Church, We Are Not God: The Flaws of Gospel Ministers

Church, We Are Not God: The Flaws of Gospel Ministers

            No one is perfect. This is said so often by nearly everyone in our society that it has become just about meaningless to most people including the church. We tend to say one thing but live another; we speak of the grace of God as if it only applies to the best people or who we at least consider to be the best. If we are honest, “the best” is very relative. What is not relative though is all of humanity’s inherent sinfulness and inability to ever choose righteousness apart from Christ. Every single person in existence is equally flawed; no one is better than another. This is truth and fact. Yet we so often forget that this is applicable to even those called to the holy work of God. The common subconscious view is that because one is called to gospel ministry, he or she is exempt from radical and total depravity or that he or she is not worthy of God’s grace if a mistake is made. Nothing could be further from the truth.

God’s Anointed Fight Human Nature Just Like Anyone Else

            The tendency in most churches is to place ministers on a higher plane than the lay member. The truth is, however, that we are just as fallen and wretched as anyone else. We are simply engaging in and accomplishing a task God has called us to, no different from what anyone else should be doing. Paul considered himself the chief of sinners. I personally can relate to that, not as a matter of low self-esteem but as complete realization of where I have been. I am no better (and am probably worse in many regards) that anyone else. This is true for all ministers. God has delivered us from the stench of sin, but we continue to fight through our struggles. It is difficult for many people to think of Christianity as a toil or a struggle. I don’t know where the idea comes from that resisting sin should be easy once we are saved and especially for those who are ministers of the gospel, but it exists. We say often that everyone struggles, but when someone actually does, particularly when they are a minister, we write them off as if they should not have struggled with sin.

            I have seen many ministers fall in my life, and I have been one who fell. Does that negate the fact that God called me to serve him? No. Once I thought it did, but God showed me otherwise. Paul, in Romans 7, says that he does the things he does not want to do and does not do the things he wants to do. Even Jesus himself, in Matthew 26:41, said that the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. We are in a constant battle against our human nature that does not stop because of salvation. No, it continues and perhaps to an even greater degree because our flesh is constantly being killed and there is an ever-present awareness of God’s work in our lives. For those who struggle, you are in good company. Consider King David. If he committed the sins he committed in a modern context, society would completely write him off and perhaps even apply labels to him thinking that he is not worthy of anything, especially God’s grace. It is not a matter of who is worthy of God’s grace (because no one is), but it is a matter of the desperate need of his grace. Ministers are no different.

We are not super humans; nor do we have special powers or the ability to resist temptation more than anyone else. It is time that people stop placing unrealistic expectations of ministers of God. Trust me; we don’t get paid enough for that. In all seriousness though, we are fallen people just as anyone else, and our sanctification process is the same as anyone else. We go through trials; we are depressed; we struggle; we have angry thoughts; we use bad language; we lust; and we fight through these things, and sometimes we fail. God’s grace is not only for lay members but also for clergy. Let us experience his grace just as you do, and pray for us.

Satan Attacks Those Serving the Lord More

            Satan’s attacks are heavy and difficult, especially for those serving in ministry. It is not that Satan does not attack those who are not in ministry and sometimes just as much if not more, but because the church is the honored and loved bride of Christ, the enemy spends much of his time attacking the church and her leaders, namely preachers of the gospel. This means that often the attacks are heavier and perhaps even more than the typical person. If Satan can win over the ministers, he can live under the illusion that he has defeated the church. Nothing could be further from the church. The church is not built on people or ministers but only on Jesus Christ so the church will stand firm for all time. Satan’s attacks are in vain then, and when God’s people live in the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ, we show it to others including our ministers who make mistakes far more than people expect them to. What a testimony to the world when we actually forgive as Christ forgave and see God working through fallen ministers who are in desperate need of God’s grace just as much as anyone else. Let us be a people of mercy.

