“Too Political”.

There may be some who've been reading my comments in this space for the last few months who think it has been “too political”. I guess there's some confusion about just what “political” means.
“Too political”, as though talking about political issues in a Biblical perspective somehow taints Christianity! The reality, of course, is that anything UNtouched by Christian principles IS tainted. More than tainted, it is irretrievably polluted by the world, with its sin, selfish motives, know-it-all, self-righteous pride, etc.. In fact, to try to put our motives and actions in line with Christ is to UN-taint it as much as it can be in this world. And to say that some area of the world should not be discussed in a Christian context in church circles is to say that Christ is NOT Lord of ALL. That we don't let Him rule in certain areas of our lives! In other words, that Jesus is NOT LORD of our lives. Instead of Christ being in charge, we are and we can eject Christian principles from any part of our day. Is is too embarrassing to stand for (i.e. discuss) the Christian perspective among the worldly? That's nothing new, but think of Jesus' words in Mark 8: 38--”If any are ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
To say that it's “political” to look at how our faith responds to issues in the world around us is very dangerous ground. Why? Because to talk/live like our faith should not be evident in how we meet the world is to agree with God-hating secular atheists! Atheists tell us that Christians should keep their “religion” in their churches or homes. That faith has no place in the public realm. They demand that any statement they see as “religious” is automatically disqualified from a discussion, let alone public policy! But wait! Isn't that ACTUALLY a religious conclusion based on a view of a theology of God, our place in the world, etc.? OF COURSE it is! Isn't THAT a religion? OF COURSE it is! Honest atheists admit they DO, in fact, espouse a religious outlook, and they certainly do not hide their faith from public debate!
It's hypocrisy in the extreme to suggest that Christians' faith should have no mark in society. Certainly the secular or atheist intends exactly that. The idea that if we want to have an impact for the God we worship & for good means we want to create a theocracy is classic psychological projection. Meaning it's the secular world that wants to mold the political world in an A-theocracy. i.e., an opposing religious absolute without God.
In the Bible, God was not opposed to his people using political influence. Familiar Bible people such as Joseph, Daniel and Esther were all elevated to positions of political power precisely so that God could carry out his will. Even Paul's Roman citizenship played a major role in the spread of the gospel (Acts 22:25, 26:32).
The current morally bereft state that this country is suffering speaks to the fallen state of mankind; but it speaks even more directly to the lack of influence that Christians have had in public affairs for decades. That alone should be motivation enough for us to actively engage in government AND in discussing how to impact that part of the world for Christ. And motivation to actually educate ourselves about candidates without emotion and with facts, i.e. not CNN, NY Times & their partisan ilk.
Heavens! There's no room to even discuss the absolute influence of Christianity on the American Founders or the profound impact Christian preaching had on colonial & early American political thought, so I leave you with these Bible passages to consider:
Romans 12: 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
James 1: 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 2: 14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? Pastor Geoff