An excellent editorial written by Dr. Orrel Steinkamp
a few quotes…
There is a new virus going around. Its called Christian political war gaming.
Once the virus strikes it becomes a near obsession. I know a number of people who don’t get enough sleep because they are at their computers doing political war games. Once they lived healthy Christian lives. Their passion was the Gospel of saving individual sinners. Now they rarely have the time or energy for their former passion. Their affections have been alienated. They need a Gospel intervention.
Former websites that defended the Gospel of salvation now are mostly devoted to restoring an illusive American past and proving our present president is a stealth Muslim attempting to make America a Muslim caliphate. Joseph Farah, World Net Daily Christian conspiracy expert, is sure Obama has specific plans for Christian concentration camps.
Even if all this is true, why should this divert us from our mandate of preaching the Gospel to every creature? Why should we be attempting to infiltrate and dominate every political entity before the time of God’s vengeance?…..
How must we look to the persecuted church? Are we by example suggesting they become political terrorists for the Kingdom of God and unnecessary martyrs?
Janet Porter, in her June 8, 2010 WorldNetDaily column, suggested that some of us were like the pious Germans who held high their hymnbooks so they wouldn’t see the cattle cars on their way to exterminate Jews. (A classic false dichotomy.) What could they have done? Lay themselves on the tracks? The German Christians were culpable, not because of their hymn singing but because they made common cause with the goals and destiny of the Third Reich, as did the Vatican in Rome.
Jesus, whom we say is our example, shunned (not a strong enough word) political pursuits in the name of the Kingdom of God. Recall the story of when Jesus was arrested in the garden of Gethsemane. Peter rushed to action and struck off the soldiers ear. Jesus was so perturbed that He instantly restored it and said to Peter “put your sword in its sheath” (John 18:11).
The Jerusalem that Jesus entered was a political hotbed. The people were involved in every possible action to drive out the pagan Romans from the holy city. When Jesus entered on Palm Sunday He purposefully fulfilled an Old Testament prophesy of the coming messiah by riding into the city on a young donkey.
“Hosanna in the Highest” the crowd cried. Hosanna means “save us now.” They treated Him as political messiah who would use his supernatural powers to drive out the Romans and RESTORE JERUSALEM. Did they look for a suffering savior who would bear the sins of the people? Hardly! By the time Jesus went to the cross they were all long gone….
I hope you take a few minutes and read the entire editorial:
Restoring the Gospel of Salvation: Does not the salvation of sinners trump national restoration?
"If the professed convert distinctly and deliberately declares that he knows the Lord's will but does not mean to attend to it, you are not to pamper his presumption, but it is your duty to assure him that he is not saved. Do not suppose that the Gospel is magnified or God glorified by going to the worldlings and telling them that they may be saved at this moment by simply accepting Christ as their Savior, while they are wedded to their idols, and their hearts are still in love with sin. If I do so I tell them a lie, pervert the Gospel , insult Christ, and turn the grace of God into lasciviousness."
If God blessed us with a nation that gave us liberty and justice and equality, which this nation did at one time, then it is our responsiblity to maintain it, the best we can. By your argument (the way I read it- correct me if I’m wrong) christians should not get involved in politics and voting and such because its not apart of the great commission. I’m all about maintaining the gospel to the lost, that’s our #1 priority, but something must be said in defense of a nation which abolished slavery, defeated a facist nation (germany) and stopped Japan from invading us. For all the bad we’ve done, there has been much good that has come out of this nation PJ, and one of those good things is FREEDOM. Maybe I’m just feeling the upcoming July 4th, patriotic emotion or maybe it’s that John Wayne movie I watched, but the fact remains, America is still here, she hasn’t fallen -yet. I know it might all end tomorrow, but to suggest that christians should not be apart of its system is kinda like saying it’s okay to work in a bakery but don’t eat the cake. Just seems a bit much to me, but then so did Milli Vanilli.
Sounds like it
Powerful. Absolutely powerful.
Amen Job.
(Good to hear from you brother)
I used to feel just like C.L. Gregory, and I understand it. But the lord has instructed me and changed me and has turned me around. I read up on the anabaptists and why/how they were hunted down and tortured by RC and “reformers” alike; and how they made converts like crazy by their radical witness in following the teachings of Jesus. I looked at the reasonings of “separatists” and of “non-resisters” and the Lord changed my understanding and my vision. I suggest folks read up on that kind of stuff and ask to be led in Truth; not assuming anything.
This article, and non-resistance, does not necessarily teach that we should not vote nor participate in our government. It teaches that we are not to become power-brokers in the systems of this world, of which ALL are fallen, nor desire or pursue wordly means of influence in those systems. And it has a radical perspective on the subject of war. It affirms and submits to God’s sovereignty in governments.
Yes, our nation has done much much “good” in the world and that is God’s blessing. But it is not the “best” of God’s kingdom. “Good” can be the enemy of God’s best.
Vicki, those are wise words sister–and spot-on.
“Good can be the enemy of God’s best” PJ…
PJ, was America good for fighting the nazi’s in WWII? Was America good in defending her shores against Japan? Was America good when they invaded the philippines who were being slaughtered by a tyranical dictator? I find it rather interesting the comments from believers who take for granted our liberty and freedoms simply because they carry a Bible and can quote scripture. I don’t mean to sound negative, but the more I read these comments, the more I am convinced that many would not lift a finger if they saw evil being done in the name of tyranny as many did in WWII. Let me remind you all, had we not gotten in the war, you’d be speaking German right now and goosestepping to Mein Fuhrer’s national anthem. We have an obligation to defend those who are weak and are under oppressiveness. 6 million jews died, thousands of christian, DEFENDING many of those jews were killed as well, many of them took up arms to defend YOUR concept of non violence. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was such a man. A German christian preacher, took on the nazi’s, fought and killed many, but was a powerful preacher of the gospel. His reward? He was caught by the SS and hanged, but died a marytr. His last words were, “This is the end – for me the beginning of life.” Think about it.
Chris, your comment could be said to be a “case in point”, in confirming as fact that patriotic-political Christianity (which by the way, there is no such thing) trumps the gospel in America.
And yet you still didn’t answer the question I posed. Again, did you agree or not with America fighting off the third reich? This is an important question, because your answer determines your values – including christian values.
What do your comments and question have to do with “the salvation of sinners trumping national restoration?” The truth is, nothing.
You mention determining my Christian values based NOT on my biblical beliefs or my abiding in Christ, but on the answer to a question concerning America and WW2. Do you not realize the wrongness of this—the totally unbiblical plumbline and/or standard you are using by which to judge?
My suggestion is you need to get back into God’s Word Chris. And learn what constitutes real Christian “values”.
Christian values are found in the teachings of Jesus;
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
“The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (mark12)
When we respond or react as Jesus did to situations (He is our example) then we are living out biblical Christian values in front of the world.
its as simple as that….