During a recent study of God’s word I came upon this verse,
Isaiah 56:10, “His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.”
Dr. Wayne Grudem cites this very verse in his latest book, “Politics According To The Bible” subtitled, “A Comprehensive Resource for Understanding Modern Political Issues in Light of Scripture.” Page 570, “The Hebrew prophet Isaiah knew this had happened with the nation of Israel long ago, he said, His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. (Isa. 56:10)”
Grudem continues, “When this happens – when the watchdogs “cannot bark” – they fail to call leaders to account. Then the people of a nation do not have adequate information to make wise decisions about their leaders and about the direction in which the nation is going. When the watchdogs are silent, a nation will soon be led astray by its leaders, who no longer have sufficient accountability to the public.”
Dr. King seemed to state the principle this way, ““The church must be reminded that it is not the master or the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state. It must be the guide and the critic of the state, and never its tool. If the church does not recapture its prophetic zeal, it will become an irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority.” Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., Strength to Love, 1963.
So my question is, “To whom does this verse apply?”
Non politically active clergy, at least!
It is central to the Gospel of the Kingdom that pastors watch and give a call.
In Matt. 28:19-20, “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” seems to me to mean more than just John 3:16.
All that Jesus commanded is recorded as what he taught in the four Gospels. But also beyond that, Jesus promised his followers that the Holy Spirit would “bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26), and also that the Holy Spirit “will teach you all things” (vs. 26) and will “guide you into all the truth” (16:13).
Isn’t this why the apostle Peter can say that “the commandment of the Lord and Savior” came “through your apostles” (1 Pet. 3:2), and Paul clearly states much the same when he says, “The things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord” (1 Cor. 14:37). Certainly this is true or they would have no sound authority to speak such.
So then it seems clear to me that both the Gospels and the Epistles come to us as the word of God with the authority of Jesus, and he wants us to teach these things to our churches., including matters of governmental policies, political issues and candidates!
So I frankly conclude that when a clergy person pulls back in silence and hides the light of Christ’s teachings under the “bushel basket of non-political involvement”, they become blind watchmen and dumb dogs!
Rev. MichaEl Hirsch
Mobile (540) 295-4872
Office (540) 371-5294
Senior Pastor Calvary Christian Church
Presiding Director Fredericksburg Rappahannock Evangelical Alliance
Advisor Virginia Christian Alliance
PS – The greatest news I ever heard – http://www.cccfred.com/ministries/meet-our-senior-pastors/
