What happened to Christian transformation? You know - becoming more Christ-like? It used to be important. But now, does it mean anything more than switching to a church that we like better? One that supports our view of God, the way we created Him? That's as opposed to a church that teaches and helps us to become more like Jesus. The Jesus Christ who's the namesake of Christianity.
I ask this because of a headline in the most recent issue of Christianity Today Weekly. It reads, Trump Becomes the First President Since Eisenhower to Change Faiths in Office.
As I read it, I wondered, is this about Trump actually having a transformational experience? Or is it about something else? After all, transformation is evidence of growing Christian faith. And there's normally some kind of personal experience when a major transformation takes place.
Before we get started.
I know this isn't going to be popular with some readers. Some will think I'm writing this because of some deep conspiracy related to the current president. But it's not. It's not specific to President Trump either. I've written similar things before about Democratic politicians. Any regular reader knows that I think we need to be extremely careful about mixing politics and Christianity. After all, Jesus didn't.
My concern here is really about the souls of any Christian who gets so deeply into political issues, mixes them with Christianity, and comes up with something that doesn't line up with what Jesus said in response to the question about the greatest commandment. Hopefully you remember that passage.
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.”
So as you read this, please keep that in mind. I write out of love. Out of concern for anyone who gets so involved in politics that we lost track of how Jesus answered that question.
Maybe my concern comes out of the fact that I used to do exactly that myself. It was a shocking realization. It happens without our even recognizing what's going on. We pull out verses related to one or two of our favorite political issues. Then we make them into our Greatest Commandments. But they weren't the one Jesus gave. This begs a question. How can we ever grow in our faith, undergo that Christian transformation process, when we don't even follow some of the basics of what Jesus taught?
When we lose track of love as being most important, we lose track of God. That's not a good thing. You can check out what I mean by reading about the Letter Jesus sent to the loveless church in Ephesus, from the book of Revelation.
What is Christian transformation really about?
Just to be sure we're all on the same page, I need to say something about what Christian transformation is / should be about. From a Christian point of view. Not from a personal, I feel like it's this, point of view.
When I searched for an image to go with this topic, I just looked for "transformation". There were a lot that had to do with change. But change could be something like a u-turn. Even switching from doing something to doing nothing is a change. So it seemed the common thoughts on transformation don't line up with the concept of Christian transformation.
Christian transformation is very much about next steps. Moving along a path. The narrow path Jesus spoke of. Or at worst, returning to that narrow path when we stray from it. And so, I think it's necessary to say something about Christian transformation. Let's begin with something Paul wrote in Romans on the topic of being transformed by God, as opposed to being transformed by the world at large.
Living Sacrifices
Ro 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
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Dear Chris, Irene, and your fur children,
I have been praying for you and your family. We disagree. I am judging President Trump on the fruit that he has produced and it has been good fruit. There are peace agreements with Israel and I am well aware that the anti-Christ comes promoting peace. But President Trump has also moved our embassy to Jerusalem, defended the unborn, nominated Christian Supreme Court justices, and signed Executive orders providing for the care of aborted children who lived! That is all VERY GOOD FRUIT!!!! Our former Vice President has never done anything towards the Lord’s good fruit in all of his career. In addition, I do not believe that the “powers that be on this earth” will allow him to continue anyway, hence, the 25th amendment. In my opinion, the former Vice President will be removed shortly after election, should he be declared the winner.
I KNOW that you love Yehweh and His son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus!!!! You are truly more educated on the Bible than I will ever be but please consider…is the fruit of the fig tree totally irrelevant considering the alternative????
I do not know you and Irene personally (here on Earth) but I know that you are navigating this world the same as I am and trying our very best.
Love,
Lisa
Hi Lisa – Thank you for your continuing prayers, as I pray for you and yours as well.
Yes, we disagree, and that’s fine. After all, the key thing, as you said, is our love for Jesus and doing the best we can to follow Him! I look forward to us all getting to meet each other in the next life.
I’m going to write up one or two more things, but here’s a somewhat short reply. Not to get people to vote one way or the other. And not to say I’m right. But, as you asked me to consider, to think about what we’re doing.
