Political Fighting is Not New

Many today express concern over the divisiveness of our government as if it is something new.  However, divisiveness and gridlock in government is nothing new and in fact, the founders wrote it into the U.S. Constitution with the division of power between three branches and a system of checks and balances.  We also see political infighting and scheming in the Bible in Daniel 6:1-9

Darius the Mede decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces, and he appointed a prince to rule over each province. 2 The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the princes and to watch out for the king's interests. 3 Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and princes. Because of his great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire. 4 Then the other administrators and princes began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling his affairs, but they couldn't find anything to criticize. He was faithful and honest and always responsible. 5 So they concluded, "Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the requirements of his religion."

6 So the administrators and princes went to the king and said, "Long live King Darius! 7 We administrators, prefects, princes, advisers, and other officials have unanimously agreed that Your Majesty should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days anyone who prays to anyone, divine or human — except to Your Majesty — will be thrown to the lions. 8 And let Your Majesty issue and sign this law so it cannot be changed, a law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked." 9 So King Darius signed the law. (NLT)

The first thing we observe in this account is that Daniel got the attention of Darius and was placed in a high position of leadership.  After proving his abilities, Daniel was promoted to a position of leadership over other administrators and princes.  This is where we begin to observe the jealously and political infighting we still observe in our politics today. 

Another observation we can make from this account is that Daniel was a man of explicable character.  Since his political enemies could not find any flaws in his character, his political enemies resorted to attacking Daniel’s faith.  Their scheme involves making it illegal for Daniel to practice his faith so they will finally have a way to arrest him. 

In today’s political climate we also observe this same scheming.  When a person of explicable character runs for office, political adversaries often begin attacking their faith.  They tout the supposed Constitutional separation of church and state as legal precedent for citing that this individual is unqualified to serve in government because of his or her faith.  The only difference in the United States political climate is that we do not throw political adversaries into an actual lion’s den but they are thrown into a political lion’s den. 

The rest of this account provides instruction on how to handle political adversaries. 

Dan 6:10-18

10 But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. 11 The officials went together to Daniel's house and found him praying and asking for God's help. 12 So they went back to the king and reminded him about his law. "Did you not sign a law that for the next thirty days anyone who prays to anyone, divine or human — except to Your Majesty — will be thrown to the lions?"

"Yes," the king replied, "that decision stands; it is a law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked."

13 Then they told the king, "That man Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, is paying no attention to you or your law. He still prays to his God three times a day."

14 Hearing this, the king was very angry with himself for signing the law, and he tried to find a way to save Daniel. He spent the rest of the day looking for a way to get Daniel out of this predicament. 15 In the evening the men went together to the king and said, "Your Majesty knows that according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, no law that the king signs can be changed."

16 So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, "May your God, whom you worship continually, rescue you." 17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed the stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so that no one could rescue Daniel from the lions. 18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. He refused his usual entertainment and couldn't sleep at all that night.  (NLT)

Daniel stood his ground and did not compromise his faith and principles.  Daniel knew he would be thrown into the lion’s den but he also knew his God would deliver him.  It is important for our conservative politicians today to stand their ground.  Like Daniel, they need to stand up for Godly principles and not give in even though it means being thrown into the political lion’s den.  When they do, they will be delivered from the political lion’s den and instead their political adversaries will be thrown into the political lion’s den. 

Let this be a warning to any conservatives in Congress who may be considering compromising with Democrats over the fiscal cliff negotiations.  Stand your ground and do not compromise your free market values for if you do, you will open the door to further compromise on other issues such as abortion and gay marriage.  Be like Daniel and stand your ground knowing god will deliver you from the political lion’s den.  Otherwise, we the voters will have no choice but to elect people like Daniel who will stand up for what is right.