I listened to Mark Levin’s radio broadcast last week and was reminded of two things. First, Levin is one of the most knowledgeable, clever, sincere, and passionate personalities in America’s conservative political movement. Second, other than sharing a love for America, we have radically different world views. I’m not criticizing Mr. Levin; I am thankful for the good he has done for America, he and every other “conservative.” I’m only singling him out insofar as he represents the most zealous, thoughtful, practical side of influential political conservatives. My point is that regardless of what we have in common about America, we have very little in common in reality. If God’s redeemed people are followers of secular voices, no matter how knowledgeable and zealous, it is evidence of carnality and worldliness because God’s thoughts are not their thoughts. Following are some of the differences:
(1) We have a different God. My God is the Sovereign of the universe. He has an eternal plan which encompasses all of human history, and that plan is “that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ” (Ephesians 1:10). Toward this end, God “worketh all things after the counsel of his own will” (Ephesians 1:11). “He changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings” (Daniel 2:21). This God created all things, and in Him we live and move and have our being, and by Him all things consist. “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever” (Romans 11:36). Knowing this God, I don’t have to wring my hands at human affairs. They are safely in His hands.
(2) We have a different gospel. My gospel is the gospel of eternal salvation by God’s grace through the vicarious atonement of Jesus Christ. It is God’s free gift, without works and sacrament. It is a gospel for individuals. It saves souls, not nations. It is spiritual, not political.
(3) We have a different authority. My authority is the Holy Bible, which I hold to be the verbal, plenarily inspired Word of God and sole authority for faith and practice. That is what it claims to be and that is what it is shown to be by many infallible proofs.
(4) We have a different citizenship. My citizenship is in heaven, and I am a pilgrim in this present world. “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).
(5) We have a different perspective. My perspective of life is viewed from God’s eyes, not man’s. This perspective is revealed in God’s Word, where I am told, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:1-4).
(6) We see different fundamentals at work. I see spiritual fundamentals as the root of America’s ills. A primary fundamental is the condition of the churches, which in turn dramatically affects the character of the people. The church is the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15), and America has always been a nation of churches.
(7) We have a different goal. My goal in life is to please the God who has saved me by His amazing grace and to fulfill His calling, which is to be an ambassador of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20).
(8) We fight different battles with different weapons. My battles are spiritual and are fought with spiritual weapons. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).
(9) We have a different spirit. Because of my faith in Jesus Christ and in His infallible Word, I have the spirit of faith and trust and patience and hope and encouragement, not frustration and anger and fighting and bitterness and disappointment.
(Friday Church News Notes, June 4, 2021, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143)