As It Pertains to Politics...

If you know me, you know that I am a Christian. And for a long time, I thought the Christian agenda was one and the same with the Republican agenda. However, just before last year's election, I read something truly eye-opening and refreshing. I wanted to share it with you and I do hope you read it thoroughly. It is long, but well worth it.
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I'm writing this note to followers of Christ, and my hope in writing this is to see some cycles break that have gone on long enough in this country. I'm listening to Lecrae's new album titled "Rebel." The first song (called Rebel Intro) is great and is what got my thoughts rolling on this issue I want to address.

Jesus was challenged by the Pharisees in His day about paying taxes to Caesar (See Matthew 22:15-22). They ask Jesus if it is lawful to pay taxes. Jesus replies by asking to see a coin, and asks them "Whose inscription is on this coin?" They reply, "Caesar's." Then He tells them, "Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesars and to God the things that are God's." They marveled at Him and left. I share this story because of the point that Jesus makes here that I think we as His followers miss. There is not a large, in-depth explanation of what is going on here, but it is pretty self-explanatory. The Pharisees are trying to catch Jesus bashing the government, which would allow them to hand him over with a legit accusation. However, they walk away amazed at His response.

The point Jesus is making here has very little to do with taxes, and a lot to do with our involvement in the politics of the land. Jesus lived in a political situation that had zero respect for non-Romans. If there were such a thing as human rights violations then, they would have violated every one of them and not thought twice about it. It was a political system that was engaged in or permitted rape, abuse, slavery, corruption, abortion, etc. Yet, Jesus seems to say little about it. In fact, He invited a tax collector to follow Him. A tax collector in His day took money from Jews to give to the Roman Emperor to pass out to the armies ruling over them who also raped and beat and killed their people. He was so much more than a traitor, and was hated with much passion by most, if not all Jewish people. There is not a modern equivalent in our land to this person.If anyone had a right to go before their government and protest, Jesus did.

If anyone had a reason to get involved in government and change its course, Jesus did. Yet, Jesus didn't do any of those things. Why? I mean come on, Jesus, all the religious leaders of Your day got in bed with the Roman officials, why not You? Why would you not do everything in Your human strength to press the government to change and quit treating people like animals? Better yet, since you are God and Man, why didn't you use all your human strength and divine strength to absolutely remove the powers that be and set the peoples free? Why don't you hate evil people and tyrants and emperors like we do? Isn't this what those who longed for the Messiah wanted? Is it not true that they wanted the Messiah to come and kick Rome out and set up the kingdom of Israel forever?

Do you see where I am going with this yet? I have been paying close attention to our Christian involvement in politics, and I've been noticing how much money and time and energy we put into making sure all of our politicians are "Christian" and doing "Christianly" things to make us happy, and when they don't we raise hell to make sure they hear us and conform to our needs. The sad thing is that while we have spent so much time trying to overturn Roe v Wade and make sure homosexuals can't live, there have been more abortions than ever before and homosexuality is on the rise. Maybe there is a reason Jesus wasn't involved in the political scene of His day. Maybe He cared more for the people than the policies. Seriously, is God's word so insufficient that we need some manmade laws for everyone to abide by? Jesus knew that if He captured the hearts of men and women He could change their lives and bring them to submit joyfully to the One True God of all creation. When you live by the Spirit, there are no laws...yeah NO laws. Wait...what? Galatians 5:18 and 22-23, "But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law...But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." See what I'm saying?

I think it is a slap in the face of the God of the Universe, to lobby politicians to get Christian laws passed. Yeah, a slap in the face! It says to God that we do not believe He has what it takes to change lives and ultimately a country, and that we will have to handle these matters on our own. This isn't just happening on the political scene; this is going on everyday in churches. We have replaced the Spirit for our strategies. We don't need the Spirit to reach the unreached, we need the latest contextualization models that some man came up with and thinks will work everywhere. We don't need the Spirit to reach the lost around us, just give us the latest man made church model that seems to work with great success. (Side note: I believe this current trend in the churches has a lot to do with the fact that business minded people are running and counseling the churches in our country. I believe that if you want to really learn about church growth seek counsel from a farmer or a Shepherd not a business man. We need to know more about cultivating and caring for the crop or sheep than we do about turning out a bunch of mass produced, fast-food Christians who have a shallow walk with the Lord but give us the numbers we need to feel successful.)

Jesus didn't protest the government in His day, nor did He lobby them for change. Jesus said pay to Caesar what is Caesars, but give to God what is God's. The dollar may belong to the US, but if You are in Christ you belong to God. You cannot serve two masters. You cannot be a God and Country follow of Christ. You cannot pledge allegiance to two masters. And when I see how loud, outspoken and involved some evangelicals are in the political scene, I fear that we are Americans first and Christians second. Oh sure it's done in the name of morals and family values, and it gives the appearance of actual concern for the lives of American people. The reality is that it is the same thing the world does, thus it makes God look weak and insignificant. Solomon was right, nothing changes under the sun. This has been done before to no avail. Jesus lived opposite of this. He lived against both the Jewish culture and the secular culture around Him. Why? Because Jesus was establishing a kingdom that rules all kingdoms. He laid down His life for the sake of rescuing a people from all peoples. He didn't hold up signs in protest. He didn't push for a new emperor that held His values. He didn't spend millions wooing politicians to "see things His way." He rebelled against the status quo. He passionately pursued us. He didn't set out to change policies but lives. He wasn't affected by the economy because He knew His Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He wasn't scared of homosexuals and abortion doctors. He didn't bad-mouth the politicians of His time. He loved. He comforted. He fed. He healed. He restored. He reconciled. He transformed. He made new. He raised to life. He died. He rose. He's coming back.

