WHEN GETTING THE RIGHT PERSON INTO OFFICE IS MORE OF A PRIORITY TO ME THAN BEING THE RIGHT PERSON BEFORE GOD.
"No king is saved by the multitude of an army; A mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a vain hope for safety; Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength. Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy" (Psalm 33:16-18; NKJV).
WHEN AN UNDESIRABLE POLITICAL DECISION, POLICY OR OUTCOME IS ALLOWED TO ROB ME OF MY JOY AND PEACE IN CHRIST. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your quests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7). WHEN I HESITATE TO CONFORM TO GOD'S WILL, AS REVEALED IN SCRIPTURE, IF IT MEANT THAT I WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE SOME OF MY CHERISHED POLITICAL VIEWS. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:1-2). WHEN I AM WILLING TO SPEAK EVIL OF SOMEONE ELSE WHO IS MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD IF HE OR SHE DISAGREES WITH MY POLITICAL VIEWPOINT. "But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil,full of deadlypoison. With it we blessour God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so" (James 3:8-10). WHEN I CHOOSE TO IGNORE GOD'S REVEALED TRUTH IF THAT TRUTH IS DENIED OR OPPOSED BY MY PARTY'S POLITICAL PLATFORM. "But Peter and John answered and said to them, 'Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:19-20). WHEN I FIND MYSELF TOO CLOSELY ALIGNED WITH UNGODLY PEOPLEON THE BASIS OF SHARED POLITICAL OBJECTIVES. "Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper" (Psalm 1:1-3).
WHEN POLITICAL CONCERNS TAKE UP THE TIME, ENERGY AND RESOURCES THAT RIGHTFULLY BELONG ONLY TO GOD.
"Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (Matthew 22:21b).
WHENI DEPEND MORE ON POLITICAL AND GOVERNMENTAL PROGRAMS TO MEET MY NEEDS THAN I DO ON GOD'S SOVEREIGN PROVISION.
"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).
WHEN MY OPPOSITION TO ANY GOVERNMENT POLICY CAUSES ME TO HARDEN MY HEART TOWARD MY NEIGHBOR'S REAL NEED.
"But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?" (1 John 3:17).
WHEN I BELIEVE THAT JESUS' COMMANDTO LOVE MY NEIGHBOR IS BETTER ACCOMPLISHED BY A SOCIAL PROGRAM THAN BY ME.
"Jesus said to him, '"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets'" (Matthew 22:37-40).
WHEN I CARE MORE ABOUT PROTECTING A PERISHABLE EARTHLY TREASURE THAN I CARE ABOUT BUILDING UP MY TREASURE IN HEAVEN.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:19-21).
WHEN, AFTER I AM FINISHED PARTICIPATING IN AN ARGUMENT ABOUT POLITICS, I FEEL DIRTY INSIDE.
"Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:29-30).
WHEN I MAKE THIS EARTHLY KINGDOMS O MUCH OF A PRIORITY THAT I GIVE SECOND PLACE TO LIVING FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33).
WHEN I FIND THAT I HAVE MORE PASSION FOR TEMPORAL SOCIAL POLICIES THAN I DO FOR THE ETERNAL SOULS OF PEOPLE.
"For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world ,and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26).
WHEN, IN AN IRREVERENT SPIRIT BEFORE GOD, I BEGIN TO SPEAK EVIL OF THE LEADERS HE HAS PLACED OVER ME.
"You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people" (Exodus 22:28).
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