The goal is for you to be able to say…
“For this is our confidence: The testimony of our conscience is that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with God-given sincerity and purity, not by fleshly wisdom, but by God’s grace.” (2 Corinthians 1:12)
“8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways.” This is the Lord’s declaration. 9 “For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)
- The world: Politics is the driving force in everything.
Jesus: My church matters more than anything else!
“His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms …” (Ephesians 3:10) [NIV]
“The church is not peripheral to the world; THE WORLD IS PERIPHERAL TO THE CHURCH! The church is Christ’s Body, in which he speaks and acts, and by which he fills everything with his presence.” (Ephesians 1:23) [MSG]
- Politicians: We’ll solve all your problems and save the world.
Jesus: Only I can save you and solve your worst problems!
“Do not put your trust in princes, who are mortal men. They cannot save you.” (Psalm 146:3) [BSB]
- Politics: Votes, money and power come by creating division and fear.
Jesus: Unity is priority in my church!
“3 Do your best to preserve the unity which the Spirit gives by means of the peace that binds you together. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as there is one hope to which God has called you.” (Ephesians 4:3-4) [GNT]
“I beg you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ to not argue among yourselves. Let there be real harmony so there won’t be divisions in the church. I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.” (1 Corinthians 1:10) [NLT]
- Politics: Results matter more than character in a leader.
Jesus: The character of a leader is what matters most!
“Some day there will be a king who rules with integrity, and national leaders who govern with justice. Each of them will be like a shelter from the wind and provide safe covering in storms. They will refresh others like streams flowing in a desert, and the cool shadow of a giant rock in a hot, barren land. Their eyes and ears will be open to the needs of the people. They will NOT be rash and reckless hotheads. Instead they will act with understanding and they will say what they mean. In that day, ungodly fools will no longer be called great and scoundrels won’t be given positions of honor. A foolish leader speaks foolishly and thinks up new ways to do mischief. What he does AND what he says are BOTH an insult to the Lord! He never feeds the hungry or gives thirsty people anything to drink. The scoundrel’s methods are wicked. He constantly lies, is cruel and unmoved by the pleas of the poor and hurting, and he denies them justice and their rights. But a good leader plans good things to do good, and those good things make him a good leader.” (Isaiah 32:1-8) [TEV/NCV/NLT]