Post Election Thoughts For the Church
The elections are over and I for one am thankful. I wish those that won election or re-election the very best and my prayer is that each one will seek God's wisdom each day.
Some of the greatest days of my life were in the 80's. It seems that everyone was working hard and with pride to make America the greatest place in the world to live. I pray that those days return where we can all work together and bring unity to our great land.
I am deeply passionate about the direction our country is going and I plan on staying engaged in the process to make the United States of America a better place to live!
I do think that our country, no matter who won the election, is in a mess and confused about its priorities. It is going to take a lot of hard work from us to make it a better place to live and to raise our children. We need to be responsible citizens, working hard in our own lives and in our communities.
I loved this line from JFK in 1961:
No matter how bad we think our country has become, we as Christians should refuse to say "Look WHAT this world has come to!" Instead we must say
"Look WHO has come to the world!"
In saying that, I am very interested in the direction that the Church of Jesus Christ is heading. I think that the power of the church spreads into society and as someone has quoted: "As goes the Church, so goes the nation." It may used to have been like that but I think those days have been over for quite some time.
Many churches are scrambling to design ways to win the masses with a more social gospel rather than a spiritual gospel.
A social gospel emphasizes social reform and political action and deemphasizes the salvation of individual man through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is nothing at all wrong with being involved with social issues and social causes, however, the role of the the Christian church needs to focus on the souls of men, women, boys and girls everywhere! If we, the church, are reaching out and helping everyone without having a concern about where they will spend eternity, we are only putting a small band-aid on their pain.
At our church, United Wesleyan Church, we are thankful for all the programs we have to help those in need: Prison ministries, Soup Kitchen ministries, Shoe Box ministry for poor children world-wide and all kinds of other things that our good people do. But, we all know that without salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ after repenting of our sins, the lives of everyone are "but a vapor" and a miserable eternity awaits them.
Of course, as a result of many churches and ministers taking their eyes off of what is important to Christ, it is obvious that the Christian Church has become partners with the “world” instead of separating from it, thus making it weaker, and perhaps the society has suffered from it.
I am going to be very, very careful for the remainder of my ministry career to not mix the ways of the world with the plan of God. I am warned in the Word of God about this:
James 4:4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
Charles Spurgeon penned these words at a very important time in our world and it needs to be looked at again by the Church of Jesus Christ:
The Church of Jesus Christ is not a political party! We are not in this world to win elections. I recently read an article by a well known blogger that gave reasons why the Republicans didn't win the election. He also gave reasons what Republicans should change to win the next election. I thought it was interesting as I felt he had some great wisdom to help the Republican party. As I finished reading the article I thanked God that I am not in this world to help Republicans or Democrats win elections!
The last time I checked, the purpose of the church is not to win elections but to win souls.
Finally, here are some tidbits that I feel are worth sharing for the days ahead. If you are not a participant in the Church of Jesus Christ, these may not be much help to you, however, if you are interested in how you can better help the church to move forward in its mission, these words may be of benefit.
1. I hope that Christians realize finally that we are and have always been in the minority. We need to operate like we are in the minority. We have never been a group that is bursting at the seams. "Only a few ever find it"
2. Sin is still sin and repentance is still needed to make our souls ready for salvation through Jesus Christ.
7. As Christians, we must choose to live by the "Word View" instead of the "World View."
8. The Church of Jesus Christ needs to be more fervent in presenting the gospel to the masses in truth and love.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oA0RZE-JAHg
If the Church survived Rome, Nero, and the Flavian Dynasty, I'm pretty sure it can handle anything that is put in her path. The only thing capable of destroying the American Church is the influence of nominal Christians inside her walls.
Remember that you are loved by an Amazing God!
Some of the greatest days of my life were in the 80's. It seems that everyone was working hard and with pride to make America the greatest place in the world to live. I pray that those days return where we can all work together and bring unity to our great land.
I am deeply passionate about the direction our country is going and I plan on staying engaged in the process to make the United States of America a better place to live!
