How did Christianity get to be like this? You ask, Like what? Let me answer, initially, with a hint, rather than a direct answer. Some think one of the worst things to happen to Christianity was when Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity. As history is showing, that’s more significant than most people probably realize. The parallels to what’s going on in the U.S. today are incredible.
Historians now debate whether “the first Christian emperor” was a Christian at all. Some think him an unprincipled power seeker. What religion he had, many argue, was at best a blend of paganism and Christianity for purely political purposes.
That’s from Christianity Today. But there’s more.
Certainly, Constantine held to ideals we no longer share. He knew nothing of religion without politics or politics without religion. Yet he clearly believed he was a Christian, and he looked back to a battle at the Milvian Bridge, just outside the walls of Rome, as the decisive hour in his newly found faith.
Oh. Is this a case of the more things change, the more they stay the same?
History seems to show that this is the case. And so today, as often happens, we have a President using things from Christianity, combining them with politics, and using the two to get or maintain power.
How did Christianity get to be like this?
Now, to more specifically answer that question of what do I mean by “this” when asking, How did Christianity get to be like this? For a long time, Christianity seems to have become a one-issue religion for many people. What’s that one issue? Abortion. Even worse, it’s a single issue that’s inextricably linked to government. And so we go back to the type of Christianity we had with Constantine. A mix of government and Christianity, in spite of what Jesus said about God and Caesar!
Paying Taxes to Caesar
22:15-22 pp — Mk 12:13-17; Lk 20:20-26
Mt 22:15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
Mt 22:18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?”
Mt 22:21 “Caesar’s,” they replied.
Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
Mt 22:22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.
No, we’re not talking about taxes here. We’re talking about abortion. However, we’re talking about something that we, Christians, were supposed to do. But we gave it to the government. What were we supposed to do? How about this:
The Great Commission
Mt 28:16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Let me tell you, the government is not going to make disciples of all nations. At least not disciples that learn all the things that Jesus taught. Therefore, if today’s disciples learn from the government, then we aren’t going to obey everything Jesus taught. For instance, Jesus never – I repeat never – taught us to turn to the government to spread the good news of the Gospel. Never!
How did Christianity get to be like this? Hatred in the name of Jesus.
Last night I was reading “Why does God Allow Evil?” It contained the following statement, seeming to say that voting for a candidate that supported abortion was worse than what the Nazis did to Jews in the Holocaust!
“Sometimes people cry foul: “You’re telling me that the Nazi guard who killed thousands will be in heaven if he trusted in Christ before he died?” I reply, “Yes, he will be saved just like the abortion doctor who killed thousands will be in heaven if he repents and trusts Christ before he dies. Not only that, but all those people who voted to keep the abortion doctor’s work legal so that he could continue suctioning, scraping, and scalding children to death will also be saved if they repent and trust Christ before they die.” 48 I’ve never had anyone continue to press this point.”
― from “Why Does God Allow Evil?: Compelling Answers for Life’s Toughest Questions”
That’s just unbelievable. And so disappointing.
Not only that, but all those people who voted to keep the abortion doctor’s work legal so that he could continue suctioning, scraping, and scalding children to death will also be saved if they repent and trust Christ before they die.
I have no problem with the abortion doctors being forgiven if they repent and follow Jesus before they die.
However – I very strongly object to the statement that I voted for someone who has an agenda that doesn’t include making abortion illegal! There are many things in this fallen world that that are wrong. However, outlawing abortion will not, I repeat, will not all of a sudden end abortions! The rich people will continue to have them. They can afford to go someplace else. It might prevent poor people from having an abortion, since they can’t afford that luxury.
But the more likely scenario is something else. Something that those of us who are old enough remember. The poor people who can’t afford to fly to another country or to pay a competent doctor to do the abortion via the back door will take another approach. One that’s dangerous and sometimes deadly. They’ll have it done by someone who’s not competent and can’t get them care when something goes wrong.
How is any of that loving? How does any of that help save anyone’s soul? I believe that instead, Christians should be doing something along the lines of what I wrote about in How do I justify Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ stance on abortion?
How did Christianity get to be like this? A single issue and the avoidance of everything else?
