CHRISTIAN POLITICS: CULTURE OR CHRIST?. . . While my Christianity does indeed grant to me the right to protest the policies and even to question as well as to oppose the personal religious preferences of presidents and others, especially when those policies and religious preferences are in diametric opposition to the principles of our Christ, what my Christianity does not permit me to do is to attack the person of the presidency and of others who are in position of authority nor to bring ridicule upon the offices they hold solely in defense or support of my culture, particularly my racial identity! As Christians, we are first and foremost, ambassadors of Christ. Our loyalty therefore should be to Christ and any position we take must first and foremost reflect that of our Christ and not that of our culture or of any political party. The Christian family is indeed a unique family; and although it is made up of diverse classes of people, that diversity must give way to the oneness which is in Christ. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:27) Now this does not mean that ones actual racial identity is lost but what it does mean is that ones racial identity or any other identity should not be the determining factor in our responses to those things which we encounter in life. We are representatives of Christ and of his kingdom! We are in this world but not of this world. Our actual citizenship is in another world. When we therefore attack the person who are holding these offices, we are either guilty of this kind of misrepresentation or we are guilty of giving the appearance that we are guilty of this, both of which can very definitely cast an ugly light upon our Christian witness. We are to pray for our leaders who are in authority whether we like them or not and we ought to be the leaders in showing the utmost respect for official authority and the offices of that authority. As evil a man as the Roman Emperor Nero was before whom Paul the apostle stood and whom it is purported to have beheaded him, Paul writes to his young son Timothy saying: I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; (1 Timothy 2:1-3) Now the reason why we are called upon to pray for all who are in authority is because of the triumphant declaration of our Christ following his resurrection from the grave. ALL POWER [AUTHORITY] is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (Matthew 28:18). Because then God has given to Jesus complete lordship over all power and authority being exercised in the Earth, we must therefore realize that even the powers which are exercised by governments and their presidents are not inherent in that government nor in the presidents but instead are delegated to them by God. An example of this can be seen in the opening record of Nebuchadnezzars conquest of Babylon recorded in Daniel 1:1-2: Verse one says that, Nebuchadnezzar, in full military might CAME and besieged Judah. Verse 2 however says that THE LORD GAVE Judah into his hand. As Mary has said in her Magnificat prayer, He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. (Luke 1:52) Beloved, as Christians, we can certainly oppose presidential policies and even their religious preferences; and not just presidents either but all and any who are in positions of authority. We cannot however, do so in ways that violate not only who we are as children of God but violate the very word of God itself. I urge you to read, Romans 13:1-7 for it tells us clearly and concisely how we as Christians ought to relate to our government and its chosen leaders. That is of course with the utmost respect. We are ambassadors who are called upon to represent first and foremost our Christ; not our culture nor our political persuasions but our Christ. . .and Christ is love! Be blessed!
Posted on: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 18:36:07 +0000
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