Following “Another Jesus” and Distorted Gospel

“The devil doesn't care at all if you know Jesus or love Jesus or pray to Jesus- as long as it's a false Jesus, a make-believe Jesus, a Jesus made in your own image. A Jesus who is not there, who therefore cannot save you.” - David Guzik

“I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel, which is not just another account; but there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, even now I say again: if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!” - Galatians 1:6-9

“I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes and proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it way too easily.…For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.” 

2 Corinthians 11:3-4, 13-15

Freedom of Speech Matters

“Let’s be clear: an attack on one person’s First Amendment rights is an attack on everyone’s. That’s how authoritarianism spreads—by silencing dissent, intimidating critics, and convincing people to sit quietly on the sidelines.”  

- Adam Kinzinger, former Republican Congressman (2011-2023)

Freedom of speech matters in our democracy but our current President wants to silence criticism against him by revoking the licenses of media outlets that allow it. That may sound good to MAGA followers but we need to understand that if Trump can use that to silence his critics, the next liberal President can do likewise only it could be the opposite side being muted. Think about that. 

Restoring Integrity in Leadership

Praying today for the restoration of integrity in our leaders, starting with President Trump, that he would turn to the Lord. 

Proverbs 16 -NASB

The plans of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight,
But the Lord weighs the motives.

3 Commit your works to the Lord
And your plans will be established.

4 The Lord has made everything for its own purpose,
Even the wicked for the day of evil.

5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.

6 By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for,
And by the fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil.

7 When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

8 Better is a little with righteousness
Than great income with injustice.

9 The mind of man plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps.

10 A divine decision is in the lips of the king;
His mouth should not err in judgment.

11 A just balance and scales belong to the Lord;
All the weights of the bag are His concern.

12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts,
For a throne is established on righteousness.

13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And he who speaks right is loved.

14 The fury of a king is like messengers of death,
But a wise man will appease it.

15 In the light of a king’s face is life,
And his favor is like a cloud with the spring rain.

16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.

17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil;
He who watches his way preserves his life.

18 Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before stumbling.

19 It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly
Than to divide the spoil with the proud.

20 He who gives attention to the word will find good,
And blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.

21 The wise in heart will be called understanding,
And sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.

22 Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it,
But the discipline of fools is folly.

23 The heart of the wise instructs his mouth
And adds persuasiveness to his lips.

24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

25 There is a way which seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.

26 A worker’s appetite works for him,
For his hunger urges him on.

27 A worthless man digs up evil,
While his words are like scorching fire.

28 A perverse man spreads strife,
And a slanderer separates intimate friends.

29 A man of violence entices his neighbor
And leads him in a way that is not good.

30 He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things;
He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.

31 A gray head is a crown of glory;
It is found in the way of righteousness.

32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap,
But its every decision is from the Lord.

31 Days of Praying Over Political Unrest and Corruption

My heart is heavy every day as I watch our current administration lead with arrogance, retaliation, and lack of Godly character. I’ve started praying through 31 Days of Praying Over Political Unrest and Corruption: Seeking God’s Justice, Wisdom, and Peace (at aspireinhope.com) as a way to focus on the sovereignty of God over human leaders and seek His intervention in their lives. My prayer is that He would bring them to humbleness and a saving knowledge of Jesus. 

Mostly, I want the Lord to be glorified instead of a fake political messiah. I truly want Trump to come to the Lord and lead with Biblical integrity and wisdom instead of vindictiveness and pride; to lead according to Micah 6:8 - “He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

From the Aspire in Hope blog author: 

“As you complete these 31 days of prayer over political unrest and corruption, remember that God is sovereign over all nations, and His justice and righteousness will prevail. While we may see turmoil and injustice in the world, we can trust that God’s plan is unfolding and that He hears our prayers for peace, truth, and integrity. Continue to lift up leaders, governments, and nations to the Lord, trusting that He is working all things for His glory.

May these prayers continue to guide you as you seek God’s wisdom and justice in times of political unrest, and may you find peace in knowing that He is in control.”

Here are the first 10 days of prayer. Click the link above for the rest.

