Who Made You the Gatekeeper? Romans 13 and the Mistake of Turning Politics into a Test of Salvation

On By Archie L. GilmerIn Culture & Conviction1 Comment

In recent years, America has reached a level of political tension that touches nearly every area of life-including the church. More and more, Christians are making claims such as, “You cannot be a Christian while supporting that party,” or “No true Christian would ever vote for that candidate.” As well as many other statements of the like. Often time these statements are made with great passion and certainty but also made with very little careful biblical reflection.

Not only does this kind of vocal and emotional expression of opinion result in confusion, division, but often times lead to a redefinition of Christianity itself. Scripture is often invoked, yet selectively applied, to support personal political conclusions. This way of engaging in political disagreement has become grounds for questioning someone’s salvation or labeling them as unfaithful or “bad” Christians.

Romans 13:1-7 offers a crucial counterpoint. Rather than adding fuel to the fire of division, this portion of scripture should call Christians back to a sober, Truth-centered understanding of authority, government, and ultimately, what God truly expects from a follower of Christ.

A brief clarification:

This article is written from a biblical and pastoral perspective, not a partisan one. The purpose is not to persuade readers toward a political party or candidate, but to examine what Scripture-particularly Romans 13-teaches about Christian identity, government, and authority. Agreement is not required, but Scripture should be handled carefully and honestly, especially when questions of salvation and Christian faithfulness are involved.

What Makes a Person a Christian—and What Does Not

First and foremost, we must address the most foundational question found in the middle of this topic: What makes someone a Christian?

To be intentionally blunt, salvation begins and ends with Christ—His death, His resurrection, and His Lordship. Salvation is for those who are willing to surrender to the finished work of Christ on the cross. Once a person receives salvation through Christ and Christ alone, then that person is considered a Christian. That is it and that is all. We find this truth in Acts 4:12 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”.

Picking the correct side of this world’s political or cultural divisions cannot and does not place anyone in right standing with God.

This point matters because when our differences of opinion or understanding are elevated to a test of faith or a test of faithfulness, the gospel is quietly and subtly replaced with something else. Each time a Christian, makes a statement like, “If you vote like that, you cannot be a Christian,” or comments similar, they have surpassed biblical authority and moved into spiritual presumption. Most people call that being judgmental.

Disagreement does not equate to disqualification when it comes to salvation. Our political diversity among the Body of Christ should not negate shared salvation in Christ. We can find this truth in Romans 12:5 “so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”

Romans 13:1-7 the Sovereignty of God Over Government

Romans 13:1 is one of the clearest passages in Scripture dealing with the Christian’s relationship to governing authority. Paul wrote:

“Every person is to be in subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.”

This is a most uncomfortable statement from Paul, however, it also is a most profound one, especially in politically charged times as was so in Rome during the time of this writing. Making this statement, Paul does not limit God’s sovereignty to governing bodies that we like, leaders that we approve of, or systems that align perfectly with our Christian values. Paul simply states the fact that all authority exists under God’s sovereign rule.

As mentioned previously, Paul was writing to Christians living in a politically charged atmosphere under Roman rule—a government that was not Christian, morally corrupt, and hostile to the Christian faith. Notice that Paul’s statement made no exception, just a period at the end of it. He did not say “Submit only if the leaders are righteous,” or “Respect authority only if you voted for them.”

Does this mean that God approves of every action taken by government leaders? Not by a long shot! There is plenty of Scripture that shows the difference between God establishing and God endorsing. The sovereignty of God over rulers and leaders does not imply approval of all they do but does in fact affirm that no ruler or leader exists outside His ultimate control.

Most commonly the failure to distinguish between authority and approval produces misunderstanding surrounding Romans 13. God may, and often does, allow a person to govern or rule without endorsing that person’s personal morality or actions.

A good study through Old Testament accounts like Judges, Kings, and other parts of history will show how even though God did not approve of many leaders and their actions, He allowed them to rise to leadership roles over society for His purposes. Nothing has changed from then to the 21st century. If God’s purpose were limited to righteous rulers and leaders, history would have played out very differently and most likely we would all be in serious trouble.

The important idea of understanding Romans 13 and how we can recognize God’s sovereignty over government, is that it should produce humility in the heart of the Christian, not hostility. We who are saved by the blood of Christ should be able to see that political outcomes are never outside of God’s awareness or His control. Even when they trouble us deeply.

