Channeling Our Discontent
May 16, 2010
You have probably heard of the Tea Party Movement. This is essentially a movement of conservative persons dissatisfied with the actions of the current government. Well, as a Christian, I am a “conservative” who believes in limited government (Jn. 14:6; Acts 4:12). Despite my beliefs, I see the ever expanding, destructive reach of “individual government” (Jud. 21:25; 2 Tim. 4:3-4) into the hearts and lives of the people I love. For example, in a recent magazine article, one member of a same-sex couple praised her company because it is “proactive in recognizing different family structures.” The couple went on to talk about how they keep their romance alive with trips to Atlantic City or New York City. Add to this last Thursday’s murder-suicide attempt in Chesterfield County, the failed Times Square bombing a few weeks ago, and the general tendency of people everywhere to subscribe to Janet Jackson’s “pleasure principle”(pursuing what makes them feel good with little or no regard for the way of God), and we are faced with individual government gone wild! How do we respond? Tea Party members are expressing anti-government frustrations and attitudes; however, doing so is not a substitute for good government. No, frustration must be funneled into constructive reformation. In like manner, we Christians must do more than talk about what is wrong; we must offer something that is right. The apostle Paul adopted this action, and we see the result (1 Thess. 1:5-10)! So be angry about sin, West Broad and fellow Christians. But then, move forward in God’s power and let’s do something about it! —JLNJR (Resource: Essence, 6/2010, 80; Christianity Today, 4/2010, 60)
