Politics 2016

Yes, we are in that season … like it or not.

The politicians (Democrat, Green, Libertarian, Republican, Publican and Sinners) are attempting to out Trump each other and spreading Hillarity on the evening comedy shows. They are collecting money and spending money. They are pounding on doors, making telephones ring around the nation and will soon be pushing out anything other than political advertisements on television.

The politicians are spreading truths and half-truths alongside believable non-truths. How do you know which is what? Through commentators, of course! And the commentators are easy to find, on every newsstand, in many magazines, on the radio and television. They can even be found spreading like summer weeds and viruses by twitterpated followers on Facebook and other social media.

Will they help us or hurt us? Only time will tell, not the near future but in the time beyond what is called current. We will have a clue by the end of their term, and then they will be judged by history in about fifty years.

Will they solve our problems? For some of them, the answer is yes.

So, where can we find a savior offering the hope and help we desire? [ok, the hint was obvious] He is the One who tells us, “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. Aliens will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards. And you will be called priests of the LORD, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast.”

If we want to change our communities, our counties, our states, our nation and the world, it must be done by us. Jesus set the pattern, sending His disciples saying, “preach this message: `The kingdom of heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.”

We, members of “the church” are to solve the world’s problems … one life at a time. We are to bring light into the darkness. What about the sin issues of our nation? The government was never intended to solve those. We are to go and share the Gospel. [have you ever shared the gospel with anyone?] What about poverty? Look at the government’s track record on solving this problem, it is abysmal. Only the Love of Christ can change hearts and lives, cleansing our souls and our nation. [for more info read Deuteronomy 27-28 … also Deuteronomy 17:14-20]

Character traits of True Shepherds

The people of the Bible were much more tied to the earth, to agriculture, than we are today.  Through these ties, people were able to observe what worked … and what did not work.  People were trained through some aspects of agriculture for more vigorous service to God.  Take for instance shepherds.

Abel was the first shepherd, and the Bible tells us he gave a more excellent sacrifice than his brother Cain.  Beyond the blood offering, we must note that sheep require more care than crops.  A farmer can get by with tilling the soil, watering the crop, and making sure thieves do not come in and destroy.  A shepherd must do all of the above (instead of tilling, the shepherd must carefully select a field with good grass), and more!  The shepherd is in charge of living animals.  They can wander (and he must watch).  And more important, he must love the sheep with all of his life.  Sheep who are loved flourish.  Sheep which are just tended do ok.  Sheep who are abused grow weaker and die.

Through the care of sheep men like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and David learned to rule people.  They learned one cannot haphazardly do his work, occupying their time with pleasure rather than focused care: or the sheep, and the nation will wither.

I have been reading some of Philo of Alexandria, who lived at the same time as Jesus, who said this of the Shepherds: “It is customary to call those who have management of sheep both the name of shepherd and the keeper of sheep.” We often do not do not connect these names with government leaders or business managers of people, but we must reason the same way for leaders and managers are caretakers of people and therefore superintendents of the flock of the soul. “A man who is but an indifferent manager of the flock is called a keeper of sheep, but a good and faithful one is called a shepherd.”  

In the book Advent Journeys, I wanted to make sure to represent the shepherds of Bethlehem as good shepherds, not just “keepers of sheep,” for God gives extra privileges only to the righteous.  Philo says, “Since the flock is devoid of reason, and God is the fountain of reason, it follows of necessity that a man who lives in an irrational manner is separated from the life of God.”

“Those indeed who are able to reason correctly, it is more noble employment than that of a king, to be able to govern the body and the outward senses, and the belly, as one might govern a city or a country, and to restrain the pleasures which have their seat around the belly, and the other passions, and one’s tongue, and, in short, all the different parts of one’s composite nature with vigor and exceeding power, and again to guide them in the right way with due gentleness, for it is necessary at one time to act like a charioteer who slackens the reigns with which he holds the horses which are yoked in his chariot.”

“It is said that ‘Moses was the shepherd of the sheep of Jethro, the priest of Midian.’  And this man himself prays that the flock many not be left without a shepherd, meaning by the flock the whole multitude of the parts of the soul; but that they may meet with a good shepherd, who will lead them away from the nets of folly, and injustice, and all wickedness, and conduct them to the doctrines of learning and all other virtue.”

I am sure the shepherds of Bethlehem, as referenced in Advent Journeys, were good shepherds, who were given the privilege of hearing angels and seeing the Great Shepherd at his birth because they were not only responsible shepherds, but also shepherds who cared for their sheep out of love rather than obligation.

Our lessons from this: 1) Pastors, Elders, Deacons, Sunday School Teachers and other leaders in our churches must serve out of love rather than obligation; and must diligently care for the souls of the people they lead and serve. 2) We must carry the teachings of Christ into business, always making sure we care for the needs of employees as a good shepherd, as opposed to the manipulative methods used in some organizations. 3) Our political leaders (this is a political year) should exemplify the care for citizens which would define a good shepherd.

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