Political strife, a barrier to communication of truth ...

Christians, of all people, ought to appreciate that engaging in political strife creates a barrier to communication. 

Especially to communicating the good news about Jesus Christ. 

If we want anyone to consider the truth about Jesus, we must express all things we believe to be true in his spirit; not like gladiators. 

If our belief in Christ is true, we will conduct ourselves in politics in the spirit he displayed. 

“Strife” has been described as, “bitter sometimes violent conflict or dissension.” “Discussion”, on the other hand, has been called, “consideration of a question in open and usually informal debate.” 

I believe Christians must as citizens participate in earnest conversation and advocacy about important questions; but not engage in strife. Of course an earnest discussion can trend toward strife, but a godly spirit can restrain the trend. 

May I myself heed this caution: Earnest conversation and advocacy can lead toward truth and understanding. No one knows where unrestrained strife or conflict leads.

10-18-2019

The Good News - Live it or Hide it?

There is justifiable concern that candidates for president have expressed willingness to use tax laws to force conformity of religious institutions with social thought about sex and marriage. What are Christians to do?
Rather than retreating into silence in the face of outcry against God in our time, should we not live, breath and speak the gospel truth with loving conviction even as we seem to hold an increasingly disadvantaged position in the culture?
Let’s consider some old-time people who believed God is to be worshipped, loved, and honored.
While captives in Babylon, the Jewish men Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego took courage and spoke for the Lord and refused to bow to the idol set before them by King Nebudchanezzar. He condemned them to death and set in motion the machinery of execution. Yet look at the power that changed the king’s heart about the Lord! (Daniel 3 & 4)
Likewise the case of Daniel. (Daniel 6)
Don’t we Christians, their spiritual successors, underestimate our ability to arouse amazement about our God by faithful life and speech even when events put us in a seemingly weaker position vis a vis government?
We must diligently defend freedom of speech and the free exercise of faith, and most importantly we must live and express our faith!

October 14, 2019