The separation of powers is a fundamental principle of the rule of law, as well as of democracy.
Three powers, the legislative, the executive and the judicial, ensure the smooth functioning of the state. As Christians, what should be our position regarding politics?
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-- THE SALT
" Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men." (Matthew 5:13)
As Christians we are called to be the salt of this world, not the sugar.
1. Salt prevents the rapid decomposition of something that is rotting.
We vote based on which candidate will delay the decomposition in a society that is declining.
For the government of the state you do not vote for charmers, nor for pastors. You vote for the political agenda. The personality of the Pesident will last for 4 or 8 years, depending on the electoral system of each country. However, the political agenda that each government will set, will last for your children and grandchildren. That is why it is important to say no to the murder with abortions, and to the mutilation and sterilization of children that the woke culture is trying to impose.
Our vote has power as does our prayer.
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-- 2. Salt does nothing when it remains in the salt shaker.
We are not the salt of the Church, but of the world, so we do not leave our ethics and conscience outside of politics.
Joseph played a decisive role in Egypt with Pharaoh, Daniel with King Nebuchadnezzar, Esther prevented the genocide of the people of Israel, and godly politicians were the ones who collaborated in the abolition of slavery.
Liberal antichrists of the world?
" Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people." (Proverbs 14:34)
" When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn." (Proverbs 29:2)
Even atheists admit that Christian principles make society better (Richard Dawkins, cultural christians).
If we don't become salt, woke culture and Islam will swallow us up, as it started happening in England, where recent legislation can get you in prison if you dare to pray outside an abortion center, and anyone who condemns sin and speaks of repentance and turning to God is considered to be practicing hate speech and is arrested.
Love praises the truth. Even the unity that everyone wants cannot exist without the truth, which is Christ:
" Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)
~~ The Church should not remain outside politics, but politics should remain outside the Church.
The separation of Church and politics means, in simple terms, that the Archbishop or thr Pope cannot be the President or the Prime Minister at the same time. ~~
The problem is not that the Church has been politicized, but that the state has been spiritualized. If the Church is silenced and loses its prophetic word, society will lose both its mind and its conscience.
For example:
-- John the Baptist called Herod to repentance.
Anyone who believes that Christians are good and quiet people who don't interfere anywhere, then why do you think they crucified Jesus? The Lord stood trial, as did the apostles.
---- The apostles were even beaten by the "government":
" And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go." (Acts 5:40)
---- They were forbidden to speak about Christ:
" And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus." (Acts 4:18)
" But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye." (Acts 4:19)
---- Peter was imprisoned:
" And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people." (Acts 12:4)
Does all this remind you of today's situations?
The Kingdom of God is not of this world, which is precisely why we, as Christians, must actively participate in this world:
" Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10)
-- 3. When salt loses its taste, it is no longer useful.
We said:
1. Salt prevents the rapid decomposition of something that is rotting.
2. Salt does nothing when it is left in the salt shaker.
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Let's see what happens when the salt comes out of the salt shaker and it is not salty.
It loses its saltiness when:
a) exposed to moisture
b) exposed to metal ions
It evaporates and only a residue remains that looks like salt, but has no taste at all.
For example:
They invented the term reproductive rights to justify abortions. Abortions kill babies, they don't reproduce them.
When you vote for someone who promotes these "reproductive rights," you are essentially agreeing that your daughter has the right to kill your unborn grandchild.
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---- LIFESTYLE, THINKING AND BEHAVIOR ----
Jesus warned that there are dangers out there in the world. As a Christian, you may be salt, but you can lose your saltiness.
You are like salt, you profess to be salt, but when you open your mouth and reveal what is in your heart, your values do not follow Heaven, but the world.
" And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:2)
Separating yourself from the world does not mean that you hate people or those who disagree with you. But you are distancing yourself from the mindset of the world. In other words,you do not let the world’s mentality influence your life, your thoughts, and your behavior.
We are different from the world. We are called to change the world, not to conform to it.
We are called to worship the Lord Jesus, not political or religious leaders.
We take guidance from the Lord and His word, not from the movies and Hollywood stars.
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---- COWARDICE LOSES SALTINESS
We bow to the pressure of public opinion.
I know the truth, but I'm afraid that if I speak it out they will reject me or censor me.
I'll let them inject me with whatever they want, because I'm afraid I'll lose my job. Even if this preparation hasn't been tested, even if it has side effects, and even if inside I react and feel that something is not right.
What happened to the slogan My body, my choice? The same people who injected people by force are also the ones who say about abortions that my body is my choice.
Fear of man is what puts pressure on you to break you. If the devil can’t deceive or seduce, he will try to intimidate and threaten.
Being fearless does not mean you are proud or arrogant. Being fearless means that you trust God and not yourself. It doesn’t matter if you are rejected or ridiculed by the world for your faith. The Lord Himself was also rejected and ridiculed. And they continue to do so today. With our lives we want to please God and not men.
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" Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees." (Matthew 16:6)
Jesus was referring to the spiritual, but as usual, His disciples were thinking only in the physical.
" How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?" (Matthew 16:11)
" Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees." (Matthew 16:12)
In the same way, we often miss the point because we have carnal thinking.
