Worldly Customs

A fellow blogger wrote what I consider to be a superb blog post yesterday that I just read today. He began by saying, “Just about everywhere you look these days, there are articles and posts galore about the coming Presidential election, authored by Christians from all walks of life.” And that is the topic of his post, but it is so much more than that, so I would like to recommend that you read his post, in full, for he speaks so much truth to this subject.

I am going to quote here a couple of the key Scriptures that he referenced, and then I will share his closing remarks, and then I will share a link to his blog post, and after that I will share another key passage of Scripture related to this subject, as well as a song which is also relevant. Then, after that I plan to share a meme which I read on Facebook which is also relevant to this topic. All of what is said here is critical that we understand this.

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” John 18:36-37 NASB (not the whole quote)

“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” (Matthew 28:18-20 NASB)

Bruce wrote: “Jesus has already overcome the world. He did NOT ask us to take that on. His mandate was to make disciples, baptize new believers and teach all that He commanded, thus enlarging His Kingdom. The difference is indeed significant.

“So whose kingdom are we fighting for, ours or His?”

https://bcooper.ca/2024/08/01/jesus-and-caesar-revisited-and-updated/ 

“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.” (2 Timothy 2:1-4 ESV)

Do you understand what all this is about? Well, so many Christians today have this idea that they should be fighting for and supporting people of the flesh to come to their rescue and to save them from what ails our nations. So they are trying to change their nations and what ails them by putting their trust in human flesh and by engaging themselves in this political battle of who is right and who is wrong. And so you will see on their social media posts what they like about their candidate and what they reject about the opposing candidate, thinking that is going to make things better.

But Jesus Christ did not call us to get involved in civilian affairs (politics). And his answer for what ails our nations is himself and us crucified with him in death to sin and raised with him to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin, but as slaves to God and to his righteousness. So we are to be about the Master’s work, and not the works of the flesh of man and of worldly kingdoms. So if we want to change our nations for the better, we should be doing what Jesus commanded us all to do. We should be preaching the gospel and teaching people to obey Jesus Christ.

Teach Them  

An Original Work / May 24, 2012

Based off various scriptures

Open up the blinded eyes of

Those who walk in sin’s darkness.

Turn them to the light of Christ

And to His righteousness.

Turn them from the pow’r of Satan.

Turn them to the peace of Christ,

So they may receive forgiveness

And eternal life. 

Teach them to put off their old selves

And their former way of life,

And to put on their new self,

Reborn to be like Christ;

To not copy worldly customs;

Be transformed in life and mind;

Obey freely His word in them,

Pleasing unto God.

Teach them how to love their neighbors

Truly as they love themselves;

Be a witness; share the gospel;

Satan’s lies dispel;

Comfort all who mourn in sadness;

Share Christ’s love and joy today.

Do this through your life and witness

For your Lord always.