“Don’t be surprised if you see a poor person being oppressed by the powerful and if justice is being miscarried throughout the land. For every official is under orders from higher up, and matters of justice get lost in red tape and bureaucracy. Even the king milks the land for his own profit!”
Ecclesiastes 5:8–9 NLT
Politics is a favorite subject in which we express vanity. We speak of “what’s wrong with the world” and “the system” and all that. We pontificate. We bloviate. We’re opinionated experts on world events in our own eyes. And we’re especially gifted in the knowledge of law and economics, aren’t we?
The truth of the matter is that for anything to be a law, it must be moral; to be moral, it must rest upon the foundation of the word-law of God. This means that any talk of politics, which is talk of law, that doesn’t start from the premise that God’s word-law is supreme and the only transcendent standard of morality, is worse than superfluous. It’s dangerous.
Wanna really shock someone next time politics comes up? Even, sadly, Christians. Just tell them that there can be no conversation whatsoever unless we base everything on the Bible. We’re so used to that pernicious lie – the myth of neutrality – that malevolent and mischievous assertion that God’s word-law isn’t completely supreme and trustworthy, that we surrender the fort before the fight starts. Again: if politics is discussed – oppression, rights, social justice, etc. – the real subject is morality. And that means we’re discussing theology at the core, not political parties. In fact, it means that we judge all things – candidates, policies, and parties – in light of the word of the Lord. If we can’t then that means, as we must tread carefully, that “justice” or “law” are powers that exist outside of God.
And that’s as unbiblical as it gets, folks.
Any thought or action that doesn’t submit to the word-law of God, and the obedience of faith, is sin. Christians are to be sanctified (that is, disciplined) through the art of renewing the mind. By bringing all thoughts/actions “captive” to Christ. The principle of unbelief starts with, “what do I think” or “what does Critical Race Theory say” or “what does Marxism say?” The principle of belief is loving and humble submission to the word-law of God; the principle of unbelief is the foolish assertion of man’s word-law.
David Gibson suggests a sort of spiritual temperature check in his book “Living Life Backwards – How Ecclesiastes Teaches Us to Live In Light Of The End.” First, he asks how often we go to the Scriptures not expecting to be surprised and to learn something. Second, he asks when was the last time it caused us pain…you know, the pain of realizing that we need to obey and that we were wrong.
In light of our last study about being humble before the Lord, not running our mouth, nor being slow to listen to all He has to say in His word-law, we come again to the central point at hand. The Preacher is moving inexorably to it, in fact. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10). It’s the basis of life. All of it. This is a Biblical truth that atheists hate – one in which they immediately recoil. But the thing is, the entirety of Ecclesiastes, and Proverbs before it, plainly states that he who rejects the Lord’s word-law hates Him and hates knowledge.
“The [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; But arrogant fools despise [skillful and godly] wisdom and instruction and self-discipline.”
Proverbs 1:7 AMP
God does not call us to a mindless faith – a purely emotional one. Sanctification without wisdom is impossible because to live wisely is to live in the fear of the Lord.
“Whoever loves instruction and discipline loves knowledge, But he who hates reproof and correction is stupid.”
Proverbs 12:1 AMP
The point of the temperature check is to see how we evaluate the world around us – economics, law, work, our relationships. In all of these critical areas we see conflict upon conflict, and the Preacher tells us not to be surprised. Why? Because men everywhere are living without the fear of God. They hate instruction. They’re fools in that they begin their chain of reasoning upon another reference point rather than Christ. The Bible isn’t calling people fools in a crass, name-calling way. It’s a clinical definition of the philosophical worldview one embraces when they reject the fear of the Lord.
The temperature check is golden because it exposes, not how often we read our Bibles, nor how much we read, but whether we read in the fear of the Lord.
Charles Bridges says that the fear of the Lord “is that affectionate reverence, by which the child of God bends himself humbly and carefully to his Father’s law.” In short, it means that we discipline our minds (Romans 12:1-2) to seek the truth of God’s word and apply it – actually live it out – in every area of our lives. If we aren’t doing this then chances are that we don’t go to the Scriptures expecting to be humbled and educated. Moreover, we don’t struggle and fall on our knees asking God for the gift of obedience.
This is the pattern for reformation. Do you have a problem? Any problem? Believe it or not, it’s solved by learning more about God and obeying His word-law. Gibson says, “…why do you need to be a certain kind of employee? Because you have to fear God and keep His commandments. Why do you have to be a certain kind of child? Because you fear God and now He wants you to honor your parents…Perhaps if we were to think of doing everything for God first and foremost, it would quite radically change what we do for one another.”
The Lord tells us not to be shocked at the world’s problems not because He’s powerless to change them but because He’s already sent His Son! Marxist identity politics are tearing America asunder. Dreadful deficits are being run up, bankrupting our future, in the name of social justice. This so-called culture war, though, is, in truth, a theology war. Who do we trust? Whom do we fear?
Our Lord said:
“So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, will be like a wise man [a far-sighted, practical, and sensible man] who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods and torrents came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them, will be like a foolish (stupid) man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods and torrents came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great and complete was its fall.”
