Tag Archives: politics

Do Not Be Silent

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Acts 5

I am going to do something some of you might not appreciate. I am going to take a verse out of context. But I promise you, I am doing this believing that, although the words were said to a specific group of people, the principle is demonstrated throughout Scripture.

Peter and John were put in prison for telling people about Jesus. The powers that be were intent on stopping them, but wanted to tread lightly for fear of the Jews. One man stood up and said:

Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them; you will only find yourselves fighting against God. (5:38b-39)

We just had an election and the Democratic platform, I believe of human origin, failed. The killing of babies as their focus, sexual deviant behavior championed, and their candidate voicing what the platform promotes when she publicly and joyfully said to a Christian, “I think you are at the wrong rally,” and had him escorted out of the venue. The party made it clear that God, the Bible, and Christians, have no place in their government – and their government failed.

I am absolutely NOT saying the Republican Party is pure and stands for God. But I know millions of Christians stormed the gates of Heaven and prayed that God would have mercy on this nation, that He would defeat Satan at the polls, and give us another chance to repent, turn from our wicked ways, and return to one nation under God.

The answer to those prayers is a second Trump presidency and a Republican controlled House and Senate.

But, Christian, don’t think for a minute the battle is won. It’s not over. We have work to do. A lot of work to do. We have seen that the Republican Party is open to listening to our voices.

God gave YOU another chance to make your voice heard. Your voice is heard by how you spend your money – Starbucks? Disney? What is your voice saying when you support companies such as these?

Your voice is heard when you volunteer or support pregnancy centers, when you attend school board meetings and hold them accountable. When you get involved in your community government, or run for state office, or maybe a national office.

Your voice is heard when you write your governors, your senators and congressmen. Please write. And keep writing.

And pray. Pray every day for the direction of your communities and our nation. Stop listening to the voices of evil and recognize the voice of God. Then obey.

Because if we sit back and allow non-Christian Republicans to fashion our government it will be of human origin – and it will fail!

Your voice was heard on Tuesday. This is not the time to go silent.

Why Do You Believe It?

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John 20

The disciples had been with Jesus for three years. They saw the evidence that what Jesus said was true. They asked questions. They listened. They watched. Up to and including the crucification their belief was still in progress. Then He died.

That Sunday they heard the tomb was empty. Rather than simply taking someone’s word for it, Peter and John ran to the tomb to see it for themselves. The tomb was empty! They walked inside and looked around. They knew for certain the body of Jesus was not in that tomb.

But what did it mean?

They went back to their friends and discussed it among themselves. So they were together when Jesus appeared to them alive and well. It was then their belief turned into cement. A personal encounter with the risen Savior changed everything. They were able to hold on to the truth for the rest of their lives, based on what they had seen, and heard, and believed.

People don’t often take the time to question, or listen, or watch for evidence these days before they believe something. They base their beliefs on what is posted on social media and on news outlets with an agenda. They believe what they are told to believe without giving it much thought.

Case in point: the Democratic party. Yes, I am going political here the day before this important election. It concerns me the Democrats are simply voting for the person they are told to vote for.

They willingly gave up their constitutional right to choose a candidate through debates, and campaigns, and a primary vote. They didn’t ask questions, didn’t listen to the meaningless rhetoric of the candidate forced on them, and they refuse to observe the tangible evidence that she is a threat to freedom. Most Democrats can’t tell you what she stands for, what her accomplishments are, or what issues she supports that align with their own informed convictions.

But they will vote for her because they are told to hate her opponent.

Now, before you accuse me of the same, let me just say I know Trump can be a jerk. I know he talks like an adolescent sometimes. I know he’s not a poster child for morality. But I have done my research and can tell you his stand on abortion lines up more closely with mine, his stand on illegal immigration and open borders, his stand on energy independence, taxes, importing/exporting, and peace through strength line up more closely with mine. And his position on religious freedom, the constitution of the US, and free speech line up with my own beliefs much more closely than the Democrat candidate’s.

But it’s not just in the political arena where people don’t ask questions, listen, or watch. The Church is full of lazy, gullible, mindless people who believe what they are told to believe. They let the preacher read the Bible for them. They let the songs dictate their worship. They close their eyes to the evidence of false teaching and simply believe what they are told to believe.

You and I might believe differently on some things. But unless our beliefs are based on our own research, asking questions, listening with the intent to learn, and taking time to look at the evidence, what we believe is meaningless. Maybe even dangerous.

The disciples spent their whole lives sharing what they knew to be true because they had done the research. They spent time with Jesus, listening, questioning, observing. They knew that what they believed as a result of the years of research was the TRUTH.

