MacArthur - Why Government Cant Save You

WHY GOVERNMENT CANT SAVE YOU

WHY GOVERNMENT CANT SAVE YOU

DR. JOHN F. MACARTHUR, JR.

why government cant save you
Dr. John F. MacArthur, Jr.

Copyright 2000 by Thomas Nelson Publishing. All rights reserved.

Published by Word Publishing, a unit of Thomas Nelson, Inc.,
P. O. Box 141000, Nashville, Tennessee 37214. All rights reserved.
No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations used in this book are from the New King James Version, copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission.

Scripture references identified as kjv are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture references identified as nasb are from the New American Standard Bible, copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1971, 1973, 1975, and 1977 by the Lockman Foundation.
Used by permission.

Scripture references identified niv are from the New International Version, copyright 1978 by the New York International Bible Society.
Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

Scripture references identified tlb are from The Living Bible, copyright 1971 by Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Ill.
Used by permission.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

MacArthur, John, 1939

Why government cant save you: an alternative to political activism / by John F. MacArthur

p. cm.(Bible for life series ; 7)

ISBN 0-8499-5555-6

1. Christianity and Politics. I. Title.

BR115.P7 M315 2000

261.7dc21

00-043526

CIP

Printed in the United States of America
00 01 02 03 04 05 PHX 6 5 4 3 2 1

Contents

CHAPTER ONE
Political Involvement: a Christian Perspective

CHAPTER TWO
Our Responsibility to Authority

CHAPTER THREE
The Biblical Purpose of Government

CHAPTER FOUR
Our Tax Obligation

CHAPTER FIVE
Jesus Lesson on Tax Exemptions

CHAPTER SIX
Supporting Our Leaders: How and Why

CHAPTER SEVEN
Daniels Uncompromising Civil Service

CHAPTER EIGHT
Pauls Example before Worldly Authorities

CHAPTER NINE
How to Live in a Pagan Culture

S ome years ago a friend asked me a surprising question. He wondered if Id like to be president of the United States some day.

My answer was a resounding No! I would never want to be president because the power to bring righteousness to this country does not now and will never reside in public office. The truth is, I try my best to avoid talking about partisan politics. Its not that I dont have opinionsI have very strong opinions. I avoid it simply because the political arena and its rhetoric have no power to bring about the spiritual transformation our society needs.

Please dont misunderstand meI dont believe we should remove ourselves from the political process. As Christian citizens, we exercise important responsibilities. Many of the issues at stake today are close to our hearts. The virtues, morals, and principles Christians consider righteous are continually under attack.

While Im disturbed by the anti-Christian, morally debauched culture we live in and long to see our nation turn to the biblical standard, Im also concerned about the hostile response to that culture by some believers, churches, and Christian ministries.

Appalled by the lack of biblical morality or sense of justice, believers have been told to take the spiritual battle to the streets. Christians are being urged by their leaders to fight for cultural change by demonstrating, protesting, boycotting, and blockading anything that conflicts with our traditional values.

Im concerned about the prevailing mindset that makes political and social activism the primary business of Christianity and reduces faith in Christ to just another political force. Here are a few ways I believe this current trend has inflicted serious harm on the cause of Christ and crippled the effectiveness of evangelism.

First, by looking to human means to reform society and establish Christian values, weve denigrated Gods sovereignty over human history and events. Imagine what the world must think of our God. Do we think Him so weak and incapable of caring for us that we prefer using protests and political pressure rather than the spiritual resources He offers? And do we believe He has lost control and we have to get it back for Him?

Second, seeking to bring biblical values to our culture by changing it through fleshly means is a selfish pursuit. The truth is, God never intended for us to be at ease with our culture. What effect will our being comfortable in our culture have on the eternal destination of the men and women in our communities who dont know Christ? Rather than demanding our rights and creating for ourselves a world where we feel safe and accepted, we need to see the deep spiritual needs of the world and concern ourselves with offering people hope through Jesus Christ. Thats what being a living sacrifice is all about.

Third, by trying to establish Christian values through earthly methods, we risk creating a false sense of morality. Forcing people to adopt our biblical standards of morality only brings superficial change and hides the real issuesin and their need for rebirth in Jesus Christ. When people of this world face Gods judgment, their traditional Christian values wont matter at allonly how they responded to Jesus Christ. Thats why pursuing outward change at the expense of inward transformation is both a nearsighted and deadly choice.

Finally, by making activism our priority, we fashion a reputation as rabble-rousing malcontents and foster hostility toward unbelievers that alienates us from them, and them from us. We need to let go of the notion that culture and government are the enemy. Its simply wrong to blame our countrys moral disintegration on political parties, liberal conspiracies, or biased media. They have never been the root of the problem. They are the mission field, not the enemy.

Yes, the world is sinful, but must we act surprised or shocked by its sinfulness? How else could sinners act? They are blinded by the powers of darkness and have no spiritual discernment. Thats why its foolish to expect human institutions to produce the kind of righteousness and justice that only God can effect. We cant look to government to uphold or enforce our biblical standards for living. We must do it through consistent, holy living and through the bold proclamation of His Word by the truly redeemed church. When we make that our focus, well stop treating the unconverted as our enemy and begin seeing them compassionately as our mission field. Indeed, we are in a battle, but it is a clash of spiritual kingdoms, a battle in which we must use the spiritual weapon of divine truth.

That was certainly our Lords priority. As He was brought before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor asked Him, Are You the King of the Jews?... Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here. Pilate therefore said to Him, Are You a king then? Jesus answered, You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth (John 18:33, 36-37).