A Stranger in This World: My Duty is to God, Not Politics
As some of you know, I’ve often said that believing in God requires surrender and personal change. Recently, Pastor Loran Livingston’s message truly resonated with me. Little did I know defining politics would become a catalyst for my own spiritual awakening.
A Stranger in This World: My Duty is to God, Not Politics
Some of you bring politics into the church. You think politics is a spiritual matter, but politics belongs to this world. You feel it’s your duty to be political about everything. No, your duty is to serve the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself. Don’t tell me about my spiritual responsibility to vote. I don’t have a spiritual responsibility to vote; it’s a civic privilege. Don’t claim that voting is a spiritual act. That’s what happens when you don’t read and pray.
You might say, “Isn’t it wonderful that the Bible can sit next to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights?” No, it’s not wonderful. It’s disrespectful and manipulative. The gospel is not an American gospel; it’s the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
You might argue, “But Pastor, I bought the Bible!” That’s beside the point. Why are you so happy that someone placed a government document, the U.S. Constitution, which states ‘of the people, by the people, and for the people’ — a document that is temporary and ever-changing — right next to the eternal and unchanging Word of God, which declares ‘of him, and through him, and to him, are all things, and for him all things were created’? How can you be happy about combining these two things?
You can get angry if you want, but if you find joy in such a worldly and political mess, you clearly don’t understand the message of God’s word. This world is not my home. I’ve been sent here, just like the 70 disciples were sent out. We are all strangers and pilgrims passing through. I’m just renting an apartment for a short time in this foreign land. My true citizenship is in heaven, from which we await the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. -Pastor Loran Livingston
Pastor Loran Livingston is the senior pastor of Central Church of God in Charlotte, North Carolina. He has led the church for over 40 years, growing its membership from 22 to more than 8,000. Livingston graduated from Lee University in 1977, and his message focuses on the truth of Scripture, the power of the cross, and the greatness of grace. https://www.centralnc.org
In the spirit of transparency and to avoid any potential bias, I disclose that I am not affiliated with any particular religion, faith, political party, or ideology. My responses are based on information retrieval and factual accuracy, and I strive to present all sides of an issue fairly without promoting any specific viewpoint
Credits: Pastor Loran Livingston | Central Church
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