Upon This Rock

Much of my recent commentary, such as it is, has had a distinctly political flavor to it.  This has not been planned, but is,  in fact. more reactionary than anything else.

This got me to thinking, and as is often the case, wondering what Scripture has to say on the subject:

1 Peter 2:9-25 New King James Version (NKJV)

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;  who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

Living Before the World

Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.  For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.  For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.  For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

“Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;

Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;  who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.  For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."

This is both compelling and convicting stuff!  Particularly when I realized the Peter, who himself suffered persecution and even martyrdom for his faith, even to the place of asking "the poignantly eloquent rhetorical question, "should we obey God or Man?"

Now here is this  same Peter; he of 'upon this rock will I build my church’; ‘before the cock crows twice, you will deny me thrice’; and ‘Lord, you know I love you!” “Then feed my sheep.”

This is Peter the Bold, Peter the quick of tongue; Peter the insolent, who would cut off the ear of a Roman slave, and then later because of his faith and his new heart, bring back life into the lifeless body of a Centurion’s daughter, tell a beggar that while he (Peter) could offer the blind man nothing of material value, with mere words restore hope through the magnanimous grace of God!

This the man who opened my eyes, 2,000 years and at least as many miles down the road, by reminding me, a child of a mere threescore years but wallowing full tilt in sanctimonious political righteous indignation, that I am commanded by Almighty God to

“Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.  For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. (2 Peter 2: 11-16 NKJV)

Does this mean sit back idly by while the very principles upon which our founding fathers relied when drafting the documents me would one day call The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United Stated of America, and he Bill of Rights.

Rather, I suspect, Peter was reminding me that as Christ followers, we must always be keenly aware that when our words give offence, that the rebuke comes from the righteousness and purity of the Word, and never from the misguided if however well intended indignation, of the word bearer.

I believe that Barry Soetoro/AKA Barrack Hussein Obama is a treasonous, treacherous, manipulative megalomaniac with delusions of royalty and divinity, and will fight him with every ounce  of my being.  Because Almighty God has instructed me to so do, I will pray for POTUS, our nation, our elected officials, the men and women in uniform who by their daily sacrifice purchase and secure our freedom, and that a Sprit of National Revival the likes of which this nation has not seen, will sweep out globe!

God Bless you!