God is not a Republican

He's not a Democrat for that matter either.  In fact Jesus made it a point not to get involved in the politics of the day, even though many of His followers were certain He was going to throw off the yoke of Roman rule and establish His kingdom in Israel.  Some have even speculated that was the reason Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus, because he was disillusioned about the purpose of the ministry of Jesus.

So if God is neither Republican or Democrat and Jesus went to such great pains not to be embroiled in politics, why is it that Christianity is so closely associated with conservative right wing politics in America?  Why is it that the mainstream media seems to paint Christians with the same broad brush, as right wing fanatics?  And why has the true message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ become drowned out by the rhetoric of politics?

Perhaps because groups like the Family Research Counsel, Focus on the Family and other's like them wield such influence in the mainstream evangelical churches in America?  Perhaps because many of the same issues that conservative right wing politicians stand on as their platform issues, are the same issues that resonate within those same mainstream churches?  Maybe it's because topics like abortion on demand, partial birth abortion and the erosion of family values (ala redefinition of marriage to include same sex couples) seem to take center stage in the pulpits of America?

I don't know, but it seems to me that the influence of the church on our culture has been relegated to the lobbyist in the capital buildings of our states and nation.  This clearly is not God's intention.  "Go therefore and create an army of voters, capable of effecting change through legislation and rule of law" is NOT what Matthew 28:19 says.

We've heard it said that there is a "culture clash" between the values of the conservative, right wing, largely Christian population, and the more liberal left wing part of our society.  This "clash" has escalated into a "war" with the battlefield being the ballot box, court rooms, radio and TV stations of America.

Unfortunately as in any war, there are casualties. Many, if not most, of whom are innocent bystanders.  Who are the casualties? The multitudes of lost. People who don't know the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior look upon the political battles as further evidence of insincerity and hypocrisy on the part of the church.

How can the church preach, Mercy, Forgiveness, and unconditional Love and be so intolerant of the Gay and Lesbian communities, they ask?  It's a legitimate question.

How can the church talk about loving your neighbor as yourself, and at the same time not do anything (generally speaking) about the issue of the homeless?  Another legitimate question.

God has a heart for the widow, orphan and alien (Ex 22:22, Deu 10:18, Isa 1:17, Jer 22:3, Mal 3:5, Jam 2:16).  Aside from special ministries that address these issues, the church has been slowly abdicating its responsibility in this area to the government.  Click here for some history on the child welfare system in the US.

It's time the church got back to the basics of what it was called to do.  Preach the Gospel in and out of season.  Demonstrate the Gospel by taking on the burdens of society and caring for those whom Jesus called "the least of these". Make disciples of those drawn by the Love of Christ, that compels us to be His hands and feet, to perpetuate the cycle all over again.

That way, society is changed God's way, not through the rule of law or by the power of the ballot box, but by changed lives and changed hearts empowered by and directed by the Holy Spirit of God.

Will it be easy? No way. Nothing God calls us to do is necessarily "easy" from the viewpoint of man.  But if it's God that's calling us, then it's His power working through us, and not of our own power.

It is Him to will and to work in us and through us, for His great pleasure.