I ran across an ad for a so-called “Christian” news source this morning that claims political neutrality is the answer to the so-called anger and bias in modern news.
This is so on point, mind blown. I deal with this thinking a lot in my Bible study and other Christian circles, where everyone is a soft leftist. It's amazing how many professing evangelicals around me express strong contempt for trump etc ... but when I ask for the biblical or moral basis for their views they angrily shut down. Just my asking for an explanation or example or basic discussion proves I 'don't get it', I must be too obtuse to engage with. It's deep.
Sadly their treatment of scripture is the same, the OT God of law and wrath and judgment is too harsh, now we have a sweet nice Jesus who just wants us all to feel safe, affirmed and happy.
There was a time when it was not necessary to be politically aware of everything, at every moment and in every circumstance. But the left adopted the principle that "The personal is political." We ignored them for a time, hoping they would grow up or at least go away, but their voices kept getting louder and intruded into every space we occupied, from work to family, consumer choices and even in recreational activites like spectator sports. The left, which encompasses everything from feminism to DEI, BLM, Antifa and all the rest intrudes into every single thing in contemporary American life.That leaves us no choice but to join the fray and engage the enemy and, it is to be hoped, defeat them. With God's help, victory is possible. But remember, the price of peace is eternal vigilance and the left never rests, so get used to fighting every day, everywhere.
"Every moral, political, or cultural view is ultimately theological." Yes. Whenever I speak Biblically about some current "political" issue, I am frequently accused of being "political." I always reply, "I am only political secondarily; I am Biblical primarily."
"...political neutrality is not only impossible, it is a coward's refuge." Correct again. Christians claim they do not speak so as to offend others from "love" for others, but it is not others whom they love, but themselves. By declining to speak the truth that offends, they will receive no criticism, no scorn, no ostracizarion, no retaliation. Their silence is really cowardice, from love for themselves. Tragically they fear the wrong ones. Luke 12:4-5. And Luke 9:26: "For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels."
This article is a wake-up call to all 'politically neutral' Christians who have lost the world of reality that Christians are engaged in a spiritual war that cannot be separated from the 'war' of political persuasions. How true that politics is not "some detached intellectual exercise—it directly results from what people believe about God, humanity, justice, and authority." This article needs to be spread throughout the Evangelical world as a 'shot heard around the world' to move real Christians to action, to fight the fight of faith. Remember, you DO what you believe.
Thanks again for yet another amamzing article, and you are so right; We are in a cultural war, and sadly US are not alone in this. We may have a lot more choices than you, when we vote, but we struggle with the same moral downspiral when it comes to abortion, gender and other things, here in Sweden. And no, where we stand, or refuses to stand is not a middle ground, in reality it shows what is in our hearts. To many Christians today seems like just floating along with the majority, afraid of lifting up their voices. I pray it will change, even though I doubt it.
If you want to give up your training wheels for a grown up's bicycle, look into what this organization has been doing and continues to do, for over 30 years now . . .
This is so on point, mind blown. I deal with this thinking a lot in my Bible study and other Christian circles, where everyone is a soft leftist. It's amazing how many professing evangelicals around me express strong contempt for trump etc ... but when I ask for the biblical or moral basis for their views they angrily shut down. Just my asking for an explanation or example or basic discussion proves I 'don't get it', I must be too obtuse to engage with. It's deep.
Sadly their treatment of scripture is the same, the OT God of law and wrath and judgment is too harsh, now we have a sweet nice Jesus who just wants us all to feel safe, affirmed and happy.
In you post you just paraphrased 2 Thessalonians 2: 10, 11
"And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
"And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie."
In the NT Koine Greek it is actually "strong [SUPERNATURAL] delusion"
Satan, through “big Eva” continues to spread lies. Thank you for being a voice in the wilderness! The Lord bless you for your obedience to His Word!
Another great article, Jeff, on target for our day and age. I shared it with a couple of people high up in our organization, Mass Resistance.
I will add that I believe Jesus, as always, said it best:
"He that is not with Me is against Me; and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth abroad."
No lukewarmness. No fence sitting. No claiming to be "moderate."
There was a time when it was not necessary to be politically aware of everything, at every moment and in every circumstance. But the left adopted the principle that "The personal is political." We ignored them for a time, hoping they would grow up or at least go away, but their voices kept getting louder and intruded into every space we occupied, from work to family, consumer choices and even in recreational activites like spectator sports. The left, which encompasses everything from feminism to DEI, BLM, Antifa and all the rest intrudes into every single thing in contemporary American life.That leaves us no choice but to join the fray and engage the enemy and, it is to be hoped, defeat them. With God's help, victory is possible. But remember, the price of peace is eternal vigilance and the left never rests, so get used to fighting every day, everywhere.
"Every moral, political, or cultural view is ultimately theological." Yes. Whenever I speak Biblically about some current "political" issue, I am frequently accused of being "political." I always reply, "I am only political secondarily; I am Biblical primarily."
"...political neutrality is not only impossible, it is a coward's refuge." Correct again. Christians claim they do not speak so as to offend others from "love" for others, but it is not others whom they love, but themselves. By declining to speak the truth that offends, they will receive no criticism, no scorn, no ostracizarion, no retaliation. Their silence is really cowardice, from love for themselves. Tragically they fear the wrong ones. Luke 12:4-5. And Luke 9:26: "For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels."
This article is a wake-up call to all 'politically neutral' Christians who have lost the world of reality that Christians are engaged in a spiritual war that cannot be separated from the 'war' of political persuasions. How true that politics is not "some detached intellectual exercise—it directly results from what people believe about God, humanity, justice, and authority." This article needs to be spread throughout the Evangelical world as a 'shot heard around the world' to move real Christians to action, to fight the fight of faith. Remember, you DO what you believe.
This: >>> Remember, you DO what you believe. <<<
"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." James 2;26
Great piece, Jeff! Hear, hear. As you reference...Paul was definitely being political in Acts 22.
Thank you Jeff! Amen!
Great article!!!
Thanks again for yet another amamzing article, and you are so right; We are in a cultural war, and sadly US are not alone in this. We may have a lot more choices than you, when we vote, but we struggle with the same moral downspiral when it comes to abortion, gender and other things, here in Sweden. And no, where we stand, or refuses to stand is not a middle ground, in reality it shows what is in our hearts. To many Christians today seems like just floating along with the majority, afraid of lifting up their voices. I pray it will change, even though I doubt it.
If you want to give up your training wheels for a grown up's bicycle, look into what this organization has been doing and continues to do, for over 30 years now . . .
https://www.massresistance.org/
https://www.massresistance.us/get-involved_form.html