A United Church in a Divided America

Well, that's a great message and very well done. Thank you both. It's wonderful to have special music. It brings so much to the service. Yesterday, Donald John Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. For those who are watching, we witnessed a great transition of power. Unfortunately, it was and is a transition marked by more rancor and contention than most in this country's previous 44 presidential transitions. Many people went to Washington, D.C. to support our new President and will gladly fight for him and his policies. Many people also went to Washington, D.C. to denounce our new President and will gladly fight against him and his policies. A close colleague of mine traveled to Washington, D.C. Thursday to participate in today's Women's March on Washington. Hundreds of thousands of women will be marching today and are marching as we speak. She feels it's necessary to make her voice heard, to defend what she sees as threats coming from the new President Trump administration. What of God's people will we fight for or against the policies of our new President? Well, I think we know that's a false choice. Let's look over at John 18, verse 36, by way of introduction.

We live in a divided country, and what of us? How do we consider these momentous events that are transpiring before our eyes? That we see literally happening today, that we will watch on the news tonight or tomorrow. John 18, verse 36, Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight. So the eyes should not be delivered to the Jews, but now My kingdom is not from here. My kingdom is not from here. It's a false choice. We're not here to fight for or fight against, because this is not our fight. This is somebody else's fight, because this is not God's kingdom.

It wasn't then, and it's not now, and we're looking forward to when it will be. Many here, and indeed, given the electoral college results, the majority in this nation would disagree with my colleague, who's going to Washington, and they want their voices heard as well.

Everybody wants their voice heard, either for or against. What is our response to these momentous events we see in our country taking place? What should our Facebook posts reflect? What should the tenor and tone of our conversations be at work and at church? If we are pleased to see the changes that President Trump will bring to this country, how do we think about someone in God's church who would disagree with us? If we have reservations about the direction of the United States under President Trump, how should those views be expressed? In a divided America, I would like to talk and focus on Biblical principles that should guide our thinking about national policies and de-focus our attention from the discussion of race and gender, immigrant status, nationality, de-focus away from our citizenship here below, which we hear a great deal about, and refocus on our citizenship above.

To give us food for thought as we strive for the unity of the spirit and the bond of peace within God's family, I have three points I want to share today. Three points for us to think about as we consider this subject and where we fit in to these events going on around us. First, we are pilgrims on this earth, and our citizenship is in heaven.

I made reference to that here just a few minutes ago. Second, we look to God as our guide and our king. And third, we esteem others greater than ourselves and keep our views and perspective. We are pilgrims on this earth, and our citizenship is in heaven. We look to God as our king and our guide. And we esteem others greater than ourselves and keep our views and perspective. That's what I'd like to talk about today. I've titled this message, A United Church in a Divided America. And I hope that our discussion will encourage and inspire each of us as we see these events unfolding in the coming weeks.

Let's dive right into this. The first point is we are pilgrims on this earth, and our citizenship is in heaven. Mecca, Medina, Rome, Lourdes, Fatima, Jerusalem, Karnak, Delphi, Graceland, Washington, D.C. What do all these have in common?

Of course. There are pilgrimage sites, whether you want to see Elvis' Cadillacs or you want to march on Washington. People make pilgrimages to these places. I hadn't thought much about the notion of pilgrimage or pilgrimage sites until I had an opportunity to visit Lourdes in France. Now, Lourdes is in southern France. It actually wasn't too far from a feast site that we held. Lourdes is a location where a young girl supposedly saw the image of the Madonna and was healed in this grotto, in this cave.

It's so famous they actually have a replica of it at Notre Dame University in Indiana. So if you don't want to go to France, you can go to Indiana, and you can see a replica of Lourdes in Indiana. And so people journeyed to Lourdes to be healed. In fact, the Catholic Church has constructed hospitals right next to Fatima, and as you go to the grotto, and it's a long line, it's just a continuous line of people who are going into this grotto.

There are crutches that are strung up, where people have thrown off their crutches because of the healing power of this grotto and these waters. And so people, millions of people, come from all over the world to Lourdes to look for healing. That's why they pilgrimage to Lourdes, because they're looking for something, something they need, something they desire, something that they can't have unless they go there. That's what a pilgrimage is.