For anyone to say that everyone who doesn’t vote for an anti-abortion candidate is worse than a Nazi who killed Jews during the holocaust – well, that’s, among other things, just plain not true. It’s insulting. It’s a lie. And it’s ignoring all the other suffering that goes on in this world!
My stance has been, and will continue to be, that no candidate for any governmental office should be the litmus test for how Christians vote. No candidate. Why not? Because every candidate for any governmental office supports things that are against what Jesus taught. Further, there’s no single issue that any Christian can pick up from the Bible and say, that’s the one Jesus warned us about! Not a single one! Remember this passage, if you think that’s wrong.
Murder
5:25, 26 pp — Lk 12:58, 59
Mt 5:21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
Mt 5:23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
Mt 5:25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”
“Raca” is like calling someone a fool. So in this passage, Jesus is saying that, of course, murdering someone puts us in danger of going to hell. However, Jesus also said calling someone a fool puts us in danger of going to hell! Just think about how often a candidate puts down their opponent(s) during a campaign. But even more so with Trump, think about the insults and lies he constantly throws out against anyone he doesn’t like! Given that, how is it that one issue, no matter what it is, is worse than all the rest?
How did Christianity get to be like this? Seeming to forget that all have fallen short.
What it comes down to is this:
Righteousness Through Faith
Ro 3:21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
Ro 3:27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. 29 Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
All have fallen short of the glory of God. We’re all so far short of the glory of God that, by comparison, we are all at the opposite end of the spectrum from God. In fact, so far short that I believe that, based on the passage titled murder in the NIV, we’re closer to the worst mass murderer that ever lived that we are to God. That’s the reality of just of how important Jesus and the grace of God are to us!
As I’ve written many times before, no sin is worse than any other. It can’t be. Just look at what Jesus said about murder and calling someone a fool. How can we possibly claim that one sin is the sin that we need to base our view of Christianity on?
How did Christianity get to be like this? Putting government above God.
But it gets worse!
Remember, the Old Testament, with the Old Covenant, was full of “thou shalt not” statements. Not so in the New Testament with the New Covenant. I say that based on this passage from Matthew.
The Greatest Commandment – Matthew
22:34-40 pp — Mk 12:28-31
Mt 22:34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Mt 22:37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Just look at what Jesus said. He was asked about the greatest commandment. And He responded with two. Further, neither of them was in the form of thou shalt not. They weren’t of the form – don’t do this. Rather, they were in the form – do this.
The second was to love others as we love ourselves. The first was to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. Very much the line of the Old Covenant commandment in Exodus 20:3.
The Ten Commandments – Exodus
20:1-17 pp — Dt 5:6-21
Ex 20:1 And God spoke all these words:
Ex 20:2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
Ex 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
Ex 20:4 “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Ex 20:7 “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
Ex 20:8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
Ex 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
Ex 20:13 “You shall not murder.
Ex 20:14 “You shall not commit adultery.
Ex 20:15 “You shall not steal.
Ex 20:16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
Ex 20:17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Ex 20:18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.”
Ex 20:20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”
Ex 20:21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.
Ex 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
How did Christianity get to be like this? Is government a replacement for or co-equal to God?
As you can see, every other commandment falls under the two that Jesus responded with. All of them.
But Jesus did still point out that we should not have any god before / above God. And yet, isn’t that what we’re doing now? Isn’t that where Christianity is right now, for far too many people?
Think about it. When we combine Christianity and government, we are putting another god – the government and the people we support – above God? Some will say that’s not true. But I believe a careful analysis will show it is true.
Here’s what happens when we rely on a combination of God and man / God and government.
At the very least, we’re saying that government is needed to get out the message of Jesus. However, when we say that. we’re also saying that God isn’t enough to accomplish the task Jesus gave us! Remember what Jesus said at the end of the Great Commission.
How did Christianity get to be like this? Do we still remember we’re children of God?
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Jesus did not say, the government will be with you to the very end of the age. Jesus didn’t even say the government will help you from time to time. Rather, Jesus said the Holy Spirit will help us. Who then are we to say no to the Holy Spirit? Who are we to say the government is more powerful than the Holy Spirit?
We need to remember what Paul wrote in the passage the NIV titles, Living as Children of the Light.
