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[SLIDES 1,2]Introduction

Things we believe we’re not supposed to talk about at a family reunion or get together with friends: religion and politics. We’re 0-2 today.

[SLIDE 3]Has the Church Become too Politicized?

Reasons people are leaving the church: Fuzzy, complex picture. Depends on who you ask. Some of it has to do with politics.

Politics - Biblical Understanding

Gk politicus (latin) and politikos (Gk) - a resident of a city; citizen.

Regulating relationships that exist in any form of human community.

[SLIDE 4 ]USED DIFFERENTlY:

The science and art of governing human society

The citizens of any human community or nation.

Politics also is used to refer to the tactics, methods, schemes (sometimes unethical) used in governing.

[SLIDE 5] Public Policy

The decisions of government related to or affecting the relationships or interactions between people and institutions under its oversight and the social goals a government officially promotes and seeks to foster.

The decisions of government related to or affecting the relationships or interactions between people and institutions under its oversight and the social goals a government officially promotes and seeks to foster.

The Church and Politics

Politics

Gk politicus (latin) and politikos (Gk) - a resident of a city; citizen.

regulating relationships that exist in any form of human community.

USED DIFFERENTlY: The science and art of governing human society or the citizens of any human community or nation.

Politics also is used to refer to the tactics, methods, schemes (sometimes unethical) used in governing.

Public Policy

The decisions of government related to or affecting the relationships or interactions between people and institutions under its oversight and the social goals a government officially promotes and seeks to foster.

1973 - Chicago Declaration of Evangelical Social Concerns (inerrancy document also came out of this). Younger evangelicals had influence. Called for activism on social justice issues.

Soon after, a different evangelical activism than what was envisioned emerged: The Religious Right (1980’s) and the Moral Majority. Visible voting bloc. Very engaged in social-political life.

God and Country

Limited Gov’t/fear of gov’t control

More Gov’t control

Public Policy and Ideology Battles:

Public Policy Battles:

Is it right to legislate morality?

Is it right to legislate morality?

How big should government be?

How big should government be?

How intrusive should it be?

Too consumeristic

How intrusive should it be?

At the same time, facing a religious

Church as performance

Good Christians vote republican

Culture wars

Good Christians vote for social justice

Not able to ask questions

Want to be called to holistic discipleship that includes both the heart and community engagement

Political frustration.

For the past 50 years, we have become increasingly pessimistic about the possibilities for significant social reform. Led to a focus on individual salvation because the end is near (Dwight Moody). America is sinking and the only thing to do is urge individuals to get in the lifeboats - bible believing churches and wait for Jesus to rescue us.

Is trying to do some good in society and the political arena was like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic?

Soon after, a different evangelical activism than what was envisioned emerged: The Religious Right (1980’s) and the Moral Majority. Visible voting bloc. Very engaged in social-political life.

Is trying to do some good in society and the political arena was like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

We are not clear about what it means to engage the larger culture in ways that are biblically faithful.

Theocratic Sentiments

God and Country Sentiments

Anti-Gov’t Sentiments

Gk politicus (latin) and politikos (Gk) - a resident of a city; citizen.

Politics: regulating relationships that exist in any form of human community.

regulating relationships that exist in any form of human community.

USED DIFFERENTlY: The science and art of governing human society or the citizens of any human community or nation.

Politics also is used to refer to the tactics, methods, schemes (sometimes unethical) used in governing.

Public Policy

The decisions of government related to or affecting the relationships or interactions between people and institutions under its oversight and the social goals a government officially promotes and seeks to foster.

Public Policy Battles:

Is it right to legislate morality?

How big should government be?

How intrusive should it be?

[SLIDE 6]Governing Authorities: Established by God’s Will?

Romans 13:1–7 ESV

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Romans was a letter sent to the Christian community to instruct, advise, encourage.