The people who are visiting this site are searching for that healing. Let's look to Hebrews 11, verse 13, and let's see what is described about our pilgrimage, the pilgrimage that our forefathers took and that we take. Because it's far from Washington, D.C. It's far from inaugurations. It's far from marches on Washington. Hebrews 11, verse 13. After describing the great hall of fame of faith, Adam, Abel, Abraham, and all these different people that we see, it says, These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, were assured of them, embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. They were pilgrims. They were on a pilgrimage. And where were they going? Verse 14 says, For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. They were on a pilgrimage to a homeland, but a homeland not of this earth, but a different homeland. Verse 15, And truly, if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. If they had thought about where they were coming from, they might have gone back. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

There are two definitions of pilgrimage from Merriam-Webster. The first definition of pilgrimage from Merriam-Webster is a journey of a pilgrim, especially one to a shrine or a sacred place, like Lourdes, or Mecca, or Medina. But the second definition is the course of life on earth. Isn't that interesting? Even Merriam-Webster defines a pilgrimage as the course of life on earth. It's coming right here, right out of the Scriptures. This is our life here. It is a pilgrimage. Because we're not home. This is not our homeland. You know, that term homeland is only a recent term that's used to describe America. It was used right after the attack of September 11th on New York City. We created the Department of Homeland Security. Many linguists said, isn't that interesting that we've come to this point where we use the word homeland, because we are a nation of immigrants. This is not our home, and this is not our homeland. We are on a pilgrimage. And our pilgrimage is not to visit the oracle of Delphi, as many people did in the ancient world or of Zeus. It's not to visit Graceland, as I said. It's a different pilgrimage. Look in verse 38.

After describing all the different trials and tribulations of the people of God, it says, Wow! That can go to your head. That's saying we as God's people, the world is not worthy of them, and for those who go through trials, it is not worthy of us. That's interesting. That should put this into some perspective. It was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. These were not the powerful and the mighty of the world. These people were the outcasts. These people were on the outside. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise. God, having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us. This is an encouraging scripture for us as we make our pilgrimage through this life. As we look for that city that is a city that Abraham looked for.

We're on a journey, but our journey is a spiritual one, as is our destination. And yet our conduct is physical. We can't walk out of here and say, well, I'm in the spiritual la-la land. No, we have to actually live our lives. This is not some ethereal thing. We're on a journey.

I'm continually sobered by the number of people who I've known over the years, who I've known, and who have gotten off, who have decided to stop, who have decided that this journey is not worth the effort, that the goal is not a true goal. And let me be clear that these people's journey may not be done. So I'm not saying that those who have left us, their story is told, their story is not yet told. But I've seen so many people who have given up on this journey, starting with my own father, my grandmother, uncles, aunts, friends from my teenage years, friends from college, people from our former association. I think we all know some of those people. My wife's story and her memories are similar. I think we could all share stories of people who used to be among us. And where are they now? Where are they now? What got into them that they decided that this was too hard, or wasn't worth it, or was a mistake?

The journey is dangerous. This journey that we're on is a dangerous journey. The adversaries are strong. And Jesus tells us something very important about this journey in Matthew 7, verse 14. Let's turn over there. Matthew 7, verse 14. I remember years ago watching Jeopardy, and this was a Jeopardy question. This was actually a Jeopardy question. And the person got it wrong. Because people don't think about it this way. Matthew 7, verse 13. Enter by the narrow gate. For wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leads to, and that was the Jeopardy question. And you know what they said? The person said heaven. No! No! Destruction. That leads to destruction. And there are many who go in by it. You see, if this was easy, if everybody knew what to do, they would do it. Because narrow is the gate, and difficult is the way, which leads to life. And there are few who find it. That's the journey. That's the pilgrimage that we're on. And few find it. And narrow is the gate, and difficult is the way. Narrow or confined. This is not an easy journey. Jesus Christ said that following Him would be hard. And anyone who has had to ask for time off for the Sabbath or the Holy Days, you know that feeling. Okay. Tell me more. Anyone who has had to stand up for their faith, and be different, and take those strange looks, and maybe ridicule, maybe persecution, maybe the loss of a job in certain countries. Being a disciple means putting on a pilgrim's cloak, and beginning a journey. And once that journey has begun, we cannot turn back. Look at John 17, verse 16.

