I expect the world to get swept up in hate and judgment, but when the redeemed of the Man who said “love your enemies” lay down their crosses to pick up swords, something is wrong. Do you feel your government is oppressing you, or behaving ignorantly?
Jesus: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven[.]” Matthew 5:43 NKJV
Have we forgotten the fundamental transaction Jesus died to purchase? You are saved only because mercy triumphed over judgment. Disagree with their logic if it seems unsound to you, but we have no right to judge the rulers and leaders of this world.
“For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” – James 2:13 NKJV
Do you think you can stand before Jesus Christ, the Father, the Holy Spirit and justify your slander and many opinions regarding the motives of strangers? Motive speaks of the heart. Only God sees and knows the heart of a man or woman. 1 Cor 2:11, Prov 17:3. (If you think you have that right because of your prophetic gift or discernment, let your words be tested by scripture and fellow believers. 1 Cor 14:29, Matt 7:12)
What Did Jesus Do?
Let’s paint a scenario. Suppose you live in a land where the leaders are slaughtering your people, and oppressing them through heavy taxation, hypocrisy and fascist dictatorship. How is Jesus going to respond?
Jesus: ‘”Show Me the tax money.”
So they brought Him a denarius.
And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”
They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”
And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’” – Matt 22:19-21 NKJV
“Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” – John 18:36 NKJV
“You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. ” – Mark 10:41-43 NKJV
Paul: “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” – Romans 13:1-10 NKJV
The word of God teaches us to pray for and obey our rulers, even when they are unjust. We call it unjust that the government has us stay home while they care for the sick in a hospital, demanding proof that this isn’t some big scheme. Well, even if it was. “Unjust” in the day of Christ was violent and cruel – and He still did not condone bitterness.
“Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls.” – Romans 13:4 NKJV
I’m not saying we can’t disagree, practice good journalism, research, vote, enter into politics to bring about positive change. Tell the truth. Do all these things! They are good. This is how God raises up new leaders. I’m saying, do so without judgment. Do it without bitterness, slander, mocking, or hate.
If you can’t win God’s way—you can’t win at all. Don’t you see? Sometimes when we win, we lose.
Jesus: “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” – Matt 16:25-26 NKJV
The Standard
Jesus: “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” – Matthew 9:12-13 NKJV
We are part of a higher reality, the kingdom of heaven. Our rulers, these rich and famous and powerful, or the strangers who oppose, mock, persecute and aggravate us – these are a) people God has allowed to rise to power, and b) the sick who need a doctor. Do we tithe every paycheck, while complaining about our taxes and repeating gossip, slander and hatred towards the rich and powerful we disagree with? Do we think we can hide this from God – do we think it pleases Him?
My brothers and sisters — what are we doing?!
““Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. . . Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” – Ephesians 4:24-30 NKJV
When we repeat gossip, we grieve the Holy Spirit. When we slander the character of people whose power we fear, we grieve the Holy Spirit. When we fill our lips and text with suspicion and slander instead of forgiveness and prayer, we grieve the Holy Spirit. When we promote fear over comfort, we grieve the Holy Spirit. When we judge a friend or stranger for not behaving the way we believe is conducive to the common good—we grieve the Holy Spirit. And yes, when we act purely in our own self-interest, we grieve the Holy Spirit.
The people and rulers of the world are not the temple of the Holy Spirit. You are.
I would never feel the need to give such a one-sided message if our own behaviour was balanced. However, we are currently leaning so far in the way of judgment, I feel a compulsion to yell “Forgiveness!” and scream “Mercy!”
I’m pleading with my brothers and sisters in Christ, learn to let your lips be seasoned with salt again. Identify who you feel threatened by and learn to speak mercifully of them in person and online – or not to speak of them at all. Shift your focus to what God is doing, and what assignment He has called you to. He has not called you to overthrow the governments of this world in your bunny slippers. The kingdom of heaven is not the kingdom of this world.
Jesus: ““The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” – Luke 4:18 NKJV (quoting Isaiah 61:1)
Jesus: “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire.” – Matthew 13:47-50 NKJV
Do you understand that we are not the angels, and this is not the end of the age? Judgment does not belong to us. If that does not convince you, however, then please hear some final warnings of our Lord:
“Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” – Mark 8:15 NKJV
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” – Matthew 6:14-15 NKJV
Author’s Note: I didn’t grow up in the church. I have a big personality and a hot temper, lol. I’m personally convicted by the words of scripture I’ve written, and I don’t ask anyone to take a journey I’m not already on. We have to try.
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