There Is No Disqualification from Ministry Except that One Is Not Called to Begin With

            I grew up under the illusion that if someone committed an atrocious sin (which might be very relative to what people consider atrocious), they were automatically disqualified from ministry. I thought this even when I had a great fall while serving in ministry. I became OK with the thinking that because of what I had done, I was now disqualified from ministry. I took some time off from ministry thinking it was permanent and pursued other endeavors till the Lord slowly began to open doors of opportunity for me unexpectedly and without me pursuing them. Eventually I was reminded that when he called me to ministry, it was not because of what I had done. Nothing I had done qualified me for ministry, and nothing I had done disqualified me. Certainly I needed a break, but after struggling through whether or not God could ever use me again as a minister of the gospel, I stopped resisting and came to a point where I trusted God and committed to serving him no matter the cost and no matter what people thought of it. The truth is that there is not a disqualification from ministry unless that person is not called to begin with.

Paul told Timothy that overseers or pastors should be above reproach. The problem is that the interpretation of what that means varies. Some might say that to be above reproach means not having a disreputable past; others might say that the past doesn’t matter but only what one’s life is like after salvation; still others might even say that it is a matter of a repentant heart after one makes mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes; this is a well-known truth that not many would deny. Where is the line drawn then? What does it mean to be above reproach?

            I submit that to be above reproach is a matter of a repentant heart. I say this for a few reasons. 1) God looks at the heart above the outward appearance, and 2) the Greek text in 1 Timothy 3:2 suggests this. It is to the church’s detriment that manmade standards have been placed on gospel ministers. This does not include only educational standards (which I believe are often bogus) but also standards of morality. When dealing with the morality of ministers, there are two things to keep in mind. First of all, our morality must be measured first and foremost and God through his word. This means that no one can truly measure up to being a moral person. Secondly, we must rid ourselves of personal convictions applied using a general scope. In other words, if it is not strictly forbidden or commanded in Scripture, we should not apply it to everyone, and this includes ministers. This is done often in the selection process of a pastor. Sadly standards are placed on ministers that are not only impossible but also have little to no biblical foundation, only personal convictions. God does not look at outward manmade standards. When God selects someone to serve him, it is not because of their character at all, in fact. It is because he desires to glorify himself by using that person in a particular way. This is irrespective of what they have done or even will do.

            The Greek text also suggests a general concept of morality in being above reproach. It, in no way, implies perfection. The morality of a minister is measured against a holy God so we fail every time. Is the minister’s heart repentant though? The church should stop looking at only the mistakes of fallen ministers but look more at the heart of the person who committed the sin. God’s grace is sufficient for all, yet all who receive his grace are recipients of it including ministers. We are not exempt from receiving the grace of God or fellow Christians simply because we serve in such a capacity.

            Ministers are called to a holy task and one that must be taken seriously. Nevertheless, ministers will still struggle and, yes, sin and perhaps even sin greatly. It does not negate the call though. Whether one is called of God or not is between that person and God. Maybe they are; maybe they aren’t. There are surely times when one must take time off from ministry, but the call is irrespective of what has or has not been done. The evidence of God’s work in their life then is found in repentance.

Never Forget God Is Strong in Human Weakness, Not Strength

            A scripture that is so very evident in my life is 2 Corinthians 12:10. Paul, when speaking of his thorn in the flesh, says that God is strong when he is weak. This is applicable to every single person, but we often do not realize it until we experience our deepest weakness. At that point, the mature and repentant Christian is thankful for weakness because then and only then can we truly express God’s abundant mercy and work in our lives. It has nothing to do with us or our ability. What would happen if churches called pastors based on God’s strength in their weakness rather than their abilities? I think we would see more humility among God’s people and, therefore, a greater work. Ministry is accomplished on God’s strength, not our own. If it is our own, it is not ministry, and it is ineffective. Seminary degrees, intelligence, knowledge of original languages, and speaking ability are useless without God’s work in our weakness.

