resource “The Allure of Legalizing Marijuana” states, “One of the most appealing claims made during the
campaign for legalization was the amount of money the state would receive in tax revenue generated from
marijuana sales. However, the actual income generated fell far short of what was projected, bringing in just $69
million of the $118 million projected by the governor’s office. The original claims also failed to factor in the
additional expenses to the state in medical costs and drug treatment, increased crime and law enforcement,
migration of homeless to the state in order to procure the drug and the cost of lives lost. In fact, the only ones that
seem to be benefitting from this legalization are the large-scale corporate growers.”
Pray that California voters will be greatly discerning as they make decisions on many statewide ballot
propositions and local measures. (1 Corinthians 6:12)
In California
Death Is Cheaper – She’s an Orange County wife and mother of four young children living with a terminal illness.
Stephanie Packer, diagnosed with scleroderma in 2012 and given three years to live, has sought to extend her time
with her family and was concerned about what the passage of California’s physician-assisted suicide law would
mean for her. When the law became effective earlier this year, Stephanie’s insurance company initially denied
coverage of a change in her chemotherapy requested by her doctor, but when she asked if they would cover
medication to end her life, she was told she’d have to pay just $1.20 for the drugs. “As soon as this law was passed
— and you see it everywhere when these laws are passed — patients fighting for a longer life end up getting denied
treatment, because this will always be the cheapest option,” she said.
Stephanie also reports a change in the conversations within the support groups she facilitates once the law was
passed. Depressed patients talked more of ending their lives. An advocate for palliative care and hospice, Stephanie
is the subject of a short documentary film, Compassion and Choice Denied. She hopes, “We can start to fix our
broken health care system, and people will start to live instead of feeling like they have to choose to die.”
In the Courts
9th Circuit Says Pregnancy Care Clinics Must Refer for Abortion – A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of
Appeals for the 9th Circuit has denied the preliminary injunction requested by the National Institute of Family and
Life Advocates as the case regarding the constitutionality of California’s AB 775 proceeds. An appeal for an en
banc review (by the entire court) is pending. In the meantime, pro-life pregnancy medical clinics could be fined for
not posting required notices under the law. AB 775 forces these centers to prominently notify patients that the state
offers low cost family planning, including abortion, and a phone number where they can find more information.
Fines are $500 for the first offense and $1,000 for each subsequent offense.
Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Matt Bowman stated, “It’s bad enough if the government tells you
what you can’t say, but a law that tells you what you must say—under threat of severe punishment—is even more
unjust and dangerous. In this case, political allies of abortionists are seeking to punish pro-life pregnancy centers,
which offer real hope and help to women. Forcing these centers to promote abortion and recite the government’s
preferred views is a clear violation of their constitutionally protected First Amendment freedoms. That’s why other
courts around the country have halted these kinds of measures and why we will be discussing the possibility of
appeal with our clients.” Read more here.
Massachusetts Forces Churches to Recognize Gender Identity – The Massachusetts attorney general and its
Commission Against Discrimination have interpreted the state’s public accommodations laws to extend to
churches, forcing them to allow the use of their restrooms, changing rooms, showers and any sex-segregated areas
based on perceived gender identity. In addition, the state law would stifle the speech of churches and pastors with
regard to sexuality if the religious expression is in conflict with the government’s guidelines. Alliance Defending
Freedom (ADF) has filed suit in federal court on behalf of four churches and their pastors in Horizon Christian
Fellowship v. Williamson and has asked the court to suspend enforcement during the trial process. ADF Senior
Counsel Steve O’Ban said, “The government shouldn’t encroach on the internal, religious practices of a church.
Neither the commission nor the attorney general has the constitutional authority to dictate how any church uses its
facility or what public statements a church can make concerning a deeply held religious belief, such as on human
sexuality.” Fines under the act can be as high as $50,000 per violation and one year in jail. Read more here.
Iowa Church Drops Suit – Last month, we discussed a pre-enforcement challenge by Fort Des Moines Church of
Christ to Iowa Civil Rights Commission guidelines. A federal judge has now ruled that churches are not public
accommodations and are, therefore, protected from government control. “Churches should be free to communicate
their religious beliefs and operate their houses of worship according to their faith without fearing government
punishment,” said ADF Legal Counsel Christiana Holcomb. “This lawsuit was necessary to ensure that the state
won’t try to enforce the law against churches, and we’re pleased that Iowa churches now have the reassurance and
clarity that they need.” Read more here.
This briefing was prepared by the EFCC Biblical Citizenship Committee. To unsubscribe, please e-mail
[email protected]. If you have any questions regarding content, please contact Penny Harrington
([email protected] ; 760.224.4744) or John Waring ([email protected] ; 760.480.9454)
EFCC Biblical Citizenship Committee
www.efcc.org/biblical-citizenship