Virtual Devotions

In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” – John 3:3

 

Dear Friends,

 

Under the cover of darkness, Nicodemus, a powerful and respected member of the Jewish society came to Jesus.  It’s uncertain why Nicodemus came to him, but most likely to question Jesus about his teaching.  Nicodemus begins by trying to gently flatter Jesus calling him Rabbi and saying that he knows God is with him based on the miracles Jesus has performed.  But Nicodemus’ idle flattery is cut short and Jesus gets right to the heart of the matter telling him that ‘no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.’

 

I believe the concept of being born again is greatly misunderstood today.  Presuming that a Christian will not argue with the Lord Jesus Christ, the fact is simple, ‘no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.’  This truth is truth.  So why is it that so many Christians are averse to calling themselves born again or accepting that all must be born again if they are to see the kingdom of God?

 

My best guess is that they fear being labeled.  In today’s society, if one calls himself or herself a “born again Christian,” he or she is likely a person very outspoken about the faith and certainly counter to the current politically correct culture.  The “born again crowd” are the “Jesus freaks,” the one’s who are insistent that the only way to the kingdom of God is through Jesus.  These people are open to accusations of intolerance and narrow-mindedness.  A group many would prefer not to be associated with.

 

Today, April 27, 2009, is the sixth anniversary of my being born again.  I consider myself fortunate to be able to point to the exact time when God made me into a new creation by giving me a new heart and a new mind and a new life in Him.  Maybe God allowed me to experience a specific date and time just so my faith would be strengthened.  I know fellow Christians who are born again, yet their new birth came over a season, not a sermon.  Being born again is not an experience; it is a state of being.

 

As for me, I was living the life of works righteousness.  I knew I was a sinner, a very wretched sinner.  Twice, I had been denied by the Catholic Church their sacrament of confession because I was considered by them to be too far outside of God’s grace.  In response, I was determined to make up for my past sins by being the best I could be in God’s sight.  Unfortunately, my best was not nearly good enough and certainly nowhere close to covering my sins.

 

After having lost much, God called me to a church where the Gospel was preached.  With the words of the sermon titled, “Don’t Associate with the Unsaved,” God made me fully aware of my awful sinfulness and the absolute futility of trying to overcome such a burden on my own.  It was at that time that the Holy Spirit moved inside of me and I surrendered myself to Christ and with that surrender I knew that all of my sins; past, present and future, had been washed away.

 

From that moment, I was a new creation.  I was born again.  For those who had known me prior, a definite change was evident.  Justification had been granted to me and now the life long process of sanctification had begun. 

 

I am a born again Christian.  I am gladly labeled a Jesus freak.  I will tell you and everyone that there is no other way to the Father except by Jesus Christ.  If you believe otherwise you believe a lie.  And this is not arrogance; this is simply believing the words of the One whom I know is God, the One who rescued me from eternal death because I couldn’t rescue myself.

 

I don’t know why He chose me.  I don’t deserve it.  On the contrary, I know I deserve to spend eternity in Hell.  But by His mercy, He chose me.  By His love, He died for me while I was yet a sinner.  By His grace, I was born again into His everlasting life.

 

Praise be to the Lord Jesus Christ!

 

In Him,

David

“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.” – Mark 13:32-33

 

Dear Friends,

 

One day when they were leaving the temple after a confrontation with the religious leaders, the disciples marveled at the greatness of the temple.  Jesus then told them that one-day the temple would be destroyed.

 

Wanting to know when this would occur the disciples asked two questions, “When will this happen?” and “What will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?”

 

With these two questions Jesus begins a long dissertation on the end times, a speech whose meaning has been debated ever since.  I certainly am not going to end the debate here, but I do want to direct our attention to what I believe are the two most important statements, which come at the beginning and end of the monologue.

 

The first thing Jesus tells the disciples is, “Watch out that no one deceives you, for many will come in my name claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.”  Most interpreters will suggest there will be false messiahs, and I believe this to be true, but let me suggest an additional view. 

