By Angela Wittman
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| Image from thehill.com |
The text below is taken from a blog post written in 2008 about the nomination of Sarah Palin as a Vice-Presidential candidate, but it is also applicable for all ladies considering a run for political office:
Sarah Palin and the feminism which has invaded the church in America
The blogosphere has been full of stories and opinions about the recent nomination of Sarah Palin for Vice President of the United States. Conservative Christian leaders such as James Dobson and Phyllis Schlafly have embraced her candidacy and she is receiving endorsements from pro-family groups.
But I suppose the most surprising fact of her candidacy is that even though she boasts of being a member of Feminists for Life and complimented Hillary Clinton for the 18 million cracks made in the “glass ceiling” not too much is being said about the role reversal (Mr. Palin is reportedly “Mr. Mom” and the primary caregiver for their children) in Ms. Palin’s family by these very same groups which have made their mark by standing up for the traditional American family. They seem to have cleanly swept the feminism of Ms. Palin under the rug. But perhaps the problem of feminism goes much deeper than para-church ministries and pro-family groups and instead stems from within the modern day church.
Let’s take a look at what God says are the qualifications for leaders in the church which should also carry over into the civil realm:
In Exodus chapter 18, verse 21 (NKJ) says:“Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.”
Please take note that God is quite specific as to which sex is to be leaders, as well as the character traits they are to have.
Titus chapter 1, verses 5 – 9 tell us what type of men are to be chosen as elders (or overseers):
“For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you— if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. For a bishop [overseer] must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.”Please note once again that this is referring to males as leaders, which has been the traditional understanding in the church, even though many feminists think they have “broken the glass ceiling” in this area as well. However, God’s Word stands firm and it cannot be broken.
As Christians our worldview is to be shaped by the Word of God, not by what is popular or expedient or even pragmatic. We need to repent of accepting women as leaders in the church and civil government, not encourage women to step out of God’s delegated realm of authority (their home).Then in 2012 right before Mitt Romney become the GOP candidate for President, I wrote this article on the Biblical qualifications for political candidates:
2012 Elections: What are the Biblical Qualifications for Candidates?
As we approach November 6th and the 2012 elections, the Christian would do well to ask what the Biblical qualifications for leaders are and then apply these principles to those seeking public office.
A good resource for those seeking to bring glory to God in the political arena and the voting booth is the book Explicitly Christian Politics, published by Christian Statesman Press and edited by William O. Einwechter.
In the Appendix of Explicitly Christian Politics on pages 256 and 257 under the heading The Scriptures Require Moral and Religious, not Ecclesiastical, Qualifications and Duties of Civil Officers is this list of qualifications with Scripture proofs that one can use to measure the Biblical qualifications of candidates seeking their vote:
- Civil rulers are ministers of God, deriving all just authority ultimately from Him (Prov. 8:15-16; Rom. 13:4-6).
- Civil officers hold their trust from God, through the people, to protect and enforce right, and restrain and punish evil doers (Rom. 13:4-6; 1Pet. 2:13-14).
- Hence, none but able, just, and God-fearing men should be exalted to the office of civil ruler (Ex. 18:21; 2 Sam. 23:2-3).
- When immoral men are elevated to the civil magistracy, wickedness and wicked men are encouraged (Ps. 12:8).
- Civil rulers are enjoined to learn Christ’s law, and acknowledge and obey Him as King (Ps. 2:10-12).
- They are required to consult God’s revealed law as the great law-book of the nation. (Deut. 17:18-20)
I also want to point out that when God refers to leaders, He uses masculine terms. While I can empathize with those Christian ladies who want to “clean house” in local, state and federal government by running for civil office, Scripture simply doesn’t endorse women having leadership positions over men. Instead we are commanded to be “discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed” (Titus 2:5). We Christian ladies will do well to clean our own homes while serving our families with much godly fear and Christian charity.
- Just and God-fearing rulers bring the clear sunshine of peace and prosperity to a nation (2 Sam. 23:3-4).
In conclusion, let me please encourage Christian voters to thoroughly research those running for office and see if they measure up to God’s standards as outlined above. You may have to look at those candidates running as Independents and Third Party to find a godly man you can cast your ballot for with a clear conscience. Also, research on your state’s election requirements for write-in candidates in the case your choice for office wasn’t able to obtain ballot access.
May the good Lord bless America by leading His people to vote for godly men who will implement Biblical principles into all area aspects of civil government. Amen.So, while not wanting to enter into any theological debates, please understand that I have never been able to compartmentalize my Christian beliefs when entering the voting booth or other so-called "secular" activities. As a newborn babe in Christ, I was elected to our local school board and saw first hand the damage well-meaning Christians did when they parked their beliefs at the door when entering their elected office. It was terrible! And I firmly believe this type of spiritual compromise by Christians is what is wrong with America.
May the good Lord lead us to repent of our worldliness. In Lord Jesus Name I pray, amen.
Angela, I am vehemently opposed to feminism wherever it rears its ugly head, and I do believe that, in general, leadership is and should be male. Yet I have run for political office twice in Northern Ireland (unsuccessfully) and am thinking of doing so a third time. Does this make me a hypocrite? I don't think so. Here in Northern Ireland, there are NO political Parties that oppose feminism, NONE. Most men are afraid to say anything against feminism lest they be labelled "sexist" so a woman must be the one to publicly oppose it. Sometimes the men in a given society fall so low and are so weak and cowardly that God will use a woman as a rebuke to the men, but not just any woman. A Deborah, who will inspire men by her uncompromising stand for Biblical principles and because of whom some men may recover their courage and assume their God-given role. I see myself as such a woman and I don't mean to sound arrogant or appear to have delusions of grandeur. I would happily stand aside if a courageous and fearless man espousing godly principles would put himself forward for election. I would promote and vote for such a candidate and move in to the background. We in Northern Ireland have no such candidate. I do not believe I am disobeying the Word of God by my actions. You may believe I am and, if so, we will have to agree to differ.
ReplyDeleteHi Susan, I ran for local office several times years ago and began to realize that if I continued being a candidate, I might be in the way of a godly man running and being elected. For me, the candidacies weren't to make a statement, but to actually hold office. I wish I could say something encouraging for your candidacies, but I found that once I moved into the background, more men stepped forward and my husband was happy to have his wife home. :)
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