America
I'm a Christian. I believe Jesus Christ is the one and only way to salvation. I believe in the authority of Scripture over and above everything. I believe in the doctrines of grace and the depravity of man. I also believe that as a Christian, my clear-cut, God-given responsibility is to glorify and worship God by inviting others to do the same. In other words, I want the world to believe in Jesus so that they may also have their sins paid for and their eternity secure. I believe that in being a Christian, the two primary means by which I accomplish this goal is by being doctrinally sound and modeling Jesus' character.
With that said, I'm honestly shocked at the Christian response to yesterday's presidential election. I've seen posts on social media saying, "I'm moving to Australia" or "If you voted for Obama you're retarded". Most of the Christian commentary (at least of those who are my friends) on the subject is negative. It's made me feel the need to post on this blog after not having done so in a year and a half. If you claim to have put your faith in Christ, this is for you.
Jesus' earthly ministry was not one without controversy. He was killed for his religious stance and his religious stance is the same one I hope you believe in: Christ is greater than all and he is due your worship. Obviously, as we read the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, it's clear that Jesus is the protagonist throughout. He's the one we're all rooting for to succeed and the main focus of each of the four books. The antagonist, however, may not be quite as clear. The black-hatted bad guys throughout the Gospels happen to be the Jewish leaders. As a matter of fact, the Gospel of John uses Greek word Ioudaio (I hope I spelled that right) which is translated "Jews" or "Jewish leaders" over 70 times. Each and every time it is used, it's in opposition to Jesus Christ.
In other words, there was a group of religious men who were expected to be the spiritual leaders and ultimate examples of godliness within their community and they failed miserably. They missed the mark so badly that they became Jesus' primary enemies throughout his time here on earth. The most common indictment against these men was their self-righteousness. In their eyes, their views, their ideas, their conduct, and their social standing made them superior to all who were different. John the Baptist called these men a "brood of vipers" and Jesus compared them to "white-washed tombs," clean on the outside; dead on the inside. I'm seeing some striking similarities between them and many Christians I know today.
Someone I know very well used to attend church pretty regularly. During Obama's first campaign, although she wasn't old enough to vote, she made it very clear to her fellow churchgoers that she was in support of Obama's campaign. I can almost feel some of you cringing already, as if voting Democrat were the Unforgivable Sin. As you might guess, her stance in church was met with ridicule, judgment, and ultimate ostracism from any cliques within that body of believers. Needless to say, she's steered clear of the church ever since. How is it that a person unsure of their salvation and a faithful attendee of her church is ultimately pushed out of church, not by doctrine, but by politics. Horrendous.
As I read the responses to Obama's presidency, I can't help but wonder whether or not the same things are happening now. Some believers have taken stances that make them look like nothing more than pompous jerks with Republican party affiliation. There's little evidence of the unshakable faith of men and women who trust in the goodness and sovereignty of God. The evidence leans a whole lot more in the direction of the Israelites who were destroyed in the wilderness by God because of their endless complaints (1 Cor. 10:9-10). Let's face it, if you've posted anti-Obama messages and suggested that Americans are unintelligent for voting for him on your Facebook wall, Twitter feed, or Instagram, you're guilty. Period.
Nobody is drawn to Christ through whining. Nobody embraces the gospel through complaints. Nobody is reading your posts and saying, "I voted for Obama. You think I'm an idiot; please tell me more about Jesus." People need to hear the gospel; not your incessant grumbling about their perceived abuse of food stamps and welfare checks. If you know someone doing that personally, share the gospel with that person in hopes that Christ would grip his or her heart and cause change. Don't bash them on the internet for hundreds of people to read and draw false conclusions about who Jesus is and what Christianity is about. Bottom line: help the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20) or cry privately to someone who is interested in your whining. Our job is to be salt and light, not Pharisee and Sadducee. Do your job.
With that said, I'm honestly shocked at the Christian response to yesterday's presidential election. I've seen posts on social media saying, "I'm moving to Australia" or "If you voted for Obama you're retarded". Most of the Christian commentary (at least of those who are my friends) on the subject is negative. It's made me feel the need to post on this blog after not having done so in a year and a half. If you claim to have put your faith in Christ, this is for you.
Jesus' earthly ministry was not one without controversy. He was killed for his religious stance and his religious stance is the same one I hope you believe in: Christ is greater than all and he is due your worship. Obviously, as we read the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, it's clear that Jesus is the protagonist throughout. He's the one we're all rooting for to succeed and the main focus of each of the four books. The antagonist, however, may not be quite as clear. The black-hatted bad guys throughout the Gospels happen to be the Jewish leaders. As a matter of fact, the Gospel of John uses Greek word Ioudaio (I hope I spelled that right) which is translated "Jews" or "Jewish leaders" over 70 times. Each and every time it is used, it's in opposition to Jesus Christ.
In other words, there was a group of religious men who were expected to be the spiritual leaders and ultimate examples of godliness within their community and they failed miserably. They missed the mark so badly that they became Jesus' primary enemies throughout his time here on earth. The most common indictment against these men was their self-righteousness. In their eyes, their views, their ideas, their conduct, and their social standing made them superior to all who were different. John the Baptist called these men a "brood of vipers" and Jesus compared them to "white-washed tombs," clean on the outside; dead on the inside. I'm seeing some striking similarities between them and many Christians I know today.
Someone I know very well used to attend church pretty regularly. During Obama's first campaign, although she wasn't old enough to vote, she made it very clear to her fellow churchgoers that she was in support of Obama's campaign. I can almost feel some of you cringing already, as if voting Democrat were the Unforgivable Sin. As you might guess, her stance in church was met with ridicule, judgment, and ultimate ostracism from any cliques within that body of believers. Needless to say, she's steered clear of the church ever since. How is it that a person unsure of their salvation and a faithful attendee of her church is ultimately pushed out of church, not by doctrine, but by politics. Horrendous.
As I read the responses to Obama's presidency, I can't help but wonder whether or not the same things are happening now. Some believers have taken stances that make them look like nothing more than pompous jerks with Republican party affiliation. There's little evidence of the unshakable faith of men and women who trust in the goodness and sovereignty of God. The evidence leans a whole lot more in the direction of the Israelites who were destroyed in the wilderness by God because of their endless complaints (1 Cor. 10:9-10). Let's face it, if you've posted anti-Obama messages and suggested that Americans are unintelligent for voting for him on your Facebook wall, Twitter feed, or Instagram, you're guilty. Period.
Nobody is drawn to Christ through whining. Nobody embraces the gospel through complaints. Nobody is reading your posts and saying, "I voted for Obama. You think I'm an idiot; please tell me more about Jesus." People need to hear the gospel; not your incessant grumbling about their perceived abuse of food stamps and welfare checks. If you know someone doing that personally, share the gospel with that person in hopes that Christ would grip his or her heart and cause change. Don't bash them on the internet for hundreds of people to read and draw false conclusions about who Jesus is and what Christianity is about. Bottom line: help the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20) or cry privately to someone who is interested in your whining. Our job is to be salt and light, not Pharisee and Sadducee. Do your job.
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