“For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.” (Romans 1:16 NLT)
“Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.” (1 Corinthians 9:19-23 NLT)
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4 NASB)
I feel compelled to share what has been in my heart and mind since 2016…
…I have lived through major changes in the American Church and political scene. Little by little many who follow Christ have shifted from building up the “Body of Christ” (equipping disciples of Jesus to make disciples of Jesus) for the expansion of the manifestation the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth (here and now), to building Churches (motivating people to invite people to our particular Church). With this shift has come a shift in our purpose for influencing our country and culture ((I know I have begun to shift in this direction at times).
Today, as a generality (there are many exceptions), we appear to be more interested in rebuilding a “Christian Nation” than we are in building the “Kingdom” regardless of the current culture of the country .This has resulted in placing a much higher emphasis on politics than I have ever experienced in my 65 years on this planet (isn’t it interesting that we don’t send missionaries into nations to use political means to spread the Gospel like we do at home).
As a growing trend, we are building “Churches” rather than building up the “The Church,” and making “evangelicals” rather than “disciples.” To an alarming degree, we are putting our hope in politics and placing ourselves in the hands of politicians to somehow create an America that looks and feels like heaven, while being led by people who look a bit more like hell (we all fall short, myself at the top of the list). In my humble opinion this has resulted in the mess that we are now discussing, disagreeing, and debating throughout our nation.
Perhaps it is time to stop defending any particular leader and realize that this person is not the hope for America.
Perhaps it is time to stop placing our trust in politics, realizing that our Heavenly Father is not bound by any given culture or political structure in building his Church, expanding his Kingdom, or filling the Earth with his Glory (demonstrated through his infinite goodness).
What would happen if we put all of our energy and resources into partnering with the Father to share the Gospel of the Kingdom to every person he sends us to (or brings to us) and began making disciples of Jesus? Not “church members.” Not “political activists” of various persuasions. Not conservatives or liberals, left or right, evangelicals or progressives, and on and on the list of labels goes.
For those of us who are followers of Jesus, as much as we would love to live in a nation that consists of a culture mirroring the Kingdom of Heaven, is it really going to matter in eternity whether or not America was a “Christian Nation?” (Notice I said “christian,” not “discipled” nation. There is a difference.)
Remember, Jesus and his original disciples were not “christians.” The earliest followers of the original disciples (the infant “Church”) did not label themselves as “christians.” This was a label given to them by those who rejected Christ and therefore rejected them. Those who opposed the followers of “The Way” (followers of Jesus) labeled them as “little christs” (christians) because they spoke and acted like Jesus the Christ (the one they rejected).
Could we be turning people away from the Gospel as we publicly defend and/or dethrone those in the highest offices of our land?
What have we gained if we win America for today and lose the souls of those for whom Jesus died?
Think about…
…Eric’s Life Lesson # 456: Another Word to my brothers and sisters in Christ