The church must realize that ministers, though called of God, are not God. We are wretched sinners just the same as anyone else, and we make mistakes. Our mistakes are often magnified though. Yes, many of us have fallen greatly, but even in the seemingly smaller sins, people magnify our faults and escalate our weakness. Above reproach does not mean perfect; nor does it mean disqualification after a mistake. Brothers and sisters, we are imperfect, and like you, God is sanctifying us. We will mess up; it is guaranteed. But the Father views us in light of his Son’s mercy. We work and toil just like you. We are in this together. Let us lead with assurance that God is a merciful God and that we all equally do not deserve any of his goodness. In Christ, let us minister and fulfill our calling with your help alongside us.

Poem: The Storm in the Calm

I've been through an incredibly difficult time recently. I wrote a poem about it today. It helps me process the situation better. I won't go into details, but this poem might be relevant to many people in the trials they face. It is called The Storm in the Calm.

Heartless, pointless, void of substance,

this is how I remember everything.

It was easy to think we had it all,

that our lives were only just beginning,

that our hearts had settled and run into the sunset.

Jaded, tarnished, set in your ways,

you thought you gave me something better;

so did I.

Yet I neglected to consider the torment you came from,

the bitterness and the tears that had prior been shed.

I failed to notice the whirlwind that had long overtaken your heart and your mind.

I gave; you received.

Not in any perfection but in a heart full of love did I ever perceive.

What was true for one could have been true for two,

but maybe it was only me.

Calm and smooth, this was the sea of glory we sailed.

Then the storm came;

then came the torrent of unexpected lies and fate.

Why? Why would you jump amid a storm?

So fast and without abandon, your heart still completely torn,

no time to settle, no time to find your way, no anchor to hold onto,

just you trying to swim.

But it wasn’t over.

Then came the thunder of hatred, the lightning of lies,

the rain of gossip, and the waves of ambiguity in a bizarre twist of love.

It did not take long; it was over quite quickly.

The calm, the sun, the birds again singing.

Yet even in the calm, I still sense the tumult;

I still feel the wind.

Never returning to that glorious sea,

even in the calm, you have left me still in the storm.

The Vertical and Horizontal Nature of Worship

The Vertical and Horizontal Nature of Worship

            Among worship leaders, often the topic of vertical worship arises. In other words, there is the belief that worship is only vertical in that it focuses only on God. Nonetheless, while God certainly is both the subject and the object of worship, there is also a horizontal aspect to worship. This is evident in the fact that the bride of Christ, the church, is a single body comprised of many parts (or people). Worship gatherings are corporate, and even our daily individual lives are part of the joint offering to the Lord as a sacrifice of worship. The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 12:1 to present our bodies as a living sacrifice. The singular and plural aspect to this command point to both vertical and horizontal worship. Unity is worship; fellowship is worship; and communion is worship. We are each individually worshiping the same God, but we are also corporately presenting our worship to him in fellowship with him and with each other. Worship then is not only vertical; it is also horizontal. I would like to examine what each of these two aspects imply and mean for us as God’s children and how it should affect the way we live our lives.

Vertical

            I would like to focus on both aspects of worship. It is certainly both vertical and horizontal. In other words, it is directed toward God and in response to who he is, but it is also horizontal in that it is communal and corporate as the body of Christ. The most evident way worship is vertical is through the individual response of each believer. Matthew 15:8 reads, “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” No believe can reject the truth of this scripture. Corporate worship should be a sincere reflection of a group of individuals’ personal worship. The key here is response. A proper response of worship to God is obedience. To simply honor God with words but live a drastically different life is not the proper response.

            The vertical nature of worship then is found in the response. We respond to God. This is the second half of the dialogue. God initiates, and we respond. In this dialogue of life called worship then, we, his people, are required to obey; that is our proper response, and it is in that manner that our worship to him is vertical.

