Allen Dvorak
09/26/08
It would seem that politicians get more religious as election day approaches. Suddenly, those who, in the past, have supported all kinds of godless behavior are anxious for everyone to know how much they believe in Jesus Christ. Color me “skeptical.”
“Whoa, there! You can’t go around questioning people’s confession of faith in Jesus Christ!” It is certainly true that I have not suddenly become able to miraculously read the heart of others, but actual faith in Jesus Christ will be evident in one’s life. James wrote, “Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works” (2:18).
I am skeptical that the claim of some politicians (both Democrat and Republican) to believe in Jesus is just a political strategy designed to curry favor with religious people. Such “faith” is pinned onto the lapel of the campaigning politician like a merit badge when advantageous and dropped like a hot potato when it becomes inconvenient or a political liability.
Faith in Jesus Christ is not a political or social ploy for the purpose of impressing others. It affects the believer’s entire way of life. The conviction that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, is more than a credential to show that one belongs to a certain group of citizens.
The Christian lives by faith (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11-12). We are justified by faith, i.e., we become alive spiritually through our faith. There is another sense, though, in which we “live” by faith. Our trust in Jesus as the Son of God motivates us to obey His will. Our every decision, the way that we live, is influenced by our belief in Jesus (Galatians 2:20).
The Scriptures, the revealed word of Jesus Christ, condemn the practice of homosexuality (Romans 1:24-28; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11). Yet, some of these politicians who affirm their faith in Jesus Christ are quite vocal in their support of the homosexual movement in our country, even to the point of advocating the legal acceptance of homosexual “unions”. Color me “skeptical” regarding their faith.
The Scriptures, the revealed word of Jesus Christ, condemn murder (Romans 1:29; Galatians 5:21). Abortion is murder, plain and simple. Partial birth abortion is the practice of partially delivering a viable child and then killing it in a most violent way prior to full delivery. The law of the land prohibits ( for now) the killing of newborn infants, but permits the killing of a viable child whose torso and legs are still in the womb. Yet, some of these politicians who affirm their faith in Jesus Christ are quite vocal in their support of abortion in general and even partial birth abortion. Color me “skeptical” regarding their faith.
Jesus said that a good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. “Therefore by their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:20). We are aware of the claims of faith by some, but we need to be fruit examiners.