The True Essence of Christianity
CHRISTIANARCHYTODAY
Show 2 – November 7th 2017
“If you think you understand Christianity you are probably wrong.”
The Misconception of Christianity and Politics
1-3 Minute Spots
Christianity has NOTHING to do with politics, the right, the left, or American Evangelicalism. Jesus was not an American and in His life never got involved in secular issues. A black, female lesbian from Zimbabwe who loves Jesus is as much a Christian as a white American male religious leader named Franklin Graham. The faith has zero boundaries – because it is a faith in the life and deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God. and resurrection of another. Mix this up and you will mistake real Christianity with people, religion and causes.
There are many Kingdoms of this world – millions – billions. Churches, corporations, governments, communities, clubs, whatever. But there is only ONE Kingdom of GodGod’s spiritual reign—fulfilled and present, not political or future.. Membership in it has nothing to do with any of the other Kingdoms. Nothing. If ANYONE tries to tell you that you have a Christian duty to vote, protest, or do anything else in Jesus name – run far away.
Christianity vs. Religion
Board of DirectionSPOT
When Christianity is a Religion
- Lawyers
- Legalisms
- Politics
- Christians have zero Christian Rights
- Warfare against flesh and blood
- Us verse them
When Christianity is a faith of individuals
- Lovers
- Love (as defined by Bible)
- A political (like our King)
- Suffer injustice for the faith, in Jesus name
- Prayer, gentleness, longsuffering
- Us AND them
Show Go live stream.
Shawn off camera: Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, tonight’s performance by Steve Utley is sponsored by the American Jesus Coalition! Join us, and watch the Lord Himself destroy everyone who disagrees with you! Steve! Play us an anthem! (STEVE PLAYS) (Shawn and Steve talk for a minute about how to reach Steve for lessons.)
Then…
Last week I made the bold claim, the almost arrogant claim, that “If you think you understand Christianity, you are probably wrong.” That is really almost abrasive, wasn’t it? Well, it’s true. And as a means to try and crack open some examples we talked about the idiotic notion that there is an entire industry in music today that is labeled, “Christian music,” and I posited the idea that there is no such thing, that it is harmful to even suggest that there is such a thing, and that when we allow such things to exist we do more harm to the outside world and our attempts to reach it with the Good News than we do good.
Christianity Misrepresented
Let’s talk about another area of Christianity that is abused and used incorrectly in the world of American Evangelicalism today – the idea that the United States of America is a Christian nation and that the faith is represented by a group known as the “Christian Right.” Understand, I do not care what political leanings anyone has – to me they are all about the Kingdoms of this world. That is NOT what we are talking about here. We are talking about the idea that some people tend to put forth which says that, America is a Christian nation, that God is a republican, and that Jesus is the leader of the Evangelical Right.
We are talking about the notion many non-believers bear about that thinks genuine Christianity is directly linked with the political right. This is not only incorrect, it is frankly very, very insulting to the faith itself. I am personally appalled when anyone uses God’s name to justify ANY political position on the face of the earth – doesn’t matter what it is – divorce, abortion, homosexuality, transgenderism, murder – whatever.
Now, let’s pause for a minute and make some things clear. First, the Gospel – the Good News is God so loved the world He gave us His only begotten Son who came to this earth, with all of its political parties and ideas, and lived, bled, died, and rose again on the third day. That is the Good News. And it is the Good News that Christians seek to share and of which they enjoy a knowledge.
This Gospel can be shared and enjoyed by a homosexual or a heterosexual, a communist or a capitalist, and He is Lord over all. This is a simple fact. Once a person receives Christ and the Holy Spirit moves in to govern and guide them, all the things that their lives are about are a conversation between the two parties involved – the individual and the Holy Spirit.
Christianity has NOTHING to do with politicking, world governance, or social reform. Now how can we say this? All we have to do is look at the life of Jesus and His apostles.
DID YOU HEAR WHAT I SAID? Let me say it again: We KNOW that
Christianity and Politics
Christianity has nothing to do with politics, world government, or social reform WHEN we look at the life and actions of Jesus and His apostles. Now, I recognize that most fervent frothy Christians who use Jesus as the posterboy for their every political position will recoil at this, and really really believe that this is not valid – but what could be MORE valid to see what the faith is all about then to look at the actual recorded life and activities of its founder, Jesus Christ Himself?
And before we talk about Him, ask yourself, what Government was in place during His earthly life? The Roman Government, right? Of which He was not a part. Meaning unlike Paul, Jesus was not a Roman citizen, so he was SUBJECT to the Roman Government and derived little to no benefits by being under its direct authority.
So, living under an oppressive Government that ruled with horror when it was displeased, how did Our Lord, Our Savior, Our King relate and engage with the world politically? He didn’t. Simple as that. All He did was comply with its demands.