 

Why did God forbid the Israelites from adopting the divination and fortune-telling practices of the pagan people of Canaan?  Who alone is the true source of all revelation?  Only God the Father knows all things even the day and hour of the Second Coming of the Son. Not even the angels or Jesus Christ himself knows.  This knowledge is reserved only for God the Father.  Any man who claims to know this claims to be equal with God – the Messiah – do not be deceived.

 

Jesus ends the teaching by instructing the disciples how to go about their lives with the knowledge that the end is coming, but not knowing the exact time the fateful day will come.  His instruction is simple, be faithful and wise servants doing what the Master has instructed you to do until the day of his returning and do not be found doing otherwise.  For those who are faithful will be rewarded and those who are not will be thrown out of the Kingdom.  Advice we should still heed today.

 

I saw a bumper sticker the other day that said, ”Party like it’s 2012.”  I suppose you too have heard about the December 2012 predictions.  It’s almost comical to do a Google search of dates for the end of the world.  I found a listing of over 220 dates going all the way back to A.D. 44.  The truth is no one but the Father knows the day of the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus.  While I believe it could be at any time, even before I finish writing this devotion or before you finish reading it, I feel confident it will not be on 12/12/12.  The day will come when we least expect it.

 

So until that day, I plead you to obey the Master’s command.  Do not be deceived.  The Mayans and Nostradamus are not the givers of revelation. Do not listen to those who would suggest they know.  Instead, go about the business of the Kingdom.  Continue to go into the world making disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything he has commanded.  And if you are not a Christian, then turn to Christ in repentance and faith for the Kingdom is near!

 

In Christ,

 

David

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15

 

Dear Friends,

 

This famous passage, which comes at the end of the Book of Joshua, may seem like a strange verse to use for the Easter message, but I think you will see the wisdom in considering this passage in the light of the victory of Christ.

 

If you recall the Book of Joshua, he led the Israelites into the Promised Land, the land of Canaan, basically Israel, and conquered the pagan peoples who were living there.  The Book of Joshua is a book of war, a story of good over evil, a story of God’s victory on behalf of His people.

 

In the closing verses of the story of Joshua, I see a foreshadowing to the world today.  Like the Israelites who lived in the light of God’s great victory on their behalf, we stand in the light of Christ’s great victory on our behalf.  And like the Israelites, who were given the choice whom they would follow, we are given the choice whom we will follow. 

 

The Israelites had the choice to follow the LORD who led them out of Egypt and gave them victory in the Promised Land or to turn and follow the false gods of their ancestors or to follow the pagan gods of the people of the land in which they were now living.   Likewise, we have the choice to follow the Lord Jesus Christ who gave us victory over sin and death or to turn and follow the false gods created in our own minds, in our own image for our own satisfaction or the pagan gods of spirituality and vaious world religions.

 

And, though Christ is the victor, the choice is still yours to make.  Jesus Christ, fully man and fully God came into this world by the power of the Holy Spirit.  He had no original sin, nor in his life did he ever sin.  As a man, he died as our representative taking our place on the cross.  As God, his sacrifice was so infinitely sufficient so that all who have faith in him will be saved.  And as was foretold in the Scriptures, he rose again on the third day and now sits at the right hand of the Father in bodily form waiting for the day of his return.  A day in which all who are his will be resurrected with him in glorified bodies so that we may live with him forever in Paradise.

 

But turning to Christ does require something from us.  It requires humility, that we admit our guilt, admit our helplessness to save ourselves and turn to him alone in repentance and faith.  If this seems undesirable to you, then choose this day whom you will serve, but in light of Christ’s great victory and the Good News that is Easter, the choice is clear.  As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

 

In Christ,

 

David

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

Dear Friends,

This week marks the most holy week of the Christian calendar, the Passion Week of Christ, and I encourage you to take time to consider this event. To do so, I hearken back to an old, spiritual, “Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?”

When we imagine the crucifixion in our minds, we may see three crosses and that’s about it, but based on the four Gospels, there were many people present at the crucifixion. I know this is the longest devotion I have written to date, but I believe it is a worthy meditation. As you consider each participant in the crucifixion, try to determine which one you are.

Pontius Pilate – now Pilate wasn’t actually at the crucifixion, but he certainly played a major role in the event. He was a man who looked truth in the face and asked, “What is truth?” He gave in to the demands of the crowd to keep peace at the expense of the truth of Jesus Christ.

