Michael Bresciani
Christians - - Ignore the present political scene at your own peril
By Michael Bresciani
Not everyone is afraid to say that today's political climate in America, is filled with foreboding and for the first time since the civil war days is so fiercely divided that our future may be in jeopardy.
If we connect it to prophecies of the last days we are criticized for making dangerous predictions. If we keep it in the political realm alone; we are charged with seeing politics as a means of saving the nation apart from re-connecting with God. What to do?
In a recent Christian Post article Pastor Robert Jeffress is critiqued and while not completely dismissed as an extravagant doomsayer, he is given a little less credence by an author who is satisfied to conclude his piece with this august warning.
"Damage gets done to the credibility of eschatology when we overstep here. Be ready, but do not predict is the lesson."
If no dates are given – predictions and prophecies are not the problem
"But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." (Mt 24: 36)
Jeffress named no dates for the second coming of the Lord, but he made some statements that have touched a nerve with those who struggle to reconcile our national pride and respect for the office of the president at the same time they are watching as the most dictatorial and immoral president in our history is shaking our foundations to the core.
Jeffress states with certainty that he does not believe that Barack Obama is the antichrist, but he is not willing to say that he has not imposed antichrist influence like no other president before him.
Is he correct?
We might say it depends on who you ask. For the purposes of this article, we will not ask anyone, but only refer to the scriptures. This is easy.
We have only to ask two or three simple questions. Is the attack on marriage between one man and one woman biblical? Does abortion, the wasting of human lives, have a biblical green light? Is homosexuality perfectly OK with God and if so when did he change his mind on the subject?
The answer to these questions in the biblical view indicates quite clearly that our President has enacted and or inaugurated several of the most antichrist acts in the history of our nation. Where is the argument? Jeffress hit that nail squarely on the head!
It should be noted that history has proven that scripturally based predictions and prophecies along with well learned general prognostications based on history, trends and behaviors has never been the problem – not heeding them, however, has been the perennial problem since time began.
Cherry picking our theology and heeding common sayings of the day are subtle traps
Common sayings are adages, quips or oft heard sayings that are repeated until they are elevated to the level of truth – sometimes they are even thought to be biblical truths.
The prime example is the phrase, "God helps those who help themselves." How silly is this? The bible actually says just the opposite. The entire story of the Good Samaritan and many passages of scripture proclaim that God is, and has always been, the helper of the helpless, furthermore he expects us to be as well.
"For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper." (Ps 72: 12)
Besides the puerile level of misguidance inherent in most unchecked, unbiblical common sayings, there is our willingness to reduce or deny God's authority in lieu of a more eclectic theology, hand-picked for our own use – or misuse.
Choosing the coruscated plump cherries we love from the theology of the bible and leaving the bitter berries unchosen is eclectic, heterogeneously initiated apostasy. It is selective apostasy that won't disturb our comfort zone, but by any other name it is still – apostasy.
Of the dozens of examples available we will focus on only one. It speaks to both an attitude prevailing in America and a common saying that probably originated with Satan and has been passed around for decades.
The familiar, "Religion and politics don't mix," must have been something the founding fathers never heard when they wrote the declaration and the constitution. They seemed to think that without religious convictions, faith in God and observance of the Word of God that the country wouldn't stand a chance.
Political correctness vs. God ordained
When emphasis is needed the bible often uses the term 'ordained' to plant the idea that a measure has been instituted by God and must be given full attention by those who claim to be his. The word appears 16 times in the Old Testament and 20 times in the New Testament. We will focus on only two instances of the word.
"Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel." (1Co 9: 14)
This God ordained mandate is followed by countless sermons, fundraisers, pastor appreciation days and all the way up to the excessive teachings now well known as the 'prosperity gospel.' It is a well-accepted, over preached and fully manipulated part of scripture.
The highlighting of this passage and others like it has dominated some ministries to the exclusion of the pure gospel. No one would think of disregarding what God has ordained – or would they?
"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God." (Ro 13: 1)
Now we are in trouble. God ordained that preachers should get paid and civil government? – How could he?
Our response to this is to offer prayers for our leaders, and then hide behind 'religion and politics don't mix.' We can't imagine getting politically active much less even being informed about how government works and who is lining up to take the reins of that government. We talk about the right to vote rather than seeing it as a duty. We rustle every picayune excuse known to man to avoid something the bible says God – 'ordained.'
Picking and choosing what God calls ordained we have wrestled the ultimate authority away from God and handed it over to ourselves alone. Little wonder the Apostle Peter was inspired to warn us of this:
"As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction." (2Pet 3: 16)
Just preach the gospel and everything bad will go away – The Gospel of Naiveté
Many of my articles are laced with blog replies from well-meaning Christians who pontificate that if we just preach the gospel all over the world that evil will be subdued. In fact, the bible says when we have preached the gospel all over the world the antichrist will rise up to persecute us with great vigor. (Rev 13: 7)
Is just preaching the gospel the answer for ignoring who is allowed to enter the ruling class of our governance?
The most critical time in our history is upon us and we are now experiencing the promulgation of antichrist laws and mandates – is this the day to take comfort in the worn out, totally un-biblical call to actively pursue the best in all areas of life, all while excluding government and politics?
At the risk of boring you, let me quote Edmund Burke just one more time.
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
Perhaps it can be understood better by inverting Burke's adage.
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that bad men do everything.
Don't look now, but in this country, this trend is already – well underway!