This is seen very obviously in a personal sense, but it is also revealed in a corporate sense. In many contexts, the Lord’s Supper is referred to as the Eucharist. This is derived from the Greek word meaning thanksgiving. Therefore, when we commune with Christ at the table, our response is thanksgiving. This is no small thing, for we must understand that our response to undeserved communion with the Lord must always be thanksgiving. It is not thanksgiving to each other or to anyone else other than Christ himself.

Our lives must be lives of continual and active response. God has not only initiated and we responded, but he continues to initiate and we continue to respond with our proper response being continued repentance and obedience. Initiation and response is vertical. It looks to and from the Lord alone.

Application in Ministry Context

            How is this applied in ministry contexts? How do we model vertical worship? To help answer this question, I would like to submit my personal philosophy of ministry. It is as follows:

All ministry, work which delivers the gospel, exists for the glory of God, namely worship, through the three-fold function of his bride, the church: upreach, the glorification of God through the praises of his people and the acknowledgement of his sovereignty; inreach, the edification of the saints through fellowship in the local church, study and effect of God’s word, and prayer with a sovereign God; and outreach, the spreading of the fame and glory of God to those who have not yet been changed by the power and message of the gospel.

            While ministry is threefold in its approach, it is singular in its focus, which is worship or the glory of God alone. We must not confuse approach with focus. Lost people are not the focus of the church; the glory of God is. The sick, hurting, and poor are not the focus of the church; the glory of God is. And indeed morality is not the focus of the church; the glory of God is. These other very crucial aspects of ministry stem from the glory of God; his glory is where it begins though. Even in the sacred dialogue, the reason he has initiated a relationship with his people is for his own glory and purposes. To elevate mankind over God’s glory is idolatry. The proper response to his glory certainly is ministry, which is carried out in these various ways, but the purpose of our acts of ministry is first and foremost the glory of God. All worship looks to and from and points to and from the glory of God. This is the vertical nature of worship.

Horizontal

            Worship is also horizontal in nature. One might think that by horizontal, I mean that worship is the collective response of the people of God. That is only a small part of it though. The church is at its best when she is unified. We, as the bride of Christ, are many members but part of one body. 1 John 1:7 reads, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” The Apostle Paul tells us in Philemon 1:6, “…I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.” The implication of sharing is togetherness. Some translations have fellowship rather than sharing. There is a corporate aspect to worship, and scripture is clear as to the importance of it. Christ’s desire is that his bride is unified, and the only way that can happen is through and in him. Our commonality in all situations is Christ, for he has redeemed us and unified us. He is central to our work and ministry, and he must be our purpose for existence.

            This fellowship we have as the church is not only in the context of corporate worship; it is for all of life. Just as each part of a body must do play its vital role, each member of the church must function in accordance with the will of the Lord. This is not to say that there are not disagreements. God’s church is made of many members with many varying backgrounds, points of view, and beliefs. The secondary issues should not divide us though. They are secondary because they are not salvation issues. It is the primary issues we must agree on. If the world knows we are Christians by our love for one another, perfect worship is evident in how we act toward each other. This is for all believers of all traditions and denominations. We focus on the Lord, but we act in fellowship with him and with each other. In this sense, worship is horizontal.

How to Live within the Dialogue Both Vertically and Horizontally

            We must live lives that first and foremost glorify God, but we must also live in unity with each other. Certainly this is evident to be applied in our personal lives, but we must also apply it in the corporate worship gatherings of God’s people. Do our sacred actions in worship focus on God but have a broad approach to view the bride of Christ through the lens of love and mercy? It can be easy to neglect one or the other. Often either we focus on people and minimize the glory of God, or we focus on only the glory of God with no thought of Christ’s bride, the church. The hymns and songs we sing, the scriptures we read, the prayers we pray, the Lord’s Supper, baptism, and any other action we practice in worship must focus on the Lord with a broad view of his bride. I have heard some say that they love Jesus but hate the church; this is an impossibility. No one can love Jesus and hate the very body that he gave his life for. We are God’s people. Our lives must be lived in response to him, who he is, and what he has done. He has sent Jesus Christ as the propitiation for the sins of the world, and it is through the communion of the Saints that God is glorified. We worship him, but we worship him with each other as many individuals part of one body. This is how we live lives of vertical and horizontal response in this sacred dialogue.

