If you haven’t seen it yet, I am sure you will shortly, a YouTube video catching Pastor Andy Stanley in an honest moment of preaching as he ostensibly tells his mega-church that if they attend a small church (he uses the number 200) with their teenager they are being “selfish” and shortsighted (my paraphrase). In fact, he maintains that if you do take them to a smaller church you are “dragging them to a church they will hate” and you don’t care about the next generation. Continue Reading
A 2016 Primary Parable
I was recently talking with a woman who was needing counsel concerning a significant relationship she was considering.
She claimed to be a solid Christian and she said this guy made the exact same profession of faith.
I said, “Tell me about him?”
She said, “Well, he’s been married 3 times and has had numerous mistresses.” Continue Reading
The Relationship between Prophets and Kings
Five Keys in making Politicians more accountable
“Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more! Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight?”
II Samuel 12:7-9a NKJV
It seems as if I have been to an innumerable amount of conferences, briefings, and meetings that attempt to interface the servants of the Lord with our civil servants. Assuming all hearts are genuine and sincere, this can be a useful dynamic. Politicians want to meet pastors in order to access and win their influence with people. Pastors want to meet politicians to express their concerns and thoughts with regards to public policy. It is a quid pro quo that has been happening for literally centuries. Whether it is a President, Governor, Senator, Representative, Mayor, or the County Council, there is a needed and appropriate relationship that should exist between the clergy and our civic leadership. I recognize the fact that our political leaders are not monarchs, just as I recognize that not all clergy can be labeled “prophets”. My point is simply that there is a relationship which should exist between these two jurisdictions. My ancilary point is that relationship has deteriorated which has become one of the reasons we find our culture in the predicaments it finds itself in.Continue Reading
Why We Keep Getting Poor Candidate Choices (Conclusion)
The proposition of these short Facebook posts is to challenge the thinking of Christians who have disconnected their voting choices with any sense of Biblical precept. I am certainly open to challenge as well as addition to any of the foundational precepts I have put forth. My only caveat is that it must be tied to the Scripture. Please do not suggest tactical strategy or instantly offer the, “We can’t give the election to THEM” retort. I want to hear a clear exegesis and exposition of what the Lord would expect of us as Christian citizens. It must be tied to precept because should you post it, know that I, as well as others, will evaluate it. This is not to cause division. It is to cause a Biblical fidelity and accountability to begin to take place.
The typical follow-up question would be, “In a two-party dominated system, what happens if both candidates are unacceptable or one is minimally more acceptable than the other?” (The lesser of two evils argument)
Great question.
The answer is best summed in the following videos that I highly recommend…
http://stepstopoliticalepiphany.com
Why We Keep Getting Poor Candidate Choices (Part 6)
This is the last point I wish to make concerning the activation of the Biblical filter in a Christian’s mind when it comes to cast a vote for any candidate of any political office. I want to review again several bullet point concepts that have been put on the table without lengthy comment so we can simply keep focus on the premise of these writings:
– There is no perfect candidate and I “get” that Jesus will never be on the ballot. That is a lazy, intellectual response to the seriousness of a Christian’s obligation to citizenship.
– The Scripture is clear that everything we do (including voting) is to be done to the “glory of God”. The Lord’s glory is involved in our citizenship.
– Government officials are considered to be “ministers of God” and therefore have expectations placed upon them with regards to character, fruit, and worldview.
– The Church (or a Pastor) may not TELL you how to vote, but it is indeed a responsibility to TRAIN you in selecting your rulers. That is a discipleship issue.