Politicians
Good Morning,
The goal of politicians seems to be pleasing men. Politicians try to figure out what they can say to win the vote? We can expect that from corrupt people in political positions, but what of Christians?
When preachers change to please people in order to draw them to church, a problem exists. Church leadership will often change the lighting, preaching, music, and even beliefs in order to gain or keep a crowd. It seems to me that pleasing God should be the main goal for the church.
Some folks came to John to be baptized, and he called them names.
Luke 3:7 :Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”
In Matthew 23:14-29 Jesus called folks fools, blind hypocrites, blind guides, whited sepulchers, and a generation of vipers. He summed up his rebuke by asking, “How can you escape damnation of hell?”
Jesus was not really into drawing a crowd by making them feel good about themselves. Self-help messages, self-esteem counseling, and “God loves us all” kinds of preaching never fit into our Lord’s world.
Galatians 1:10 “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”
Paul said that seeking to please men would prevent him from pleasing God; this can also be said of the ministry of Jeremiah and most of the prophets.
Peter and John, having been arrested, were forbidden to preach about Jesus. Their response was, “…Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19-20)
Again, we find a situation in which the apostles refused to submit to government or religious rules that were contrary to the commands of God.
Acts 5:29 “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”
We find a similar spirit in Mordecai when Haman expected folks to bow before him.
Esther 3:2 “And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.”
The millions of martyrs did not suffer because they fit in so well. John the Baptist was jailed and lost his head because he preached against the governor marrying his brother’s wife.
The church is to be the moral compass for society. The believer is to “come out from among them and be separate.” (2 Corinthians 6:17) Should we love people? Yes! Should we change our church or standard of righteousness to please a godless world? No!
Most of us would love to hear politicians say what they mean and perform in office those things they promoted while campaigning for office (but we know that would be asking too much). Although, we should see in a Christian’s life that which he believes in his heart.
Colossians 3:22 “…not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:”
vs. 23 “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”
1 Thessalonians 2:4 “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.”
May we be good to people but seek to please God.
Pastor