The Christ in Prophecy Journal

The Challenge of Government: Politics of Opposition

Frank Wright on the Challenge of Government

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Lamb & Lion Ministries conducts a number of Bible conferences in the Dallas, Texas area each year. Our June 2011 conference theme was Christianity Under Attack.

The United States of America was founded upon Christian principles, and throughout the history of our nation our Christian heritage has been respected by our government officials, until the middle of the Twentieth Century. Since that time Christianity has come under increasing attack from government officials at all levels, but particularly from those in our national government. To put this trend in perspective, we invited to our conference Dr. Frank Wright who is the president of the National Religious Broadcasters. As such he is on the firing line in the battle to protect freedom of expression for American Christians. For 25 years he worked with the ministry of Dr. James Kennedy. Dr. Wright’s topic at our conference was “The Challenge of Government” (watch).

Advancing Truth

I’m going to attempt to do something that I hope will be beneficial for all of us as it has been for me as I’ve considered and studied this. I’m not going to give you a report about what’s going on in Washington D.C. so much as I will touch on a few legislative items at the end that I think bear on our ability to freely proclaim the Gospel of Christ.

It was Winston Churchill who once said, “the farther you look back the farther forward you can see.” In other words, history is prologue to what is coming next. I believe that we live in a day when we must look back to clearly see what lies ahead, especially as it relates to the halls and the corridors of power which in Washington D.C. is comprised of the three branches of government: the Executive Branch which is led by the President, Congress, and the Courts. All three of those branches today are impinging dramatically on our religious freedoms.

I also think it’s important to look back because in my opinion the days ahead for us are fraught with danger. I’m no Jeremiah, and I’m not here to deliver a Jeremiad so that we’ll be wringing our hands in fear and trembling. I’m not of that camp. But, I believe the greatest danger maybe is if we sit on our hands and do nothing. There are other dangers as well, and I want to speak on some of those.

You could argue that we live in the time most significantly fraught with peril, perhaps more than any other time since the founding of our country. And yet, with that danger we see the seeds of opportunity as well. I’m persuaded that the Church is to advance truth, which is what we really are all about, isn’t it?

Jesus stood before Pontius Pilot who asked Him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” And Jesus answered, “For this reason was I born. And for this reason have I come into the world” (Jn. 18:37). What? Jesus is telling us the very reason He was born and the very reason He came into the world. What did He say? “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

The mission of Christian broadcasters is the mission of the Church of Jesus Christ — to advance truth. Truth is the Gospel and the person and work of Jesus Christ.

The Politics of Opposition

I’m persuaded that in order to advance truth we have to have a healthy respect and understanding for its foes — those who oppose truth. As someone whom I’ve known for many years in Washington D.C. once said, “It’s good to read the Bible everyday to know what God is thinking. And, it’s good to read the Washington Post just to get the opposing viewpoint.” That’s not really very charitable is it to our friends at the Washington Post? But, the principle is a good one. We need to know how the opponents of truth respond to our message in order to do a better job of proclaiming our message. If we aim to proclaim truth, we must carefully study how our adversaries work.

In my years of working on Capital Hill I’ve observed a standardized approach used by many who contend with us in the market place of ideas. It’s a predictable methodology that I see unfold almost every day of the week. It’s what I call the Politics of Opposition. In this seven-point framework that I’m going to give you, you will see the principle way that ideas are opposed in political, legal, and legislative arenas, and also just in the marketplace of ideas which is the very place that we are trying to advance the Gospel of Christ. More than that, you’ll see the principle way that truth is opposed in almost every forum you can imagine.

I want to quickly walk through the seven stages of the Politics of Opposition. Then I want to apply them to our battle to bring the Gospel and the mind of Christ into the culture. That’s what’s needed, isn’t it? To proclaim Christ, but also to bring the mind of Christ to the institutions of our culture.

It was Abraham Kuyper who said that, “Only Jesus can say there isn’t one inch in all of creation that Christ cannot say ‘mine.'” It’s all His. He is sovereign. He is sovereign over the Church. He is sovereign over the culture. He is sovereign over government, business, law, and education. All of it is submissive, or should be, and one day will be under the sovereign reign of the King of Kings.

