Evil Times

We live in a time where the world is degenerating into wickedness. Every generation seems more and more corrupt. Perhaps the wickedness of our life is most evident in our political life. On the news, we see constant lies, slander and provocations. I thought I would state my political convictions

1) Jesus is the Lord of my life. Jesus is Lord, not my political ideology, or any other preconceived notions. “Thou shalt have no other Gods before me” (Exodus 20:3 King James Version).
2) I don’t listen to slanderers. Leviticus 19:16 says" 'Do not go about spreading slander among your people. (New International Version) “I am disgusted by the amount of slander that is happening all around us. For example, common slanderous labels are “Fascist” and “Socialist”. These labels are used to discredit people without having to listen to their viewpoints. As Paul says, “But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is…a slanderer…. With such a man do not even eat.”(I Corinthians 5:11, NIV) [Note, the actual passage contains a list of sins. I elimilinated the rest of the sins so I could highlight the fact that slander is so disgusting in God’s eyes that we should not associate with any one who does it.]

3) Government Officials should be treated with respect. Here is what the Bible says

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.
This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. (Romans 13:1-7, NIV)

Notice that Paul is referring here to pagan government officials. Government officials, so long as they are legal appointed, are placed here by God. It even says that rebellion against the government is rebellion against God! Paul also states that we should pay taxes, because government authorities are God’s servants!

In summary, as the words of the Holy Scripture states about sin:

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: …hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions …I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. [Note: the actual passage contains a list of sins. I eliminated the sins from the list so that I could highlight the sins which tend to be part of political life.]
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galations 5: 19-23)

Let us all be filled with the fruits of the Spirit.

Clement