The Chasm of Political Idolatry

Lately I have been feeling heart hurt, sad, and concerned about an issue I am seeing.

Sometimes I fear the divisiveness of American politics has been creeping into the body of Christ. It scares me. I am going to be honest and say that I fear it being something that will eventually cause a major division, and it probably is already doing so.

I see posts on social media from Christians making sweeping, and insulting statements about the party opposite them. And all I can think of are the incredible, God-fearing, and loving people on either side of those party lines whom I look up to, and the things they do for the Kingdom of God.

Our absolute FIRST priority, as Christians is to Christ and His church. One of the things that I have come to love about the body of Christ as I have grown is how much love there is despite different backgrounds, cultures, and ideals.

However, there is a chasm opening up, and I am not sure why people aren't seeing it. And I wonder how much it will become our undoing.

The obsession with Republican-Democratic politics is permeating everything, it seems. People hold so fast their parties and political ideals. They equate THEIR party, THEIR way of thinking as the only way, and woe to anyone who dare disagree with them about how to run an earthly nation.

One question I want to ask is this: as tightly as you are holding on to your political ideals, are you holding onto Christ even harder? Are you allowing the law of God's love to falter in the name of Politics? Are you weighing each careless word about someone who disagrees with you? Do you realize the power of those words and what they can do? (James 3:6)

The only WAY, ladies and gentlemen, is Christ. Everything else after that greatly pales in comparison.

Let me get even more honest here.

The way our economy is run is not going to matter in heaven. God has promised His followers that He would take care of and provide for them, no matter their circumstance. And that should be our main focus. You don't need to have massive amounts of stuff or money to do that. Then, we as the Church use those blessings to help others. If you get super worried about what the economy is going to do under so and so, I think you may be hanging your hope on people instead of God. (Matthew 6:25-34, Luke 12:22-32)

A wall is a wall. Defense is defense. There are many reasons why either side supports or doesn't support the wall. I'm not going to debate those points here. However, I am going to say this: security and defense, like the economy is earthly. There are so many ways to go about doing that, and wall or no, we can still have really good national defense.

 If we become so laser focused on that one point about why we should or should not have one, and allow our OPINIONS of that to cause strife within the body of Christ, then we seriously need to step back and consider our priorities. Is national security important? Absolutely, not saying it isn't. However, if that ideal becomes greater than our evangelism and care for our fellow brothers and sisters, and even those in the world, then I'd say you'd have a problem there.

I could go on and on about various political beliefs, but I think you get the picture.

As Christians, we need to exercise great wisdom. In a world where Satan is using Politics to divide, you better believe he is going to try and use the same tactic in the Church! And why wouldn't he? When you want to destroy a community or a relationship, you look for weak points, fissures, disagreements and amplify them, until they implode. Disagreements saddled with pride and ego are one of the quickest routes to destruction.

Be wise about what  you say or choose to involve yourself in. The world is watching us. If, within the church, we allow our political ideologies to wound and divide one another, we are making politics our idol. It is a dangerous game to try and fuse man-made ideals and market them as God's law. It is adding to the word of God, which we are implicitly commanded not to do. (Deuteronomy 4:2, Revelation 22:18-19) Anytime we do this, we cheapen God's word, and in turn, makes His church look like a joke to those on the outside. Why in the world would people want to join something that is just as divided and hateful as the world around them? And, more importantly, how do you think that makes Jesus feel when the name of His bride is marred in such a way?

"Love one another, for love is of God. He who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God. For God is love." (1 John 4:7-8).


 We have to be careful of the messages we send to the world. As much as it depends on you, do NOT be the reason someone chooses to refuse God.

Don't misunderstand. It is not wrong to have opinions. We all have them. But if we allow those opinions to cause us to say or do things that could cause divisions within the body of Christ, we have crossed a huge line. (John 17:21, 1 Corinthians 1:10-17) May God give us wisdom to always strive for our words and our actions to better lead others to the love God wants to share with them. Close the gap, cross that bridge, and be a light in a world where division is so prominent.

Put On Your War Paint!!!!!

One of my sisters faced a difficult situation yesterday. You could see in her face that she was heartbroken.

One thing I remember Mom saying to her was, “When you wake up, put on your war paint!” 

She meant that, the next day, get up and do your makeup. Make your hair pretty. Despite whatever may be going on, it helps to keep taking care of yourself. It helps to keep doing what you need to do. Cry if you need to, get angry. Rest. But, keep moving forward, no matter what.

It made me think about the situation in our nation right now with the election. We are at a crossroads in our nation’s history. We are at a questionable time in Church history as well. There is no telling what is around the corner.

I know two things. First, God is still in charge. Second, as the Church we need to get up and work. We need to also get down on our knees and pray like we have never prayed before. As my Mom said to my sister, we need to get our war paint on, spiritually speaking.

Forget politics as they apply to secular issues for the moment (economics, healthcare, etc.). While I have opinions on those things, in the light of God’s word, they  don’t matter in the end.

 It doesn’t matter who is president. It doesn’t matter if we don’t care for our Government Officials. Our job, as Christians, is to obey the law of the land. We are to respect our leaders and the rules. We are to be in submission to them.  (Romans 13:1-7)

As Christians, our ultimate job is to spread the Gospel. Our purpose is to tell others about God. What the US doesn’t need right now is more Christians obsessed with politics. No. What the US needs is for the Church to be the Church.

