Christians in a democracy
Perhaps nowhere else in the world are there as many freedoms as in America. Sadly however that freedom I believe has in many ways been detrimental to the purity of Christianity.
Too many Christians in America mix their faith with politics. Which is their right in a free and democratic country like America. However some one once said,
“Mixing politics and religion is like mixing water with gasoline. The gasoline is unusable and the water is undrinkable. Not only that, the mixture is flammable and destructive.”
America offers far more freedoms to the individual that the Roman Empire offered to the disciples of Christ or Jesus himself. The disciples did not have a vote or the right demonstrate.
To demonstrate against the ruling authority of their day was to court death. Yet these men with out demanding “their rights” or speaking out against any group they disagreed with changed the world.
Billy Graham said of those disciples of Christ,
“The men who followed Him (Christ), were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same.”Billy Graham.
Think about it the emperor Nero was ruling. Nero persecuted Christians severely. He was the man who put the Apostle Paul and Peter to death along with many other Christian believers.
Yet the Apostle Paul could say,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”Romans 12:18.
He also said,
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” Romans 13:1,2.
Christians in America need to look closely at the teachings of the scriptures and what Jesus said before mixing their faith with their politics.
Jesus said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12.
Think about it this way. Are the politicians you support saying and doing what you would want to happen to you?
Are they espousing freedom for all even those people you disagree with?
Are they really espousing Christian values. For example politicians get excellent healthcare benefits and good wages in their job. Are they espousing that all employers grant to their workers equally, good healthcare, and good living wages? Are they willing to pass legislation that would ensure universal healthcare and fair wages for all? Are they passing legislation that will truly help the poor and less fortunate of our society?
James the half brother of Jesus wrote,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.” James 2:14-18.
Who better to help those in need than a politician who has the power and wealth of a government behind them.
Jesus when asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40
Jesus also said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Matthew 5:43-45.
That says it all Love God, your neighbour, your enemy and pray for your persecutors. That to me means you cannot be against anyone.
You must be for God and for all Christ stands for if you truly are a Christian. That includes freedoms for all, even those we disagree with.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22,23.
If you are a Christian, are people seeing these fruits in the life of the politicians you support? Are they seeing it in your life.
To the Romans Paul said,
“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” Romans 14:19.
Jesus said,
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9.
The apostle Peter wrote
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Dear friends,
I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.’ 1 Peter 2:9-12.
The writer of Hebrews make it clear what a Christian is to do,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.
Now I have used America as an example because it’s what I am familiar with. However all Christians everywhere need to consider what their lifestyle is telling others.
Christians everywhere especially in western democracies need to be evaluating their lives and lifestyle and saying “Am I truly Living a life Jesus would be proud of?”
Francis of Assisi wrote,
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” Francis of Assisi.
What is your sermon telling people?
Please think about it.
Perhaps nowhere else in the world are there as many freedoms as in America. Sadly however that freedom I believe has in many ways been detrimental to the purity of Christianity.
Too many Christians in America mix their faith with politics. Which is their right in a free and democratic country like America. However some one once said,
“Mixing politics and religion is like mixing water with gasoline. The gasoline is unusable and the water is undrinkable. Not only that, the mixture is flammable and destructive.”
America offers far more freedoms to the individual that the Roman Empire offered to the disciples of Christ or Jesus himself. The disciples did not have a vote or the right demonstrate.
To demonstrate against the ruling authority of their day was to court death. Yet these men with out demanding “their rights” or speaking out against any group they disagreed with changed the world.
Billy Graham said of those disciples of Christ,
“The men who followed Him (Christ), were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same.”Billy Graham.
Think about it the emperor Nero was ruling. Nero persecuted Christians severely. He was the man who put the Apostle Paul and Peter to death along with many other Christian believers.
Yet the Apostle Paul could say,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”Romans 12:18.
He also said,
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” Romans 13:1,2.
Christians in America need to look closely at the teachings of the scriptures and what Jesus said before mixing their faith with their politics.
Jesus said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12.
Think about it this way. Are the politicians you support saying and doing what you would want to happen to you?
Are they espousing freedom for all even those people you disagree with?
Are they really espousing Christian values. For example politicians get excellent healthcare benefits and good wages in their job. Are they espousing that all employers grant to their workers equally, good healthcare, and good living wages? Are they willing to pass legislation that would ensure universal healthcare and fair wages for all? Are they passing legislation that will truly help the poor and less fortunate of our society?
James the half brother of Jesus wrote,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.” James 2:14-18.
Who better to help those in need than a politician who has the power and wealth of a government behind them.
Jesus when asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40
Jesus also said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Matthew 5:43-45.
That says it all Love God, your neighbour, your enemy and pray for your persecutors. That to me means you cannot be against anyone.
You must be for God and for all Christ stands for if you truly are a Christian. That includes freedoms for all, even those we disagree with.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22,23.
If you are a Christian, are people seeing these fruits in the life of the politicians you support? Are they seeing it in your life.
To the Romans Paul said,
“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” Romans 14:19.
Jesus said,
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9.
The apostle Peter wrote
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Dear friends,
I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.’ 1 Peter 2:9-12.
The writer of Hebrews make it clear what a Christian is to do,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.
Now I have used America as an example because it’s what I am familiar with. However all Christians everywhere need to consider what their lifestyle is telling others.
Christians everywhere especially in western democracies need to be evaluating their lives and lifestyle and saying “Am I truly Living a life Jesus would be proud of?”
Francis of Assisi wrote,
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” Francis of Assisi.
What is your sermon telling people?
Please think about it.
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