I Guess I Was in the Dark...Again!

There I was, yet again in the dark, not knowing the terrible things going on in my nation’s capital. Yet again, I started hearing comments about things that had happened without really knowing what was in the news. Yet again, I felt confused and just a little embarrassed.

Actually, I felt confused and a little embarrassed when I read some of the comments from people who claim to be fellow Christians. From the things they wrote, I could see fire in their eyes. They had immersed themselves in the flames of political differences and through their words were (unwittingly or intentionally, I do not know) inciting anger and hatred. A few even boasted about taking up arms to defend our nation against her internal enemies!!

To the latter boast I ask, “Do you believe that Jesus would stand next to you in a bunker holding a loaded rifle ready to aim and take another person’s life? Would Jesus kill for this country!?” I dare not leave this question unanswered for fear that someone would somehow rationalize “Yes” in their mind.

The answer is not, “Of course not,” but “ABSOLUTELY NOT.” Jesus died on the cross to set you and them free from sin.

On one occasion Jesus was engaged in teaching a crowd of Jews. He told them that if they followed His teaching, “you will know the truth and the truth will make you free.”

They responded by saying that they had never been slaves to anyone. (NOT true—remember Egypt?) Not surprisingly the people misunderstood what Jesus was talking about. In the next verse Jesus clarified…

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.” 

—John 8:33

Do you think that Jesus is more concerned about your American freedoms or your freedom from sin? Just so there is no confusion, the two are not the same. Nothing about America has ever freed anyone from sin. Freedom from sin is exclusively the work of God through the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross. (Period.) We must never confuse those two freedoms.

Anyone who is misguided in thinking that America has saved, will save, or can save Christianity has it all backwards. God doesn’t need America, and God doesn’t need you. It is quite the reverse. American needs God, and you need God.

Early Christianity thrived in the 1st Century under the rule of a corrupt and immoral world empire. Are we so foolish as to think that Christianity cannot survive whatever future evils may lay in store for this nation or the world?

I listened to God’s word…

• When He described the evil tendency of mankind in Genesis 6:5 & 12 and Ecclesiastes 9:3.
• When He revealed that there are evil people and they will do evil things (Daniel 12:10; Revelation 22:11).
• When the crowds cornered Jesus about the horrifying headline news of their day in Luke 13. (Jesus told them to repent, not react!)

So...actually, I’m not in the dark—God’s word enlightened me about the nature of mankind. I’m not confused or embarrassed about the ungodly attitudes of my fellow Christians, just sad.

My task (and yours) is to be holy before God.

But I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. 

—Paul (1 Corinthians 9:27)

Mark Stinnett

February 28, 2021