1 Corinthians 14:8
(NKJV) For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for
battle?
The term
evangelical is clear as mud today. What I once presupposed was that “evangelicals” all believed John 14:6“Jesus said to him,
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through Me.”
During a 1970’s presidential campaign many evangelical preachers thought they had one of their own running for office. A candidate used
the term “Born Again” in a Playboy article.
This man still teaches Sunday School. This one term President's tribe or affiliate of a Protestant
faith definitely refutes in practice any inerrancy or infallibility claims of the Bible. Next the evangelicals supported the man who would defeat that "evangelical" former president. The winning candidate was divorced and
rarely attended church when he was president. Next we had a conservative who
attended a liturgical and mostly self described liberal affiliate of Protestant Christianity. He
was defeated by a member of the largest conservative evangelical denomination
in America. Some members of this conservative denomination tried to throw their fellow denominational member and presidential election winner out but their own theology kept them from it (church autonomy). He was followed by a conservative who talked
evangelical talk but was a member of a “opened minded” church denomination with which his
statements of faith rarely coincided with his denomination’s leaders. The current president has been often questioned if he
were even a Christian or of a middle-eastern faith. No, this president declared he was a
Christian. The current president said when running that he was grounded in the historic faith at
his local church. His pastor was then found by the media to preach messages with theology far from the historic faith that declared Jesus Christ as Lord. Later the president could not recall some explosive and racially charged
sermons that were far from the orthodox Christian faith recorded by his pastor. A president would not be the first American
to drift off during sermons and miss a preached message, or miss church for a round of golf.
In the
previous election the evangelical community as a majority tried to elect a man
that was not evangelical. This candidate was not even part of the
historic Christian faith. “Close enough” was the message we received from many
conservative evangelical leaders. They were willing to twist and compromise
theology to get their official guy elected.
It did not work out.
Now
influential evangelical ministers and theologians are throwing accusations and
endorsements all over the place. The
leading Democrat is a self-described liberal who credits her mainline
denomination with teaching her society changing policies. Her
denomination’s heritage used to boast of their genesis that they were “born in
revival!” Yet some who will support her
claim to be “evangelical”. The muddy
lens is thickening.
The
conservative “evangelicals” are now swooping to attack a populist front runner.
Why? Does this candidate have a record of serial allegations of sexual assaults
on women like a recent former president had while married and in office? No.
Does this candidate plan to further fund Planned Parenthood and use our taxes to
fund the abortions of innocent children like the current president? No.
Evangelical conservative big-wigs are coming out and going for his
throat. This man cannot be tolerated. What are the accusations? The leading Republican candidate is rude. He has a history of brashness. This cannot be tolerated by any of our “evangelical”
church spokespeople.
A Message to Preachers
During the
Christmas season this verse is often used and forgotten for the rest of the
year. Isaiah 9:6” For a child will be born to
us, a son will be given to us; And the
GOVERNMENT will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” Do you really believe Christ can deal with
the government?
Salvation is
by grace and not works. Politics are by
works. The people vote for people they can identify
with. The church today cannot even
identify what an evangelical is. Preacher your task seems pretty simple. Preach the gospel clearly and stop making
uncertain sounds with your trumpet of direction for your people. If the church people do not
know that an evangeical is one who brings the gospel then we have a big problem. We now
have to ask what is the gospel the church is bringing? Confused people will cause confused voters. How do you bring the gospel which is what an "evangel" is? How do you serve
the Christian faith? When in doubt
preach the only lifesaving faith through the life death, burial resurrection and
one day return of Jesus Christ. A good
place to start is John 14:6 that says “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth,
and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Preacher, If
you want to change the culture then help change your people. In a time of panic in His day the preacher Jesus
gave a message. Mark 1:14-15 “Now after John
was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel
of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the
kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
