“Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the LORD our God. Those nations will fall down and collapse, but we will rise up and stand firm.” (Psalm 20:7–8, NLT)
Every now and then, I get criticism from other Christians about my sermons, my Bible Studies, my web site, or my speech. One of the criticisms that comes up frequently is that my Bible Studies and meditations do not do enough justice for one political cause or another. Among these criticisms is the notion that I should be more positive about the Republican or Democratic parties. Democrats suggest my sermons and meditations are not liberal enough. Republicans argue that I’m not more critical of worldly Democratic policies. Some people overseas have been critical that I don’t attack the United States policies enough. Several have argued that I need to address this or that political hot topic important somewhere in the world. What most of these critics don’t understand is that my call by God is not to just do political and social commentary and criticism. My call by God is to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28). My sermons and meditations endeavor to increase faithful biblical knowledge and wisdom and understanding. My purpose is to introduce and support people in their relationship to and mission for Almighty God.
The scripture for today actually contains a warning for those who put their trust in governments, political parties, political action groups, and such. To begin, this scripture claims that “nations boast of their chariots and horses” (Psalm 20:7a). Political and social groups love to boast of their clout, their outreach, their just policies, and superior programs. However, all are human based. All political and social groups use worldly power tactics to push an agenda. In contrast, “we boast in the name of the Lord” (Psalm 20:7b). Where human groups are manipulated by polls, trends, and the whims of human insight, the faithful know to trust in God’s wisdom and the leading of the Holy Spirit. The scripture for today ends with the warning, “nations will fall down and collapse, but we will rise up and stand firm” (Psalm 20:8).
During the 1960’s, Angela lived in California. She considered herself a feminist, who was politically enlightened and part of the counterculture. Angela was very active in anti-war rallies in the United States. Though raised a Christian, she also traveled to Thailand to study Zen Buddhism. For almost ten years, she went to her home church but often performed Zen meditation and practices on her own. When the Vietnam war ended, Angela marched for immigrant rights. She left her home church, disgusted by their lack of concern for immigrants, and joined a more liberal church. Five years later, she met her husband, Jack. Angela and Jack had one child. After their little girl was born with a medical condition, Angela and Jack became involved in a group that supported children like their daughter. Soon after, they joined a different church that had an outreach program to support children’s health issues.
By the time Angela was forty-five and her daughter left for college, Angela looked back on her life. She had been a member of seven different churches in her lifetime. Each church had its own strengths and weaknesses. Mostly, Angela became aware that the churches she attended were usually supportive of one of her issues or policies or political stances. Angela was disgusted that no Christian church was good enough to support all of her causes and beliefs. Because of this, she stopped going to church altogether. To this day, she hasn’t been back.
Angela still hasn’t figured out that its not that all these churches she attended have flaws and a limited mindset or theology. Angela is going to church to support one cause or another. She is using the church as a platform to promote her changing agendas. That’s why she feels more comfortable changing churches as her focus on social and political issues change with time. Angela is completely clueless to the fact that she sees her church as a social group that should support her changing moods and causes. She is not going to a church to worship God and learn about God’s ways. She is attending a church in order to promote her own agendas and beliefs. For Angela, the church is supposed to be an extension of her own beliefs. It’s actually the opposite. Angela is supposed to be an extension of God’s agenda. Angela is meant to promote God’s plans and purposes, not her own. That’s why she has never really fit in for long in any church.
It is all too easy for the church and church people to get caught up in changing the world and influencing people. However, the church was not meant for that as its goal. Instead, the church was to be a place of worship and the adoration of God in Christ Jesus. It was meant to be a place filled with the Holy Spirit and directed to God’s work. Missions of the church aren’t supposed to be extensions of human projects and motivations but God-inspired. Are you a Christian to fulfill your own needs or to be a servant of God in Christ?
During the 4th century, the Latin church fought internally over whether to keep Roman politics out of the decisions of God’s church. During the 1500’s, worshippers in England were very much divided on whether the King was the leader of the church and responsible for faithful theology or if God-ordained clergy would keep the church free from political manipulation. In Germany during the 1930’s and 1940’s, there were great upheavals in the Christian churches over Nazi party loyalties and political stances taken by church leaders. In that same era, Roman Catholics questioned the actions of the pope in relationship to National Socialist challenges to godly rule.
History is full of examples in which worldly political groups and issues fought to influence and control God’s church. You can bet that political and social groups are trying to capture and manipulate your soul, even today. Be wary of those inside and outside the church who seek for you to identify with a worldly cause or issue or party. God’s plans may align with a certain group or issue or policy once in a while but that DOES NOT ever mean that God aligns with worldly methods or purposes. As a faithful follower of Jesus, you need to sort out God’s plan for your life. As a part of that, this web site will always seek not to promote a political or social agenda. This web site and my meditations and studies endeavor to show you faithful biblical knowledge so you can determine God’s call upon your own life!
Do you know any people like Angela, who see the church as a platform for their own favorite issues? Have you seen how political groups and social opinions have sought to infiltrate the church and your soul? It is not easy to have a right relationship with God when the world is constantly attempting to infiltrate and manipulate your soul, is it?
The scripture for today actually contains a warning for those who put their trust in governments, political parties, political action groups, and such. To begin, this scripture claims that “nations boast of their chariots and horses” (Psalm 20:7a). Political and social groups love to boast of their clout, their outreach, their just policies, and superior programs. However, all are human based. All political and social groups use worldly power tactics to push an agenda. In contrast, “we boast in the name of the Lord” (Psalm 20:7b). Where human groups are manipulated by polls, trends, and the whims of human insight, the faithful know to trust in God’s wisdom and the leading of the Holy Spirit. The scripture for today ends with the warning, “nations will fall down and collapse, but we will rise up and stand firm” (Psalm 20:8).
During the 1960’s, Angela lived in California. She considered herself a feminist, who was politically enlightened and part of the counterculture. Angela was very active in anti-war rallies in the United States. Though raised a Christian, she also traveled to Thailand to study Zen Buddhism. For almost ten years, she went to her home church but often performed Zen meditation and practices on her own. When the Vietnam war ended, Angela marched for immigrant rights. She left her home church, disgusted by their lack of concern for immigrants, and joined a more liberal church. Five years later, she met her husband, Jack. Angela and Jack had one child. After their little girl was born with a medical condition, Angela and Jack became involved in a group that supported children like their daughter. Soon after, they joined a different church that had an outreach program to support children’s health issues.
By the time Angela was forty-five and her daughter left for college, Angela looked back on her life. She had been a member of seven different churches in her lifetime. Each church had its own strengths and weaknesses. Mostly, Angela became aware that the churches she attended were usually supportive of one of her issues or policies or political stances. Angela was disgusted that no Christian church was good enough to support all of her causes and beliefs. Because of this, she stopped going to church altogether. To this day, she hasn’t been back.
Angela still hasn’t figured out that its not that all these churches she attended have flaws and a limited mindset or theology. Angela is going to church to support one cause or another. She is using the church as a platform to promote her changing agendas. That’s why she feels more comfortable changing churches as her focus on social and political issues change with time. Angela is completely clueless to the fact that she sees her church as a social group that should support her changing moods and causes. She is not going to a church to worship God and learn about God’s ways. She is attending a church in order to promote her own agendas and beliefs. For Angela, the church is supposed to be an extension of her own beliefs. It’s actually the opposite. Angela is supposed to be an extension of God’s agenda. Angela is meant to promote God’s plans and purposes, not her own. That’s why she has never really fit in for long in any church.
It is all too easy for the church and church people to get caught up in changing the world and influencing people. However, the church was not meant for that as its goal. Instead, the church was to be a place of worship and the adoration of God in Christ Jesus. It was meant to be a place filled with the Holy Spirit and directed to God’s work. Missions of the church aren’t supposed to be extensions of human projects and motivations but God-inspired. Are you a Christian to fulfill your own needs or to be a servant of God in Christ?
During the 4th century, the Latin church fought internally over whether to keep Roman politics out of the decisions of God’s church. During the 1500’s, worshippers in England were very much divided on whether the King was the leader of the church and responsible for faithful theology or if God-ordained clergy would keep the church free from political manipulation. In Germany during the 1930’s and 1940’s, there were great upheavals in the Christian churches over Nazi party loyalties and political stances taken by church leaders. In that same era, Roman Catholics questioned the actions of the pope in relationship to National Socialist challenges to godly rule.
History is full of examples in which worldly political groups and issues fought to influence and control God’s church. You can bet that political and social groups are trying to capture and manipulate your soul, even today. Be wary of those inside and outside the church who seek for you to identify with a worldly cause or issue or party. God’s plans may align with a certain group or issue or policy once in a while but that DOES NOT ever mean that God aligns with worldly methods or purposes. As a faithful follower of Jesus, you need to sort out God’s plan for your life. As a part of that, this web site will always seek not to promote a political or social agenda. This web site and my meditations and studies endeavor to show you faithful biblical knowledge so you can determine God’s call upon your own life!
Do you know any people like Angela, who see the church as a platform for their own favorite issues? Have you seen how political groups and social opinions have sought to infiltrate the church and your soul? It is not easy to have a right relationship with God when the world is constantly attempting to infiltrate and manipulate your soul, is it?
The Uplifting video for today is the new Music video "Faithful God"... it will inspire you when you are hurting!....click below to view it!