John 17, verse 16. You see, because we're passing through. We're just passing through. This is not where we live. John 17, verse 16 says, starting in verse 15, we'll get to the context. I did not pray that you should take them out of the world. So we're in the world. This is where we live. But that you should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. So this is interesting. We are in the world, but not of the world. See, we can't be taken out of the world because we're in it. So we're in the world. But we cannot be of the world. Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. Did God send Jesus into the world to overthrow the Roman occupation of Palestine?

Was Christ sent to clean up the corruption of the Jewish authority? Was he sent to restore the nation of Israel at that time? No. He said it very clearly. That was not why he was sent. Why would we then be sent to do any of those things in our modern era? Just as Jesus Christ was sent, it says here, as you sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. He was not sent to do those things, and neither are we sent to do those things. We are not sent to embrace human ideologies. But to be sanctified by the Word. That's what it says right here. Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth. We are to not just live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. That is what we are sent to do. George Washington, in his famous farewell address, as the first President of these United States in 1796, famously spoke of alliances with foreign powers. He said, quote, it is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliance with any portion of the foreign world, unquote. This policy was restated by Thomas Jefferson in his inaugural address in 1801. We have inaugural addresses on our minds.

He said, peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none. Do we consider the politics of the United States to be the politics of a foreign power? Would we become entangled with a foreign power? Look over at Philippians 3, verse 20. Philippians 3, verse 20. Now, I am proud and thankful to be born in this country and to be a citizen of this nation. Don't get me wrong. But my true citizenship lies elsewhere. As Philippians 3, verse 20 says, for our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us not have entanglements with foreign powers. Point number two. We look to God as our king and our guide. We look to God as our king and our guide. Go back to John, John 16, verse 5.

John 16, verse 5.

But now I go away to him who sent me. We read this a lot of times during the Passover. This is this long sort of discourse Jesus is providing to his disciples. Sort of final instruction before he leaves this earth. And he says, but now I go away to him who sent me and none of you asks me, where are you going? See, the idea is, you know, well, where are you going? Because I want to follow you where you're going. Because you're the rabbi, you're the teacher, you're the person that we want to follow. And he says, none of you asks me where I'm going. For movie buffs, and I might be going back away, so I might be dating some of you. This is where we get the famous quote, Quovatus. It was a movie from the 1950s, some of you might remember. Classic movie. That's a Latin phrase, by the way, and this was written in Greek, so we don't want to be confused. And Jesus spoke Aramaic, so anyway, that's a very nice thing. This is where we get Quovatus. Where are you going? Now, what's interesting is that if you go back to John 13, verse 36, because again, we want to follow Jesus Christ, right? He's our guide.

And Jesus asked, none of you ask, Quovatus, where are you going? John 13, verse 36, Simon Peter said to him, Lord, where are you going?

Now, okay, so if Peter just asked, where are you going? And Jesus said, nobody of you asked, where are you going? Well, how do you reconcile these two things together? Now, that's one of those questions that for sure we probably won't have the exact answer, but I would argue that many times we ask that question, God, where are you going? Or God, I want to follow you. You know, we say these types of things. We ask them casually. We ask them vaguely. We ask them without thought as to what the implications might be. And we ask thinking of our own plans, because, you know, there's that famous quote, you know, God is my co-pilot, right? And we know that that's not the way it works, like God's the pilot, not the co-pilot. But we think about it sometimes in those terms. So look at this one here for Peter. Simon Peter said to him, Lord, where are you going? And Jesus answered him, where I am going, you cannot follow me now, but you shall follow me afterwards. That was the answer. And that was a good answer, because Peter was not ready to follow Jesus to the cross at that time, or the stake, or whatever it means it was. I tell the story often. Herschel Sporrow, I used to say, remember here, that if Jesus had died in an electric chair, would we wear electric chairs around our neck as a symbol? So anyway, whether it was a cross or a stake, he was not prepared to go there. Peter said to him, Lord, Peter said to him, Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for your sake. And Jesus answered him, Will you lay down your life for my sake? Most assuredly I say to you, the rooster shall not crow, till you have denied me three times. And we know the story. Peter was not prepared to truly follow Christ. Christ was ready to have him follow, just not then. He couldn't follow then, but he followed afterwards. So sometimes we say that God is our guide. Sometimes we say that we should follow him. But in actual fact, we're not prepared to really follow him. We need to follow Jesus Christ as our guide and as the image of the Father. Christ came to reveal the Father. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11 verse 1, Imitate me as I imitate Christ. Look at Ephesians 5 verse 15. Ephesians 5 and verse 15.

