TROUBLED BY THE CHAOS, LAWLESSNESS, AND INCREASING POLARIZATION AND HATRED

I have been deeply troubled by the forces that are tearing apart the legitimacy of the basic principles of this nation. Even churches, especially the younger ones, continue to challenge the legitimacy of this US administration.

There have been many other recent presidents who have had highly questionable characters and behaviors. However, the press has singled out Donald Trump to malign his character any of his endeavors, even though he has not yet betrayed the trust of the public.

I can better understand this barrage from Leftists who believe that through the chaos, they can magically create a paradise. However, I have a hard time with Christians who have joined this crusade. I therefore wrote this letter to a young church, so inclined:

“While we are called upon to be the light and to expose evil (Eph. 5:11), we cannot forget the very clear and direct Biblical commands:

·       Romans 13:1-5 (ESV) Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.

·       1 Peter 2:13-15 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

Jesus even encouraged obedience to the Pharisees who had been opposed to Him:

·       Matthew 23:1-3  Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.

These verses should be a model for us. I fear that many Christians are advocating disobedience and sedition, which will eventually lead to chaos, lawlessness, and the utter breakdown of this nation.”

This is certainly not the “light” and example that we want to give to the world. These are not the fruits of the Spirit. Instead, our seditious behavior will bring upon us the contempt of the world. If Trump has been loading dissidents in boxcars for the crematoriums, it would be another matter, but he is not – far from it.