The Danger of Politicized Christianity

Several dangerous shifts occur when we as Christians allow our political allegiances to override the truth of God’s Word.

The most critical problem is that Scripture becomes a tool for validation rather than instruction. Political opinions are supported by verses of Scripture rather than shaping them.

Another problem, which is also of great concern, is that fellow believers are no longer united by the One who dwells in each of us. No longer do fellow believers see each other as brothers and sisters in Christ, rather they view one another as ideological opponents. Since the Scriptures teach that Jesus is the head of the body and He is the center of it all and holds it all together, it seems imperative that believers live accordingly.

As we think about Romans 13, we can see that it does not authorize contempt for leaders that we deem unrighteous or morally corrupt, nor does it permit Christians to dismiss governing authority simply because it conflicts with our personal preferences or beliefs. It is imperative for the believer to realize that everything we do is connected to whether or not we are surrendered to God as our King, our final authority. If all who are in authority positions are permitted by God as we see in Romans 13 and as believers are surrender to the ultimate authority of God, then how can we speak against what God is allowing? Respecting authority and obedience to God both demand spiritual maturity.

Declaring someone “not a Christian” based on their vote or political/social stance is not a defense of truth, nor is it in line with God’s truth. Actually, this kind of claim usurps the authority of Almighty God in two ways. First, it speaks against whatever God is doing by allowing a person to hold leadership roles over society and second, it speaks against what God has done in the lives of believers who are saved by the work of Jesus on the cross. We do not have any authority to speak about another person’s salvation since only God really knows the heart of each person. Only Jesus can be a gatekeeper of eternity with God as we see in John 10:9 “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”.

Voting, Wisdom, and Christian Responsibility

American citizens are citizens of a democratic republic. This comes with the privilege and responsibility of voting. However, said privilege should be viewed as a matter of stewardship, not salvation by the Christian.

There is no command in Scripture for believers to vote only for Christians. Also, we will not find where Scripture suggests that governing leaders must share the faith of those over whom they govern. In fact, when looking at the context of Romans 13, we can determine that Paul’s statements assume the opposite: that Christians will often live under non-Christian leadership.

When Christians vote, assuming they will, wisdom, discernment, and the common good should be sought. A candidate’s competence, character, and ability to fulfill the responsibilities of office is a legitimate and necessary consideration as we evaluate who to vote for. Simply put, we are looking for the best person for the job. Theological agreement or personal approval of every belief held by the candidate is not required.

What God is really concerned about is not whether rulers and leaders profess faith, but whether Christians remain faithful under whatever leadership God allows.

Holding Convictions Without Destroying Fellowship

There is no way that I would ever say that holding strong political convictions is sinful. On the contrary. Passionate engagement in civic life is part of good stewardship when it comes to being an American Christian. However, what Scripture does condemn is allowing those convictions to cause division within the Body of Christ.

Christian unity is grounded in shared faith in Christ, not political and social conclusions. Because the Body of Christ is made up of people, we may—and will—arrive at different conclusions about politics, candidates, and parties. The truth is that diversity does not weaken the church; it actually tests whether our unity is truly rooted in the gospel.

Paul’s words in Romans 13 is a call to Christians to a position of respect, humility, and trust in God’s sovereignty. This call is a great challenge to speak carefully, reserve judgement, and overcome temptations to view political disagreements as evidence of a person’s salvation.

Christ is King—Not the Party, Not the Candidate

The bottom line here is that the Christian’s ultimate allegiance is not to any politician or political party, but only to Christ Himself! Nations and governments will rise and fall. Leaders and rulers will continue to divide opinions.

But the cross remains unchanged! This is why only Jesus can be the gatekeeper to salvation.

Since the blood of Christ is sufficient to save us once for all, it must also be sufficient to unite us! This should be true even when we do not hold the same political and social opinions. Romans 13 reminds us that God is still sovereign, even when we cannot understand the outcome. This is true because the gospel reminds us that our identity is secured by the grace of God in Jesus Christ, not by ballots and political parties.

To God be the Glory!

