Standing in faith for your nation is a daily call to obedience to God’s Word—but how do you do it? Here are seven ways you can stand in faith for your nation today.
The topic of standing in faith for your nation is typically one that is raised during a major election. It’s at the forefront of our minds; it’s on the news; it’s what everyone is talking about. But what about the rest of the time? Are we supposed to just settle back to sleep, waiting four years for the next big election?
Absolutely not! Standing in faith for our nation is needed every day. While we work, play, cook and go about our business, the government is in motion, the courts are in session, and the laws of the land are being molded and shaped. This year, the United States is holding primary and midterm elections. While these are less publicized, they are no less meaningful. In fact, Brother Copeland says, “They’re more important than the presidential election.”
What does that mean for you as a Christian? Mainly this: Your participation is needed in this hour. This is not the time to draw back. As the Body of Christ, we need to be informed and keep our faith engaged.
Wondering how you can make a difference? Here are 7 ways to stand in faith for your nation.
1. Stand and Vote in Your Nation
“When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan.” –Proverbs 29:2
Christians and politics are a God-ordained mix. Psalm 8:6 (NKJV) says, “You have made him [man] to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet.” Dominion isn’t just a privilege and an honor—it is a responsibility. To have dominion is to have stewardship. We are called to be good stewards over our money, marriages, children, animals—and our government. And we steward our government through the voting process.
Many Christians claim their vote won’t make a difference or decide to abstain from voting due to the character flaws of the candidates. But, is this acceptable in God’s sight? In Luke 19:13, God told us to occupy, do business, take care of things until He returns. Part of this responsibility involves actively stewarding our government process. In Matthew 25:14-28, we see the steward who didn’t do anything was the one who was rebuked and punished. That means Christians don’t get to choose whether to participate—it isn’t optional.
Bishop Keith Butler puts it this way: “Genesis 8:22 says, ‘As long as the earth remains, seedtime and harvest…shall not cease.’ And voting is part of the seedtime and harvest principle.”
Your vote (or non-vote) will either promote or slow the advancement of evil. You can’t afford to not let your voice be heard! As David Barton says, “You always stop the most wickedness you can, anytime you get the chance.”
2. Stand for Life in Your Nation
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” –Psalm 139:13,16 (NIV)
Every life matters to God. He doesn’t value anyone more or less based on age, gender, race, economic status or physical ability. Every life matters to God. The convenience of another person’s life to our own does not determine its existence. And, there is no argument about when life begins because it has already been settled in God’s Word. In Psalm 139, God tells us He knew us before we were even formed, and had already written each day in His book before we even came to be.
The Bible is far from silent on the topic of the sanctity of human life—especially the lives of the unborn. God said to shed innocent blood (including abortion) is wrong (Proverbs 6:16-19, NIV). The definition of murder is for man to decide who should live and who should die. Instead, we are to choose life so that our children may live (Deuteronomy 30:19).
The creation of life in the womb is precious in God’s sight. As Christians, we are expected to honor, respect and defend His creation, and abortion goes against the laws of nature and the heart of God in every way. For these reasons, the sanctity of human life is by far the most important issue for Christians today. Our voice is needed now more than ever. Nearly 60 million unborn babies have been aborted since Roe v. Wade passed in 1973. That number is climbing every day. We have a call to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves (Proverbs 31:8).
We have a responsibility to defend the unborn by choosing candidates who stand for life. To choose a candidate who does not defend the unborn, or to remain silent by failing to vote, is to allow those who do not respect life or righteous values to be in power. Anyone who does either of these becomes an accomplice to murder, whether they intended to or not.
3. Stand for Marriage in Your Nation
“He created them male and female.” –Genesis 5:2 (NKJV)
Whenever a social issue arises, such as same-sex marriage, that brings a spirit of confusion, we always go back to the same source to find certainty —the Word of God. God is not the author of confusion, and His Word is clear. There is danger in not knowing or understanding what Scripture says about a matter—or rejecting it altogether. It can destroy thousands, if not millions, of lives.
This is gravely evident in the issue of homosexuality. Sadly, we are in a time when more and more Christians have even begun to approve of gay marriage. [1] Aside from not being rooted and grounded in the Word of God, they are selfishly seeking the feeling of acceptance to avoid the harsh rejection that often comes with standing firmly for biblical values. Brothers and sisters, this should not be!
The Bible is clear in Romans 1:26-27 that people are naturally born heterosexual. God, not man, created marriage to be between one man and one woman. Man has no right to redefine it. Sexual union between a man and a woman within the boundaries of the God-ordained marriage relationship is right and holy by God’s standards (Genesis 2:23-24; Hebrews 13:4; Ephesians 5:21-33). Conversely, the Scriptures teach us that when a man desires a sexual union with another man or a woman with another woman, this is an unnatural affection that goes against God’s natural order in creation (Genesis 19:1-7; Leviticus 18:22-23, 20:13; Romans 1:18-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:8-10).
God’s Word also teaches there are only two genders—male and female (Genesis 1:27). Yet, there are now 92 legal gender identities an individual can choose, by law. These concepts even permeate the education of our public schools, confusing young children and perpetuating the pursuit of wickedness in future generations.
People erroneously believe that with such “progression,” they are free to be who they are. But, as believers, we know it’s the truth that makes people free (John 8:32), and God’s Word is THE truth (John 17:17). To be sure, the truth should be spoken in love, but omitting or twisting the truth is not love at all.
To stand in faith for your nation, you must also stand for God’s definition of marriage, His original design for creation through two—and only two—genders, and for the rights of children to be protected from evil influences in the classroom.
