Resisting the world, the flesh and the devil has never been more difficult.
Our world is God’s world but is governed by two races. Humanity, God the Father’s children, you and I and the Angelic race vis a vi Lucifer are in conflict.
Ephesians 6:12
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
The supernatural realm and the physical realm overlap. There is tension and warfare. Much of it is aimed at us Christians. Yet we have fallen into the postmodern fantasy of disregarding the supernatural realm.
The stress and pressure we feel in our lives comes from both realms. Many things we witness are demonic or demonically inspired. Of course, our sin nature is a major instigator of rebellion and chaos in the world.
To identify with Jesus Christ involves putting aside all immorality and striving to obey God out of gratitude for salvation. Paul also describes the Christian life as kind of a war within—between the new self, born of the Holy Spirit, and the old sin nature. (Rom. 7:13–25).
Many people identify themselves as Christian completely misunderstand what that really means. Being a Christian is not about being morally good or being of a certain race or ethnicity. It is not defined or measured by people who do sinful and evil things in God’s name.
Now the process can take years and it involves repentance, a change in behavior and a change in our heart (inner self). We become committed and humble. We should move toward selflessness from selfishness. Christ is our model.
God the Father, Christ Jesus and the person of the Holy Spirit are persons. So, we then have a personal relationship. That means you speak in prayer to God every day. Christ Jesus is in the heavenly realm physical and whole like you and me.
God’s Holy Scripture reveals these truths.
Now I come to the main point.
In our post modern culture that is embracing secular relativism and we find our position as Christians increasingly compromised. To do or gain things that are considered Godly or good we must give up something.
This is what Franklin Graham said in 1998 about Bill Clinton: (excerpts from a longer letter- link attached)
“The topic of private vs. public behavior has emerged as perhaps the central moral issue raised by Bill Clinton’s “improper relationship” with Monica Lewinsky. Much of America seems to have succumbed to the notion that what a person does in private has little bearing on his public actions or job performance, even if he is the president of the United States….But the God of the Bible says that what one does in private does matter. Mr. Clinton’s months-long extramarital sexual behavior in the Oval Office now concerns him and the rest of the world, not just his immediate family. If he will lie to or mislead his wife and daughter, those with whom he is most intimate, what will prevent him from doing the same to the American public?”
I will stop there. Here is the link to the full article.
In 1998 James Dobson said this, again excepts with a link.
“What has alarmed me throughout this episode has been the willingness of my fellow citizens to rationalize the President’s behavior even after they suspected, and later knew, that he was lying. Because the economy is strong, millions of people have said infidelity in the Oval Office is just a private affair–something between himself and Hillary. We heard it time and again during those months: “As long as Mr. Clinton is doing a good job, it’s nobody’s business what he does with his personal life.” …
How did our beloved nation find itself in this sorry mess? I believe it began not with the Lewinsky affair, but many years earlier. There was plenty of evidence during the first Presidential election that Bill Clinton had a moral problem.
That disregard for morality is profoundly disturbing to me. Although sexual affairs have occurred often in high places, the public has never approved of such misconduct. But today, the rules by which behavior is governed appear to have been rewritten specifically for Mr. Clinton.”
These are just a few examples. Did immorality matter more in 1998 than now? This is not just a question regarding politicians but for all of us.
Have we as Christians accepted and compromised our faith and witness? Have we accepted sin as a trade for political gain?
Just as I would not associate with a man that commits adultery and cheats in other ways I cannot condone or vote for any candidate regardless of his campaign promises.
1 Corinthians 5:9 “I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people.”
There are many verses that state this.
How has our witness been compromised? Here is one example from a Huffington Post article by Phil Zuckerman – “we can clearly see Evangelical Christianity for what it really is, at least in its North American, early 21st century incarnation: immoral, uncaring, and blatantly harmful. Let us consider some obvious examples:” He goes on to list Health Care, Immigration to name a few. Here is the link.
The excuses by Evangelical Christians are just that excuses. To claim a transactional relationship is a moral failure.
Has anyone considered that part of the reason our nation is morally bankrupt is because Christians have altered their faith to play a political game? Have we joined the Pharisees?
The apostle Paul puts it like this:
For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. (2 Cor. 5:14–15).