6-28-18 National Identity and Personal Salvation

Daily Jot: National identity and personal salvation - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com
 
There was a story last week that socialist Senator Bernie Sanders was going to introduce a bill to provide guaranteed government jobs for everyone in America. Rasmussen Reports conducted a poll of 1,000 likely voters and found that 46% supported the idea. This is true socialism-you and I would be forced to pay enough taxes to support guaranteed jobs for everyone. Someone might say this is biblical because in Acts 4:32 the early church "were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that any of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common." This was voluntary, not compelled by the government. It, therefore, was not socialism, but rather Christian care for one another.
 
That even Christians would think it OK for the government to give everyone jobs and those who don't have government jobs would be forced to pay for it is an indication that there is no longer much national identity as an American. What made America great in the past is that as a free people, we had the courage to stand against such tyranny not promote it. It came from within the heart and soul of being an American. This rugged individualism and independence characterized Americans. Where has it gone? Our national identity was that of a Christian nation. Even if not all the people were Christian, they recognized that Christian morals were an acceptable and preferred qualification for leadership. The vacuum of leadership politically and spiritually in this nation has left much of it a dry, amoral place of apathy.
 
The Apostle Peter wrote in 1 Peter 4:17-19, "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God; and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator." The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 10:13-14, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?"
 
Jesus said in Matthew 24:23, "Then if any man shall say unto you Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not." Our national identity and, more importantly, our personal salvation is diluted tremendously if we, as Peter put it, "scarcely be saved." If America's preachers are so intent on preaching/teaching a self indulgent, extra Biblical and emotional version of the Christ, then what Christ are we following--the real Son of God, crucified and risen, for our sins, or some humanist version of Christ that fits a social or political extra-biblical gospel? It is here, not on the national policy front, that we as a people have lost our identity. This should be a serious personal consideration that gives weight to the working out of salvation with fear and trembling.
 

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