Episode 001 - Marinating on Politics and the Church
In this debut episode of Marinate on That, Dr. Derwin Gray has an open and honest discussion about the Christian’s role in the often divisive discussions surrounding politics and theology.
This discussion was prompted by a question from Rich, who said:
“With all of the controversy, divisiveness, and anger that people have for one another because of differences of opinion, how as Christians do we cope without being sucked in? We’re surrounded in the media. We have to tiptoe at work for fear of being offensive. Even our own families are divided. Abortion, immigration, bathroom rules, gender identification, Trump vs (insert target of the week here)... the list goes on and on. I read Titus 3:1-11 this morning and verse 9 stands out. Are we supposed to not participate at all? If so, should we not be in the campaign for pro-life policies or anything else government related?”
Remember:
To marinate on something means - You need to slow down and think about this, with your ears and with your soul.
If what we’re preaching and teaching is not affecting the real issues of life, what are we doing? We must be shepherding our churches to help them think about all of life from a Christ-centered perspective.
The ugliness we see in social media, etc, hurts the witness and credibility of Jesus. John 13:35 says, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Dr. Derwin Gray mentions a quote from Rodney Stark’s book, The Rise of Christianity.
Who are the people in your sphere of influence who you can share the Good News with? The time is now.
The New Testament is rife with many of the same tensions we are dealing with today. As we address these tensions, we must do so with civility and kindness. Matthew 5:44-45 is not a suggestion, it’s a commandment. One of the family characteristics of a believer is loving their enemy.
Allen Iverson - We talkin’ about practice!
You are not in allegiance to a donkey or an elephant. We are in allegiance to the Lamb of God. God calls the Church to be the light of the world.
Unity does not mean uniformity, it means we’re on the same page. We can have disagreements, but still put on love.
Consider taking a cultural fast to spend intentional time with Christ, allowing His peace to rule your heart and mind.
Jesus is the great change agent who lives in you.
How Do We Not Get Sucked In?
Remember your identity. The moment you say yes to Jesus, you become his church (ekklesia - called out).
Remember to put on your spiritual clothes. Colossians 3:12-13.
Remember to let peace rule your hearts, not cultural chaos. We want the mind of Christ to form us.
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