Colossians 1:16 ESV

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

Proverbs 8:15 ESV

By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just;

1 Peter 2:13–17 ESV

Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

John 19:11 ESV

Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”

- don't speak evil of a ruler of your people (high priest)

; ; - Paul abiding by Roman rule.

CONTEXT

Church was mainly converted Jews. Jews enjoyed favor and privileges with the Roman Empire. The Emperor made special laws for them Their practices were protected by the emperor.

Sabbath law

Food laws

No graven images - Military equipment with the emperor’s image attached to them could not be brought inside Jerusalem.

Jewish law said a Gentile couldn’t go into the inner courtyard of the temple. Jewish law: punishable by death. Rome permitted that law to be enforced even if the person was a Roman citizen.

God is the fount of all authority, and those who exercise authority on earth do so by delegation from him; Human government is a divine ordinance, and the powers of coercion and commendation which it exercises have been entrusted to it by God, for the repression of crime and the encouragement of righteousness.

God’s Will

Perfect or declared will has to do with humanity's restoration to relationship with God (Salvation).

Perceptive will - Principles. Do not murder. Don't have to pray about that.

Preferential will - What gives God pleasure and what does not. ; ;

Directive will - speaks to us personally.

Discerned will - what I perceive God's will is for my life.

Permissive will - What God allows, even though it might be sin. He allows people to reject his good news, wilfully disobey him, to persecute the righteous, etc. In all of it, he still rules.

Directive will - speaks to us personally.

Discerned will - what I perceive God's will is for my life.

What he declares often permits us to violate what he prefers and maps out for us (Scripture).

God permits and directs those things which will lead to the accomplishment of what he declares.

Spoiler Alert - If his declared will is for our salvation, spiritual formation, things that seem both awful and wonderful both are meant to grow us and not always in fun ways.

Government

Image

v1 - The general biblical view is that God holds power over both heaven and his kingdom as well as everything on the earth. There is no distinction in that way between sacred and secular.

There is both cultural and structural order that includes institutions that work as God designed - for the good of all people - and those that have gone bad. Our place is to submit to both.

The general biblical view is that secular power is wielded by ‘the host of heaven, in heaven’ as well as by ‘the kings of the earth, on the earth’

To submit - recognize their place over the believer in the order that exists in the world which includes both secular institutions gone bad as well as those still functioning as designed by God for the good of his people (structural as well as cultural).

ecognize their place over the believer in the order that exists in the world which includes both secular institutions gone bad as well as those still functioning as designed by God for the good of his people (structural as well as cultural).

Paul is pretty consistent on this both when Christians were protected as a part of Jews and when they weren’t.

In the first generation after the death of Christ Roman law, when it took cognizance of Christians at all, tended to regard them as a variety of Jews. When the Corinthian Jews in ad 51 or 52 accused Paul before Gallio, proconsul of Achaia, of propagating an illegal religion, Gallio paid little attention to the charge (). To him Paul was as self-evidently a Jew as his accusers were, and the dispute between him and them was in Gallio’s eyes a difference of interpretation on points of Jewish law, and he had not come to Achaia to adjudicate on matters of that kind.

Gallio’s decision constituted an important precedent; for some ten years thereafter Paul availed himself of the protection which it gave him in his apostolic service, as he continued to propagate the Christian faith not only in the provinces of the Roman Empire but in Rome itself ().

His happy experience of Roman justice is probably reflected in his insistence here that the magistrates, whom he calls ‘ministers of God’ (verse 6), ‘are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad’ (verse 3). Yet the principles laid down here were valid even when the authorities were not so benevolent towards Christians as Gallio had been (in effect) towards Paul.

Who Are The Governing Authorities?

God's Public servants; ministers

13:6 - Liturgy. Word used for both workers and priests. A priestly ministry to God, for God.

One who cares for another; doing something for the good of society at their own expense.

One who cares for another; doing something for the good of society at their own expense.

Main Function: Vengeance, execution of justice. forbidden to the Christian.

therefore to disobey them is to disobey God. Authorities are God's servants; ministers of God charged with a function forbidden to the Christian: vengeance. We’re to leave it to the wrath of God.

