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We live in a time in which there are hyper-obsessions with how we describe ourselves and then how we label others.
One of the most contentious topics within American Christianity is the role followers of Jesus should or should not play within politics and government.
Today, we do not need more right people in our country. We need people who are willing to be kind despite the opposition we may face.
We groan and cry out in this painful life experience together.
During this time, will we begin to walk together to discover opportunities to learn and be transformed or will we be consumed by despair and antipathy?
Who can stand before this cosmically-sized love without being completely transformed?
Either way, you will ultimately face then refiner’s fire.
The problem is that Hell is never once mentioned in the Bible.
When you are confronted with the reality of an undeserved kindness, it can be transformative.
The word wrath isn’t an unloading of God’s fury and rage on the unrepentant.
Should we pray for the president?
The most misunderstood word in all of Christianity.
These small moments are gifts, if we will receive them and let them teach us.
There are many people who struggle to understand a God who unconditionally and preemptively forgives everyone.
Where O Light are you in this darkness?
God, I am done with you.
It doesn't matter which side of the political spectrum you are on- This country is not your hope. This political system is not your hope. This government is not your hope.
An absolutely essential parable to the Church for this political season...
You know the old saying, “It takes one to know one.” Well, the reason I can identify this problem so easily is because I was part of the problem.
There has been increasing and bewildering confusion amongst Christians as to how we ought to engage with the political system, generally, and for whom we ought to vote, specifically.
We are the hands and feet of Christ. The government is not. The Republicans are not. The Democrats are not. And whether they say they are "Christians" or not is utterly and spectacularly inconsequential. As we have outsourced our purpose as the Church to the government and politicians, we have failed our country and our communities.
It is a sad reality how weak we are, how eagerly we consume what we are being fed, and how easily we allow our moral structures to fall.
For even in the face of death, our own blood will cry out and give testimony.
I do not need any legislation to pronounce the freedom I already have, and will continue to have, despite my changing circumstance or situation.
The homeowner took a stand against every single person who violated the covenants.
Will we ever find joy? Will love ever prevail instead of hate and violence? Will the longings of hope ever be realized into something?
If we aren’t living like Christ in the present, when times are relatively good, then we will never live like Christ when things get difficult.
One Sunday we showed up at our rented church building. Someone had spray painted a Nazi swastika on the front of the building.
If we are God's ambassadors then we can't give up on even the most hard headed, hard hearted, stubborn mule of a person.
There are so many positions, angles, self-interested ideologies, and half-truths surrounding us that we are not sure what truth is anymore.
The truth of God that cuts through every liberal and conservative position is God's profound love of all life.
Not only can I not kill my enemy or have someone do it on my behalf or with my support, I can not even hate my enemy, or avenge the wrong he has done to me.
Can you imagine America loving our enemies rather than engaging in conflict with them? Me either.
the really tough thing is that most of us really do not like to change our view or perspective.
Those who follow the way of Jesus no longer have allegiance to any other governments, systems, or political party.
Is it too provocative to say that Jesus would not have called himself a Republican or a Democrat, a conservative or a liberal?