Today's Journey
One at a Time
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…” Matthew 28:19
A
lot of us long to see the day when our country returns to its moral
foundations. Yet, as wonderful as it would be to see a nation reclaimed
for God and the principles of His Word, if it were simply a political
victory that reinstates rules of better behavior, the changes would only
be external, and our hearts would not be changed. I am for being a good
Christian citizen and seeking to preserve morality. Any country is
better when the values of biblical morality reign. But if we hope only
in political change to reinstate living by God’s laws, then we have lost
sight of Christ’s primary mission for us.
As Ravi Zacharias has
noted, “If we succeed in making America more moral, then what we will
have is more lost moral Americans.” In The Pilgrim’s Progress,
Pilgrim gets sidetracked into a layover in the village of Morality,
where all is morally correct. He finds, however, that morality without
the cross cannot alleviate his burden of sin.
Unfortunately, we
have been led to believe that political triumph over the enemies of
godliness is a priority goal. Yet, politics can be a seductive
sidetrack. It tempts us to shift our eyes away from what must be the
focus of true followers—concern for the lost and for the growth of
believers in Jesus.
Maybe you can identify with the woman who
approached me before a meeting. She told me that for two years she had
been so deeply involved in political causes that she had neglected her
growth in Jesus and her commitment to her local church in both time and
giving. She had even come to see those on the other side of the
political fence as enemies rather than ones for whom Jesus died. She
admitted that during this time her intimacy with the Lord had dimmed.
She was convicted about how quickly her political adrenaline had
eclipsed her passion for the things of God and eternity.
While it
may be energizing and exciting for us to believe that we are doing our
Christian duty by marching, politicking, protesting, and supporting
groups that do these things, it may well distract us from the most
important task—glorifying God through Christlikeness and an unwavering
commitment to the eternal destinies of friends and enemies alike.
When
Jesus instructed His followers to “make disciples of all nations,” He
didn’t mean that we should get caught up in political agendas that drive
the nation’s government. He intended that we reach the people of our
nation with the message of the gospel.
The best way to win any
nation to God is to care about the eternal destinies of its citizens and
to seek to lead them to the true King one at a time!
YOUR JOURNEY…
- What are some well-meaning political causes that tend to get Christians sidetracked today? How have those causes affected you personally? Have you been completely disinterested or distracted? Either end of the spectrum indicates an off-balance perspective.
- What is the balance between appropriate concern for a declining culture and concern for the people living in it?
- What have you done recently to advance the cause of Jesus?
- Think of someone you know who might be a victim of a “political” issue, such as abortion, homosexuality, or homelessness. What can you do to reach that person with the love of Jesus?
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