Spoken of like a priestly ministry - to God, for God.

13:6 - Servant - leitourgos (liturgy). Rare use. Used for workers and religious ministers/priestly ministry.

Public servant

According to Aristotle many democratic states fleece the wealthy by means of “liturgies.”

According to Aristotle many democratic states fleece the wealthy by means of “liturgies.”

Rulers

Representatives of God who are authorized to exercise rule/influence/authority/power over a population on his behalf. Comes with great responsibility. Also consequences for abusing it.

A person exercising power over a designated population. Comes with responsibility. There are also consequences for abuse of power. They are representatives of King Jesus, servants.

Speaking of secular authorities - local, state, nation. Subject matter to become very important within 10 years after the letter was written.

Governing authorities likely those outside the fellowship. Not all. Probably most.

God is the fount of all authority, and those who exercise authority on earth do so by delegation from him; Human government is a divine ordinance, and the powers of coercion and commendation which it exercises have been entrusted to it by God, for the repression of crime and the encouragement of righteousness.

Church was mainly converted Jews. Jews enjoyed favor and privileges with the Roman Empire. The Emperor made special laws for them Their practices were protected by the emperor.

Sabbath law

Food laws

No graven images - Military equipment with the emperor’s image attached to them could not be brought inside Jerusalem.

Military equipment with the emperor’s image attached to them could not be brought inside Jerusalem.

Jewish law said a Gentile couldn’t go into the inner courtyard of the temple. Jewish law: punishable by death. Rome permitted that law to be enforced even if the person was a Roman citizen.

If by Jewish law the trespassing of a Gentile within the inner courts of the Jerusalem temple was a sacrilege deserving the death penalty, Rome confirmed Jewish law in this respect even (quite exceptionally) to the point of allowing the execution of the death sentence for such a trespass when the offender was a Roman citizen.

[SLIDE 7]Do Good, Give Honor, Have No Fear

Titus 3:1 ESV

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,

Followers of Jesus are called/commanded to submit to the governments of our lands, do good, and give them honor because he has established them for our good.

Christians of all people, then, ought to obey the laws, pay their taxes and respect the authorities—not because it will be the worse for them if they do not, but because this is one way of serving God.

Good - agathos

Generous, gentle, bringing value, benefit.

The kindness through which Christ brings salvation.

Love

Honor and respect are treated as currency.

- Authorities don't always do good; are corrupt.

Spoken of like a priestly ministry - to God, for God. Rulers are servants of God in the execution of justice.

Christians live in a tension between the claims of government and the claims of Christ. When they conflict, obey God.

13:6 - Servant - leitourgos (liturgy). Rare use. Used for workers and religious ministers/priestly ministry.

3 - Cf. . Do right and no harm will come to you. But if that changes, if you do suffer for righteousness' sake...

Public servant. One who cares for another; doing something for society.

Technical Political. Politically the term refers to the rendering of specific social services at one’s own expense.

6 - This is your justification for paying taxes to unbelieving rulers, because they are carrying out God's service as ministers of God. Religious service.

According to Aristotle many democratic states fleece the wealthy by means of “liturgies.”

Ruler - a person exercising power over a designated population. Comes with responsibility. There are also consequences for abuse of power. They are representatives of King Jesus, servants.

Honor those who govern us, do good and enjoy favor. If we ever have to choose between obedience to God and obedience to gov't, choose God, still do good and be ready for what happens.

Making gov't the solution or source of our problems gives it the authority in our lives it wasn't meant to have.

Power/authority - Permitted, authorized, free to exercise rule/influence on behalf of the King,

[SLIDE 8]Resisting What God Has Willed

God is the fount of all authority, and those who exercise authority on earth do so by delegation from him; therefore to disobey them is to disobey God. Human government is a divine ordinance, and the powers of coercion and commendation which it exercises have been entrusted to it by God, for the repression of crime and the encouragement of righteousness. Christians of all people, then, ought to obey the laws, pay their taxes and respect the authorities—not because it will be the worse for them if they do not, but because this is one way of serving God.

