Connections: Being the Church
This morning, I spoke with a lady who had expressed a desire to follow Christ. There were connections between our conversation and the following verse from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5):
Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
That verse tells us there are connections between two Christian purposes: Letting the world see the difference Christ makes in a believer’s life and glorifying God with every action taken. That’s why being the Church is much more important than going to church. It was less than ten minutes later I saw a headline saying we have now proved the end of the Christian era! That piqued my interest and it should interest you as well.
Connections: Words & Deeds
Do you think the world is watching how you and I live? Bet on it! As the following excerpt shows, the 
world very often knows what we say we believe. Now, be assured I don’t agree with the entirety of this article. That’s one reason I only re-posted a portion of it. Like many liberal writers and organizations, the author tries to apply Biblical truths to public policy. In this case, it’s easy to see the writer probably thinks our nation has no right to protect itself (borders) because “love” ought to let everyone in. That’s the political agenda of the whole piece.
But we need to see the connections between what the world sees and the actions we take. Our actions and words have consequences. And we should always be aware of the connections we make (good or bad) with an unbelieving world. So, see the excerpt below my sign-off!
Soli Deo Gloria!
End of the Christian Era (source available on request)
…Political leaders feel the need to appear Christian, say Christian-sounding things, show up at Christian institutions, and end their speeches with “God bless America!” American money proclaims “In God we trust.” What could be more Christian than that?
The current election cycle is demonstrating (once again) that the rhetoric and mythology of a uniquely Christian America should come to an end. Why? Because the votes don’t lie.
Though voters may speak piously and rather vaguely about Christian values and ideals, polls and election results communicate clearly that this is a nation consumed by fear, anger and suspicion, none of which are Christian virtues.
[‘I’d like to punch him in the face’: The incredible shrill of this election season]
If voters were serious about presenting to the world a picture of a Christian America, they would need to be painting with the colors of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, fidelity, gentleness and self-control, because these are the colors that, as the Apostle Paul said (in Galatians 5), witness to Jesus Christ and the power of God at work in their lives.
Of course, Americans and their leaders will continue to speak in the name of God, even profess grand things about God, as they make their case for American Exceptionalism and the righteousness of the American Way. But from a scriptural point of view, it is all rubbish. What matters is not what you say but how you live. And from a Christian point of view, nothing matters more than living a life that is inspired by God’s love for everyone….
[I didn’t want to “promote” the rest of this piece, but if you really want to see all of it, just send me a note.]