What Matters Most

"Don’t preach politics from the pulpit!" I’ve heard it said many times. I suspect that the same people who would rather me keep politics out of my preaching would prefer I keep it out of my blog as well. However, it cannot be denied that there are times when politics and Christianity mix. Though many in our world would rather keep them separate, there are definitely instances in which politics and faith become intertwined. Where one forces the hand of the other.

To say that there is much concern over the direction our country is headed is an understatement of astronomical proportions. The economy, health care, border security, the national debt, etc., are all major topics of debate in the political arena these days, but are they of utmost importance? I say, "No." I am well aware of the fact that this blog post will not be well-received by some. The slightest mention of certain subjects sets off a firestorm of debate. Many have reduced these issues down to "partisan" or "political," but truly they are not. They are biblical.

When it comes to our country's welfare, a lot of things matter but only one thing matters most. Where we stand on abortion matters more than where we stand on alternative energy. Where we stand on gay marriage matters more than where we stand on the environment. Where we stand on human cloning and harvesting human embryos matters more than where we stand on foreign policy. Moral recession is much more costly and has far more devastating effects on society than an economic recession. The economy may be bad. We may have another Black Tuesday or another Great Depression (and that would certainly be devastating), but society would eventually recover. A recession of moral values, however, could leave our country in such godless ruin that it might never be restored.

Unfortunately many Americans, including Christians, tend to suppress these moral issues; focusing more on economic reform, international diplomacy, alternative energy, immigration, the war in Iraq and global warming. It’s a problem that many Christians are driven by their pocketbooks rather than their faith. That’s why they say, “Give me a better economy!” “Give me health care!” “Give me help with my loans!” What they should be shouting is, “Give me a morally sound country in which to raise my children!” “Stop blurring the line between right and wrong!” “Stop ignoring God and stop promoting unrighteousness!”

Please do not misunderstand me, without a doubt the economy, the war, immigration, health care, etc. are all important issues. They do matter. If you are a veteran of the War in Iraq, are currently serving in our nation’s military, or have lost a loved one in combat, then you have every right to feel strongly about the conflict in the mid-east and anywhere else for that matter. If you are a banker or an investor, then you will certainly watch the economy with a wishful eye; hoping that something can be done to boost it. Associated with the economy, virtually all of us who drive automobiles would like to see a decrease in gas prices, whether it be through off-shore drilling in Alaska, building more refineries, or plugging more money into developing alternative energy. All of these issues are important, and some will hit home harder with certain individuals. But, at some point, we must recognize what is important for the short-term and what is important for the long-term; what is temporal and what is eternal.

In Matthew Chapter 23, beginning in verse 23, Jesus states, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel (Matt. 23:23-24).” The Pharisees had been conscientious about the keeping of religious rituals such as tithing, even to the point of giving a tenth of the tiny herbs pulled from their gardens. Yet, at the same time, they were ignoring the condition of their hearts. The Lord rebuked them for using a strainer to remove an unclean gnat, but not hesitating to swallow an equally unclean camel. Jesus didn't tell them that it was wrong to be concerned about the “small” things such as tithing. He did state, however, that the lighter things cannot take precedence over the weightier matters. Notice His words once again, “…but these things you should have done (the lighter) without neglecting the others (the weightier). In other words they all matter, but justice, mercy and faithfulness matter most.

In 2 Peter 3:10, Peter states, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.” If this world, as we know it, is to be destroyed then we can safely say that, while issues like the economy, health care, illegal immigration, etc. are important, they should receive the proper emphasis. These are not the weightier matters since these things will pass away. However, morality and godliness carry eternal weight, and because these present things are only meant to be temporal, we cannot afford to promote them above eternal issues. The weightier matters must take precedence in order to influence current trends, and to help insure moral stability for the future.

The most effective way to influence the direction of our country is through fervent prayer, the practice of righteousness and the preaching of the gospel. 1 Timothy 2:1 & 2 states, “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” The prayer for our leaders needs to be a prayer to preserve justice, for them to have soft hearts that can be influenced by truth, and for them to protect the values of our country that help the church to flourish. 1 Timothy 2:1-4 shows that the purpose of praying for our leaders is so that we may “lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity.”

The wise man stated, in Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” Along with prayer, we need to do our part to open God’s word, embrace it and live righteously before Him. The Bible clearly teaches that the righteousness of a nation’s citizens determines its success, and the lack of it contributes to its demise.
This can be seen in the great flood, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and the nation Israel in the book of Judges. If righteousness exalts a nation, then it stands to reason that the measure of exaltation is directly proportional to the measure of righteousness.

Prayer is vital, practicing righteousness is crucial but may we never discount the potentially earth-changing impact of the gospel. The more we evangelize and convert sinners to Christ, the more His influence will spread and dominate the communities in which we live. The parable of the leaven teaches this very principle (Mt. 13:33ff).

Pray, practice righteousness and preach the gospel! These are the things that truly make a difference. They are the things that matter most!