In This World But Not Of It

I want to list 3 things that I believe as a Christian is important to remember when we look at politics in this country.

1. This world is not our home.

“For this world is not our permanent home: We are looking forward to a home yet to come.”-Hebrews 13:14

The moment we obeyed the Gospel call by faith, repentance, confession, and obedience in water baptism to Christ Jesus, was the moment our relationship with God changed and also our citizenship changed (1 Peter 3:21, 2 Timothy 1:9-10).  The reality is for every faithful Christian, we are KINGDOM CITIZENS and we are sojourning through this current earth (Phil 3:20-21). The way we live should be indicative of this truth. I believe that at times we can become enticed, deceived, and lured by Satanic forces to try and make this world our home (Eph 6:12). We unfortunately at times fight to make a broken world “heaven” on earth. However, what we fail to realize is if we try by our own strength to fix this world, our efforts will be futile. The Word of God clearly states that this world and its desires will pass away (1 John 2:17). Our souls hunger and yearn for equality, absolute justice, complete peace, and eternal love. But the truth of the matter is, all those things are only found in God and in His eternal kingdom. It won’t come by standing with a certain political party or electing a particular president. What this world is fighting for, searching for and in need of, is not of this world. It’s divine, heavenly, and spiritual. We must point others to that eternal hope and joy found in Christ, because pointing ourselves or others to anything other than that, is selling devastatingly false hope. We must not get comfortable down here. Remember, for FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS, our TRUE HOME is not this world, it’s Heaven and the eternal kingdom of God.  

2. Our ultimate loyalty is to CHRIST not this COUNTRY.

“I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.”-Philippians 3:8

My plea for all of us, is that our hearts never become dulled, numbed, or unmoved by what our Savior Christ Jesus did for us. He gave all of himself and all of who he was so he could die a cruel death for us! He did this so you and I could have a chance at life with God forever (John 3:16-17). We didn’t deserve this love. There was nothing in and of ourselves that said that we deserved to be rescued and saved, but Romans 5:8 reminds us, “That while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Do we truly understand the magnitude of what was done for us? No, seriously…do we get it? We have been saved from eternal destruction, eternal death, and eternal separation from God. Our hearts should cry out with tears of overwhelming thankfulness for the love and mercy bestowed upon us (Eph 2:4-9)! Christ gave it all for us and we as his followers should be willing to give all of ourselves for Him (Phil 2:5-8). With this in mind, our loyalty is to CHRIST, not this country. America is not Christ, and it will never be. When we came to Christ through obedience to the Gospel, we were making a proclamation, declaration, and lifelong commitment to HIM. Some of us have forsaken our first love. Let us not be deceived! We should not be trying to sell people the AMERICAN DREAM or a particular political party. No…no..no..! We should be boldly proclaiming the eternal hope and KINGDOM REALITY that is found in the Gospel of Christ Jesus. For that is what will last and that is what REALLY MATTERS. As Christians, if we have to choose between loyalty to our earthly country versus loyalty to Christ, we should be willing to choose CHRIST… EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. We should not lead with being AMERICANS, but we should lead with being CHRISTIANS. For Christians, are who we really are. 

3. We are ambassadors, proclaimers, and image bearers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”-Phil 2:5

As Christians, we are not only recipients of God’s great mercy and love offered through obedience to the Gospel, but we are also ambassadors and image bearers of this great mercy and love. What do I mean by this? When we obeyed the Gospel, we died to our old sinful man and became a new creature in Christ (Gal 2:20). That means every day we live; we should be living out the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That means, we should be living and walking in the love, mercy, and grace of God. Jesus is our example (1 Peter 2:21-25). Every day he walked this physical earth, he walked in love, in godliness, and in the mission of his Heavenly Father. No matter what city he was in, what person he encountered, or what earthly position he was placed in, he was love, mercy, and grace on display. Being an image bearer of the Gospel means, I cannot and should not stand for evil or sin of any kind (Gal 5:16-25). Whether that sin be, hatred, jealously, pride, greed, covetousness, prejudice, slander, gossiping, self-righteousness, abuse, murder, racism, injustice, sexual immorality, divisiveness, unbelief, idolatry, rioting, or lying.

Being an image bearer of the Gospel means I love my neighbor as myself (Mark 12:31). My neighbor is any and every soul I encounter. As an image bearer of God, I should value EVERY SOUL, no matter if that person is kind to me or not. No matter, if that person has the same skin pigment as me or not. No matter, if that person values me or not. No matter, if that person is richer or poorer than me or not. No matter, if that person follows God or not.  Christ valued the world, even when the world didn’t value him. The way I value my neighbor includes SPEAKING UP for what is right with the spirit of love, LIVING FOR what is right with the spirit of love, and DEMONSTRATING what is right with the spirit of love. Being an image bearer of the Gospel of Christ, means loving God with all my heart, mind, and soul. That means the world, its political views, and its opinions does not have reign over my heart. God and HIS LAW (THE WORD OF GOD) is the supreme ruler of my heart (Heb 4:12). I am to love God with all that is within me and allow that love to lead me to act, to speak, and live in a way that honors God and leads people to Him (Matt 22:37). 

What this world needs…

“For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes; first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”-Romans 1:16

What this world needs, are for Christians to LIVE OUT the truth of Gospel and SHARE the truth of the Gospel. It is the Gospel that has the power to change hearts, not more man-made laws. It is a man or woman that has been changed by the Gospel that will cause them not to hate or murder their neighbor. It is a man or woman that has been changed by the Gospel that will cause them to live in compassion, not in pride or arrogance. It is a man or woman that has been changed by the Gospel that will cause them to seek unity and not division of any kind. The power is in the Gospel! May we have a zeal, a compassion and an urgency to live out and share the truth of the Gospel with ALL men…from the presidents, to the governors, to the local officials, to the common people, and even to the homeless on the street. For the power is in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Christians, we were created for such a time as this. May we rise up and remember we are on a mission.

WE ARE IN THIS WORLD, NOT OF IT.

THIS WORLD IS NOT OUR HOME.

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”-1 John 2:15

“But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear, hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.”-Jude 1:20-22

With love,

Ashley Moneet

Fearless.Faithful.Following