This gives us a guide to think about.

Ephesians 5 verse 15 says, See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Do you understand what the will of the Lord is for your life? Have you asked that question? Because maybe the will of the Lord for your life is different than your will for your life. Maybe there is a difference between those two. I want to read this in the Phillips translation because I think it brings out an interesting aspect of the Greek. Let me get to my place here. Ephesians 5 verse 15. Live life then with a due sense of responsibility, not as men who do not know the meaning and purpose of life, but as those who do. Make the best use of your time despite all the difficulties of these days. Don't be vague, but firmly grasp what you know to be the will of the Lord. That brings out an interesting side of it because it brings out a side that says, Paul, speaking to the Ephesians, who were converted individuals, he implies that you know what God's will for your life is. Don't be vague, but grasp firmly what you know to be true. Live circumspectly. Live life knowing that you have purpose and you have meaning. And it is different from the meaning that is in this world. Do we know the will of the Lord for these United States of America? For this time, do we know what God desires for our country? What he wants? Who among us would not want to see biblical principles restored, implemented, godly values spoken of by great men of power? I think we all want that. I think people at this time in the Bible wanted that. Yet, we cannot understand those things. Those are for God to lead and to guide, not for us. But we can seek the will of the Lord for our personal conduct. That we can influence. We can seek His guidance for our personal way of life. And we have the freedom in this country to do that. That is a great blessing. That is where we understand the will of the Lord for our lives. Look at 1 Samuel 8. 1 Samuel 8. This is a great place to go in this regard as we think about how to think about rulers in our country, in any country. 1 Samuel 8. We'll start in verse 1, and we'll spend some time here in 1 Samuel 8 and think about what the implications are for us. 1 Samuel 8, verse 1.

But His sons did not walk in His ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice. And again, how would you feel if you were in the nation of Israel and you saw corrupt politicians bringing your country to its knees, stripping its wealth away, perverting justice? How would you feel? You would want to change. And so, all the elders in verse 4 of Israel gathered together to Samuel at Rama, and they said to Him, Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make for us a king to judge us like all the nations.

Now, that wasn't the right answer. When they saw that, that was the time to go to Samuel and say, We need to beseech God that He would bring a leader that would be godly and who would follow God's direction, because we know that God is our guide and God is our king. But instead, they asked for a king to be placed over them.

Verse 6, But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, Give us a king to judge us. So Samuel prayed to the Lord. Samuel went to God and said, Can you believe these people? I can't believe what they're doing. They're wanting a king. How dare they? You are the only true king. And the Lord said to Samuel, Heed the voice of the people. See, there's that voice. See, the voices want to be heard. We want our voices to be heard. Heed the voice of the people, all that they say to you, For they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

According to all the works which they have done since the day that I have brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day with which they have forsaken me and served over the God, so they are doing to you also. Samuel, don't take this personally. It's not that they've rejected you and your decisions to place your sons over them. They've rejected me. And we have rejected God.

Each and every one of us. And that's why we repent. That's why we are baptized. That's why we are on this pilgrimage. Because we accept God. We accept Jesus Christ as the head of the church. We accept God the Father as our king and his son as our savior. Verse 9, He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. He will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants.

