Essay: “Part 6: A Most Difficult Question—Should Christians Speak Truth to Power?”

In previous essays it was shown that the individual Christian and Christian leaders have God-given commands to confront all moral defiance within their ranks.  This does not mean that Christians have to be “perfect.,” but when sin is overt and continuous it must be identified and confronted.

What then is the Christian obligation when the culture condones and promotes overt sin? This is a politically charged question with many on both sides of the issue.   All moral questions are political in nature as they involve how people organize and regulate their lives.  Some issues are more  “hot potatoes” than others at any point in time.  Many Christians devote their primary efforts at enlightening non-Christians on the great moral  sins in our culture by engaging political activism .  Other Christian do not think this is appropriate.

As we begin to address this question, I want to “set the stage.” Of course, the scriptural references provided in Part 4 are how God has spoken. We must adhere to those precepts.  Christians are citizens first of the Kingdom of Heaven.  Secondly, we  in the United States are citizens of the United State or some other status here. The Kingdom of Heaven is not just some heavenly other worldly place.  It consists of ALL Creation including our lives here on the earth.   Some principles to understand:

• ^{Col 1:16} “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.”
• ^{2: 15} “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”
• ^{2 Cor. 5:19 ‘}that is, in Christ God was reconciling^[a]the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.
• ^{John 19}: ‘Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have ^[a]power to crucify You, and power to release You?”¹¹ Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. ‘
• ^{6: 12 ‘}For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.’

Note from the above, Christ created all powers on earth and the spiritual realm.  He defeated through the cross ALL powers. Power that all rulers have are only the power that God grants them.  So, then, the present governments and rulers are under the King of Heaven.  What power they have has been granted to them.   They have been defeated already through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.  We are ambassadors to this fact to the world.  But our battle is not just against humans themselves, but against the evil powers that may control them.

In light of this background the following questions arise: 1) What are the responsibilities of the earthly ruling powers? 2) How are Christians to be ambassadors to the world of Christ’s reconciliation? 3) Since we are in a battle against evil, how do we fight? 4) Are Christians to speak “truth to power” and if so how and when? 5) Do we have examples of God’s people “speaking truth to power” ?  Note: By “power” here we mean those who rule in Government offices  under which we may reside.  Speaking “truth to power” means speaking out against the powers in control when they are doing things against the will  of God.  The above powers include both “good: and “bad” governments.

April 6, 2024