Jesus 2020

Imagine this group of co-workers:

One guy hates the governing bodies, I mean, hates them. He’d readily help assassinate the rulers.

Another guy is related to him, but works for the government, makes good money, too.

A third guy is a blue-color guy, keeps to himself, works hard, is brash and loyal.

How effective do you think they would be working together?

Later, a brainiac, doctor-type meets them and wants to know everything about them and their work.

To top it off, one of the top religious scholars who hates all of these guys jumps in to help.

Well, Simon the Zealot, Matthew, and Peter did a pretty good job getting the job done.

Luke and Paul, yeah, they, too, helped change the world!

THE CHURCH

Some love the government, some hate it. Some love the government if “their guy” is in, and hate it if “the other guy” is.

Some never want to talk about politics, and some can’t seem to talk about much else.

There are those who just want to go to work, raise a family, and keep to themselves.

Some hate masks, I mean HATE, others see them as necessary, and each “side” has reasons and data.

And others may not seem to fit in with anyone, but they keep hanging around and showing up.

A few will show up pretty much no matter what’s going on, if there is an opportunity to learn.

In the middle of all our differences, do we love the Lord?

Do we love the Lord enough to set aside differences that don’t matter for the Kingdom?

Lets’ talk politics! Voting is open!

How Can I Love Church Members with Different Politics?

Opening assumptions:

There will be no sympathy from the victorious

Losing (or the other) side is evil

Examples on display today:

Avoiding people with a political “hobby horse”

Condescending toward others

Background

1) Justified people love justice

It’s why we are passionate about things we are passionate about

We see the need for the “right” decisions

Abortion, immigration, poverty, sexuality, marriage, criminal justice

God, back in Genesis, initiated human government (platform, basis), expecting people to follow His lead

When we see injustice, we get angry, because we know God does, He has said as much

Does child abuse make you angry? It should!

When people disagree, we can get upset - it is actually because we think they are choosing injustice!

And if we are not careful, we might even question their faith!

2) Consider your convictions

Many are self-justifying

We are to first judge ourselves, then others properly, and then let love for others guide us.

CHALLENGE: Right now, we are both justified and sinners

The anger you feel about political disagreement:

might be right response to injustice

but be slow to anger, James 1:19-20, careful not to destroy any form of opposition (brothers and sisters)

3) Combining Wisdom with political judgment

Solomon example - 1 Kings 3:28, split the baby

Pick an issue - IMMIGRATION

Laws are good

More humanitarian? Compassion? How many allowed? What about trafficking?

Wisdom is skillful living - Biblical principles applied, not always clear-cut, and personal feelings come into play?

As voters, we strategize, make calculations on these matters

Sometimes we make political alliances to get stuff done, drives me crazy. I like line-item veto, for example.

Realize NOBODY here is Solomon. Ask God for wisdom!

STRAIGHT vs JAGGED LINE - How do we get “there?”

Straight - Bible says, black and white matters

Jagged - various views on how to do something, or “gray” areas

e.g. abortion

Straight - ends a life

Jagged - how do we address this issue? Laws, picketing, protests, violence, etc.?

e.g Taxes

Straight - way of life, Jesus in Matthew 22:21

Jagged - how much, what percentage, exemptions

e.g Death penalty

Straight - God initiated it

Jagged - is our system “just?” Are we required to enact it?

So What? How do we do this “love” thing?

1) Adjust expectations

With each other - “already not yet” (justified and sinners)

A tax collector and zealot - fly on the wall with their conversations

A healthy church is likely not uniform in politics

With our elected officials

Roe v Wade - conservative SCOTUS, justices appointed by Republican presidents

It was a conservative SCOTUS, with justices appointed by Republican presidents then, too

The gospel helps us love and bear with one another

When we let Jesus unify us, it sends a message, a witness - we can disagree on some things and worship Jesus together!

2) Recognize what a church IS

Not national, ethnic, class-based, or political

It’s HIS FOLLOWERS - every tribe, nation, tongue

Communities of former enemies of God (why would we allow politics to divide us, now that we are on the same side?)

We live to love each other - get that!

Local church - we unite

Our weekly encounters with each others exposes us to different opinions, and that is God-intended

Listen, love, lower your sword! Show the world how this is done. Gotta show up to do this!

3) Distinguish between Unity and Freedom

Unity - believe Gospel, repent of sin, believers are baptized and connected to church, Jesus is God, Virgin birth, worship only God, etc.

Biblically clear and taught

Freedom - millennial, when to be baptized, how to deal with moral issues like abortion and sexuality, sons of God in Gen. 6, Sabbath, POLITICS

Freedom does NOT mean that we are free to redefine truth, not be morally relative

But we lose focus, and lose friendships, even a church!

We are to make disciples, and we can also discuss, persuade, and keep loving each other

“We disagree, and my fellowship with you and friendship with you will not be jeopardized”

And we need to lower the emotional temperature - maturity

4) Respect others

Publically, online, in person, insulting, offensive

I do “care” what you think. I also care not to purposefully insult you

I have my convictions, you have yours, let’s share and discuss!

5) Pray for (and WITH) those you disagree with (and who disagree with you)

You know how you feel, of course. How do others feel?

All of this is not to discourage you from following and engaging in politics

But…the focus needs to be on Christ, first and foremost

And that focus needs to shape your mindset, mine, too.

THOUGHTS

Straight line - “this is what God says”

Jagged line - agree to disagree

Some people are stricter, some not so much

Be strict with yourself, generous with others (benefit of the doubt to a fellow disciple)

We worry so much about “outside the church” - what about INSIDE?

Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020

Options

VP Biden is elected

Pres. Trump is re-elected

Contested, no clear outcome

The best election outcome is some temporary “good” that is full of holes

CERTAIN - YAHWEH is on the throne! - Holy, holy, holy!

Church is where we unify in Christ!

If you possess the joyful confidence that Jesus wins, then you CAN engage with believers, even is secondary matters, like politics, differ.

What do you think?

What does God think?

LET’s TALK!