HE THAT HATH AN EAR…
Rev.3: 6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
God has once again spoken loud and clear. Not because of who won the election, but because of who was running. Many people will claim that God is judging America through this election, but in reality God is calling His people to come out from among them. I recognize that many believers chose this election to withdraw and come out from among them, but I pray many more will fast and pray to hear the Spirit’s leading to do the same. It must break God’s heart as He watched the evangelical church leave following His Son and dance to the Pied Pipers of Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck, and all the rest. But now it is time to repent.
America is one nation among many. No more and no less. Yes there are comparatively more evil nations in their policies and their behavior, but please understand that America is a fallen pluralistic construct as well. Many are awakening to the fact that America is not divinely favored, and that songs like “God Bless America” and the like are religious sentimentality. God is not pluralistic and He does not gather all religions together as part of His family. Jesus is the only Redeemer, and to Him alone must we answer. It should be all too obvious that attempting to pledge allegiance to Christ and at the same time pledge allegiance to America is a fool’s errand and at its core spiritual adultery.
Please face this reality: There is no political answer for the dire needs of the church and this fallen culture. We have chased after false hopes and dreams and have been rewarded for our rebellion. Millions of believers will continue to murmur and complain and they will refuse to fast and pray and open their hearts to God’s voice. But there is now a chance for many, many believers to seek God’s face and begin a fresh journey with Christ. If this election has not pricked your conscience than it is doubtful you will ever look inward but you will continue to look to the hand of man rather than to the Son of God.
The name calling, the pejoratives, the caustic rhetoric, and all the fallen voices of hatred must cease for all believers who wish to be like Jesus. If you wish to be like Limbaugh or Beck or the politicians then that path is still wide open. But if you desire to be like Christ the path is very narrow. You cannot serve two masters, and if Christ is your Master than you have no choice. This life of faith is not multiple choice. This is a labor of love which begins and ends with Christ. It will be hard for some to leave what they have known and practiced, but that journey soon becomes a breath of fresh spiritual air.
After I was born again in 1975 I still had some outstanding court cases to attend. Yes, I was a very bad person. But when I went to my very last court appearance, a handful of my former friends were there to greet me. Afterwards I was invited to one of their apartments. I sat there as they drank and smoked pot. I looked completely different. No longer my huge afro hair; no longer my studded dog collar; no longer my roach clip necklace; no longer my platform boots. They were somewhat curious about my appearance, and most of them believed it was a ruse to gain favor in the court. It was not.
I looked around the room and I told them that if I had brought a handful of pills or some white powder with me, and if I told them it was good stuff, they would take it based solely upon my word. But now, I said, I am telling you that Jesus is real and that He alone can change your life and set you free, but you will not believe me. I asked them what could I say to make you see who Jesus is? They looked at me with eyes wide open. None of them believed that day but soon after one of them became a believer. Four years later he was killed in a motorcycle accident but he died serving Christ.
And now I ask you. What can I say to make you see just how wrong it is to love a nation? What experience can I share to open your eyes to the fallenness of this entire political system? What will it take for you to commit to a serious personal investigation into the New Testament once again? Are you satisfied with remaining where you are, or do you even believe there is much more in Christ that is available to you? Do you thirst for something far greater than just a weekly pilgrimage to a building? Does your heart yearn to behold the cross and the empty tomb with eyes unclouded by the things of this world?
The opportunity has always been there, but now we can see it with stark relief against system which openly denied the will of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Not because of the issues, but because the foundation of the system has always been about the power of man and not the power of God. And in a misguided attempt to mesh the two, the church has lost her way and now wanders in the wilderness of fallen governmental systems and the continuing wreckage of the political landscape. How could we ever have accepted the hatred and unholy attitudes without compromising God’s Word? How could we have embraced and on some level enjoyed the carnal verbiage leveled at lost sinners unless we first set aside the gospel?
Today I hear the voice of Elijah on Mt. Carmel saying if God be God serve Him. But if Baal be god than serve him. How long will you stand between two opinions? Jesus cannot be Lord over doctrinal affairs but take a back seat to the affairs of this life.
Col.1: 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Matt.10: 32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Deceived men tried to convince themselves that the issue of same sex marriage trumped the issue of the Person of Christ and His gospel. Jesus must have all the preeminence in our lives and in the life of the church. There can be no debate and no compromise on this issue. It is the cornerstone of our faith and the foundation of Christ’s church. Who do you say that I am? That must always be our banner. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, not the issues of the day. We have been sold a bill of goods and thinking we are serving God by our efforts to change the moral structure of a fallen culture we have only deceived ourselves. And while the kingdom of the lost battles over political territory and power, we desired to join in. And instead of changing a culture we have been changed by the culture.
