It’s Not Just Politics. A Word of Warning to Christians.
October 10th, 2008 by Carl Thomas.I sometimes wonder what happens to Christians around election times. I support democracy in America. But more importantly, I am first a subject in a holy kingdom. The rules of that kin
gdom supersede the rules of this kingdom. In that kingdom, gossip, slander and lies are against the rules. So is hatred, idolatry and fear mongering. Kris Valleton recently called fear mongering the spirit of terrorism.
So election times come around and I am reminded of the words of Paul when he said that unbelievers don’t act the way some Christians are acting. The willful ignorance, half truths, and arguing by people who claim to have membership in the Kingdom of Heaven is a fearful thing.
I hate to get scriptural but the bible says
Matthew 12:36-37 ListenI tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Yikes!
Let me make it plain. If you are a Christian you can not slander people. You can disagree with someone’s record. You can disagree with their qualifications and their platform. You are not allowed to demonize people because they have a D or a R after their name. That is sin.
If you are slandering a person, you need to repent. If you are a minsiter of the Gospel and you have done it publically, you need to repent publically. You have been modeling and condoning sin. It is not just politics. We are in this world but not of it. Unless you aren’t.
Possibly Related Posts
- Turning Insult to Opportunity - with 0 comments
- A Note to Randy - with 1 comments
- What Christians Can Learn From Doctors - with 0 comments
ouch! i think I should stop calling mcCain McAngry. I repent.
Reply
October 11th, 2008 at 9:56 am
I am there with you. I am amazed how many people will read this and still feel justified in their sin.
Reply
It isn’t hard to see how people will be able to read this and still believe themselves justified – Lewis called the phenomena “Christianity and water”, where we try to mix our personal beliefs into what our faith is supposed to be. What we get is neither a clean faith nor a clear break in our thinking.
Reply
The bible says to pray for our “leaders” of which there is potential for someone that is not our favorite to be elected. Pray for ‘em both. Keep your nose clean is my motto!
Of course I always pray for deceit to be uncovered, thats a good one too…
Reply
Agree with you Carl.
It grieves me to hear and read “the willful ignorance, half truths, and arguing by people who claim to have membership in the Kingdom of Heaven”. I’ve sensed an evil spirit behind some of it. I understand and agree with people being passionate and standing aggressvely for righteousness, but God is not pleased with slander, character assasination,and fear mongering.
Reply
If you stop to think about it for more than a few minutes, you realize that most of the garbage being put out by putative Christians – and some real ones as well – is first of all being brewed by Satan and sprayed by people who are not being self-controlled and alert, as we are called to be.
The second – but nearly simultaneous – realization then has to be that it is being driven by fear. People, either God is in control, and our choice of the next president is a part of that plan – which means we need to be trusting Him to work out His will through this process – or He is not in control. In either case, how will fear and hate-mongering help?
Me? I trust God – regardless of who wins, the title President is trumped by that of King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. When you see it on a blog, say something on that blog – as lovingly as possible – and be prepared for the blasts that may come your way, complete with music from my least favorite band, Twisted Scripture
We are responsible for the effort – not the outcome.
Reply
October 14th, 2008 at 7:24 am
Rick, I have, and have had the subsequent blasting.
::lol::
Reply
Oops. My bad. I sincerely repent for bad mouthing two unnamed presidential candidates. While I don’t agree with them, I’ve had no right to sin.
Thanks for being the voice of reason, Carl. God speaks through you to me all the freaking time.
Reply
I think that sometimes that we forget that God is in control and we just want to start judging other people. I feel that whoever becomes are next president is because God has allowed it, and us christians still need to pray for this nation each and every day and for our leaders D or R. My vote is JESUS!
Reply
Word.
I’m so done with the slander/half-truths on both sides and it seems if you are a conservative republican and refuse to speak negatively or repeat rumors about the other side, you must either be A) Falling into sin or B) Lost your salvation. It’s really frustrating.
Reply
Carl,
I’m just reading this, the day after the historic 2008 election, but this post echoes so many of my own private sentiments about this I’ve observed in this election. Too many black Christians let race determine who they vote for regardless of policies instead of lettng their faith in Jesus decide for them. Too many white Christians assumed that God wanted Palin in office because of her background. F
inally, Christians of both races in this country are guilty of just what you said — I got so many emails puttind down Sarah Palin or Barack Obama that it was beyond annoying. Thanks for reminding us that we are supposd to be the “salt and light” of this world and telling it like it is!
Reply
Carl,
I’m just reading this, the day after the historic 2008 election, but this post echoes so many of my own private sentiments about what I’ve observed in this election. Too many black Christians let race determine who they vote for regardless of policies instead of lettng their faith in Jesus decide for them. Too many white Christians assumed that God wanted Palin in office because of her background. F
inally, Christians of both races in this country are guilty of just what you said — I got so many emails puttind down Sarah Palin or Barack Obama that it was beyond annoying. Thanks for reminding us that we are supposd to be the “salt and light” of this world and telling it like it is!
Reply