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There are Two Kinds of People in This World

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Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

In our last article, we talked how authentic Christians react to people in this world who have a different set of beliefs. We pointed out that as far as God is concerned, there are essentially two types of people in this world that includes everyone: saved and unsaved.

We also noted that this world – literally, Satan’s kingdom (the god of this age) – controls much of what happens here (under God’s supervision of course). Because Satan has a great deal of freedom to attempt to bring his promises of Isaiah 14 to fruition, he is allowed to use a multiplicity of things to keep all people under his sway, though he fails often because people continue to embrace God’s salvation.

There are many types of unsaved people in America and the world, aren’t there? It’s not just gay people or atheists per se. Seemingly moral (though lost) people who are religious, though not necessarily Christian (or something else) are part of society and can seem to us as though they are “good,” because we don’t see what’s inside them. In reality of course, they need salvation only available through Jesus as much as the next lost person, regardless of their particular penchants and interests.

While realizing in our minds that sin is sin and all sin separates from God, I wonder if we Christians tend to think that one sin is worse than the other, even though we might deny that aloud on principle? Certainly, the consequences of certain sins can be more devastating in this life than other sins, but sin is still sin and all of it keeps us from God.

When Lot was confronted by the men (and boys) of the town who practiced homosexuality, he went outside his house, closed the door behind him and basically entreated the homosexuals, by saying, “Please, my brothers, do not act wickedly,” (Genesis 19:7). They wanted to gang-rape the town visitors (who happened to be angels).

Notice that Lot included himself with the men, not as a homosexual, but as a human being (“my brothers”). While the men reacted in anger to Lot, it does not appear that Lot meant to cause anger in them. He was essentially imploring the men to not act wickedly. Yes, on one hand, the comment from Lot could be taken as being judgmental, but it was judgment applied to what these men intended to do. However, it is very clear that while Lot condemned what the men wanted to do, he did not condemn the men themselves.

I don’t get the sense that Lot was being belligerent at all. He certainly wanted them to not do what they planned to do and begged them to reconsider. He even offered his virgin daughters, which proves to us that these men were interested in sex (violent sex to boot).

Our biblical beliefs will naturally put us at odds with this world. I’m not sure it means that we are to try to change the way the world thinks. Our job is to continue to spread the gospel in spite of the hatred we may receive because of the world’s emnity toward God.

Conservatives are often hated and maligned today as are Christians. Tell me though, when you stand before God, is it your conservatism or your Christianity that will speak for you with respect to your salvation?

Again, we live in a world governed by Satan. He is the prince of the power of the air according to Paul. Satan is also the god of this age according to Jesus (this age ends when Jesus physically returns). This is Satan’s kingdom and he rules it using every device possible to keep people enslaved to him and sin.

Authentic Christians are here in Satan’s kingdom, behind enemy lines as it were, doing what God has left us here to do: preach the gospel and make disciples from every nation. So how do we act/react toward people whose ideologies/lifestyles we oppose (and they ours)? I think part of the problem is that we think if we are nice or pleasant to gay people (or prostitutes, or adulterers, or Muslims), then God will see us as siding with them and opposing Him. We don’t want to be guilty of betraying or opposing God, do we? Best to continue to see gay people (prostitutes, etc.), as enemies then, right?

One of the arguments I hear is that if we “allow” same-sex unions, or if we bake a cake for their wedding, or agree to be their photographer, or fulfill a T-shirt order from gay groups, we are participating in their sin. I doubt that these same people would deny an unmarried couple (but living together), a cake or photography or something else, yet according to Scripture, the people living together are still living in sin. If certain sins are more “awful” than others, is it our job to determine that or God’s?

The problem of course is that if a person has an official government-recognized business, that business comes under a unique set of rules that society has adopted. Those rules – like that business – are outside the protection of the church. If we are going to do business in a godless society, I’m not sure we can use the Bible as our fallback because the laws and rules which govern all businesses were created by society and when society adopted rules to govern businesses, unlike our Founding Fathers, they did not go to the Bible for support.

I think an excellent place to start with all of this is with this question: What should the primary (most important) focus of Christians be toward society? Either we are in the business of “saving America” (by turning back all the bad laws and court rulings), or we are in the business of “saving souls.” By that, I do not mean of course, that we can actually save anyone. However, Jesus, by virtue of the Great Commission, has indicated that our main job requirement is to go into all nations and make disciples. We do that by preaching the gospel and living a life filled to overflowing with loving acceptance of people, not their sin. How are we lovingly accepting people if we are pushing them away, if we are refusing to associate with them, if we treat them as the Jews treated the Samaritans?

In today’s America, there is a growing opinion among Christians that God created America (as He created Israel), therefore, we have an obligation to God to turn this nation back to Him. If that is our mission (and I don’t see that anywhere in the Great Commission or Scripture itself), then that would be our primary goal (if we are Christians who happen to live in America).

This belief stems from what I believe to be errant theology that is akin to Replacement Theology or Dominion Theology, which essentially states that Christians must take “the land” and little by little, turn the world to Jesus.

Forgive me, but I do not see that as part of the Great Commission. While there are rules, regulations, and laws that dictate how Christians are to do church, there does not appear to be a biblical theology built around changing the way the world thinks or acts. You can only arrive there by allegorizing Scripture.

If there are really only two types of people in the world as far as God is concerned – saved and unsaved – then I’m wondering why we aren’t approaching it from that starting point more often? Too often, it seems we get bogged down by politics, by our own feelings, or by something else. In the meantime, 150,000 people die every day. What does your heart say to you about that?

By the way, I’m NOT saying that we have to become friends with people in order to be able to successfully evangelize them. That’s anti-biblical as far as I can see. We simply need to treat people – even strangers and “sinners” – the way Jesus treated people; with kindness and respect. People need to know as soon as possible that we are Christians (by word and deed), but if our lives do not exude biblical love to them, it’s just a terrible sounding gong making noise in the wind. Love for the lost should be the strong foundation for everything we do.

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective


Source: http://studygrowknowblog.com/2015/02/23/there-are-two-kinds-of-people-in-this-world/


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