Moveitchristian.com by Kelsea Studebaker | Feb 21, 2024 | Religious Liberty, Sanctity of Life, Self-Government

I’ve been feeling a little discouraged lately as my husband and I continue to fight in the political realm standing up for morality and Biblical principles. We are facing a major spiritual battle here in Michigan. I’ve been encouraged by those who are fighting with us. However, I’ve also been saddened by the number of Christians who do not want to get in the fight. Politics has become a dirty word to many Christians. Probably because when we think of politics, we think of corrupt politicians that we want nothing to do with. But why is that? Could it be because so many Christians have chosen to stay away from politics and the devil has taken over this area? I believe it’s time for that to change!

So what is politics really? Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines it as: The science of government; that part of ethics which consists in the regulation of government of a nation or state, for the preservation of its safety, peace and prosperity; comprehending the defense of its existence and rights against foreign control or conquest, the augmentation of its strength and resources, and the protection of its citizens in their rights, with the preservation and improvement of their morals. Politics as a science or an art, is a subject of vast extent and importance.

Wait…what? Politics is about ethics, peace, prosperity, and the preservation and improvement of morals? Those sure sound like Biblical values that Christians should desire to influence, don’t they?

I’ve heard many Christians say, “I don’t want to get involved with politics because there is so much infighting going on within the Republican Party.” Here’s something to consider, could that be a lie of the devil to keep you away? Is it “infighting” or a spiritual battle of good v. evil (see Eph. 6:12)? Could it be that we’ve been infiltrated by evil because God’s people aren’t stepping up and speaking out?

As Christians, we should want to preserve the blessings of liberty God has given us in our nation’s Christian heritage established by our Founding Fathers, many of whom gave their lives so that we could enjoy the freedoms we have today (including the freedom to worship God!).

We should get involved to preserve our children’s freedoms, to speak up for the unborn whose right to life has been stripped away in the guise of “reproductive rights”, for the trafficking victims who are experiencing the closest thing to hell on earth imaginable, and for the children in the public schools that have been completely deprived of anything to do with God and seem to be more about brainwashing children in Marxist ideologies. We as Christians MUST be a voice for the voiceless. If we won’t, who will? Pastor and martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer famously stated, “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil, not to speak is to speak, not to act is to act. God will not hold us guiltless.”

Last year I attended a Bible study (not part of my church) and was told that my prayer request was too controversial. My prayer request was for God’s help to find volunteers to help me email all the churches in our state to let them know about the horrific ballot proposals. Well apparently, that was too controversial because there might be someone who has had an abortion that might be offended or feel uncomfortable. We were there to study God’s Word, not talk about politics was what I was told. I asked, “What is the point of studying God’s Word? Isn’t it so that we become doers of His Word, not just hearers of it? And doesn’t His Word say to “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves” (Prov. 31:8a)? If not us, who will?

A couple of weeks ago Governor Whitmer tweeted a picture of herself at a “Restore Roe” event stating, “We’re making sure that every Roe voter is voting like hell this November.” Very ironic isn’t it, “voting like hell”? Yep that’s exactly what they are doing, because the devil would love nothing more than to destroy countless living human beings created in God’s image!

So where are the Christians to speak out against this? Out of the 95 million professing Christians in America, only 45 million are registered to vote, and only 25 million actually vote. Only 3-6% of Americans vote in city and school board elections. Did you know that we have elections in May in Michigan to vote for things like school millages? One of the easiest ways to let our voices be heard and actually make a difference is to vote and yet we can’t even be bothered to do that? This past November we had a 27% voter turnout in Ottawa County, TWENTY-SEVEN PERCENT, that’s pathetic! And we are known to be a very conservative county compared to most. This should be ALARMING! It makes me want to scream, “People, wake up! Christians, wake up!” Now you might be saying, well I vote so I’m not part of the problem, but are you encouraging others to vote? Are you encouraging your pastor to speak up on the issues of our day? Did you know that pastors used to preach on the political and social issues of their day. For example, if a new liquor law passed in Congress, the pastor’s sermon would be looking at what the Scriptures had to say about liquor and whether or not the law was Biblical. David Barton has a great video on that HERE.

