My pastor gave a sermon at our church, 121 Community Church in Grapevine, TX on Sunday laying out a Christian worldview put into a biblical grid. No endorsing of candidates nor political parties, but he asked us to view the political platforms of candidates against a Christian world view to make our decisions. He asked us to consider the following grid. You could come up with a lot of different wording to lay out a Christian world view, bu this one works quite well for me.
He asked us to use the next few weeks to focus on prayer leading up to the election with a special emphasis on Wednesdays, coming to church in the evening to pray corporately. He asked that we do a media fast on the next three Wednesdays, using the time spent viewing various media in prayer instead. So I am not on the internet tomorrow, but I will post something in advance to run in my absence to fulfill a commitment to Blog Action Day 2008 Poverty. I will try to do a "media fast" the next two Wednesdays as well.
This is what he laid out as a biblical grid. I cannot give you all his talk points, the link above will take you to the church website where sermons are podcast. Here are some scripture verse (all from the NASB) to reflect on.
WHAT IS GOD FOR?
"So the LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God for our good always and for our survival, as it is today.It
will be righteousness for us if we are careful to observe all this
commandment before the LORD our God, just as He commanded us."
God's Word is our life; Jesus Christ is our life.
- The Authoritative Nature of Scripture
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
God's word is s word, it is a lamp, it is the truth.
- Subjection to Governing Authorities
Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Romans 13:1
God puts all governments in place. Submit to government up to the point it calls for disobedience to God.
- The Establishment of Justice and Restraint of Evil
Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake. Romans 13:2-5
We need governments to restrain the evil in our hearts, not that it always does a good job.
- Careful Management of the Planet
The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it. Psalm 24:1
It is all His, treat it like that.
- One Man and One Woman Marriage
The man said, "This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man."
For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. Genesis 2:23-24
It is part of His plan for us and has been from the beginning.
- Wholesome Sexual Relationships
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Read Song of Solomon in the Bible. See the gift God gave us in sexual relations within a God approved marriage.
- The Sacredness of Life
For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for ]I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. Psalm 139:13-16
All life is His from the beginning, from conception.
- Selfless Giving to Resources
"Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure--pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return." Luke 6:38
Be content with what you have and give cheerfully, in good times and in bad.
- Integrity of Leaders
The desire of the righteous is only good, But the expectation of the wicked is wrath. Proverbs 11:23
The integrity of our leaders will guide them, that is why they must have it.
- Humble Service to Others
"But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. "All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.' "Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 'And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 'When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' "The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.' "Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.' "Then they themselves also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?' "Then He will answer them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' "These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." Matthew 25:31-46
Meet the needs of others without them asking for help.
- Transformed Lives Through Jesus Christ
This one pretty much sums up what you have if you follow all the others above. I guess I would have to quote the whole Bible to get this one right. There it is, a Christian worldview through a biblical grid. No endorsements, but no condemnation either. No name calling, just loving people. No feeling superior to anyone because we are all sinners in the eyes of God. No one gets a hall pass on that one.
You may not like parts of this; you may not like any of this. But it stands up to biblical scrutiny, I like the way it lays out in our world.
No comments:
Post a Comment