WARNINGS from a NAKED PROPHET!

 

Before the 2016 election my posts on social media were filled with POLITICS. As I look back on that time, I often wonder why. I wonder if anyone has ever changed their mind because of a social media post.  I all the sudden realized when I post POLITICS on my social media feed I am alienating half the people I am trying to reach with the gospel. I vowed to never do that again. It is not that I don't hold those strong political beliefs, but I do not let those beliefs enter into my regular conversation. I would much rather talk about Jesus, scripture, prayer, faith, doubts about faith, and spiritual growth. Do I vote with the heart that God has filled with his SPIRIT? The answer is absolutely yes, even when I have to vote for less that perfect candidates, Since 2016 it has been so refreshing and I am enjoying social media for the goodness it CAN represent. 

As I was reading in Isaiah today, something I heard this past weekend took my mind to the term CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM. I started looking for a good definition and as I searched I realized all the definitions were completely partisan. So, I decided to just make my own definition, "Christian Nationalism is a nation focused on Jesus Christ." If I use that definition I can certainly support it. I truly want a nation that is focused on JESUS. The label of Christian Nationalist has attached to it a plethora of not so positive baggage. So, even though I desire a nation of people focused on JESUS CHRIST, I choose not to depend upon a nation of rulers composed of sinful people. That is not a judgmental comment. We are all sinners and fall short of the glory of the Lord. And when you get a conglomeration of sinners together to rule, you are bound to have problems. LOL!

I think we can learn a powerful lesson from scripture through an odd story involving one of our famous prophets --

"In the year when King Sargon of Assyria sent his commander in chief to capture the Philistine city of Ashdod, the Lord told Isaiah son of Amoz, 'Take off the burlap you have been wearing, and remove your sandals.' Isaiah did as he was told and walked around naked and barefoot. Then the Lord said, 'My sercant Isaiah has been walking around naked and barefoot for the last three years. This is a sign -- a symbol of the terrible troubles I will bring upon Egypt and Ethiopia. For the king of Assyria will take away the Egyptians and Ethiopians as prisoners. He will make them walk naked and barefoot, both young and old, their buttocks bared, to the shame of Egypt. Then the Philistines will be thrown into panic, for the counted on the power of Ethiopia and boasted of their allies in Egypt! They will say, 'If this can happen to Egypt, what chance do we have? We were counting on Egypt to protect us from the king of Assyria.'" (Isaiah 20:1-6, NLT)

God told Israel not to ally itself with Egypt, not because they weren't powerful, not because they would abandon Israel, although they did. God did not want Israel to rely on EGYPT because they were supposed to rely on  HIM. This short story has a great message for us, just like it did ISRAEL. The message being sent with a naked prophet is, do not humiliate yourself by becoming more dependent on men and governments instead of relying on the God of the UNIVERSE.

As A CHRISTIAN NATIONALIST am I more apt to rely on the government than GOD? Can a CHRISTIAN NATION truly rule from the heart of God and not the sinful desires of the men who make up that government? Ideally, yes, it would be possible to have a CHRISTIAN NATION FOCUSE ON JESUS. But in the practical sense we should be cautious allying our FAITH IN JESUS with a GOVERNMENT composed of sinners just like us.

Heavenly Father, I do want this nation to be ruled by YOU. I want each and every person to come to know you and to rely fully upon you. I want my leaders to start their day and end their day focused on you and your will. I pray for our leaders Lord that we would be a nation of people focused on you. Help us to fully depend upon you. Help us to NOT put our hope in a government, in programs, in politics, or in PEOPLE. Let us fully place our hope in you. AMEN!

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If you haven't repented of your sin, accepted what Jesus did for you on the cross, dying for your sins, or if you have not committed your life to Jesus, TODAY could be that day. give your life to the Lord. 

"because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." (Romans 10:9-10, ESV)

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