We’re definitely too busy for politics! Our plates are full raising families, running kids to soccer games, ballet, school functions, church programs, and the like. But let’s be honest, how much time are we spending watching TV, scrolling through social media, or any other time suckers? Our freedoms are quickly eroding away while we’re unknowingly being lulled to sleep by the devil through technology (TV, phones, social media) and the busyness of life.

What will God say to us when we stand before Him someday? How would you feel if your children were being murdered in the streets and the people just walked by on their way to whatever event they were going to? Are we being the good Samaritan willing to stop and help? Willing to be inconvenienced, late to wherever we are heading, willing to pay a price to help? Or are we walking by, too busy to help, too disgusted to help, too lazy to help, or too afraid to help or speak up?

Before the 2022 election, I helped to email pastors, begging them to speak to their congregations about the horrific ballot proposals (and explained that it was perfectly legal for them to do so), I had several lash out at me saying, “I have Democrats and Republicans in my church, and I would never tell someone how to vote!” I responded, “I’m not saying you need to tell your congregation how to vote, but aren’t we called to be doers of the Word, not just hearers of it? And aren’t we told to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves (Prov. 31:8). If not us, who will?” It seems that some are more concerned about offending man than obeying and offending God. We must be like Paul when speaking to the Galatians about the importance to preach the true gospel despite what others were preaching said, “For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.” (Gal. 1:10) In Matthew 10:28 Jesus says, “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” In Rev. 21:8 the first on the list of those heading to hell are cowards. Cowards! Not murders, rapists, or idol worshippers (although they are also on the list). No, the first on the list are those who knew the right thing to do but were too afraid to do it. “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” – James 4:17

I’ve been helping to recruit precinct delegates for the Republican party as 50% of the seats are vacant across the US. If you aren’t familiar with the role of a precinct delegate, it is basically the lowest level of government/elected official, the “We the People” level of government. Yet, it may be the most vital position as they vote on which candidates will appear on the ballot such as the Secretary of State and Attorney General.

Many of the people I have talked to seem to understand the dire situation we are in and want to help. I’ve been encouraged by those who are stepping up and getting involved and yet many others seem to think things will just get better on their own or maybe President Trump will come to save us.

Here are some of the excuses I have personally encountered. “I’m too busy to help. I have no interest in politics. Politics really stresses me out. I just don’t care about all that stuff. I’d love to help but I’m already doing XYZ.” I want to respond; I hear ya! I too am busy raising seven young children, homeschooling, running a business, serving in church ministries, and more. Politics stresses me out too! I don’t enjoy my husband being gone almost every night for some political event either. But guess what, taking up your cross and following Jesus isn’t always going to be fun! I know that God has called us to this and so we sacrifice in other areas to serve Him in politics.

Again, I’m not saying you can’t serve Him in other areas. Some Christians are doing amazing things, leading Bible studies, serving in other ministries, sharing the gospel, and more. I’m just saying, we as Christians can no longer afford to neglect the area of politics or very soon the only ministry we will be engaging in is prison ministry.

It’s not until it starts to affect us personally that we suddenly panic and begin to ask, “What can I do?” I’ve witnessed this recently in the homeschool community. Some state reps have threatened to force homeschoolers to register their children with the state. This is alarming to many homeschool families as they know this is only the beginning of what they plan to do. Please know I’m not trying to rip on anyone because truthfully it took the 2020 election for us to wake up and get involved ourselves.

Some Christians think, “What’s the point? Aren’t we heading fast to end times? Imagine if our Founding Father’s had used that excuse instead of getting involved? Interestingly, our Founding Father’s seem to have addressed this very concern some 250 years ago.

