Christian theology has long understood the tension between the - TopicsExpress



          

Christian theology has long understood the tension between the secular and eternal, teaching us the vital need to engage the world, to take up our cross in service to God — a service that also includes service to our fellow man — but with the understanding that our own efforts will never be enough to heal the world’s hurts. Until God makes all things right, the poor will always be with us, sin will always be with us, and we must demonstrate grace and charity to even our most bitter of enemies. We must work, yes, but we must also rest in God’s grace and sovereignty, secure in the knowledge that ultimate justice is in His hands alone. ~ David French Its getting louder and uglier out there - can you hear it and see it? On November 5, 2014, many of us will be exultant, many of us will be in despair and, yes, many of us wont care one way or another. Neither of these post-election states of mind, however, reflects the mind of Christ. Here was my take on the topic on the eve of the 2012 elections: God is omniscient and sees all of time, and His plan spans time and space, while we are only given a glimpse of it. The Bible is full of illustrations where God uses ordinary people and events to lay the groundwork for His extraordinary plan, and since all people are sinners and have fallen short of His glory, the likelihood that those he places in authority are going to be flawed and sometimes disobedient is pretty high. Think of the pagan leaders that God used to accomplish His purposes – the Pharaohs of Egypt in the lives of Joseph and Moses, Nebuchadnezzar with Daniel, and Pontius Pilate with Jesus Christ Himself. Look at flawed leaders like Saul, anointed by God but overcome by his own agenda, whose disobedience created a path for King David, a man after God’s own heart and the earthly ancestor of Jesus Christ. Consider the Herodian dynasty, ostensibly Jewish but consumed and corrupted by power, which played its appointed role in the crucifixion of Christ, setting the stage for his resurrection and the fulfillment of God’s ultimate plan. Moreover, God is not above using flawed leaders and governments as a form of correction. How many times in the Bible did the Lord allow His chosen people, the Jews, to be persecuted, captured or exiled because they had strayed from His commands and denied His authority? Have we considered that our nation, as great as we perceive it to be, might be due for God’s discipline, whatever form that may take? If I wring my hands in despair, or raise them in exultation, over the outcome of an election, in either reaction I’m effectively demonstrating that I didn’t trust God to have the outcome in His hands. It still applies today. Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save (Psalm 146:3).
Posted on: Wed, 08 Oct 2014 16:03:35 +0000

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