The Six Pillars of Biblical Power and Honest Politics

John C. Rankin

(January 31, 2013)

The Six Pillars of Biblical Power

  1. The Power to Give. We believe that the Creator, Yahweh Elohim, our heavenly Father, employs his unlimited power to give to and equally bless all people as image bearers of God. The power to give is modeled in the faithful marriage of one man and one woman, in parenthood, and is the basis for trust in human society.
  2. The Power to Live in the Light. We believe that as Elohim said, “Let there be light,” there was light. As darkness and the prince of darkness flee the light, we embrace the power to live in the light of God’s presence, open and accountable to all people in all we believe, say and do. Jesus is the Light of the world.
  3. The Power of Informed Choice. We believe that Yahweh Elohim gives us all the power of informed choice, to say yes to the good of freedom and life, and no to the evil of slavery and death. This also equals the level playing field for all ideas to be heard equally, especially in the face of the contest between good and evil, as provided for in the Garden of Eden.
  4. The Power to Love Hard Questions. We believe that Yahweh Elohim gives us the freedom and power to pose hard questions of him, our leaders and one another in covenantal community. This is the power of sanctifying integrity.
  5. The Power to Love Enemies. We believe that the Lord Jesus loved the world when we were yet enemies of the truth, drowning in a sea of broken trust. Now, as believers, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to love those who are, at present, enemies of the Gospel.
  6. The Power to Forgive. We believe that the power to give is restored to the broken world through the power to forgive, purchased in the life, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Thus, we as believers are called to extend this forgiveness to the broken world, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and in celebration of the mercy that triumphs over judgment in the second coming of Jesus.

The Six Pillars of Honest Politics

  1. The power to give affirms that the unalienable rights given by the Creator belong to all people equally, and leaders in human government should serve such a gift.
  2. The power to live in the light means leaders in human government at every level should be as fully transparent as possible.
  3. The power of informed choice is rooted in an honest definition of terms in political debate, providing a level playing field for all ideas to be heard equally, apart from which political freedom is not possible.
  4. The power to love hard questions is in place when political leaders honor and answer those who pose them the toughest questions.
  5. The power to love enemies recognizes that even the harshest of political opponents share a common humanity and are to be treated with respect.
  6. The power to forgive recognizes the need to address our individual and societal transgressions against one another, and to work toward justice and reconciliation.

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