Universal Love

Modern-day evangelicals like to stress the fact the God "loves" everyone. The only verse they can use and I mean misuse is John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that...." Don't they know that there are seven meanings to the world or cosmos in the New Testament? In the very next verse, it is obvious that God isn't planning on saving everyone: "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved."

There are several verses that indicate that God "hates" individuals: Ps. 5:5 and Ps. 11:5 say that God "hates the wicked." In Romans and Malachi, it says that God hated Esau. Now they say that "hate" just means "reject" but if this is so why does God reject those he loves. On the judgment day, Christ will say, "I never knew you, depart from me...." Note that it is not that he used to know them, but that he never knew them. "For whom the Lord foreknew he predestined..." (Rom. 8:29). This word for foreknow means to know in a loving way.

I don't go around telling people that Jesus loves them as if that is the key message because I only believe it confirms them in their sin and they lose respect for God as their judge. "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him" (Psa. 103:11). "I love those who love me..." (Prov. 8:17). If God does indeed love everyone it is only in a very narrow way of "caring" for his creatures as Psa. 145:9 says that God "[is] good to everyone, and takes care of his creation." This is called "common grace" and God does make the rain to fall on the unjust as well as the just as we well know.  Soli Deo Gloria!

Polarizing Political Hay

I was watching the History channel presentation "The Bible" the other day and a fellow "Christian" persecuted me for watching a "politically correct" version of the Bible (it had a black Samson). When he found out from listening to Fox News that the man who portrayed the devil had an uncanny resemblance to President Obama, he said he "owed me an apology" because he obviously liked that part.

The biggest problem we have in Congress is gridlock and dysfunction. Everyone seems to think that being pragmatic is evil and that compromising politically is like compromising your morals. Many politicians are beholden to the NRA for instance because of intimidation and financial ties even though the silent majority of Americans disagree with this organization. (For instance, 91 percent of Americans favor background checks for all gun purchases, while the NRA is against this.) What we need is the great compromise of 2013 just like there was a Great Compromise of 1850. Both parties are adamant and intransigent and unwilling to see the others' viewpoint.

We owe respect to our elected officials no matter what their personal religious beliefs or economic theories are. God has placed these rulers in their place of power over us for a reason and we are to "obey the rulers who have authority over [us]." When we call someone a devil or demonize we are judging and I hope I don't have to remind fellow Christians that it is unwise to judge. Even if we see the president as our "enemy" we are to "love [our] enemies." I have seen what appears to be nothing but hate and intolerance for Obama, and the Word says that "If we hate others we are walking in darkness." Paul said in Acts after making this mistake: "Do not speak evil of a ruler of your people." We are to pray for those in authority and I wonder if all these critics actually do pray like commanded.

To render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's is to show due respect, honor, and obedience. I'm not saying we can't disagree but we can do it in a civil manner. Paul says to fear God and honor the emperor and I think that would be the president in our application. Yes, there are several reasons to respect the president. Soldiers are sworn to obey him and they learn to salute the office of an individual whether they personally like him or not.  Soli Deo Gloria!