As Christians who believe that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant word of God, why then, as many times as God tells his people, “Fear not,” do we spend so much time worrying and hand-wringing over things we cannot control?
I often think that the calls by some pastors for a national repentance and revival are borne out of fear of losing American entitlement more than concern for the individuals in our nation. I am not saying they don’t care about people, but that they care more for our prosperous way of life. They fear suffering as much as their congregations do, and rather than repeating God’s word to “Fear not,” they stoke fear.
Jesus didn’t die on the cross for the United States of America.
There is a reason that the United States is not mentioned in the Bible.
We ain’t all that.
We have been undeservedly blessed with prosperity. Undeserved because we were not founded on Judeo-Christian values as touted by 20th century revisionists. We are no more sinful as a nation now than we were when our country was founded.
We were founded on the principle that only white men of European ancestry had value. Women had no vote. Male African slaves were worth 3/5 that of a white man. The indigenous people living in North America had no value, and were systematically rounded up, forced to relocate, and often slaughtered so that there is now just a small remnant of a few tribes left.
And we have the gall to think we are entitled to our way of life.
We have spent our prosperity on our own comfort, and above all we do not want to be uncomfortable. Discomfort is too much like suffering, and lord knows we do not deserve to suffer. We are to be healthy and blessed. It’s the sinners who are to suffer: the addicts, the alcoholics, the fornicators, the homosexuals, the abortionists, the feminists, the atheists, and certainly without doubt the Muslims. Not us. We made a decision to follow Christ and now God owes us health, wealth, prosperity, and security because we are not like those people.
We have followed a false American god for too long. We as Christians need to repent every bit as much as sinners. But not for our prosperity. No. So that we can once again be salt and light in the world and do good to others. Feed the hungry, clothe the poor, and take care of widows and orphans. We are saints because Jesus declared us to be saints. Not because we were or are good enough to be a saint. We did not and do not deserve the grace we have been given. And rather than worrying and stewing about ISIS and Democrats/Republicans, we should give to others out of the abundance we have been given.
Because that is what the Savior we call Lord told us to do.
Without fear.
Without worry.
Without judgement.
With love.
Because He first loved us.
If what you are preaching and proclaiming sounds is indistinguishable from the messages proclaimed in a political debate or rally, you are not being salt and light in the world. Our hope does not rest in a political solution. Our hope is in Jesus Christ and Him alone. Not in “old fashioned,” “traditional,” or “conservative” Christianity. Not in “progressive” or “modern” Christianity. Not in the President of the United States, the Republican party, the Democrat Party, Congress, or the Supreme court. Not in laws or guns or gun control or a Confederate battle flag.
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. (1 John 4:18-21 ESV)
I have to disagree with one small item in this post. The Founders did not believe that only white men counted. They really did believe that all men were created equal. The problem,written about more than once by George Washington, was that they were trying something so radical that they could not hope to forge an alliance if they tried to build a perfect society. The goal was to create a country where the people ruled. They knew there were many problems that were not addressed, slavery, economic barriers, lack of education, and many others. But, the hope was as people governed themselves, they would learn the answers to these problems and, being the rulers, fix them. Example: a slave was 3/5 a white man. That was a way to weaken the slave states during the census and lessen their representation in Congress. (a trick being used in reverse today to boost the census with immigrants and refugees) The founders were extremely smart but they knew their limitations. They gave us the best tool they could fashion AT THE TIME and prayed to God to guide the country in its use. They did rely on Judeo-Christian foundations because that was what they knew. Not evangelical, not charismatic, “mere” Christianity. With room for all the flavors. Enough history. I agree with the main point of your post. I feel the same way. I tell my family that the dew years we have lived without religious persecution are an anamoly. We should be prepared to suffer the same as Syrian, Russian, or Chinese believers. We were warned to count the cost ahead of time. The folks we see on TV with the big hair and big teeth are spouting BS and the truth will come out. Take care, my friend. Hollar if you need me.
Maybe I shouldn’t write when I’m angry? 😉 My point with the 3/5 and the Native Americans was really to refute the “Christian Nation” narrative that keeps being trotted out. Because we never have been, and the founders were adamant about that so that we wouldn’t have a state religion. They knew that state endorsed religion always becomes imposed and abused (Rome, England).
We agree more than we disagree, and I will respect and love you even if we didn’t agree on anything. 🙂