I’ve been praying about that. At this point, subject to change, I see two things. One, I’m not sure the fruit is really good. I say that because some of it isn’t what it seems and much of it is not from Christians, but from the government. I fear we are losing sight of our true King – Jesus. And in the process, we turn over our responsibilities as Christians to the government.
I also feel that there is yet another alternative. Namely, to rely on the Holy Spirit, rather than on a government or a person. Once again, are we abdicating our responsibilities to spread the Word of God and to be Jesus’ representatives on earth – turning them over instead to a government that, by definition, has no soul?
Yes, it would be so easy if the government could do this. But can it? I believe the Old Testament teaches us that it cannot. Further, what we see of life in the time of Jesus and the early church, they never relied on the government either.
If anything, history teaches us that the work of the Holy Spirit is more evident when life is harder for us as Christians. The reality is that, Trump or Biden, neither will, or even can, be Jesus’ representative on earth acting in the role of President. Whichever way the election comes out, regardless of how we vote, I think we need to recognize the shortcomings of government when it comes to doing the things Jesus left us to do.
For too many, it seems like “job well done” when we vote, and then we walk away from the issues until the next election. Jesus tells us that following Him is a way of life. And that the work is ours. Not something to give to someone else, and there’s no evidence that Jesus ever meant for the government to carry out His commands.
So that’s where I’m coming from. Personal responsibility as a Christian. Regardless of how we vote or how the election comes out. To me, the consequences of Biden are as you pointed out already, plus more. However, the consequences of Trump are anti-immigrant, anti-minority, hatred and division, increasing gaps between the super rich and the poor, Etc. And with COVID, how many people have to die and suffer permanent negative health effects before this president can even do the simple task of asking people to wear a mask to prevent the spread? I know people in countries where the virus is way down – and it’s because of the fact that they do the things Trump mocks.
Who’s to say for sure which is worse? Only God. But then, God says He wants people who are after His own heart. And therein lies the key. That’s why I point out the third alternative – trust in God – not in Biden, Trump, or any other human.
The Bible tells us that God brings people to power – or allows them to come to power – depending on the situation. The question for us, do we learn anything from those who come to power? Do we learn the lesson God has for us through this process? The bible tells us, generally not. And even if we do – it’s not complete. We change a little bit, but not enough. And we change for a while, but not all that long.
Those are the concerns I have. Not who wins, but how we live out God’s Word with whoever wins. That we live like our very souls depend on it. That we perform the Great Commission. And in the process that we remember the answer to the question of which is the Greatest Commandment.
Ultimately, if we can get each other to think, that we continue to get closer to God within the context of our own lives, backgrounds, experiences, then we’re seeking the heart of God. And isn’t what what’s really important? It’s a fallen world. We will never make it perfect. Only Jesus can do that. But if each of us does the things we feel we’re called to do, can’t we make it at least a little bit better? And can’t we save some souls along the way?
As always, thank you so much for your thoughts and concerns. I pray that others read this and see that it’s possible to disagree but pursue the heart of God in a caring way.
love from your brother in Christ,
chris
I haven’t read the entire post but what I did read in the first paragraph says exactly why I found this blog. Whatever happened to the preaching of the transformation of Christ in every believer?
I haven’t seen or heard about it in 20 years that’s 20 years! What we see today is a sub-par, ho-hum watered down version of Christianity. That’s harsh but we must realize one thing. Jesus is all business, and not a joke. It took Jesus to convict my heart in 2004 to tell me that i was only living half of my life for him.
You must turn your whole heart over to him, so we can be reborn. Many come into the fold unchanged. When we turn our lives over to him, by being called to his side, he changes us. It seems that this isn’t spoken of at all now.
These are the days of the falling away. It’s so refreshing to find others who Jesus speaks to about this very thing. People today even Christians are way too involved in the end times, but that isn’t all we should be involved in. Having a relationship with Jesus Christ is above all, the most important.
So true! I feel like too often, we say “Jesus loves you”, and then we stop. Too often, the rest of the thought is left out. Jesus message to us was –
It’s that last part that leads to our salvation. And our ability to do all the things that Jesus commanded us to do. To that “life to the full” Jesus promised. And everything else in the Gospels.
Thanks so much for your thoughts,
chris