Applying The Bible to Our Culture and World

These are the opinions of Jeff Phillips, pastor of an inner city Southern Baptist church in the heart of the bible belt. These views do not represent Woodfield Park Baptist Church, Ashley my wife, our 3 dogs or 3 cats.







Friday, January 29, 2016

The Roles of Government and the Church

As the Republican debate reached it's closing statements round the other night, Dr. Ben Carson closed his rather uneventful night in a unique way. He recited the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States:

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union,  establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common Defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

You know what? I memorized that in the third grade as part of my 48th ranked, South Carolina public school education, and can still recite it to this day. In this short paragraph the Founding Fathers of our nation very simply and concisely defined what they felt the role of government should be. While there is no doubt the role of government has expanded well beyond this definition, I found it refreshing to hear in a political debate in this age of HUMONGOUS government exactly what the original intent was. And I got to thinking, how does God define the role of the church?

First let's look at the Founding Fathers definition of government.

"We the People of the United States" It is we the people who are to rule this nation through elected representatives. We exercise our rule through elections, very poorly sometimes. But ultimately the responsibility of what our government is rests at our feet. You don't like the government? Look in the mirror!

"in order to form a more perfect Union" We are united together in a common purpose to make our nation the best it can be. Not perfect, as that is impossible, but more perfect. Striving for the best. This is also a "perfect" definition for how the Christian should strive to live their life, be "more perfect" everyday.

"establish Justice" To establish justice is to establish a fair system of treatment for all under a rule of law. God alone is just and He alone knows perfect justice, and as flawed as our system is, it is still the best man has ever come up with. Judged by our peers.

"insure domestic Tranquility" Tranquility is a word we don't use much anymore. It means peace, calm. The government is to insure peace among the citizens, meaning I believe guarding against physical, armed conflict from within. We've had mixed results with this.

"provide for the common Defense" Perhaps the most understood and accepted role of government, to protect the citizenry from outside enemies.

"promote the general Welfare" To promote the well being of it's citizens. Provide equal opportunity, safety, the opportunity to improve oneself. "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

"secure the blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity" We are free people, free to do as we wish so long as laws are not broken or no harm comes to another. It's the government's role to secure this right that comes not from man, but from God. And we do this with an emphasis on our posterity, those who come after us, insuring they will enjoy the same freedoms we do!

Notice some things here. It does not say establish a national religion, as freedom of religion is guaranteed in the First Amendment of the constitution that follows. It also does not say limit religion, which is also guaranteed by that same First Amendment. The government is to stay out of religion, and any religion has the freedom to practice it's beliefs within the confines of the freedom we are all granted. The Founders were pretty smart dudes. They stayed out of the business of the church.

So what is the role of the church?

Like our Founding Fathers, God did not give us difficult instruction in regards to this. Like our government today, I believe many Christians have complicated and added to the role of the church making it really incomprehensible. It is not. The role of the church is this:

Matthew 22:37-40, "Jesus replied, 'Love the Lord God with all of your heart and with all of your soul and with all of your mind, this is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself."'

It's not rocket science!!! In doing the "Greatest Commandment," we are "salt and light" in this world! That is the role of the church! Yet somehow, today, it feels as though the church feels part of it's role is to win elections. I don't find that command in the bible!

Does this mean a Christian should not participate in the government? Run for office? Vote? Of course not! In doing this we can be "salt" in the culture we live in. But the government, and elections, are not to be the focus of the church. These are things of man, and while we can influence them as Christians living out the "Greatest Commandment," they are not a means to see the gospel spread and our nation turn to God. There is only one way this happens, through our faithful witness and the power of the Holy Spirit! The only way we can be "salt" is to continually point to THE "light", Jesus Christ. Government and elections point to man.

Do we as citizens have the right and freedom to defend the religious liberty granted to us by our constitution so eloquently written many years ago? You bet we do!!! But I'll ask you this. Does, should, the church need the government to share Jesus, practice the "Greatest Commandment," and be "salt and light?"

Something to ponder in this explosive election year.

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

The Curious Case of Donald Trump and Christianity

Earlier tonight Donald Trump, Republican frontrunner in every poll for the 2016 Presidential nomination, withdrew from the last scheduled debate on FOX News before the Iowa Caucus on February 1. It is the latest occurrence instigated by Trump in this most unusual of election years that has the media up in arms exclaiming "THIS" is the mistake that could lead to his downfall. Trump has brought dynamics to this race, some very positive, some in my opinion not, more than any candidate in my lifetime. He's tapped in to the furor from grassroots America against politics as it has been, often referred to as the "establishment." He's dominated media coverage with an in your face, take no prisoners, downright crass style that has offended many. In the latest polling he leads among Evangelical voters by 17 points in spite of an inability to articulate his faith, and garnered the endorsement of such noted conservative Christian leaders as Jerry Falwell, Jr. To some he is grotesque, to others a hero. To all he is an enigma, balking every conventional political method yet still garnering apparent huge support.

