
Separation of Church and Hate
November 1, 2020
Just as the pandemic has exacerbated the problem of Christians being more shaped by online pundits than in-the-flesh pastors, it has also intensified political tribalism. With few places to converse other than our online communities, the levels of vitriol and contempt have risen to insufferable levels. —Eugene Park
The most troubling thing I see is that many Christians now seem more certain of their political opinions than they are of Christ and his kingdom.
Why do many Christians seem more at home in the “family” of their political tribe than in the family of God?
The World needs the Church to stand up, not just look to government.
We should vote and advocate for the least among us.
I do want to suggest that Christians ought to approach politics with radical humility, guarding against the brash certainty and overconfidence that leads to idolatry.
As the 2020 election nears, rather than following the world in putting our confidence in politics, let’s instead put our confidence in Christ. Rather than yelling loudly at each other with off putting certainty in our rightness and the other side’s hypocrisy , let’s instead heed Paul’s call
Ephesians 4.1-6
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
I am worried we are way more American than Christian!
John 18.33-36
33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”
35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”
36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
We are placed on this earth to advance God’s kingdom! The kingdom of God is a spiritual rule over the hearts and lives of those who willingly submit to God’s authority
Luke 17.20-21
20 Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, 21 nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
A candidate will on Nov 3rd, but the Church will win based on our actions, before, during, and after Nov 3rd.
John 17.13-19
13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by d the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
We cannot run from the tough issues of our day, but our hearts must remain fixed on the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit.
It is easy to get caught up in world that is not ultimately our home.
Ephesians 5.1-2
1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
1 Cor 9.19-23
19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
If we choose to alienate people that vote or believe different than us how can we expect to be a voice to a fallen world?
God has placed us as a church and you as a believer in the place we are for such a time as this!
Acts 17.26-28
26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
The Church was made for confusing divisive times, we are not called to add fuel to the fire.
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