Keep my soul, and deliver me;
Let me not be ashamed,
for I put my trust in You.
Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,
For I wait for You.
Psalms 25:20-21 (NKJV)
Culture and politics have conspired to arrest integrity, honesty, and concern for the wellbeing of the other. God requires us to obey Him, not man. The story of Esther, Joseph, Daniel, and the Book of Acts demonstrates self-interest is never to the exclusion of loving my brother, sister, or neighbor as myself.
The presence we are to have in the culture
is not manifesting as the Creator designed it to be.
If ever two powerful forces were needed to preserve us in these times of God’s exposing humankind, they are integrity and honesty. The psalmist asks for these to protect him step by step.
Honesty makes us learn God’s requirements and strive to fulfill them. Integrity—being what we say we are—keeps us from claiming to be honest while living as if we do not know God. Honesty says, “This is the Shepherd’s way,” and integrity says, “I will walk consistently in it.”
How do we walk honestly and consistently? By knowing what God instructs us to do or not to do.
“These six things the LORD hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
a proud look, a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that are swift in running to evil,
a false witness who speaks lies,
and one who sows discord among brethren.”
Proverbs 6:16-19 (NKJV)
These seven detestable sins provide a profound glimpse into the sinfulness of man. Those sins are in a unique manner provoking to God and are hurtful to the comfort of human life. These things which God hates; we must hate in ourselves; it is easy to hate them in others. Let us shun all such practices, watch and pray against them, and avoid, with marked disapproval, all who are guilty of them, whatever may be their rank.
The Churches influence sits at the center of the cultural conversation.The current debate – is America controlled by the sensibilities of the few, or MSNBC, or Fox News? And where does that leave politicians, or the media, in the struggle for power in America? Pew Research results point toward a political competition that now revolves less around individual policy disputes than the larger question of whether America’s direction will be set by the predominantly White and Christian voters who have historically wielded the most power or by an emerging America defined by both religious and racial diversity.
The consequences are actions of self-interest at the expense of the Gospel witness. Grace, mercy, forgiveness, gentleness, kindness, and the Fruits of the Spirit move to the background.
The “American Identity” concept continues to weaken, or maybe clarifies, the Christian witness to a watching world. The churches’ support or silence to the divisive madness has an enormous influence on the actions of people. The Church must demonstrate lived morality and Biblical principles as a way of life because the role of lived faith is the only way to effectively live out the Great Commission.
Culturally, gender roles and the rise of People Of Color have pushed the affluent to believe they are being “put upon”; even though their wealth continues to multiply. The less affluent view it as a “loss of status,” believing they must be viewed better than others to have self-worth. Politicians frame it as if you are “being attacked,” and they need to protect you. Evangelicals view it as needing to use force and laws to help God “do what He does”; as if trusting God’s plan is not good enough.
The results the world sees are:
- masking voter suppression as the need for election security;
- elevating the Works of the Flesh over the Fruits of the Spirit;
- individual freedom of choice implemented as a desire to control the choices and actions of others;
- denying historical events that can help create a better future;
- promoting conspiracies that put peoples lives at risk;
- protecting the unborn is more important than nurturing the born;
- labeling people through the use of derogatory and divisive language;
- providing religious cover for moral squalor;
- and support of “all men are created equal,” except people of color.
When people see believers lives in conflict with each other, they assume we have nothing to add to the moral conversation. Whoever claims to be in him must walk and live as Jesus did. Those are not my words; they are Jesus’ words in First John.
We are to take God’s wisdom and apply it to human issues; that’s how we show we know how to utilize God’s wisdom.
Great Article! Nevertheless hard to do in these days of lies, division, continual push back and intentional set back. Praying the our good Lord will heal our land.
Yes, It can be hard to love the knuckleheads but Romans 12:14-18 provides us the formula.
The core of Christian living. If we love someone the way Christ loves us, we will be willing to forgive. If we have experienced God’s grace, we will want to pass it on to others. And remember, grace is undeserved favor. We’re recognizing them, forgiving them, and loving them in spite of their sins—just as Christ did for us.
Blessings,