A Biblical Perspective on Current Events

"For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south.  But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another."  (Psalm 75:6-7)

Religious and Political Judgments Clash

February 1, 2001

President George W. Bush’s nomination of Springfield, Missouri’s John Ashcroft for attorney general has brought into focus the controversy of the nation, "Who shall have authority?"

Most of the Senate judiciary committee democrats opposed Ashcroft’s nomination mainly because he is "outside the mainstream" of the American political life. Therefore, in their view, Ashcroft is unfit for the nation’s highest law enforcement office. In short, Ashcroft is a minority in a land that believes the majority is right and, therefore, should rule and govern. The mixture of political judgment and religious judgment is the real issue we face in America.

Ironically, Ashcroft’s religious beliefs, which were formed in the Assemblies of God denomination, are "outside the mainstream" of America’s spiritual life. This makes Ashcroft a minority in his political and religious judgments. Therefore, he is labeled an extremist. Yes, politics does make strange bedfellows. The question becomes: "How did Ashcroft arrive at this present position of authority in America?" Could it be that the God of the Bible runs the whole universe on His authority? Does He really put down one leader and exalt another (Ps. 75:6,7).

History records a time when God’s covenant people were in a state of rebellion and spiritual darkness. They believed the earth was flat. A man named Christopher Columbus read from the Bible, "It is He (God) who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in" (Is. 40:22).

Spiritual illumination came from the Sovereign One to Columbus. The earth really is not flat if God sits above the circle of the earth. The rest is American history. "America, America God shed His grace on thee."

Nothing happens by chance. All of God’s acts issue from His throne. He communicates His thoughts and words to mankind. He upholds all things by the word of His power, and "He is before all things, and in Him (Christ) all things consist" (Heb. 1:3; Col. 1:17). Spiritual authority controls all of the laws of the universe. This brings God’s order into all things that pertain to life and godliness.

The transcendent God of creation is very personal. The hairs of our head are numbered. He knows each of us by name. Are we listening to Him? God’s religious judgments must govern over our political judgments. Our allegiance to the God of the Bible and His spiritual laws must exceed our allegiance to constitutional law. We must obey the law of the land until it offends God. Then we must obey God and not man. This must be done in a peaceful, non-violent way. Our future and hope depends upon it.