He will take a tenth of your grain and your vintage, and give it to his officers and servants. And he will take your men servants and your maid servants and your finest young men and your donkeys and put them to his work. He will make a tenth of your sheep. He will take a tenth of your sheep and you will be his servants. And you will cry out in that day because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the Lord will not hear you in that day. Be warned, when you decide to take power into your own hands and choose a king, that king will oppress you.

You know, I find it interesting. If you look at the great wealth centers of the United States, where would you think the great wealth, the richest people who live in this country, where do you think they would live? New York City, Wall Street, that kind of makes sense, right? A lot of bankers in New York City. How about Silicon Valley? A lot of technology, captains of industry, creating Facebook and Google and all these things.

Silicon Valley, New York City. What do you think the greatest wealth center of these United States are? Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. What comes out of Washington, D.C.? Is there tech? Is there banking? Is Coca-Cola there? No, they're in Atlanta. No. Why is Washington, D.C. one of the great, richest cities in the country?

It's the government. That's very strange, isn't it? But it's right here. It's right here. Nevertheless, the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel, and they said, no, but we will have a king over us. That we also may be like all the nations that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles. Our king is going to solve our problems.

That's why we want a king. So he can solve our problems. He's going to fight for us. He's going to go out before us. He's going to take care of us. Because, see, that's what we as people, that's our human nature. We look to people to solve our problems. I think we know where we get some issues. But you know what? The king is not going to solve Tim Peppworth's problems. My president is not going to solve my problems.

He's not going to solve the problems of each of you. And yet, see, it diverts our mind away from our own problems. Because it's much easier to think about this nation's problems. But, see, we are this nation individually. So hopefully the president will solve the problems of this nation. But he's not going to solve our individual problems. He is not going to, by executive order or repeal of law, solve my problems. I have to solve my problems. I have to solve my problems because I look to God as my king and my guide and not a president.

There is jubilation in this country on the part of many people, jubilation that someone is finally going to confront, authentically the corruption and the elitism that has drained away our national wealth to foreign lands and to lost causes. That's what President Trump's inauguration speech was about. I hope good things come from the changes that President Trump begins.

And we should be praying for him because he is our leader. Legitimately elected. And indeed, we know and have heard many times that we should be praying for him. I'm not just the first person to say that. But more importantly, I know that if we place ourselves in God's hands, we will not be disappointed when those campaign promises don't happen. And that's what's going to happen. Not that I don't believe Mr.

Trump. I don't see him as any different than any of these others. But the fact is, it's hard to do all these things that you promise in a campaign. It's very hard. Every president comes in with the best intentions. I'm going to do this, I'm going to do that, and some people are happy and some people are not. And some people like him and some people don't. But invariably, people are disappointed. And we don't need to be disappointed because we're not putting our hope in him fulfilling his campaign promises. That's not where our hope comes from. And we don't have to become disillusioned, which I fear, in this country, many people may become disillusioned.

So if we're excited, we don't need to be disillusioned when it doesn't happen. There is also fear in this country on the part of many people. Fear of deportation, fear of loss of rights, fear of change. Change is hard. Just change is hard. So there's fear of change. But if God is for us, who can be against us? We should not worry about those things, if we're concerned about that. If we place ourselves in God's hands, whom shall we fear? Not Donald Trump. Not Donald Trump policies. So whether we might be excited or whether we might be fearful, really, neither of those emotions really should play in. Because we should not be invested in our leader in that way. We should be invested in God as our king and as our guide. And so it says here, nonetheless, the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel, verse 19, and they said, No, but we will have a king over us, that he may also be like all the nations, and that our king will may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles. And verse 21, Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the hearing of the Lord. So the Lord said to Samuel, Heed their voice and make them a king. And Samuel said to the men of Israel, Every man go to his own city. And so it was the beginning of kings in Israel. Look over at Hebrews 12, verse 1. Hebrews 12 and verse 1.

