Whom Would Jesus Christ Choose to Be a World Leader?

You are here

Whom Would Jesus Christ Choose to Be a World Leader?

Login or Create an Account

With a UCG.org account you will be able to save items to read and study later!

Sign In | Sign Up

×

The United States is entering the final weeks of a hotly contested presidential election. The outcome will likely have a major impact on the direction of the country and America's position in the world.

Before making a major decision many professing Christians like to ask themselves, "What would Jesus do?" In this case, we might phrase it, "Whom would Jesus choose to run the government?"

The American political landscape has changed substantially since the republic's first president, George Washington, was unanimously elected in 1792. Presidential campaigns have evolved into a series of fiercely fought and often contentious contests.

Every four years, from caucuses and primaries to conventions and ballots, candidates take to the streets, airwaves and Internet to make their case. Both Democrats and Republicans are spending millions of dollars in what is likely to become the most expensive campaign in history.

They offer two competing and vastly different visions of America. Pollsters are showing a tight race where the leading issue has become how to fix the struggling economy.

Deep divisions in the nation

Today's political environment is characterized by stubborn partisanship and ongoing polarization that has drawn constant criticism from voters and pundits alike. With little to say that is positive, both parties are seeking votes with largely negative campaigns that tout the high stakes involved.

Republicans are courting their base and counting on voters that are not too keen on Mitt Romney to be galvanized by a sharp anti-President Obama message. Meanwhile, Democrats hope that the pro-Obama voters of 2012 who have become somewhat disenchanted can be kept in the fold by the prospect of a Republican president and Congress.

According to the latest polls, about half of voters approve of President Obama's performance, meaning half also disapprove. The growing political divide in the country has sparked increased turnouts in the last two presidential elections and may do the same this time around.

Some expect the number who will vote in the Nov. 6 election to exceed the 131 million people who voted four years ago, the highest since 1968. That amounted to just under 57 percent of the adult population.

One thing that seems certain in this election is that many voters won't necessarily be voting for a particular candidate, but instead will be voting against the one they dislike most.

Governance by gridlock

The United States constitution—the longest-surviving written charter of government—came into operation in 1789 as the supreme law of the land and guides American society in law and political culture. America's Founding Fathers purposely framed the constitution to set up a divided government so as to prevent any one person or branch of government from gaining too much power.

The first three articles of the constitution establish the three branches of government —the legislative, the executive and the judiciary. One could argue that it was set up to be deliberately inefficient so as to prevent the majority from being able to trample the rights of the minority.

So perhaps it's natural that the vast majority of Americans feel the legislative branch (Congress) has degenerated into a cumbersome and inefficient pattern of gridlock. Recent polls place congressional job approval at only 10 percent, with 83 percent disapproving. With more negative advertising on the way in the closing weeks of campaigning, approval ratings will likely drop even further.

And the sad reality is that no matter how hard the Founding Fathers tried to create a system of governance that was foolproof, it doesn't solve the underlying problem—which is that imperfect and fallible human beings are running it.

Whom would Jesus pick to put in power?

In light of the growing divide within the nation and its government, the person elected to office will face the daunting tasks of trying to bring more unity and economic growth. So what method would Jesus use in evaluating the best candidate for the job of government leader?

He has definite points of view regarding the issues facing governments. His perspective is based on the laws God established as the framework for how mankind must live to lead happy, productive and balanced lives. Christ would support only potential leaders or platforms if and when they were aligned with those laws.

A big problem now facing us is that political platforms are often a complicated array of different agendas and strategies that often do not align with godly principles. In fact, there is no political party, party platform or candidate that has an agenda fully compatible with all biblical teaching.

This means Jesus Christ would not belong to any particular political party. He cannot be pigeonholed as a liberal, moderate or conservative—or as a Republican, Democrat or Independent—as defined by today's political world.

While He might from time to time support specific issues, policies and practices, it would only be if they were aligned with God's will. But He would not be an activist pushing any humanly devised agenda or advocating that we vote for a candidate supporting such.

Instead, Jesus Christ's focus would be the same as it was nearly 2,000 years ago. He would do His Father's work of calling and training a group of followers to help build His future righteous government. And He would be actively proclaiming the gospel—the good news—that His government, His coming Kingdom, is the only real hope for good governance and true peace on earth. 

