October 18: POLITICAL ACTIVISM AND YOU

It’s that time of year when some churches and ministers embarrass themselves. Hungering for public attention or the elusive “impacting society” goal they will publicly endorse a certain party platform or candidate.
When the voting is over they will see that they have been used by a political machine and have not gained any respect. It’s tempting to the church to want political influence, that’s why the church is married to the government in many countries.
It was that way in the early days of Virginia. We must remember that the period of history when church and state were totally married is called “the Dark Ages”. “It is not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit” says the Lord (Zechariah 4:6) that changes in society are made. Just as the Iron Curtain and Berlin Wall fell without a shot being fired, so God can destroy any government that is hurtful to his people. Political activism can be a very dangerous fruit for the church to taste.
The Apostle Paul offered a radical alternative to political activism. Being the great student that he was of the life and ministry of Jesus, he knew that Jesus never started a policy party nor did he tell his disciples to do so. He told them to be the “salt of the earth and the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14) In so doing they would change the world!
Jesus came to the world to solve the “sin problem” of men and women. He did that perfectly. The first century was a terrible time of human abuse and pain. Paul’s answer to the problems of his time was to lead people to a saving personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He changed his world one life at a time not by taking over a political party.
Politics can’t change the world, but Jesus can and that’s what churches are supposed to teach. Don’t allow Satan to take down the “wall of separation” between the Church and the State where you live.

“Help us to be good citizens, O God, of this democratic land You have
given us. Help us not to bully other people with our ideas. Amen”