Before you get offended let me explain why God is not a Republican. First of all, God is not into capitalism which is the main mindset behind the Republican platform. Capitalism is based on the idea that each individual should take care of their own lives in a free market society without the interference of government. Not a problem. However, Capitalism also sends the message that the poor must fend for themselves and only the strongest survive. The common idea among most of the rich is that they have no responsibility towards the poor and shouldn't help them because for most part they must be lazy if they are poor. I hear this a lot even from Christians. While that might be a pervasive cultural thought it is not way God thinks. The truth is many single mom's struggle to make ends meet every month while fathers go on living their life absent from their children's lives. A whole generation of children have been raised without one or both parents due to divorce, drugs, abuse, death or crime. I meet them everyday when my children bring their friends over.
Unfortunately, as a result of this Capitalistic mindset the church has spent decades building bigger barns or ministries instead of offering a solution to a fatherless generation, single parents and widows. Just yesterday my husband took the time to help a young man who lost his mother at 14 years old and lost his father when he accidently got shot by police in a crossfire. This young man had also served in Afghanistan. He was also taking care of his brother's children while attending school. These are the types of people we need to extend our time, love and resources to.
Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. James 1:27
Recently, I watched a documentary on some man claiming to be Jesus in Russia and people were flocking to him by the van load. Why? This ex-police officer bought some land and set up communal living in the beautiful countryside. Everyone there contributes to the well being of the community. They plant their own food, live healthy and they live in peace. When the reporter asked the people why they went to live there it was for three reasons: food, shelter and peaceful living. None of those had to do with doctrine or truth. They didn't seem to care what this fake Jesus believed because he showed them he cared. We need to offer real solutions to people's problems. The truth is Catholics do more for the poor than their Protestant counterparts. Mormons take care of their own church family members better than we do. At one point in time we were sending out more missionaries into the world than any other religion. Now Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses and Seventh Day Adventists outnumber us on the streets. Why? We have become part of a new revival Chad Taylor coined as the "Revival of No Responsibility."
From the pulpit to the pew; Capitalism has become pervasive way of life. I will call this "Building Bigger Barns" syndrome. We have spent years building crystal cathedrals while the city was being taken over by gangs, poverty and being laid waste by the enemy. We have stored up for ourselves closets full of stuff while others walk around in the same clothes day after day. We have filled up our tables for Thanksgiving while others around us have no food. We don't even bother to ask people in the church if they have anywhere to go on the holidays. We eat at the restaurants every Sunday with the church elite while others go home to empty refrigerators. We throw our left over change in a basket and think God is pleased. Is He? This reminds me of a story in the bible about a man who had gotten an abundance of wealth but instead of giving the extra to others he decided to build bigger barns.
And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ 21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:19-21
I used to be a property manager of a storage and believe it or not the number one thing that always intrigued me was how people could not let go of their stuff. I knew one man that paid $249. a month for two storages that were filled with newspaper from top to bottom. One day I had to ask him why he had so many newspapers. He told me he read the health articles. Wow! This is a great example of how many of us are filled with knowledge but are really in the dark about our mental and spiritual state. This is so sad.
Ever watch those hoarder shows on TV? There has been times when some of these people have been found buried under their possessions. Our nation is literally drowning in stuff while the rest of the world lives in poverty! Our nation throws away food by the tons! The stores destroy it so no one can get it out of their garbage cans. This is selfish behavior. The military throws away rations that have expired. My husband has seen it personally. Yet, the nation of Israel always allowed their poor to glean the fields after harvesting.
Do you remember the story of the rich young ruler? Here is a recap: A young man offers to follow Jesus. This young man had lived a very obedient life to God but couldn't let go of one thing... 21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Matthew 19:21-22
I want you to note that Jesus did not ask him to give the money to tax collectors, the temple or even His own ministry. He said to give it to the poor.
He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, And He will pay back what he has given.
Proverbs 19:17
In conclusion, if we are to truly to become love in action we must first start loving people unconditionally. We can't judge people because of their social status and feel justified for not showing mercy because somehow they did not climb out of the hole by themselves. That was the attitude the Pharisees had in the bible. They failed to be good Samaritans because they walked around the problem instead dealt with the issues at hand. If you are to be a true follower of Christ you will not mind getting in the trenches with the poor, homeless, sick, prisoner and forgotten. This is what Jesus did when He came to rescue you. First, we must start by providing for our own household then the household of faith. Pray and ask God what you can do to become the answer to someone else's problem then Be The Church!
Part two: Why God Is Not A Democrat!
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