Well, full disclosure, I did not make it to church this Palm Sunday. I got up, not feeling great, and had to go back to bed. Then one of the kids got sick to her stomach. So we’ll rest and gear up for Easter. Just one of those days. But it is also Palm Sunday and Holy Week and those of you who are new to this need to note something. This week, no politics around here in my morning posts.
For many years, I was caught up in the effort to confront the world on the world's stage with the world's weapons. Very good people in very good organizations implored believers to "get involved politically", "make a difference with our votes", and save this blessed country from the impending moral chaos, and eventual moral collapse, that we saw coming from miles away. Those same people still preach the same message. The argument to confront evil in that way made sense then. Today, not so much.
That effort has just given us momentary victories. The Republican party, the only real choice for a political answer, has proven time and again to be as toothless and ineffective as a Gospel without Jesus. It just doesn't have any power. Even the massive Supreme Court decison to gut Roe has become a money maker and rallying cry for those who want to kill babies. Praise the Lord for that victory, for there WILL BE babies who will not be sucked out of their mother's wombs. There WILL BE women, and men, who will not endure the agony of reliving a terrible decison. But that SC decision has also forced people to make a personal judgment about the evil of abortion, and many have decided that babies must be sacrificed in order for women to feel whole, or empowered, or unencumbered by an inconvenient pregnancy. The "what if" question concerning the unintended pregnancies trumped the "what about the unborn life" question that should be paramount. Now, even conservative state legislatures have rejected opportunities to ban abortion. It just got too personal for some people.
All of that to say that your words, Erick, ring loud and clear to this reformed "politics is the answer" junkie. I always said out loud that the only thing that would save us from ourselves was real revival, but I secretly held out hope that the right man in office could turn things around. I couldn't have been more wrong. I repent in dust and ashes. How silly to think that a spiritual battle could even be fought, much less won, with worldly, fleshy weapons. Our situation today proves that only Jesus-loving, Jesus-following, Jesus-worshipping people will make any difference in this broken world, and that will require us to accept the cross that He hands us and lay down out swords. I am not a pacifist. I am not a pansy. I do not believe that politics has to be avoided (that's actually impossible). I just realize that when my voice carries across a room and all anyone can hear is a political message, then they will probably turn their backs on me and never hear my heart that they can know the Savior who saved even this worthless sinner. Thanks for the words you write. May Jesus be honored by His people.
Great timing for this. It will help me explain to the African church leaders in Tanzania and Zambia I'll be meeting with how to respond to the prssure their governments are getting from the US, and UN to accept the LGBTxyz agendas. Our government dangling aid over them while the Chinese come in with no strings attached... until ther is. Have a blessed Holy Week.
You know... if was was overtly sensitive & perhaps somewhat insecure, I’d worry you’ll end up taking my job... thankfully the Lord has you where he needs you. This was a great combination of “news recap” and a segue to Holy Week. From the bottom of my heart, thank you Erick. Prayers & Grace to you & yours!
Beautiful post. Fantastic how the human animal can be responsible for such evil while convincing itself that it is a righteous moral actor. It seems that there is some macro biological defect.
I wonder if the Democratic Party is not a remanent of the Roman Empire.The Romans made up their own laws and were brutal. No one was Above their laws. Yet they are no more.
“To act for men is to act against God.”
We know Christ will return in Triumph.
Wish you well Eric; Great Article. Will say a prayer for your family.
Amen!
For many years, I was caught up in the effort to confront the world on the world's stage with the world's weapons. Very good people in very good organizations implored believers to "get involved politically", "make a difference with our votes", and save this blessed country from the impending moral chaos, and eventual moral collapse, that we saw coming from miles away. Those same people still preach the same message. The argument to confront evil in that way made sense then. Today, not so much.
That effort has just given us momentary victories. The Republican party, the only real choice for a political answer, has proven time and again to be as toothless and ineffective as a Gospel without Jesus. It just doesn't have any power. Even the massive Supreme Court decison to gut Roe has become a money maker and rallying cry for those who want to kill babies. Praise the Lord for that victory, for there WILL BE babies who will not be sucked out of their mother's wombs. There WILL BE women, and men, who will not endure the agony of reliving a terrible decison. But that SC decision has also forced people to make a personal judgment about the evil of abortion, and many have decided that babies must be sacrificed in order for women to feel whole, or empowered, or unencumbered by an inconvenient pregnancy. The "what if" question concerning the unintended pregnancies trumped the "what about the unborn life" question that should be paramount. Now, even conservative state legislatures have rejected opportunities to ban abortion. It just got too personal for some people.
All of that to say that your words, Erick, ring loud and clear to this reformed "politics is the answer" junkie. I always said out loud that the only thing that would save us from ourselves was real revival, but I secretly held out hope that the right man in office could turn things around. I couldn't have been more wrong. I repent in dust and ashes. How silly to think that a spiritual battle could even be fought, much less won, with worldly, fleshy weapons. Our situation today proves that only Jesus-loving, Jesus-following, Jesus-worshipping people will make any difference in this broken world, and that will require us to accept the cross that He hands us and lay down out swords. I am not a pacifist. I am not a pansy. I do not believe that politics has to be avoided (that's actually impossible). I just realize that when my voice carries across a room and all anyone can hear is a political message, then they will probably turn their backs on me and never hear my heart that they can know the Savior who saved even this worthless sinner. Thanks for the words you write. May Jesus be honored by His people.
Great timing for this. It will help me explain to the African church leaders in Tanzania and Zambia I'll be meeting with how to respond to the prssure their governments are getting from the US, and UN to accept the LGBTxyz agendas. Our government dangling aid over them while the Chinese come in with no strings attached... until ther is. Have a blessed Holy Week.
Thank you, Erick, for reminding us that Jesus is our main focus, not the craziness of this world.
As always and just in time, you write the words we needed to hear to put this life in perspective. Happy Easter!
You know... if was was overtly sensitive & perhaps somewhat insecure, I’d worry you’ll end up taking my job... thankfully the Lord has you where he needs you. This was a great combination of “news recap” and a segue to Holy Week. From the bottom of my heart, thank you Erick. Prayers & Grace to you & yours!
Good read Erick, feel better soon !!
Great post and have a great Holy Week! You are right Erick, we know the end of this story and what Jesus's resurrection means for all!
Thank you, as always, for a beautiful reminder of where our focus, and our behavior, should be.
Blessings to you and your family.
Thank you
Thank you for sharing this. Good reminder for us.
Beautiful post. Fantastic how the human animal can be responsible for such evil while convincing itself that it is a righteous moral actor. It seems that there is some macro biological defect.
A worthy reminder, and admonition.
Amen.
There is a Redeemer. There is no other hope for humanity. Hosanna to the Highest.
I wonder if the Democratic Party is not a remanent of the Roman Empire.The Romans made up their own laws and were brutal. No one was Above their laws. Yet they are no more.
“To act for men is to act against God.”
We know Christ will return in Triumph.
Wish you well Eric; Great Article. Will say a prayer for your family.