Viewpoint

Christians, like Republicans and Democrats, are often themselves divided on political issues. But Christians are even more fundamentally divided on whether scripture teaches that they are to be involved in politics or not. I for one understand the scriptures to teach that I am not to be involved in this world's politics, and I present some of the scriptures, and reasoning on them, that supports this view.

Phil. 3:20a, 4:1b "For our citizenship is in heaven… so stand fast in the Lord, beloved." This plainly states to me that my citizenship is in heaven. It is not on this earth. Nor is it in heaven and on the earth: a dual citizenship. It is strictly in heaven. Gal 6:14 states in part, "the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." Clearly the world and I are to be dead to each. There is to be no common ground between us. Jas. 4:4 says further, "Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." I cannot afford to be a friend to the world, and thereby lose my relationship with God.

Eph. 2:19, "Now therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners (from God's viewpoint) but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God." Again, I clearly see that my citizenship is with the saints and members of the household of God. This citizenship and household have nothing to do with promoting or supporting any conditions on earth. Continuing with 2 Pet. 2:9-11, "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people (and therefore no people of any other nation) that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness (of living in this world) into His marvelous light (of living in His presence); who once were not a people (recognized by God), but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Beloved, I beg you (as sojourners and pilgrims on this earth) abstain from fleshly lusts (of the earthly body) which war against the soul (the being of the new spiritual creature)."

2 Cor. 5:20, "Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us; we implore you on Christ's behalf; be reconciled to God." As in the preceding verses, I now have the ministry of reconciliation that God began. This is to be my sole relationship with the world. As such, I am to be only an ambassador of Christ for God's kingdom. Thus where I live (in the world), I am to represent the country and government who has sent me here. The country is the Kingdom of Heaven, and the government is God's, with Christ as His charged affairs. As an ambassador, I bring to the citizens of the earth the good news concerning my country and how they can be at peace with my country and its ruler. I do not enter into their political process to try to change it to be as mine. I do not vote in their elections. I represent my country and government who have sent me here in order to draw others to want to become citizens of my country, and to learn to live in my country, not the reverse.

An extension of why I am not involved in the politics of this world is that I am striving for a position in the spiritual government of God when it is set up over earth to reconcile mankind with Him. That heavenly citizenship is available to me now, and it remains with me into the reality of his kingdom. Since that is my goal, it is also my current and permanent citizenship. If I try to be a citizen of this world, or of any country of this world, I can have no connection with the kingdom of God.

All who would become reconcilers of the rest of mankind in the kingdom will find it necessary that their citizenship is also in heaven now. This is not a decision to be put off into the future. Too many of those who believe they can do that, or that they can hold dual citizenship will find themselves among those of Mt. 7:21-23 who have no entrance into the ruling part of the kingdom. I urge all who would be reconcilers with God to become exclusive and good citizens of His kingdom now.

&emdash;Joe Knapp

Perspective

When our children were young, we were always very careful about how much television they watched and about what they watched. One of their favorite shows was "Mr. Rogers." I liked to watch Fred Rogers and visit his neighborhood with first Tracie and then Kent. The show amazed me. It was slow and deliberate and clearly paced to its young audience. It always had a very positive message and made a clear distinction between make-believe and reality. It enthralled our children. Only later did I learn that Fred Rogers was a minister who felt that he had a God-ordained mission to children.

"Christianity Today" recently had a very extensive article about Fred Rogers entitled, "Won't You be My Neighbor?" The following true story is taken from that article. It tells us so very much about Mr. Rogers and his calling.

There was a young boy who was severely handicapped with cerebral palsy. When he as still very little, he had been taken advantage of by the very people who had been entrusted to take care of him. They did things to him that made him think that he was a very bad person. As he grew older, he sometimes would get so mad at himself that he would hit himself with his own fists. He could only speak on a computer that he had learned to use to communicate. He would tell his mother that he didn't want to live. He was sure that God didn't like what was inside him anymore than he did.

At age 14, the boy was still watching "Mr. Roger's Neighborhood." It seemed to have a calming effect on him. The boy's mother sometimes thought that Mister Rogers was the only thing keeping her son alive.

Mr. Rogers heard about the young teenager and while on a trip to California decided to visit him. The boy became very nervous anticipating the fact that Mr. Rogers was coming to see him. In fact, when Mr. Rogers showed up, the boy got very mad at himself and began hitting himself and his mother had to take him into another room. Mr. Rogers just waited patiently until the boy calmed down and came back into the room. Then Fred Rogers said, "I would like you to do something for me. Would you do something for me?" The boy answered "yes" on his computer. Mr. Rogers then said. "I would like you to pray for me. Will you pray for me?"

The boy was thunderstruck. Nobody had ever asked him to pray for them before. In fact, the boy had always been prayed for &endash; he had always been the object of prayer. Now Mr. Rogers had asked the boy to pray for him. The boy said at first that he wasn't sure he could do it, but he would try. Ever since then that boy prays for Mr. Rogers every day. He has never again talked about wanting to die. He now figures that Mr. Rogers is close to God, and if Mr. Rogers likes him, that must mean that God likes him, too.