So what do you believe? What do you believe about this country and democracy? What do you believe about the Church – your church? What do you believe about life, eternity, sin, grace? And why do you believe what you believe?

What do you believe as a result of your personal time spent asking questions, listening, and watching. What do you believe as a result of your personal encounter with the risen Savior?

Why do you believe it?

Crossing Boundaries

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Acts 8

While talking to the Good News Club children about Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well, I told them about the hatred Jews and Samaritans had for each other. Even Jesus’ disciples had expressed prejudice against them. But the disciples also witnessed Jesus’ compassion toward Samaritans, which may be why Philip could go into Samaria and share the good news about Jesus.

Instead of calling down fire from heaven to destroy them, Philip called the Samaritans to repentance. The strict boundary between Israel and Samaria was crossed, and many Samaritans gave their hearts to Jesus because of it.

How? The indwelling of the Holy Spirit in Philip. Without God’s prompting, I doubt Philip would ever have crossed that line.

I don’t have to tell you our nation is divided, much like the descendants of Abraham were divided during the time Philip was preaching. Both Samaritans and Jews could trace their lineage back to their Founding Father, Abraham. All American citizens – black, white, Democrat, Republican, natural born, legal immigrant, gay, straight, believers, and non believers – can trace our lineage back to our Founding Fathers as well.

But that doesn’t prevent us from hating each other. Our recent election emphasizes the great divide. The boundaries between opposing views is strict and dare not be crossed. So what do you do?

Christian, we cross that line with the Good News of Jesus Christ. We rub shoulders with them, show compassion for them, love our “enemies” and pray for those who don’t like us. We go across that line and make disciples. How? The indwelling of the Holy Spirit in each of us.

Can you or I continue to hate with Jesus living inside of us? My prayer is that the Church, you and I who love our Savior, will be the ones who reach across the aisle and love like Jesus loved, talk about sin and Jesus’ work on the cross to pay for sin, share Jesus with the way we live and by the things we say.

Philip did that. Many Samaritans were saved. And then…

Peter and John crossed the boundary lines, too, and joined Philip in Samaria to continue the work Philip had begun.

Yeah. One man obeyed. He crossed the boundary alone. Then others followed. Maybe you need to be that one man today who will cross a boundary line or two with the Truth about Jesus. And maybe, when others follow your lead, we will find ourselves united by our common faith in Jesus. I don’t see the boundaries that have divided our nation eliminated any other way.

Crossing boundaries may be hard, it may be scary. But I’m pretty sure it’s what God is asking His children to do.

November 16; Wisdom From Heaven

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James 1-3

I will be honest. I haven’t been watching the impeachment hearing on TV. My blood pressure has it’s limits. I don’t know on which side of the aisle you are, but I think God has something to say to all of us through James this morning.

For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you will find discord and every evil practice. (3:16)

I guess when I try to watch the proceedings I find discord and evil practices fueled by envy and selfish ambition. Did God give James a glimpse of the USA in 2019? It seems so. But the next verse is what I want to highlight today:

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. (3:17)

Can you imagine the change that would come about in our country if God poured out the wisdom that comes from heaven onto Washington DC? Peace-loving? Considerate? Submissive? Merciful? Impartial? Sincere? I don’t care which side of this issue you are,  but can you say you wouldn’t want those things to be evident in all our politicians?

Let’s pray for the wisdom that comes from heaven for our political leaders. But let’s also pray the same for each of us. Our country can hardly be described as peace-loving, considerate, submissive, merciful, impartial, or sincere, can it? Can you be described in those terms? Can I?

We need the wisdom that comes from heaven.

 

June 5; It Might Be You

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Proverbs 28-30

Well, thinking about the government is exactly what I wanted to be thinking about first thing this morning. Ugh. I hate politics.

I hate the lies so many politicians present as fact. I hate more that so many people believe the lies without question. I hate the division politics has produced in our country.

So now you know what I think. What does God say about  politics?

28:2 – When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order.

28:4 – Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law resist them.

28:5 – Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.

28:9 – If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable.

29:4 – By justice a king gives a country stability, but one who is greedy for bribes tears it down.

29:12 – If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked.

I just picked out a few of the things God has to say about rulers, about law… politics. I hope you’ll read it all and see if you don’t see us in there.

That’s why I want to encourage you to get involved. We need men and women who understand justice, who keep the law (of God and of the country), and most importantly, we need people who fear God.

We need Christians who will step up and, with God’s power, turn this country around. We are witnessing a push by Muslims to turn this country their way through our political system. We are witnessing people who want to throw out democracy and change our republic. We are watching our freedoms being hijacked, and citizens cheering on the hijackers. Does that concern you at all?