This is where our focus should be. Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, And again, we just in the beginning read the few verses before, right? That we're pilgrims, that we're sojourners, that we're strangers. And like all these other people, we are looking for that city whose maker is God. Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, And let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Look to God as our guide and as our king. Alright, the final point I want to bring out here is that we should esteem others greater than ourselves and keep our views in perspective. Look over in Philippians 2 and verse 1, because I think this is where we can most action this sermon. If you think about what you can walk away with and how this behavior is going to change tonight or tomorrow. Because this is where we interact with one another. And we think about these points of contention. Philippians 2 verse 1, being of one accord of one mind. If one member of God's church thinks that President Trump will be good for this country, and another member of God's church thinks that President Trump will be bad for this country, how can these two people be of one mind? I think the answer is because we esteem and respect each other. And we can be comfortable expressing our views one to another. Because the views on the President of the United States are lesser matters. Matters of less importance as pilgrims on this earth. Look over at Philippians 4. We'll come back here. We'll just turn over just a page. Philippians 4 verse 8. We'll finish reading that section in a moment. Philippians 4 verse 8, If there is any virtue, and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things. These things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do. And the God of peace will be with you. You see, these are the more important matters. These are the things that we should be filling our time and thoughts discussing. Issues of politics are lesser matters. It's a matter of emphasis. If we can agree on the big things, then we can be of like mind. We will have differing opinions on all sorts of matters. The choice of President, health food, essential oils, vaccinations, and of course, lest we forget coming up, who the best NFL team is in the United States. It's okay to have a difference. I'm not happy with Jed York right now. He's not making good decisions for the 49ers. You can talk about the Raiders and what they're doing. And that's okay. I think in a way, this inauguration has opened a door for us in God's church to begin to have a dialogue about things that we might not have the same views on. And that's okay because they aren't that important. Politics is not that important. Health food is great, but it's not as important as these other things that we were reading. Those are the important matters. Go back just a page, and let's finish reading Philippians 2.

This person thinks that President Trump is going to tear this nation down. How could he think that? Well, he's in God's church as a perspective. I'm going to listen. I don't have to agree. This person thinks I shouldn't be vaccinated. The person's in God's church. I could listen to that. I don't have to agree. This person thinks that I should have two glasses of water every morning. You know, that's always water in the morning. That's okay.

That's their opinion. Don't have to agree. But we esteem them, because nothing is done through selfish ambition or vain conceit. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. That's where we should be. And it says in verse 5, Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. This is how Christ thinks about that. God just must laugh at our opinions sometimes. You think about that? I think I should do this.

And God just looks down like, That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Don't worry. Give him ten years. He'll see it. So God is patient with us. God loves us. And so when we deal with someone else, and they have an opinion, Oh, that's so stupid. No, hold on. Maybe they're coming out of perspective on this.

Maybe we just need to listen in. Listen to what they're doing. People get hung up on all sorts of things that aren't important. Our opinions on matters of growing in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Now, there's something important. 2 Peter 3, verse 18, if you want to note that. How about focusing on the weight of your matters of the law, of justice and mercy and faith?

Matthew 23, 23. Okay, now that's an important matter. How about focusing on things above and not earthly things? That's Col. 3, verse 2. Now, that's an important matter. See, there's lots of important matters that we should be talking about and we should be having opinions on. But there's lots of other matters that we can have opinions on, and that doesn't mean that they aren't the most important thing in the world to be upset about.

In the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 2, verse 2, I resolve to not know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. That is what Paul said. That is all I care about, not who the president is or whether he's going to do a good job or a bad job. That just isn't that important. The next time we see a Facebook post by a member of God's Church with an opinion that differs from ours, we should ask ourselves, is this subject about knowing Jesus Christ crucified?

Because that's what we should be passionate about. And if it's not about that, you know, we can just dial it down a little bit. Because it's not really that important.

That is, does this subject rise to the level of understanding the atoning power, the awesome purpose, and the overriding plan of God the Father for all mankind through the sacrifice of His Son, for all humanity, that He might bring many sons to glory? That's what it means to understand Christ crucified. If it's at that level, hey, let's get in there. Let's talk. But you know, if it's about something else, there's a great proverb.

