Prioritizing Faith Over Politics in Turbulent Times

"Now, you know, the Saddleback Church is a nonpolitical and a non-partisan congregation. We never ever, ever promote any candidate. That's just not our primary reason for existence. It's not one of the five purposes that God gave the church, to promote candidates. In the Great Commandment, Great Commission, there's nothing said there about politics." [00:03:38]

"How do you survive in election without losing your sanity or losing your sleep, or losing your soul? Specifically, what I wanna do this weekend is contrast how the values and priorities of Jesus are very different than the values and priorities of politics. I want you to see the difference because sadly, over the past few decades I've noticed that even people who have been Christians for a long time have been seduced into believing that politics rather than our Lord and savior Jesus has the answers to all the problems in our world." [00:04:37]

"Romans chapter 12 verse two says this, 'Do not conform yourselves to be like the people of this world.' Don't conform it. Don't don't just follow the crowd. Don't conform yourself being like the people of this world instead be transformed within by a new way of thinking. That's where the transformation comes. Then you will be able to decide. You will be able to decide, circle that phrase if you're taking notes, you'll be able to decide what God wants for you, and you'll know what is good and pleasing to him, and what is his perfect will." [00:06:56]

"Jesus says, my church matters more than anything else. Jesus, no, politics isn't the most important thing on this planet, my church is the most important thing on this planet. It's the only thing that's gonna last, politics' not. It's gonna last forever. Let me show you some scriptures about Jesus saying the most important thing on earth is the church. Ephesians three, 10, God's intent was that through the church his manifold wisdom will be made known, that the church is the way we know about God." [00:13:01]

"Jesus says, this, only I can save you. Only I can save you, I'm the savior of the world. I'm the light of the world. And only I can solve your worst problems. And He tells us that if we trust human beings, instead of trusting Him, we're gonna be severely disappointed. You know, when you look at all the problems in the world, every social problem comes back to a spiritual problem. It starts in the heart." [00:18:29]

"Well, there needs to be one place where there's a safe haven. And Jesus says this, in my church, unity gets priority over politics. He said, politics has no place in the church. Unity gets priority over politics. You bring politics in, all of a sudden, you're gonna divide your own congregation. You're gonna divide the body of Christ. Let me show you just a few verses on the importance of unity and how deeply God values that in his church." [00:24:01]

"Now let me just say, if you know more about politics than you know about the church, you're studying the wrong thing because politics aren't gonna last. No party lasts, no politic lasts, no leader lasts. The church is the only thing that's gonna last forever. And unity in the church is so important. God says it's so important. He gave some special instructions to pastors in Titus, chapter three, verses 10 and 11." [00:27:37]

"Politics says, results matter more than character in leaders. Results matter more than the character. This is a transactional value of politics. And when a leader says, you know, in politics it doesn't really matter what kind of character they've got as long as they're getting the job done. They say, it doesn't matter how you get it done as long as you get it done and you can give up your principles, and you can change the rules, and you can lie and you can cheat, and you can demonize and stereotype the opposition, and all these are okay because the ends justify the means." [00:28:49]

"Jesus says the character of a leader matters the most. The character of a leader matters the most. That God is more interested in who you are than even what you do. Let me say that again. God is more interested in who you are and what you're becoming, and what your character is developing than what you do. Now, there are many, many verses I could show you about this but I'll just give you one." [00:30:51]

"Now, I wanna just close this message by showing you the kind leader that God approves and blesses. It's in the profiles in Isaiah chapter 32. And in Isaiah chapter 32 we are given a prophetic picture of what it will be like when Jesus is the leader in the coming millennial reign. When He reigns for 1,000 years. Jesus is the leader. This is a prophecy about Jesus. But I don't wanna look at it from the prophetic angle. I want you to see the character qualities that are in Jesus, that God says that's what I value in a leader." [00:32:38]

"Father, I'm asking you and we're asking together, you said if any two agree as touching anything, it shall be done. I'm asking you to help us have a Christ-like mindset, to not get caught up in the way the world thinks but to realize what really matters is your church, your word, and our character, and that all these other things are secondary. Then all these other things aren't gonna last. But we will take our character with us, who we have become, the men and women we have become, we'll take into eternity." [00:39:46]

"I said earlier that politics and no politician can save us, but there is a savior who will save you. He will forgive your sins. He will give you a new purpose in life. He will give you a home in heaven. He will save you from yourself if you'll just open your heart to Him, say Jesus Christ, I ask you to come into my life right now. Help me to understand it more. I wanna follow you. I wanna step across the line. I wanna begin a new life today. In your name I pray. Amen." [00:42:40]