Do you feel the call of God to run for a political office? Do it! People all over this country are praying 2 Chronicles 7:13. But for God to answer that prayer, he is going to need His children to get busy, to get involved in the decision-making at local, state, and national levels. He needs someone who will hear the call and obey.

It just might be you.

October 13 – A House Divided

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Matthew 12:22-50; Luke 11

When I was in college in the early 70’s, a girl in one of my classes sneered at something I said. “You’re one of those people who thinks America is still a melting-pot. That’s an outdated way of thinking that strips people of their identity. I’m glad things are progressing,” she told me in no uncertain terms.

I don’t know about progressing, but things have changed since then. We are no longer Americans. We are African-Americans, Native-Americans, Italian-Americans, Mexican-Americans… And our country is divided to the point we don’t know or like each other. Politicians are using this division to further separate us and perpetuate the hate.

Jesus said, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a house divided against itself falls.” (Luke 11:17)

Is it too late to make America great again? I guess that depends on Christians uniting across cultural and denominational divisions, praying, repenting, and begging God to heal our land. Because whether it’s the United States or the Church:

A house divided against itself will fall.

 

Feb 19 – Politics. Ugh.

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Leviticus 19-21

I’m going to be honest. I hate politics. You can imagine how much I am enjoying watching the news these days. I try to watch the debates, truly. But I get so frustrated not only with the candidates but with the people asking the idiotic questions to try to get the candidates to sling some dirt at each other.

Ugh. So when reading in Leviticus this morning, I wasn’t all that pleased that what jumped out at me was political. Ok, God. I’ll address it. But I’m not happy about it.

Socialism is the word of the day. Where before, the ideology was masked in the form of the Democratic Party policy of big government, taxing and spending, people are at least being honest about what it is they propose. Socialism. Give our money to the government and trust the all-wise, all-knowing elite to distribute it equally.

Please don’t tell me you believe in that.

I digress. Is it a shame that there are homeless, jobless, uninsured and needy citizens of our country? Absolutely. It’s sad that our government has made such a mess of things. But the shame shouldn’t be on the government (although it is), because the government shouldn’t be taking on the responsibility of the individual. Look where that’s gotten us.

When I read Scripture like Leviticus 19:9-10, telling us how to care for the needy, I see two things. 1) those who have share, 2) those who don’t have get out there and work.

I see no one having their possessions taken away so someone else could get something for free.

God, in these verses, is speaking to His Old Testament children. But I believe He’s speaking to us, too. Every Bible believing fellowship should have an outreach program. Ideally, there should be no one on welfare attending our churches, no unemployed. The church should be helping the people in that church.

I am as frustrated with the system as anyone. But, personally, I will never vote for anyone who even hints at a platform of socialism. I’m convinced we need to get our government out of our pockets and our decisions, and put the responsibility back on the individual.

That idea didn’t originate with me. It’s how God told His children to live. I’m pretty sure He knows how things should go better than any U.S. politician.

Dear God, I pray for the United States of America as we elect a new President. Father, I ask that You would speak to the hearts of Your children, may we be vocal about the things You lay on our hearts. May we stand up for the truth of Scripture. And may we vote according to Your leading. I pray that a godly man will live in the White House for the next four years. If that happens, it will be because Your children put aside politics and sought Your will. Then, Lord, may your Church be that avenue You can use to care for our citizens.

 

God Bless America! Why?

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Do you pray that God will once again restore the United States of America to a nation under God? Why do you? Why is it we want our leaders to once again recognize and honor the One True God? Is it so we won’t have to fear imprisonment for loving Jesus like some in our world fear? Is it so that the USA will be restored to its former position of military and economic superiority? Is it so our children will not have to suffer at the hands of ungodly men?

Hezekiah got me thinking with his prayer concerning an enemy who was threatening to destroy Israel. First, he acknowledged that all the other gods in the world were not gods at all. Then, in Isaiah 37:20 we read that Hezekiah prayed the following:

“Now therefore, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you are the Lord, You alone.” (I added the bold print)

If you are praying for our country so you can be comfortable in your pew on Sunday morning, save your breath. God is intent on saving souls, even those who consider themselves enemies of the United States. He went to the cross for Muslims, atheists, Buddhists, those intrenched in ISIS, and those who simply ignore Him. And he wants them to come to Him no matter what it takes. “God so loved the world…”

If Americans elect leaders who fear God, who are intent on honoring and obeying Him, He will bless. Look how many times he did that for Israel in the Old Testament. And, if God blesses this nation as a result of our obedience, the rest of the world will have to sit up and notice. They will have to admit that the God of the Bible is the One True God. And hearts will turn to Him in response.