God's perspective on nations and leadership

We can take comfort in knowing that God does at times choose national leaders even in this age. The prophet Daniel witnessed this firsthand. He said: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons [the eras and events of history]; He removes kings and raises up kings [including presidents, prime ministers, dictators, etc.]; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding" (Daniel 2:20-21).

God's perspective is so much higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). And He has a master plan that He is working out here below that we may not fully understand (1 Corinthians 13:12).

God considers many factors when choosing leaders. He looks at the broad sweep of history, His prophetic timetable and His specific plans for peoples and nations.

At times specific leaders are put in place for them to move a government or society in a particular direction. This was often done when God provided specific judges and kings for ancient Israel. He then blessed or cursed the leaders and people according to how they obeyed His instructions (Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28).

Sometimes God removes leaders for various reasons. A good example can be found when He caused calamity to befall King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and drove him out of office because of his arrogance and lack of respect for God's authority over him (Daniel 4:8-33).

Also, the types of people God chooses may sometimes surprise you. The dream that depicted Nebuchadnezzar's downfall was given "in order that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men" (Daniel 4:17).

At other times God may simply allow people to get whom they want and then live with the consequences, such as those spelled out in 1 Samuel 8:7-20. And sometimes He may just let time and chance play out (Ecclesiastes 9:11). God also ensures His prophetic Word is fulfilled by raising up specific leaders as needed to guide a country or people in the direction He has prophesied.

For example, over the last 200 years God placed in power many of the right leaders at the right time in Britain and America to bring the blessings promised to Joseph and his modern descendants through his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh (Genesis 48; 49:22-26).

He also backed their leadership by providing many of the national blessings that were prophesied. (To learn more details of how this occurred, read the Bible study aid booklet The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy.

Sadly, He also promises to permit the kind of leadership that will bring the punishment decreed on these nations for drifting away from Him and His teachings.

A coming new world order

The good news is that the United States and the entire world will soon experience leadership unlike anything we have ever seen—for Jesus Christ Himself will return to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16). He will not need to be voted into office to exercise His leadership abilities and form a new government. The Kingdom of God will come to earth not because of human efforts but in spite of human efforts to stop it (Revelation 17:14).

Jesus has promised to return to save us from the corruption of human leadership, which will produce a terrifying time in which, if He did not return to intervene, the human race would be faced with extinction (Matthew 24:21-22).

The message from both history and the Bible is clear—we human beingsare incapable of rightly governing ourselves. We need a perfect ruler—specifically Jesus Christ to show us how to establish the world's first truly great society.

When Christ establishes His new world order, it will dramatically surpass the most optimistic visions loudly proclaimed by politicians throughout the tiresome ebb and flow of history. And unlike their failed promises, all Christ's promises and Bible prophecies regarding His Kingdom will be completely enacted under His caring hand.

Notice this vision of life on earth under His government as described in Micah 4:1-4: "Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it. Many nations shall come and say, 'Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.' For out of Zion the law shall go forth, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

"He shall judge between many peoples, and rebuke strong nations afar off; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken."

As His way of life spreads around the globe, a happy society will emerge, with peace, love and joy blossoming like a rose. Human development and opportunities will flourish (Isaiah 9:6-7).

And at long last, the underlying problem of every human government will be changed—selfish, self-serving human beings will be transformed as more and more are able to answer the question "What would Jesus do?" (see Isaiah 11:9; Jeremiah 31:34).

Is God electing you?

While Jesus Christ will usher in His government soon, He may be calling you to be elected—chosen—right now. This election is not by the people or political delegates and is far more important than being elected president of the United States.

The apostle Peter explains, "Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure . . . for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:10-11).

You can be elected by God now to one of the most important and crucial positions in the land—the position of a Christian. True Christians, explained the apostle Paul, are "ambassadors for Christ"—His representatives on earth here and now, representing His Kingdom and way of life.

In addition, those who are His true servants prepare themselves to be the kind of rulers He will be. As He promises in Revelation 3:21, "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne." This is the awesome future He wants to share with you!

You might also be interested in...

