Politics

Politically Speaking

I’ve read several posts on Facebook celebrating the Republican victories and the Senate majority. Several people have said, “We’ve taken America back!” No you didn’t. You’ve replaced one broken political party with another broken political party that can’t and won’t fix a broken political system that can’t fix America…And America is not the hope of the World.

Sadly, most of these people saying these things are Christians.

Again, America is not the hope of the World. Jesus is. Most of these people saying these things really are saying they want to return to a “moral” America. But morality isn’t the point of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is an overflow of the Gospel, but it is not the point of the Gospel. We have the leaders we have because we have the people we have casting the votes. We won’t change the World at the ballot box, we will change the World by preaching Jesus and seeing hearts set on fire for the Gospel. When hearts are changed, things will change at the polls…It’s not the other way around. Changed hearts should be what we are after, not simply different results in our elections. Americans could become the most moral people on earth, and be the most moral nation on the planet, and still burn in hell for eternity. So, if you want a different America, stop fighting about politicians and start telling people about Jesus.

Speaking of Jesus…

Jesus never really did talk a lot about politics. In fact, he seemed to go out of his way to avoid it. Jesus said his Kingdom is not of this World. His followers wanted to make it about politics. They wanted him to start a revolution and take power. When he refused to do so, what happened? Everyone turned on him. They were so focused on their oppressors and removing them from power, they couldn’t see the big picture, their need of a Heavenly King and a Lord of their life…That’s not much different than many Christians and many churches today. Jesus’ Kingdom is not of this World. One day he will rule all things, everything will be in submission to Him…those who are His will rule with Him. But that day isn’t yet here. Until he returns it won’t be. Instead of focusing so much on who will rule and reign in our nation today, lets spend more time focusing on who will reign with Christ. He came to seek and to save the lost. Let’s be about his business.

Does this mean you shouldn’t vote? Absolutely not. We all have to obey our conscience. Does this mean there aren’t issues worth fighting for? Absolutely not. We all must take up our part of the fight in the best way we see fit. This being said, the front line of the battle isn’t the ballot box, it’s in the hearts of the people. Until this changes, nothing else will.

End rant.

A quick rant(and a thought) regarding Amendment One

Christians believe ‘marriage’ is a religious institution…Christians believe marriage was created and defined by God. If this is true, then it should look like God wanted it to look. To say that people who are Christians should not vote according to their religious beliefs is unfair. You may disagree with those beliefs…but you can’t tell them to leave them at home when they go into a voting booth. Christians are to live and vote according to their biblical convictions. We may disagree with what the Bible says, but we can’t deny what it says.

That being said, I was not really supportive of this amendment. Mainly because I didn’t think it changed things one way or the other…which is why I think it should have been left off the ballot. It is also why I think people should chill the heck out…because when they woke up today, absolutely nothing is different. Even the issue of healthcare and protection against victims of domestic violence has not changed, nor will it. This was simply a scare tactic used by those who wanted this amendment voted down.

Like I said though, I wasn’t supportive of this amendment…and I am a Christian. I do believe marriage is a religious institution and is between 1 man and 1 woman….My question is though- Is this an issue to be decided by the government? Perhaps we should simply take ‘marriage’ out of the public/political discussion…Perhaps we should allow for civil unions across the board for all consenting adults. Give ‘marriage’ to the churches and allow church bodies to bless and recognize ‘marriage’ as their convictions may see fit.

Just a thought.

Absolutely…

            We live in a world today that would like us to believe that there is no absolute truth. We live in a society so worried about being politically correct, that we hold our tongues just so we won’t offend anyone. We live in a society in which we are told that everyone’s religion is ok, and that all roads lead to God.

            Actually I do agree with the last statement. All roads do lead to God. The question is when you stand before Him, will it be to greet your savior or meet your judge? Will you be there ready for eternal life in fellowship with the God of the universe, or will you be doomed to an eternity of hell and suffering as a result of your disobedience and refusal to accept the word of God as truth.

            There is that word again, truth. Is there an absolute truth? And does it really matter? Well I’m here to tell you yes, it absolutely does. If there is no absolute truth then we are in big trouble my friends. Let me give you the truth that the Apostle Paul preached. In 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 Paul says, “that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas(Peter), then to the twelve. Then He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.”

            Paul believed that the absolute truth was that Jesus had died for our sins, He was buried, and then raised from the dead on the third day. How important did Paul think this was? Well let’s move on and see what Paul said in verse 14. “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” Another word, if Christ hasn’t been raised from the dead then all of His preaching doesn’t matter, they are just empty words. Let’s look at verse 17,”And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.”

            Do you understand this? If Christ was not raised from the dead, then there is no forgiveness for your sins. You see Jesus died in order for you to be forgiven. Jesus took upon Himself the punishment for sin that we all deserve. Romans 6:23 tells us that “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” When Jesus died on the cross, he accepted the death that we deserved because of our sins. But when God raised Him from the dead, He was validating who Christ was, and showing us that His sacrifice was acceptable. So if Christ was not raised, then you and I are still in our sins, and are still separated from God. In verse 19 of 1 Corinthians Chapter 15 Paul says, “If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.”

            If Christ has not been raised from the dead then Christians more than anyone else ought to be pitied. We have put all of our hope in something that is not true. Everything that we have believed and preached would have been a lie. If Jesus wasn’t raised from the dead then He was just a man. And a man cannot take away sin. A lot of people will tell you that Jesus was in fact just a man, and a great moral teacher, but I love what C.S. Lewis said, “A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said wouldn’t be a great moral teacher. He’d either be a lunatic-on a level with the man who says he’s a poached egg-or else he’d be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But don’t let us come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He hasn’t left that open to us. He didn’t intend to.”

            I’m so thankful that I don’t need anyone’s pity because as Paul says in verse 20, “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead.” I’m here to tell you that is the absolute truth. Whether you believe that or not is up to you, but you have to make that choice. There is nothing more important. Because either Christ was raised from the dead or you are stuck in your sins. Either Christ was raised from the dead or there is no hope. It is really that simple. And that is the absolute truth…