Tag Archives: politics

Should We Change?

Abortion, Church Bulletin, Culture, Government, Homosexuality, , , , ,

People vote for a candidate for one or many possible reasons. One very large set of issues are those that deal with social issues or moral issues. Things like abortion, gambling, gay marriage and work ethic issues define many American voters. For many years, politicos have been telling us that these issues are unimportant to many and downright offensive to others. In the aftermath of last week’s election those who seek an amoral approach to politics are even louder and point to our belief in certain foundational social issues as one major reason that a conservative candidate was not elected. One commentator was bold enough to say that it was time to leave abortion behind. Are they right? Should we become silent and even indifferent to moral issues? Of course not.

Moral Issues Are God’s Issues

Our support of moral issues is predicated on Biblical teaching. We support what God has taught and dare not support what he condemns. Paul says God has spoken to us through his Spirit and  that the Spirit has searched and knows “the depths of God”  (1 Corinthians 2:6-13). It is this same Spirit that guides men into truth (John 16:13) and moved holy men to compose the books of the Bible we have today (2 Peter 1:21). We can no more jettison clear Bible teaching than we can reject the sonship of Jesus Christ.

Moral Issues Are “Salt” Issues

Jesus expects his people to be men and women of influence. He uses common salt as an example of the Christian in Matthew 5:13. The idea is unmistakable. Christians must come into contact with the world so that we can influence the world. Peter, James and John could not live upon the Transfiguration Mountain; the apostles could not remain in the upper room after the crucifixion. The work was among men. Likewise, our work is among the people of our day. We must add influence where we can.

Moral Issues Elevate a People

When a nation pursues God and seeks righteousness and goodness, that nation is blessed. Solomon said, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” The founders of this nation understood that principle and sought divine blessings. Only succeeding, corrupt, generations have twisted their desires and intents to exclude righteousness from the public square. God blesses those who draw near to him (James 4:8) while opposing those who do not (Psalm 34:16).

Moral Issues Are Not Decided by the Majority

In Genesis 6, Noah did not take a poll before beginning the ark. Joshua did not seek military advice before encircling Jericho (Joshua 6). As Noah’s story makes clear, the majority is a horrible indicator of righteousness. The Lord himself tells us that most will be lost (Matthew 7:13). Pollsters and politicos would have use determine the important issues based upon focus groups and polling data. Sadly, some religious groups today survey their communities to decide what to preach on. Opinion driven preaching is driving millions into Satan’s arms every day. We must stand for truth even if we are the last man standing.

Christians must stand for goodness and influence others for righteousness whenever and wherever they can. We cannot be deluded into thinking that political victories are important enough to ignore what God has said. Let us stand until the Lord calls us home.

 

Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter  @jbevans.

IRS and Church Politics

Government,

Apparently, the IRS cares little what you say in the pulpit. That’s a good thing because we don’t need government telling us what to preach. But as I outlined in a recent post about the IRS and churches, the law remains on the books which prohibits a church, which uses the non -profit status, from endorsing or opposing specific political candidates by name.

The Associated Press  reports that the IRS has suspended audits over political speech.

The IRS monitors religious and other nonprofits on everything from salaries to spending, and that oversight continues. However, Russell Renwicks, a manager in the IRS Mid-Atlantic region, recently said the agency had suspended audits of churches suspected of breaching federal restrictions on political activity. A 2009 federal court ruling required the IRS to clarify which high-ranking official could authorize audits over the tax code’s political rules. The IRS has yet to do so.

A spokesman quickly backed away and claimed Renwicks “misspoke.” But from we actually see happening he is probably right.

Nevertheless, the law stands and Christians have an obligation to obey the law (Matthew 22:21, Romans 13:1-7). Churches and ministers ought think long about willingly disobeying a law which they can opt out of by renouncing their tax exempt status. I don’t know about you, but when I stand in the pulpit I preach Jesus and him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:1-5), I don’t have time for Obamacare or Romnesia!

Remember, Jesus is on the throne!

 

Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter  @jbevans.

Pulpit Freedom Sunday: A Misguided Idea

Church, Culture, Government, Jesus,

Hundreds of preachers are going to break the law today (October 7, 2012). It’s called Pulpit Freedom Sunday and it is staged by an organization that works to protect churches against government intrusion. Preachers will step into their pulpits today and take a political position for or against Mitt Romney or Barack Obama. Intervening on behalf of ( or in opposition to) a political candidate violates IRS rules and could jeopardize the tax exempt status of the churches. Those participating hope the IRS will act against them so  that the 1954 law which prohibits tax exempt bodies from such activity can be challenged in court. Participants believe that they must speak out against President Obama as being dangerous for our nation and “un-American.”

I don’t believe the government should control what comes from the pulpit. But this approach is misguided and wrong.

Barack Obama is Not the Gospel; Mitt Romney is Not Worth the Time

Writing at a time when the church was under growing pressure and persecution, Paul stated the clear theme for preaching:

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.  And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,  and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,  so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:1-5, emphasis mine)

For Paul, there was nothing more important than Jesus and his death at Calvary. His preaching was in the same spirit of the early, original Christians who “did not cease preaching and teaching that Christ is Jesus” (Acts 5:42). He preached the cross:

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Galatians 6:14)

For the apostle, there was nothing more important than preaching Jesus. Paul was willing to give up everything just to know Jesus (Philippians 3:8).

Time in the pulpit is precious. Many hear only one very brief sermon every week; some hear less than that. To take time away from Jesus and give it to either the President or to Mitt Romney is a shame. Let them hear Jesus. Let them hear the words of inspiration. Let them hear the message that sets men free.

