Christians often have it wrong...

For the last few weeks now I've been working to make praying while I drive to work a habit. I have, to some extent, succeeded. This morning, I listend to the news on the radio for a few minutes ahead of time and they mentioned that a Falun Gong group came through to talk about how China was harvesting organs of persecuted spiritual groups, such as Falun Gong. Chinese Christians and Chinese Falun Gong members have persecution in common in China. Communism there doesn't broker any competition for loyalty, so nearly any organization that indicates there might be a higher authority other than the Communist Party is going to persecuted.

My first thought was that Communism is dispicable. In the name of what is good for the whole it promotes national oppression with a small elite oligarchy sitting atop to glean all the benefits. Communism is just another name for autocracy. I decided that while I was thinking about it, I would pray for China and the oppressed peoples of that nation. Yet, one could pray for many different things and this got me to thinking. I could pray that God would stop the oppression and destroy the yolk that the government has laid upon the people. Or I could pray that God would strengthen the Christians and drive believers to Himself through this oppression. I chose the latter.

I think Christians have spent far too much effort, particularly in the last couple centuries, trying to make the world a better place. God never called us to make the world a better place. In fact, I can't, off the top of my head, think of a scripture that supports such a view. I can, however, think of many verses that support the view that we are to work to free people from the bondage of sin despite the problems of the world.

That isn't to say that I should not vote or do things that would better society. Not at all. However, that is not the call of a Christian. That is the call of the citizen. I will do my best to support my nation and help my government, but that's an act of obedience that exists as a secondary command to the great commission, "19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19-20)

As I see it, being a Christian is the following:

• Being a Chrsitian is not about making the world a better place.
• Being a Christian is about freeing people from bondage.
• Being a Christian is not about teaching or enforcing morality and conscience upon others.
• Being a Christian is about making people aware of morality and conscience, to make them aware of their sin and failings.
• Being a Christian is about knowing, worshipping, and obeying God. This is the greatest command, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." (Matthew 22:37)
• Being a Christian is about loving your neighbor and particular about loving your Christian brothers and sisters, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 23:39, James 2:8) "Love one another earnestly from a pure heart." (1 Peter 1:22)

Cheers.