At The Response, the prayer gathering attended by 32,000-plus in Houston a few days ago, most of the event was spent in some kind of prayer.  There were no “sermons” as such, although periodically, a preacher or recognized figure would speak for 5 minutes or so before encouraging us in yet another segment of prayer.  One of those speakers was Tony Evans, a well-known pastor in the Dallas area (and known to many of our women as the father of Priscilla Shirer).  Evans shared an analogy which I believe is very insightful, and is a key for keeping a balanced Christian walk in the society in which we live. 

Evans said that in each game of the National Football League, there are not two teams represented, but actually THREE.  There are two teams opposing each other on the field, and a third team, consisting of the officials, who represent neither “team”, but rather the NFL.  Those officials have a rule book by which they are to make all of their calls and decisions on the field, and they are to do it indiscriminately.  It is imperative that they are not seen as aligned with either of the other “teams”, lest they lose their credibility.  They are a third team entirely.  

Evans made the insightful application that Christians in our country today should be like this neutral “third team”.  There are often two “teams” vying for power politically – the Democrats and the Republicans – but we should be careful not to be seen as too closely aligned with either one.  As Christians, our highest allegiance is not to a political party, Democrat, Republican, Independent or any other – our ultimate allegiance is to our Lord, Jesus Christ, and to His Kingdom.  We are to make our “calls” in this world based on what we see in the Rulebook – the Bible – and we must apply those rules without prejudice to every “side” in the political arena.  Like the NFL officials, if we become too closely aligned with any “side”, we lose our credibility as unbiased observers, and will merely become another part of one of the “teams.” 

Evans’ word should be heeded.  I don’t think he was saying that we can’t be registered as Democrats or Republicans, or take sides on political issues.  Indeed, Christians need to be a part of the political process in our country.  But we must be careful to cast our votes and make our decisions on issues based NOT merely on political party or favored individuals, but on what our “rulebook” calls for in each individual case. 

This means for example that I can be a registered Republican, because that party most closely represents the scripture on the leading social issues of our day: abortion and homosexuality.  At the same time, however, I have the responsibility to call out those Republican candidates or office-holders who speak contrary to scripture.  For example, when George W. Bush stated that “we all worship the same God”, I mentioned in a sermon that the President was the Commander-in-Chief, but he was not the “theologian-in-chief”!  Christians and Muslims do NOT worship the same God, as the God of the Bible is a Triune God, and Muslims vehemently reject the doctrine of the Trinity.  Christians need to be ready to make such calls “according to the book” — no matter which party a politician who makes a given statement belongs to.  We are not ultimately Democrats or Republicans; we comprise a third team, with a higher allegiance.  And as such we must make our calls “by the book”, with total impartiality. 

In that vein, I was excited to see that Rick Perry announced last Saturday that he is running for President.  Some will minimize Christians who attended The Response last week as pawns in Perry’s political scheme – and indeed we must be careful not to be manipulated.  But I am guardedly excited that Perry is running: he obviously is not afraid to confess Christ publicly, in the face of accusations from leftist and atheist groups.  And he has a Biblical stand on those vital social issues of abortion and homosexuality.  I rejoice that someone with those kinds of beliefs, who seems to stand a good chance of being elected, has tossed his hat into the ring.  One of our church members expressed her enthusiasm by writing on her Facebook status, regarding Perry’s announcement: “I just saw John Wayne (Rick Perry) ride into town with both guns loaded.”  I smiled at her post.  I hope Perry does make a positive contribution to the field.  We need people with Biblical convictions in office in our nation, at every level.  I will support him whenever he lines up with scripture in his decisions and actions.  But when and if he departs from the word of God, I will not follow blindly behind him, nor behind any other candidate or party.  And I hope that you won’t, either.  You see, if you are genuinely a Christian, you are not first and foremost a member of either party.  You are “the third team on the field.”