Christians and Public Service (6)

“Whom will he teach knowledge?
And whom will he make to understand the message?
Those just weaned from milk?
Those just drawn from the breasts?
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept,
Line upon line, line upon line,
Here a little, there a little.” Isaiah 28.9, 10

Wielding the Word
I need to say a few more words about Joseph and Daniel and their example of wielding the Word of truth in the public square.

We have already seen that these men led with their lives. They made their convictions known early on and they lived and worked in a manner consistent with their professions of faith. They didn’t push their beliefs on others; however, when the opportunity arose to connect their faith with a particular situation or need, they did not hold back. Again, they spoke the Word of God to the immediate situation and were content to let their witness extend no further, at least, not at that moment.

However, in each of these men we see a determined effort to bring more of God’s truth to bear on their work as public servants, and to give more expansive and consistent witness to the Lord and His purposes.

Each of them did this gradually, here a little, there a little, each time making sure that the integrity of their lives and the excellence of their work provided a solid backdrop for their witness.

The work of the Lord in public service?
Further, each man was able not simply to testify about his faith, but to implicate and involve the people he served in the work of the Lord.

We see this, for example, in Joseph’s interpreting the dreams of his fellow prisoners, and also in his hearing and interpreting Pharaoh’s dream and telling him that God had shown him, Pharaoh, what He, God, was planning to do with the nation of Egypt (Gen. 41.25ff.). Joseph pointed out that God had been working in and speaking through Pharaoh, as if they were partners in some grand and mysterious plan.

The same is true of Daniel. In chapter 2 he explained to Nebuchadnezzar that God had revealed to him, the King of Babylon, what He, God, was planning to do in the latter days.

In a sense Daniel made Nebuchadnezzar a spokesman for the Lord by revealing and interpreting his dream. Daniel’s friends further involved the king with the Lord in chapter 3 when, by their bold and uncompromised witness, they led Nebuchadnezzar to become an advocate of the Lord, and not just a mouthpiece for him.

In chapter 4 Daniel’s confrontation with Nebuchadnezzar had the effect, over a seven-year period, of turning the prideful king into a fervent believer in the Lord, who published the praises of God throughout his entire empire.

Patience and persistence
All this bearing witness to the Lord, both on the part of Joseph and Daniel, took many years, was consistently grounded in and attached to immediate public and personal concerns, and was accomplished little by little, line upon line, precept upon precept. It never became the focal point of their work as public servants; rather, their opportunities to bear witness to the truth arose naturally in the context of their daily faithfulness and diligence.

Christians serving in the public arena should prepare for a lifetime of bearing witness to the truth of the Lord. They must be far-seeing and patient; ready to speak a relevant and appropriate word, but neither preachy nor judgmental in their witness; and always careful to maintain integrity and excellence as the context from which they essay to speak on behalf of the Lord.

They should become informed, as much as possible, concerning how the Word of God speaks into matters of public policy, paying special attention to ways the Scriptures might shed light on matters of pressing concern.

They should consult with other believers – friends, pastors, writers, and thinkers – to help them understand their work as public servants from the perspective of a Christian worldview.

And they must not be reluctant, in casual conversations with co-laborers or supervisors, to comment on the relevance of Biblical teaching to matters of the moment.

The key is to be believable, relevant, gracious, and patient, and to try to make the most of every opportunity for living and speaking a Word of truth into matters of public policy. As Mordecai said to Esther, regarding speaking truth in the public square, believers serving there must be persuaded that God has put them there for just such times (Est. 4.14).

For reflection
1.      Being a witness for Christ is a process and not an event. Explain the difference:

2.      Meditate on Acts 1.8 and Matthew 28.18-20. Comment on “be” and “as you are going” with respect to your witness for Christ:

3.      Suggest some ways that believers and their churches might support Christians serving in the public sector in their ongoing witness for the Lord:

Next steps: Every Christian participates in public service in some capacity. Prayer, communicating with public officials, participating in the political process, and voting are just a few ways that can involve every one of Christ’s followers as His witnesses. In which of these areas of public service are you planning to become more involved? Talk with a pastor or church leader concerning how you might better prepare for this work.

T. M. Moore

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This week’s study, Christians and Public Service, is part 4 of a 5-part series on The King’s Heart, a Biblical view of government and politics, and is available as a free download by clicking here. We cannot understand God’s view of government, or how to function in a political environment apart from faith in King Jesus and His rule. Order T. M.’s books The Kingship of Jesus  and The Ground for Christian Ethics to supplement our studies of God and government.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.