Second Presbyterian Church

"Christians & Government
Patriotic Sunday"
November 6, 2005

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Sermons Homepage » Sermons for 2005 » Sermons for November 2005

• Romans 13: 1-7
• Matthew 28: 16-20

Today I am sharing a few ideas that I have about Christians and government; how should one's faith influence the latter? I shall not cover this topic entirely, because it is much larger than the few minutes afforded for this worship message.

It was by pure coincidence that this sermon, being on Patriotic Sunday, would take place two days before our gubernatorial election. And if you think that you have surmised which one I am voting for, please rest assured, that I have not yet completely made up my mind.

During our gubernatorial campaign an issue was made about Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine's views on capital punishment, based upon his religious belief. Is a person's faith not supposed to have an influence upon what he stands for? Admittedly some Roman Catholic politicians are for abortion and birth control, which are in direct contradiction to the position of the Roman Catholic Church. They have more to try to explain than Tim Kaine.

The effect of this issue is that Kaine has had to state that he will support the law when it calls for capital punishment. He will uphold existing law. But does that mean that he must now support the concept of capital punishment. Indeed, if he is elected, what would be so wrong for Kaine to work toward removing capital punishment from the VA law books?

Any candidate that takes his religious beliefs seriously will work toward policies that are consistent with those beliefs. He may/may not succeed, but there is nothing wrong with this. It is not a confusion of church and state. The separation of church and state means that government cannot tell you and me how to believe and worship. It does not include am elected official from promoting policies that happen to be consistent with his religious beliefs.

Now, just to set the record straight. This does not mean I am for, or against Tim Kaine for governor. In fact, I honestly disagree with his position on capital punishment, based upon how I understand the Christian faith. But I highly respect the fact that he opposes capital punishment based upon his religious beliefs.

Let's try to run through this particular example, capital punishment, and how good, sincere Christians stand on both sides of the issue, pro and con. Much of it can be understood by understanding how a person believes and understands what the Bible, and the Church has to say.

1. Let's begin with those Christians who, based upon their understanding of the Church and Bible, oppose capital punishment. They seem to conclude it is wrong because:
   1. All life is created by God and is good. That is what the first chapter of Genesis states. If God created it as good, then who are we to take it away? Indeed, God was not happy when Cain killed Abel.
   2. The 6th Commandment is also understood as meaning that we should not execute convicted criminals. "You shall not kill."
   3. Perhaps one of the strongest reasons that some Christians oppose capital punishment is the Love Commandment. You are to love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. Not only your neighbor, but Jesus commanded us to specifically to love our enemies, to pray for them and to bless them. Those are pretty startling and powerful words that no Christian ignores.
   4. A fourth possible reason for opposition to capital punishment is that Christians are to live a redeemed life and killing, in whatever form, is nothing but an expression of how UNREDEEMED people can be.

Surely there are other compelling reasons why sincere Christians oppose capital punishment; it's just that they have not come quickly to my mind.

2. But what about the sincere Christians who support capital punishment? What is their reason for supporting the position that they hold? Here may be some of the thinking that these Christians use.
   1. Although God's creation is good, evil has mysteriously polluted God's good creation. Whether we like it or not, until the second coming we have to struggle with sin and evil.
   2. Chaos reflects the lack of presence of God. That is why Paul urgently insisted that worship and conduct be done decently and in order. (1 Corinthians 14: 26-33). In Genesis 1: 2 we read how the Spirit of God hovered over the waters. Water, in the Bible, symbolizes chaos. It is what happens to creation when God does not create order. It is what happened to the world when the world flooded; it nearly went back to complete chaos, only God would not allow that!
   3. As we noted in our Roman lesson today, governments are authorized by God to provide order, peace and to promote good conduct. When one breaks the law, it runs the risk of creating disorderliness. Much like what is going on in the Islamic suburb of Paris where rioting has been going on for over 10 days. According to Paul, the powers to rule and bring order are given to governments by God and these authorities are to be honored, respected, and obeyed. "For he is a servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer." These are strong words.
   4. Scripture supports the idea that government has the authority to protect its citizens even if it means to execute, or to go to war against an aggressor.
   5. Now, what about the commandment to "Love your neighbor," or, "Love your enemies?" At first the position of being for capital punishment seems to contradict the command to love your enemies. Let's ask another question: does execution of a rightly convicted criminal, or waging a military exercise, such as war, have to mean that we don't love our enemies? Our soldiers are not perfect, but I am willing to wage that those who take their Christian faith seriously pray for their enemies! After all, they are people too, who are just following orders from their superiors.
      
      Do you pray for Osama bin Ladin? As Christians we are called to pray for our enemies. Now, being called to love your enemies and to pray for them - does that have to mean that we are to surrender to their plots and plans? As a Christian, to love and pray for Osama bin Ladin is very consistent with making an all out effort to capture him and to arrest his efforts to wage terror on innocent people!
      
      With this in mind, perhaps the most generous, loving thing to do for individuals, such as a Hitler or Osama bin Ladin, is to see to it that they are executed - guaranteeing never to harm an innocent person again.
      
      
   6. Now, let's look again at the 6th Commandment, "You shall not kill." This commandment specifically deals with murder of a fellow individual. It has never been intended to be a hindrance to capital punishment or to a nation taking up arms to defend itself.

I am sure that there are other reasons that can be made to support this particular position, as a Christian, but this will suffice for now.

Now, which of these two positions, based upon responsible reading and interpreting the Bible, is THE CORRECT position?

Personally I lean toward the latter. But it is abundantly clear to me that there are many wonderful Christians who disagree with the stand I favor.

I thank God for the countless men and women who sacrificed their lives so that we can live in the freedom that we tend to take for granted. Our freedom in the United States has never been without a price. It has always been a costly freedom.

I thank God for men and women who defend our freedom with their very lives: not only in the field, but also in our congress, courts, and the White House.

Thank you God for a wonderful, albeit imperfect, nation in which we live. Amen.

The Rev. Daniel E. Hale, D. Min.