3.17.26
Hey, Calvary Fremont –
I don’t know why, but I’ve felt pressure lately to referee all things cultural and political – and have, for the most, part resisted it. Matters of morality and mercy and justice are one thing, but when it comes to a feud between Candace Owens and Erica Kirk – when things come down to gossip, and ‘he-said she-said’, and preferences, and speculation, and innuendo – I’m not interested. That stuff has no place in the pulpit. No one in the church has said anything or has pushed me to referee the culture, but maybe the pressure I feel is because when I open YouTube, all these Christian heads are talking about this stuff and telling me what to think about all the following – and more! Have you looked out the window and seen the Cultural Parade?
What about Israel? And what’s up with Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson? And what about Trump, and Bad Bunny and TPUSA, and the Epstein Files? What about Iran, and ICE, and Mamdani? And the Somalis? And Sharia Law? And Bethel Church? And Christian women wearing pants? And what is the Christian position on AI? And should Christians support or oppose ICE?
“Pastor Tim, tell us what to think. What is the Christian position on all these things?” Again, no one has said that – I’m just confessing the pressure I feel on my soul.
If I were to offer “Christian commentary” and “Biblical exposition” on these matters, it would be helpful to some, unhelpful to the ideologues, and irrelevant to most. “OK, Tim – but what about those who listen to Candace Owens or Tucker Carlson and are influenced by them and need to hear the “Christian” position on ICE and the Epstein Files and the Kirk assassination?”
1) Hopefully, when some nationally known celebrity states a position, the congregation I serve is well-versed enough in the Scriptures to evaluate it on their own. Hopefully, they can discern between truth and error, silliness and seriousness, and are learning to reason from the Scripture.
2) Often, when people want the ‘Christian’ position – there isn’t a simple ‘this-is-it’ response. Is it justice or mercy? Do I apply law or grace? Is it heads or is it tails? Well, a coin only has value when there is a head and a tail – a front and a back. ‘Is it this side or that side?’ Money only has value when the two sides are combined. I think that often the ‘Christian’ position has two sides. The most important side is the love and holiness of God. You might get the Truth right – but if you don’t demonstrate the holiness and love of God, though you articulate the Truth – you got it wrong! Weird.
3) I’m not here to tell you WHAT to think about Owens and ICE and AI and Epstein. I’m here to equip you on HOW to think about these things. Are you anti-ICE? You better have a Scriptural position – chapter and verse. Are you pro-ICE? You better have a Scriptural position – chapter and verse. Are you semi-pro ICE? Are you semi anti-ICE? If you don’t have chapter and verse from which to reason, what is your authority? Some alt-right or woke commentator? Come on – you are to follow the Word of God and not some Facebook or YouTube influencer. And better than saying, “Well, my pastor says…,” is, “Here’s what I’m understanding from the Scripture about this matter…”
If you spend two hours on YouTube filling your soul with all that it traffics in – spend two hours in the Word of God and fill your soul with the wisdom of God. Let God’s wisdom, His Word, and His Spirit guide you through the Maze of Culture.
Make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding; for if you cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding; if you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:2-6
Be blessed and stay healthy and follow Jesus – Pastor Tim
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