Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

I Timothy 2:1-7 NKJV

This isn’t a full study. This is a reflection regarding how I see the state of Christianity today. My heart breaks seeing how people are acting. The divisiveness and hostility of those who claim the name of Christ. Christians I once looked up to have been blinded and are no longer living that quiet and peaceable life Paul is speaking of. They are concerned with the politics and the laws of the land. They are concerned with race, nationality, and the morality of others. They shout their condemnations through social media and through politics. They have lost sight of the reason we are on this earth. They divide over politics and political parties, over skin color, over nationalism, over condemnation, over social media, and so many other worldly divisions.

Jesus did not come into this world to condemn the world, but that the world, through Him, might be saved (John 3:17). As Christians, we need to stop condemning the world. Politics is not the answer. Our extent in politics is to pray for those in power, that they might lead the nation correctly. In our society, we can, and should, vote according to how the Holy Spirit leads, not because of what political party or personal agenda the person has. We are not to led by politics or the court of public opinion, but by Christ. We need to seek Him in humility and grace. We need to let go of ourselves, we need to let go of our political leanings, and we need to look to Christ. As Paul exhorts Timothy, we need to pray for all men and for those in authority that we may lead quiet and peaceable lives in godliness.

My heart aches seeing the works of those who follow Christ today. They have left their first love and are now following the pattern of the world. The fruits of the spirit have vanished, and in it’s p[ace lives discord, disharmony, hatred, bitterness, and in some cases, wickedness. I fear for those Christians who have been so blinded. Like the Jews of the Old Testament, I believe God has allowed this blindness to fall upon us. Christ will be returning, maybe in our lifetime, and even if He tarries, we will all answer to Him in the end. Please, don’t let Him say to you “I never knew you.” (Matthew 7:21-23)

Who or what is your first love? Do you proclaim it to be Christ? Then return to a life of humility and prayer. Seek Him and lead others to Him. That is our calling, not to change the world through politics and social media, but to change the world by spreading the Gospel. Repent, so when Christ returns, He does not remove your lampstand from it’s place.

“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,

‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”‘

Revelation 2:1-7 NKJV