Saturday, January 26, 2013

American Resistance, Tyranny & The Politics of Jesus

Many Christians perceive President Obama as a tyrant in the tradition of Hitler and Stalin.
 The American brand of a true relationship with Jesus Christ through repentance and faith has wrought an unusual mandate for those interested in currently living for Christ in a public manner. In the face of what has been taken as an unprecedented attack on the Bible, Christianity and the Constitution, many are responding with nothing more than threats of what the government will face if they try to fulfill their threats of unlawful actions against the citizenry.
Is this how the Child of God is to repond?
 The Bible has an answer for us if we will but listen. And it comes from none other than Jesus Himself. Peter, known as a firebrand, tells us the course to follow in such circumstances. I Peter 2:     

21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

Admittedly, following Jesus in this manner cannot be easy. Yet, there it is, a very clear and direct command.

Yet, American tradition teaches us to resist, to threaten, to speak ill of those God has ordained as public officials. And yes, this same tradition teaches us violence.

And yet, Jesus, under the tyranny of Rome, a victim of that tyranny, chose to do none of what American tradition would demand. And we are commanded to follow His example.
Does the idea of suffering like Jesus make us a little uncomfortable?

Has the Constitution supplanted the Bible as our authority? Has Tradition trumped the Word of God? Does the politics of the moment, of the culture, determine how we are to proceed?

Once again, Whom do we Trust? Whom do we follow? Whom do we Obey?

No comments: