I have said it for some time ... politics is not the answer for what ails our nation. Yes, I know we are a nation of laws, and government is the world's way of providing structure [through those laws] so that we might live a good quality of life. But ultimately, government is a political system administered by men. And that system is used to control men through the temptations of power, wealth, and reputation. A candid look at the men and women who were elected to represent the American people [in Washington D.C.] reveals a huge gap between those who are loyal and obedient to God, and those whose moral degeneracy is on full display. Sadly, that dichotomy mirrors the picture of our divided population. And no President, Congress, or law can solve the sickness of sin that is at the heart of our condition.
I'd like to quote the Reverend Franklin Graham from an article he wrote for Harbinger's Daily: "It's a spiritual degeneracy that can only be cured by repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no other remedy or hope. The Prophet Isaiah said it this way 700 years before the birth of the Savior, to an Israel that had long abandoned its loyalty and allegiance to God, and instead replaced it with idolatry, meaningless rituals and sacrifices that incurred God's wrath, not His blessings ... Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness: who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for Bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20).
If Biblical Truth and Principles are not at the center of our lives, then there is no absolute right and wrong to guide us. If we don't affirm and uphold the authority of the Holy Scripture, then moral relativism becomes the accepted guidepost for humanity. In other words, if our culture rejects what the Bible says about loving your neighbor as yourself, then the culture will determine that the morally right thing in any situation is to do whatever behavior brings about the greatest good for the greater number. But that requires defining who your "neighbor" is.
Through Satan's influence, our culture has too often defined "neighbor" as someone who looks like us. But, when we actually take a closer look at the meaning of that word, we find that the Old Testament word for neighbor is rēa, a noun meaning "friend, companion, fellow," or simply, "another person". The New Testament Greek is an adverb used as a noun, plēsion, meaning "the [one] near". So, how does Jesus define who our neighbor is?
We can find that answer in the familiar parable of "The Good Samaritan". But, first, what [and who] is a Samaritan? History [and Bible Study Tools] shows us that in 721 B.C., the northern kingdom of Israel fell to the Assyrians. Many people of the ten tribes of Israel who lived there were led off to Assyria as captives, but some remained in the land and intermarried with foreigners planted there by the Assyrians. These half-Jewish, half-Gentile people became known as the Samaritans. In 605 B.C., the Babylonians invade Judah, and the first wave of Jews are deported to Babylon, beginning their 70 years of captivity. By 586 B.C., the southern kingdom of Judah fell to the Babylonian Empire once and for all, and the last wave of Jews were deported to Babylon, and Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed. In 539 B.C., the Fall of Babylon to the Persian Empire occurs, and King Cyrus II allows the Jews to return to their homeland.
When Nehemiah attempts to rebuild the Temple, the Samaritans remaining in the land opposed the rebuilding efforts and caused problems for Nehemiah and his fellow workers. And thus began a generational hatred between Jews and Samaritans. So, here we see that although the two groups shared, at least, a partial ethnic bond, it wasn't enough to be considered a "neighbor". In fact, they despised each other, making them a good example for Jesus to define a true neighbor in His parable about the "good" Samaritan. We see the Jewish priest and the Levite who both walked right by a Jewish man who had been beaten and robbed; both were indifferent to his unfortunate situation. Then, we see the Samaritan, [normally an archenemy], moved with compassion, who goes out of his way to tend to the needs of the Jewish man lying on the side of the road.
Using the parable, Jesus responds to an expert in the Law's question of "who is my neighbor?" by asking His own question: "Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers' hands? And [the lawyer] said, 'The one who showed mercy toward him'. Then Jesus said to him, 'Go and do the same' ".
This simple, but direct parable [and commandment] shows us how far we've fallen from respecting and upholding Jesus's teaching. Where is our compassion, empathy, love, and mercy for our fellow man? Our culture no longer seems to have a Biblically enlightened conscience of who our neighbors are. And without that knowledge of Biblical Truth, "lawlessness will abound, and the love of many will grow cold" (Matthew 24:12). We have seen that in the countless attacks on innocent people in the streets of our cities across the land. And let us not forget the recent cold-blooded murder of the CEO of United Healthcare on a New York sidewalk. No matter what you think about the victim's connection to our broken healthcare system, the lack of moral conscience by the murderer as he walked up to the victim, lying bleeding on the sidewalk, and shot two more rounds into him, should make you feel disgusted.
Shockingly, too many people across the country have supported or applauded this heinous murder, expressing their opinions across social media platforms that the crime was a justified killing -- 40% of young adults (ages 18-29) felt the killer's actions were either "acceptable" or "somewhat acceptable". Oh, how Jesus must mourn how far removed we have become from a Biblically moral compass! And how long will He tolerate our lack of brotherly love; our heartlessness? I believe He does not want to give up on us; that God's grace is still available to us -- IF we can, like the Good Samaritan, find it in our hearts to be "neighbors" to each other, no matter the differences in our ethnicity, social class, political persuasion, or religious affiliation.
We must overcome the bitterness, contempt, and hatred that have been sowed into our culture by spiritual forces that have engulfed the minds and hearts of men who have listened to the whispers of God's Enemy. We must recognize our moral decay and failings, and we must repent and believe in the power of God's ability to revive and restore our moral bearings according to the Biblical principles set forth by our Lord and Savior. In the midst of our nation's chaos, I have witnessed the Goodness of God as a result of the redeeming prayers of those who fear Him in righteousness and truth. Don't stop now! There is a wind of change coming. Whether it be a change for good or evil, remains to be seen. We, who are obedient followers of Jesus Christ can be an instrument of His Power and Love. Let us do our part in restoring our nation, as we take a Biblically moral stand against those who would destroy it. Let us work with Jesus to redeem our great nation and truly love our neighbor as ourselves. Amen!
Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes or dreams], according His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church [Body of Christ] and in Christ Jesus thoughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.