Roman soldiers – these men who mocked Christ by putting the robe and crown of thorns on his head, mercilessly beat him, forced him to carry the cross, crucified him, cast lots for his clothing, sat and watched as he died, and finally pierced his side with a spear to assure he was dead. To them Christ was just another criminal to be executed, just another religious zealot, no different than any other.

The Centurion - for this man who led the Roman soldiers this was just another day at work. Presumably he had seen tens or hundreds of people crucified in his career. But after witnessing the darkening of the sky and the earthquake at Jesus’ death, the centurion proclaimed that surely this man was the Son of God.

Simon of Cyrene - We know little about this man other than he was forced to carry the cross for Christ. But we also know that he was the father of Rufus and Alexander. We do not know who these two were, but because they are mentioned by name, it suggests that the early church would have known who they were, presumably members of the Christian community. Could it be that though Simon was forced to do work for Christ, somehow the truth of Christ was eventually revealed to him?

The chief priests, scribes and elders - they called for Christ’s crucifixion. They claimed he had broken the Jewish law. And what was Christ’s crime? Jesus claimed to be God. Though these religious men should have recognized the fulfillment of the Scriptures in Jesus Christ, instead they denied his divinity, mocked and insulted him and had him put to death.

“Those passing by” - some simply mocked and insulted Jesus as they went on their way in and out of the city. These people had no time to stop from their own schedules and concerns, but gave a “drive-by shooting” of insults. They really didn’t give any thought to who Christ is, what he has done for them or their own sinfulness.

“Those standing nearby” - It was the ancient equivalent of reality TV. They were voyeuristic when it came to Christ.  They had no desire to consider what was happening or why, they were simply caught up in the unfolding drama and stood on the sidelines.

“The group of women” - who had followed Christ through his ministry and supported him. Included in this group was Mary, Jesus’ mother, Mary Magdalene and others. They mourned and wailed as they watched Jesus taken to be crucified. Yet it is likely that they did not realize that Jesus was the Messiah until after his resurrection. For them, the crucifixion would be the end until they learn of the resurrection.

John - The only disciple whom we are told was at the crucifixion was John. He stood there with Mary, Jesus’ mother. John had followed Jesus from the beginning and now he was watching his Master die. Jesus entrusted the care of his mother to John before he died.

The First Thief – crucified with Jesus. He to his last breath joined in with the rest of the crowd mocking and insulting Jesus.

The Second Thief – crucified with Jesus. He too began by mocking and insulting the Lord, but by God’s grace he came to understand that Jesus was in fact the Messiah. His life of sin was forgiven as he turned to Jesus in repentance and faith and for that he received the blessed assurance from Jesus’ own lips, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.”

Now that you have considered each character, which one most exemplifies you?  

In Christ,

David

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” – Psalm 139:13-14

Dear Friends,

 

This verse is well known to many of you.  We hear it quoted often in the debate over abortion.  Truly, all of us are God’s creation and all human life is to be respected from the moment of conception until natural death.

 

While abortion is a terrible sin against the unborn, I have a growing concern for a sin equally as terrible against the aged and infirmed.   As we hear more and more about controlling the rising cost of healthcare, one euphemism is continuously rearing its ugly head – “healthcare efficiency.”  The general idea is that too much money is wasted in America on treatments and procedures for those who have little or no life expectancy.  In simple terms, if a treatment or procedure will cost more than the “value” of the extension of the individual life, then the limited healthcare dollars should be spent on someone who brings more “value” to society leaving the less “valuable” person to die.

 

Now, this devotion is something I began writing a month ago, but I didn’t release it then because it wasn’t clear to me how to address this from a faith perspective.  After reading, “Aligning a medical treatment plan with God’s plan,” a recent article in the LA Times, now I know.  This article reveals that patients who have faith are more likely to pursue “heroic end of life measures” and “more aggressive treatment than is medically unwarranted.”  Procedures that “didn’t improve a persons long-term chances” and subjected them to “needless suffering before they die.”   In the concluding statements, the article reads, “If doctors are more successful at bridging the divide between religious beliefs and end-of-life care, the financial savings could be significant.”

