Where No Guidance Is Found

           As we enter another election season we find ourselves once more seeking the best choice for candidates. We sometimes see some of the religious denominational world backing candidates and becoming involved in elections as a church or group and we have to ask ourselves, “Does God’s word authorize His church to fight political battles?”

            Christ could have established His church to fight hunger, politics, poverty or sickness if He had intended. As a matter of fact He and His apostles did some of these very things through miracles while on earth as signs of their authenticity. But these methods ended as the word was made perfect or complete (1 Cor. 13:8-10). Instead, Christ created the Church as a spiritual kingdom and not of this world (John 18:36).It was to be His bride intended as the avenue through which we obtain eternal life with Him.

            We see the religious world busy in many worldly endeavors that God’s word does not give us instruction or example for. Many are busy fighting political battles, battles against hunger, sickness, clothing etc. all of which are great causes that can be fought as individual Christians, but God’s word gives us no authority, instruction or example of His Church waging these battles as a group with His resources. Therefore, we see the world working in an atmosphere where there is nothing from God’s word to guide their practices. This is a dangerous place to be because we know He furnished us with all scripture pertaining to life and Godliness (1 Peter 1:3) so man is found dabbling in things he was not intended to be in as the “Church”.

            All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16, 17). If God has given us all instruction needed, then when man finds himself in an area where there is no instruction or authority he has to reason that he has left the protection and authority of God’s word and entered into an area where man will have to set his own guidelines. This makes it an area “of man” and not “of God”. God did not forget anything we need pertaining to spiritual salvation nor does He need man’s help in completing or making His word perfect.

            Too often we allow human wisdom to override our faith in God’s word. We must be convinced without doubt that God’s way will work and that it was divinely constructed to protect us even in situations that we, through human wisdom, can’t see any way that God’s way will work. We can’t reason in our minds why Christians have horrible things happen to them or why they die at the hands of persecutors but we must have faith that He is in control and He will not give us anything we cannot bear (1 Cor. 10:13). We must adhere to His instruction to get us through our trials and tribulations and leave the rest in His hands with total confidence He will work things out according to His will. God is in control!

            Whether it is political elections or personal matters we struggle with, we must adhere to God’s instruction and stay out of areas where God has not given instruction. Where no instruction is given makes for an area that God does not want the Church in, as individuals or as a collective. God instructs us on what we are to do and He does not expend endless scripture on every way we are not to do something. So, when we find ourselves without scripture we can know we are somewhere he did not intend us to be.

-  Marc Hopkins