Pay to Caesar what is Caesars, right? But to Pilate, who asked Him if He was a King He said,
I am. But my Kingdom is NOT of this world, if it was, my servants would fight. But since it is not, they DON’T!
Jesus and Political Engagement
Do you ever recall Jesus taking up a political cause or resisting one? Do you ever remember Jesus railing against any group on earth other than the religious rulers of His day? Fighting prostitution, homosexuality, the sale of alcohol, Roman reform? Never. Because such things have NOTHING to do with being a true Christian. And if you think that the faith has ANY ties or connections to political things you have been wrong!
What is amazing about this is in the face of these simple facts, there are several million people in the United States alone who actually believe the exact opposite and justify a directly oppositional position, using God and Jesus in their political activities and truly feeling justified for having done so. Their only biblical recourse is appeal to Old Testament constructs – which is fair and reasonable when and if they also teach everything else in the Old Testament as viable.
Another thing Politicized Christians will do is they will appeal to the founding of America by saying that it was founded as a Christian Nation, which they feel justifies their willingness to use Jesus name to do their political bidding. We could go back and forth on this subject on whether America was founded as a Christian nation as there is fodder for both sides.
But this is an insignificant debate. The debate is did the founding Fathers have a right to take the Good News and found a nation upon its tenants. According to the Life of Jesus, they did not – so who cares if the founding fathers based the founding of our nation upon the faith – they had zero New Testament right to take such measures.
Christianity Beyond National Boundaries
Think about it this way. Are there Christian’s living in other countries? There were Christians living in them well before they ever lived here. Do they have the right Good News? Of course they do. Do American Christians have a “better form” of the Good News? While they would like to think they do, they do not!
Now, what if American goes to war against the country that other Christians are living in? Do they have the right to step in over another country in Jesus name and enact their imperialist ideas upon them? Again, in Jesus name? No freaking way.
Jesus is the same Jesus in the Soviet Union and in China and in Cuba and in North Korea as He is in the United States, and Australia and Britain. He is known by the Spirit. But when countries try and take Him and use Him AS THEIR OWN and then invade and kill and try to govern other countries in His name, they have stepped way beyond their rights as Christians.
There are NO Christian countries. There is a Christian land but it is in the heavens. It’s the same country or land that Abraham sought but never found. And all who are His will ultimately wind up there as its citizens. Along the way we have Christians who are part of the American right. We have Christians part of the American left. We have socialist Christians and Communist Christians.
The Nature of God's Kingdom
They are living here and all over the world. But their true and honest Kingdom is not of this world, anymore than Jesus kingdom was of this world. If anyone tries to tell you that America is a Christian country refuse the claim. It’s not true. America is a Republic, with all of its benefits and faults and if you support it or reject it, that is an aside from your faith. But don’t ever let anyone take our Lord and King and use Him to manipulate people or places politically – whether they be on the left or the right of the fence. His kingdom is NOT, NOT, NOT of this world!
Resources for Further Understanding
The topic tonight is covered at length in this little book – we call it, “If/Then,” short for, “If my kingdom were of this world then my servants would fight.” You can get the book at our online store, or email us and request one. I think you will appreciate the views contained therein relative to this topic.
Out.
Founding Fathers' Views on Religion and Government
Replay Steve’s Opening here.
“In every country and in every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty. He is always in alliance with the despot, abetting his abuses in return for protection to his own. It is error alone that needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself.”?~Founding Father Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to Horatio Spofford, 1814
“I am for freedom of religion and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendancy of one sect over another.”?~Founding Father Thomas Jefferson, letter to Elbridge Gerry, January 26, 1799
“History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance of which their civil as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purposes.”?~Founding Father Thomas Jefferson: in letter to Alexander von Humboldt, December 6, 1813
“Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law.”?~Founding Father Thomas Jefferson, letter to Dr. Thomas Cooper, February 10, 1814
“The civil government functions with complete success by the total separation of the Church from the State.”?~Founding Father James Madison, 1819, Writings, 8:432, quoted from Gene Garman, “Essays In Addition to America’s Real Religion"
“And I have no doubt that every new example will succeed, as every past one has done, in shewing that religion & Govt will both exist in greater purity, the less they are mixed together.”?~Founding Father James Madison, letter to Edward Livingston, July 10, 1822
“When a religion is good, I conceive it will support itself; and when it does not support itself, and God does not take care to support it so that its professors are obligated to call for help of the civil power, it’s a sign, I apprehend, of its being a bad one.”?~Founding Father Benjamin Franklin, letter to Richard Price, October 9, 1780
“In regard to religion, mutual toleration in the different professions thereof is what all good and candid minds in all ages have ever practiced, and both by precept and example inculcated on mankind.”?~Samuel Adams, The Rights of the Colonists (1771)
