For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions..., waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ....
Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy.... (Titus 2:11–3:5, abridged)
A reminder, my Christian conservative friends, as we enter both the election season and the final twilight of Obama's presidency.
1) Our blessed hope is neither Paul nor Rubio, nor even the ousting of President Obama. It is the appearing of the glory of Christ. Everything else is just a perk. Christ is the meat and potatoes of all that is good and right and a good president is just the parsley garnish, if that. Maybe the lemon in someone's sweet tea a table away. Or in the next restaurant.
2) We are not to slander those who rule over us. Paul respected the high priest, and apologized for a valid rebuke to him (Acts 23:1–5), and the high priest wasn't even a Christian leader. There is a difference between criticism and slander; stay on the correct side of the line. "Test everything, and hold fast to what is good, but abstain from every form of evil" (1 Cor 5:21-22). Slander is evil, and takes away from the purity of your walk before the world. Do not post or share any old thing that sounds plausible. Make sure it is true.
3) In Titus 3:9, we are exhorted to avoid foolish controversies and quibbling about the law. It was a different law Paul wrote of, I grant that, but if we are to avoid quibbling about the Holy Law of God, surely the lesser law of man is something that ought also to fall under this. (This is not to say that there isn't a place for politics and law, but that we ought always to remember where they stand in the grand scheme of things.)
4) Do not act like the rest of the world is stupid if they disagree with you (and I have trouble with this myself). The reason you are where you are has nothing to do with how smart you are. You were exactly like those people once. Who you are is entirely because of the grace of God. Extend that same grace to others.
<3 you all!
Zach
You are a good man, my son, a good man. -- Mrs. P.
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