podcast@coffeetheologyandjesus.com

When Kingdoms Collide (An Older Note From Facebook, Now on My Blog) – Tim Whitaker

Now that ^^^^^ (Up there) is a title name! Maybe I’ll use it for a band…or sell it to a movie studio and become a trillionaire (with the going rate of inflation..)  

 

 

Look here’s the bottom line my facebook has been a warzone on the battlefield of speech, thoughtss, and discussion.  I don’t think warzone cuts it.  More like Armageddon.   Anyway all of this…wait what the crap happened to my font? Oh there we go.  Ahem anyway, all of this discussion has lead me to another note to write.  Mainly because it’s pretty much impossible to actually explain a point in a facebook comment, so I’ll explain it here.  But first a few disclaimers so that way no one can take what I say and then accuse me of saying something else.  here they are

 

 

1. I don’t hate America

 

2. I completely support our troops and government system and believe it is the greatest system on earth that we can obtain

 

3. I don’t hate America

 

4. I’m incredibly grateful for all of the sacrifice that allows me to even have an opinion without being imprisoned 

 

5. I DO NOT HATE AMERICA.

 

6.  I love the church with everything in me, I have a huge heart for the American Church and the Christians that live here,  I believe in the church and it has done and continues to do amazing things.

 

 

Look I’m just going to be blunt.  It’s time for Christians to start waking up to a few key things.  

 

1. As much as we’d all like to say that America is a Christian nation the bottom line is that it’s not.  A Christian nation would be made up of Christians.  And even though 75% of Americans claim “christianity” as their “religion”, all you need to do is to look around and realize that it’s not.   Also, not to mention that America is a free nation meaning that people have the right to worship whatever they want in peace.  They can worship the rug in their house, it doesn’t matter they have the freedom to do that.  Yes I understand the founding fathers were christian.  But saying that America is a Christian nation because of them is like saying that target is a heathen company because the founder wasn’t a christian.  It has no impact on who the company is and does not reflect any of their business habits.

 

2.  We are not the moral police of the nation, or of the world.  And here’s some Bible verses to prove it. 1 Corinthians 5:12″ What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you” 

Romans 3 :1 “You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things.2 And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. 3 Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? 4 Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?”

It is time that we as people of God started doing a lot more loving and restoring people back to God then calling out how sinful other people are (which unintentionally compares us to them)   It amazes me that I have thought of myself the worst of sinners in one breath, then judged someone outside the church in the next.  This is not the way Jesus designed us to be “salt” of the earth.   I ask you this question “If we prove to someone that they are morally wrong, and they never enter in to a relationship with Jesus, what did we accomplish?”  Really, I think that people know they have problems.  They don’t need a reminder, they need an answer. 

 

3.  America is not perfect.  Ok yes I love living here, I am so grateful I live here I truly am.  At the same time way too many people believe that we are God’s answer to the world and have no faults at all.  As long as humans are involved we will have faults and there is nothing wrong with owning up to them, and moving on.  

 

4.  You can not serve two masters!   This is probably my biggest issue right now.  We have made America synonymous with Christian and this is a huge problem.  As Christians our faith needs to FAR surpass any nationalism that we might have.  I urge you brothers and sisters to read the words of Jesus then compare them to the American lifestyle and see the differences.  The kingdom of Jesus is different then the Kingdom of America, or any other nation.  Again I’m not saying that America is bad, evil, or full of destruction.  What I am saying is that it is KEY to keep your compass on Jesus only!  

 

 

 

5. A life after Jesus is much more demanding then what we like to make it seem.  A life of discipleship will cost you everything, count the cost before you decide to claim Christianity, it is not just a walk down the isle moment, it’s not just a sunday morning thing.  Jesus is life encompassing.  A life following Jesus is exactly what it sounds like, a LIFE following Jesus.  

 

 

More and more I have found myself colliding with America and it’s system of materialism and pursuit of happiness.  I look at the scriptures and I see the opposite.  I see Jesus talking about a simple life, I see Jesus talking about a pursuit of Him, losing yourself, dying to yourself, and in the process finding yourself.  I see Jesus telling us that it’s not about all the stuff we can get, it’s not about how important our Job title is, it’s not about money, or the newest clothes, or gadgets, that’s not the focus.   The focus is two things Jesus says in the Bible. 

 

1. Love God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength

2. Love people as yourself.

 

 

I realize that in many of the things I’ve said I haven’t even done.  That’s because I’m discovering more and more what it means to follow Jesus and I’m also pretty hard headed.  I (like all of us) are works in progress as our father creates us in to what He wants us to be.  Take it for what you will! I do not take back or regret anything said because I base it all in the word of God, take it up with the scriptures I am completely open to some great discussion, as long as we don’t start getting personal attacks thrown around.