Sunday, July 13, 2025
Church & Politics
There are some who will say the church shouldn’t talk about political issues. That’s not true.
“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.” – I Timothy 2:1-2 NKJV
We need to discuss certain political issues so we can know how to pray. We can also discuss political issues so our prayerful voting, coupled with the outcomes of elections, may lead to a quiet and peaceable life for our members.
Here is another thought to consider from these verses: We need to pray for our leaders and “all who are in authority”. Unlike Israel and Rome in biblical times, we live in a democracy, not a monarchy, or empire. Our government is by the people for the people. We are the people. Therefore we have the authority and we should be praying for and exercising our authority by informing and voting.
There are also some who will say the church can’t talk about political issues legally. That’s not true either.
Our scripture for today is taken from Lamentations 1:1-2.
“How lonely sits the city That was full of people! How like a widow is she, Who was great among the nations! The princess among the provinces Has become a slave! She weeps bitterly in the night, Her tears are on her cheeks; Among all her lovers She has none to comfort her. All her friends have dealt treacherously with her; They have become her enemies.”
Lamentations 1:1-2 NKJV
Series Introduction:
The prophet Jeremiah witnessed the fall of Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonians. He was there when everything was burned and people were taken into captivity. But Jeremiah remained and wrote 5 laments or poems of grief for what he saw in Judah. From the book of Lamentations, I hope this series “My Burden. My City. My God.” will ignite your passion for your city. I hope you will find hope in the midst of darkness.
Sermon Introduction:
Israel was split into the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. They turned away from God. God sent the Assyrians to conquer Israel because of their sins. Judah was spared but sinned also. God sent the Chaldeans to conquer Judah.
Jeremiah was in Jerusalem before the city was destroyed. He prophesied about the captivity and warned the people, but they didn’t listen. Instead, they put him in prison. While Jeremiah was in prison, Nebuchadnezzar’s army destroyed the city.
Then Nebuchadnezzar himself sent word to his captain and told him to release Jeremiah and do whatever Jeremiah requests. He even offered to take Jeremiah to Babylon and care for him there. But Jeremiah decided to remain with his people under the care of the new governor, whom Nebuchadnezzar commanded to take care of him. Tradition says Jeremiah went into a cavern outside of the Damascus gate of Jerusalem. And that’s where he wrote Lamentations.
Jeremiah Saw a Change
“How lonely sits the city That was full of people! How like a widow is she, Who was great among the nations! The princess among the provinces Has become a slave! She weeps bitterly in the night, Her tears are on her cheeks; Among all her lovers She has none to comfort her. All her friends have dealt treacherously with her; They have become her enemies.”
Lamentations 1:1-2 NKJV
When Jeremiah walked out of prison, he saw change. The city of God was in ruins. We must not be desensitized to the changes around us.
Jeremiah Saw a Struggle
“Judah has gone into captivity, Under affliction and hard servitude; She dwells among the nations, She finds no rest; All her persecutors overtake her in dire straits. The roads to Zion mourn Because no one comes to the set feasts. All her gates are desolate; Her priests sigh, Her virgins are afflicted, And she is in bitterness.”
Lamentations 1:3-4 NKJV
Life was hard in Jerusalem after its destruction. People struggled to survive. Thriving wasn’t an option. Times were hard. Have you seen the struggles in our city today?
Jeremiah Saw Sorrow
“The adversary has spread his hand Over all her pleasant things; For she has seen the nations enter her sanctuary, Those whom You commanded Not to enter Your assembly. All her people sigh, They seek bread; They have given their valuables for food to restore life. “See, O LORD, and consider, For I am scorned.” “ Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Behold and see If there is any sorrow like my sorrow, Which has been brought on me, Which the LORD has inflicted In the day of His fierce anger.”
Lamentations 1:10-12 NKJV
Jerusalem was in sorrow. The temple was looted completely and burned. People had to sell their valuables to get food. In this passage the word for sorrow is defined as mental pain. We can’t turn a blind eye to the sorrow felt in the city.
Jeremiah Saw God
““For these things I weep; My eye, my eye overflows with water; Because the comforter, who should restore my life, Is far from me. My children are desolate Because the enemy prevailed.” Zion spreads out her hands, But no one comforts her; The LORD has commanded concerning Jacob That those around him become his adversaries; Jerusalem has become an unclean thing among them. “The LORD is righteous, For I rebelled against His commandment. Hear now, all peoples, And behold my sorrow; My virgins and my young men Have gone into captivity.”
Lamentations 1:16-18 NKJV
In the midst of all the suffering, Jeremiah looks at God and says “The Lord is righteous.” God is still God and God is good regardless of the circumstances.
Pastor Manuel,
I love your Sermon Notes. May God bless you to continue teaching us for many, many years.