We often hear sermons about how Christ will return for His bride, a bride with a stainless gown. After a recent conversation with a friend, I have to wonder if the church in America, as part of the bride of Christ, doesn't have red, white and blue stains as she waits for the bridegroom.
This blog has never minced words when it comes to thoughts concerning the fight for the church against the American culture. Nor have I side-stepped my disgust for a church that wraps itself in the flag as if to wage a holy war in the name of a particular political party or issue. My concern for the growing abdication of the church to "be the church" in America versus being the church "of America" was brought again to my consciousness recently by an old friend.
Joe and I grew up together, similar families, backgrounds, the same church, and zealots for Republican political power. We maintained our friendship after college, but soon after I was married he moved away and our discourses on politics ended. Until last week, after almost 12 years, our families sat down around the breakfast table. Come to find out, Joe has had a similar revelation as I had. Thank God, I thought to myself. There are times when I thought I might be going crazy and now finally, someone who can relate to this. Can no one else see what is going on with the church, the very body of Christ, and American politics?
Joe worked in Republican campaigns and quickly learned the duplicity of the message which caused for him some disillusionment with the party. Boy, did this sound familiar. I listened as he recounted the politization of our old home church, forming an army of party people, that frankly made me a little sick. He said he wrestled with being a cynic, because certainly that wasn't the answer. Yes, I agreed, but what to do?
And so I've been thinking about this since last week. What to do. And I've wondered, could the spirit of the anti-Christ be lurking in our churches who have given themselves over to a quest for political power? Could politics be satan's weapon to weaken the church; to make it so focused on legislation rather than Christ's message of love that changes hearts?
I so firmly believe that if we (the church) could activate ourselves to love others the political fights we wage would be unnecessary. But, for now, they distract us from fulfilling Christ's message. And this great potential is muzzled, and in many ways duped, by one party.
So, what to do? I wonder if it isn't just this, to be a voice; there may be others and together we may see change if we only call for God's people to "humble themselves and pray, and turn from their wicked ways" so that He can heal our land.
I recognize the risk in speaking up and believe I've already suffered consequences in many ways. I love my country, but more than that-or maybe BECAUSE of that-I want to see the church return to the role we have been called to.
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5 comments:
This is so right. Thanks for speaking up about it.wersoco
I agree that the church needs to get back to their original job. Spread the good news of Christ. Interestingly enough even people overseas can see the problem here in the U.S.A.
Even our European friends (at least the ones that BO hasn't TICKED off yet!) have figured out what is wrong with the US. Why in the world can't the liberals see it too?????
Some people have the vocabulary to sum up things in a way you can understand them. This quote came from the Czech Republic . Someone over there has it figured out. We have a lot of work to do.
"The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the Presidency. It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails America . Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The Republic can survive a Barack Obama, who is, after all, merely a fool. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools such as those who made him their president."
oh, wow, Larry-
I appreciate you following my blog and all, but I don't think you get what I'm saying at all. You still see the answer in political change-which is what the multitudes wanted from their saviour. And when He wasn't what they hoped for, they turned on Him and He was crucified. We need to have discourse on what it means to follow Christ, not politics.
I have a slightly different problem. I wish I could tell people I increasingly feel like I am a Christian that just happens to live in America. I don't feel "American" any more because I'm not sure what that means. I do know what it means to be a Christian and I am having a hard time reconciling that with our current state. I find it hard to be excited about the 4th when you realize it was a war where Christians killed other Christians. Would Christ have honored our Revolution? Our National Anthem is about us surviving a bombardment. So much of what we take pride in, our military might, etc. worries me. Many people throughout history have perished because of national pride.
No, I understand that the answer is Christ and not politics. The problem is that for the last hundred years or so people have schemed and plotted to take Christ out of everything. That is the problem. When people turn back to Christ then, and only then, will He Bless them.
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