Engaging Politics with Truth, Love, and Discernment

Summary

In today's message, I addressed the often contentious topic of politics, emphasizing the importance of truth and discernment in a world filled with deception. Politics, much like a full-contact sport, can stir up strong emotions and differing opinions. However, as followers of Christ, we are called to engage in these discussions with love and respect, even when we disagree. It's crucial to remember that our ultimate allegiance is to God and His truth, not to any political party or ideology.

I highlighted the deceptive nature of political discourse, drawing parallels to the serpent in Genesis who twisted the truth. This deception is evident in issues like Roe v. Wade, where misinformation abounds. The Supreme Court's decision did not ban abortion but returned the decision-making power to the states. This is a reminder of the importance of understanding the facts and not being swayed by misleading narratives.

Furthermore, I discussed the concept of dominion and authority, which originates from God. He created the earth and entrusted humanity with its stewardship. This principle extends to our understanding of government and rights. Our rights are not granted by the government but are inherent, given by our Creator. The government is meant to protect these rights, not to rule over us.

I also touched on the economic misconceptions often propagated during election seasons, such as the idea of taxing the rich. In reality, these taxes often trickle down to affect everyone, particularly the middle class. Understanding basic economics and the impact of policies is essential for making informed decisions.

Lastly, I emphasized the importance of electing principled leaders who stand firm on their values. Our representatives should serve the people, not seek to please everyone or avoid taking a stand on critical issues. As we approach the election, it's vital to pray for our leaders and for God's guidance in our nation. We must remember our rich Christian heritage and strive to live peaceably, with godliness and honesty, as instructed in 1 Timothy 2.

Key Takeaways:

- Engage with Love and Respect: In political discussions, it's essential to maintain love and respect, even amidst disagreements. Our ultimate allegiance is to God, and we should reflect His love in our interactions. [57:41]

- Discernment in Deception: Politics is rife with deception, much like the serpent in Genesis. We must seek truth and discernment, understanding the facts rather than being swayed by misleading narratives. [01:01:09]

- God-Given Rights and Authority: Our rights are inherent, given by God, not granted by the government. The government is meant to protect these rights, and we must understand this foundational principle. [01:17:33]

- Economic Realities: Misconceptions about taxing the rich often lead to unintended consequences for the middle class. Understanding basic economics is crucial for making informed decisions. [01:11:05]

- Principled Leadership: Electing leaders who stand firm on their values is vital. Our representatives should serve the people and not avoid taking a stand on critical issues. [01:28:44]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [56:37] - Introduction to Politics
- [57:41] - Engaging with Love and Respect
- [58:28] - Yard Signs and Political Passion
- [01:01:09] - Deception in Politics
- [01:02:16] - Roe v. Wade Clarification
- [01:03:26] - Reproductive Freedom Discussion
- [01:05:54] - Election Integrity Concerns
- [01:07:52] - Youth and Political Influence
- [01:09:23] - Taxing the Rich Misconceptions
- [01:11:05] - Economic Realities
- [01:12:47] - Democracy vs. Republic
- [01:14:38] - Private Rights and Democracy
- [01:17:33] - Dominion and Authority
- [01:21:26] - Government and the People
- [01:25:11] - Importance of Local Elections
- [01:28:44] - Need for Principled Leadership
- [01:29:22] - Prayer for Leaders and Nation

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Genesis 3:1 - "Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, 'Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?'"
2. Matthew 5:37 - "All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one."
3. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 - "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness."

#### Observation Questions
1. What does Genesis 3:1 reveal about the nature of deception and its origins? How does this relate to the sermon’s discussion on political deception? [01:01:09]
2. In Matthew 5:37, what does Jesus instruct about our communication? How does this principle apply to political discourse? [01:01:09]
3. According to 1 Timothy 2:1-2, what is the purpose of praying for those in authority? How does this align with the sermon’s emphasis on principled leadership? [01:29:22]
4. How does the sermon describe the relationship between government and God-given rights? [01:17:33]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of deception in Genesis 3:1 help us understand the challenges of discerning truth in political discussions? [01:01:09]
2. What might be the implications of Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:37 for Christians engaging in political conversations? [01:01:09]
3. How does the call to pray for leaders in 1 Timothy 2:1-2 reflect the sermon’s message about the importance of electing principled leaders? [01:29:22]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the role of government in relation to God-given rights and authority? [01:17:33]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent political discussion you had. How did you demonstrate love and respect, even if you disagreed with the other person? What could you do differently next time? [57:41]
2. In what ways can you seek truth and discernment in political matters, avoiding being swayed by misleading narratives? [01:01:09]
3. How can you actively pray for your leaders and the nation, as encouraged in 1 Timothy 2:1-2? What specific prayers can you offer for upcoming elections? [01:29:22]
4. Consider your understanding of economic policies. How can you educate yourself further to make informed decisions during elections? [01:11:05]
5. Identify a leader or representative you admire for their principled stance. What qualities do they exhibit that align with the sermon’s call for principled leadership? [01:28:44]
6. How can you ensure that your political views and actions reflect your ultimate allegiance to God rather than a political party or ideology? [57:41]
7. Think about a time when you felt deceived by political rhetoric. How did you respond, and what steps can you take to prevent this in the future? [01:01:09]