New Hymn for Christmas

As a worship leader, I like to plan in advance. I realize it is October, but for any worship leaders out there looking for a new song/hymn for Christmas, here is one you are welcome to use.

What Is the Difference in Right and Privilege as It Pertains to the US Constitution

What Is the Difference in Right and Privilege as It Pertains to the US Constitution?

            The topic of rights and specifically constitutional rights has reached most everyone in the United States lately with the recent flag and national anthem protests by prominent athletes. Often the question is not, “Does one have these rights,” but it is, in fact, “Should one have these rights?” The topic of rights is incredibly confusing though. There are many opinions on rights and on which rights someone possesses. The problem with that though is that rights are not a matter of opinion. Defining a right is where we must start, and if something is not a right, then it likely is a privilege. The rights I am referring to here pertain only to the US Constitution. I would like to flesh out the difference between right and privilege as it pertains to the Constitution.

What Is a Right?

            Let me be clear: rights, true rights, are not given by any man or form of government. Rights comes from God alone. Rights are the benefits that all human beings possess simply for the fact that they are human. These do not belong to animals, only to humans, and the list of rights we have is much simpler than people make it. Our Declaration of Independence mentions the primary rights we have. They are referred to as some of the unalienable rights that humans have for the mere fact that we were all created equal. They are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Note that we are not given the right to happiness but only the pursuit of it. The other two are life and liberty. Government did not give us these; God did. Even for someone who is not a Christian, these rights exist for the mere fact that we are human beings and for no other reason.

            Having said that, in the United States, we have what are known are constitutional rights. There is a Bill of Rights in our United States Constitution, and these rights stem from these overarching God-given rights I have already mentioned (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness). I do not believe in theocracies, and even though separation of church and state is nowhere in our Constitution, the fifty state Constitutions, or the Declaration of Independence, the concept exists far and wide and for good reason. As a Christian, I believe that faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ is proposed, not imposed. Government cannot legislate morality. Therefore, laws should only exist to protect people’s rights and well-being, not to create a better society. Society is exactly what the word means; it is a group or groups of social beings, in our case human beings who live together in a common area. For us, this is the United States. For society to be good then, it is ultimately up to the people in it, not the government. There are things that are clearly wrong both morally and legally such as murder and rape. These things infringe on others’ rights and well-being. However, laws such as seatbelt laws and zoning laws in cities do not help with this cause. They really exist to give more power to the government whether it is federal, state, or local. The constitutional rights we have exist because of a firm belief that all humans have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The Bill of Rights then is designed to help people experience the benefits of those rights.

What Is a Privilege?

            Many people confuse right and privilege. A privilege is a benefit that is not automatically applied for being a human being. In other words, privileges may come in many forms, but if they are not directly linked to our constitutional or God-given rights without a stretch, we are not afforded them automatically. Marriage is one of these. Marriage is not a right for anyone. During the debate on September 26, Lester Holt asked Donald Trump if the American people have the right to know what is on his tax returns. The clear answer is a resounding, No!” This is nowhere in the Constitution. In fact, neither candidate had to even appear for the debate. These are privileges. Many have used the argument that churches having a tax exempt status is a privilege. This is certainly true, but in the same way, it is also a privilege for schools, government entities, and hospitals. Certainly we, as Americans, know what privilege is, but we must never get so used to them that we begin to think they are rights. A right and a privilege are two distinctly different things. At times, our courts have to determine whether or not a particular action is constitutional or unconstitutional. Their job is to interpret the laws. The problem here though is that most of our laws are written not based on rights but on morality. In other words, the law often does not reflect the simplicity of the Constitution. This is the root of the problem often. Laws should only exist to protect people’s rights and well-being. If it does not do this, it should not be a law.

