Government vs. Gospel

I experienced a "hey I know that guy" moment the other day, as one of the former vice presidents of my alma mater has been making headlines in recent months speaking up on various social and cultural issues that have been unfolding in regards to Christianity and the Christian's response on these matters.

He is now the President of a Christian university in the southwest portion of the country and in an interview he shared this past week, he made a statement that stood out.

"This is what happens when you worship government instead of the gospel."

On this #communitySaturday, these are pretty accurate words.

We have legislated God out of public life; out of the public square. At least, society continues to keep making the push to do so. The church is not speaking the truth in love as they should; as the movement to be more concerned with "try not to offend" continues. We place our trust and hope in other things, in other people, in other identities and rather than standing on the Word of God, we stand in the shadow of government to protect us, save us, and defend us when someone says anything contrary to how our opinions and feelings.

I say "we" because, sadly, people within the church have such tendencies as though outside of the church, so collectively speaking...

God is love. God is grace. Absolutely.
Yet He is light. He is truth. And He is Holy.

When we find ourselves in a position where we hold humanity and people in positions of power with greater regard and reverence than Almighty God, who is to this day Creator of all Life; when the rights of those offended are more important than the rights of those still in the womb, we have clearly lost our way.

When we're more worried about the safety of our schools, than we are of a Mother's womb...

The truth is hard to hear. And I'm not for using it to demean and destroy anyone or anything. But our unwillingness to hear it and respond appropriately can not be so great that it should not be spoken at all.

As the church, we must rely on God and trust in Him to help; that our words would be seasoned with grace and that it would not be the opinions of man, but the truth of the message of Christ, that would resonate from our hearts and our lives as we engage this lost and dying world.

So, pray with me, this #communitySaturday, for the church to be the hands and feet of Christ. Pray we would meet those in need at their point and place; not expecting so quickly they would move towards the church without making a move towards God. Pray, people would find their identity in Christ first; not in government, career or social or culture issue. May the truth reveal the reality that every person must realize; we all fail; we all will fail and we all have fallen; short... very, very short of the glory of God. May we accept, that by the grace and love of Jesus Christ alone and His selfless act of death that we can be brought into health; into right relationship with Him who is able to do exceedingly more than any government ever known to man... for the Creator of Life is the institutor of governments as well.

For the glory of God;
For the cause of Jesus Christ

- PNC