Politics is nothing if it is not competitive. And in most places Politics has become a near to blood sport. Perhaps worse than that it has become an arena for dirty tricksters, character assassins, and election cheaters. Anywhere two or more opposing points of view are found lies are found and is usually found on both or all sides. If I say it is A" and you say it is "B" it is almost always never both. Politics is of the world. Have we forgotten that Satan is the God of this world? Have we forgotten that God has called us and delivered us out of the world into the Kingdom of His Son Jesus who is THE KING of all kings?
Varieties of political processes govern the nations. History shows that Politics has gone deep into the church in America (and the church of the whole world). This is, I fear, inevitable in light of the Lord's words to the seven letters of the Apocalypse. No lie is found in the church in heaven. Heaven is in perfect agreement with God whom cannot and has not and will never lie. I fear that most people have no idea of the problems, even the impossibilities, that politicians encounter who intend to serve the "will of people." There is no will (singular) of "the people." Each person has his or her OWN will. All "the people" are entirely unable to agree on anything. All of us are a bit selfish, yes? We (I) want what we (I) want and it is usually not what our (my) neighbor wants. People prefer to oppose one another than to love one another. People prefer their own foolishness which they justify as political and even religious correctness to the correctness of countryman and neighbor.
Abraham Lincoln said “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.” That is to say some are always fooled, and we all are sometimes fooled. That is also to say that some are in engulfed in the delusion of THE lie and that we all have sometimes believed the lie. The order of complexity and sin produced by fools and fooling others is staggering. The truth that sets the fool free of foolishness and of lies and liars is found only in the Lord Jesus the Anointed One who says of Himself: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)
Without God's person of TRUTH who is the light of the world we will stumble in darkness. The lie and the Liar in Chief Satan dwell in darkness.
As more and more are being born into the dark world, so very many are unaware that TRUTH is the only guard against their being fooled by liars and so more and more are fooled. They are fooled by the corruption of the lie and are themselves corrupt and lost. This corruption has touched us all. In Jesus alone are we enabled to overcome it and having overcome it we ought by every just and merciful means tell to as many as we can that Jesus is the TRUTH and that He tells us what is true.
Sinners covet power and control (and saints are tempted by it ) and all they provide. Satan wanted God's throne. Humans do too, at least when it concerns their personal autonomy, the exercise or THEIR OWN WILLS. If all "the people" are infected with corruption what does this say of America? Are we exceptional among the people of the world? Are we less corrupt? Hardly. Jesus is exceptional. Jesus NEVER sinned. Most Americans and even Christians underestimate the enormity of that fact. Instead we Americans are told that we are an exceptional people. No one is exceptional by simply being born on American soil.
"American exceptionalism" is a chimera, an illusion. According to Wikipedia:
American exceptionalism is the belief that the United States is either distinctive, unique, or exemplary compared to other nations.[1]
Implied is that America is a better nation than other nations. America has a unique past. But it is not without flaw. And is the American nation and it's any guarantee that your life will be a life of liberty and the pursuit of happiness? That might be an exceptional life. Some of our citizens are exceptional. Some are exceptionally good, even holy people. Even so the Bible declares all men have sinned. History certifies that fact. Some are ecceptional sinners and exceptionally lawless. Turn on the news at 11 and see. America is what it is. Sinners are in many places running wild in the streets and across U.S. borders. Sinners work the lie in many of our statehouses and in the U.S. Congress and White House! Some work the lie in so called christian pulpits. America is the home of many sinners and likely many fewer saints.
Yet if one is not exceptional by simply being born on American soil, one may become and exceptional person. God would have us who Name His Son as our Savior become exceptional in humility and holiness.
Are we a Christian nation? I disagree. Some Americans calling themselves christian hardly if at all demonstrate anything of Christ. The words of Jesus:
“Do not store up for yourselves wealth here on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and burglars break in and steal. Instead, store up for yourselves wealth in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and burglars do not break in or steal. For where your wealth is, there your heart will be also. ‘The eye is the lamp of the body.’ So if you have a ‘good eye’ [that is, if you are generous] your whole body will be full of light; but if you have an ‘evil eye’ [if you are stingy] your whole body will be full of darkness. If, then, the light in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! No one can be slave to two masters; for he will either hate the first and love the second, or scorn the second and be loyal to the first. You can’t be a slave to both God and money.
(Matthew 6:19-24 The Complete Jewish Bible)
Some American churches now receive money from the government. That is tax money or as it is called "other people's money." Others declare the poor to have a lack of faith and contemn government gifts. Others insist that paying the tithe guarantees financial security. Much of this diversity of thought on finance could only be found in America who was until recently the richest nation in the world. Lost is are the following truths:
“Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.” (Proverbs 11:4)
“He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.” (Proverbs 11:28)
“A good name is more to be desired than great wealth, and to be respected is better than silver and gold. The man of wealth and the poor man come face to face: the Lord is the maker of them all.” (Proverbs 22:1-2)
“For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? or what shall a man give in exchange for his life?” (Matthew 16:26)
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)
“If any man teacheth a different doctrine, and consenteth not to sound words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is puffed up, knowing nothing, but doting about questionings and disputes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, wranglings of men corrupted in mind and bereft of the truth, supposing that godliness is a way of gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain: for we brought nothing into the world, for neither can we carry anything out; but having food and covering we shall be therewith content. But they that are minded to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” (1Timothy 6:3-11)
There are many more verses warning on man’s preoccupation with wealth. The following is a wise prayer regarding riches… and lies!
