POLITICS AND RELIGION: PART TEN

Just as our government is demonstrating the Second Law of Thermodynamics (everything is in a state of decay), so is the visible church. Born again believers have failed to keep the church from becoming worldly, just as we have failed to significantly influence governments. The most common word used by unbelievers to describe the church is "hypocrites." Consequently, no nation today is recognizably Christian. It has even come to the point that many missions organizations are now spending as much of their resources on the United States as they are on the rest of the world. Add to that the problem of denominations focusing on converting believers from other denominations, it is no wonder the Gospel is not reaching areas of unbelief. We are no longer "light" nor are we "salt."

The problem of worldly governments will certainly be fixed when Jesus returns to establish His kingdom (the Millennium). The problem with the visible church will be as well. Jesus hinted at the problem in Luke 18:8. He asked if when He returned, would He find faith on the earth. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 tells us that before He returns, there will be a great falling away from the truth followed by the appearance of the antichrist. 1 Timothy 4:1 says that in the latter days, some will depart from the faith and will believe lies and false doctrines. In 2 Timothy 3:1-9, they will have an appearance of godliness, but they will deny God's power. They will be constantly learning data, but they will never come to understand the truth. Again in 2 Timothy 4:3-4, the end time is described as a time when the visible church has a desire for false teachers. The visible church will be a total failure. I believe the True Church, the Bride of Christ, will have been raptured by that time, and all that will be left is professing Christians.

Since born again believers are a minority in the visible church, what are we to be doing until He comes to get us? We are to "run the race until the end." We are to continue to preach the Gospel to the lost. We are to continue to confront worldliness in the visible church. We are to oppose corruption in government by speaking the truth in love. Some of us need to run for political office to fight from within. We are to support candidates that hold Christian values as sacred. We are to submit to all authority because they are placed there by God (Romans 13:1-7). Remember, Paul wrote Romans shortly after Rome crucified Jesus. We are not to resist evil (those in authority that treat you badly), but we are to go the extra mile (Matthew 5:38-42). We are to resist the evil one who would incite us to fight back, or refuse to submit (Ephesians 4:27; 6:10-17; James 4:7). By submitting, we demonstrate the character Christ had (Philippians 2:5-8). In other words, we are to work 'til Jesus comes! Come, Lord Jesus!