What a wonderful story. But there's even more. After this incident happened, someone asked Fred Rogers how he knew what to say to make the boy feel better. How did he know to ask the boy to pray for him? Mr. Rogers responded, "Oh heavens no. I didn't ask him for his prayers for him; I asked for me. I asked because I think that anyone who has gone through challenges like that must be very close to God. I asked him because I wanted his intercession."

I understand now why children instinctively like Mr. Rogers. I understand why children were drawn to Jesus. Children sense something that is so very real, something that is so definitely spiritual. Mr. Rogers, like his Lord before him, helps to put life into proper perspective. I look forward to watching Mr. Rogers with my grandchildren.

--Larry Urbaniak

A Daughter's Heart

H-E-L-P !!!

That as the reverberating sound from my heart for a season. Attending to the needs of others, responding to major changes in the workplace, and mental wrestling with spiritual concerns caused me to feel pretty overwhelmed. How thankful I am that my heavenly Father loves me and provides for every need!

One day I was particularly pressed down. A message of encouragement came by way of Psalm 121. Providentially, it was the selection on the calendar that day. I paraphrased and personalized it as follows:

Lift up your eyes to the mountains; from whence shall my help come? My help comes from Jehovah, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow my foot to slip; He who keeps me will not take a nap, neither will He fall into a deep sleep. Jehovah is my keeper, and the shade on my right hand. He will protect me from all evil. Jehovah will guard my going out and my coming in from this time forth and forever.

Oh how refreshed I felt after thinking on those words. It was as if heavy loads slid off my shoulders. The issues remained. Other people still needed my help. I am still in the workplace. The spiritual concerns have not been erased. Nevertheless, Jehovah is my strength and the source of my help. Therefore, I will trust in Him, and rejoice in the God of my salvation.

--Helayne C. Crawford

A careless word may kindle strife;
A cruel word may wreck a life.
A bitter word may hate instill;
A brutal word may smite and kill.
A gracious word may smooth the way;
A joyous word may light the day.
A timely word may lessen stress;
A loving word may heal and bless.

Roy's Reflections

Maybe you remember the picture. There was this huge recording studio, filled with the elite of the music industry, all singing, "We are the world, We are the people." Just about anybody who was somebody (and a few who were nobody) got together for a common cause and recorded this song.

As often happens, there was a piece done for television that showed how the whole event came together. The director made a statement that stuck with me. He said, "I put a sign above the entrance that said, "Leave your ego at the door. We're here for a greater purpose."

Many years ago I came across a statement. I wish I knew who first said it. Perhaps the fact I can't give them credit for their wisdom illustrates the point they made. The quote is this: "There is no end to the good that could be accomplished in this world if nobody cared who got the credit."

My American Heritage Dictionary defines "ego" this way: "Ego is the division of the psyche that is conscious, most immediately controls thought and behavior, and is most in touch with external reality. The word can refer to an exaggerated sense of self-importance. It also can be used to identify an appropriate pride in oneself; self-esteem."

One of the toughest things any of us has to deal with is the ego of others and our own. Few of us enjoy the company of someone who is egotistical and full of an exaggerated sense of self-importance. We instinctively want to grab a pin and plunge it into their balloon that is full of hot air! We want to bring them back to reality as we see it. We crave getting to see them get their come-uppance.

On the other hand, we long to have a proper, well-balanced sense of well-being about ourselves. We want to have a healthy self-esteem. Beyond that, we want to live our lives in such a way that we deserve esteem from others and ourselves.

The Bible has a lot to say about pride. Go through your concordance sometime and just run through some of the verses that deal with pride - an exaggerated sense of self-importance. Excessive pride makes it diff'cult for us to get along with others. We can't really hide our true selves from others over the long term. Our friends and family know what we're really like.

Excessive pride (inflated ego) makes it diff~cult, if not impossible for us to accomplish truly worthy goals. Our ego makes us insist on always occupying first place, getting special treatment, having our ideas recognized and implemented at the expense of everyone else. Surprise! Our ways are not always worthy of acceptance. Oh, if we could just leave our egos at the door and function as part of the whole. If we could give up our sense of self-importance long enough to listen to the opinions of others and cooperate with them "for the greater good."

Self-esteem is not a dirty word. My definition of humility is this: A proper understanding of our true worth and value to the Lord. We need not be perpetually deferential. God doesn't ask us to be doormats for the world. He does ask us to acknowledge Him as the source of our gifts, abilities, and accomplishments.

One good test of your own motives and need for ego gratification is wrapped up in your answer to these questions: When you do something good for someone else, do you look around to see if anyone is watching? Do you make sure others know what you did? Do you practice bowing to the applause of others that you expect to receive for your good deeds?

Let's leave our egos at the door. Let's practice anonymity in our good works. Do we really care who gets the credit if the job gets done properly?

--Roy R. Boswell