Pastor's Corner Pastor Dave The Media, Liberalism, Conservatism, Philosophy, Religion and Jesus Christ!
Pastor Dave
The Media, Liberalism, Conservatism, Philosophy, Religion and Jesus Christ!
Last Updated (Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00) Tuesday, 04 November 2008 02:10
WARNING: This is not your typical message from me. When I say typical, I mean this is a very strong Word that I believe the Lord wants His Church to hear in this hour so that you will not be deceived but stand up SPEAK UP, and be counted!
Greetings in Christ,
I have a personal belief about using the ministry of Servantsofgrace and the influence the Lord has given to me to share or espouse my own political philosophy. I do not believe it is ethical for me to espouse or impose my own political philosophy on those who listen to my sermons. I do not believe that people need to hear "political" oriented messages from Pastors but rather hear the Word of God which cuts to the core of man's issues. With that said as an American citzen I am very concerned about where this country is going, and the Church MUST stand up, pray and hold fast to the Word of God.
Allow me to first say that the topic I will discuss today gets me fired up. I have strong beliefs about how governments should be and how they should serve the people. In saying what I will say during the course of this message, I will offend some of you; although that is not my intention. My intention is that you would pray for our leaders but not only our leaders, but our churches, and those who lead them. What I’m about to say comes from my own research and experience, which means this is not an outright attack but rather written with the intended purpose of exposing error
I was raised in a very strong liberal state I have strong thoughts about why liberalism is so prevalent. Liberalism is not just a philosophy as many suggest for one simple reason. Liberalism doesn't just espouse its ideas, it calls people to BELIEVE what they believe, and if you do not then they persecute you. By understanding this we can understand why the media HATES consverativism. As human beings we attach labels to various philosophies or ideas, and then espouse them. The only problem is that Christianity has also attached a value to the Republican party because it values abortion and other key issues. I believe that it’s not only wrong for us to attach a value to a party or to any media but its dangerous to do so. Our answer does not come from man but from the Lord and His Word.
Part of the issue with our Christian culture is not only that we are not "speaking the Truth in Love" but that we do not see that our culture has had a fundamental shift in how we understand and process knowledge and truth. For example my mother's generation (born in 1940's) is driven by actions and this has influenced how American thinks even today. As a culture we are driven by doing. It’s not hard to see this in our culture but beyond this we have lost sight of our true governing principles. It isn't that liberals don't care about conservatives, or that conservatives don't care about liberals. To say such a thing is to miss the point; both parties are calling for allegiance, and in doing so they are calling for worshippers. We ought to be shocked to our senses as Christians! The Truth of what I just said ought to smack you upside the head like a semi hitting a train!
As Christians our allegiance is to be only to Jesus Christ! Both conservatism, and liberalism do not pass the Truth test and nor does philosophy. When I stuff my face full of food, what happens? I get full. The problem is we as a culture are pregnant with the idea that we have "Truth" when the culture does not have the Truth. The only organization that has the Truth is the Church whose sole foundation is the Word of God. Only a church that stands on the Truth can change culture. When we do not stand on the Truth of God’s Word we leave people in bondage. To do such a thing is the travesty of American Christianity today. God has called us to preach the Word and in so doing the people will be set free from the bondage of sin and given eternal life. what is happening is people go around espousing Truth when they are motivated by their own agenda. When this is applied to the media its easy to see what they are doing. The media outlets of our culture are not interested in the concept of free speech because they are seeking for people to agree with all their premises, ideas and philosophies, because liberalism is a RELIGION and a false one at that. Having been raised in and around the government my whole life, I am sickened by where this country is headed and where it could be headed. WE MUST PRAY! We must hold fast to the Word of God. We do not know when the Lord is coming back, but we must be ready and living like His return could be any day (2nd Timothy 4). Jesus is coming back for His people and we must speak the Truth but do so only when we are motivated by His love; otherwise we become a clanging gong.
The majority of American Christians view Christianity the same way they view McDonald’s. You come into Church get feed, or get ministered to, and then you run out and live however you want. Basically we live for our own self rather than God. We look out for our own interests and have no idea what the Bible says. How can I say such a thing? People are naturally motivated by themselves. Our motivation for our doing is completely misplaced. People take pleasure in knowing things which isn't bad, but when applied to their life in Christ it is unbiblical. It’s not about us; it is about Jesus. When one understands and lives out this truth-this country will CHANGE! Until that time comes politicians will espouse change but it will not come. Governments do not change cultures; religions do! Everything being espoused in our culture is for this one purpose to gather followers around themselves as this is what philosophy does.
What do we do? PRAY, and hold fast to your Bible. Grow genuinely in the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and live for His glory alone. The Lord is a jealous God, and He is holy. His Word is very clear that if we serve two masters; we are a master to sin. I only pray that we do pray for our nation, for our leaders and who we vote for. I pray for our media that it would open its eyes to its insanity.
At the rate we are going I believe in ten years if not sooner we will be completely socialistic. We already are shredding the Bill of Rights and Constitution on a daily basis. I realize that’s going to shock so many people but its the Truth. I don't ask you to believe me. STAND UP FOR the Word of God saints! PRAY, and SEEK THE FACE OF JESUS CHRIST! He will show you the Truth that while we as Christians stand at the gate we do not possess it. Presently we are allowing our enemy Satan to triumph over us; rather than us triumphing over Him. We have been given the TOOLS to overcome the enemy. I pray that we begin to take back all that the enemy has taken from the American Church.
We (America) have the best seminaries, colleges, and universities and we have a lot of ability as a nation. We (The Church) must repent as a people for our lack of concern and our lack of standing up. We must ask the Lord to renew in us a right Spirit and give us a hunger for His Word. We must stand up for what is right, just and holy in the sight of the Lord. We MUST stand up for those who are abused, the orphan, widow, etc otherwise we bring dishonor and judgment upon our nation and ourselves as a people. I only pray that we wake up, and I pray that the watchmen would stand up AND PRAY. Pray! Pray! Pray! Pray for America.
The only thing I ask is that you think about what I’ve said. I don’t ask for you to agree with what I’ve said or the comments I’ve made. All I ask is that you pray and seek first the Kingdom of God.
In Christ Alone,
Pastor Dave