As a Christian, I adhere to a biblical worldview. I support candidates who also have that worldview. Most Christians have, though in recent years those lines have been blurred. In 2012 Mitt Romney was the Republican nominee, and in spite of his Mormon faith, which most of conservative Christianity does not consider Christian, still collected most of the Evangelical vote cast. In 2008 John McCain, who like Trump this year, has  profession of faith that is "light," also garnered most of the Evangelical vote. Evangelical is a term that really has no meaning anymore, as it is used to describe such varying degrees of Christianity, it is literally undefinable. For the conservative Christian who believes the bible the literal word of God, this election seems to carry a significance beyond any I can remember. How is that?

I believe this will either be the year that conservative Christianity either reclaims some relevance as a voting block, or loses it completely. For many it is a dilemma with no easy answer, tired of having to choose between two candidates, neither of whom really represent their worldview adequately. They are frustrated, and Donald Trump has ignited debate in this rather large voting block like no one ever.

I see both sides of the Trump debate. Politically he is not a conservative. But he's not running as a conservative, even though he claims to have changed past views on social/moral issues important to conservative Christians. He's running as an America first populist that is as tired of the "stupid" politicians as much of America is. I agree with what he says in regards to politicians, as I view the system as corrupted and one in desperate need of an overhaul. People are ready for an option other than the same vote they've been casting for years that has reaped little to no real effect on the status quo. Trump, although running as a Republican, I believe can rightly be called a Third Party Candidate. I see the voter angst clearly as I too wish for more options than we currently are presented with in our rigid two party system. I think we need radical change.

But I also believe character matters, and this is where I struggle with Trump. Trump has some admirable qualities. His children, unlike many of the offspring of the rich and famous, all are upstanding, hard working, respectful people. That does speak to him as a father. I actually believe Trump would be a great negotiator, as that is what he does. But as a Christian, with that Christian worldview, I also see a man who has lived a life that is far from one that represents Christ. One that for us who claim the mantle Christian we all should be seeking to live. Trump claims to be a Christian, as do 99.9% of all politicians, even the Mormon Romney. I don't expect perfection at all. If that were the case, no one but Christ is worthy of anything. I do wish to see someone who claims to be Christian, have a life that reflects that. That cannot be said of much of Trump's life.

The dilemma for the Christian is where do we draw the line in regards to something that is purely secular like politics, and our faith? Can the Christian with a biblical worldview knowingly cast a vote for someone who has displayed such un-Christian behaviors? I don't believe there is a concrete answer for that, and because of that we see extremes on either side of the debate. Some claim they could never vote for a man like Trump. But the character of past President's is hardly exemplary in most cases. Others say it doesn't matter, I'm not voting for a pastor, but for President. Both have a point. So what is the answer?

The bible tells us in Philippians 2:12 that we should "work out our own salvation with fear and trembling." We do need to be consistent that our faith translates to all areas of our lives. Jesus also tells us in Matthew 22:21 that we should "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and unto God what is God's." Politics are not our faith or church. The bible also says we have "liberty in Christ" in regards to non-essentials of the faith. Politics are most definitely a non-essential when it comes to faith. How we approach things such as politics are a matter of our own personal conscience, as is anything the bible does not specifically call sin.

So why do I feel this is such a crucial election for Christians with a biblical worldview? Well, it's not for the reasons many espouse. You see, me, personally, feels as though politics has become a "golden calf" in many Christians lives. Instead of seeking to see the world changed through the proclamation of the gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit, we have turned to politics and men to attempt to spread our biblical worldview. The bible tells us we should be "salt and light," yet through this faith we've placed in political means, we have become far to salty with far to little light. We seek the change that salt brings apart from the light that is the only thing that can truly bring it.

As an American, I love this country. As a Christian, I know the only thing that can save our nation from ruin is a movement of the Holy Spirit, not any political candidate or party. We should participate in the process as salt, but we have to repent and abandon the idol that politics is the means to the change that so desperately needs to occur. And I fear that if a Christian worldview does win out, our dependence upon the political realm will only grow. Does that mean I openly root for an ungodly government? Not at all! It does mean that I believe our nation needs, must have, a change of heart. And only God can give us a "new heart."

The early church faced an ungodly government, and the Holy Spirit moved powerfully. He moved because they were not focused upon overthrowing Caesar, but sharing Christ. That's what we must get back to as the church. With a win of the Christian worldview, I can see that inevitably delayed. With a loss, however that is defined, quite possibly we stop looking to men and instead cast our attention once again to our true, "blessed hope," Jesus Christ. If an even worse and hostile America means a revived body of Christ, but an America that is more in line with our worldview means a continuing absence of the power of the Holy Spirit, which should we desire? This earth is not our home.

I pray one day abortion is illegal. It is murder and sin. No nation can truly prosper flouting God with such abomination. I pray one day our government can once again not endorse the sin of homosexuality and gay marriage. I pray our nation can turn from it's obsession with money, materialism, culture of celebrity, me first appetites, all of which the bible calls sin. I do want, as Donald Trump says, for America to be great. But the only way that happens is through a heaven sent movement of God, not who we vote for. Whatever it takes for the church to get that, understand that..........that is my prayer to happen.