 

Pulling this all together, I see an alarming trend of modernized healthcare (a euphemism for nationalized healthcare) in which treatments are withheld from those whom the government views as “expendable” and where patients are told to check their religious beliefs at the door.  While this may sound like 1984 to you, it shouldn’t.  The decision has already been made that babies in the womb are expendable.  Why not now go after the next most vulnerable class, the aged?

 

So how does this relate to you as a person of faith?  First, be assured of your faith.  This may sound strange, but if you have the peace of God’s forgiveness and promise of eternal life through Christ, I believe you will pass in peace and those who survive you will be comforted by the assurance of your salvation.  Second, turn to God in prayer.  Pray that God will work in the hearts of those making healthcare policy decisions so that the weakest in our society are protected.  Also, spend time with God in quiet supplication asking for understanding and guidance in this area. 

 

Next, discuss this with your spouse or the person responsible for making your healthcare decisions in the event you are incapacitated.  Discuss it with your clergy as well if you feel that will bring greater clarity to your decision.  Then, go see an attorney and have a healthcare power of attorney and a “living will” written.  The healthcare power of attorney will state whom you have chosen to make medical decisions on your behalf and the “living will” will state your intentions for prolonged medical care.  This may state that you want every means possible used to keep you alive or it may state that you prefer not to have artificial apparatus employed at all.  Whatever your decision, have these documents written by an attorney.  Please don’t just pull them off of the Internet or use a template.  And lastly, discuss your decision with you immediate family and anyone else you deem necessary so that if the time comes, everyone involved will know your decision.

 

Again, above all, be assured of your salvation.  If you have turned to Christ in repentance and faith, no matter when and how you die, you will rise again with Him. 

 

In Christ,

David

 

 

^“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” - Philippians 3:20-21

 

Dear Friends,

 

In A.D. 61, the apostle Paul was under house arrest in Rome.  Though confined, he was still able to preach to those who visited him and write to edify the churches he established.  One such letter he wrote at this time was his letter to the church at Philippi.

 

Paul’s fate was uncertain and the Philippians were beginning to experience persecution as well.  So Paul wrote an encouraging letter to them telling them that no matter what happened to him or to them, they should continue on being steadfast in the faith.  He reminded them that the destiny of the enemies of the cross is destruction, but for the believers their destiny is to return to their home in heaven.

 

This is a thought I have been comforting myself with in recent days.  I travel a great deal by car because of my job and while driving I tend to listen to either talk radio or Christian preaching.  I’m finding that more and more the talk radio is bringing me down, but the Christian preaching is bringing me up.  With all of the talk about the economy and other political issues, it brings everything back into perspective when I am reminded that while I am a citizen of the U.S.A., I am first a citizen of heaven and someday by God’s grace I will ascend back home.

 

Not that I am suicidal or anything, but I share the same perspective as Paul.  To live means that I can continue to fulfill the work that God has set before me to bring glory to His name.  Yet someday, God will call me home and I will be better off and all the cares of this world will be behind me.   And either in living or in dying, I am in Christ.

 

So if you are a believer, do not worry.  You know that God will provide for whatever it is that you need.  Your job may come and go, your 401(k) may rise and fall, but in the end you will be with Him in heaven.  Time on earth is short.  Don’t give it much thought.  Time in eternity is forever.  Think about this always.

 

In Christ,

 

David

For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men? – 1 Corinthians 3:4

 

Dear friends,

 

The church at Corinth was plagued with jealousy and quarreling, which manifested itself as divisions within the church.  In an apparent effort to differentiate themselves some claimed to follow Paul while others claimed to follow Apollos and even some Peter.  In a forceful letter to the church at Corinth, Paul admonished them saying that it is right only to follow Christ.

 

Recently, you may have read about the American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS).  The two angles on this report have emphasized either the rise of non-religion or the decline of Christianity.   But, as with most of the results you read in the mainstream press, there is more in the survey than you are being told.  To get the full picture, you need to go to the survey source, The Institute for the Study of Secularism In Society and Culture (ISSSC).  Now, if that title doesn’t raise a red flag of potential bias, nothing does, but let’s move on to the survey.