Be Subject To the Governing Authorities

Christians cannot pick and choose laws they like. There are many laws that trouble me deeply. Taxpayer funded abortions, protection and support of immoral practices, gambling and beverage alcohol sales are just a few of the laws which I oppose. But Scripture says:

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. (Romans 13:1,2).

Jesus said to give to government its due (Matthew 22:21). It exists for the common benefit. But even when it goes horribly wrong, Christians must not break the law unless that law forces us to choose between God and government. This IRS law does not. The IRS law is about money. I can endorse anyone I want from the pulpit. But when I do so, I surrender a tax benefit. I am free  to preach anything but in doing so I may have to pay a price.

Paul preached under the oppressive hand of government persecution. First century Roman persecution against the church was unlike anything we have ever imagined today. This was the era of murderous emperors who thought nothing of burning Christians alive or sewing them into burlap bags along with vipers and scorpions and then casting them into the sea. Yet Paul demanded submission to the authorities. If it wasn’t bad enough in 60 AD to preaching against Caesar by name, it sure isn’t bad enough to do so now.

Do We Ignore Sin?

Obviously not. The spiritual battles we wage is in the hearts of men. We can and must preach against any kind of sin anywhere for such sin separates from God (Isaiah 59:2). Sin brings death (Romans 6:26). It is by the “foolishness of preaching” that men are saved (1 Corinthians 1:21-23). Let us preach salvation in Jesus Christ. No man is lost eternally because an American president makes poor policy decisions. Men are lost because they sin (Romans 5:12).

The problem with Pulpit Freedom Sunday is that it substitutes the glory of Jesus Christ with the tawdry business of politics. It confuses a a real, fundamental problem with a symptom. The real issues lie with the voters themselves. Preach the gospel soundly and men will be changed. Let us focus on changing hearts and bringing souls to the kingdom. Then we will see changes in government.

Until that happens, let us pray for those in high offices (1 Timothy 2;1,2) and then entrust our future to the Lord! Do not allow our anger and disappointment with the present authorities to cloud the message of Jesus Christ!

Darkness is Falling on Tuscaloosa

Culture, Daily living, , ,

Theatre FacesTuscaloosa County is the home of my youth. Growing up in Northport, we often went to Tuscaloosa to shop and for entertainment. The University of Alabama was there and football weekends in the Fall were as much a part of my youth as skinned knees.

In 1972, when I was 11 years old, a disturbance arose concerning a small business located on University Boulevard in Tuscaloosa. An “adult” theater had begin operation. Called the “Paris Adult Theatre,” this business was soon raided by the police and closed on the grounds that it was showing pornographic movies. ((The case was overturned on appeal to the Alabama Circuit Court of Appeals.)) The outrage in the town was considerable. Classy, international names like “Paris” notwithstanding, the people of Tuscaloosa did not want the business and it soon closed.

In 2002, a new head football coach at Alabama was fired before his first game when it was learned that he had patronized a strip club and engaged in sex afterwards. Despite the love of the pigskin in Tuscaloosa, the University community would not tolerate his behaviors. People stood for what was right.

It is different today.

The Tuscaloosa Arts Council and the Bama Theatre are bringing a film to show next week. The name of the film, “Turn Me On D***it” is a story of a 15 year old girl who wants to explore her sexuality. From the movie’s own website:

“15-year-old Alma (Helene Bergsholm) is consumed by her out-of-control hormones and fantasies that range from sweetly romantic images of Artur, the boyfriend she yearns for, to down-and-dirty daydreams about practically everybody she lays eyes on. “

And,

“At home, Alma’s single mother is overwhelmed and embarrassed by her daughter’s extravagant phone sex bills and wears earplugs to muffle Alma’s round-the-clock acts of self-gratification.”

The film is not rated but does contain scenes of the self-gratification of the 15 year old mentioned above.

Clearly, morality has fallen. The taxpayers of Tuscaloosa have funded the Arts Council for many years and have paid to refurbish the 1930’s era Bama Theatre will the film will be shown. It is all done under the claim of artistic values. To be fair,the film did win major awards at some of the international film festivals. I do not consider myself an artist. But not all art is good. Clearly, this is immoral art. We are forced to wonder what would happen to man with a similar video of a 15 year old girl on his computer. Would he escape charges because he called the porn, art? We think not.

Some good people in Tuscaloosa have tried to stop this film from playing in Tuscaloosa, but, as you would expect, they have been pilloried in the media. Christians must be in prayer over this darkness of sin that is encroaching more and more in Tuscaloosa. Stand up and be counted!

Let me leave you with Isaiah’s quote from Isaiah 5:20:

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.”

Now I know I will be attacked too because of this article. But I figure that when I am, I will be in good company. Your thoughts, encouragements and even your criticisms are welcomed.

Gulf Oil Spill and Jesus

Culture, Government, News, ,

It shouldn’t be surprising that some people will use faith as a tool to achieve political ends. Governments have done it for ages. The Russian Orthodox Church was cooperating tool of the old Soviet empire, the Roman Catholic Church almost divided over the issue of Liberation Theology in Central America. More than any of those radical Islamic militants use the Muslim faith as an excuse for their terroristic activities. So we should not be shocked to see some people using religion as a means to achieve their green agenda.

God created this world and all that is in it. In Genesis 1:28-30 God gave this creation to man and man was to have dominion over it. It is not a stretch to say that men should be good stewards of what God has given. But some are taking this to extremes and even merging pagan beliefs into a supposedly Christian message about the oil spill and other ecological disasters.

Jeff Poor has an article I think you should read. He discusses the Gulf oil spill and religion. It’s an eye opener.