The Liberal National Party – officially constituted on July 26 2008 and currently led by our local member, John-Paul Langbroek.  What has God got to say about the LNP?  God speaks on the LNP – hasn’t that got people talking.  I had a phone call during the week from someone concerned that I was going to be giving a political speech today.  I am not sure whether they thought this might be going to be a membership drive for the LNP.  The person wanted to know whether I was going to give equal air time over the coming weeks to hear God speak on the Labour Party and the Greens and Family First and so on.

So – in order that we are very very clear up front – I do not think that God has a preference when it comes to political parties.  As you will see from what I have gathered from God’s word, I think God has the same fundamental things to say to any person in the political arena (regardless of party membership) and I think God has the same fundamental things to say to us as electors (regardless of our party persuasion).  God has provided for church and state.  He calls on leaders in both to follow him and listen to him but I do not think he calls on the state to take over the church or the church to run the state.

So why not title the sermon “God speaks on politics”?  Why title this sermon “God speaks on the LNP”?  I chose the title for two reasons – firstly we are situated in a state electorate which is currently held by the LNP and secondly I wanted to get people talking about the topic.  The topic says nothing about my personal political persuasion and it certainly is neither an endorsement nor a criticism of the LNP from this pulpit or on behalf of Surfers Paradise Anglican Church.  So now that we have our ground rules in place let me pray for us as we hear God speak on politics:

Dear God, help us to set aside our political preferences and hear what you have to say about the governing of our nation.  May I not say anything that is not in your Word and may you be glorified in these words, our thoughts and our actions.  Amen.

1.       God says to our leaders – I gave you this position and you are responsible to me.

Paul says in Romans 13 – there is no authority except from God and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God.  And further on – the authority is God’s servant for our good.

This is probably the most important thing that God has to say to those who are elected or who desire to be elected.  They may have been endorsed by the Labour party or the LNP or someone else and they may have received many votes simply because they align with a particular party; but in the end they do not answer to the LNP or the Labour Party or the electorate – they certainly need to honour the party’s and people’s role in putting them in a position of leadership – but in the end they answer to God.

This is reinforced in Mark 1 where Jesus comes proclaiming a message of a kingdom.  It was not the kingdom of Rome or the Kingdom of Israel, it was the kingdom of God.  And Jesus says that this kingdom is near.  It was a reminder to those gathered that God is king and he has a kingdom.  Those who heard this would have been reminded of many scripture passages which spoke of God’s kingdom being above all others; they would have remembered the call by God for them to give priority to God’s kingdom above all else.

So our political representatives are called on to recognize that whilst they represent us in the Commonwealth or State parliaments, there is a greater kingdom which needs to take priority in their lives and in their actions – the kingdom of God.

So every speech our politicians and local councilors make; every media comment; every vote on legislation – all of them need to be made in view of their accountability to God.  I wonder sometimes if God’s desire for our parliaments and councils would be to have so-called conscience votes on every matter.  I know that maybe this is impractical and naive – but in my mind our parliamentarians answer to God, in the end, and not to the party.  Maybe that is something we can talk about.  But that is the first thing that God says to those elected or desiring to be elected – I put you there and you are accountable to me.

2.       God says to our leaders – be women and men of prayer

How does a politician know what to say? How to vote?

Just before the recent leadership spill in the Federal liberal party Joe Hockey sent out a message on Twitter asking people to give him advice on how to vote on the Carbon Emission Trading Scheme and what to do regarding Climate change.  Is that the way to go?  Should our politicians listen to us as the people of Australia and then vote according to whoever gives the highest number of responses?  Should they just vote along party lines without considering the issues?

God’s answer to both of these is no.  Because their ultimate authority is God then they need to listen to him.  In 1 Kings 8 and in Psalm 138 we hear leaders coming to God in prayer.  King Solomon, reputedly the wisest of all kings of his time, does not rest on that wisdom but comes to God in praise and prayer:

Read verses 23,25,26

Now I have seen plenty of TV shots of our Prime Minister Kevin Rudd coming out of his local Anglican church in Canberra and so I assume he is a man of prayer and he is taking heed of these things that God says in his word.  I have read a paper he wrote in 2007 called “faith and politics” which reinforces my conclusion.  The leader of the opposition in our state parliament and our local member John-Paul Langbroek was brought up as a Jehovah’s Witness so he is well aware of the issues of faith and the person of Jesus.  I have met and spoken to John-Paul and believe he too is a man of prayer.

Does this mean that Prime Minister Rudd and Mr Langbroek and I (also a man of prayer) will always agree?  Of course not.  But I can be comforted by the fact that they, like me, are trying to listen to God in life, in religion and in politics.

Now there may be many other things God is saying to our leaders in his word but they are two of the most important.

Now let’s turn our attention to us.

3.       God says to us – be subject to the authorities

It is pretty clear in Romans 13.  Be subject to the governing authorities.  And this is Paul talking to people who are living under occupied rule.  Whoever resists the authorities resists God he says.  Pay taxes if you owe them.

Be subject (or submit) to authorities.  What does it mean to be subject?

Let me read to you something I found helpful on this:

Paul calls on believers to submit to governing authorities rather than to obey them; and Paul’s choice of words may be important … To submit is to recognize one’s subordinate place in a hierarchy … submission will usually demand that we obey what the governing authorities tell us to do.  But perhaps our submission to government is compatible with disobedience to government in certain exceptional circumstances.  For heading the hierarchy of relations in which Christians find themselves is God; and all subordinate ‘submissions’ must always be measured in relationship to our all-embracing submission to him. (Moo p 797)

4.       God says to us – pray

Some years ago I was driving home from an Area Deanery meeting in Toowoomba reflecting on the things we had been discussing and reminding myself of how hopeless the Bishop was and how blind freddy could do a better job … and God spoke to me.  God said stop bitching about your bishop and start praying for him.  Can I say that it is that same with our politicians.

Sure we can make comment about policies and actions.  Sure we can disagree with those elected to our parliaments and councils – but in amongst such comments and disagreements we ought to be diligent in our prayers for them.  Why don’t you email Susie Douglas, our local councilor; or John-Paul, our state member; or Steve Ciobo our Federal member – tell them that you would like to pray for them regularly and ask whether they can give you some prayer points?  Or you might like to pray for parliament when it is sitting.

Whatever we do God calls on us to be people of prayer for our leaders.  That’s our responsibility. 

So there are four fundamental things under the heading of God speaks on the LNP (reiterate them).

Having said that we should pray let me do that now as I conclude.  I’m going to use a prayer which has been adapted from the House of Commons Prayer in the UK:

PRAY: Almighty God, by whom alone queens reign and parliaments decree justice, and from whom alone comes counsel and understanding: we humbly ask that you grant your heavenly wisdom to those who have been called to serve in the parliaments and local councils of this nation.  Grant that, having a fear of you always before their eyes, that they may lay aside all private interests and desires, and take counsel together for the glory of your name, the maintenance of true religion and justice, and the welfare, peace and unity of Australia; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.