But what if the authorities themselves step outside the purpose God gave them?

What are we to do when they become corrupt?

What are we to do when the

What is our course of action when what was given to serve and protect us turns on us?

2 - Misuse - does not refer to blind submission to dictators. The state can command obedience only within the limits of the purposes for which it has been divinely instituted.

When the lawmakers go beyond the authority given to them by God and into territory that isn’t theirs, we say yes to the authority God gave them and no to their unauthorized demands.

- Continue to honor them but obey God.

Government must be resisted when it demands the allegiance due to God alone.

Honor those who govern us, do good and enjoy favor. If we ever have to choose between obedience to God and obedience to gov't, choose God, still do good and be ready for what happens.

Paul does not deal with this question here, presumably because it had not yet arisen; but it was to be a burning question in the Roman state for generations to come.

When the lawmakers go beyond the authority given to them by God and into territory that isn’t theirs, we say yes to the authority God gave them and no to their unauthorized demands.

Honor those who govern us, do good and enjoy favor. If we ever have to choose between obedience to God and obedience to gov't, choose God, still do good and be ready for what happens.

In a document written from Rome on the eve of a fiery persecution, we hear an echo of these words of Paul:

When the decrees of the civil magistrate conflict with the commandments of God, then, say Christians, ‘we must obey God rather than men’ (); when Caesar claims divine honours, Christians must answer ‘No’. For then Caesar (whether he takes the form of a dictator or a democracy) is going beyond the authority delegated to him by God, and trespassing on territory which is not his. ‘Regarding the State’s requirement of worship of Caesar’s image,’ says Oscar Cullmann, ‘Paul would not have spoken otherwise than the author of the Johannine Apocalypse.’ But Christians will voice their ‘No’ to Caesar’s unauthorized demands the more effectively if they have shown themselves ready to say ‘Yes’ to his authorized demands.

‘Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right … Let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or a wrongdoer, or a mischief-maker; yet if one suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but under that name let him glorify God’ (; ).

Some years later, in a document written from Rome on the eve of a fiery persecution, we hear an echo of these words of Paul: ‘Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right … Let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or a wrongdoer, or a mischief-maker; yet if one suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but under that name let him glorify God’ (; ).

What this doesn’t mean

Getting upset over the taking away of what we have come to consider civil liberties, changing the constitution to reduce rights, taking away tax breaks for pastors, limiting what pastors can say about politicians.

changing the constitution to reduce rights, taking away tax breaks for pastors, limiting what pastors can say about politicians

What it does mean

China has seen a sharp increase in government opposition to religion, including Christianity, as the Chinese government has destroyed crosses, burned Bibles, closed churches, and is forcing believers to sign papers renouncing their faith in Beijing and several other provinces, demanding loyalty to the atheist Communist party in power.

There has been a rise in attacks on pastors and prayer meetings being broken up, as several states in the nation are passing anti-conversion laws. One pastor told Release he was thrown off a moving train for carrying Bibles in a rucksack. His attackers yelled, "These people are spoiling our religion!" and threw him on to the platform. They fractured his skull, shoulder bone, and ankle, and knocked out several teeth. The pastor continues to preach the gospel despite opposition from hard-liners, the group said.

There has been a rise in attacks on pastors and prayer meetings being broken up, as several states in the nation are passing anti-conversion laws. One pastor told Release he was thrown off a moving train for carrying Bibles in a rucksack. His attackers yelled, "These people are spoiling our religion!" and threw him on to the platform. They fractured his skull, shoulder bone, and ankle, and knocked out several teeth. The pastor continues to preach the gospel despite opposition from hard-liners, the group said.

