Political Duties of Christians Part 2 -- By: Edward W. Hooker

Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 101:404 (Oct 1944)
Article: Political Duties of Christians Part 2
Author: Edward W. Hooker


Political Duties of Christians
Part 2

Edward W. Hooker

(Continued from the July-September Number, 1944)

We come now to consider the second question proposed, touching the duties of the Christian as a member of the body politic as therewith being, in our own country, the source of the government.

While the Christian as a lover of his country is likely to think, feel and act on many subjects as other men do, and perhaps with propriety, there are some points in which sympathy of feelings and modes of thinking conformed to those of the majority of his countrymen, will be to sin against God. Our nation has been prospered since its erection into a republic beyond all former example, and is standing “a spectacle to the world” and one which they have admired. Every man wishes the continuance of this prosperity. But we are looking around and within for the reasons to warrant our confidence. So it is still to be feared that we are looking upward too little. Here then we find it needful to employ with the Christian the language of caution, itself derived from the Bible.

We must take heed of sinning against God by confidence in men for national safety and prosperity, in which we leave God out of sight. The sanguine patriot, the ingenious and philosophizing politician, the ambitious partisan and the national scheme-builder may speculate, conjecture, dream and predict great things. But the Christian must go and counsel others to go to Him and to His Word who is “governor among the nations,” whose wisdom and often His holy indignation mock the proud policy and plans of the great men of the earth. He has said, “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might,

let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glorieth, glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth; for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.” If the Christian will be much in his closet with the “King of kings,” and by the light of the divine Word seek for that which will certainly afford security and prosperity, he need not ask admission to hear the discussions of a cabinet composed of the wisest rulers who could be collected from all nations, in order that he may be relieved from solicitude. Let him remember also that which is written, “Woe unto them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord.” The whole system of mere human reliance is, by this and oth...

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