Why?

This is going to be a long and likely unpopular entry. I am just going to come out and say it, I am sick to death of the church being used by politicians to further their agenda’s regardless of who they hurt. I am sick and nauseated by those who call themselves ministers who prostitute the church to gain political power. I am tired of preachers who have no clue that the one they claim to serve would be embarrassed to own them as they pontificate as the Pharasees of old did. These have gone from opening a path for people to know the Saviour, to barring the way and locking all the doors, being those who callously agree to keep those who are disenfranchised in such a state for reasons that are political, not scriptural. How is it that we have so forgotten that the One we follow came here and ate, drank and yes partied with the same people, who today would be ostracized by the church as the Pharasees did in their day? Why is it that this is acceptable? Why is it that we have so allowed ourselves to be lied to, and for what? So some of those in leadership can gain political power to rule over people…Here’s the problem with that, Jesus while he did not run from His mission here, He did run from one thing, He ran from those who would use Him for politi:al advantage. (See John 6: 1-6) why is it that so many run to something that Jesus ran from? Why is it, that while preach about the love of God, we rarely show it to those who do not look like us? In this country we are quick to dismiss those that are disenfranchised, in Jesus’ day it was prostitutes, tax collectors, publicans and the like. In America in the 21st century we have the porn star, the woman who got an abortion, the divorcee, the single mother, and yes, the homosexual. In this country we practice something that I have labeled Americanized christianity, (I use the small c because this denomination practices a version of Christianity that the Apostles would not recognize). It is the unofficial official state religion, and that is a problem, a huge problem… We are supposed to be different from the culture, tell me how can we be different if we preach the same thing that the politicians preach? How is it that we can wrap ourselves in the flag of a nation, any nation and feel that we are actually doing Kingdom work? How is it that the language of politics has made its way into our midst? Did we not recall the lesson that Paul taught to the Colossians where he told them that they should not allow themselves to be overcome by the rudimentary elements of the culture in which they lived? (see Col 2:20) Why is it that we have come to feel in this country that to be an American one has to also be a christian? How is it that we have bought into the lie that so many politicians have told that “America is the shining light leading the way to freedom”, or the one they told that America is the worlds last best hope”? Both of those things are lies because we know that both of those things are reserved for one person and one person only Jesus Christ, and yet so many of us remain ever so silent, while others force the church on her back and allow her to be raped of her influence, make her of none effect because lets face it many in the world when they hear the fact that you are a christian and American a certain image fills their minds, and its not at all one that reflects the Kingdom of God. How has this happened, how is it that the church is now viewed as nothing more than a symbol of political power run amuck? Why is it that we cannot find it within ourselves to minister to the groups that are marginalized? Who are we to stand in judgment? How is it that we have suddenly become the guardians of morality? How is it that we feel free to pass judgement on groups because they exist outside the doors of the church? Why has preaching the gospel often become exercises in who can be the most boorish? Even Paul when he preached knew that in order to reach his audience he had to use their own philosophy in order to bring forward the message of the gospel. Why is it that we would rather run people away from the church rather than go out and lovingly serve, lovingly draw? Just this evening a prominent pastor feel s that instead of walking, instead of serving, instead of ministering, this man wants to throw people in jail for no other reason other than they are homosexual. Really!!???!! Is this what being a christian in this country has come to? To borrow a phrase from some of these men, there needs to be some repentence but from inside the church first rather than the outside it seems we have forgotten why we are here, and truth be told we really need to reclaim it. The church has got to stop letting these so called men of God get away with the nonsense that they have. The church needs to stop enabling these men , Jesus said of the Church at Ephesus : 2 To the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Ephesus write: These are the words of Him Who holds the seven stars [which are the messengers of the seven churches] in His right hand, Who goes about among the seven golden lampstands [which are the seven churches]:2 I know your industry and activities, laborious toil and trouble, and your patient endurance, and how you cannot tolerate wicked [men] and have tested and critically appraised those who call [themselves] apostles (special messengers of Christ) and yet are not, and have found them to be impostors and liars. (Rev 2:1-2). Here is my point in a nutshell when is it that the church will wake up and actually shake herself and realize that she is being used by men who mean only to do one thing, gain in power politically, by any means necessary even if it means the use of slander, innuendo, and hate.