It's About Transformed People

The Church and individual Christians waste a lot of time in hand-wringing and, I think, more indefensibly, political maneuvering, that would be better spent in simply sharing the Good News of Jesus in words and deeds. Representatives from my own denomination, for example, spend time lobbying Congress on issues like immigration reform, appropriations for global warming, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

My colleague, Pastor Glen VanderKloot, shared what's quoted below in his daily emailed inspiration today.

Isn't it time that the Church majored in the majors and got out of politics?

There are times when the Church must be prophetic, in the face of injustice, of course. But too often, depending on the denomination, Jesus is portrayed as a Democrat or Republican, a Socialist or a Libertarian. He is none of these. He is God in the flesh, the Savior of the world, the King of creation. When the Church engages in politics and lobbying, it creates a distorted, small, and ultimately, useless portrait of Jesus.

If people are transformed by the Good News of Jesus Christ, society will be transformed. If people dwell in the presence of Christ, they will live their lives--including their political lives--differently.

If people aren't transformed by dwelling with Christ, no matter how much power the Church thinks it has--whether wielded by liberal or conservative denominations--nothing of lasting value will happen and we in the Church will have failed in our primary duty of sharing the eternal saving Good News of new life for all who turn from sin and trust in Jesus Christ!

How many people has the Church consigned to hell in the past twenty years or so, by pushing political agendas rather than sharing Jesus Christ?

For this, I think, we in the Church need to repent!

Here's what Glen shared today:

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Society will only be reformed when individuals are reformed,
and individuals will only be reformed when they dwell
in the presence of God.

Mark Brown


Scripture
Romans 12:1-4 TNIV

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of
God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy
and pleasing to God—this is true worship.  Do not conform
to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and 
approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.



Prayer
Lord, help me to dwell in your presence so that you may
reform and transform my life and use me to reform
and transform society.  Amen
   
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[For more on "dwelling with the Lord," see here.]