“Two things have I asked of thee; Deny me them not before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lies; Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is needful for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is Jehovah? Or lest I be poor, and steal, And use profanely the name of my God.” (Proverbs 30:7-9)
We call America a melting pot but America is much more like a pot of unmelted marbles. Today we see American politicians serving democrats, republicans, libertarians, capitalists, socialists, communists, atheists, agnostics, all the churches denominations (factions, heresies), and likely every pagan religion known including wiccans and satanists. We are demographically pluralistic in every sense possible. People and groups of are in the big pot like loose marbles and bags of marbles. Only God can break, melt, mold and fill a hard person and a hard people.
Spirit of the Living God,
Fall afresh on me,
Spirit of the Living God,
Fall afresh on me.
Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me.
Spirit of the Living God,
Fall afresh on me.
https://hymnary.org/text/spirit_of_the_living_god_fall_iverson
We really don't benefit much from political competition. We would benefit much, much more if we The agreement we need on earth is found in heaven. "Thy will be done on earth as it IS DONE in heaven." Frighteningly the church is a pot filled with bags of denominational marbles. We underestimate personally and corporately the scale of selfishness and self delusion that touches every life and touches many lives very deeply and tragically. I speak from the personal experience and self observation. The evils of this world are underestimated. But I don't recommend that we study them. Rather study to be transformed that you may know God and His word(s), Logos and Rhema.
To see the earth "restored" is to see the Kingdom of God come to earth in a way which transforms COMPLETELY all mankind. Some will be transformed to godly glory. Others will not. We are not going see this until the Lord Jesus is sent again from heaven, and it will be then another 1000 years until the Millennial Messianic Kingdom, the final age of God's plan is finished. The question is will we see the churches overcome? We ought to turn continually to the words of Jesus for He has overcome the world.
“And he said unto them, Take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” (Luke 12:15)
And Paul’s words:
“But godliness with contentment is great gain: for we brought nothing into the world, for neither can we carry anything out; but having food and covering we shall be therewith content. But they that are minded to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” (1Ti 6:6-11)
The world's people are about getting things. They want to obtain them, possess them and control them. Here is a list of those things:
“merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stone, and pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet; and all thyine wood, and every vessel of ivory, and every vessel made of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble; and cinnamon, and spice, and incense, and ointment, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and cattle, and sheep; and merchandise of horses and chariots and slaves; and souls of men.” (Revelation 18:12-13 spoken by an angel of God)
WOW! Again: the world's people are about getting things. They want to obtain things (even people), possess them and control them. Can you say (this list includes) HUMAN TRAFFICKING? IT DOES! People are trafficked; they are enslaved bodily and psychologically. At the return of the Lord Jesus these things and their their lust for them will end. See: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=rev+18&version=ASV
It seems quite clear that a very few in American politics are willing or able to bring the words of the Lord Jesus into their campaigns. Why? They understand that the people are more concerned with getting than giving. Few know, and those that do know that the ethic that produced the founding writings and law is derived from divine writings and law. Many simply deny and even mock all things divine.
“But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Not so shall it be among you: but whosoever would become great among you shall be your minister; and whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28)
“The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat: all things therefore whatsoever they bid you, these do and observe: but do not ye after their works; for they say, and do not. Yea, they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger. But all their works they do to be seen of men: for they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, and love the chief place at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called of men, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your teacher, and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father on the earth: for one is your Father, even he who is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your master, even the Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.” (Matthew 23:2-11)
“And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles have lordship over them; and they that have authority over them are called Benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is the greater among you, let him become as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.” (Luke 22:25-26)
According to John Wesley:
"They that exercise the most arbitrary authority over them, have from their flatterers the vain title of benefactors." The greek word is euergetēs
(yoo-erg-et'-ace) from which we get our word philanthropist!
The gentile kings (pagans and barbarians) were tyrants. The scribes and pharisees were religious tyrants. Those they favored were those they hired (bribed) who controlled the political machinery that kept them wealthy at the expense of those they taxed. And is it not so today we have a government doling out money and power to favored groups from industrialists and technologists to "public" broadcasting, to "planned" parenthood, to anyone qualifying for the medical, retirement and welfare systems, and to the federal and state government bureaucracies.
It is a great error to say and act as if the governments of America are the church of Jesus Christ. There came a time when the human government of the Roman empire co-opted the divine purpose of God’s people. Are christians not called to resist the inroads of of the world corruptions into their midst? How many have heard and obeyed:
“Come forth, my people, out of her [Babylon], that ye have no fellowship with her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues: for her sins have reached even unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.” Babylon is the world of the lost and unbelieving sinners who at the end of this age are steeped in sins. (2 Timothy 3:1-9)
Are any of the other nations of this present world governed by the church? No. Is America? No. Nevertheless and notwithstanding God does have all the world in His Hands.