And now here we are. Are you going to shuffle off the grave clothes of this present world and walk in the resurrection power of Christ, or will you regain your political strength to fight another worthless battle than can never be won except through the cross? Oh I beg you, my brethren, do not acquiesce to the authority of a nobody like me. But seek the face of the Risen Christ with all your heart, and with an unusual vulnerability open your own heart to anything and everything the Spirit may reveal to you. And walking in His wisdom and His power, begin a walk on a path which seems fanatical and unorthodox. Be willing to be criticized, and receive it with forgiveness and humility.
But I warn you. The moment you take that first step away from nationalism and politics, your eyes will begin to see something very disarming. You will see just how far you are from being like Jesus, and that will remove any temptation to condemn those brothers and sisters among whom you just fellowshipped. Yes, you and I have a long, long way to go, but I cannot keep the treasure I have found to myself.
Matt.13: 45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
He that hath an ear to hear…
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5 comments:
In the past 4 years the political hyperbole from my "Christian" friends (i.e. "institutional church friends")has been most disturbing. Starting with the whole "Christian Nation" nonsense to President Obama being the precursor to the Antichrist, I had to step out and decide that I had no dog in this hunt.
It was relatively amusing as I would read the postings of these people, that the end of life as we know it would occur if Obama continued in office or we would face the judgement of God for not voting in a cult leader. I couldn't help but think back on the end time teaching (that we all agreed on) where the United States is not mentioned in scripture so it must diminish as a world power. I would start to wonder if this is true, why is the "Church" fighting so hard against the will of God in this matter? The same line of thought occurs to me about Israel. If Israel truly has a future as proclaimed by many teachers, why all the hand wringing? Is it not obvious in recent history that they can take care of themselves?
As for fasting and praying, I don't think I heard one call for this either. And I believe it was not done because the individual would have to die to themselves, their idolatry and their lusts to be conformed to the plan that God has for the nation. I do not know anyone who is willing to do that and I struggle with my own selfishness in the matter. But I know He will deal with me in this and I will be better for it.
In closing, the sky was not laying on the ground today, the sun came up in my neighborhood and Christ is still King in my life. I couldn't ask for more and my prayer is that all of the judgment proclaimed by the leaders of the institutional church for the outcome of this election, be placed on them first in order that the Body be purified and we return to what Christ called us to be.
"Many people will claim that God is judging America through this election, but in reality God is calling His people to come out from among them."
Amen ! Politics are simply NOT the way: Jesus said He is. I believe Jesus.
Christians' alliance with political factionalists started with a flawed proposition: that God will only bless nations whose leaders are godly.
In a democracy, it naturally follows then WE can: and SHOULD: do the works that leverage God's blessing. The political faction was happy to paint its candidates "godly" (it washed off easily after the election) on the superficial issues (not heart-principles) the Church cared about: gay marriage, abortion, etc.: to lock-in Christians' votes.
The factionalists didn't even bother to whitewash their candidates this time: there's not enough paint to make men rooted in the teachings of Joseph Smith and Ayn Rand look like anything but what they are, would-be leaders in the spirit of antiChrist.
Nor did the factionalists' candidates NEED to be whitewashed. Most Christians don't notice the difference any more...or even look for it.
"He that hath and ear..." AMEN !!! "Come out from among them..." AMEN !!
In Jesus, Steve
"If Israel truly has a future as proclaimed by many teachers, why all the hand wringing?"
And that is a very good point. I have always maintained that what God has prophesied will come to pass. But the church seems to think we can help it, just like our charismatic friends who say help us bring Jesus back. It begins misguided by quickly esculates into idolatry and even violence. Sad.
Good insights as always, Steve.
I wonder what the extreme conservative christians would be doing to further the Gospel if there would have been a Romney win.
I can't understand why christian leaders called on christian voters to change times and seasons when God already has his Plan in place. Were they trying to interfere? And what would they accomplish if their 'man' was crowned?
The sins of our fathers have no bearing on our own sins. We can't blame our sins on our fathers, or our neighbors, or the guy or girl down the street for having an abortion or living in an ungodly fashion. Enacting laws to force people not to engage in unbiblical behaviors isn't going to change their hearts.
We are all living in times as in the days of Noah, and that includes many many sins. Hearts have turned cold, pets are children now, couples are remarried twice and thrice, porn is rampant, child rape and molestation by sports coach idols, the death penalty exists, arrogance, lying, and billions of dollars used to buy presidential candidates. Greed, extreme pride, war-lust, dominance, are right among us. If God had wanted to send his wrath, He could have done it years ago. The wheat with the tares. If He had wanted to remove the tares, how would those tares hear about His Son's sacrifice for their redemption? Do these church leaders want God to strike down sinners like Sodom and Ghomorrah?
And they don't think they might be struck down either (if in their hearts they rejoice in watching others be struck down)?
Thank the Lord for his enduring mercy. The church hasn't shown mercy at all, but has practically called itself God, judging others, judging voters, judging those to damnation if they don't do what the church wants.
The church in the US has been hijacked. And this morning, it won't repent, but rather, dig in it's heels, scheming and plotting it's next move to find a 'man' it can appoint in the seat of power.
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