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​Invisible Beliefs That Shape Life and Country: Freedom & Responsibility

Get In Touch With Pastor Charles
I'm Pastor Charles Park, and we’re starting a new sermon series today called, “Invisible Beliefs  that shape life and country.”  

And, we kick it off with a question that’s bee on many people’s  mind for awhile, “Why do conservative Christians support  Trump?”

Have you wondered why? It’s such an unlikely alliance, isn’t it? Trump is antithetical to everything conservative Christians confess to believe.
Many attempts have been made to explain this mystery.  For example, two Sundays ago, New York Times ran a big article  titled, “Why do Christians support Trump?”

It’s answer was simple, ‘Power.”

Trump makes Christians feel protected, gives them power to preserve and advance their way of life.

Granted, that’s a powerful incentive.

But, what ARE the values they want to advance?  Because, does Trump REALLY advance Family values? Sexual  purity? Integrity? Honesty? Love your neighbor?  Isn’t Trump the opposite?

He represents naked pursuit of all things sinful, selfish greed, deceit,  pride, lust, whatever works with no restraint, no morals.  He’s like a box of chocolate representing every deadly sin there is.

So then, is it about legislation then?

Abortion is the one big issue that comes up again and again in  conversations with my conservative Christian friends.  It’s the ONE issue that “trumps” all other.

They say Christians are pro-life, and because it’s an issue of life and  death, they can overlook every other issue. But are the Republicans and Trump REALLY pro-life? If so, why are they so against Universal health care?  Universal health care would save tens of millions of lives cut short every year.

In contrast, abortion represents about half a million lives per year. Many have noticed and commented on these puzzling contradictions. Evangelical Christians in large numbers spend money and time and  even risk their lives to help the poor overseas, go on missions, build  houses in places like rural Mexico.

​But they will NOT let them come in to the United States to the point of supporting cruel practices like separating children from families. That’s not all. Conservative Christians are very concerned about  teen pregnancy but opposed to sex education or handing out  contraceptives. So, what is driving all this? 

Is it the Bible and it’s instructions? What DOES the Bible say about abortion?

There’s only one passage in all of the Bible that directly mentions  death of unborn children. In Exodus chapter 21:22  "If people are fighting with each other and happen to hurt a  pregnant woman so badly that her unborn child dies, then, even if  no other harm follows, he must be fined.

Because of this passage, historically, most Bible scholars, orthodox  Jewish, Rabbinic traditions have regarded unborn children as not fully human beings in the eyes of the Bible.

Because the Bible is very consistent in that if you kill a human being, no amount of money can compensate for murder. It’s life for life in EVERY case, not penalties like a fine. It’s understandable to fight for lives of unborn children, but it’s not the Bible driving this passion.

And what DOES the Bible say about immigrants? In many passages, the Bible instructs God’s people to welcome  immigrants and strangers, reminding Israel that they were immigrants and slaves once, reminding US that we are strangers and exiles on  earth.

So.

What IS driving all these seeming contradictions that makes perfect  sense to conservative Christians but puzzling to everyone else? I’ve thought long and hard about this, and I’ve come to the conclusion that  there is Invisible belief in “Freedom and Responsibility” underneath it all that’s driving so called “Christian convictions.”

There’s this American myth of freedom, this is the land of opportunity. We are free people making choices and reaping the reward or  suffering the consequences of failure. You’ve heard phrases like God helps those who help themselves.  Pull yourself up by your own bootstrap! You will rise and fall according to your effort and gifts.   It’s your choice and your responsibility.

This is what makes us free.

And, when this “American Narrative” gets married to an  understanding of the Gospel that emphasizes Taking responsibility  for our sins, that emphasizes the justice and righteousness of God,  it becomes a potent brew. You see, the Gospel as traditionally understood requires first, before  all else, our acknowledgment that we are sinners deserving hell.  This is why Evangelicals ask, “if you die today, would you go to  heaven or hell?”

Unless you feel convicted, I don’t deserve heaven, I deserve hell, the Gospel has no relevance. Until you feel convicted in your heart of your sinfulness deserving of  hell, the Cross is not good news, because you don’t need it.  But, if you do, THEN Jesus becomes your savior who takes the  punishment you deserve, the Cross acts like a Reset Button to wipe  your slate clean,  so that you can strive to live a righteous and obedient life before God.  That’s the Gospel as understood by conservative Christians,   And the invisible belief driving it is the conviction that we ALL need to take responsibility for our wrongdoing.

When you understand this about conservative Christian approach to the  Gospel, then ALL the seeming contradictions make sense.  For example. Abortion is viewed as “you made a choice” to have sex and now the consequence is your pregnancy.  Take responsibility for it. If you made the choice to bring a life into this world, YOU MUST take  responsibility for it!  Abortion strikes conservative Christians as one of the greatest  examples of “shirking the responsibility.” That’s why there’s almost zero interest in making life easier for single moms with welfare programs. 

