From Sunday:
– We are absolutely divided culturally and politically
– This is the church’s finest hour. IF we truly follow Jesus
– Who you are (identity) dictates what you will do. And what you won’t
– In Christ, I don’t have the right to label and call names
– Jesus talked about calling people fool and raca (empty head). He warned of the danger of judgment and hell for those who do. I don’t have the right to label in that way, calling Democrats or Republicans or… whoever… morons, idiots (or worse) and still call myself a follower of Jesus. To do so is rank hypocrisy
– If I follow Jesus, I don’t have the right to proclaim myself more virtuous than “those” people based on my politics or the cultural issue of the moment. Jesus alone is our righteousness. And NONE of us stands without the cross of Christ.
– What if I write the perfect, most awesome FB post ever. And I actually convince you to come over to my side. But you die without knowing Jesus. What was gained?
– Put another way, if I divide based on my politics or cultural convictions, I show myself as someone straining at gnats and swallowing camels. I miss the point of my purpose as a child of God: to point to Jesus alone as beautiful, virtuous and able to change lives from the inside out
– “No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him” – 2 Tim. 2:4
– The early church had divisions. People wanted to overthrow Rome. They divided over circumcision for Gentile Christians. Over Gentiles in the church at all. Over which teacher they would follow (Paul vs. Apollos vs. Peter in Corinth).
– Within 15 years of 2 Tim. 2:4, Nero would begin great persecution. Within 20 years of 2 Tim. 2:4, Jerusalem would fall. Divisions no longer mattered, The temporary gave way to the real truth: time is limited. “…make the most of every opportunity”- Paul. Quit straining at gnats and swallowing camels.
– Who you are tells you what you will do. And what you won’t. I won’t choose a political side and put all my trust in fallible, fallen men and women. I’ll stand with Christ. That’s my side. And approach all issues with humility and respect for others that I disagree with. Regardless of the my level of disagreement. You cannot influence and antagonize at the same time.
– “You say you love Jesus? Then THIS is where you must stand on immigration and walls!”- FB posts. Ignores: biblical history. The freedom of others to form their own convictions. A respect for the Name of Jesus.
– The Enemy loves distraction. If your FB wall is more politics than Jesus, you may want to consider what your actual passion is. And where your identity is.
– The truth about Jesus divides. We don’t have the right to divide based on politics and the cultural cause of the moment
– Our goal in a divided country: stand in the gap, point to Jesus and see people made whole in Christ.