Can we recognize Paul’s magistrate, the ‘minister of God’, in John’s ‘beast from the abyss’, who receives his authority from the great red dragon and uses it to enforce universal worship of himself and to exterminate those who withhold worship from him? We can indeed, for Paul himself foresaw precisely such a development when the restraint of law was withdrawn ().

‘Without justice’, said Augustine, ‘what are kingdoms but great gangs of bandits?’

Yet the evidence shows how, in face of gross provocation, Christians maintained their proper loyalty to the state, not least in Rome itself. ‘The patience and faith of the saints’ wore down the fury of persecution.

- Authorities don't always do good; are corrupt.

When the decrees of the civil magistrate conflict with the commandments of God, then, say Christians, ‘we must obey God rather than men’ (); when Caesar claims divine honours, Christians must answer ‘No’. For then Caesar (whether he takes the form of a dictator or a democracy) is going beyond the authority delegated to him by God, and trespassing on territory which is not his. ‘Regarding the State’s requirement of worship of Caesar’s image,’ says Oscar Cullmann, ‘Paul would not have spoken otherwise than the author of the Johannine Apocalypse.’ But Christians will voice their ‘No’ to Caesar’s unauthorized demands the more effectively if they have shown themselves ready to say ‘Yes’ to his authorized demands.

Some years later, in a document written from Rome on the eve of a fiery persecution, we hear an echo of these words of Paul: ‘Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right … Let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or a wrongdoer, or a mischief-maker; yet if one suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but under that name let him glorify God’ (; ).

2 - Misuse - does not refer to blind submission to dictators. The state can command obedience only within the limits of the purposes for which it has been divinely instituted. Government must be resisted when it demands the allegiance due to God alone.

Titus 3:1 ESV

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,

Followers of Jesus are called/commanded to submit to the governments of our lands, do good, and give them honor because he has established them for our good.

Christians of all people, then, ought to obey the laws, pay their taxes and respect the authorities—not because it will be the worse for them if they do not, but because this is one way of serving God.

- Authorities don't always do good; are corrupt.

Good - agathos

Honor those who govern us, do good and enjoy favor. If we ever have to choose between obedience to God and obedience to gov't, choose God, still do good and be ready for what happens.

Good - agathos

Generous, gentle, bringing value, benefit.

The kindness through which Christ brings salvation.

Love

Honor and respect are treated as currency.

- Authorities don't always do good; are corrupt.

Christians live in a tension between the claims of government and the claims of Christ. When they conflict, obey God.

3 - Cf. . Do right and no harm will come to you. But if that changes, if you do suffer for righteousness' sake...

6 - This is your justification for paying taxes to unbelieving rulers, because they are carrying out God's service as ministers of God. Religious service.

Honor those who govern us, do good and enjoy favor. If we ever have to choose between obedience to God and obedience to gov't, choose God, still do good and be ready for what happens.

Making gov't the solution or source of our problems gives it the authority in our lives it wasn't meant to have.

[SLIDE 9]A New Order is Coming

7 - Responsibility of obedience to secular authorities is temporary. A new order of government will come when believers will judge the nations. The state will go away.

Until then...

[SLIDE 9] Engagement - What it means for us

Richard Neibuhr

Against Politics - there is a sacred and secular divide

Of Politics - It’s all good.

Above Politics.

Courtship leading to marriage commitment?

To commit to a marriage between Christian faith and the culture is a dangerous thing (Neibuhr, Christ and Culture).

Warfare image

Christians are culture warriors confronting the enemy. Also a bad idea.

Learning from the past

Calvin

Common Grace: God operates in unbelievers whether they know it or not.

Experience it where there is something good happening that improves life, integrity, mutual loyalty among people

Political engagement for Christians means careful listening to those who do not share our faith or world view

Forming partnerships with people who profess other world views but with whom we might share goals and strategies on specific issues in public life.

On : Respect the ways in which governments serve the will of God.

Does NOT mean that everything the government does serves God’s purposes. Ex: Nazi Germany, American slavery.