Why Spiritual Discipline Still Matters in an Undisciplined Age

On By Archie L. GilmerIn Faith & DiscipleshipLeave a comment

There is a quiet truth many Christians feel but rarely articulate: a life without discipline is not a life of freedom, but of drift. This quiet truth lies just beneath a cultural narrative that believes that discipline is unnecessary, outdated, and often perceived as harmful. Many take the stance that authenticity matters more than restraint, and that personal freedom can and should be expressed without limits.

Unlike popular misunderstandings, the Christian faith has never been apposed to freedom. However, Christianity demands that freedom be formed. Faith becomes simply reactive, surface level, and ultimately unsustainable when discipline is absent.

We can see how important discipline is to the spiritual health of the believer when we see Paul giving instructions to Timothy in regard to how he should conduct himself as he went about his ministry and life as a believer.

“Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”
— 1 Timothy 4:7–8

In this portion of Paul’s letter to Timothy, we see that he is not dismissing the importance of discipline in the Christian life, but actually expressing the importance of it. Paul was teaching Timothy that discipline is a means to an end rather than the end goal. In other words, discipline is simply a tool by which we reach the end goal, a means by which we run the race and not only run the race but finish well.

Discipline Has Always Been a Spiritual Matter

Beginning with Adam and Eve, human beings have and continue to be creatures of habits, rhythms, and obedience. When it comes to healthy spiritual growth, these habits, rhythms, and obedience’s are to be prayer, fasting, Scripture reading and gathering with fellow believers. As God has designed, these disciplines are not to be seen as optional additions to our faith. These are the tools in the toolbox of discipline that not only connects the believer to God but keeps the believer near to Him.

These Spiritual disciplines are intended to build habits of the heart to respond to life by faith. Without discipline, we are left with Spiritual knee jerk reactions fueled by emotion alone. This way of life flies in the face of the lifestyle of faith that each believer is called to. Scripture shows many examples of discipline. Most are subtle and less dramatic than we expect it will be. It is often quiet and repetitive. Discipline requires faith, faith requires trusting God. This is where we experience the power of God in our Spiritual lives.

Undisciplined Faith Cannot Withstand Cultural Pressure

It has recently been my view that many of today’s Christians are experiencing a sort of passive aggressive persecution. Many read the scripture and think of persecution or hostility as public and harsh but the truth of the matter is that today’s persecution is subtle. This kind of persecution produces a slow erosion which results in a slow conformity to the spirit of the age.

An undiscipline Christian will still believe true things, yet has no framework required to live out said truths consistently. It is a slow drift away from God. Conviction weakens, priorities blur, and uncertainty slowly sets in.

Discipline does not produce a rigid believer. It is a crucial element for the genuine resilient believer.

Discipline Is an Act of Trust, Not Legalism

Make no mistake nor mis-understand, spiritual discipline is NOT about receiving God’s favor on merit. Grace most definitely is indeed the foundation of the Christian life.

Practicing discipline is faith in action. Everything a believer does because of their faith is done because we trust God. Faith and discipline are both our response to what Jesus did on the cross. If we are growing spiritually, our minds are being transformed as Paul wrote in Romans. The closer we grow nearer to God the more our will and His align.

Therefore, discipline becomes the tool by which we pursue the desires of our heart, which are becoming the same as the will of God. This means discipline in this way is not a list of do’s and don’ts required to please God and make our way to Heaven. On the contrary.

Discipline is not a burden. It is a gift.

The word discipline is one of a few words that most people cringe when scripture teaches about it. Mostly because people in general really do not like to be told what to do. Others struggle with this word because we all know exactly how much we fall short and feel discouraged at the thought of discipline in our lives for fear of the inevitable failure to come. However, discipline is not about perfection. Actually, discipline is about direction.

If I were to encourage anyone in the area of discipline, I would talk about “baby steps”. Start by exercising the spiritual disciplines of prayer and scripture reading. Over time, the desires of the heart begin to be transformed and affect the desire and ability to exercise discipline in more areas of our lives.

The Christian consists of years of quiet obedience and discipline, not moments of intensity.

Although it seems that today’s day and age seems to grow more and more undisciplined, God has not changed. He has not changed His design for our spiritual growth. Indeed, discipline still matters-not because it saves us, but because it forms us and transforms us.

Yes, Paul’s words to Timothy are so valuable to those of us who desire the godliness that Jesus went to the cross to provide. So, let us discipline ourselves for godliness, not because we are commanded to be discipline, but because we have a desire in our hearts to draw near to God. Discipline is simply a tool by which we draw near to Him. To God be the glory!

