Disentangling Faith From Party Politics
Over the last number of years in the United States of America Christianity and politics have become so intertwined that in some places they are almost indistinguishable. The rise of the “Moral Majority” and the “Religious Right” have turned Christians into a voting bloc to be used. Now, the political left is even getting in on the act. Christianity bought into a bill of goods that argued that if there was support for a certain political agenda then Christianity would have greater cultural influence.
Disentangling Faith From Party Politics
Over the last number of years in the United States of America Christianity and politics have become so intertwined that in some places they are almost indistinguishable. The rise of the “Moral Majority” and the “Religious Right” have turned Christians into a voting bloc to be used. Now, the political left is even getting in on the act. Christianity bought into a bill of goods that argued that if there was support for a certain political agenda then Christianity would have greater cultural influence.
“I am impressed that when the Son of God became a human being he played by the rules, harsh rules: small towns do not treat kindly young boys who grow up with questionable paternity.”- From: [The Jesus I Never Knew](https://micro.blog/books/9780310295815) by Philip Yancey 📚
I hadn’t thought of this, have you? The idea of Jesus growing up in a small town “with questionable paternity,” is one that kind of shakes me. Would I have mocked him? Would I have held him at arm’s length? Was he treated poorly even as a child?
Trying to wrap my mind around Jesus from the human perspective is proving to be a bit of a gut punch.
I just got thekjd.net set up on micro.blog! I’m so pumped. The Knee Jerk Devotional is officially on it’s own site with it’s own email subscription list! You can also follow it’s dedicated RSS: thekjd.net/feed
Because it’s on micro.blog it will show up on all the channels autmagically too.
Psalm 105:1-11, 37-45; Genesis 21:1-7; Hebrews 1:8-12
He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations, the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac.
Reading all these passages together it strikes me this morning that I don’t necessarily have faith in any of this.
Do you?
Faith is “trust”.
When I take a deep look at much of how I live it is marked by lack of trust. I think, when I am honest with myself I live too much of my life as though God will not remember his covenant promises. If I did believe it, I think I would likely have a greater patience in prayer. I intellectually ascent to the things in these passages. I believe them. But, I don’t know if I faith in any of it.
There is critical distinction between faith and belief. Belief is something of the mind. Faith is rooted in trust which is displayed in action.
When was the last time that I prayed long and faithfully for something? Do I rest in the knowledge that God will work out all things for the good of those who believe? Too often I do not.
This morning I am wrestling with the following, “Do I have faith in any of this?”
If you’re someone who likes to listen to sermons, you can check out mine from this morning at Peace Presbyterian Chruch in Flint, MI: ordinary jesus - integrity
ordinary jesus - integrity // Matthew 5:27-37
We explore Jesus’ call to “let your yes be yes and your no be no.”
Good morning! If you’re looking to connect with a faith community I’d love to invite you to our home this evening.
We gather tonight at 5:30 pm for dinner.
6:30 we will spend time in the Scriptures, communion, and prayer.
Our passage: Matthew 5:38-48
9016 Parkland Dr, Ypsilanti, MI 48197
The garage will be open, come on in!
Good morning! May you connect deeply with an authentic community today. #MorningBlessing #MorningMug
When ball games get delayed two hours and you’ve driven three hours away from home, you end up at Barnes and Noble to drink bad coffee, read, and write.
Psalm 22:23-31; Genesis 16:1-6; Romans 4:1-12
Genesis 16:1-6, which is the opening of the story of Hagar and Ishmael. This tells about how Abraham’s wife wanted a child so badly that she offered up her slave Hagar to Abraham and Hagar conceives. They took the promise God had offered in Genesis 15 into their own hands.
Romans 4:1-12 talks about Abraham’s faith being credited to him as righteousness.
When you read those two passages side by side it is shocking.
Abraham acts in a way that is anything but righteous. He impregnated a woman that is not his wife and he then leaves this woman to be abused by his wife.
Yet, Romans 4 reminds us that this righteousness that was credited to Abraham was not based on anything he did. It was based solely on the promise that God made. His righteousness was credited to him before this scene plays out.
Think about that.
Abraham is deeply flawed, deeply sinful, and in many ways pretty awful. So was his wife.
Yet, he is considered righteous in spite of this.
God’s grace is so overwhelming that even a man like Abraham can become the spiritual father of the nations. God’s faithfulness is greater than any man’s. God’s grace is beyond anything that we can ever imagine.
I am reminded by this passage that I don’t need to take things into my own hands. I can trust the God of grace to bring his plans to fruition. When I trust God there is rest.
I watched Iron Claw yesterday. It was intense, slow, heartbreaking, and absolutely fascinating. I think I enjoyed it. 🍿
Hey micro.blog community, if you’re looking for a theme that just “works” and is highly customizable, check out Tiny Theme by @Mtt. He has really crafted something useful.
I’m pretty proud of myself at the moment! I dont' know anything about html or css but after some googling, I figured out how create a clean little “hamburger menu” for The Pastor Next Door and few other little tweaks. Now, if I can just figure out how to center the profile pic, title and subtitle…
Psalm 22:23-31; Genesis 15:1-6, 12-18; Romans 3:21-31
Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
All of these passages are remarkable.
I am amazed by the fact that in Genesis 15:12-18 Abram is told there will be a time of enslavement. This promise from God is not going to be simply roses and puppies. No, there would be hardship. There would be need of saving.
Then, this passage in Romans 3 is always one that leaves me shaking my head in awe and amazement. Why? Because it undoes so much of my self-righteousness. It is the great reminder that is Christ’s faithfulness and God’s action that sets people right with God. We don’t add a thing to it. There is nothing that we do.
God in God’s grace sets the world right by Christ’s faithfulness.
The grace that God lavishes on God’s creation is without limit. It is effective and unstoppable. God’s grace brings about its intended result.
I am recognizing again that I need to keep on killing off my ego. There is so much self-righteousness in me that has yet to be dealt with on so many levels.
Today, I’m wrestling with this question, “What do I trust more, my own self-righteousness or God’s grace in Christ?”
This just makes me even happier that I have made the switch to micro.blog.
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This week we launched a new pricing model with up to 5 blogs for Micro.blog Premium. See Manton’s blog post for why we made this change and what it means for existing accounts.
”Good morning! May your morning beverage bring you joy and may you be content today. #MorningMug #MorningBlessing