" But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians 2:14)
" For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." (Romans 8:6)
" Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." (Romans 8:7)
A serious warning: If you believe that the opinions and beliefs of others cannot harm or influence you, you are deceiving yourself.
" Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners." (1 Corinthians 15:33)
" And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod." (Mark 8:15)
The Pharisaic spirit is the spirit of religious fanaticism.
The leaven of Herod refers to the Herodians, and is a political spirit. Watch some information we get from Wikipedia:
~~ In ancient Judea during the times of the Bible, the so-called Herodians constituted the powerful political party around Herod the Great, hence their name. This group was pro-Roman and had allied itself mainly with the foreigners who inhabited Judea at that time. The leader of the Herodians was Antipas, an evil person who perhaps aimed at seizing power.
The Herodians were radically opposed to every other religious group in Judea and mainly against the Messianic ideology of Israel. ~~
~ Source: Wikipedia
The political spirit considers the state above God, and political parties above the spiritual family. It treats politicians as Messiahs, considers the preaching of the gospel to be proselytism and dangerous to society, and the pointing out of sin to be hate speech. This is the spirit hidding behind the woke culture.
We should not allow this spirit to contaminate us. We are citizens of Heaven and ambassadors of Christ.
The world is not our refuge, but our field of ministry, and this is something we must never forget. Political parties are not as important as the spiritual family, and the person who sits in the seat of power of our country is not as important as the One who sits on the White Throne. And those who disagree with us are not our enemies, but our mission:
" Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" (Matthew 28:19)
" Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:20)
The Lord does not only call us to preach the gospel and make converts, but to make disciples of all the nations. A disciple is one who can make other disciples. Moreover, the field that the Lord sends us is difficult and dangerous:
" Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." (Matthew 10:16)
A sheep among wolves is helpless, but Jesus went on to tell them to be wise as serpents. This means that out in the world we are not completely defenseless. Wisdom is a powerful force that gives us a great advantage:
" For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist." (Luke 21:15)
Our fight is not against political parties or politicians:
" For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:12)
Our christian voice must be heard in society. We must be informed about what is happening in the world, we must not neglect our right to vote which was given to us at a great cost and, why not, those who have been called by God to become politicians. When the principles of the gospel are applied in education, in the media and in politics, they can change the entire society.
We love our country, but our eyes and our hope are fixed on Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Savior of the whole world. Our mission is not to wait for the rapture, but to win souls for the Heavenly Kingdom and make disciples,
" ... baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,
teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you..." (Matthew 28:19-20)
So we do not conform to the world and its ideology, we are not afraid to confess our faith and our values, we do not hesitate to condemn sin, and we are not contaminated by thoughts like "Greek automatically means Christian", or "Belonging to a certain political party automatically makes you a Christian". These things are separate from each other.
We remain faithful to our Christ, the Lion of Judah who is coming soon, and when He comes
" That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;" (Philippians 2:10)
" And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:11)
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Watch what Paul writes to Timothy:
" I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;" (1 Timothy 2:1)
" For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." (1 Timothy 2:2)
" For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;" (1 Timothy 2:3)
" Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:4)
The early Christians, due to Roman persecution, were excluded from political events. Emperor Constantine the Great of Byzantium, who was the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity, issued the Edict of Milan in 313 AD, which established religious tolerance in the Roman Empire, and thus the persecution of Christians stopped. As a result, Christians stopped hiding in the catacombs, began to freely perform their religious rites and take part in political events.
He also convened the First Ecumenical Council, during which the Creed was established
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When Theodosius the Great was Emperor of Byzantium, on February 27, 380 AD, he recognized Christianity as the official religion of the empire, declaring
"we desire all the various subject nations [...] to follow the Religion delivered to the Romans by the holy apostle Peter"
and on November 8, 392 AD he outlawed the ancient religions. On May 2, 381, he issued the so-called "edict against apostates" by which he punished with complete deprivation of legal rights all former Christians who returned to the National Religion. On December 21, 382, he prohibited, under penalty of death and confiscation of property, those who engaged in any form of sacrifice, divination, chanting in honor of the Gods, or simple visits to ancient Temples.
In 384 he ordered the demolition or sealing of pagan sanctuaries and signed a new ban on sacrifices, while on February 24, 391 he renewed the complete ban on sacrifices and visits to pagan temples:
"No one will be defiled by sacrifices and carcasses, no one will approach or enter Temples, nor will he raise his eyes to images made by human hands, otherwise he will be guilty before human and divine laws."
The salt shaker began to shake, and Christianity strongly influenced the government, but slowly money and power brought corruption. The salt looked like salt, but it had no taste. There was no longer the supernatural. There was no sanctification, no justice. The Pope of Rome became simultaneously the King of the country, and so the salt lost its saltiness.
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We are not here to escape the world, nor to conform to the world's thinking. We will not remain silent because of the pressure and intimidation that the world exerts on us.
We are here to speak the truth with love, to pray for our homeland, for our cities, and for the politicians who govern us, whoever they may be.
And as for our vote, we do not vote for the nice or the flatterers, but for those who will resist the decay and rot that the devil is trying to bring to society.
Amen!