America's interests in the world are not the same as Christ's kingdom interest in the world. Do not confuse the two. America IS NOT a Christian country. It doesn't need to be. God doesn't need a country on His side. Followers of Jesus belong to a country built by God's hands (Hebrews 11). We are sojourners here. Just strangers borrowing the land we live on to be used of God to establish His glorious kingdom on the earth. Don't get caught up in the political affairs of the day. Keep your eyes firmly fixed on Jesus for He has proved His love and concern for you. The politicians need a break. They are not meant to be Saviors, rather represent the people who put them there. Let us break the cycle of our dependence on the government to fix all the wrongs in this country and in the world. Let us break the cycle of spending millions if not billions trying to make sure homosexuals don't get married and women can't have abortions, and let us follow after Christ into their homes and lives to care for and love with the passionate love of a Savior who has died and rose again to give them life...real life. Let us break the cycle of drawing lines in the sand between us and them, republican and democrat, Christian and Muslim, etc. and let us engage in a sacrificial pursuit of the nations of the earth to know and love and worship Jesus. Let us give to America what belongs to America, but let us give to God wants belongs to God...our lives!

Bryan Padgett
Dallas, Texas

I want to add here that I never said NOT to vote in the election. That is each individual’s decision. However, as a firm believer in God and His word, all governments are placed by His sovereign power. This is where our ability to vote leads to a lack of faith, and why I believe we try so hard to make sure we get candidates in there who believe like we do. Nonsense! God has the power to transform an entire culture overnight. If you need an example of how God works, look at the early Church who had zero freedom politically, or look at China today for a more modern example. The gospel does affect every realm of society, but not because of picket signs, lobbying and joining the Republican Party. The government cannot make a law against love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control...so quit fearing what the government does. Follow Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, and you will see every realm of society affected. Keep on with the signs, and lobbying and bashing of liberal politicians and your message will be lost and you will be nothing more than an annoying drip of water that will one day be turned off. Oh sure, you'll call it martyrdom, but that's not what it will be. Jesus didn't die for His outspoken political views. Jesus didn't bash the government nor did He picket it...rather He kept His focus on what ultimately mattered...bringing souls into the white hot worship of the One who loves them to death no matter how awful they are! So go vote or don’t, it's up to you. But remember, no matter who is in office and no matter what laws get passed: Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever and not a single word of His will be changed or removed. Laws come and go, politicians come and go, people come and go, but the Word of the Lord stands forever. This is what a dying and hopeless world needs today the most. They need Christ not America...never forget this!

God and Baseball

I wanted to share this story to not only inform everybody about the events of yesterday, but about how truly amazing God is.

After picking Payton up from school, we headed home to get ready for a baseball game. Daddy was working so it was just me and my two sons. Suited up with glove in hand, he, Tegan and I headed for the ball fields. Once we were there, Payton ran out on in the out field to practice catching with the rest of his team. After a couple of minutes in the stoller, Tegan began to get fussy so I picked him up. The boys were about to finish practicing and I got up from the benches when I heard...

"Head's up!"

Out of the corner of my eye I saw something fall out of the sky and hit Tegan in the head.

All the voices that were yelling "Heads up!" gasped in horror.

Yes, a ball was overthrown and hit my poor baby square on the head.

I immediately embraced him, cradled in my arms and engulfed him in my chest. He cryed so hard; my entire body hurt for him. I pulled him away from my chest to assess the damage and he was so red from crying that I couldn't see any trauma. By then I was surrounded by concerned and caring people all checking on my little one. A doctor just so happen to be there and examined him briefly, assuring me that he thought everything was okay.

During this time, I (as well as everyone around me) kept looking for some sort of mark from where the ball hit. Much to our surprise, there was no mark. No bruise, no knot, nothing. I just kept waiting for something to pop up.

Tegan finally settled down a little (after wrapping his arms around my neck for the first time which warmed my heart) and I decided that I was going to be safe and take him to the ER. I knew he was going to be fine, but I just wanted to make sure. My aunt showed up to take Payton for me and my cousin accompanied me and Tegan to the hospital.

The ER doctor examined him and found nothing to be concerned about. In fact, there was still no sign of external trauma. So we were released from the hospital and on the way home I called Richie to update him. I told him that there was still no sign of where the ball hit him and I said, "Either God has His hand on him, or there is internal damage." After hanging up with him, Payton said, "Mama, I think God had His hand on him...I don't think there's internal damage." Sooo cute! And later on that night, Payton informed me that he not only prayed for his dinner, but also "prayed for Tegan and that nothing bad would ever happen to him again."

So, the moral of the story is...God is always watching out for my family. And although bad things happen, He will always work things for the good. I also realized (again) that sending Payton to private Christian school is the best thing we've ever done. He has been so compassionate lately...genuinely compassionate. God is so good! He has blessed me far beyond anything I could ever dream. I mean, seriously, look how blessed I am!

Thanks for reading!

Aimee