Christian Leaders Yesterday and Today
I find it interesting that many, possibly a majority of the Christians leaders of today espouse that our job as Christians is to be good guys and stay out of Politics.
From deep within my being I disagree with this philosophy, and I believe that scripture agrees with me. Look at the example of Paul and Silas in Acts 16: 16-40 ESV.
In this passage Paul became irritated with a spirit of divination who possessed a slave girl. This evil spirit, through this young girl, was using truth in an indignant way to ridicule them. Through the power of the Holy Spirit and in Jesus’s Name, Paul commanded the spirit to come out of the young girl, which it did. The result was that this girl, who had been a stream of income for the evil men who owned her as a fortuneteller, was now inoperative. The owners of the girl were angered. They took Paul and Silas before the Roman magistrates claiming that they had violated Roman customs. The present crowd joined in in attacking them.
The Roman magistrates agreed and had the clothing of Paul and Silas removed, then had them beaten severely with rods, thrown into prison and bound with stocks.
In the middle of the night as Paul and Silas were praying and praising God in song when a great earthquake shook the prison, loosed the stocks that bound them and opened the prison doors.
As a result of this the Jailer was devastated and about to commit suicide. Paul and Silas confronted him not to fall on his sword but instead led the jailer and his family to salvation through belief in Jesus Christ. The jailer washed the wounds of Paul and Silas who then baptized the Jailer and his family that very night. All of them were at the Jailer’s home rejoicing to know the Lord when word came from the Roman magistrates via the Police to let Paul and Silas go free.
The rest of the story is the political part that confirms in my mind that it is right and correct for Christian people to be in the face of politicians who are obviously wrong. The rest of the story is transcribed from the scripture.
[Acts 16: 35-40 of the NIV Bible. But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.” The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.]
I believe that if and when America falls into place as a third world nation it will be because the Christians leaders of the 20th and 21st centuries failed to sound the alarm. Paul and Silas would have sounded the alarm! They would have been in the face of politicians like our present President! When Jesus was here on planet earth as a man and God incarnate, He was in the face of politicians daily! Would He expect anything less from the Christian Leaders of America?
There are two reasons that I’m glad that I’m not the pastor of a church. 1st. It would take a tremendous amount of courage as a pastor to buck the political system of today. Courage I may have, but I don’t know if I have the where-with-all to go against the IRS rule of the Johnson Amendment. This Amendment is a perceived rule that through economic means (tax exempt status) separates morality from the people. The Johnson Amendment offers ‘immorality’ a leg up in society because it unintentionally attempts to keep pastors from preaching the truth about corrupt politics and politicians. 2nd. I tremble at the thought of being a pastor who failed to sound the alarm because of fear. Fear that I might lose my church, fear that I might lose my ability to provide for my family and fear that I might offend some of my parishioners who are way off base in their political thinking.
You know what? I believe that there are a tremendous number of Americans who shy away from Christianity because Christianity is perceived to be a weak mill-mouth-do-good organization. For them Jesus is perceived to be a weakling. However, NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH !
I believe if the truth were proclaimed, as it should be, there would be a tremendous awakening and many lost sinners would come to know the Lord. This would happen because of fear and respect for Almighty God and Jesus Christ. Typically the American citizen wants to do what is right and will die doing it. But, how will he know what is right if he isn’t told? And, what American citizen will come to church to hear about a limp-wrist weak leader?
Keep in mind that the 16th and 17th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution were most probably never lawfully ratified. These Amendments even sound unconstitutional. This being the case, why should anyone, particularly the Church, fear the taxman? Right is right, it doesn’t matter what the average IGMO says or thinks.
~Adverse Yaw
Wayne your right on. Our government is totally out of control and forcing us to live and pay under rules that they can exempt themselves from. It is totally wrong.
Thanks Doug!
