Keeping Cool During Hot Elections

Keeping Cool During Hot Elections

Rush Limbaugh is famous for saying that “everything is political.” To this we may all say together, “Oh no!” As we begin to see hundreds of TV ads from Trump vs. Clinton, it is important for Christians to not loose composure (2 Thessalonians 2:2) and remember what is truly and eternally important.

It's important to think about the relationship between Christians and their government. We find this in God's Word. We know that God has some requirements.

First, we are to occupy positions in our government if we can do so. You will recall that Joseph was appointed to positions, and eventually was a very powerful person in Egypt (Genesis 42:6). Next, we are to pay taxes to our government. Jesus famously said, “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar, and unto God the things which are God's.” (Matthew 22:18-21). Next we are to pray for our government. This means praying for people individually, even those politicians we don't like or agree with (I Timothy 2:1-3). Christians are to be promotors of a “righteous peace,” and this begins with prayer. Next, we are to obey the rules of government. The basic formulation of our obedience to law is found in Romans 13:1-7. Here Paul gives a perspective that we should cherish ourselves. We don't control everything, but we know that God does! Finally, I'll remind you that we are called to obey God first. Gov. Mike Pence famously says, “I'm a Christian first, an American second, and a Republican third- in that order.” To most Christians that sounds like good priorities. In Acts 5:29 you see that people “must obey God rather than men.” Obeying God is our first priority. This is where the idea of God-given rights comes in our Democratic Republic form of government.

Whatever your political beliefs, always remember to try and let them be influenced by God's Word. While we may be moved to tears by our nation's problems, or frustrated by the decades of social decline and injustice, we can always show others that our hope is in God and not man. Further, we must always recall that our enemy is not other people, but the evil one who wants to deceive the whole world, the enemy of God, the devil.

If you're going to watch TV or hear the news, there is really no telling what we are in for this time. With all of you, I'll be hanging in there. While everything may have a political aspect, what is most important is the mission of Jesus and of Rolling Roads Baptist Church!

Happy Because of Jesus,

Pastor James

Are You on the Sidelines?

“Christians are sitting on the sidelines while the culture rots.”  Baloney.

The culture is rotted, that's true.  But make no mistake: studying God's word, preaching God's word, publishing God's word as much as possible, proclaiming God's word publicly and living it out in our lives as we attempt to be faithful followers of Jesus... is exactly and only what the culture needs. 

In other (Biblical) words, “Repent and believe the Gospel!”

But people think,  "It isn't having an effect, things are just getting so much worse by the second!”

What, however, are we to expect by way of results if we are on mission with Jesus?  Adoring crowds and back-slapping congratulations? No! There is such a thing as the “ministry of death.” Christian ministry produces an “aroma of death” to “those who are perishing” (2 Cor 2:14-7, see also carefully 2 Cor 3-4)!

It should be no surprise that the culture has been rotting since the garden of Eden closed. The world's culture doesn't want to hear God's word of grace, mercy, and salvation. Self-serving cultural moral relativism (and its fascist political correctness) is the quite predictable result of scientific materialism an all its incarnations.This includes, by the way, those “ministries” that actively campaign against traditional Biblical Christianity in the name of “embracing” the culture (thereby becoming part of the culture and leaving the rule and reign of God). Christians who attempt to embrace the flatulent winds and grasp the festering waters of our culture in the vain effort to be accepted are finding this only hardens people's hearts against the gospel, which is (all by itself!) “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).

The salt of the earth is also the light of the world. People are welcome to congratulate themselves all they want, but the salt may become tasteless and the light may be extinguished one day when the time of God's patience is exhausted (2 Thess 2:6-12)! Take heart, don't panic, the party is already over.  Most of what we hear about is being exaggerated by a tiny minority of Minitrue wannabes anyway.

In the meantime, the Great Commission is still as true as ever, and we are called, imperfect though we be, to proclaim the truth about the forgiveness that God offers.  God is merciful, full of grace, and willing to forgive and transform whoever is willing to come to Him by faith. That is the truth.

So though the world may seem to be nuts, remember that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm" (Ephesians 6:12-13).

Christians aren't on the sidelines, the world is playing the wrong game.

For another similar perspective that I just found after writing this:

http://thefederalist.com/2015/06/15/christians-need-to-stop-playing-the-self-flagellation-game/