Devotional

I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:

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Day 1: Engage with Love and Respect
In a world where political discussions can often become heated and divisive, it is crucial to approach these conversations with love and respect. As followers of Christ, our ultimate allegiance is to God, and this should be reflected in how we engage with others, even when we disagree. The call to love and respect others is not just a suggestion but a command that aligns with the teachings of Jesus. By maintaining a posture of love, we can navigate political discussions without compromising our values or alienating those with differing opinions. This approach not only honors God but also serves as a witness to His love in a world that desperately needs it. [57:41]

"Let all that you do be done in love." (1 Corinthians 16:14, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a recent political discussion you had. How can you approach future conversations with more love and respect, even when you disagree?

Day 2: Discernment in Deception
Politics is often filled with deception, much like the serpent in Genesis who twisted the truth. In today's world, it is easy to be swayed by misleading narratives and misinformation. As believers, we are called to seek truth and exercise discernment, understanding the facts rather than being led astray by falsehoods. This requires a commitment to being informed and a willingness to question the narratives presented to us. By doing so, we can engage in political discourse with integrity and wisdom, ensuring that our actions and beliefs align with God's truth. [01:01:09]

"Do not be deceived: 'Bad company ruins good morals.' Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame." (1 Corinthians 15:33-34, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take to ensure you are discerning truth from deception in the political narratives you encounter daily?

Day 3: God-Given Rights and Authority
The concept of dominion and authority originates from God, who created the earth and entrusted humanity with its stewardship. Our rights are inherent, given by our Creator, and not granted by the government. The role of government is to protect these rights, not to rule over us. Understanding this foundational principle is crucial for engaging with political systems and advocating for justice and righteousness. By recognizing that our ultimate authority is God, we can navigate political landscapes with confidence and purpose, knowing that our rights are divinely ordained. [01:17:33]

"For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." (Romans 13:1, ESV)

Reflection: How does understanding that your rights are God-given change the way you view your role in society and government?

Day 4: Economic Realities
Economic misconceptions, such as the idea of taxing the rich, often lead to unintended consequences for the middle class. It is essential to understand basic economics and the impact of policies to make informed decisions. By educating ourselves on economic realities, we can better advocate for policies that promote justice and equity. This understanding allows us to engage in political discussions with knowledge and insight, ensuring that our actions align with our values and contribute to the common good. [01:11:05]

"Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys." (Proverbs 18:9, ESV)

Reflection: What is one economic policy you can learn more about this week to better understand its impact on your community?

Day 5: Principled Leadership
Electing leaders who stand firm on their values is vital for the well-being of our communities and nation. Our representatives should serve the people and not avoid taking a stand on critical issues. As we approach elections, it is important to pray for our leaders and seek God's guidance in choosing those who will lead with integrity and courage. By prioritizing principled leadership, we can ensure that our government reflects the values and principles that honor God and serve the common good. [01:28:44]

"Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens." (Exodus 18:21, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively participate in the political process to support and elect leaders who align with your values and principles?