We need to get our hands dirty. (Eph. 4:28, James 2:17.)

We need to Study God’s Word. (2nd Tim. 2:15, 2 Tim. 3:14-17.)

We need to preach the Gospel. (Matt. 28:19.)

We need to help the poor. We are the Church. The government is not. Stop trying to make it their job. (Luke 3:11, Luke 12:23, Matt. 25:35-40)

Visit, help, mentor, or even adopt those in foster care. (James 1:27.)

Visit the sick and lonely. (Matt. 25:35-40, 2nd Cor. 1:3-5.)

Love the abused and broken.  (2nd Cor. 1:3-5, Romans 12:15.)

Give unconditional love to all despite their sins or circumstances. (1 Cor. 13:4-7.)

Tell them of the healing and forgiveness that God can give. (2 Cor. 1:3-5.)

Get on our knees and pray for this nation and the world. (1 Tim. 2:1-4.)

This is putting on our war paint. This is how a Christian goes to battle. This is putting on the full armor of God. (Eph. 6:10-18.) Getting up and working and being an example changes things.

We can scream until we are blue in the face about the morals in this nation. The screaming isn’t working. 

We cannot make an impact unless we are what God has called us to be. We must be ready each moment for opportunities we receive. We must be ready to work. We must stop being afraid. 

This is what Christians need to be doing right now, no matter what happens this year. Now until Jesus comes back. It’s time to paint up for battle!

God's Side? Or America's Side?

Patriotism has been rooted in our nation since it began. Citizens of the U.S. from day one have had a great amount of pride in our nation.

People often try to merge ideas of American Patriotism, or  man-made principles with scripture. When you really think about it, some of these ideas don't actually jive with scripture at all.

Before I get into the heavy stuff, I want to clarify a few things. I am not saying that there is anything wrong with a healthy love for your country. Nor am I saying that there is necessarily a problem with saying you are proud to be an American. Nor am I saying that we should never be involved with politics in some way.

I want you to consider these next few questions with an open mind.

1. Are we quicker to think of ourselves as American citizens before being members of the Lord's body?

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession. As a result, you can show others the excellencies of Him who called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light." (1 Pet. 2:9.)

"And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever," (Daniel 2:44)

We were chosen by God to be a part of something greater than a worldly government or kingdom. We are a spiritual nation, and each one of us is spiritual royalty! The truth is, until Jesus returns, all nations will fall eventually. We aren't going to last forever. Our nation as well as others were formed by men. God Himself created the Church, His kingdom. This means His kingdom will endure forever! 

2. Are we quicker to defend the constitution and nation before the Bible and God?

"For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12.)

"See that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ." (Colossians 2:8.)

3. Do we obsess over trying to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is on our side in regard to politics?

How can we possibly gauge that? The truth is, the two biggest political parties hold beliefs that are not in line with biblical principles. The bible says nothing on political-economic issues, except on one issue. We are to pay taxes and be respectful to our governing authorities. This will be explained further on in the article.

Abraham Lincoln famously once said, "Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side. My concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right."

4. Do you spend more time bashing our enemies or political leaders than you do praying for them?

"First of all then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." (1 Timothy 2:2)

(This includes celebrities...and yes, even our President and Congress.)

5.  Do you spend most of your time debating politics, or telling others about the good news of Christ?

This is pretty self-explanatory. Why wouldn't our first thought be to evangelize?  American politics isn't the Good News. Actually, it is pretty much the opposite.

"And He said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation.'" (Mark 16:15)

6. Do we rely too much on the government to help the poor and needy? Or do we get our hands dirty to help these people? On the other hand, do we fight for less government involvement? As a result, do we do little to nothing to help the poor?

"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." (James 1:27.)

"Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."(Luke 12:33-34)

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,  I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’  Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:41-46)

The past few years, I have been rethinking a lot of things about politics and my role as a citizen of the United States. I am still avidly Pro-life, and stand for traditional marriage.  Those are things that God has been clear on. Where God stands, is where I stand. The rest are just opinions. Whether you agree, everything else pales in comparison to our duty as Christians. 

Our job as Christians is to be about God's business, plain and simple. Our first thought when we get up should be how we can serve God that day.

Here is what I know the bible says about politics:

When asked by the Pharisees whether it was right to pay taxes to Caesar, Jesus said, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and render to God the things that are God's." (Matt. 22:21)

Money came from the government. Therefore, the money goes to the government. We are to pay our taxes and to be obedient to the government (unless they tell us to do something against God's word).  (Romans 13:7.)

1 Peter 2: 13-15 says: "Be subject to the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people."

Romans 13:5 says: "Therefore one must be in subjection to the authorities, not because of possible punishment from God, but also for the sake of conscience."

God never gives us an exception to the rule. God means what He says.  In everything else we are to respect the government, and be good, law-abiding citizens. Also, if we have opportunity, we should try to influence the government peacefully and respectfully. 

 I want to serve God. I want to be what he needs me to be.  I want to read scripture in the way He intended me to, without the pollution of worldly ideas.

I love our nation, but in the end, my true citizenship is in heaven.