Discipleship in a Political Year

 

As a pastor I know I have a great responsibility to shepherd and disciple the amazing people of State Street Baptist Church.  I also know that I will be held to a higher standard as a pastor (James 3:1).  The political season is well upon us and I understand that pastors and ministry leaders are giving their official endorsements of candidates. I am certainly not criticizing them. As long as they have sought God and they are being obedient to His following, they need to do what the Holy Spirit leads.  

However, I have never sensed the Holy Spirit ever lead me to specifically endorse a candidate. I came across the following article recently:  “Is It Even Legal for a Pastor to Endorse a Political Candidate? If So, Should You?” I found it very informative and I absolutely agree with this portion of the article and this is where I stand: “…at the end of the day, we want our people to think for themselves and to learn to listen, deeply, to the both the Word of God and the Holy Spirit’s voice within them. This is the long-game we’re in and it’s not about pushing the easy button, pointing to a candidate or checking a box—it’s about discipleship.” My heart is to disciple the people God has graciously allowed me to pastor.  You won’t hear me telling you who to vote for, but you will hear me address, from God’s Word, the issues that are at stake in our nation. 

The only caveat I have about the article is to understand that one day we may live in a country that may make pastors choose between obeying man’s law or obeying God’s Holy and perfect Word. When given that choice, I will chose obedience to God, even it deemed illegal by the state.  The early church dealt with this when the Sanhedrin forbid the disciples to speak the name of Jesus. The Sanhedrin said, “’We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.’ But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men.’” (Acts 5:28-29)  I know it sounds cliche, but my King will ultimately always be Jesus Christ.

Honest to God

God knows us better than we know ourselves. There is no need to hide how we are feeling to God, He already knows. I love David’s honesty and transparency as He seeks God in Psalms. David sees his enemies, who do not love or honor God, prosper and says, “For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked…Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches. All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence” (Ps. 73:3,12, 13). David is looking at outward circumstances and is witnessing his enemies do well while he pursues God with what he perceives as a pure heart and that makes David completely frustrated.

As David continues to seek God he realizes his heart wasn’t as pure as he thought. “When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you [God]” (Ps. 73:21, 22). As we continue to seek God and lay ourselves before him, He will reveal the true nature of our heart. We may start off complaining to God about our situation, but then as we allow Him to truly search our heart; He may reveal to us the reality of the situation regarding our sin. David admits his weakness and finally rejoices in God as he states, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Ps. 73:26).  

The key is to continually seek God. Cry out to Him when frustrated. He already knows the reality of the situation and in ways we can't even fathom. He can surly handle us expressing our feelings honestly. But we can’t forget to listen as we seek Him. Listen as God searches our heart and brings better clarity to the situation by revealing the true nature of our heart. David ends Psalm 73 by remembering that God is not only a patient and loving God, but He is also a just God. “For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge that I may tell of all your good works” (Ps.73:27, 28). We can’t surprise God therefore cry out to Him and seek Him honestly. Actively listen to Him as He reveals  the reality of the situation, especially the reality of the condition of OUR own heart. Honestly seeking God prevents us from letting circumstances steal our joy.

The Culture Continues to Secularize but The Gospel is still Greater & More Powerful!

As the culture continues to secularize and the biblical church becomes more and more strange in the world, I become more encouraged and optimistic as a Believer. The darkness of the secular culture shows the light of the Gospel more vividly to a dying world that secretly seeks substance over style.  

 I believe now, more than ever, the church will have a greater opportunity to love extravagantly.  We love like Jesus, no matter the circumstance or cultural roadblocks. Part of that love is, with great compassion, informing non-believers that which separates humanity from God (aka sin). When Jesus caught the woman in adultery He defended her, literally saved her life, and then he said, “Go and sin no more” (John 8:11).

For the Christian to proclaim the destructive and murderous nature of sin, he or she must be honest and transparent about their own struggles with sin as well. My own struggles of lust, anger, and impatience (just to name a few) have hurt me, my family, and my friends in more ways than I care to recall. I am thankful that my salvation is secure because of God grace and not because of my good works. “ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). And I am also grateful that after my salvation no one can snatch me out of the hand of Jesus (John 10:27-30).  However, my sins even after salvation, has consequences.  

But let’s not be fooled into thinking that a transparent Christian will not suffer persecution in this world.  Peter understood that Christians will be persecuted  and reminded the church not to forget their true identity in Christ and live lives of purity and holiness.

“. . . you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.  Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:9-12

The ESV Study Bible explains 1 Peter 2:12 as follows: “Believers are to live godly lives even though they will be criticized by unbelievers. When believers do good deeds, some unbelievers will repent and believe and thus glorify God.”

Therefore, let’s keep doing what God has always commanded the Believer to do. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:37-39).

What Is Real FREEDOM?

Paul often calls himself a slave to Christ.

“Paul, a SLAVE  of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God.” Romans 1:1

Why are Christians slaves to Christ?

Because Christ purchased us with his atoning sacrifice on the cross that cleanses us of sin.

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were BOUGHT  at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

However, as slaves to Christ, we experience ultimate FREEDOM.

“It is for FREEDOM that Christ has set us FREE. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1

The slavery Paul is referring to is ceremonial law and works theology. This type of slavery leads to pride, a disingenuous persona, and ultimately sin.   

I pray you have experienced the FREEDOM Christ offers. Don’t let this world blind you and enslave you to that which is temporal and ultimately unsatisfying.  “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him." Psalms 34:8

 A SLAVE to Christ is one who truly experiences ultimate freedom.