Reclaiming America
Why Pastors and Christians
need to be involved in the political arena
Rev. Rafael B. Cruz
Grace for America
For no other foundation
can anyone lay than that
which is laid, which is
Jesus Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 3:11
Jesus Christ: the solid foundation
A free society with respect for the individual
Contributing to the lives of others
Purpose in life
Love, joy, peace
A Judeo-Christian ethic
A relationship with a living God
Jesus Christ
If the foundations are
destroyed, what can
the righteous do?
- Psalms 11:3
The world has set other foundations
Socialism
A life of dependency
Social justice
Social gospel
No moral absolutes
You are your own god
Secular humanism
Why are we silent?
The excuse:
“Separation of Church
and State”
In a letter to the Danbury Baptist
Association, Thomas Jefferson said:
Believing with you that religion is a matter
which lies solely between man and his God;
that he owes account to none other for his
faith or his worship... that their legislature
should “make no law respecting an
establishment of religion or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof,”… thus building a wall
of separation between Church and State.
A one-way wall preventing government from
infringing on our free exercise of religion!
In 1962 and 1963, prayer and Bible
reading were taken out of public schools.
…and the church remained silent!
The excuse: It is a political issue!
The consequence: Increased teen
pregnancy, violent crime
In 1973, the Supreme Court decided that
unborn babies had no unalienable right to
life and legalized abortion.
…and the church remained silent!
The excuse: It is a political issue!
The consequence: 57 million babies
slaughtered by abortion
Recently, the Supreme Court ruled against
Defense of Marriage Act
…and the church remained silent!
The excuse: It is a political issue!
The consequence: The decay of the
traditional family
How long will we
remain silent????
Will we have to answer
to God for our silence?
The excuse:
“God just called me to
share the Gospel”
The question:
What all does the
Gospel encompass?
The witness of the Apostle Paul:
Therefore I testify to you this day that I
am innocent of the blood of all men. For
I have not shunned to declare to you the
whole counsel of God. - Acts 20:26-27
Are we declaring the whole counsel
of God?
The witness of Jesus:
You are the light of the world…
- Matthew 5:14
For light to have its effect, it has
to shine on darkness!
The witness of Jesus:
You are the salt of the earth…
- Matthew 5:13
For salt to have its effect, it has
to be applied to that which you
want to preserve!
The witness of Scripture:
He who justifies the wicked, and he
who condemns the just,
Both of them alike are an
abomination to the LORD.
- Proverbs 17:15
Are we justifying the wicked by
remaining silent?
The most common
excuse of all:
“Politics is a dirty
business. I don’t want
any part of it!”
The witness of Scripture:
When the righteous are in authority,
the people rejoice; but when a
wicked man rules, the people groan
- Proverbs 29:2
Have we been encouraging our
congregations to vote for
righteous leaders?
The witness of Scripture:
Whom should we elect?
Did you know that the
Bible speaks very clearly
about this issue?
The witness of Scripture:
Whom should we elect?
Moreover you shall select from all the
people (1) able men, (2) such as fear
God, (3) men of truth, (4) hating
covetousness; and place such over
them to be rulers of thousands, rulers
of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers
of tens.
- Exodus 18:21
The essence of Federalism:
Then it will be that every great matter
they shall bring to you (to Moses)
[i.e., to the Federal Government], but
every small matter they themselves
shall judge [i.e., at the local level].
- Exodus 18:22
Article 1 Sec 8,
th
9
&
th
10
Amendments
Our historical significance
Every one of the grievances against the King of
England listed in the Declaration of
Independence were preached from the pulpits of
America before they were penned on the
Declaration of Independence!
Pastors were largely at the forefront of the
movement for independence. They were feared
by the British Army who called them “The Black
Robe Regiment”.
Source: Wallbuilders
“The British are coming”
Did you know that in Paul Revere’s famous
ride he was going to the home of Jonas
Clark, a pastor, where John Hancock and
Samuel Adams were staying?
Pastor Jonas Clark was one of many
Preacher-Patriots that were part of the
Continental Army!
Source: Wallbuilders
Pastor Peter Muhlenberg
Early in 1776, Pastor Pastor
Muhlenberg was preaching on
Ecclesiastes Chapter 3. He
concluded with verse 8, “there is a
time for war and a time for peace.”
He then took off his black robe to
reveal his Colonel’s uniform in the
Continental Army.
300 men followed him to go fight for our
independence!
Source: Wikipedia
The foundation of
the Declaration of Independence and the
U.S. Constitution
29 of the 56 signers of the Declaration of
Independence were seminary graduates, and
the great majority of the rest were committed
Christian leaders who spoke boldly about
their faith.
Source: Wallbuilders
The witness of Charles Finney:
Brethren, our preaching will bear its
legitimate fruits. If immorality prevails in
the land, the fault is ours in a great
degree.
If there is a decay of conscience, the
pulpit is responsible for it.
The witness of Charles Finney (cont):
If the public press lacks moral discrimination,
the pulpit is responsible for it.
If the church is degenerate and worldly, the
pulpit is responsible for it.
If the world loses its interest in religion, the
pulpit is responsible for it.
The witness of Charles Finney (cont.):
If Satan rules in our halls of legislation,
the pulpit is responsible for it.
If our politics become so corrupt that
the very foundations of our government
are ready to fall away, the pulpit is
responsible for it.
The witness of Charles Finney (cont.):
Let us not ignore this fact, my dear brethren;
but let us lay it to heart, and be thoroughly
awake to our responsibility in respect to the
morals of this nation.
Rev. Charles Finney,
2nd Great Awakening
Pastor Martin Niemöller (Nazi Germany)
First they came for the Socialists,
and I did not speak out--
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade
Unionists, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Pastor Martin Niemöller (Nazi Germany)
Then they came for the Jews,
and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me--and there
was no one left to speak for me.
We have a responsibility
to elect righteous leaders!
Let’s not be politically correct.
Let’s be Biblically correct!
We have a responsibility
to be light to those
that are in darkness.
May we hear God say:
Well done,
good and faithful servant!
Action Steps:
1. Make sure everyone understands that voting is our
civic responsibility. Provide Voter Registration Cards
to those that are not registered - a continuous effort.
2. Preach messages on biblical principles relevant to
our society:
• The sanctity of life
• The sanctity of the traditional family
• Sexual purity before marriage
• Individual responsibility and a work ethic
• Honesty and integrity
• Our responsibility in the civic society
Action Steps (cont.):
3. Encourage pastors and people of faith to run for
public office: School Board, City Council, State
Representative, or any other elected office. (Proverbs
29:2)
4. Become informed about the voting record of all
elected officials and candidates for public office.
(Hosea 4:6)
5. Vote for candidates that uphold and defend Biblical
values, and encourage others to do the same.
The Declaration of Independence
last sentence:
And for the support of this Declaration,
with a firm reliance on the protection of
divine Providence, we mutually pledge
to each other our Lives, our Fortunes
and our sacred Honor.
We can do no less!