This post belongs in the "For what it's worth" category. I have been thinking and praying about the differences between the left and right wings of American politics quite a bit this last year. I've tried to narrow the scope to the differences among those who profess to be Christians and are so diametrically opposed to each other. This election cycle has, in my observation, created a greater divide among Christians than at any other time in my memory. This was and is troubling to me. I believe the Lord has allowed me to see the root of the division. I want to share it with you, if you can take the time to read this.
Recently, I responded to a post by a man who is a pastor in the United Methodist Church. We disagreed, but it was clear that he was just as convinced of the righteousness of his position as I felt about mine. There was no pettiness involved, we were both sincere and polite in the division. I can see no room for compromise by either of us. This dialogue is what the Lord used to begin my understanding of the problem. The obvious contention was our understanding of the Gospel and the ministry that Jesus intended for His churches to engage in.
A little background might help me explain. In the late 1960's or early 1970 a group of religious leaders met in Baltimore to plan an evangelistic out reach that would reach all of America with the Gospel. More than 100 denominations and religious organizations planned to evangelize the nation in 1973. By the time 1973 rolled around, the great plan was just a fizzle of smoke that had no glimmer of the intended goal. The reason for the failure is directly tied to the reality of such definite differences between organizations that they could not agree on what the gospel message was. To some, it was sharing the message of the redemption of the soul through faith in the blood of Christ and at the other end of the spectrum was the concept of redeeming society and culture by ensuring civil rights for minorities and/or feeding the hungry and housing the homeless. In essence the difference was between a spiritual gospel and a social gospel. One side of the spectrum saw the ministry as meeting the needs of people in the here and now, because they believed that in every person resides a spark of good and God that just needs to be fanned into flame to accomplish God's plan. The other side saw the ministry as preaching the Word to the subverting of the soul and becoming a child of God, because they believed that no one is worthy of Heaven and have no hope apart from being born again through Christ. I belong to the second, the conservative end of the spectrum, the right if you will. The other end is the left, the liberal end of the spectrum. These differences have always existed, it's nothing new. However, since the end of WWII there has been a greater emphasis on getting along with each other. The ecumenical movement has become mainstream, with major efforts in the religious community to sacrifice basic differences for the purpose of unity.
Unity outside individual congregations does not work. When it is required that basic doctrinal stands must be set aside for unity the cost is too high when applied across denominational lines. When compromise is made it is almost without exception, the conservative right that makes the compromises. Unity sounds like such a great idea, after all. The drive for unity is taken from John 17, where Jesus prayed that the apostles would be one as Jesus and the Father are one. I maintain that this can only happen in local, close knit groups, where people are already of one mind on doctrine and polity. It cannot exist in larger groups without some one surrendering to the opposing point of view. Conservative (right wing) Christians have always been the ones to give in and compromise Biblical truth. As a result, we see liberal churches accepting as members and even ordaining to the pastoral ministry, practicing homosexuals. They are also ordaining women to pastoral ministries, both practices are distinctly forbidden by Scripture. That's bad, but the worst is that conservative churches are failing to maintain a distinctive Biblical position and are not refraining from fellowship with those on the liberal side.
In recent years the left/liberal side has grown because of a shift of the right to a closer to center position. For this move toward center to occur, the right has had to abandon Biblical truth and become more comfortable with the social gospel of the left. BTW, the social gospel is no gospel at all. It is tragic to go to Hell with good clothes and a full belly. As a result the left has become emboldened to push their "gospel" agenda, which involves massive social programs. Somewhere along the course, government has espoused the agenda of the liberal religious crowd. Socialism and communism have always employed the same agenda as the liberal religious group because it aides them in their quest to bring government control over all of the citizens life, from the cradle to the grave.
Liberal/left wing "Christians" believe and practice the program of meeting peoples needs as a function of society and government. Take care of people, meet their needs even at the cost of their liberty; that is the mantra of the left. "It is your Christian duty to feed the hungry, heal the sick, clothe the naked," is the cry of the left/liberals. They find Jesus saying something like that and it sounds so noble. However, they fail to look at Jesus in context. He also said, " You will have the poor with you always." The ministry of feeding and clothing the needy is not a universal responsibility. It is the task of churches for their own members to fulfill, not everyone in general.