            We must also consider business practice in this discussion. If an entity or corporation is privately owned, it is the same as if it was someone’s property. The government has no stake in it whatsoever. Therefore, it should be treated as such. Government’s regulations on businesses typically do not help the economy, nor do they allow Constitutional rights of the individual business owners to be exercised. There are many cities that have non-smoking policies for businesses, for example. Because many of these businesses are privately owned, however, this is the exact same as telling someone they may not smoke in their own home. If an organization is a government entity, this might be different, but even then, of all places to be able to exercise your Constitutional rights, it should be government organizations. This is one reason I firmly disagree with free speech areas on college campuses. The entire campus should be free speech. In fact, the only places that perhaps should not be free speech are private properties. We seem to have it backwards though. Government organizations are funded by tax dollars, yet these are often the places where Constitutional rights may be exercised the least.

            We also have to be careful not to see privilege and right as the same thing. Under God, our rights are carefully spelled out for us in the Constitution. These rights should never be taken from us. While certain privileges (like marriage) are derived from these rights, however, we must be careful not to think they are one in the same. Our rights are quite simple actually. As far as privileges, I respect those who fight for them and who desire to see more of them, but do not think of them as rights. Even if our government says these are rights, by definition, they are not.

Is Anyone Ever Disqualified from Any Rights?

            We could bypass a lot of issues to get to the main question here. Do felons have rights? There might be many others to ask that question about too, but we usually want to know if convicted felons have rights. In short, the answer is yes. Again rights exist simply for the fact that you are a human being. It is true that some felonies at least temporarily (if not permanently) exclude people from rights. The question should not be if someone is disqualified from some rights but should they be. If the concept is that all humans, endowed by their creator, have certain unalienable rights and the Constitution clarifies what these rights are, then should not all humans possess these rights including felons? The would be the logical stance. The problem is that we devalue humans based on their mistakes. Certainly someone should face the consequences for mistakes, but once the price is paid, should that person not be allowed to be an active and normal part of society, meaning that his or her rights are restored? I suggest that everyone should have the same rights afforded them, including felons who have paid their debt to society.

            What about those who might be different? Should homosexuals have the right to marry their partner? Again keep in mind the difference between right and privilege. Marriage is not a right. It is not in the Constitution as part of the Bill of Rights. We must stop confusing right and privilege. However, this is not to say that we should legislate based on morality. As a Christian, I believe homosexuality is clearly a sin. Should it be illegal though? In my opinion, it should not; nor should homosexual marriage. This is not something that infringes on someone else’s rights and well-being. Since I believe marriage is a union between a man and woman only, even if the government issues marriage licenses to gay couples, it is not marriage in my opinion. They may hold a certificate and may even call it marriage, but it is not. Who am I to stop it though? We cannot stop the current of society. We can take a stand as Christians, but ultimately it will do whatever it wants to do, and we have to live in this society and love all people.

Homosexual people should absolutely have the same rights as anyone else, but let’s not confuse marriage as a right; it is a privilege. The point here is that these are some things that might disqualify people from exercising certain rights for a period of time, but it should not be permanently except in the case that they permanently took someone else’s rights, as is in the case of murder. All humans, mistakes or not, are eligible and worthy to exercise their God-given and Constitutional rights.

Should Any Constitutional Rights Be Applied Differently than Others?

