Pastor Lonnie Phillips
How does a follower of Jesus Christ stay engaged in the affairs of government without becoming overly critical or judgmental where those in politics are viewed as monsters and incapable of receiving God's grace and mercy? We (Americans) have not only become a very divided nation but a very mean spirited people especially when it comes to those that don't hold to our ideology.
When President Obama was President he was vilified and many sarcastic remarks were made about him and his family. When President Trump became President the anger and hatred toward him and his family has only increased. Neither one of these men nor their families are outside the reach of God's love, grace and mercy.
The world system is not a godly system. It is a system that is under the dominion of Satan. A heart that is bitter and sees any soul as incapable of God's grace is a heart that is not under Christ's Lordship. Satan sows hatred toward people and he is the producer of dehumanizing others.
To be a follower of Jesus Christ and engage in political conversations is to be called to a higher standard of how we communicate and how we disagree. I find it interesting that the Apostle Paul who lived during the day of Nero, never mentioned him by name as he was being led by the Holy Spirit to write the epistles. He even went so far as to command believers to submit to the governing authorities and pray for the leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2 and Romans 13:1-2).
I am not teaching that believers should not stand for and speak the truth but it is how we are standing and speaking truth that matters most to Christ. To confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is to speak or write being under the influence and direction of the Holy Spirit.
A passage of Scripture which has been my meditation for the past month is James 1:19-20, "but everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God."
How quick are the people of God in waiting upon the Lord and His word and truly listening to the Father's heart?
Are we being quick to give our opinions and make comments or slow, truly waiting on guidance and direction from the Spirit of Truth?
And does anger rise up quickly or slowly within us?
How does a follower of Jesus Christ stay engaged in the affairs of government without becoming overly critical or judgmental where those in politics are viewed as monsters and incapable of receiving God's grace and mercy? We (Americans) have not only become a very divided nation but a very mean spirited people especially when it comes to those that don't hold to our ideology.
When President Obama was President he was vilified and many sarcastic remarks were made about him and his family. When President Trump became President the anger and hatred toward him and his family has only increased. Neither one of these men nor their families are outside the reach of God's love, grace and mercy.
The world system is not a godly system. It is a system that is under the dominion of Satan. A heart that is bitter and sees any soul as incapable of God's grace is a heart that is not under Christ's Lordship. Satan sows hatred toward people and he is the producer of dehumanizing others.
To be a follower of Jesus Christ and engage in political conversations is to be called to a higher standard of how we communicate and how we disagree. I find it interesting that the Apostle Paul who lived during the day of Nero, never mentioned him by name as he was being led by the Holy Spirit to write the epistles. He even went so far as to command believers to submit to the governing authorities and pray for the leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2 and Romans 13:1-2).
I am not teaching that believers should not stand for and speak the truth but it is how we are standing and speaking truth that matters most to Christ. To confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is to speak or write being under the influence and direction of the Holy Spirit.
A passage of Scripture which has been my meditation for the past month is James 1:19-20, "but everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God."
How quick are the people of God in waiting upon the Lord and His word and truly listening to the Father's heart?
Are we being quick to give our opinions and make comments or slow, truly waiting on guidance and direction from the Spirit of Truth?
And does anger rise up quickly or slowly within us?
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