Pastor and signer of the Declaration of Independence, John Witherspoon stated, “Shall we establish nothing good because we know it cannot be eternal? Shall we live without government because every constitution has its old age and its period? Because we know that we shall die, shall we take no pains to preserve or lengthen our life? Far from it, Sir: it only requires the more watchful attention to settle government upon the best principles and in the wisest manner that it may last as long as the nature of things will permit.” (Second Continental Congress: July 31, 1776)

First Supreme Court Chief Justice John Jay proclaimed, “All that the best men can do is to preserve in doing their duty to their country and leave the consequences to Him Who made it their duty, being neither elated by success, however great, nor discouraged by disappointment, however frequent and mortifying.” (to Richard Price, New York, Sept. 27, 1785)

Many of the Old Testament prophets were always warning the people to turn from their sins or face God’s judgement or were having to address the people’s complacency. No one wants to hear that message but sometimes it needs to be said. Did you know that only 9% of Christians read the Bible daily? No wonder we have no idea what God wants us to do! How do we expect to live for Jesus when we do all the talking and never listen to what He has to say to us? We are told in Deut. 6:4-9 and Joshua 1:8 that we should meditate on God’s Word day and night and yet many of us are starving to death spiritually not even reading it once a day. Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” We have no excuse in our day and age where Bible apps are easily accessible on our phones. There are some amazing read the Bible in a year plans on the YouVersion Bible app. My favorite is the Balanced Bible Reading Plan. I highly recommend it!

I was talking with my cousin Brad the other day and he was telling me how his wife woke him up one night with an overwhelming feeling that they needed to pray. He grunted and groaned and rolled over in bed fighting the Holy Spirit’s urge and his wife’s prompting to get up. His wife kept shaking him, “Brad, Brad, come on Brad you need to get up and pray!” He could feel the same overwhelming urge to pray but his body did not want to leave the comfort of his bed. He defiantly stayed in bed as if his body were magnetized to it and he couldn’t get up. Finally, he was able to force his body to obey. Then while praying the Lord revealed to him that what he experienced is like the oppression that people are under by the devil. Many Christians know the right things to do but they can’t seem to do them. He felt that the Lord was telling him that this is the condition of the church right now so he would know how to pray for them.

Christians, we need to repent of our complacency! God says, “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins and will heal their land.” – 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NASB)

The most important thing we can do is dig into God’s Word and share the gospel with everyone we can. We must also pray for God’s mercy on our nation. Ask Him how we can help. Where is He calling you? A.W. Tozer said that, “Prayer becomes effective when we stop using it as a substitute for obedience.”

Ask yourself, is there something I can give up to help? Imagine the difference we would see in our nation if every Christian would dedicate an hour or two a week to preserving our freedoms and sharing the gospel! What are some practical ways that we as Christians can get involved to help preserve the blessings of liberty that God has given us?

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?

• Share the gospel (watch Living Waters on YouTube)

• Vote and encourage others to vote

• Start a Salt and Light Ministry at your church (SaltandLightCouncil.org)

• Teach a Biblical citizenship class at your church (like this one from Patriot Academy)

• Door knock and pass out literature for a conservative candidate who will stand up for life and Biblical principles

• Become a precinct delegate (find out more at MI Precinct First)

• Inform your friends and neighbors about local issues

• Help do research for CheckMyVote.org to clean up the voter rolls

• Volunteer to be a poll watcher, poll challenger, or election inspector

• Volunteer to help a candidate by managing social media, designing flyers or yard signs, proofreading, writing blog posts, helping with IT or website management, helping with accounting, or helping in another area of your gifting

• Hand out literature in parades (gospel tracts, Biblical voter guides, info on God-fearing candidates, etc.)

• Write articles to inspire other Christians to vote and stand up for Biblical principles.

• Write letters to Christians to encourage them to vote through MyFaithVotes.org.

• Repent and pray! Start a prayer group and pray specifically for our state and nation. Pray for our leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2) and for more Christians and pastors to realize the importance of getting involved. Pray for more labors to share the gospel. “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” –Luke 10:2

And remember to “be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9b

”Now may the God of peace – who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood – may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.” – Hebrews 13:20-2