Author: Dale

Whitewater rafting! Screaming down the first hill of a roller coaster! Going through the gears of a Grabber Orange Mustang GT! Hiking the AT!  Listening to Fiddlin’ Carson Peters wear it out on Orange Blossom Special!  These are some things I have been able to enjoy in my life and to respond with great excitement and a hearty “YEEEESSSSSS!”

But, you want a genuine, heart-pumping thrill?  Sit down for two hours in a local coffee shop and be engaged in discipleship with an individual who is hungry to grow in Christ!  WOW!!!  That is one awesome privilege and super abundant joy! How thrilling to watch the “light bulbs” come on as the Word is taught, questions are biblically answered, connections are made and next-step application is anticipated!  What a joy to see the passion for more!  How cool to see honesty and transparency followed up with “I want to change!”

Yes, all those things I mentioned in the first paragraph will cause me to flat get excited, but to participate in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) is shoutin’ ground, praiseworthy, awe-inspiring, and a thrill to my soul!!

If you aren’t engaged in obedience to Christ’s final command to the Church, you are missing out on real adventure that has eternal dividends.  Who knows, you might even get a bit happy, want to shout, and/or shed some joyful tears, all for God’s glory!

Colossians 1:27-29           To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect (complete) in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

2 Timothy 2:2                     The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

2 Timothy 3:16-17            All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

Why are these statements, “You can’t mix religion and politics,” and “You can’t talk about religion and politics” false?  What does God’s Word have to say about it?

Religion as defined by Merriam-Webster is “the belief in a god or in a group of gods; an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods.”   Scripture takes care of that definition. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5).  Religion may be defined by the world as many gods, but the Truth is, there is only one God, and Jehovah is His name.   There is only one way to God and that is through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6).

With that being established, let’s restate by saying, “You can’t mix God and politics.”   Once again, politics is defined by Merriam-Webster as “activities that relate to influencing the actions and policies of a government or getting and keeping power in a government; the work or job of people (such as elected officials) who are part of a government.”  Since politics and government are synonymous, let’s take our statement one step farther and say, “You can’t mix God and government.”

Who created government?  Once again, let’s have God’s Word answer this question:

Jesus answered [Pilate], “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above.” (John 19:11)

There is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. (Romans 13:1b)

Truth is, if you do not speak of government in the context of Jehovah, then you have bypassed the Originator of government and the very One Who is over all government.   Even corrupt, sinful governments can and are used by God to accomplish His plan.

Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: Because you have not obeyed my words, behold, I will send for all the tribes of the north, declares the LORD, and for Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants, and against all these surrounding nations. I will devote them to destruction, and make them a horror, a hissing, and an everlasting desolation. (Jeremiah 25:8-9)

Truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you [God] anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. (Acts 4:27-28)

Furthermore, to leave God, the originator of government out of any political discussion is to always arrive at the wrong conclusion.  Hence, you better talk about religion and politics, but always from a biblical viewpoint.

Lastly, one day, religion and politics will be joined together at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.  (Isaiah 9:6-7)

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp[g] sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:11-16)

No matter the issue, the correct question to ask is always, “What does God’s Word say about it?”

For further insight into today’s political and religious scene, I strongly encourage you to listen to the following message by Dr. Adrian Rogers:  The Leadership Crisis in America

Have you ever said or heard someone exclaim, “You can’t mix religion and politics”?  Or, “You can’t talk about religion and politics!”  Are those statements the ABSOLUTE TRUTH?

In response to these statements and hundreds of others  we must ask, “Where do you find that in Scripture?”

We are masters at speaking from our human viewpoint which has a fleshly, sin-cursed, short-sighted, temporal, non-omniscient foundation (Jeremiah 17:9).  Yet, we are so prone to believe what we see, assume, think and/or hear from humanistic viewpoint.  How sad that we will believe and restate trite sayings that have no biblical background.  And, quite frankly, we live as though we are the most intelligent person alive because we listen to ourselves more than anyone else.  Just track your thinking today and see how much you listen to yourself rather than preach the truth to yourself.

So, what does God’s Word say about our human viewpoint?  Should we really trust  in our fleshly thinking?

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; . . . Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil (Proverbs 3:5, 7).

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death (Proverbs 14:12).

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.  For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace (Rom. 8:2, 6).

Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth [human viewpoint] (Colossians 3:2).

Human viewpoint and divine viewpoint are polar opposites.  They do not mix.  The two statements mentioned in the first paragraph are not true as we will see in tomorrow’s blog post as we shed the light of God’s Truth upon them.  In meantime, fill you mind with Scripture that sets you free and leads you in the right paths (Psalms 23; 119).  Better yet, you search the Scriptures and see if those statements are true or false.  See you tomorrow.

For years I have asked folks, “How have you seen God at work in your life this week?”  I’ll answer my own question today . . . through answered prayer!!  These past few days, I’ve watched God provide grace, give wisdom, supply an abundance of peace, give safety, move in a way that was beyond anyone’s expectation, humble hearts, give courage, strengthen the weak, give comfort to the hurting and do many more God-sized things, all according to His character and might!

This post today is brief and to the point—-folks, you must pray.  You must be a person of prayer.  You must fight your battles on your knees.  You must live in an attitude of prayer.  You must respond to God’s promptings to pray.  You must pray when you don’t feel like praying.  You do not pray to have a relationship with God, your Heavenly Father; you pray because you do have a personal relationship with your Heavenly Father.  And, it has all been made possible through the blood and sacrificial death of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:14-16; 10:19-25).

I invite you to live in Jeremiah 33:3 all week.  Call on God, seek His face, watch His hand, and see how He reveals His character to you!  It is the place of waiting, rest, and relationship.

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not (Jeremiah 33:3).