• Day 1: Praying for God’s Sovereignty Over Political Leaders
  Heavenly Father, I acknowledge that You are sovereign over all nations and rulers. I pray that You would guide the hearts of political leaders and establish Your will in the governance of our nation. In the name of Jesus, Amen. (Proverbs 21:1)
• Day 2: Praying for Wisdom in Leadership
  Heavenly Father, I lift up those in positions of leadership and authority. Grant them wisdom to lead with integrity, fairness, and righteousness. May they seek Your guidance in their decisions. In the name of Jesus, Amen. (James 1:5)
• Day 3: Praying for Justice to Prevail
  Heavenly Father, I ask that justice would prevail in the midst of political unrest and corruption. Expose the darkness, and let Your truth and righteousness shine in places of power. In the name of Jesus, Amen. (Isaiah 1:17)
• Day 4: Praying for Peace Amid Unrest
  Heavenly Father, I pray for peace in regions facing political unrest. Calm the hearts of those affected, and bring about unity and reconciliation among the people. In the name of Jesus, Amen. (Philippians 4:7)
• Day 5: Praying for Corruption to Be Exposed
  Heavenly Father, I ask that You expose the corruption that plagues governments and leadership. Bring light to the darkness, and remove those who misuse their power for selfish gain. In the name of Jesus, Amen. (Luke 8:17)
• Day 6: Praying for Protection of the Vulnerable
  Heavenly Father, I lift up the vulnerable populations who are most affected by political unrest and corruption. Protect them from harm, and provide for their needs as they face uncertainty. In the name of Jesus, Amen. (Psalm 82:3-4)
• Day 7: Praying for Integrity in Leadership
  Heavenly Father, I pray that leaders in government would act with integrity and humility. Remove any corruption or dishonesty from their hearts, and replace it with a desire to serve the people with honor. In the name of Jesus, Amen. (Proverbs 10:9)
• Day 8: Praying for Unity Among People
  Heavenly Father, I pray for unity among the people in our nation, despite political differences. Help us to work together for the common good, and let peace reign in our communities. In the name of Jesus, Amen. (Ephesians 4:3)
• Day 9: Praying for Freedom from Oppression
  Heavenly Father, I ask for freedom for those who are oppressed by corrupt governments and unjust systems. Break the chains of injustice, and bring liberation to those who are suffering. In the name of Jesus, Amen. (Psalm 9:9)
• Day 10: Praying for Truth to Be Upheld
  Heavenly Father, I pray that truth would be upheld in government and politics. Let falsehoods and lies be exposed, and may those in leadership commit to truth and transparency. In the name of Jesus, Amen. (John 8:32)

The Proper Context of “Be still and know that I am God”.

The true meaning of “be still and know that I am God” is not to seek God in meditation or silence, but rather to quit fretting, worrying, and striving in the midst of trouble or fear and instead embrace who God is in the midst of it. Psalm 46 in its entirety puts the phrase into proper context. 

1God is our refuge and strength,

an ever-present help in trouble.

2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

3though its waters roar and foam

and the mountains quake with their surging. 

4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

the holy place where the Most High dwells.

5God is within her, she will not fall;

God will help her at break of day.

6Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;

he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7The Lord Almighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

8Come and see what the Lord has done,

the desolations he has brought on the earth.

9He makes wars cease

to the ends of the earth.

He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;

he burns the shields with fire.

10He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth.”

11The Lord Almighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Words Matter

 Being careful of my words is probably my biggest challenge, whether spoken or written. I often speak before considering the impact of my words. I have an opinion about everything but am learning that just because something can be said doesn’t mean it should. 

As I continue to read Everyday Gospel: A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life by Paul David Tripp, the June 9 reading based on Proverbs 10 and 11 spoke to me:

“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” -Ephesians 4:28

“He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.” - Proverbs 21:23

When God Doesn’t Make Sense

 I’m reading Everyday Gospel: A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life by Paul Tripp this year. This excerpt from January 9 resonated with me, especially after the outcome of the election and what a Trump presidency may mean for our country. It concerns me and I wonder what God is up to allowing him to be in power but what really matters is while I do not trust Trump, I can trust the Lord. I can rest in the knowledge that He is in control and whatever He allows is for His greater purpose. Everything the Lord does is worthy of my trust so I can be at peace that no man can do anything outside of God’s ultimate will and plan even if I don’t understand how it plays out at the time. 

Christianity and the Election

“None of the candidates are Jesus. No matter who wins, Jesus is still Lord.”

Good, positive article about Christianity and the election: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/leadershiponfire/2024/08/eight-christian-thoughts-for-election-season/

The important points:

The massive political divide does not represent the average Christian.

None of the candidates are Jesus.

No matter who wins, Jesus is still Lord. 

No matter who wins, it’s not the end of the world. 

Christians don’t need favorable conditions to be believers. 

Christian values don’t change or rely on a political party. 

Regardless of what is going on, we are called to be believers. 

Do not be afraid.

“The outcome of this election does not have to determine the morality we, as Christians, embrace for ourselves. It’s just as important who we are today as who we will be on November 5, November 6, and beyond. Scripture never tells us to embrace a political worldview, but to offer the world the hope of for a better world. We can proclaim the Kingdom of God in virtue, value, and rule right now, regardless of who is in office. Let’s remember where our true citizenship lies.”

