Handling Secular Matters

Handling Secular Matters

So Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a treaty. . . . So that place was called Beersheba, because the two men swore an oath there.

Genesis 21:27–31

Abraham made a binding agreement with King Abimelech. This incident shouldn’t be passed off as purely secular and superficial. Instead, we should carefully note what Abraham did here, because it can bring us comfort. Some people think Christians shouldn’t get involved in public matters. But this story goes against that mistaken notion. God didn’t establish the church to get rid of the family and government. He wants the church to support them. That’s why Abraham, the father of the promise and king of all earthly kings, doesn’t refuse to take an oath and enter into a binding secular agreement with this king.

No one should use Christianity as an excuse for not wanting to have a job or hold public office, as certain religious people do. They’re only trying to avoid serving others. But by avoiding this, they’re ignoring God’s command to love him and to love other people. In the end, they will receive what they deserve for their hypocritical behavior.

We should carefully consider God’s laws and Abraham’s example. Abraham didn’t concern himself only with religious matters. He was a prophet of God, but he also dealt with matters relating to the government and his own household. So we need rulers in the world, as well as in the church. The church doesn’t have the right to do away with the family structure or the government. Rather, the church should affirm and support these institutions.