            A right is a right is a right. Therefore, we should not treat any constitutional rights differently than the others. In other words, if we indeed possess these rights, they should be applied equally. There cannot be stipulations on rights, or we really do not have them in practice. One right that comes to mind is the 2^nd Amendment. The 2^nd Amendment affords each individual the right to keep and to bear arms. This does not mean that everyone has the right to buy or sell arms or even that the government cannot charge a $6,000 tax for the purchase of firearms. It simply means what it says, that people may keep and bear arms, and this is a good thing because it protects citizens from the chance of a corrupt government. Why is it often applied differently though? If everyone has this right, why are there so many stipulations. We don’t have stipulations on the 1^st Amendment, or we shouldn’t at least. Most people would argue either that the 2^nd Amendment was not written with the future in mind with all of our advancements in guns and weaponry. Some might also argue that the 2^nd Amendment deals directly with people’s lives. The truth is that if someone wants a gun to kill another human being, they will get one with or without laws against it. I believe we either need to amend the Constitution, which we certainly can do under the right circumstances or there should be no stipulations on any amendment. They should all be applied equally; otherwise, the concept of rights is useless to us. We either have them or we don’t.

Should We Fight for Rights or Privileges or Both?

            Since there is an apparent difference between right and privilege, which are we to fight for, or should we fight for both? What is our responsibility as Americans? I think the answer for one is obvious. We should all fight for rights. There is a sense in which we all possess the same rights as human beings. The problem, however, lies in the fact that these rights are sometimes squelched and diminished by corrupt government, which we cannot deny exists even in the United States. Because all humans are equal and these rights given by God and explained in the Constitution are unalienable, we must fight for the free exercising of all human rights.

Should we then fight also for privilege? The short answer is yes. However, we must be careful and wise on where to plant our flag. One person simply cannot take legislative action against the will of the people to get what he or she wants. We must work together. There are certain privileges that are more important than others depending on the individual, and many of these privileges hit very close to home. People are passionate about them. We should not diminish their passion either simply because we might disagree. In fact, we should encourage all people to exercise their rights and fight for their privileges. If a government or people is hindering rights from freely being exercises, certainly everyone should fight against that entity. Privilege is different though in that we have room for disagreement. There is no such thing as a perfect society, and we must be OK with that. We work toward a more perfect union, but we will never achieve it. Until then though, we fight tightly to uphold rights and fight loosely for the privileges we are passionate about while still respecting others we disagree with. If we did this, there would certainly be less division among us. However, this is not the direction of the tide in our society. The trend is to think that we are right and everyone else is wrong. If it is not a right issue, leave it alone and let people fight for what they are passionate about. Right are crucial in our society. Privilege is essential to a thriving society, but let us not confuse the two. They are not one in the same.

Why Christianity and Politics Cannot Marry

Why Christianity and Politics Cannot Marry

            I grew up believing that as a Christian, I had to take a certain political stance. This was what was engrained in me from an early age. However, as I grew older and particularly in my late 20s, I began to rethink the way I thought about politics. My argument had always been that my faith in Christ should be at the forefront of every aspect of my life including politics. While this is certainly true, the manner in which this is carried out is now vastly different for me, and in many ways, because my faith is central to my life, I separate politics from religion. I now argue that orthodox Christianity and politics cannot marry each other. They are indeed separate, and I would like to give four reasons why.

When We Christianize Politics, We Compromise the Gospel

            First of all, marrying politics to the Christian faith compromises the gospel. Immediately I can hear people arguing that this is the easy way out. In other words, taking this stance removes our responsibility to be involved in the God-ordained political system of the land we live in. Do not hear what I am not saying, however. Christians certainly have a responsibility to take a stand for truth and justice and to be involved in the political process as much as possible. There is no cookie cutter political stance or party for the believer though, as many might try to argue. It is likely that you have heard Jesus was neither a Republican or a Democrat. While this is true though, many still seem to link him to a political party. What does this do? It compromises the gospel of Christ. The Galatians had problems with telling new Christians that in order to honor God in their salvation, they had to add things. It was Jesus plus something else. The gospel though is Jesus plus nothing. He is enough; he is sufficient period. Therefore, to proclaim that honoring God means Jesus plus a political party or stance is to add onto the gospel, which, in essence, is no gospel at all. The gospel is all about Jesus, not about our personal points of view. Marrying politics and Christianity compromises the gospel.

