Our study this past Sunday illustrated how rulers of this world had a significant role throughout Jesus' life-from birth to death. In Herod, we saw a man motivated by fear, anger, and paranoia. In the Sanhedrin, we saw men motivated by selfish ambition and goals. In Pilate, we saw a man unwilling to risk everything for the Truth. But there is room in our lives for only ONE King. Each of us must ask whether we resemble Herod, the Sanhedrin, and Pilate-or do we bow before the King of Truth in every detail of our lives?

I am asked often about the role of the church and politics-even more so when the sermon touches on the political realm. What role should the church have in regards to politics? How involved-or uninvolved-should we be as Christians? And if we should be involved, why don't we have more sermons that are politically inclined to give guidance to our people?

I think it is clear from Scripture that God is concerned about the political realm. How rulers act, the laws that they enact, the wars they engage in, the peace they maintain, their view of their constituents, justice, mercy, power, and humility-all these, and many other attributes and circumstances, with many examples throughout Scripture, show that God is deeply concerned about a ruler's response. The political realm is by no means peripheral to God's will and intentions.

And how Christians react to politics is of no lesser concern. The clearest example of this is raised in Romans 13:1 in which all believers are exhorted to submit themselves to the governing authorities-going so far as to say that a rebellion against earthly authorities is a rebellion against God. Of course, this brings up the question of whether there is righteous civil disobedience for the believer which is not clearly answered for us in Scripture. Instead, we are told, "Give everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor."

Of course, such a position leads to interesting perceptions which probably aren't helped by the fact that I have never given a politically motivated sermon. The conservatives around me suspect me of being a closet liberal and the liberals around me speculate a streak of hard-line conservatism. And so both sides of the spectrum have attempted to present reasons why I should give guidance to our people regarding specific political candidates. Many presume that I turn these down simply for IRS reasons (a church is at risk of losing its tax-exempt status if it or its pastor supports a particular candidate in an official capacity) but actually, even if the IRS rules weren't there, I'd avoid it.

Working within the context of submission and respect that Romans 13 speaks of, it is also the role of the church to call political leaders to account. Just about every prophet that is recorded in Scripture has a word to say to the rulers. Prophets were rarely the friends of kings. In Christ, we assume roles of prophets for our generation but its very difficult to be a prophet if our arms are around the shoulders of the kings. I am extremely cautious to preach political messages because we risk our prophetic voice.

For each of us and especially in a country where we have been given such blessings as freedom, governmental representation, and a voice through election, it is incumbent on every believer to participate in the political process. Know the heart of God. Vote and act within the political realm in such a way that you bring glory to God. And then recognize that some are going to be called to other acts of obedience. Ezra and Nehemiah return to Israel in obedience to God. Esther and Daniel stay in Persia in obedience to God. Know how God has called you to act and be obedient to Him.