Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point Faith, often discusses the relationship between Christianity and government. He emphasizes the importance of Christians being involved in government and politics, drawing from the wisdom of the Bible. We’re going to look more at what Kirk says, but also delve into the what, why, and how of the role of the American Christian citizen and the American government.
“55 of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence were Bible-believing, church-attending Christians.” Charlie Kirk
“When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.” Proverbs 29:2
Kirk asserts that the Bible contains numerous passages that support the idea of Christians engaging in government and politics. He cites examples such as Romans 13, which encourages obedience to governing authorities, and Proverbs 29:2, which states that “when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice.” Kirk believes that these passages, among others, provide a foundation for Christians to actively participate in government and seek positions of leadership.
Who are the Governing Authorities in America?
“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.” Romans 13:1-7
Power for Government Comes from the Consent of the Govern
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.” Declaration of Independence
The unique aspect of the United States of America is that its citizens hold sovereignty. It is understood that all rights originate from God, and it is the people who establish their government to safeguard those God-given rights. As a Christian American, you have the responsibility to rule as a citizen under God in your sovereign role, alongside other citizens, to actively participate and lead as an informed and engaged citizen. Government is not something that merely occurs or exists; rather, it is the decision of the American people to determine the type of government they wish to have and implement.
“The very idea of the power and the right of the people to establish government presupposes the duty of every individual to obey the established government.” George Washington Farewell Address
Once the government is instituted by the American citizens, as clearly stated by George Washington, it is the duty of every individual citizen to obey that established government as scripture clearly tells us in Romans 13:1-7. It was reportedly said by Thomas Jefferson, ‘Man gets the leadership he deserves.’ The Prophet John Paul Jackson, when speaking of the times he called the Perfect Storm in America that would lead America back to God, said, ‘You are going to get what you ask for, but you are not going to like what you get;’
Holding Government Accountable
George Washington said, “It is important, likewise, that the habits of thinking in a free country should inspire caution in those entrusted with its administration, to confine themselves within their respective constitutional spheres, avoiding in the exercise of the powers of one department to encroach upon another. The spirit of encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all the departments in one, and thus to create, whatever the form of government, a real despotism [dictatorship]. A just estimate of that love of power, and proneness to abuse it, which predominates in the human heart, is sufficient to satisfy us of the truth of this position. The necessity of reciprocal checks in the exercise of political power, by dividing and distributing it into different depositaries, and constituting each the guardian of the public weal against invasions by the others, has been evinced by experiments ancient and modern; some of them in our country and under our own eyes. To preserve them must be as necessary as to institute them. If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected by an amendment in the way which the Constitution designates.” It is here, Washington reminds the citizens they are sovereign and can change the government they instituted by amending the constitution. George Washington’s Farewell Address
The Republic for Which it Stands
America is a republic form of Government. A republic form of government is one in which power resides in the hands of the people or their representatives, rather than a monarch or other authoritarian figure. In this system, the head of state is usually elected or appointed, and the government is based on a constitution that outlines the rights and responsibilities of its citizens.
Therefore, Romans 13:1-7 is unique in the fact that “We the People” are over the government and hold them accountable in accordance with the original intent of the nation and by our constitutional right to vote and to run for any political office we feel led to do so. That means if you do not like the way the government is protecting our rights that come from God, you as an American citizen can run for a political leadership position in local, state and national government, and if elected by the people, lead your city, state, or nation in the direction you feel it should go. Since it’s a representative form of government, a republic, you will need to gain a majority consensus of other elected leaders in government city, county, state, or federal government to turn things in the direction you think things should go.
The Pledge of Allegiance
“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
One Person One Vote
“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude…” 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution. This means that the people decide on who they want to be in government and how they want that government to lead, to protect our God-given rights through our vote. This is why election integrity is so important; if someone can create doubt that there is no free and fair election, or manipulate the outcome of the people’s vote, i.e., change their votes or create fake votes, then they can overrule the people through illegal election interference. It’s the people who decide on government in America, not the elite, Ivy League universities, not the merchants and corporations, not the unions, or government agencies, but the individual citizens.
As a Christian American, you have a responsibility to be a well-informed voter who understands the importance of your role in choosing the form of government you want. Each citizen has only one vote, but it’s vital to remember that God sees your heart, hears your prayers, and knows the efforts you make to be informed and make the best decision when casting your vote for governmental leadership. He also knows if you’ve closed your eyes, refused to put forth the effort to be informed, failed to vote and left the choice for American government up to those who hate God and deny His role in the founding of the United States of America and God’s original intent for this Judeo-Christian nation.
Judeo-Christian Nation?
“With slight shades of difference, you have the same religion, manners, habits, and political principles… Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports…Let it simply be asked: Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice ? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle. It is substantially true that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule, indeed, extends with more or less force to every species of free government.” George Washington’s Farewell Address
Among the many ideas the Founding Fathers could have prioritized, their foremost was the Declaration of Independence. This seminal document, presented to the world, declares that ‘all men are created equal, endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.’ Additionally, the First Amendment in the United States Constitution, the first part of the Bill of Rights, the First Amendment, underscores what America deems most important. It limits government intervention in the freedoms of speech, press, religion, assembly, and petitioning for redress of grievances, stating: ‘Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.’