I could not agree more. I refuse to go to a church where the pastor wants to serve me spiritual milk toast instead of spiritual steak. Paul Blair, pastor of Fairview Baptist Church in Edmond serves up spiritual steak on a regular basis. Bro. Paul sees himself as shepard of the church (as he should) and what shepard lets his sheep wonder headlong into disaster? That is why we drive over an hour to get there. He is not the only pastor to do so, Steve Kern at Olivet Baptist Church OKC, Dan Fisher at Trinity Baptist Church in Yukon are 2 more examples of Patriot Pastors. Pastors need to do their job and leave the results up to God (wheather or not they get fired, the church decreases in size or thrive).
Thank You Dan!
For some great reading on the subject, read Ken Ham’s “Already Gone”. After interviewing hundreds of young people who have left the church, the research shows that a big factor is they don’t see the relevence of the church. To much “Milk Toast”. To many “Bible Stories” without being taught the connection to everyday life.
Charles Finey a great preacher of the 19th century and leader in the second great awakening of America said,
” If there is a decay of conscience, the pulpit is responsible for it.
If the public press lacks moral discernment, the pulpit is responsible for it.
If the church is degenerate and worldly, the pulpit is responsible for it.
If the world loses it’s interest in Christianity, the pulpit is responsible for it.
If Satan rules in our halls of legislation, the pulpit is responsible for it.
If our politics becomes so corrupt that the very foundations of our government are ready to fall away, the pulpit is responsible for it.”
He also said, ” The church must take right ground in regard to politics.”
I couldn’t agree more! Wake up pastors! Danny Berkley
I wouldn’t change a thing Wayne. You have hit the nail on the head. A big part of the problem with our country is the weak-kneed pastors that fear men instead of Almighty God. That is why Danny and I take our family to Fairview Baptist Church to listen to Pastor Paul Blair. He is leading the way in this cultural war. God was the one who established government. Now… why would He do that and then tell us (Christians) to stay out of it?? Christian men should be leading the way. Pastors should be the undershepherds that are protecting and informing the sheep of the dangers of worldly thinking. When Israel had a Godly kind he lead the people toward God but when Israel had an evil king he lead the people into idolitry. Jeremiah 2:8 ,” The priest did not say,” Where is the Lord?” And those who handle the law did not know me. The rulers also transgressed against me (powerless preaching) “Those who handled the law did not know me” is referring to the priest which are the pastors of today. God help us when Christians stay out of politics.
Just keep standing Wayne. You are on the right track!!
Debbie
Thank You Debbie! Your encouragement is priceless.
Hi Wayne,
I agree with your statement. I think there are a lot of people around us that call themselves Christians but really don’t grasp what being a Christian is. They attend church to be entertained rather than attend humbly to worship and learn God’s word. As for our leaders being good guys, they are just like you and I and yearn to be accepted and liked. There is a Methodist pastor in town that believes that the Bible is not all true. Duh!
As for the Johnson amendment , if I understand it, the government grants relief from taxes to non profits (churches) and then will not allow them to take sides politically . They can encourage to be involved but can not take sides.
We as Christians are commanded to obey our leaders and the law of the land as long as it does not go against God’s word. I’m not sure what you mean when you say Jesus was in the face of politicians everyday. The only time I remember Christ showing anger was in the temple with the money changers.
Both pastors and us have a responsibility to sound an alarm-that of the saving grace from a risen Lord, Jesus Christ. Without this good news, we are all lost.
I struggle everyday with this administration but also think we (USA) have lost God’s favor. How can we have God’s favor when we allow over 50 million abortions, condone gay marriages , take God out of lives etc.
I also try to focus on the big picture, we are only passing thru this place until His return or Christ calls us home to eternity .
Jerry,
I used to think that the only time Jesus was involved in politics was when he overturned the money changers at the Temple, but when I realized that the politicians of His day were the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Scribes, the Sanhedrin, King Herod, and not to mention the Roman Government too. I now realized that Jesus lived in a very political climate and He was in the face of politicians almost every time that they met. Even John the Baptist was killed because he criticized the King for his adulterous behavior. And the Apostle Paul was involved in the politics too which ended up causing his death.
It is impossible to separate politics from God’s morality. This is why it is so important for our Pastors and Christian leaders to sound the alarm. If in American, the Pastors and Christian Church Elders were leaders more like Paul and Silas we would not be experiencing what we are today.
~awd