 

First, non-religion is truly on the rise.  This should not be a surprise for the Bible teaches that people will trade the truth for a lie.  But what you aren’t reading in the newspapers is that the reported 15.2 % of non-religious people are not atheist or agnostic.  Actually, self-reported agnostics are less than 1% of the population and atheists are fewer still.  The majority of the non-religious people, 89% of them, simply claimed no religion or belief at all.   Sadly, 25% are former Catholics.  These folks are truly lost and offer a great witness opportunity.

 

Second, denominations are truly in decline.  The report tells us “Ninety percent of the decline comes from the non-Catholic segment of the Christian population, largely from the mainline denominations, including Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Episcopalians/Anglicans, and the United Church of Christ.”  To me this is great news!  For too long, denominations have been dividing the Church, not uniting it.  We should not follow Luther or Wesley or Calvin, but we should follow Christ.

 

Thirdly, and what you will not read in the papers, is there is a growing religious population in the U.S.  In 1990, they represented 5% of the population, in 2001, 8.5%, and in 2008, 11.8%.  Are these people Muslim, Hindu, Buddhists, Wicca’s?  No, they are those who would identify themselves only as “Christian,” “Evangelical/Born-Again,” or “non-denominational Christians.”  And the numbers are larger than still.  The report states, “Significantly, 38.6 percent of mainline Protestants now also identify themselves as evangelical or born again.”

 

If the Apostle Paul were alive on earth today, I believe he would go berserk over the fractionalization of Christ’s Church.  However, by God’s grace the trend is moving away from divisions and toward unity under Christ.  So if you call yourself a Lutheran, do you follow Luther or Christ?  If you call yourself a Presbyterian, do you follow Calvin or Christ?  If you call yourself by any denomination, whom do you follow?  If you wish to be known as a Christian, then call yourself a Christian and follow only Christ.

 

In Him,

 

David

 

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

 

Dear Friends,

 

In these closing verses of the Gospel of Matthew known as the Great Commission, the resurrected Christ gives His final instructions to the disciples.  Four commands are specifically stated: go, make disciples, baptize them and teach them.  It seems like a simple formula, but start a conversation with a group of Christians about baptism and you’ll get an ear full.

 

Last night, I had dinner with a friend who told me that she was recently “rebaptized.”  That wasn’t the word she used, but it’s accurate.  She said that she had been “sprinkled” as an infant, but now that she is an adult and more affirmed in her faith than ever before, she felt the desire to be baptized by immersion as a testimony to her recommitment to Christ.

 

I can appreciate her decision because I made the same one nearly six years ago.  I too had been baptized as an infant.  But it wasn’t until April 27, 2003, that I truly became a believer, a born-again Christian.  About seven months later, I chose to be “rebaptized” by immersion as an outward symbol of the inward change I had experienced.

 

Others made a similar decision during the Reformation period starting at about 1525.  These people were called “Anabaptists,” meaning “rebaptizers.”  They too, after consulting the Scriptures, felt that it was more appropriate for believers, after a profession of faith in Christ, to be baptized rather than for babies, who cannot make a profession of faith.  Tragically for the Anabaptists, many were tortured, burned at the stake and often drowned as an ironic penalty for their beliefs.

 

Fortunately, that isn’t done anymore at least not in the United States.  As US citizens and as Christians, we have freedom.  In the exercise of that freedom we must be careful not to err against God or our brothers or sisters.  Based on my reading of the Scriptures, I accept believer’s baptism as the better way.  But if one’s conscience directs them to baptize their infant, I do not see that as being a blasphemy.  A Scriptural argument can be made for infant baptism as well.

 

In closing, rather than have baptism be a dividing point for Christians, let us instead be joined as brothers and sisters in Christ, going into the world making disciples by the spreading of the Gospel and baptizing them and their whole family and teaching them to obey Christ’s command to love one another as we love one another.

 

In Him,

 

David

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:19-21

 

Dear Friends,

 

In the Gospel of Matthew, we have the most complete account of Jesus’ teaching.  One of the most beloved episodes is the Sermon on the Mount found in chapters 5-7.

