I worry that too often, we Christians go off track and forget that earthly “things” are not supposed to be our focus. Its easy to get caught up in the trappings of our physical world and occasionally lose sight of our true mission.
Politics and social pressures very often create a shift in our priorities and Christians sometimes confuse what is worthy and important, with things that are temporary and irrelevant. For example, if we get too caught up in earthly politics and we allow it to dictate our entire persona and if those particular views and beliefs are in direct conflict with the teachings of Christ, we are, in no uncertain terms, making the wrong choice.
This meme from social media is a valuable reminder that we are called upon to think and act in a certain way:
What Reverend Cremer writes is not in question and is no way, shape or form debatable — Christians are to always put the will of God first and foremost and Jesus Christ is His will. Thus, what Jesus teaches us to do and how to live is in fact, the will of God.
Jesus teaches us to say and think the words and values that can be hard for us, like compassion, forgiveness, generosity and even love. We can sit in the Church pew every single day, but if we go back out into the world with cruelty, judgement and harshness in our hearts, we are in truth, the worst kind of hypocrites.
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” – Colossians 3:12
“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” – Philippians 1:3
“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” – Colossians 3:2
I believe we can be forgiven if we temporarily forget the tenets of our faith, but I also believe that knowing better, if we ignore them and instead, adhere to the words of an earthly leader, we are committing a grievous sin. We know what to do and how to act and speak, so we must always strive to live according to the teachings of Jesus.
