God and politics

Dear editor:

Mr. Crawford (Sept 30) sent what he calls my “strange rebuttal” to his rebuttal (Sept. 9) about my letter to Ms. Jones concerning God’s divine appointments of human leaders. My comments may be strange to him since he seemingly believes that God and politics don’t mix.

If Mr. Crawford would study a correctly printed Bible (KJV) he would see in Genesis that God instituted politics in mankind’s affairs when He told Adam and Eve of His judgment if they chose to eat from His special tree. When the Devil convinced them to lean toward the Left and ignore God’s administrative commandment, the situation became political.

When Jethro advised his son-in-law to delegate his authority to “able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness, and place such (over the people), to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, and rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens … if God commands you. … ” (Exodus 18:13-27), Moses took his father-in-law’s suggestion. That was God’s political agenda.

When Jesus called His disciples to follow Him, He chose Peter to be the leader of His church (Matthew 16:18-19). That was Jesus’ policy.

Mr. Crawford, you are partially correct when you said that when our forefathers came to the New World they brought a “secular” democratic republic. If you mean that they did not attempt to create a theocracy like the one they had in Europe, I agree with you. However, if you mean they elected leaders without praying for God’s direction, then I disagree. It would be difficult for me to believe you accept the false assumption that they left God out of the process altogether. Why wouldn’t God involve Himself in our political affairs especially when Christians left Europe by the thousands to have the freedom to worship as they please?

While many people migrated to the New World, “the English government saw emigration as an excellent means of getting rid of dissident (religious) sects. For their part, these strong-willed, God-fearing people were eager to migrate to a new land where they could worship freely” (“Civilization Past & Present,” Fourth Edition, Prehistory to 1650, pgs. 379-380). Our founding fathers, in drawing up the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, were protecting religion from being controlled by the government when encouraging a separation of church and state.

As our country spirals toward a time of great tribulation it is not inconceivable that God would not choose leaders, both good and evil, to work in His master plan. He reminds us that His thoughts and ways are not like ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). This is how I reconcile the attitude that God anoints those whom He chooses as leaders, not their actions.

“Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord … ” (Isaiah 1:18a), it is good to agree to disagree.

Donald Cunningham

Hot Springs