What Would Jesus Do?
“What would Jesus do?”, someone asks.
Our world today is a mess: the government is in turmoil, our institutions are failing in their missions, our culture seems to be not too far from massive civil disturbance, it seems there is rampant hatred and distrust on every level – from our media to our personal conversations.
We are no longer able to discuss our cultural and social problems and try to find solutions because saying the wrong thing at the wrong time can cost one their job as well as possibly losing friends and even family.
Search the scriptures from Matthew 1:1 to Revelation 22:9 and you’ll find no direction given by Jesus to those who are the leaders in government – other than, of course, the same principles which apply to every person.
Why is that? Why didn’t our Master tell us what type of government we should have; what type of constitution under which we should live; whether we should have “democracy”, or a “republic”, or whether we should be ruled by a “king”?
Why not tell us whether we should have a government that takes money from the “rich” and gives it to the “poor”? Why not tell us whether He approved more of democracy or “socialism” or “communism” or the rule of a king? Why not tell us whether we should have a “government” or live in anarchy?
Because God doesn’t work that way!
God’s “true religion” is personal: “Love God with your heart, soul and mind and your neighbor as yourself.”
Our world today is the product of our God-given “free will”. It is the culmination of the choices made by the people of this culture and – to much less extent – the people of other cultures.
Each of us is responsible before God and our neighbors to live by God’s laws which are all personal. Were most of us accepting that responsibility and acting accordingly, our world would straighten itself out.
Even today, there are thousands upon thousands of Christians who are doing their best and surviving in this corrupt culture. Has God abandoned His people? Of course not!
We have this promise, relayed by the Apostle Peter:
9 So the Lord knows how to save those who serve him when troubles come. He will hold evil people and punish them, while waiting for the Judgment Day. 10 That punishment is especially for those who live by doing the evil things their sinful selves want and who hate authority. These false teachers are bold and do anything they want. They are not afraid to speak against the angels. 2 Peter 2:9–10 (NCV)
Our media, our educational establishment and our government contain many of those “false teachers” who are “not afraid to speak against the angels” – and much less concerned when they speak against God’s people and their way of life. Christianity is under attack both from within our culture and outside it.
However, as the Bible and history each clearly shows, it has always been and always will be that way.
But Jesus said of His church:
“the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18
The only teaching on government found in the New Testament comes from the Apostle Paul in his letter to the church in Rome:
5 …… submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Romans 13:5–7 (NIV84)
A true Christian is the best citizen any nation could have!
But what if those authorities are corrupt? Thank God for our founding “fathers” who gave us the responsibility and possibility of voting those people out of office. It’s one of those choices: stay home on election day and accept whatever the outcome or get off our duffs and vote for the best people running for government offices.
“Loving our neighbor as ourselves” includes being respectful of others even when we disagree sharply with their views on government and culture. Persuade them if we can, but respect their right to disagree.
10 You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11 It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’”
12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14:10–12 (NIV84)
If God’s people will first clean up their own house – get themselves and their families right with God – and strive to live by God’s ways, that action will speak louder and more forcefully than any sermon from any preacher, or any political speech from any politician or any essay or book from any writer or any broadcast on radio or television or any posting on social media like Facebook.
If we want our world to be a better place to live and work and raise our families, it’s up to you and me to do our part. Correct our own lives, teach others (when they ask for help) and do what we can to make the world a little better for our having passed through it.