I want to apply these coming points then to our effort to advance the Gospel in the culture and against the opposition that we see. I want you to keep in mind as I begin that I’m speaking primarily about a strategy. This is a plan of oppositions and not just some random thing that happens. This strategy is employed by those who stand in opposition to public policy questions and also values and ethics and even truth itself.

In the next part on the challenge of government, Dr. Wright explains the Politics of Opposition’s strategies one through five.

Resource

Christianity Under Attack 2011 Conference DVD Album

The Christianity Under Attack 2011 Bible Conference takes an in-depth look at some of the attacks on Christianity. Learn how to counter these attacks in this 6-part conference album!

  1. “The Challenge of Islam” – Kerby Anderson
  2. “The Challenge of Humanism and Atheism” – Ron Rhodes
  3. “The Challenge of Evolution” – John Morris
  4. “The Challenge of Apostasy” – James Walker
  5. “The Challenge of Government” – Frank Wright
  6. “The Promise of Victory” – David Reagan
Christianity Under Attack
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Dr. Nathan E. Jones

As the Internet Evangelist at Lamb & Lion Ministries, Nathan reaches out to the over 4.5 billion people accessible over the Internet with the Good News of Jesus Christ. He also co-hosts the ministry's television program Christ in Prophecy and podcast The Truth Will Set You Free.

9 CommentsLeave a Comment

  • Babylon is depicted as once being a Christian nation state yet will deny this heritage and become a haven for every foul spirit and devil. Then is she identified as a Harlot full of abominations!

  • I have heard that fable many times, yet the description of being a world trade center and commerical powerhouse as well as center of Apostate Christianity there is no question regarding its identity, it is America? No true Christian has ever identified the Catholic Church as being Christian, it has always existed as a pagan entity, therefore it can not be the harlot, for it was never a true Christian nation or Church!

  • Here is some help in identifying the truth concerning the prophetic destiny of the United States:

    Babylon would be an END TIME GREAT NATION (Rev 17,18; Isa 13:6).

    Babylon would have a huge seaport city within its borders (Rev 18:17).

    The Great City Babylon is the home of a world government attempt (Rev 17:18).

    The Great City Babylon would be the economic nerve center of the world (Rev 18:3).

    Babylon would be the center of a one world Luciferian religious movement (Jer 51:44).

    Babylon would be the center for the move to a global economic order (Rev 13:16).

    Babylon will have been a huge missionary nation for Jesus Christ (Jer 50:11; 51:7).

    Babylon would be a home to multitudes of Jews who leave (Jer 50:4-6, 8; 51:6, 45)

    The people of Babylon would not know their true identity (Jer 50:6, implied throughout).

    The people of Babylon would think they are God's elect and eternal (Isa 47:7-8, Rev 18:7).

    The people of Babylon would enjoy the highest standard of living in the world (Rev 18:7).

    The people of Babylon would grow mad upon their idols (Jer 50:2, 38; Hab 2:18).

    The people of Babylon would go into deep sins of all kinds (Rev 18:5).

    The nation Babylon dwells carelessly before the Lord (Isa 47:8).

    Babylon becomes proud, haughty, and does not consider her end (Isa 47:7-8).

    Babylon deals in the occult, in sorceries and drugs (Isa 47:9, 12; Rev 18:23)

    Many scholars seek to dismiss the truth concerning this for various reasons, whether monetary contributions, patriotism, nationalism, or just plain ignorance! It also would not exactly bring you acclaim to identify your nation as being destined to be a haven of devils and doomed for destruction! The Prophets of Israel were killed for their witness of the truth concerning their own nation! It is past time to tell the truth and stop embracing fables!

  • We also know that America (Babylon to come) will not participate in the Gog/Magog invasion in defense of Israel therefore, we know their military dominance will remain as well as their control over global finance and resources with the demise of Islam!

    Many of the scholars that support the idea of Babylon rising in Iraq or Rome as being the seat of the Harlot base their conclusions on obscure passages and add common speculation based on their lack of evidence! The "seven hills" at Rome theory is a clear example of this, when obviously the influence is global and refers to the seven continents! Their almost childlike interpretations do not identify with biblical scholarship!

  • The ecumenical movement is not reserved only to Papal influence of that of the Roman Catholic Church, apostate protestants are also heavy in this drive such as Rick Warren and those of the Dominionist brand! The belief that Rome with their homosexual and pedophilia clergy extracts great global influence is obviously an error! Their numbers are dwindling at an excellerated rate!

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