"Without a vision, the people perish..." (cf. Proverbs 29:18).
"Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people..." (cf. Isa. 10:1).
"...Men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do..." (cf. 2 Chronicles 12:32).
By vision, I mean the goal or the understanding and interpreting of reality (not political or economic), as in worldview: the Muslims have hegemony (or domination) as their vision and will not stop until the whole world belongs to Allah--"Tomorrow belongs to Islam." Unless Christians have a common, worldview that encompasses believers all over the world, our faith will not stand the trials to be upon the world in the near future. Islam is soon to replace Christianity as the world's most numerous religion.
What is it that joins us together, that unites us in Christ? Fellowship is really two fellows in the same ship, they say. A Christian in Sweden or Russia should have the same worldview or Christian outlook and I am not talking politics. We have no geopolitical concerns in our faith. Christ's kingdom is not of this world and we are to build His kingdom, not ours. How is this accomplished? By the fulfilling of the Great Commission by the church at large.
Never forget that our mission is to fulfill the Great Commission--don't get sidetracked. Keep the main thing the main thing and don't major in the minors. Every other goal we have is to be subjective to this one. The so-called "social gospel" (a misnomer) is not for the church per se individual believers may be led or inspired to do great works in Christ's name (one only looks at William Wilberforce devoting his life to freeing the slaves). The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern (Prov. 29:7): 'He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is this not what it means to know Me?' declares the LORD" (Jer. 22:16).
The government, or the powers that be, are ordained of God, and we are to be obedient unless they directly violate Scripture. Aurelius Augustine said that "government is not a necessary evil, but necessary because of evil." To be anti-government is to be anti-God just as much as anti-family is. Before you shrug that comment aside and disagree, note that he is considered by many to be the greatest theological thinker of the first millennium. Martin Luther was an Augustinian monk, by the way.
Our mission on earth is not to make people come over to our way of political interpretation, but to know the Lord. God's pet peeve or controversy with Israel was this: "There is no truth, or mercy, or knowledge of God in the land," (Hosea 4:1). I am not saying it is evil to be a member of a political party, but to associate it with the church or to imply that Christ would join your party is. This is what has happened in today's evangelical-right movement that tends to have a self-righteous attitude because they desire to judge or condemn others. They can have their convictions or opinions, but not the right to label them as "Christian." So many of them are merely geography-related and have prejudices inherent. Sincere believers in other parts of the nation disagree.
We are to be the salt and light in the world and I mean the world-system or the cosmos ("Virtually every significant social movement in Western civilization--from the abolition of slavery to child labor laws--owes its origin to the influence of Jesus Christ). We are of the light and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one (1 John 5:19). But our light and salt are the Word of God, not some attainment of education, the standard of living, economic system, or political system. God's people can thrive anywhere and surpasses the world-system that lies in the power of the prince of the power of the air--the prince of this world or Satan.
Are we sowing seeds of truth, not are we affiliates of some party-system? The problem with too many Christians is that in their misdirected zeal or zeal, which is not according to knowledge, they look at the cosmos and become do-gooders bent on the betterment of society, but losing sight of the Great Commission--turning stones into bread instead of offering a cup of water in the name of the Lord. Become spiritual leaders and servants, not political activists in league with the world! In conclusion, let me cite George Bernard Shaw: "What the world needs is more Christian love." Soli Deo Gloria!
"Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people..." (cf. Isa. 10:1).
"...Men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do..." (cf. 2 Chronicles 12:32).
By vision, I mean the goal or the understanding and interpreting of reality (not political or economic), as in worldview: the Muslims have hegemony (or domination) as their vision and will not stop until the whole world belongs to Allah--"Tomorrow belongs to Islam." Unless Christians have a common, worldview that encompasses believers all over the world, our faith will not stand the trials to be upon the world in the near future. Islam is soon to replace Christianity as the world's most numerous religion.
What is it that joins us together, that unites us in Christ? Fellowship is really two fellows in the same ship, they say. A Christian in Sweden or Russia should have the same worldview or Christian outlook and I am not talking politics. We have no geopolitical concerns in our faith. Christ's kingdom is not of this world and we are to build His kingdom, not ours. How is this accomplished? By the fulfilling of the Great Commission by the church at large.
Never forget that our mission is to fulfill the Great Commission--don't get sidetracked. Keep the main thing the main thing and don't major in the minors. Every other goal we have is to be subjective to this one. The so-called "social gospel" (a misnomer) is not for the church per se individual believers may be led or inspired to do great works in Christ's name (one only looks at William Wilberforce devoting his life to freeing the slaves). The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern (Prov. 29:7): 'He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is this not what it means to know Me?' declares the LORD" (Jer. 22:16).
The government, or the powers that be, are ordained of God, and we are to be obedient unless they directly violate Scripture. Aurelius Augustine said that "government is not a necessary evil, but necessary because of evil." To be anti-government is to be anti-God just as much as anti-family is. Before you shrug that comment aside and disagree, note that he is considered by many to be the greatest theological thinker of the first millennium. Martin Luther was an Augustinian monk, by the way.
Our mission on earth is not to make people come over to our way of political interpretation, but to know the Lord. God's pet peeve or controversy with Israel was this: "There is no truth, or mercy, or knowledge of God in the land," (Hosea 4:1). I am not saying it is evil to be a member of a political party, but to associate it with the church or to imply that Christ would join your party is. This is what has happened in today's evangelical-right movement that tends to have a self-righteous attitude because they desire to judge or condemn others. They can have their convictions or opinions, but not the right to label them as "Christian." So many of them are merely geography-related and have prejudices inherent. Sincere believers in other parts of the nation disagree.
We are to be the salt and light in the world and I mean the world-system or the cosmos ("Virtually every significant social movement in Western civilization--from the abolition of slavery to child labor laws--owes its origin to the influence of Jesus Christ). We are of the light and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one (1 John 5:19). But our light and salt are the Word of God, not some attainment of education, the standard of living, economic system, or political system. God's people can thrive anywhere and surpasses the world-system that lies in the power of the prince of the power of the air--the prince of this world or Satan.
Are we sowing seeds of truth, not are we affiliates of some party-system? The problem with too many Christians is that in their misdirected zeal or zeal, which is not according to knowledge, they look at the cosmos and become do-gooders bent on the betterment of society, but losing sight of the Great Commission--turning stones into bread instead of offering a cup of water in the name of the Lord. Become spiritual leaders and servants, not political activists in league with the world! In conclusion, let me cite George Bernard Shaw: "What the world needs is more Christian love." Soli Deo Gloria!