Politics and the Church – The Church v. the Angel of Light [Part 17]

During a resent presidential election one candidate called the opposition candidate supporters “deplorables”, and in addition, “irredeemable”.  This candidate also claims to be a Methodist.  So much for claims.  The definition of irredeemable is being beyond remedy…can never be fixed.  According to God, there is no one that is irredeemable. In the Book of Acts, Saul of Tarsus, persecuted, tortured, and murdered Christians.  However, one day on the road to Damascus he had an encounter with Jesus.  After that encounter, Saul dedicated his life to Jesus and became the Apostle Paul.  Once a murderer of Christians, Paul became the greatest evangelist that ever lived and wrote two thirds of the New Testament.  The candidate who treated opponents as “deplorable” and “irredeemable” was wrong.  It was an example of what some political candidates will say in search for power. Anyone can be redeemed (saved) even murderers once they have an encounter and turn their life over to Jesus.  This is a lesson that even some church leaders stand to learn.  The angel of light would not want this fact to get out.

As Christians we are ambassadors for Christ.  I was exposed to a story that will illustrate this.  There was once a young couple that wanted to be greeters in their community church.  They were not married and were living together, which is not Biblical.  The church pastor told them they would have to be married to be greeters.  The young couple just could not understand this.  They wanted to represent the church and yet live in sin.  Jesus’ reason for taking 12 men to be His disciples was to teach them…through His example and the events of life…how to live like Him and do what He did.  If you are a Christian, you are to adhere to the Word of God and not oppose it.  Otherwise, you are a hypocrite.  The Bible says, ” He who says he abides in Him (Jesus) ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”  [1 John 2:6].  Living within a set of standards within the Christian community is no different than anyone else living in an organized community.  The owner of a company wants the workers to represent the organization a certain way…to dress, speak, act appropriately, and represent the values of the company.  Christians are called to walk like Jesus.  We are his ambassadors on earth.  It should be disturbing to see people proclaiming to be Christians actively going against the Word of God.  Imagine how God feels?  It brings joy to the angel of light.

The Bible says, “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”  [2 Corinthians 5:20].  In the matter of identity politics, the Bible is clear.  God is against treating people differently.  The Bible says, “love your neighbor”, “love one another” and if we “show partiality” it is sin.  We are to love people as Jesus loved.  That is not always easy and if it was, we would not be called to do so. If you are to call yourself a Christian, you must represent God and participating in identity politics is contrary to the Word of God.  Love does not divide, it brings people together.  Unfortunately identity politics is the first step in the liberal platform.  The Bible warns, “Every kingdom divided against itself, and a house divided against a house falls.” [Luke 11:17].

Martin Luther King Jr. was an icon and hero to the liberals and to Americans of African descent.  In one of his greatest speeches, “I Have a Dream”, is a quote that really no one of either conservative or liberal persuasion can say is not a worthy goal…”I look to the day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”  It is based on Scripture.  Today there are close to one thousand streets in America named after Martin Luther King.  Most of these streets are in predominantly ‘minority’ neighborhoods that are ‘run’ by liberal politicians who garner 90% of the minority votes.  Yet the liberal platform survives by identity politics by dividing people on everything except the content of their character.  Hypocrisy?  MLK Jr showed love by pointing out the evil in men’s hearts.  In many ways he was more of a conservative than a liberal.

So we get down to a basic question in life…why do some people get away with doing bad things?  So, I’ve heard, that if we got punished immediately for our sins, we wouldn’t live past the age of 10…18 at max.  God is patient and gives you time to change and turn from sin.  God will give you time.  He desires a relationship with you, but that time is on His schedule.

When considering identity politics think about how it would fit into a ‘Love Test’.  Love is addressed in the New Testament and was written by Paul…“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” [1 Corinthians 13:4-7].  The Bible says Jesus is love.  In the above Scripture substitute ‘Jesus’ for ‘love’ and it holds up. Now substitute the ‘liberal platform’ in place of ‘love’, when it comes to identity politics…it fails completely.  When you divide it is not long suffering, or kind, it is envy, it parades itself, it is rude, and seeks its own.  But then you might want to substitute your name in the place of ‘love’ and see how you hold up.

Next week we will look at another ploy by the angel of light to cast people in the light of ever lasting victimization and blame.  If you are not to blame how can you be held accountable?  After all, you are nothing but a victim of the demands of life.  Some go through life ‘innocent’ because of the actions of others.

– Bob Munsey

Liberalism…”Rich people convincing poor people to vote for rich people by telling the poor people that the other rich people are the reason they’re poor.”