Living as Children of Light
Eph 4:17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
Eph 4:20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Eph 4:25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
Eph 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Eph 5:1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Eph 5:3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
Eph 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:
“Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
Eph 5:15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Eph 5:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
The entire passage is important for us to understand and to follow. However, for today, I want to point out especially this portion:
Eph 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Be careful what comes out of our mouths. By the way, pay attention to what comes out of people’s mouths. More on that in a second.
The key here though is:
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
When we place the government or a governmental agency or person, above God, or even add them to what Jesus taught, I believe we are going against what Jesus called the first and greatest commandment.
Furthermore, isn’t that grieving the Holy Spirit? Doesn’t the Bible teach us enough to fulfill the commandments from God? Doesn’t Jesus make our tasks clear enough on His own? Do we need the government to help us understand them? And when we pass off the task of fulfilling Jesus’ commands to the government, or even to anyone else, aren’t we grieving the Holy Spirit?
As Christians, we believe we have a personal relationship with Jesus. In essence, with the Holy Spirit, since Jesus told us this:
Jesus promises The Holy Spirit
Jn 14:15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”
Jn 14:22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
Jn 14:23 Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
Jn 14:25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Jn 14:28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30 I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, 31 but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me.
“Come now; let us leave.”
So given everything above, aren’t we grieving the Holy Spirit when rather than trust Him to guide us, we tell the government to perform our tasks for us?
How did Christianity get to be like this? What comes out of our mouths?
Earlier, I said I’d return to the topic of paying attention to what comes out of people’s mouths. Of course, that includes our own.
Remember what James wrote about the tongue?
Taming the Tongue
Jas 3:1 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
Jas 3:3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
Jas 3:7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
Jas 3:9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
I take this passage very seriously, since I write and teach classes at church. Taken as a whole, it’s a way we can tell a lot about ourselves. And about other people. And when it comes to the things we claim to be, versus what we say, that last paragraph is very telling.
Jas 3:9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
Going back once again to anyone who runs for a government office, there are differences between what they say and what they’re really about. In other parts of the Bible, we read that what comes out of the mouth is from the heart. So once again, it points to the need for us to follow and live by the Holy Spirit. Not that we should follow and live by any human being. We are responsible for living out the life God planned for us. Not a candidate for a political office. Not the government. No, as Christians it’s us and the Holy Spirit.
Conclusion – How did Christianity get to be like this?
My conclusion may be surprising to you. I don’t believe Christianity has come to this. Not at all. Unfortunately, it appears that way too many Christians have come to this. Jesus hasn’t changed.
But we’re changed. It’s like Jesus wrote to the church in Ephesus.
To the Church in Ephesus
Rev 2:1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
Rev 2:4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. 5 Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Rev 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Somewhere along the way, too many have become like the church in Ephesus from Revelation.
Rev 2:4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. 5 Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
We’ve forgotten our first love. Jesus. God. And God is Love.
God’s Love and Ours
1Jn 4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
1Jn 4:13 We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
1Jn 4:19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Yes – we’ve lost Love. God’s love.
And because of that, as in the church in Ephesus, I fear that we’ll suffer the consequence warned of in that letter. We’ll lose our lampstand. We’ll no longer be part of the Church. Not the local “church”. But we’ll cease to be part of “God’s Church”.
It’s not a done deal. Yet. But it’s a warning. How we respond will determine our fate. We need to return to acting in Love – not in hatred and division. We need to act out of Love – not pass things off to a government with no soul that can’t Love. And we need to turn back to God – not to our government or some person in it.
We don’t all have to do the same thing to return to God and His love. There are so many problems in this world that we can have different goals in this life and still serve God. What I am saying is that we need to remember that personal relationship. That we’re not robots. We all have a life and a purpose. We are unique.
What we must do is return to God. We need to return to God’s Church. And we need to live with God’s Love. Then we can do a much better job of living the life God planned for us. We can accomplish so much more with God than on our own or with help from the government.
Whether it’s Trump, Biden, or another other person, we must put God number ane. Above all of them. Trust The Father. Follow Jesus. Live and love with the Holy Spirit. And then live the way we’re called to live by God. That means “die to self”, follow God’s desires for us and not our own.
Mt 22:37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Do you agree?