This article also was encouraging with a Biblical focus on how to pray for our country: https://www.christianity.com/wiki/prayer/how-should-we-pray-for-our-country-and-the-upcoming-election.html

Seven Things Christians Need to Remember About Politics

This author articulates so well my own thoughts in this political season:

Seven Things Christians Need to Remember About Politics by Bryan Roberts

“Political discourse is the Las Vegas of Christianity—the environment in which our sin is excused. Hate is winked at, fear is perpetuated and strife is applauded. …

“Not only are believers excused for their political indiscretions, but they are often applauded for committing them. Slander is explained away as righteous anger; winning arguments are esteemed higher than truthful ones (whether or not the “facts” align); and those who stir up dissension are given the pulpit. So I balk when pastors tell me the Church should engage in the political process. Why would we do that? The political process is dirty and broken and far from Jesus. Paranoia and vitriol are hardly attractive accessories for the bride of Christ.

“Rather than engage in the political process, Christians have a duty to elevate it. Like any other sin, we are called to stand above the partisan dissension and demonstrate a better way. Should we have an opinion? Yes. Should we care about our country? Yes. Should we vote? Yes. But it’s time we talk politics in a way that models the teachings of Jesus rather than mocks them.

Here are seven things to remember about politics:

1. Both political parties go to church

There’s a Christian Left and, perhaps even less well-known, there’s a secular Right. Despite your point of view of who is on the other side, party lines are drawn in chalk, and they’re not hard to cross. The Church must be engaged in politics, but it must not be defined by the arbitrary lines in politics.

2. Political talk radio and cable “news” only want ratings

When media personalities tell you they are on a moral crusade, they are lying to you. These personalities get rich by instilling fear and paranoia in their listeners. If we give our favorite political ideologues more time than we give Jesus, we are following the wrong master. There are unbiased, logical and accurate news sources out there. But it’s up to you to be a good steward of information—to fact-check for yourself, take ideology with a grain of salt and make decisions based on facts rather than gossip.

3. Those who argue over politics don’t love their country more than others

They just love to argue more than others. Strife and quarreling are symptoms of weak faith (Proverbs 10:12; 2 Timothy 2:23-25; James 4:1) and are among the things the Lord “detests.” We need to rise above the vitriol and learn to love our neighbors the way God commanded us. We need to love our atheist neighbor who wants to keep creationism out of schools; our Democrat neighbor who wants to keep gay marriage and abortion legal; our Republican neighbor who celebrates death penalty statistics and gun ownership; and yes, even the presidential candidate from the other side.

4. Thinking your party’s platform is unflawed is a mistake

The social policies of your party were constructed by imperfect politicians fueled by ambition. It’s nearsighted to canonize them—and it will make you obsolete in a few years. Every four years, the parties adopt a current, updated platform at their respective conventions. And while they stay on general tracks, every four years the platform evolves to meet the needs of a growing, modernized and changing party. The Republican party of today doesn’t look like it did 10 or 20 years ago. We need to know when to change our views to meet a changing culture—and when to stand by them.

5. Scripture tells us to pray for our governing leaders (2 Timothy 2:1-4) and to respect those in authority (Romans 13:1-7)

Translation: if you’re mocking your governing leaders on social media, the Holy Spirit is grieved. We should spend more time honoring our leaders and less time vilifying them. This doesn’t mean praying the President will be impeached; it doesn’t mean praying your candidate will win. God commands us to pray for our leaders—for their wisdom, for their hearts and for them to be led by Him.

6. Don’t be paranoid

The country is not going to be destroyed if your candidate loses. As 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” Stand up and demonstrate what God has given you. America has functioned—albeit, at varying levels of success—for years under the direction of alternating Democrat and Republican control, and at every flip, the other side thought it was the end of the world. It’s not. And if we’re a Church that believes God is in control, we have to believe that He is the one in control of the end times—not whoever’s in office now, and not whoever succeeds them.

7. Stop saying, “This is the most important election in the history of our nation”

It’s not. The most important election in the history of our nation was when Abraham Lincoln was elected president. Before that, we thought it was OK to own people. Every generation thinks it’s living in the most important moment in history. We’re not, our parents were not and our children probably won’t be. And that’s OK.

My addition to the article:

- “Political solutions belong to political problems.  Spiritual problems need a more reliable Messiah.  If we let Jesus Christ—and the peace He alone brings—be the lens through which we view the major political ideas of our day, we will stop looking for lesser messiahs in the form of our elected officials.” - Barbara Shafer

- No candidate is a messiah who will save us. When we elevate one candidate or political party as the only “godly” choice, we can be tempted into making anyone who disagrees an enemy. 

- God is not Republican or Democrat or of any other political affiliation. 

- “Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God.” Psalm 146:3–5