Comments

  • Sabrina Peabody

    Hi Everyone,

    I would like to mention that if you have any further thoughts or comments on the church's publications and how to improve them that it would be best to direct those thoughts to info@ucg.org. Your feedback and constructive criticism is very important and it will be passed on to the correct individuals.

    Otherwise, please try to focus comments on the above article:"Whom Would Jesus Christ Choose to be World Leader?"

    Thanks!
    Sabrina Peabody
    UCG Web Team

  • Todd Sauve

    I'm afraid that the software the church is using to post the comments on this site is just NOT up to the task.

    I simply don't know how people are supposed to have a meaningful discussion on these important issues when it literally takes DAYS for any comment to actually be posted here using this program!

    Really, this serious lack of useability MUST have become apparent some time ago, yet it has been allowed to render this site the cyber equivalent of frozen molasses!

    Tom, what is the actual problem with the incredible slowness of getting posts up and ready for fresh discussion here?

    Is it the fact that EACH and EVERY post MUST be reviewed for appropriate language?

    Or are there simply not enough personnel assigned to carrying out this task?

    It has taken almost a month for this article to be discussed to this point and I must commend everyone for having the patience to endure the almost unendurable.

    But this current setup has to be gotten rid of! Unless the real objective here is to prevent meaningful conversation and debate of the serious issues facing the church, which seems incongruous ...

    Todd Sauve

  • KARS

    Your Welcome.
    Have a good Sabbath everyone.

  • thomasraukamp

    Thank you to everyone for this fruitful, clarifying and respectful discussion. It was overdue.

    The tendency towards right-wing/conservative political viewpoints (peaking in praising ultra-conservative politicians like Margaret Thatcher) drove me away from the Church and its websites in the past months. I am from Germany (which seems to play the role of 'the big satan' in the Church's publications for decades now), and I have never been sure about my place in this plan of salvation. Sometimes the publications made me feel that I'm lost anyway, because I don't belong to this Anglo-American line.

    I think the Church of God should wholeheartedly focus on God's promise of the Kingdom to ALL nation without risking to confuse and even drive away people because of the political tendency of some of its ministers and writers. The Kingdom is too precious to bury it beneath personal viewpoints. I am sure its 'politics' will be more loving and caring than any liberal or conservative can imagine now.

    That said, I cannot thank you enough for all your hard work and uplifting articles over all these decades. You placed the hope of the Kingdom into my heart, and I cannot thank you enough.

  • Todd Sauve

    Hi KARS,

    Thanks for clarifying your comment. That is basically what I thought you meant. Though I've assumed other things at other times that left me in the ditch when all was said and done. ;)

  • KARS

    Hi Todd,
    I had to look up the word cryptic in the dictionary. Thanks for introducing me to a new word. :o)

    The scriptures I typed I believe in. The Lord was saying not to reject him as King. That I don't need any other king. I only need Him to rule over my life. Later on in the New Testament the Christians of God were told that we live in the world but are not to be a part of the world. Jesus even said that if we were of the world we would fight. In this case vote. Therefore because I follow Jesus Christ and he is already my King. I won't vote.

  • Todd Sauve

    Hi KARS,

    I appreciate that you have responded to the comments we have made but I'm afraid that you are being somewhat too cryptic in what you are trying to say.

    Don't feel that you must use scripture to make your point. Sometimes what makes eminent sense to us makes no sense to anyone else that is not in our head space.

    Try putting what you are wanting to say into plain words. :)

  • Rod Hall

    Vainquer040505jlt and Todd,let’s all follow the Apostle Paul’s admonition to watch and pray for one another that we live up to our calling as Ambassadors and that we may boldly proclaim God’s gospel message of the kingdom, the only hope for us all.

    “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (Ephesians 6:18-20).

    Even though we may all be coming from slightly different perspective we should all work to gain God’s perspective and strive to honor and care for one another as Paul encouraged.

    “But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it” (1 Corinthians 12:24-26).

    We need to work to walk in unity of the spirit with the mind of God as Paul admonished.

    “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3).

    In Christ’s service,

    Rod Hall

  • Rod Hall

    I have experienced many of the things you describe personally Todd, especially since the bottom fell out of the economy in 2008. Unfortunately, Satan’s world is not fair. And more often than not there is no fix in this world.

