Sometimes I write longer devotions than others. Today is one of those longer ones. My mentor in politics told me when I “retired” at age 31, “You can take the girl out of politics, but you’ll never take the politics out of the girl.” She was so right. As much as it turns my stomach most days, the politics in this girl has yet to be removed.
Beth Moore said something recently that deeply broke my heart. It broke my heart because I agree. She said, “American Evangelicalism needs to file a missing person’s report. We have lost Jesus.”
Wow. I was frantically nodding my head in agreement when I read those words. We are so fortunate as Americans, to live in a country where we can worship, freely. America provides so many liberties other countries do not have, and I pray we never take them for granted.
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” - Romans 5:1-5 (NIV)
We should not, as American Christians, feel threatened by other religions being practiced or observed in this country. In fact, if we do not speak up for the freedom to worship across the board, we as Believers, might one day find ourselves on the opposite side of a battle being fought to take away *our* religious freedoms.
Keep in mind, Congress makes the laws, not the President. Not the protesters. Not the rioters. Not your next door neighbor who spends hours upon hours on Facebook and is an internet “expert” on all things politics and epidemiology.
Some of us need to remember the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, as it says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, of of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” When I studied political science, I had to take a course on Constitutional Law. It was the history of America and our laws. Oh how I wish everyone had to take this course, just as a refresher of the importance of our Constitution and the basics of our three branches of government.
As Pastor Steve taught us, “when you see the word, ‘therefore’ in scripture, find out what it is “there, for” and study it.” So when I read the passage in Romans I quoted above, I know therefore, since you and I have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
It is not our freedom as Americans that makes us free. It is the freedom through Jesus Christ, that makes us free. This time here on earth is temporary. Eternity is where we need to focus.
Beth Moore was right, American Evangelicalism needs to file a missing person’s report. We have lost Jesus.
Fellow lovers of Jesus, we cannot allow our faith, known to the world as evangelicalism to follow anyone other than Jesus. If we are supporting or defending anyone or anything above Jesus, we are not doing right.
I do not want to lose sight of Jesus through all the angst in opinions and politics. Because the freedom Jesus offers us should urge us to fight for the same freedom for our brothers and sisters, worldwide. Politics and Jesus are often thrown into conversations.
We need to care more about Jesus than politics. We still need to be involved and take action, of course. But our eyes on Jesus should be the reason. We should not be trying to win debates or being “right” or “red or blue.” The only red we should really consider, is the blood of Jesus and the freedoms He gave us, because of it.