4. Stand for Religious Rights in Your Nation
“Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel…. [and] that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” –Ephesians 6:19-20 (NIV)
Think religion and politics don’t mix? Think again. Consider these headlines:
High School Coach Suspended for Praying Alone After Football Games
5-Year-Old Told She Cannot Pray Over School Lunch
Your faith isn’t private, nor was it meant to be. It’s who you are, and it influences the way you live every day of the week. Even more, God has told us to speak boldly before men, and share the gospel and the reason for the hope we have (1 Peter 3:15). But today, efforts are being made to censor the Bible’s moral influence on society. Christians are increasingly silenced and punished for living according to their beliefs.
Perhaps the most restrictive of First Amendment rights for churches and faith-based organizations is the Johnson Amendment, which prevents pastors, ministers and leaders of corporations with 501c3 tax exemption from using their office to express a political opinion about a candidate or an issue. This was never the intent behind the separation of church and state. Rather, the intent was to keep the government out of religion and our rights as citizens to practice what we believe.
To stand in faith for your nation, you must stand for your right to speak freely about your faith in God, whether or not people agree. Our First Amendment rights protect us from being silenced—even when others disagree. Proverbs 28:1 says, “The righteous are bold as a lion” (NKJV). So, speak the truth boldly, and work to elect those who will defend your right to live your faith out loud.
“Now is the time to stand up and be counted, regardless of whether anyone else stands with you.” –David Barton
5. Stand for Israel in Your Nation
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you.’”—Psalm 122:6 (NKJV)
When you stand with Israel in your nation, it is not about politics—it is about the Word of God. God has always had a plan for the nation of Israel. The Jews not only were, but still are God’s chosen people (Deuteronomy 7:6)—His covenant with them has not changed. He will ensure that they fulfill their destiny in Him. It is important to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6) and that we as a nation develop relationships with the leaders of Israel.
When we vote, we need to be certain that whatever candidate we vote for stands fully with Israel and will not divide the land and go against Scripture. Joel 3:1-2 is clear that nations will be judged by how they treat Israel. Those who divide Israel will face end-times judgment because, God says, “they have divided My land” (verse 2, AMPC). The boundaries and dimensions of Israel are outlined in Numbers 34:1-15. We have a responsibility to raise our voices if we see our country not supporting Israel or fighting for its division in any way.
When we stand for Israel in our nation, we will be blessed as a country and a people. Those who bless Israel will be blessed; those who curse her will be cursed. Your vote for those who support Israel matters!
Watch Kenneth Copeland share more about developing faith for your nation.
6. Stand Against Division in Your Nation
“Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” –1 Corinthians 1:10 (NKJV)
Satan is trying his best to ruin this nation, and he is using one weapon—division (Mark 3:25). But we don’t have to let him have his way! We can stand against division in unity.
Why is America divided?
America is divided because the Bible—God’s Word— isn’t the standard for living anymore in mainstream America. As a result, a large part of the population doesn’t think like God because they don’t know or value His Word. So, instead of promoting the brotherhood of man where all men are created equal, secularist groups want to divide America into groups and then pit them against each. This secular worldview is a divisive way of thinking and living.
As Christians, we must stand strong against this kind of division and look at people the way God does—as unique individuals. God doesn’t look at color, gender or any other factor. He sees people in two groups—those who know Him and those who don’t. That is the only way we will be divided in the end when Jesus comes.
How can you combat division in America?
- Start by refusing to think the way the world does. Don’t allow yourself to be divided from your fellow believers into the world’s division of groups. Stand firm with the family of faith in ALL things.
- Guard your heart against the food the media wants to feed you. Media outlets are sowing discord, envy and strife. We need to keep our minds fixed on what is good, lovely, just and of a good report (Philippians 4:8).
“To get back to the unity…the Word of God has to be taken back to its highest place. And the place it belongs, the highest place in our lives, the standard of living, this is what we believe. And you’re not going to have unity in America until that happens.” –Bishop Keith Butler
7. Stand Praying for Leaders in Your Nation
“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”—1 Timothy 2:1-2 (KJV)
Over the years, the Body of Christ has missed the thanksgiving part of Paul’s instructions in 1 Timothy 2:1-2 as it relates to the political process. When the candidates we want to win don’t win, we often quit praying, and we definitely don’t give God thanks for the ones who got elected. Oh, we may pray for a handful of elected officials now and then. But how long is it from the time we stop praying until we turn around and start shredding them to pieces in our conversations?
Well, in God’s Book, that doesn’t work.
It doesn’t matter whether the person we vote for gets into office or not. What matters is our obedience to God’s Word—to pray, make petition and intercession for all men and women, kings and leaders of high authority, and then give thanks to God for them. We are the ones with the real authority around here, and our countries are depending on us!
Even now, you can effect change in your nation…without ever leaving home. As you pray and stand on God’s Word for His plans to be carried out, you can trust that “the earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results” (James 5:16).
Join a prayer campaign for America! Find out more here.
When you put these seven ways to stand in faith for your nation into action, you will sow your seed by voting for righteous men and women who will stand up for the lives of the unborn, the Biblical definition of marriage, religious freedom and Israel. In addition, you will stand against division and vote for those who do so as well, and you will pray for all men and those in authority. When you stand in faith for your nation, you will be found a faithful steward of the precious seed God has given you. Then, you will have peace in your land, and great success in your own life and for generations to come.
[1] http://www.pewforum.org/fact-sheet/changing-attitudes-on-gay-marriage/
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Who Should You Vote For? How to Choose the Right Candidate
Register to Vote in Upcoming Elections
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