There’s a well known joke that for Republicans, life stops mattering at the point of birth. It’s because the invisible belief that’s really driving this passion is not  necessarily pro-life, it’s pro-responsibility.

So.

Contraceptives.  It’s consequence free sex. Again. It’s “shirking the responsibility.”  Health care. Well, get a job that gives you good health care. It’s your responsibility.

Immigration. We Christians will help you in your homeland but it’s  CHEATING to leave your home to come to our country illegally.   It’s not taking responsibility for your life and your home country.

Welfare. That’s not taking responsibility for your life. You see? It ALL lines up.
Invisible beliefs in freedom, consequences, responsibility, righteousness shapes so much of life and country in America.

But, this is NOT Christian. Let me say it again: 

THIS is Not Christian Faith.  It is rather American belief.

The Bible never says, God helps those who help themselves.  It’s the opposite, the Bible says God helps those who are helpless.  The Cross is the biggest Cosmic WELFARE program there is.  This American conservative Christian approach to life is best described by the older son in the parable of the prodigal son.  He argues that God is unjust, he says, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never  disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young  goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of  yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’  Luke 15:29-30.

His argument is, I have been responsible, but I have not been  rewarded. On the other hand, this son of yours has been so irresponsible, he’s a criminal jerk really, yet he is rewarded. 

This is injustice.  He accuses God of being unjust and unrighteous.

The invisible belief driving his argument is freedom of choice and  taking responsibility for consequences. These are good beliefs, but to God, they are NOT more important  than unconditional, agape love for “this son of yours.”  The question posed by this parable is, will Agape love or  Responsibility and Consequence be the prime invisible belief shaping and driving us?

So much of our life and culture is shaped by such invisible beliefs.  In the coming weeks, I will be talking about major invisible beliefs in  our culture today, contrasting them with true Christian beliefs.  But for today, let me say, Jesus meant to describe the older son as  the Pharisees.
 At the time, the Pharisees represented the majority popular  conservative church.

The older son obeys God, works for God, devotes his life for God,  stands for righteousness and service and faith.  It’s the church as most people understand it.

But the older son is the enemy of the Gospel. He represents Anti-Christ. What makes us True Christian is that we make the belief or faith in the  unconditional, divine, AGAPE love of God first and most fundamental.  That confers infinite dignity and worth to each and every one of us  regardless of race. Gender, class, achievements even righteous or  not.  

THAT’s the father in the Parable of the Prodigal Son.  That’s the message of the Cross.  Sadly, the American narrative has corrupted the Gospel of grace and  love today. So, our mission, the true Christian mission is to be known for our  unconditional love, agape love extended towards all people no matter what.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I believe in freedom and responsibility.  These are GOOD values.

But, Confine freedom and responsibility to practical  consequences. Not your worth, not your standing before God.

The father in the Prodigal Son story lets the younger son suffer the  PRACTICAL consequences of his actions. He starves. He rolls around with pigs. It’s very painful.  But, the son never loses his standing and worth as a child of God.  He becomes the lost son, NOT ‘you’re no longer worthy to be my  son.’ Who you are, your value, your worth, your dignity as the beloved of  God can never change.

THAT is the message of the Cross.

 If this really becomes the invisible belief driving our life, there are so  many practical benefits, you will experience slice of heaven on earth:
  • You will have the power to persevere when you experience failures  and tragedies that can cripple others.
  •  You will be freed from the tyranny of having to prove yourself over  and over again,
  •  You will become more generous towards others AND towards  yourself.
  •  You will become less judgmental and hypocritical.

Failing will NOT make you a FAILURE.

You won’t just ask who did wrong, who’s to blame, you will ask what’s the best action for best outcome here and be able to choose wisely.  The divine, powerful, unconditional Agape love of God will transform  your inner being so that you’ll become free to enjoy life, enjoy people, enjoy yourself better.

You will become the light and salt of the earth everywhere you go,  because you will help people feel better about themselves, treat themselves better, love themselves better, including yourself. THIS is the work of the Cross.

The Cross does not say, “Do the right thing.” “Take responsibility for  your life. Slave for God, never disobey”  Rather, the Cross says, “You’re the beloved.” “You’re accepted.”  “God is with you, have hope, have faith, get up again and again, for  you live by the Resurrection Power, you will never be defeated, for  you will rise again in the Kingdom of God?”

Amen, Hallelujah! I so wish and pray for you all that you would live in the freedom of the Cross.  Enter the life in all its fullness promised by the Kingdom of God.  The freedom that comes from the Agape love of God, may you  experience and grasp the depth, the height, the width, and the length  of the love of God by the power of the Holy Spirit!

 Amen!

 I would love to discuss further all the implications of switching from  invisible belief of American narrative versus the Gospel.  Please feel free to ask me any questions about this sermon. I'd love to chat with you!
​
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