Matthew 7:24–27 AMP
C.S. Lewis said that anyone saying the things that Jesus said – and here is a prime example – is either a liar, a lunatic, or Lord. But that’s the choice before us. Will we hear the Lord’s word and obey, using careful and adoring discipline in the fear of God to bring about the obedience of faith, or will we hear the words of secular humanism? Or will we try and “opt out” and claim something like, well, “both parties are corrupt” when it comes to actual social injustice? And don’t get this wrong. The Bible clearly agrees that there’s injustice and grievous evil in the world. It gives it to us straight. Consider:
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.”
1 Peter 4:12–19 ESV
We aren’t surprised by sin’s toll because God’s word has told us all about it. But it doesn’t just say, “hey, guys, things are gonna be tough…yeah…that sort of stinks, but hang in there.” The Preacher isn’t going to give us the famous Rocky speech that he gave his adult son when he was whining. Ecclesiastes says Leupold, isn’t a treatise on politics. It tells us why there’s politics in the first place! Why? Because man won’t hear God’s word-law.
Again that test: do we truly obey? Do we come to a conflict of any sort and ask what the Lord’s word says about the subject? Do we obey the Lord’s clear commandment as to how to deal with conflict (Matthew 8:15-20) or do we huff and puff and insist upon our own way, disregarding Scripture? How many of us are estranged from a Christian friend – or even a church – in violation of God’s law-word? How many of us are guilty of slandering another Christian in contradiction of the words of Jesus? We do realize that we’re going to have to give an account for this someday, right?
I once had a non-believer come to me with a disturbing report they’d heard about my character. They said that what they heard was something they had trouble believing and wanted to give me a chance to answer the charge. Frighteningly, the charge in question was put forth by a professing Christian who never even brought it to me, much less the church, as is commanded by the Lord. In this case, the non-believer acted in accordance with Scripture and the professing believer did not. This is frightening because the Lord isn’t playing around when He commands us to love one another – which means, to love in the word-law of Christ. When the non-believer heard the facts of the charge they were relieved. The charge was, I’m happy to report in the Lord, utterly without merit.
This is one example of how much trouble is caused when we don’t obey the word-law of God. Since we’re commanded to go to a brother, then to the church, if we’re sinned against, it’s our duty because the goal is that the will of the Lord will come to be done on earth as it is in Heaven. How many of us are guilty of rejecting God’s commandment for dealing with conflict? This is the point Peter makes about the judgment starting with the house of God! How dare we speak of politics, justice and the economy when we’re not even following God’s command in our heart, home, and church!
Did you notice how Peter included a meddler in the list with a murderer? The Holy Spirit doesn’t need an editor. The meddler is always trying to get their way. The murderer and thief act on raw power; the meddler, lacking the resources or physical strength to get what they want, use manipulation, gossip, slander, and all manner of twisting the law or rules to get their evil way. It’s like Jezebel with the vineyard. If enough meddlers get together and vote they call it a democracy.
The hard truth is that Ecclesiastes is a sort of mini-Job. It brings us to life’s daily frustrations, like work, and social/political injustice, and tells us that we don’t know what we’re talking about. All problems are because of sin’s pollution. Therefore only the grace of God in Christ, salvation by faith alone, and then living in the fear of the Lord – that is, wisely – will fix these problems. The source of all problems is our refusal to obey God’s word-law. The solution is, therefore, to submit to Him.
And we know, as the Preacher is going to tell us, that there’s judgment coming.
“No longer will evil be called good and good evil; no longer will darkness be turned into light and light into darkness; no longer will bitter be made sweet and sweet bitter (Isa 5:20). The conflict between good and evil will come to an end, as will all arguments about motives, intentions, and the nature of good…Error will be exposed; real error, turning away from the Lord.” G.K. Berkouwer, The Return of Christ.
Is there terrible injustice out there in the land? Absolutely.
Are poverty and drug addiction serious issues? Without a doubt.
Are people suffering all sorts of oppressions? Indeed they are! And yet, we must know, we must come to see, that God has already fixed the problem at the cross. Man’s politics can never correct the sin that is in man’s heart. Only the gospel can do that. Peace without righteousness is impossible. And righteousness without faith in Christ is inconceivable.
Will voting for Donald Trump or whomever “make America great again?” No. America needs a Savior, not a president; she needs repentance of her sin and a new heart, not merely a new congress. We need to live in the obedience of faith and, therefore, reform our homes and churches…and, yes, we need to be in church. How naive (at best) or arrogant (at worst) it is for us to think that America’s politics can be cured without repentance of sin and then, consequently, the obedience in faith.
So then, let us love Him and live in obedience through all that amazing love that’s poured into hearts. Let us live in the reverent and loving fear of the Lord and then watch what happens! Watch how He changes hearts and minds. Pastor Rick Phillips said that what we save them with, we save them to. Amen and amen. Let’s share the gospel of Christ, live the gospel, and obey the gospel. Yes, and then go vote after we’ve prayed and prayed. But again, if we’re going to see America “great again” it’s because she’s on her knees before the cross of the King. That’s what we pray for…and will we pray for something we ourselves aren’t doing?
Repentance starts first with us. Let’s be disciplined; let’s stay focused.
Fear the Lord and obey His commandments for this is the entire duty of our lives (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
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