The Church in America is increasingly ignoring the dynamic connection between public policy and spiritual realities which is becoming increasingly ignored by the Church in America. The devaluing of political engagement by those who love Jesus and value the Written word of God has paved the way for public policies which are often opposed to biblical standards. This devaluing of civic involvement is sometimes couched in spiritual language such as, “Politics is so dirty. I’m about spiritual things,” or, “I don’t think politics makes any difference. Building the kingdom is what really matters.”

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Public Policy Reflects the Values of Those Voted into Office

It’s true that many ungodly acts are committed through the misuse of political power. And we all agree that building the Kingdom of God is our highest priority. However, the current governmental overreach in the name of “flattening the curve” has been emboldened by the absence of the Church in the public square. Public policy is determined by elected officials who represent those who voted them into office. Political leaders bring their values to bear on the policies they promote. When those who love Jesus and are trying to live according to His written Word avoid voting or devalue political engagement, public policies reflect values that are opposed to biblical standards. The spiritual consequences in our nation, and particularly for the poor, are profound.

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During the current crisis, we’ve all heard the constant stream of frightening reports. Political leaders warn of the potential number of deaths estimated by the latest computer models. We are told that the drastic measures to which we must all adhere could last much longer than previously thought. And the devastating financial impact to families and individuals will require trillions of dollars of government relief. This is understandably frightening to many. The virus is definitely serious, and the health impacts are significant for those who are most at risk. But let’s look at some spiritual implications of the public policy decisions being implemented in the name of public safety.

The Poor in America Suffering Most

A weakened American economy results in disproportionate suffering among the poor. When individuals who struggle to make ends meet lose their jobs, they have to search for ways to meet their basic needs. They might need food stamps in order to eat. They could require rent or mortgage subsidies in order to keep their homes. They might need their children’s schools to provide supplemental meals. The poor suffer first, most, and longest when any economy languishes. But particularly in America, where the government offers programs and policies to provide for minimal needs, a forced shutdown of businesses accelerates a forced dependence on government. This is most oppressive to the poor. When the entire American economy is forcibly shut down, the poor are at the mercy of governmental mandates. The American government has assumed the authority to tell people who can work, where they can conduct their work, and what health standards they will need to meet in the future in order to be able to work. This is all being done in the name of public safety and with the intention of meeting basic needs. Public policies shut down the ability to meet our own needs and public policy creates the new source for those needs to be met. These public policies are creating mass dependence on government, which has profound spiritual ramifications.

Weakened America Weakens the World

A mandated shut down of the American economy doesn’t just have domestic ramifications. American public policy has global spiritual implications. We currently have unelected and unaccountable health care professionals advising a national public policy that shuts down the strongest economy on the earth. Other nations will suffer magnified consequences. Opportunistic individuals and foreign nations are emboldened to lawlessness when the American economy is weakened. American strength projected to the world has served as a deterrent to those who would attempt to oppress others. Nations are arguably more stable when democratic principles of governance are enacted. America is undoubtedly flawed in the implementation of a righteous foreign policy. But historically, the poor and oppressed in many nations have benefited from America’s ability to fund development, invest in businesses, and provide humanitarian relief. A dangerous shifting of power is happening through a combination of more people dependent on governments to meet their needs and a weakened American presence on the global stage. This power shift increases the likelihood of emboldening ruthless leaders and increases lawlessness. Once again, the poor of the earth suffer a disproportionate burden from global instability.

Dangerous New Precedent

The shutting down of the American economy in order to stop a perceived health risk to the general public has never been done before. The precedent has been set that public policy should be used to fully control free enterprise and the actions of private individuals when governmental leaders determine there is a threat to the general population. Currently the threat to the general population is identified as a virus. Future threats could be identified as anything governmental leaders determine necessitates governmental intervention. The government has positioned itself as the absolute authority over private enterprise as well as the primary resource for those who are not allowed to make a living. The government was able to impose all of these controls in a matter of days. And the church has been largely silent. The view that Christians should not be involved in the political arena has resulted in policies that oppress the poor, empower governmental control, and limit individual freedom. Government reflects the values of those who get engaged in the political process.

Are We Angering the Lord?

But there is an additional insidious consequence from a disengaged Church. Unrighteous legislation that oppresses the poor angers the Lord as described in Isaiah 10. Additionally, the Bible clearly describes shakings that will have global impact. These are foretold in Haggai 2 and reiterated in Hebrews 12. The dangerous combination of shakings creating fear and opportunistic leaders legislating in ways that oppress the masses create fertile ground for what the Bible speaks of as a global leader who will promise to bring peace and prosperity to the nations clamoring for governments to ease their suffering. If the American Church is silent now in the face of significant but still relatively mild governmental overreach, what will we do as the biblically foretold global shakings increase? Put in biblical language, if we get weary running with men on foot, how will we be able to run with horses? Public policy has spiritual ramifications and we’re seeing the profound effects in a matter of a few short weeks. The government didn’t need to use violence. There was no crazed despot. The American economy was simply shut down. People became suddenly, unexpectedly dependent on government. And all it took was a frightened populace, a few public policy changes, and a silent, disengaged Church.

Luis Cataldo served on the Young Life staff, a Christian outreach to High school students for 20 years. He was Lead Pastor of a church plant before joining the senior leadership of the International House of Prayer in Kansas City in contending in prayer for righteousness and justice primarily the Church, Government and Israel. Luis was the Director of The Response in 2011, a national Joel 2 Solemn Assembly called by Governor Perry of Texas. Luis is currently serving at the International House of Prayer Atlanta focusing on special projects.

Photo by lee junda on Unsplash.