Just a Reminder

I watch the demonstrations in our State and I wonder – whatever happened to civility?

The Apostle Peter told us, “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors,…” (I Peter 2:13-14a) What happened?

A mixed message confronts us every time we turn around. Ever hear about separation of Church and State? Our government is not supposed to impose a religion upon us. That sounds okay, but does it really mean we cannot have a nativity scene on public land?

When I was in second grade, my teacher lined us up in the hallway. We folded our hands and prayed before we went to lunch. I thought it was a good thing. In 1960, however, they told us we could no longer do that. Someone might be offended.

Then the Supreme Court ruled that the parents in Kentucky could not post the Ten Commandments in their children’s schools. Part of the problem was that the children might read them, meditate on them and perhaps even obey them. (Stone v. Graham 1980)

Is it any wonder we see chaos in the capital? Maybe we cannot reinstate the Ten Commandments, but we can obey God’s Word. Do you remember Jesus saying, “Ye shall know them by their fruit?” (Matt. 7:16)

No matter what our political view, God calls us to conduct ourselves as His children. The Apostle Paul gave us a picture of what that was in Galatians, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self control: against such there is no law.”

The fruit of the Spirit is evidence to the world that we have been paid for by the blood of Jesus. This is our testimony. Let us guard it.