I do think that our country, no matter who won the election, is in a mess and confused about its priorities. It is going to take a lot of hard work from us to make it a better place to live and to raise our children. We need to be responsible citizens, working hard in our own lives and in our communities.
I loved this line from JFK in 1961:
No matter how bad we think our country has become, we as Christians should refuse to say "Look WHAT this world has come to!" Instead we must say
"Look WHO has come to the world!"
We need to be reminded from time to time that Jesus Christ, the Savior of mankind has come to the world and wants to work through all of us that will allow Him.
In saying that, I am very interested in the direction that the Church of Jesus Christ is heading. I think that the power of the church spreads into society and as someone has quoted: "As goes the Church, so goes the nation." It may used to have been like that but I think those days have been over for quite some time.
Many churches are scrambling to design ways to win the masses with a more social gospel rather than a spiritual gospel.
A social gospel emphasizes social reform and political action and deemphasizes the salvation of individual man through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is nothing at all wrong with being involved with social issues and social causes, however, the role of the the Christian church needs to focus on the souls of men, women, boys and girls everywhere! If we, the church, are reaching out and helping everyone without having a concern about where they will spend eternity, we are only putting a small band-aid on their pain.
At our church, United Wesleyan Church, we are thankful for all the programs we have to help those in need: Prison ministries, Soup Kitchen ministries, Shoe Box ministry for poor children world-wide and all kinds of other things that our good people do. But, we all know that without salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ after repenting of our sins, the lives of everyone are "but a vapor" and a miserable eternity awaits them.
Of course, as a result of many churches and ministers taking their eyes off of what is important to Christ, it is obvious that the Christian Church has become partners with the “world” instead of separating from it, thus making it weaker, and perhaps the society has suffered from it.
I am going to be very, very careful for the remainder of my ministry career to not mix the ways of the world with the plan of God. I am warned in the Word of God about this:
James 4:4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
Charles Spurgeon penned these words at a very important time in our world and it needs to be looked at again by the Church of Jesus Christ:
The Church of Jesus Christ is not a political party! We are not in this world to win elections. I recently read an article by a well known blogger that gave reasons why the Republicans didn't win the election. He also gave reasons what Republicans should change to win the next election. I thought it was interesting as I felt he had some great wisdom to help the Republican party. As I finished reading the article I thanked God that I am not in this world to help Republicans or Democrats win elections!
The last time I checked, the purpose of the church is not to win elections but to win souls.
Finally, here are some tidbits that I feel are worth sharing for the days ahead. If you are not a participant in the Church of Jesus Christ, these may not be much help to you, however, if you are interested in how you can better help the church to move forward in its mission, these words may be of benefit.
1. I hope that Christians realize finally that we are and have always been in the minority. We need to operate like we are in the minority. We have never been a group that is bursting at the seams. "Only a few ever find it"
2. Sin is still sin and repentance is still needed to make our souls ready for salvation through Jesus Christ.
3. There is still a heaven to gain and a hell to shun. Our soul needs to be connected and tied to Jesus Christ and not a political party
4. Every time we read an obituary in the newspaper, someone has met their creator and will spend eternity in hell or heaven. It is our duty to do our best to rescue souls from hell.
5. This world is a battleground, not a playground. Our battle is not against flesh and blood but against principalities and spiritual wickedness in high places.
6. The road to heaven is not cluttered with followers and is not crowded. There is still only one way to heaven according to the Word of God.
Matthew 7:13-14 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it."
7. As Christians, we must choose to live by the "Word View" instead of the "World View."
9. Our God is not DEAD, He is fully alive!!!!! Can you say AMEN? Click on the video link for more excitement from the NEWSBOYS!
Remember that you are loved by an Amazing God!
Christ didn't lose the election. (Of course, He wasn't on the ballot!) Christianity didn't, either.
ReplyDeleteBeing too entangled with a political party is being entangled with the world. Christ didn't tell the disciples to change the world politically, but to help bring about changes in men's hearts.