That’s got to be our prayer. If God can reveal Himself through a nation that turns to Him, I pray it’s us here in the USA. And if the nations will turn to God through our suffering, may God give his people the strength and ability to suffer gladly for His sake, so that the people of the world see Jesus.

Hezekiah reminds me that it’s not about blessing a nation for the sake of a nation. It’s about blessing a nation for the sake of turning hearts to the Savior.

I am challenged to make this my prayer:

God, bless America so that other nations will recognize and turn to You, too.

Godly Leaders

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I am one who was saddened by the recent Supreme Court’s decision on marriage. I had hoped our leaders would have upheld our laws. But in this day and age, leadership seems to be following opinion, and not always the opinion of the majority.

Ok. That was purely opinion. But I was reminded this morning as I read God’s Word, how important it is for those in positions of leadership to be led by God. Leaders have enormous influence and, with it, great responsibility.

Solomon was a great leader, as we read in 2 Chronicles. But he raised a stupid son whose first act as king was to alienate the people and destroy the kingdom. (2 Chronicles 10)

The people of Lystra wanted to worship Paul and Barnabas after Paul healed a lame man. (Acts 14) But when the apostles told them they were mere men and not gods, the Lystonians turned their attention toward Jews from Antioch who spoke against Paul and Barnabas. The result? The people of Lystra went from wanting to worship them, to wanting to stone them. Just like that.

The Bible is not wrong when it calls us sheep. Too often we follow the leader blindly, without question, without thought. Those of us in positions of leadership, whether Sunday School teachers, CEO’s, policemen, pastors, History teachers, parents… need to go about our responsibilities prayerfully, soberly, intentionally because people are following our lead. People with eternal souls.

Who do we go to for advice? What do we read? What voices are we listening to? Are we leading according to God’s Word, or on the word of popular opinion?

Dear one, let’s determine to pray for our leaders. We’ve got leaders in government, in civil service, in churches, schools, and homes. And, in reality, all of us have leadership responsibilities in one form or another. Let’s ask God to be our Guide. Let’s spend time in his Word, seeking his will, hearing his voice and drowning out the voices that would lead us astray.

I said I was saddened by the actions of our Supreme Court. But maybe this is the wake-up call we Christians need to get involved in leadership positions in our nation. Maybe this ruling will be what the Church needs to stand firm as we follow our Lord. No doubt God can bring something good out of even this, if we hear his voice and obey.

Dear God, I thank you for our leaders. I pray for President Obama and ask that he would be drawn to you, that he would obey your voice for the decisions he makes concerning our nation. I pray for Senators and Congressmen, for court officials, for our military and our police force. I pray for pastors, teachers, leaders of industry, supervisors, coaches, parents. May hearts be humbled before you and may you find us all willing to follow your lead. I pray that you would lay on the hearts of godly men and women to get involved in the politics of our nation. And may your children support them with prayers and votes. And, Lord, no matter what leadership roles we find ourselves in, I pray that we would look to you for guidance. May you find us faithful.

A Modern-Day Jezebel

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Ahab and Jezebel’s story as recorded in I Kings 20 reminds me of what is happening in the US these days. Evil people want our land, they want control over what was a nation under God. So they’ve invited us to a “feast”. They lie about Christians, villainize us so that the Truth we stand for looks like evil. They say we blaspheme a loving god when we tell them Jesus is the only Truth. They hate us but convince themselves it is we who hate them. And we, like Naboth, don’t recognize the danger we’re in. We’ve joined their party and it’s going to cost us everything.

That’s been Satan’s strategy since the Garden. He’s had a lot of practice and he’s good at getting into our heads. He’s a master at distorting the truth. And he makes sin look normal, pleasing, harmless, our right.

Naboth was killed in the end. Our civilization is dying, too. And we, like Naboth, are just sitting here dining with the enemy and not defending ourselves. Remember, our enemy is not flesh and blood, but Satan, anti-christ philosophy. And if we don’t stand up to the people who are robbing us of our land, we will lose it all.

Father, I pray you will raise up men and women who not only know you and the Truth of Scripture, but who will stand up in Jesus’ name to defend it. I pray that you will lay on the hearts of godly people the desire to get involved in our political system and reclaim the US for a nation built upon you. Help us to recognize Satan’s lies, to be discerning hearers of the news, to speak up in love, and draw all men and women to you. I pray for this once-great nation. May we repent of the sins of ourselves and our leaders and call on you to heal our land.