Quotes

1. "I don't know of too many topics that raise passions more than politics. There might be some, but I don't know. I don't know. I see yard signs everywhere. You guys see yard signs? I saw one the other day that perplexed me. I'm driving by, and it's handwritten. And it's a standard -sized yard sign out in the middle of the yard. And there's no other sign around it and it's handwritten out in bold dark marker liar loser traitor and I'm like there's no context does it did the neighbor plant that I'm like what who are you referring to is it liar loser traitor I thought well that's pretty uh it's a pretty bold sign to be putting in the yard I'm thinking maybe the neighbor planted that one I don't know I don't know I saw another one and on the other day that said be kind I thought that's a good sign be kind I saw one just the other day at the end of Naomi and Clausen this is the barn sanctuary I thought I don't remember seeing that one before so politics can be a full contact sport I I don't think it should be but it can be a lot of people have some very different views different passions they have a very very zealous view when it comes to politics different views different belief systems I have my own views and I'm gonna express some of those here today you may or may not agree with them okay I'm okay I love you I can agree to disagree we don't have to agree on every issue I can still love you and if you choose you can still love me but that's up to you so don't get offended we just talked about that yesterday you don't have to be offended it's okay we can can disagree. Okay. Or we can agree." [00:58:33] (146 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "But at the same time, this topic does have a lot of impact on our lives. It is, it is a very impactful topic. And I want to cover some things. So deceptive tactics. I cannot think of too many things that use deception more than politics. It is like, there is so much deceptive around this topic. It's huge. And trying to decipher what's real, what's not, what's true, what's false is very difficult to do. Not everything is as it seems. Okay. Who is the master at spinning, twisting, and distorting the truth? Satan, right? Genesis 3 .1, the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field, which the Lord God had made. And unfortunately, we have to still deal with him. Things that are twisted up really don't come from God. They come from him." [01:00:37] (62 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "regarding your body but when you're pregnant there's another body there and it's not your body and I don't know how that's so hard to understand even Christians get all tripped up on this issue because they think I should be able to control my body and I believe you should but when there's another body in there this is you're not talking about a toenail you can just cut off there is another body in there another soul another living spirit inside you it's not just your body and some of the folks are on record publicly saying they would support abortion after birth that's murder they want to spin it as a right do you have a right to reproductive freedom I think you probably do do you have a right to kill and take another life there is one exception to that that I'm aware of and that's self -defense but in general nobody has a right to take another life you don't have that right it doesn't exist where do rights come from they come from the Creator you are given rights to take another life you don't have that right it doesn't exist where do I have involving rights from the Creator does the Constitution give me rights no what is the thing for" [01:03:37] (98 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "It does a number of things one thing it does not do is give me rights it is supposed to be there to protect my rights it is supposed to be there to secure my rights and make sure they're not violated that's one of the things it's supposed to do okay So reproductive freedom really is deceptive. If you want to kill the baby, whether it's early pregnancy, late pregnancy, post -birth, you're taking other life. You just are. And not everybody's going to agree on this issue. I've heard Christians talk about my body, my choice. They don't believe that when it comes to COVID shots. But when it comes to aborting a baby, they want to say my body, my choice. No, there's another body there. I'm sorry." [01:06:16] (57 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "A lot of young folks get to a certain point. Maybe they get old enough to vote. They can register to vote. And they plug into this political soup that's going on, and they start paying attention. Before that, they couldn't care less, right? At some point, folks become maybe politically active, let's say. Okay? And they start paying attention to the candidates. And listen. Listening to all the rhetoric and what happens, you know, who says what, and all the slander back and forth. They hear some of these tactics for the first time, and they sound good. Who'd be against reproductive freedom? Okay? So a lot of this stuff sounds good on the surface, and it sounds good when you first hear it, but the older folks, we've heard this how many times? Year after year after year, election after election after election. Some of this stuff we hear, it's just unbelievable. It's unbelievable." [01:08:01] (65 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "I want to tell you real world. This is what really happens in real life in the real world. Middle class people who they call rich own small businesses. They hire people. They produce goods and services. They have hardware stores, grocery stores, hair salons, you name it. The rich, the really rich people, own large corporations, power companies, things like that. They're running larger businesses, bigger things. What happens when you tax them to oblivion? They don't hire as many people, so they let some people go, right? Their wages get lower, do more for less. What happens to the cost of your electricity? It goes up. What happens to the cost of your groceries? So who's paying the tax? The rich aren't paying the tax. We are. We're paying. We're paying the taxes. This whole thing is a scam." [01:10:23] (67 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "You cannot tax the rich without taxing yourself. It's nuts. And yet every year, especially election time, we hear this mess with the taxes. Why? Because it works. So many people have no idea how basic economics works. People just don't have a clue. How does supply and demand work? How does economics work? I cannot go taxing small business owners, big business owners without affecting myself. Inflation is going through the roof. Have you noticed? It's the policies of folks like this that do it. That's why. That's what's happening. So you cut, the whole tax thing is just a huge scam." [01:11:29] (59 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "That's backwards as it can be. Now, if we're in a kingdom, that's not how that works, okay? A kingdom is a whole different form of government. Let me just say that. We're not a kingdom in the U .S., not right now. Now, there is a kingdom, and there is a king, and that government does not work the same way. But the United States of America and the state of Michigan or any other state, pick them, there's 50, any of those states, they have constitutions. The folks that are in office swear to them, swear to abide by them, okay? They're there for specific purposes, which is to... represent my interests and serve me and benefit me. That's why they're there." [01:24:24] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "They have forgot their purpose, just like the people have forgot the reason they're there. A lot of folks don't understand the whole relationship between the government and the people and what it's supposed to be. That has gotten lost in translation, okay? We have an election. Tuesday, or you can go do your early voting. I have not voted yet. Let me say that the local races generally have more impact on our lives than the higher -in races, like the presidency and stuff like that. I'm not saying it doesn't impact our lives. It does." [01:25:08] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "But your local races and supposedly nonpartisan offices, like judges, do you think for one second that a judge can set aside their worldview their personal feelings and keep them completely out of their decisions and their rulings? Do you think a judge can do that? I think it would be extremely difficult. It would be. I'm not saying it can't be done. I think it would be really difficult to do. Because those judges have beliefs and views just like you and I. They believe right and wrong the same as we do. And their views don't necessarily line up with ours or mine." [01:25:34] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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