God's program and that of most of the conservative groups is that of personal responsibility, cared for in the family unit and then on a larger scale, the congregation. Paul recorded, "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat." 2 Thessalonians 3:10
"But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." 1 Timothy 5:8
Personal responsibility puts us in a position of depending on God when we have done our best and still have need. We will come to Him in need and cry out to Him for mercy, willing to be obedient, changing our behavior and mind-set to come under His blessing and provision. When society/government meets our needs they are supplanting God. This supplanting is in keeping with the goals of the liberal, socialist agenda. It is no mistake that all the socialist, communist, left wing governments are atheistic. In the Democrat national convention of the last presidential election, references to God were rejected by the party members with loud booing each of the three times God was mentioned. God has been ejected from the party of the left. Many of the liberal religious have denied the deity of Christ and the inspiration of Scripture. There is no room among them for a God who judges people on the basis of His righteousness, they demand that HUMANISM be the doctrine of American religious. They will not move toward center because that would mean compromise, so they insist that the right move further and further left until most are past center and they don't even realize how far they have moved.
Ecumenicism has ruined America. Most genuine Christians have lost their moorings because of efforts like Key 73. It sounds good to be unified and help poor people and everyone just get along lovingly. The only problem with that syrupy sweet idea, is that it is impossible, it will not work. God has never been in the business of unifying everyone. To the contrary, He is about separation and division. Separate yourself unto Christ and you will see the widening gulf between yourself and other religionists. God divides families, congregations, cities and nations with one issue, Christ Jesus, are you with Him or against Him, that is the question. Unfortunately, many denominations and religious groups have decided to side with the world system and left wing, liberal humanism than with the Son of God. One is easily religious, but lost.
Conclusion: The political and religious have polarized to extreme ends of left and right, with the middle constantly shifting back and forth with whatever plate of promises are being served by the parties, both political and religious. What we are seeing in 2017 America is the fight between God and humanity waging fiercely, more so than ever before. Common ground is vanishing before our eyes. There is no room for compromise with a religious and political establishment that boos God out of their convention and embraces the wholesale murder of babies as a human right. It is my considered opinion that it is now impossible to be an informed, dedicated Christian and a practicing member of the Democrat party and the socialist left.
"But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." 1 Timothy 5:8
Personal responsibility puts us in a position of depending on God when we have done our best and still have need. We will come to Him in need and cry out to Him for mercy, willing to be obedient, changing our behavior and mind-set to come under His blessing and provision. When society/government meets our needs they are supplanting God. This supplanting is in keeping with the goals of the liberal, socialist agenda. It is no mistake that all the socialist, communist, left wing governments are atheistic. In the Democrat national convention of the last presidential election, references to God were rejected by the party members with loud booing each of the three times God was mentioned. God has been ejected from the party of the left. Many of the liberal religious have denied the deity of Christ and the inspiration of Scripture. There is no room among them for a God who judges people on the basis of His righteousness, they demand that HUMANISM be the doctrine of American religious. They will not move toward center because that would mean compromise, so they insist that the right move further and further left until most are past center and they don't even realize how far they have moved.
Ecumenicism has ruined America. Most genuine Christians have lost their moorings because of efforts like Key 73. It sounds good to be unified and help poor people and everyone just get along lovingly. The only problem with that syrupy sweet idea, is that it is impossible, it will not work. God has never been in the business of unifying everyone. To the contrary, He is about separation and division. Separate yourself unto Christ and you will see the widening gulf between yourself and other religionists. God divides families, congregations, cities and nations with one issue, Christ Jesus, are you with Him or against Him, that is the question. Unfortunately, many denominations and religious groups have decided to side with the world system and left wing, liberal humanism than with the Son of God. One is easily religious, but lost.
Conclusion: The political and religious have polarized to extreme ends of left and right, with the middle constantly shifting back and forth with whatever plate of promises are being served by the parties, both political and religious. What we are seeing in 2017 America is the fight between God and humanity waging fiercely, more so than ever before. Common ground is vanishing before our eyes. There is no room for compromise with a religious and political establishment that boos God out of their convention and embraces the wholesale murder of babies as a human right. It is my considered opinion that it is now impossible to be an informed, dedicated Christian and a practicing member of the Democrat party and the socialist left.