    And sometimes God wants us to learn from the things we suffer as our High Priest Jesus Christ did. “...who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Hebrews 5:7-9).

    I agree with your point that there is no acceptable philosophy either on the left or right that God or Jesus Christ would fully support.

    But there have been different leaders with different leanings through the years. I can remember years ago one of the top leaders of the Church of God that I worked very closely with in producing the Television and Radio programs, told me that if he was voting man, which he was not, he would lean toward Democratic points of view because of their apparent broader concern for the poor, needy and less fortunate.

    But no amount of human effort now can solve these kinds of monumental problems.

    We all need to strive to have God’s perspective as did the women who anointed Christ’s head with oil before He was to be crucified. Those who criticized her for “wasting” the oil instead of selling it to give to the poor did not see God’s purpose in her act. “… And they criticized her sharply” (Mark 14:3-9).

    In fact John’s account makes it more clear who the players were in this situation. Mary of Bethany was the one who did the anointing and Judas Iscariot, who would later betray Christ, was the one complaining (John 12:2-5).

    Even though on the surface, to some, it may have seemed like Judas had a better perspective on God’s will, in fact he did not. Notice his real motive. “This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it” (verse 6).

    One of the morals of this story is that outward appearances can be deceptive. And what may appear right on the surface in our own eyes may be the opposite of God’s will (Proverbs 14:12).

    Rod Hall

  • Rod Hall

    Hi vainquer040505jlt and Todd,

    It is good to hear from you both.

    As you pointed out the more we “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:1-2), the more apt we are to look past the propaganda and misinformation being broadcast in the society around us.

    As you know knowledge is often a mixture of good and evil (Genesis 2:9; 3:22). It takes a concerted effort to cut through the clutter and eliminate the wrong and keep the right and none of us get it totally right all the time.

    One of the major points of my article was that Christ has definite points of view regarding the issues facing governments. His perspective is based on the laws God established as the framework for how mankind must live to lead happy, productive and balanced lives.

    Christ would support only potential leaders or platforms if and when they were aligned with those laws.

    The big problem is that political platforms or political ideologies are often a complicated array of different agendas and strategies that do not completely align with godly principles. In fact, there is no political party, party platform or candidate that has an agenda fully compatible with all biblical teaching.

    This means Jesus Christ would not belong to any particular political party. He cannot be pigeonholed as a liberal, moderate or conservative—or as a Republican, Democrat or Independent—as defined by today's political world.

    Instead, Jesus Christ's focus would be the same as it was nearly 2,000 years ago. And He would be actively proclaiming the gospel—the only real hope for good governance and true peace on earth.

    Todd, you can rightly object to anyone who holds conservatism or liberalism as God’s perspective. In truth it is none of the above or a part of both depending on the specifics being discussed. As you point out neither side is necessarily more godly.

    As I point out, God's perspective is so much higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). And He has a master plan that He is working out here below that we may not fully understand (1 Cor. 13:12).

    Todd I can assure you that I understand where you are coming from when you said: “…Understand what it is like to be exploited and bullied by employers, to work for minimum wage with few if any benefits and struggle JUST TO MAKE ENDS MEET.”

    In Christ's service
    Rod Hall

  • KARS

    I told myself I wasn't going to say anything. But here it is:

    "And the LORD said to Samuel, "Heed the voice of the people in all they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them."...

    "So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who asked him for a king. (President, King, 'Czar, etc.)
    And he said, "This will be the behavior of the king who will reign over you; He will take your sons and appoint them for his own chariots (armies)and to be his horsemen, and some (secret servicemen) will run before his chariots.(motorcade)He will appoint captains over his thousands and captains over his fifties, will set some to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and some to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. ..."And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the LORD will not hear you in that day....So the LORD said to Samuel, "Heed their voice, and make them a king."...1 Samuel 8:7-22 NKJV 1982

    I have an everlasting King; by the name of Jesus Christ and I need no other.

