In light of my previous comments on the eleven congressmen who switched their votes on the health care reform bill a day prior to being approved for $3.5 billion in earmarks, I thought it might be good to follow up with a few words from Scripture on the topic of bribery. Some will claim that a pastor should not name names in the political arena or address issues like earmarks. Look at the Biblical data, however, and ask yourself how anyone claiming to be a preacher of God's Word could be silent?
"Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous." Exodus 23:8
"For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes." Deuteronomy 10:17
"Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous." Deuteronomy 16:19
"Cursed is the man who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" Deuteronomy 27:25
"But his sons did not walk in his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice." 1 Samuel 8:3
"Now let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Judge carefully, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery." 2 Chronicles 19:7
"For the company of the godless will be barren, and fire will consume the tents of those who love bribes." Job 15:34
"Be careful that no one entices you by riches; do not let a large bribe turn you aside." Job 36:18
"A greedy man brings trouble to his family, but he who hates bribes will live." Proverbs 15:27
"A wicked man accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the course of justice." Proverbs 17:23
"By justice a king gives a country stability, but one who is greedy for bribes tears it down." Proverbs 29:4
"Extortion turns a wise man into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart." Ecclesiastes 7:7
"Your rulers are rebels, companions of thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow's case does not come before them." Isaiah 1:23
He who walks righteously and speaks what is right, who rejects gain from extortion and keeps his hand from accepting bribes, who stops his ears against plots of murder and shuts his eyes against contemplating evil-this is the man who will dwell on the heights, whose refuge will be the mountain fortress. His bread will be supplied, and water will not fail him." Isaiah 33:15-16
"In you men accept bribes to shed blood; you take usury and excessive interest and make unjust gain from your neighbors by extortion. And you have forgotten me, declares the Sovereign LORD." Ezekiel 22:12
"For I know how many are your offenses and how great your sins. You oppress the righteous and take bribes and you deprive the poor of justice in the courts." Amos 5:12
"Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD and say, "Is not the LORD among us? No disaster will come upon us." Micah 3:11
If the prophets of old were not silent about bribery, should those who proclaim God's word today be?
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