Are We Causing People to Reject the Messiah?
This morning I read Romans chapter 2 for my morning Scripture reading. In my opinion, Romans is one of the most challenging books of the Bible. This is why I have yet to tackle it fully publicly. I want to keep reading and studying Romans for a few more years, before I teach through it.
Before getting into the meat of the chapter, there is something that needs to be discussed first. Romans 2 begins with a "therefore." This must mean a thought of Paul's was divided by the French theologian, whose name I do not recall off hand but you can easily "Duck Duck Go" it. The French theologian added the chapter and reference numbers to the Bible hundreds of years ago so people can quickly locate and reference Scripture. This was a great advancement for humanity, and I do not claim the ability/skill to have done it better, but he made mistakes and this is one of them. He broke up a train of reasoning by inserting chapter heading between a complete thought.
So what is Paul's saying to the church in Rome that gets split by the chapter heading? Paul is highlighting the differences between people who live righteously and those who live debased lifestyles. Within that argument he captures an important detail that knowing about God and the Law is not enough. This knowledge is not the factor that stands before God. Paul even describes those with this knowledge who live foolish lives as fools because knowledge of the truth is not enough.
In response to having the right learning and the wrong living, Paul says, God allows them their heart's desire. Their free will choice to ruin their bodies and minds in sin reaps its just reward and penalty. So when we get to the "therefore" of chapter two, Paul has described both Jews and Gentiles that are living in sin and says, "you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things."
Paul is capturing the hypocritical nature or people who have the moral knowledge to live better, but who still act as those they condemn who do not know what God says is right morally. This gets very explicit with Rom 2: 12-13, "For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified." (emphasis mine)
And we are finally at the point of the above title. Are we Christians driving people to reject Jesus through our behavior? Is our behavior consistent with our theology? Paul says the name of God is blasphemed among Gentiles because because of the behavior and actions of the Jew before other folks. He says the Jew has preached one thing and done another and in response, people have rejected God. It is the behavior of the Jew that has not shown the goodness and greatness of God.
I cannot help but think of the Christian voter and supporter of government. At no point has the government shown itself an honest ruler. Each president has shown himself wicked. Each legislator and senator has shown themselves evil blasphemers and robbers. Each Supreme Court has shown itself utterly corrupt and in the bag for government and against the people. Why do Christians think one party or the other is better, when neither has proven capable of living up to the lowest of standards set before them.
Even if the hurdle is placed on the ground, government is unable to get over it cleanly.
So why Christians, do you claim one party is aligned more than the other with Scripture, when neither of them come even close. Both parties support endless war. Both parties support the war against life, both in the womb and in prison, and overseas. Both parties support theft through taxation. Both parties support the War on Drugs and all of the endless crimes against humanity that have resulted from it. Both parties have supported the war against freedom through invasive snooping and spying and so much more. The literal end of their wickedness cannot be found.
So why do Christians make themselves vocal supporters of politicians and a system that is at war with God's Word and the Messiah. At no point would Jesus ever support a single thing the US government does. There is literally nothing the US government does that jives with the morality of God and Scripture. So why do you support it? Do you think the lesser of two evils is better when it is still evil?
I wonder Christian, do you spend as much time trying to win the lost as you do fomenting about politics and politicians? Which is more important? Read Romans 2: 28-29 when you consider and reflect on your behavior regarding the worldly systems and the Kingdom of God. Paul writes this, "For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical.29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter."
Christian, are you living for Jesus or your version of Uncle Sam(e) that you think is better? You will stand before God and he will show you the answer. Just keep in mind Rev 20: 11-12, "Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done."
Please run away from Uncle Sam. He does not save and he does no good. Share the Good News with your neighbor and the person you meet on the road. Be a good witness at work and live a life that draws others to Jesus. Let us not be impediments to others hearing about God's plan. Politics is an ugly game, please do not sully the message of life by getting dirty with it.