Message: A New Approach
(The Issues facing our Country& the Christian Church today.)
Text: John 13:34
Pastor Tom Cogle
Sunday, July 5, 2020
This weekend, we celebrate America’s 244th year of Independence.What does that mean?Usually FREEDOM – predominantly freedom from England’s rule over us.But in the endeavor to celebrate our freedom this year, we find ourselves a nation divided. Politically. Culturally. Racially.Even the church is divided.
And once again, we the people of God, or asking ourselves, what is the appropriate, God-honoring response to all of this?How should the people of God respond to this whole issue of race in America?
Amos 5:24But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!
So here we are 244 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence and we’re still addressing the same situation, still making the same charges and accusations, while the world continues to go down the path it is going down.What we have been doing is not working – it has not worked.I want to offer that we should try something new – A NEW APPROACHIn this whole matter of how the people of God should first and foremost:· Relate to one another· And then how we relate to this world.
John 13:34 (Jesus to His followers)A new command I give you: Love one another.
Something is new to you if you haven’t done it before.And Jesus knew that the people of God in His day did not know how to love because they had never seen love in action.So, Jesus added a qualifier in the latter part of that verse:John 13:34b As I have loved you, so you must love one another.The people of God had never seen love in action.The people of God had never seen an example of love for them to follow.And Jesus is saying to the religious people of his day:“Here I am, this is how you love.
I would suggest that we have embraced a Christianity that is not much differentthen the religion that Jesus confronted in His day!You had the most religious people, but they didn’t know how to love.And today you have a Christianity that in many ways is devoid of love.
So, let’s try surrendering the religion of Christianityand embracing A relationship with Jesus Christ so that we can be more Christ-like.A relationship with Christ so that we become followers of Christ.And not followers of Christianity.
Perhaps then, “Our God would hear from Heaven”Maybe then, “Our God would heal our land”Because his people have turned from their ways and embrace the way of his son Jesus Christ.If we could come together in one voice, many of our problems would be solved.· But it starts with individuals making changes that affect their families.· And those families affect their churches.· And those churches affect the culture around them.May God give us the grace to be able to do that in the name of His Son, the matchless and might name of Jesus Christ!