  • Todd Sauve

    Rod,

    One thing the Good New could do is start to realise that the English speaking world comprises more than the US and UK. Why are there no articles aimed at Canadians or Australians or New Zealanders? These three countries number about 60 million people, or about 20% of the US's population. So why doesn't the church aim at least one in five of its articles at them? Their political and economic beliefs and policies are most decidedly NOT the same as the US's and might ruffle the feathers of the American ministry who control everything. But so what? Where does God ever say that the mostly right wing approach many Americans believe in is His way?

    I am a Canadian and can hardly remember ever seeing an article aimed at Canada in more than 40 years of following the church's TV programs and publications. Why is this? Do we not exist? Is it because we are not as "conservative" as Americans? Is it because we believe to a larger extent than Americans that it is a very good thing to have government protect its citizenry from the greed and exploitation of Big Business? Because we have a government run medical system that saves us at least one third of the expenses that US governments allow the private health care system to plunder its citizenry of?

    When I read so many of the right wing inspired columns and editorials written in the Good News, I have to wonder if these are the reasons that Canada, Australia and New Zealand are completely ignored.

  • Todd Sauve

    A substantial part of my objection to the majority of the ministry's Republicanism and Conservatism is that they seem to believe it is Godly, as opposed to liberalism which it is assumed is from Satan. In truth, both are constructs of this evil age and not necessarily informed by anything Biblical at all. Left and right both have aspects to are acceptable to God and things that are repugnant.

    Moreover, most ministry don't seem to be able to see the evils of Republican and Conservative ideals and policies. This, I'm afraid, is due to a life lived in the comfort of the financially safe middle class they have occupied for perhaps the entirety of their lives. Raised in a middle class home, sent to college after leaving home and then being hired into the corporate and managerial environment of this age's churches. I have little faith in many of the ministry being able to understand what it is like to be exploited and bullied by employers, to work for minimum wage with few if any benefits and struggle JUST TO MAKE ENDS MEET, or to see your difficult lives be made more miserable still by so much of the right wing's endless rhetoric that states that those below the middle class are blood suckers upon the rest of society through government programs. Just listen to a few Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh programs, or listen to Mitt Romney's speech where he claims "47% of people won't vote Republican because they love the Democrats' government freebies taken from the rich."

    Sadly and reprehensibly this is what many of our churches' ministry listen to and believe. I've heard it mentioned in more than one sermon and from more than one of the various COG's ministers.

    What do you think God thinks of these ideals being displayed across the pages of His churches' Gospel outreach publications? Can we for a moment believe that He is pleased with His work being so badly tainted by worldly (not to mention evil) ideals being portrayed as His ideals? Yet this is precisely what the Good News magazine does when it espouses this right wing nonsense. It puts God's supposed stamp of approval on the Republican and Conservative parties, when in fact it is completely obnoxious to Him that we would ever give anyone on this planet that idea at all.

    Our church, the UCG, must repent of this and adapt a partisan neutral stance in our publications.

  • vainquer040505jlt

    Hello Mr. Hall. I wish to thank you for the excellent article. It was very well written, well developed and biblical. Such elements should always be sought after in every article. However, apart from the quality of the article presented above, I believe Mr. Sauvé has some good points regarding the frequency and depth with which the church writes about worldly politics, economics and social issues. While I understand that most are written in order to shed light on biblical principals or lessons, sometimes it seems the line may be crossed. As I write this comment, I am reminded of the following bible verses, among many on the subject. [COL 3:1-2; 2TI 2:4]. It may be wise to re-evaluate certain articles to be sure they do not focus too much on the "things of this world" or advocate any human position above specific biblical principles.

    Notwithstanding the above comment, I wish to congratulate the entire UCG administrative team for doing an excellent job overall. I come from another Church of God group and I now feel very blessed to be a member of the United Church of God!

    Keep up the Godly work!

  • Rod Hall

    At any rate, as you point out Todd, we have a big challenge before us in trying to reach a highly diversified world. It is a real art to reach people where they are coming from instead of expecting them to jump to where you are.

    Even back when I was assistant manager for Ambassador Television Production for Worldwide Church of God, we tried hard to tailor our programs to where the audience was and then lead them to God’s perspective. We often had debates about how much religious content we would use verses newsy material. If you can captivate someone’s attention because you understand issues important to them then maybe they will pay attention to your religious ideas as well. We never mastered the perfect balance between religious and secular material and probably never will.