Not only is America established knowing that our rights come from God, the government is instituted by the people of America through our vote, but also the government is restricted from interfering with our religious choices, establishments, or practices. It’s not the people who they restricted, but the government was placed in check. This gives the American Christian citizens the right to freely exercise their choices to be informed, to vote for their person(s) of choice for government leadership, and to run for any political government place of leadership all while never denying their faith or limiting their practices in how they choose to honor the Lord in their life. This is what makes America a unique and blessed nation.
George Washington Warned Us of those who seek to Divide us as a Nation
“Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.” Jesus Matthew 12:25
‘…with jealous anxiety… indignantly frown upon the first dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred ties which now link together the various parts... your union ought to be considered as a main prop of your liberty, and that the love of the one ought to endear to you the preservation of the other.’
When reading George Washington’s farewell address from 1796, it’s evident that the Lord’s divine providence was upon him as one of America’s Founding Fathers and first president. His insight, wisdom, and ability to articulate what seems like historic wisdom, drawn from studying mankind’s repeated failures with nations, is also prophetic. It’s as if he is speaking to the United States of America in 2023, 227 years after he spoke these words in 1796! His warnings, often ignored or unknown by many Americans, are relevant to our current reality, especially in light of the diminished recognition of the Founding Fathers in today’s schools and universities. His warnings are frequently dismissed, leading to the unfolding of consequences Washington predicted if certain conditions prevailed within the government, citizenry, and Judeo-Christian faith. His accuracy is almost erry and undeniably given him by God’s grace.
Washington goes on to say, “It is easy to foresee that, from different causes … much pains will be taken, many artifices employed to weaken in your minds the conviction of this truth; as this is the point in your political fortress against which the batteries of internal and external enemies will be most constantly and actively (though often covertly and insidiously) directed, it is of infinite moment that you should properly estimate the immense value of your national union to your collective and individual happiness; that you should cherish a cordial, habitual, and immovable attachment to it; accustoming yourselves to think and speak of it as of the palladium of your political safety and prosperity; watching for its preservation with jealous anxiety; discountenancing whatever may suggest even a suspicion that it can in any event be abandoned; and indignantly frowning upon the first dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred ties which now link together the various parts.” George Washington’s Farewell Address
“The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism [dictatorship]. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism [dictator]. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty. It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which finds a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another. ” George Washington’s Farewell Address
Naturalization Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America
This is why when someone is becoming an American citizen they have to swear an oath to do so swearing, “I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.”
In his farewell address, George Washington warned of “domestic enemies” that divide citizens and enable “foreign enemies” to exploit or harm America. This warning highlights the risks outlined in the oath taken by new citizens, yet many American citizens are unaware of its dangers and implications. Washington’s insights remain crucial in understanding the threats posed to national unity and security.
Book of Deuteronomy and Government
Charlie Kirk says, “the entire book of Deuteronomy is a political book” that tells you “here’s how you set up the government, here’s how you should separate powers, you should have consent of the governed, you should have an independent judiciary.”
Charlie Kirks says, ‘The entire book of Deuteronomy is a political book. It’s Moses’s farewell address where he doesn’t get to go into the promised land. He is telling the people that he led in the next generation that is going to fulfill God’s promise, right? A 14-day journey took them 40 years. After complaining and challenging and questioning God. And Moses gives this triumphant. Farewell address telling you here’s how you should set up the government. Here’s how you should separate powers. You should have consent to the govern. You should have an independent judiciary. And guess what? We get that in depth in Deuteronomy 6. We get love the Lord your God with all your soul strength and mind. With Jesus said is one of the laws of which all the laws of the prophets hang upon. So, it’s not political, it’s biblical.’
Furthermore, Kirk argues that Christians have a responsibility to uphold moral values and principles in the public sphere, and that their involvement in government is essential for maintaining a just and moral society. He encourages Christians to vote, run for office, and engage in political activism to ensure that their values are represented in the government.
Why is the country falling apart? “Christians founded this country. We need to own it. 55 of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence were Bible-believing, church-attending Christians.” Charlie Kirk
The Call to Active Citizenship: Upholding Our Legacy and Shaping Our Future
In conclusion, the relationship between faith and governance in the United States is not just historical; it’s a living, breathing dynamic that continues to shape our nation. The foresight and wisdom of leaders like George Washington and the foundational principles laid down in key documents like the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution continue to resonate deeply in the fabric of American society.
Charlie Kirk’s insights remind us that the book of Deuteronomy, much like our own historical documents, provides a blueprint for establishing a just and moral society. The principles of power separation, consent of the governed, and an independent judiciary are as relevant today as they were in the times of Moses and the Founding Fathers.
The warnings of George Washington about division, both internal and external, serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing need for unity and integrity within our nation. His prescient words echo across centuries, urging us to guard against the very divisions that threaten to undermine the foundations of our republic.
As American citizens, and particularly as Christian American citizens, we bear a significant responsibility. We are called to be informed, engaged, and active participants in our government. This means voting thoughtfully, considering public office, and ensuring our actions and decisions align with both our constitutional rights and our spiritual convictions.
The challenges we face today – societal division, moral ambiguity, and threats to our foundational principles – are not insurmountable. They call for a renewed commitment to the values that have shaped our nation. By embracing our role as stewards of these principles, we honor the legacy of our Founding Fathers and contribute to a future where liberty, justice, and moral integrity continue to flourish.
In doing so, we fulfill not only our civic duty but also our spiritual calling, ensuring that the United States remains a nation where freedom, faith, and democratic principles coexist in harmony, guiding us towards a prosperous and unified future in one nation under God indivisible and justice for all.