Daniel going to the furnace because he chose to obey God’s instructions over an unjust law.

Disciples in Acts were imprisoned for refusing to stop proclaiming their message as they were ordered.

Read with : There is a difference between a government that functions properly and one that is unjust.

When a gov’t does the opposite of - one that rewards those who do evil and punish those who do good must not be honored.

Our calling is not to be successful in the political realm but we are also to act. Not up to us to bring about God’s Kingdom and the shalom of our community but to seek it, bear it by living good lives in it.

Wesleyan - Arminian

Wesleyan - Arminian.

Wesleyans are concerned for and engaged with the poor and marginalized; widows, orphans, those who need clean drinking water, rescuing victims of human trafficking, the overwhelmed neighbor with a terminally ill spouse, the foreigner living among us.

Wesleyans are really sensitive to God’s preferential option for the poor and his concern for the marginalized. Like him, they are allies to the widows, orphans, and foreigners. It also means engagement with the overwhelmed mom across the street coping with the uncertainties of life because her husband is terminally ill and with the older neighbor who is grieving a recently deceased spouse. It means truly loving our neighbors near and far, as custodians of God’s love.

It means to be God’s transformed, hope-filled, and loving people who are responding passionately and unreservedly to God’s initiative of love. And consequently, they are reflecting God’s holy character before a watching world that so desperately needs that love. (Society of Evangelical Arminians).

In summary, what does it mean to be Wesleyan? It means to exemplify God’s transformed, hope-filled, and loving people who are responding passionately and unreservedly to God’s initiative of love. And consequently, they are reflecting God’s holy character before a watching world that so desperately needs that love. (Society of Evangelical Arminians).

False Choice

We have often been given a false choice about our role in public life. Completely withdraw or initiate takeover.

A third way I believe is mandated by Scripture:

In a time when Christ’s Kingdom is not yet in its fulness, we are called to do what we can in the political arena, given the opportunities and abilities that God provides for us in the places where he calls us to be faithful.

It is NOT our business to comment on the specifics of public policy. We are a worshiping community. There are other groups that have formed to address public policy (Christian Legal Society, Right to Life, Evangelicals for Social Action, The Center for Public Justice, etc).

We (the church) send ourselves into conversations about spiritual things with the world and people we find ourselves with every day.

As disciples, we are to seek discernment for life in the larger culture and promote and participate in community conversations on all aspects of life and faith and nurture spiritual formation that prepares us for engagement in public and possibly political life.

As disciples, we are to seek discernment for life in the larger culture and promote and participate in community conversations on all aspects of life and faith and nurture spiritual formation that prepares us for engagement in public and possibly political life.

Result in Spiritual and systemic change/formation.

Ex: South Africa repents and turns to Jesus after Billy Graham preaches. The next morning, they would still have a racism problem because Apartheid policies and practices are still in place. The effort to undo that is significant - Laws, education, practices...it would take at least a generation. Look at our own racism problem.

Ex: South Africa repents and turns to Jesus after Billy Graham preaches. The next morning, they would still have a racism problem because Apartheid policies and practices are still in place. The effort to undo that is significant - Laws, education, practices...it would take at least a generation. Look at our own racism problem.

Changed hearts are necessary to change society and so is the hard word of systemic transformation to which God has called certain people and the church to equip.

Our participation in the worshiping community of our congregation is the place where we cultivate virtues necessary for our active participation in the larger society.

Our worshiping life is when we enter into the presence of our King, who sends us to serve the cause of his kingdom in our daily lives in the society in which we live individually and in formal public life for those who have been called there to live and bring those virtues to bear in the conversations and decisions around public policy and culture shaping.

We’re to engage in those conversations with humility.

Our efforts to serve the cause of the kingdom will benefit from self-examination.

God is patient with a world marinating in sin. We participate in that divine patience but it doesn’t mean we tolerate the status quo. As we anticipate the coming of Christ’s kingdom in its fullness, we do so actively working toward growing manifestations of it.