It says, a soft answer turns away wrath. That's a great response. We'll go over it to Proverbs 14 verse 15. I've been quoting a lot of scriptures. We haven't been turning there. But let's just turn to one and read it. Proverbs 14 verse 15. You see, I just think we in God's Church can learn more about how to talk to one another about things that we disagree on.

I think that's a great skill that we can learn. Because when it's something that is, you know, like the presidency, or like I said, health food or something, it's okay. We can have differing views. It shouldn't change the unity of our faith. Proverbs 14 verse 15. The simple believes every word, but the prudent man considers well his steps. So, you know, there's kind of a principle sometimes. You see a post, somebody sends you an email, take a deep breath.

Maybe pick up the phone before we start launching in with some opinion. We need to be very careful about how we express our opinions. Let's go over in 2 Corinthians 5 verse 17. There's all these scriptures in the Bible, you know, and when you kind of start applying them to something as tangible as how you feel about Donald Trump, all these things start popping out. Right? Because people have strong opinions. 2 Corinthians 5 verse 17 says, Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. That's us. We're a new creation. Old things have passed away.

Behold, all things have become new. We're supposed to be new. We're supposed to be a different person. Now all things are of God who has reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ.

Right? That's what we go through this process of repentance. We're baptized. We received the laying on the hands to receive God's Holy Spirit. Now we walk in newness of life, reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. Reconciliation to God and to our fellow brethren. This is what we've been given to be reconciled to one another. That is that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, and not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed us the word of reconciliation.

We are to be reconciled with one another and reconciled to God. In verse 20, therefore we are ambassadors for Christ. As though God were pleading through us, we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For he made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

We are to be reconciled to God. And therefore we are ambassadors. And of course an ambassador doesn't vote. An ambassador has diplomatic immunity. An ambassador is not part of that system and what happens? I think this is an area of growth in God's church.

And you know what's interesting is I think it was an area of growth for the church in Ephesus 2. So I don't think we're different in that way. Ephesians 4. Go back to the book of Ephesians. Ephesians 4. I think Paul was talking about this very subject to the Ephesians.

And I think Paul was saying this exact point, keep these issues in perspective. Focus on the big things. Ephesians 4. I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to have a walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with long suffering, bearing with one another in love. Why would he need to say to bear with one another? You know, to bear. Like, I have to bear with, I have to spend an afternoon with so-and-so. I have to bear with. You know, we wouldn't think about that going to church, but he says, why would he say that?

And then he says in verse 3, Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. And now he's going to go through the big things, the important things. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God, and Father of all who was above all and through all and in you all.

See, what Paul is saying is, you have come from all of these backgrounds. We can read in Scripture. There were slaves in the church. There were rich people in the church. There were barbarians. There were Scythians and Greeks and Jews. There were these people from all these walks of life. Do you think they could agree on anything? Probably not. There were probably a lot of differing views on the world. And Paul says to the Ephesians, Pay no attention to those things because these are the bigger things.

These things I've just described. This is what binds you together. This is what brings you together. This is what allows you to live together in peace and in unity. Because you understand these things are the important things. This is our culture as a church. This is what binds us together. This is what is so amazing that you can get on a plane and you can fly halfway around the world and you can walk into a hall and you know what?

You feel at home! I don't know if you've ever experienced that. You're at home because we're all reading from the same book and we all care about the things that are important, not the lesser things about our football teams. That's what brings us together and binds us together. These are the things that unite us and they are the things that define our way of life.

Let us respect the unique perspectives that each of us carry. Let us be a safe environment to be able to share our views on these lesser matters. Let us put our views, those views, in perspective to these more important views, to these greater views, to these weightier matters, to these things above. This moment in time, as many protests, and it appears that this nation is as divided as ever, this is the moment when God's people can learn to esteem others and their opinions on these lesser matters.

Greater than their own. And we can experience what David says in Psalm 133 and verse 1, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. This is a great opportunity for us to practice this, to figure this out, and how this works. I think this is an opportunity, a great opportunity for God's Church. We are pilgrims on this earth and our citizenship is in heaven. We look to God as our king and our guide. We esteem others greater than ourselves and we keep our views in perspective. There is much to learn about ourselves. Let's use this time wisely.