    Since the bulk of the GN readership is in the English speaking countries that has to be our main focus. But you are right we need to reach the whole world. That is where various language translations come from. And it is always good to add articles tailored to the specific regions the publication is being sent to.

    We have a worldwide work but need the manpower to effectively reach all of humanity as Christ indicated. “Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest’” (Matthew 9:37-38).

    As He also said. "Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49) “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father" (John 14:12).

    Keep the faith Todd and the zeal to do the work. It can be infectious. If you or anyone else has any specific suggestion that can help us more effectively reach the world I am all ears.
    Thanks again for your comments.
    Rod Hall

  • Rod Hall

    Hi Todd,

    I appreciate your comments and zeal for doing God’s work of reaching the world with the gospel of God’s soon coming Kingdom. Your evaluation of my writing is also appreciated. I have spent years working in the television broadcast industry and have been a reporter and manager of news staffs and TV stations.

    One thing I always taught journalists I worked with is the importance of objectivity no matter what their personal leanings politically. Objective journalism today in all types of media is unfortunately becoming a thing of the past.

    American broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow had it right. “Everyone is a prisoner of his own experiences. No one can eliminate prejudices — just recognize them.”

    And if you can recognize your prejudices you can work to be sure they are not overly reflected in what you write. Murrow also said. “To be persuasive we must be believable; to be believable we must be credible; to be credible we must be truthful. It is as simple as that.”

    It is interesting that a friend of mine after reading this article said, “You were sure careful how you worded the article to walk the middle ground.” That to me is a compliment not a put down.

    In Christ's service
    Rod Hall

  • ucgadmin

    Hi Todd,

    Thanks for your comment.

    The system lags a bit behind at times. It will catch up very soon.

    Tom Disher
    Senior Developer, UCG

  • Todd Sauve

    Hi,

    Thanks for posting my comment. But I have noticed that my comment has not been noted at the beginning of the article, as it states there are 0 Comments in relation to it.

    Could you please update this so it reads that there is 1 Comment? Hopefully this will stimulate some discussion on what I and many others in the church consider a serious failing in our leadership. Their Republican/Conservative political leanings and biases often and openly displayed in the pages of our publications. Publications that the membership pay for but mostly right wing ministry totally dominate.

  • Todd Sauve

    Congratulations to Rod Hall for a well stated article!

    I hope that every minister and writer in the UCG that writes for ANY of the church's publications will take the time to read what Rod states here:

    "This means Jesus Christ would not belong to any particular political party. He cannot be pigeonholed as a liberal, moderate or conservative—or as a Republican, Democrat or Independent—as defined by today's political world."

    "While He might from time to time support specific issues, policies and practices, it would only be if they were aligned with God's will. But He would not be an activist pushing any humanly devised agenda or advocating that we vote for a candidate supporting such."

    Too many UCG ministers and writers are ill-disguised Republicans and/or Conservatives and their biases spill all over the pages of the church's publications. I am a member of the UCG and the WCG before that of almost 30 years standing and can state this unequivocally from more than 3 decades of reading our church's publications.

    This is unacceptable to God, Jesus Christ and all THINKING and unbiased members of the church and readers of our materials!

    Moreover, this absolute fixation with American politics and social issues is equally unacceptable to God, Jesus Christ and the church's thinking and unbiased membership.

    We are called to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to ALL THE WORLD and not just the United States and occasionally the United Kingdom! Our church, the United Church of God, is not doing that effectively. We are simply aiming almost every article at very right wing politically motivated types of people and almost always those who live in the United States.

    Are these the ONLY people Jesus Christ died for? Are these the ONLY people Jesus Christ is interested in calling into his kingdom in this era of human history?

    Wake up Cincinnati!

    It is time to recognise that there is an entire world outside of the continental US and once in a while the UK.

    Let's get some hard hitting, Biblically based articles on the Gospel message that will inspire the peoples of the Third World to recognise the the Gospel is for them too! The peoples of China, India, Africa and elsewhere deserve to be told that God wants them to be set free by Jubilee years too.

    Jesus wants far more from us than we are currently giving. Come on, let's wake up and deliver the whole Gospel!

  • Join the conversation!

    Log in or register to post comments