© Michael Bresciani
February 1, 2014
Not everyone is afraid to say that today's political climate in America, is filled with foreboding and for the first time since the civil war days is so fiercely divided that our future may be in jeopardy.
If we connect it to prophecies of the last days we are criticized for making dangerous predictions. If we keep it in the political realm alone; we are charged with seeing politics as a means of saving the nation apart from re-connecting with God. What to do?
In a recent Christian Post article Pastor Robert Jeffress is critiqued and while not completely dismissed as an extravagant doomsayer, he is given a little less credence by an author who is satisfied to conclude his piece with this august warning.
"Damage gets done to the credibility of eschatology when we overstep here. Be ready, but do not predict is the lesson."
If no dates are given – predictions and prophecies are not the problem
"But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." (Mt 24: 36)
Jeffress named no dates for the second coming of the Lord, but he made some statements that have touched a nerve with those who struggle to reconcile our national pride and respect for the office of the president at the same time they are watching as the most dictatorial and immoral president in our history is shaking our foundations to the core.
Jeffress states with certainty that he does not believe that Barack Obama is the antichrist, but he is not willing to say that he has not imposed antichrist influence like no other president before him.
Is he correct?
We might say it depends on who you ask. For the purposes of this article, we will not ask anyone, but only refer to the scriptures. This is easy.
We have only to ask two or three simple questions. Is the attack on marriage between one man and one woman biblical? Does abortion, the wasting of human lives, have a biblical green light? Is homosexuality perfectly OK with God and if so when did he change his mind on the subject?
The answer to these questions in the biblical view indicates quite clearly that our President has enacted and or inaugurated several of the most antichrist acts in the history of our nation. Where is the argument? Jeffress hit that nail squarely on the head!
It should be noted that history has proven that scripturally based predictions and prophecies along with well learned general prognostications based on history, trends and behaviors has never been the problem – not heeding them, however, has been the perennial problem since time began.
Cherry picking our theology and heeding common sayings of the day are subtle traps
Common sayings are adages, quips or oft heard sayings that are repeated until they are elevated to the level of truth – sometimes they are even thought to be biblical truths.
The prime example is the phrase, "God helps those who help themselves." How silly is this? The bible actually says just the opposite. The entire story of the Good Samaritan and many passages of scripture proclaim that God is, and has always been, the helper of the helpless, furthermore he expects us to be as well.
"For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper." (Ps 72: 12)
Besides the puerile level of misguidance inherent in most unchecked, unbiblical common sayings, there is our willingness to reduce or deny God's authority in lieu of a more eclectic theology, hand-picked for our own use – or misuse.
Choosing the coruscated plump cherries we love from the theology of the bible and leaving the bitter berries unchosen is eclectic, heterogeneously initiated apostasy. It is selective apostasy that won't disturb our comfort zone, but by any other name it is still – apostasy.
Of the dozens of examples available we will focus on only one. It speaks to both an attitude prevailing in America and a common saying that probably originated with Satan and has been passed around for decades.
The familiar, "Religion and politics don't mix," must have been something the founding fathers never heard when they wrote the declaration and the constitution. They seemed to think that without religious convictions, faith in God and observance of the Word of God that the country wouldn't stand a chance.
Political correctness vs. God ordained
When emphasis is needed the bible often uses the term 'ordained' to plant the idea that a measure has been instituted by God and must be given full attention by those who claim to be his. The word appears 16 times in the Old Testament and 20 times in the New Testament. We will focus on only two instances of the word.
"Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel." (1Co 9: 14)
This God ordained mandate is followed by countless sermons, fundraisers, pastor appreciation days and all the way up to the excessive teachings now well known as the 'prosperity gospel.' It is a well-accepted, over preached and fully manipulated part of scripture.
The highlighting of this passage and others like it has dominated some ministries to the exclusion of the pure gospel. No one would think of disregarding what God has ordained – or would they?
"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God." (Ro 13: 1)
Now we are in trouble. God ordained that preachers should get paid and civil government? – How could he?
Our response to this is to offer prayers for our leaders, and then hide behind 'religion and politics don't mix.' We can't imagine getting politically active much less even being informed about how government works and who is lining up to take the reins of that government. We talk about the right to vote rather than seeing it as a duty. We rustle every picayune excuse known to man to avoid something the bible says God – 'ordained.'
Picking and choosing what God calls ordained we have wrestled the ultimate authority away from God and handed it over to ourselves alone. Little wonder the Apostle Peter was inspired to warn us of this:
"As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction." (2Pet 3: 16)
Just preach the gospel and everything bad will go away – The Gospel of Naiveté
Many of my articles are laced with blog replies from well-meaning Christians who pontificate that if we just preach the gospel all over the world that evil will be subdued. In fact, the bible says when we have preached the gospel all over the world the antichrist will rise up to persecute us with great vigor. (Rev 13: 7)
Is just preaching the gospel the answer for ignoring who is allowed to enter the ruling class of our governance?
The most critical time in our history is upon us and we are now experiencing the promulgation of antichrist laws and mandates – is this the day to take comfort in the worn out, totally un-biblical call to actively pursue the best in all areas of life, all while excluding government and politics?
At the risk of boring you, let me quote Edmund Burke just one more time.
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
Perhaps it can be understood better by inverting Burke's adage.
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that bad men do everything.
Don't look now, but in this country, this trend is already – well underway!
© Michael Bresciani
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