Do you identify as a Democrat, Republican, or Independent? Perhaps a liberal, conservative, or an extremist on either side. Maybe none of the above. In this country and beyond, people are defined, labeled and grouped by what political party they are affiliated or identify with. In fact, for many Christians, what they believe about the Bible is filtered through what they identify with in their culture - or said in another way, the traditions of their fathers. When they should instead be filtering their worldly relationships through the Bible.
"Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." - 1 Peter 1:17-19
Regrettably, that worldly deviation from the Way has led to social injustice, among other things, being accommodated by Christian churches/denominations. (I have written about cooking the frog in the past). It seems that the Lord will not release me from writing about the apostacy in the Body of Christ. I am reminded of a story about a new pastor who preached the very same sermon for 4 Sunday's in a row. After the 4th Sunday of hearing the very same sermon, one of the church lay leaders asked the Pastor why he didn't preach a different sermon. The pastor answered, "When the people embrace and act on what I am preaching about in this sermon, then I will preach a different one.
Yesterday I wrote about Galatians chapter 5 and how that behavior is reflected in the news headlines every day. People want the government to be the change agent that makes our problems go away. If only we had more laws! Or maybe if the other political party was the ruling party - then things would surely be different! Perhaps we need more mental health support to change the minds of those who are killing others with guns - since it is not possible to change their hearts. Do you remember what Paul said about the Law?
"For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." - Romans 5:19-21
"Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter." - Romans 7:4-6
My understanding of scripture is that laws do not change hearts. The intent of man's laws is to control behavior by the threat of punishment. Man's laws are arbitrary and can/will change from generation to generation. Often times what is illegal today is changed to be legal tomorrow, especially if enforcing a particular law proves to be too expensive or difficult. What is moral is defined by the dominant influence in a culture or country and can be changed on a whim. The idea of absolute truth that we find in the Bible, is dismissed as being embraced only by the naïve, uniformed or misguided. By definition that includes the Christian faith and its doctrines.
If I had a bell I would ring it. If I had a fog horn, I would sound it. If I had a warning flag, I would wave it. Don't compromise your faith in God and His truth for the world's offerings as a substitute. Let this be the cry of your heart.
"Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we trust in the name of the Lord our God." - Psalm 20:7
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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