Some say that the church is to blame for many troubles in the world and in America. That is an overstatement and may be a sin. But there is no question that God has given men and women the charge and the privilege to make Jesus and His words known to the people of every nation. We are called to holiness which is in itself a communication of the Lord to those who observe us. Some are called to speak declaring Jesus words and teachings to all people. Some are given to the church as apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers. All christians are called to exercise the gifts they are given for the benefit of others.
Others. This brings me to a final word. We are perhaps above almost everything called to forgive others as Jesus has forgiven us. Why do christians fail to do God’s will well or at all? I fear it is because we do not fully forgive others. If I am offended by you in some manner, by something you have said or done or something you simply are, I am less likely to do you good, meet your need, or speak kindly to you. To truly love others means we will not take offense at these things. Is sin an offense to God and Jesus? To the Holy Spirit? Yes. But God knew from before the beginning that He would send His Son to be the sacrifice for our sins, the lamb of God whose blood, death and resurrection allow for the forgiveness of all our sins. It is God’s nature to love. All the facets and actions of love written in 1Corinthians 13 are facets and actions of God. They love us. They? Remember God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We hear often that Jesus loves us. He was willing and did die that we should live as He does, forever.
Love
- suffereth long, is patient
- is kind;
- love envieth not; is never jealous
- love vaunteth not itself, never boasts
- is not puffed up, is not proud
- doth not behave itself unseemly, is not rude
- seeketh not its own, is not selfish
- is not provoked, is not quick tempered
- taketh not account of evil; doesn't keep a record of wrongs that others do
- rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, takes no joy in injustice
- rejoiceth with the truth;
- beareth all things, is always supportive
- believeth all things, is always loyal
- hopeth all things, is always hopeful
- endureth all things, always trusts
- Love never faileth:
As God is love, love cannot fail or suffer corruption. Jesus while alive with us never failed. The body of Jesus though dead did not suffer corruption.
Do we think often about how much Father God loves His Son, His only and uniquely begotten Son? Human fathers love there children, some with extraordinary energetic and passionate love. How could and why would this Father who is God send His Son Jesus into this filthy world to die for filthy sinners? Why? Because God loves filthy sinners, and before He made the heavens and earth He planned to forgive and save them from everlasting death. God’s love for corrupt humanity reaches it’s goal in Christ’s sacrifice and salvation.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who by the power of God are guarded through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, ye have been put to grief in manifold trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold that perisheth though it is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ: whom not having seen ye love; on whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Concerning which salvation the prophets sought and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what time or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did point unto, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that should follow them. To whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto you, did they minister these things, which now have been announced unto you through them that preached the gospel unto you by the Holy Spirit sent forth from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.” (1Peter 1:3-12)
“Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach unto the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which for ages hath been hid in God who created all things; to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him.” (Ephesians 3:8-12)
The manifold wisdom and plan of God was a mystery to the angels, to the prophets and to all human beings. It remains a mystery to human beings until God revealed Christ in the flesh. To some who have not and will not listen and believe the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ it remains a mystery, perhaps even for eternity. Is not the revelation of God’s mystery one of His love? God IS LOVE. God is for OTHERS! Even within the “trinity” The Father loves the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Son loves the Father and the Holy Spirit and the holy Spirit loves the Father and the Son. God gives himself and all that He has to others. And all who love give themselves to others.
“If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassions, make full my joy, that ye be of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind; doing nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself; not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others. Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” (Php 2:1-5)
Twenty verses in the New Testament command or encourage each one of us to love others.
Love one anOTHER
- John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
- John 13:35
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. - John 15:12
This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you. - John 15:17
These things I command you, that ye may love one another. - Romans 12:10
In love of the brethren be tenderly affectioned one to another; in honor preferring one another; - Romans 13:8
Owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loveth his neighbor hath fulfilled the law. - Galatians 5:13
For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only use not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another. - Ephesians 4:2
with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; - 1 Thessalonians 3:12
and the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we also do toward you; - 1 Thessalonians 4:9
But concerning love of the brethren ye have no need that one write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another; - 2 Thessalonians 1:3
We are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren, even as it is meet, for that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the love of each one of you all toward one another aboundeth; - Hebrews 10:24
and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works; - 1 Peter 1:22
Seeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another from the heart fervently: - 1 Peter 5:14
Salute one another with a kiss of love. Peace be unto you all that are in Christ. - 1 John 3:11
For this is the message which ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another: - 1 John 3:23
And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he gave us commandment. - 1 John 4:7
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is begotten of God, and knoweth God. - 1 John 4:11
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. - 1 John 4:12
No man hath beheld God at any time: if we love one another, God abideth in us, and his love is perfected in us: - 2 John 1:5
And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote to thee a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Matthew 22:37-39)
Even here we are not encouraged to any manner of selfishness, but to desire the goodness we enjoy to belong in equal measure to our neighbors, to others.
