1.29.26
Hey, Calvary Fremont –
Deep down we know that God really isn’t in control. Our country, our way of life, all the things we have worked so hard for over the generations are unravelling. It’s all been for nothing. It’s all falling apart at the seams. I’d have a few nasty things to say if I really believed this.
Yesterday, I wrote that public dis-coarse can be traced to us not recognizing the image of God in one another. We don’t talk to one another with respect and decorum because we despise one another and don’t honor each other as image bearers of God. There’s another reason for public dis-coarse – we don’t see the hand of God in history. We don’t have a Providential view of history – that history is guided by the Hand of God. We believe that the future is more in man’s hand than in God’s hand. Though the Bible teaches Providence, many Christians give evidence of not believing this, and this loss of this vision of God leads them to be quite rude and contemptuous in their public dis-coarse. How should those who hold a Providential view of history order their inner life and outer way of life?
Here is Psalm 37:1-4 – “Do not fret because of evildoers, be not envious toward wrongdoers. For they will wither quickly like the grass and fade like the green herb. Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
Many Christians act as if God is not on His throne. Whether it is concerning the current Trump administration or the previous Biden administration, there are millions of Christians who don’t have a Providential view of history. They talk and act like God is nowhere to be found. Christian Never-Trumpers and Christians who were Biden-Bitter are/were filled with hatred and bitterness and righteous indignation. This spills out into the public dis-coarse. We do not see the image of God in these men, nor do we acknowledge the hand of God in history.
It seems like Presidential Politics is more powerful than God’s Providential Presence. I can understand a non-Christian going off the rails at what disgusts him – all he/she has is Presidential Politics. But Christians have Presidential Politics and God’s Providential Presence. The fuming and fussing and cursing and hatred coming from the mouth of Christians over Trump is grievous indeed. The mocking and scorning of Biden by Christians were grievous indeed. The Church is called to pray for those in authority. What many in the Church are doing now stands Psalm 37:1-4 on its head. I can’t tell the difference between Christians and non-Christians when it comes to criticism of Trump – it is all equally vicious and brutal. If you didn’t like Biden then or don’t like Trump now – fine – there’s nothing unchristian about not being on the same page with a politician. But may your disagreement be tempered by knowing that he is made in the image of God and that God’s hand, more so than the President’s hand, is on the rudder of history. Speaking truth to power is prophetic. Spewing hatred is not of the Spirit of Jesus.
Psalm 37:8 continues – “Cease from anger and forsake wrath; do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.”
Anger-driven speech can’t help but to wound and bruise. Anger-driven speech can’t help but birth public-discoarse. May my Christian brothers and sisters on social media not take a less strong stand, but a less stringent stand. The book of Proverbs says that a soft tongue breaks the bone, and a gentle answer turns away wrath. You’ve tried the way of anger and scorn and ridicule and condemnation – why don’t you try God’s way. First, God is in control and there is no reason to fret and fume. Second, love the people you are addressing. Bitter words and a harsh spirit are not the manifestations of love, but of hatred and contempt. Jesus didn’t say, “Love your enemies, unless, of course, you disagree with their politics.”
Read all of Psalm 37. If you really digest its message, you’ll change the way you communicate on social media. Read your Bible and underline every place God intervenes in history. You’ll need a few pens. This has really helped me calm down: I see God’s image in you, and I see the God’s hand in history. This will help turn dis-coarse back into discourse.
Be blessed and stay healthy and follow Jesus – Pastor Tim
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