No One Can Legislate Morality or Faith

            Secondly, it is impossible to legislate morality or faith. I firmly believe that the United States was founded on Christian principles. We can’t take it further than that though. It was not founded as a Christian nation but rather upon Christian principles. What does this mean? It means that we are not a theocracy. Our founding fathers knew that no government can legislate morality of faith because even if they try, for many citizens, it would not be genuine. Humans are radically depraved and evil by nature, despite the popular opinion that people are good by nature. Any good that comes from people, even those who do not know Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, is directly from God. God is the standard for good. Even our most basic instincts that tell us that murder is wrong comes from God. My belief is that government should be small and legislate as little as possible. In fact, I believe laws should only be created to stop infringement on people’s rights and well-being. This means that many laws should not even be in the books because they benefit no one but the government. Many laws are written based on morality. This should not be though. Morality is an individual choice, and good morals come only from God. Therefore, unless an action infringes on someone else’s rights and well-being, it should not be illegal. We often see elections as a way to determine the direction of a country. In reality though, the truth is that elections point to the direction the country is already heading. This is not something any law can change. Only the power of the Holy Spirit and his work in a nation can cause an entire people to turn to God; nothing else. Legislating morality is a feeble attempt at changing people’s hearts. It can’t happen. It has never happened. Our government’s job is to protect, not to legislate morality and faith.

As Christians, We Are to Become all Things to all People

            In 1 Corinthians 9:22, the Apostle Paul says that he has become all things to all people. His point is that as Christians, we must be flexible in our approach to engaging relationships. If an action does not contradict our biblical beliefs, we should not plant our flag of war on the issue. This, in no way, implies that we will not disagree with people. We must be wise in how we approach issues though. Major on the major issues, and minor on the minors. There are certainly things we must take a stand upon, and in the process, yes, we will disagree with people including our own brothers and sisters in Christ. We must still love them though and treat them with dignity and respect. We must pray for our leaders and respect them. This includes the President of the United States who is often hated by half of our country. There are particular black and white issues that deserve no argument. For example, abortion is murder. There is no argument. Scripture points to this, as does science. Does this mean though that we hate people who believe abortion is OK? Absolutely not! We love the, and it might even benefit us to hear their perspective. By all means, if you believe something is wrong, stand against it, but do so in a loving way. Becoming all things to all people has to do more with attitude than actually doing what they do. Reason out what is primary and what is secondary, and act accordingly. So often we plant our flags on the secondary issues when the primary issues are what we need to focus on. Scripture says that they will know we are Christians by our love, not by our knowledge or ability to argue. Pray and love. That is it.

We Cannot Effectively Minister to Everyone While Tied up in Politics

            This is true especially for ordained ministers. It is incredibly difficult to minister to everyone if we are tied up in politics. This is a reason I have a serious problem with pastors who run for office. They are severely limiting their ministry base of people. We should never exclude anyone from the gospel message of Christ. Christ died for all walks of life. Our ministry, therefore, should reflect that. Every believer has a responsibility to reach everyone. We must be careful then not to exclude those different from us. Again take a stand for what is right, but do not associate justice, truth, and mercy with a particular political party. Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, Independents, etc. do not have a corner on the godly market. It is possible to be a Christian and be either one or none of those parties. Vote your conviction, but leave it at that. Life is about glorifying God, not a political system or government. We, his people, are the bride of Christ, and we cannot be married to politics. It is impossible to be the bride of Christ and the bride of politics at the same time. Let Jesus be at the center of life for all of his people, not politics.

New Article: Going against the Grain Congregational "Unfriendly" Keys for Music in Worship

Here is a new article I had published recently. Read and enjoy!