First of all, and
this goes back to my entry on 29 June (http://qt-notes.blogspot.com/2012/06/qt-29-jun-12-its-not-politics-that-has.html),
the problems in our country will not be solved by new elected officials of
either party. It is possible that a change in the political order may slow the
decay of our culture, but I doubt it would be noticeable. Our problems require
inward change. And I would offer as proof the incivility of the entire
political discourse. Name-calling, vulgarity, profanity, rudeness -- when did
these attributes become part of our political discourse? Yes, they have been
around awhile, but the degree to which they have been used has changed for the
worst. There used to be an art to language which never required the vulgarity
of today. And so we will continue on our path. Paul, nearly 2000 years ago said
it best:
Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain
the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought
not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil,
greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice.
They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they
invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless,
faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that
those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very
things but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:28-32)
The good news is
that it has never been easier to be a witness for Jesus Christ. If we live in
the power of the Holy Spirit and are growing in our relationship with Christ,
we will be different. People will come up to us and ask us if we are religious.
My response is usually, "no, been there, done that, and I'm not a big fan
of religion and rules, but I have found that a relationship with Jesus Christ
has completely changed my life." That's it! That is all we have to say,
because it's true. Paul also wrote:
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old
has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17)
So where do we go
from here? We need to go back to the basics, which is almost always something
that Jesus said for us to do. I can think of two things that we need to give
ourselves to if we really want to see change and hope blossom. The first thing
is Jesus' response to the disciples' question about changing the political
landscape.
So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you
at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or
dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when
the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in
all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:6-8)
The second thing is
our mission and it is summarized in the last two verses of the first book of
the New Testament.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and
teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you
always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20)
So, how are we doing
at being a witness and making disciples? If we really believe in Christ, that
is what our lives should be about. Jesus really didn't give a whole lot of
attention to the political landscape. He had more important things to give his
life for.
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