Our Times - Unprecedented or Same Old Same Old?
As the Bible so often does (unlike any other book, or set of books, in the world can), in a sentence or two it reveals massively great truths. For example, the short (last Old Testament) book of Malachi (proclaimed as a prophesy from God) nails today’s predominate opinions about God, politics, morals . . . by brilliantly revealing the underlying truth claims of the:
- Liberal: “All who do evil are good in the eyes of the LORD, and he is pleased with them” – in effect, saying evil is not sin to God since He overlooks these actions and activities in his great love for us and his understanding that this is how he made us. The only exception being their views about Conservatives who are intolerant in the face of God’s proclamation that He is so pleased with everyone.
- Conservative: “Where is the God of justice?” – in their self-righteousness their hope is for God’s justice to highlight their goodness while revealing the evils of liberals.
Our genes (unless tempered or suppressed by a long-lasting overwhelming setting of people of the differing gene pool) determine which of the above opposing beliefs each person accepts as true. For surely, as opposites, they cannot both be true. Malachi was written 500 years before Jesus. We see, in the Bible, it was also the pattern of opposing beliefs in Jesus’ time and it is starkly true today. Thus, the liberal/conservative tension and bias is not a cultural item, rather it is genetic.
But let's look at the entire quote to see if it reveals greater truth in its context:
You have wearied the LORD with your words.
“How have we wearied him?” you ask.
By saying, “All who do evil are good in the eyes of the LORD, and he is pleased with them” or “Where is the God of justice?” Mal 2:37
God proclaims them equally wrong and wearying to Him.
Interestingly, if we consider this genetic predisposition further, we see these macro beliefs “magically” reverse themselves when it comes to ourselves personally (on a micro basis):
· The liberals’ less-dominant gene of “Where is the God of justice” raises it head when someone “does them wrong,” just as
· Conservatives, to excuse and justify their sins, are quick to feel “All who do evil are good in the eyes of the Lord and he is pleased with them;” after all, they rationalize, no one is perfect – God loves everyone . . .”
All this showing that while we may self-righteously feel we are so right and others soooooo wrong, we are both at heart hypocrites needing the salvation of Christ. The Democrats and Republicans can't save us from this hypocrisy, they only make these conditions worse ? the Democrats by pandering to the Liberal bias and Republicans to the Conservative bias. And no one should consider playing the “I am an Independent” (effectively ensuring only the worst of both gene-pools) as a legitimate alternative – being lukewarm, vacillating between two errors, is no answer for Truth!
Church leaders better understood this principle years ago and, as a result, remained apolitical. The political parties even understood these differences with both parties, comprised of a much larger percentage of authentic Christians, appealing to voters far more on substance than, as they do today, on hollow platitudes and cliches. For on key issues they were both much more aware that NO ONE will progress, much less fulfill Christ's mandates of “do unto others” . . . “love your neighbor” . . . “a house divided will fall” . . . by retreating more and more into warring camps. For, in a truly Christian country (one dominated by Christians), the Church and Christians are not an arm of political parties (as is largely the case in America today); the political parties should dance to the tunes of Christ!
This slide into neo-paganism is clearly evident as EVERYTHING today has become politicized. Can anyone rationally explain how and why even medical issues are now fought and decided based on politics rather than truth aided by science? It is like we have moved past a normal husband and wife relationship, in which there are going to be issues requiring give and take (that they maturely work through), to instead a state of imminent pre- or post-divorce where, like immature and selfish children, some couples live a life with their highest goal being to make the other person dismal even as they, themselves, are increasingly miserable ? not rational, simply wicked! We are currently on an unsustainable path as a society – we need to make sure we are not personally following this same, eternally unsustainable, path!
The Take-Away
We need to search our hearts and see whether Conservative/Republican or Liberal/Democrat is how we think and act (who we, in essence, are). For God has warned us (of those building lives on unredeemed “natural” genes): “You have wearied the LORD with your words.” No, this is NOT going to end well unless we repent to Christ and His salvation. For if we do not, we will certainly hear, on entering the judgement at death: “Liberal, you are wrong. Conservative, you are equally wrong.” “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” Mt 7:23
On the other hand, all will be welcomed by God if they (though physically born with liberal or conservative genes) have been saved by Grace, through faith, and by seeking Christ for His further and on-going additional Grace, set these damaging and damning sins aside and entered the freedom only Christ provides in our Walking in His Way, taking up His Truths, that:
- All who do evil are NOT good in the eyes of the Lord – He is NOT pleased with them – they will NOT be welcomed into heaven. Grace will save the sinner where he is (in his sin) but Grace will immediately start moving him out of these despicable sins and continued slavery to Satan to the freedom of Christ, becoming more and more like Him.
- In much the same way, those who live a life of self-righteousness, calling for the justice of God, will at death, receive this justice, not His mercy, unless again, they, in humility, repent of this deadly sin to Christ’s salvation.
We can so quickly claim that we live in a free country and can do what we want – we can choose to believe in a Republican or Democrat god and live accordingly. But we will not be a Christian as self-defined by Jesus Christ in His Word. To foolishly ignore this, with the thought we can make Him in our image will, in the end, prove eternally deadly.
Bottom-Line
Every human being is born spiritually dead with “natural” genes that will surely lead to an eternal life in hell apart from the miracle of Christ’s salvation leading and guiding, and our giving ourselves over, to His indwelling Holy Spirit. The Christian life requires being led by and cooperating with the Holy Spirit to mold and meld us in becoming increasingly Christ-like (a task impossible without the Holy Spirit as best “pictured” in Psalm 23):
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
The political implications if there should be, by Grace (our only hope), a true Christian revival in America? Maybe not all, but the great majority of current politicians of BOTH parties will be soundly defeated and replaced by authentic Christians with greatly tempered (and cooperating for the common good) liberal and conservative leanings. In the meantime (really for all times) it is every man, woman and child for themselves to be saved and changed by Chris; finding that which is ultimately (because it is eternal) of 99.99999% magnitude in life, versus being entangled and destroyed by the lesser .00001% in importance, the fleeting political issues of today. We must place first things first!
As paraphrased for today, Joshua wisely challenged the Jews of his day:
“If serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether it be the Liberal/Conservative – Democrat/Republican gods . . . But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD Jesus Christ and His Father through the indwelling Holy Spirit! Jos 24:15
Our Times: NOT “Unprecedented” rather more of the Same Old Same Old – the same opportunities and blessings for those who seek and accept God’s Grace and the same undesirable consequences for those who do not!
We must not be among those who weary the LORD with our words
-- We must, instead, side with the Word of God and His saving Grace.