 

After instructing the people in the correct interpretation of the Law and the error of hypocritical worship, Jesus begins to teach on the true source of our financial security, the Father.  He tells us not to rely on our treasures, but to store up our treasures in heaven.  He goes on to tell us how we should not worry about food or clothes because the Father will provide all that we need.

 

As I write this weekly devotional, I see that the Dow has gone below 6,800 points today, its lowest point in nearly eleven years.  And as I have watched my portfolio sink to new lows, it makes me wonder how others are managing today’s financial turmoil.  I wonder if it will be as bad for them as it was for others in the Great Crash of 1929.

 

The market began its slide in September of 1929.  It continued, and on October 28 it fell 13%.  The next day it fell 12%.  When the market finally bottomed out on July 8, 1932, almost three years later, the Dow had lost 89% of its value.  Our current slide began in September of 2007.  If history repeats itself, we won’t see the bottom until July of 2010 at a low of 1,528 points.  Certainly, as in 1929,  people will be jumping off of buildings if that happens.

 

But the believer should demonstrate a different reaction to financial loss.  The believer should understand that everything that he or she owns has came from the Father and everything that he or she owns may be taken away as well.  And whether it is in giving or in taking, the believer must have faith that the Father is doing it for his or her own good.

 

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells his followers that they cannot serve both God and money.  And maybe that is what has happened in this country today.  Maybe too many people have made an idol of the big home, new cars and lifestyle that they really couldn’t afford, but coveted so dearly.  Maybe God has caused the stock market to crash.  Certainly, He is sovereign and even the market is at His command.  Maybe, He is just trying to get our attention.

 

So if you are a believer, rejoice when your portfolio sinks!  Again, I say rejoice!  For you know that your treasure, your hope of eternal life, is stored up in heaven.  Still, better yet, God has made a deposit in you, the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of what is to come.    Be assured that by His grace through faith in the resurrected Christ that you too will be raised with Him on that day.  That’s all the security I need.

 

In Christ,

 

David

Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” – Matthew 22:15-17

 

Dear Friends,

 

In chapter 22 of the Gospel of Matthew, both the Pharisees and Sadducees continue to confront Jesus.  Having failed in their direct attack on Jesus’ authority in chapter 21, they change their tactics and try to trick Jesus and “trap him in his words.”  In today’s verses, the Pharisees, a religious sect, are joined by the Herodians, a political party. 

 

First, it is amazing to me how after 2,000 years, nothing has changed.  These politicians and religious leaders come at Jesus first with flattery, which is ironic because in their own words they admit that Jesus isn’t swayed by men because He knows who they really are. 

 

Second, by joining these two groups together, it is no wonder that their question involves God and taxes.  Of course, we all know Jesus’ reply, “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s.”   The joining of religious leaders and politicians occurs in our day as well and in my sight it is equally destructive for the church.

 

During the Bush administration, the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives was established.  The goal was to encourage faith-based organizations to seek federal funding to address issues such as drug addiction and homelessness.  On February 5, 2009, President Obama established a similar office called the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Partnerships.  While President Obama has tried to distinguish his program from the Bush initiative by making the funds available to secular groups as well as religious, it is in essence the same program.

 

Many religious groups have heralded these initiatives as a good thing, but if given the opportunity to receive federal funding, I would say “no thank you,” because that money comes with a price.  Just ask the CEOs of the banks and the auto industries who have been called to Washington to account for the money they have received.  President Obama himself has said in regard to his faith-based initiative, “If you get a federal grant, you can’t use that grant money to proselytize to the people you help.”

 

Can’t proselytize!  To proselytize IS why we do missions.  It is a means by which we spread the Gospel.  Feeding the hungry, giving shelter to the homeless, caring for the sick, all of these things are good things, but they are of temporal value only.  If we are not first concerned about the eternal condition of the lost, all of the temporal work we do is in vain.  If taking federal money means that I can’t preach the Gospel, then I will do with whatever God provides to me – which by the way, I know will be sufficient.

 

“Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and render unto God what is God’s.”  This, I believe is a two-way street.  While we are to live in obedience to earthly rulers so far as it does not violate our faith, we must not be yoked to anyone or anything that would suppress the truth in rightousness. Keep them separate.

 

In Christ,

 

David