Many an explosive conversation may erupt in the clash between two worlds: Politics and Religion. Both have the potential to evoke the gamut of emotion, from red-faced, stiff-necked mad-man rage to complete head-in-the-sand apathy.
It’s a challenge for Christians to respond to the sphere of Politics when it is in direct conflict to fundamental biblical Truth. Often political activists steer away from “Faith” issues to avoid offending the non-religious. As Christians, what should be our response? Speak up or shut up? Throw ourselves into the fray, or stand back to avoid being caught up in the mudslinging of negative words and mob-mentality behavior unbecoming as a Christian?
What did Jesus do? I find it interesting that Jesus had little to say to the political world, and much to say to believers. But what’s surprising to me is His red-faced and stiff-necked comments to a third group of people… religious hypocrites!
Apparently Jesus was not angry with sinners or believers, but angry with those who claimed to be believers, and whose fruit proved otherwise. He called them “whitewashed sepulchers,” (tombs), and said they were “of their father the devil!”
Matthew 23:27–28 (NKJV)
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.
28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
John 8:42–47 (NKJV)
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.
43 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.
44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.
46 Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me?
47 He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”
I’m just going to say it simply. The key is the “hearing of God’s Word.” This is not rocket science. The Bible is clear from the beginning to the end. Those who claim they are believers but do not accept the simple definitions of sin and faith are hypocrites – whitewashed tombs – of their father the devil. Don’t blame me for that. I am just repeating what Jesus said.
I’ll say it another way… those who claim to know Christ and accept abortion as a viable choice – those who claim to know Christ and accept homosexuality, lesbianism, same-sex marriage, divorce for any reason, adultery, and fornication as viable choices – those who claim to know Christ and accept other pathways to gain forgiveness and eternal life… are “whitewashed tombs,” and are “of their father the devil,” – hypocrites.” Again, I am simply repeating the words of Christ.
And to those who claim to know Christ and declare an alternate Gospel – here’s one of the most alarming scriptures in the Bible:
Matthew 7:23 (NKJV)
23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
You see, the main problem was not the sinners of Christ’s time. It was not the believers of Christ’s time. It was the religious hypocrites. Is that still true today? I believe so.
Personally, I don’t have a problem knowing a sinner sins. I don’t have a problem knowing a believer is forgiven of their sins by accepting Christ as their Savior and walking out that salvation as they grow in His Word. I do, however, have a problem with those who claim to know Christ (even wear a white collar) and declare the truths of God a lie.
John 1:1 (NKJV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14 (NKJV)
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus is not just the words He spoke – He is the entire Word of God!
You Whitewashed Sepulcher! You are of your father the devil. Repent, and come to the saving knowledge of Christ who IS the Word of God! There’s grace for you.
Pastor Jim Langlois
Friend of Virginia Christian Alliance
The Master’s House Church
11310 Washington Highway
Ashland, Virginia 23005