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The Christian Journey Cannot Be Solo

On By Archie L. GilmerIn Culture & Conviction, Faith & Discipleship, Life & PerseveranceLeave a comment

“For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.” – 1 Corinthians 12:12-14

As we read here in 1 Corinthians, we can plainly see that the singular Body of Christ is made up of a plurality of individual believers. This is Paul’s description of the Church. Everyone who becomes a believer, by way of placing faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior and following God’s plan of salvation, is grafted into the body of Christ.

So many times, I meet people in the community and as I get to know them, I find out that they believe in God. However, when the conversation turns to discussing what congregation or church they serve with, suddenly things change. It seems to trigger a frantic series of comments about how “they and God do their own thing.” Or “nature is my church.” Increasingly I am hearing from all ages that people just do not believe that there is a need to attend worship or be a part of a church congregation to be saved.

 My first response to this is that we must be very careful not to attach anything to the process of salvation other than what scripture teaches. What I mean is that attending church or being a part of a congregation of believers is not what saves a person. That’s right, going to church is not going to save anyone from the consequences of sin. However.

Scripture teaches many things about the Christian life and the characteristics of being a genuine believer in Christ. I want to focus only on a few areas of scripture for the purpose of this topic. But first I want to review what it means to be a Christian.

People who claim to be a Christian are those who have accepted the truth about Jesus as the Christ. His life on the Earth and death, burial, and resurrection are the work that brings forgiveness for the sins of mankind. Putting one’s faith in this fact and repenting of being a sinner is the beginning of this process. The Christian life is a series of acts of obedience which leads to spiritual growth, starting with baptism by immersion and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Upon becoming a Christian, the Holy Spirit immediately begins the work of sanctification. This is the lifelong journey of growing in Christ and the Holy Spirit having His way in our hearts through our submission to His will in our lives. This is what it means to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Here we find the issue in the hearts and minds of many who actually do believe but do not realize that their understanding is off. The following are the definition of the words ‘Lord’ and ‘Savior.”

Savior (Greek-Soter) means savior, deliverer, preserver.

Lord (Greek-Kyrios) means master, one to whom someone belongs.

I believe it is difficult for a person to reconcile how they can be a genuine Christian while at the same time ignoring, or rejecting the truth found in the Word of God. The Christian life grows and is lived according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit together with the truth God’s Holy Word. The Bible.

Many want Jesus as ‘Savior’ but cannot or will not accept Him as ‘Lord’. The problem with this is that it cannot work this way. There is only one Jesus. There is only one Savior, who is also Lord.

So, when Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, (inserted above), he describes how God designed the body of Christ, The Church, to be the united by the one Spirit. There is only one church. No one can be the church alone. We cannot “do” Christianity by ourselves. We need other believers. That is what God created. Wen Jesus returns for the purpose of bringing home His bride, it will be The Church.

“For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.” – 2 Corinthians 11:2

“But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.”  – 1 Corinthians 12:24-25

The point in all of this is simply that according to scripture, God intends for those who are saved by the blood of Christ to be united in Christ. United in the Spirit which dwells in each of them. One Church, lead by one Spirit, saved by one Savior.

Each believer has a specific purpose which God intends to use in harmony with the body of Christ. Because of this we should have a growing desire to be connected with a group of other believers where we can serve and grow together for the sake of the witness and for the sake of the lost souls in the world.

As I have already stated, not one of us can be the church alone. We need each other for growth, accountability, encouragement, strengthening, as well as fellowship in Christ. In fact, it is actually an act of disobedience if we are not regularly connected to a congregation of other believers. We are disconnected from what God is doing with His Kingdom.

“and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. – Hebrews 10:24-25

We the believers around the world are a powerful force to reckon with. Our mission is to go into the world for the purpose of exposing the lost to the reality of God and the need for Jesus as Lord and Savior. When the Church is active together, united in Christ, we are unstoppable!

God and His Kingdom is and always has been claiming great victories over the existence of His creation! Even in our world today. The Kingdom of God is the greatest thing going in the entirety of God’s creation! Why would anyone who claims to be save by the powerful blood of Jesus not want to be a part of it?

Anyone who is genuinely saved would then naturally desire to be a part of the Church. It would be an extreme necessity. In fact, when we are away from our Christian family, we feel something missing. Christians need each other. We need each other like we need Jesus. After all, it is the same Holy Spirit living in us!

“Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” – Matthew 18:19-20

To God be the Glory!

Anxiety, Fear, Worry, & God

On By Archie L. GilmerIn Culture & Conviction, Faith & Discipleship, Life & PerseveranceLeave a comment

It has always been my belief that God as our creator indeed created man with emotions. Therefore, we should be able to conclude that emotions are an important part of who we are as human beings. Since that fact being the case, it would make sense that our emotions are not generally a terrible thing to experience. However, I will say that, just as with anything else in our lives, our emotions can play a positive or negative role in the course of our lives.

Out of the many different emotions that human beings experience, Love and Hate seem to be the extreme opposites of them all. Somewhere in the span of that spectrum of emotions we will find anxiety, fear, and worry. It is these emotions that I will focus on in this blog post.

It has come to my attention that several articles and news stories are reporting this thing that they are calling, “phone phobia.” Surveys over the 2023-2024 time period are showing that almost 90% of Gen Z dread making or accepting a phone call. This is only one example of our society today and how we seem to be struggling in different ways with anxiety. There are, no doubt, countless more ways in which people from all generations experience anxiety.

As I thought about this statistic, at first, I thought to myself, well that seems a bit of a silly thing to be anxious about. Yet as I thought about what might really be happening, I was not only saddened for our society, but I also became concerned for the future of our society. I became concerned because I know that this kind of anxiety is evidence of a society that either does not know God or at least struggles in their relationship with Him.

I want to be clear that I am not intending to make a judgement against anyone who struggles with anxiety, worry or fear. I, just like most others, have struggled with these emotions at various times throughout my life. I know that the struggle is real.

Having said all of that, I would like to present some truths that if taken seriously and by faith, we could be set free from this prison of fear, worry, and anxiety. Yes, that is right. These emotions can become just that if we allow it. But, God, our creator, never intended for any of our emotions to become a prison or strong hold in our lives.

I have often preached that emotions are not sinful. However, how we process or deal with our emotions can affect our behavior. If our emotions are not dealt with in the manner in which God intended, then we can find ourselves allowing stress into our lives. To get to the point, God never intended for our emotions to be allowed to control our lives. Sure, emotions can and do affect our decision making but to allow emotions to drive our every decision would be less than what God would desire.

The fact is that we are told not to fear 365 times in the Bible. And just like most others, my first reaction each time I read it is, “easier said than done.” However, the fact remains that God’s Truth over and over again commands us to not be afraid.

These emotions, anxiety, fear, and worry are exactly what these 356 occurrences are addressing. It should be obvious that these emotions interfere with what God wants for His creation. God wants us to live in confidence, strength, and assurance in Him. He wants the world to see Him in us! That does not happen if we surrender to fear, anxiety, and worry.

The truth is, we live in a world that is in decay and it seems that evil and wickedness is increasing more and more as the world turns. The reality is that evil and wickedness has existed since Adam and Eve were kicked out of the garden. What has changed is the culture and the way that we exist in the world, and as long as there is change there will always be anxiety, fear, and worry.

When we read the bible, we are ready the inspired Word of God. We can notice that every truth that is in the Bible was written to someone in some age or generation of time. We can notice that all of them struggled with emotions just as we do today.

So, when we read in Philippians and see how the believers were being encouraged to keep their minds on the Lord and focus on who they were in Christ, and we see these words found there.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7

Notice that we can find some tools to overcome our anxieties, fears, and worries. As we notice these tools, hopefully we can notice that we have not been left to ourselves to deal with these difficult emotions that seem to take over our lives.

First, we pray. We talk to God regularly. He already knows our emotions. We should go to Him and be honest with Him and ourselves about our emotions.

Second, we offer our petitions. This is where we call on God to intervein. We ask God to give us what we need to overcome our emotions. We petition the Lord to guide us through these fears, anxieties, and worries. His Word tells us that He is waiting for us to come to Him.

Third, we always express our gratitude for God’s faithfulness. This helps in at least two ways. When we praise God and thank Him for His presence and blessings, we then begin to focus on Him rather than that which produces our fears, anxiety, and worry. Also, expressing gratitude, even before we see answers to prayer, shows God that we not only trust Him but also revere Him a Lord.

Fourth, all of the previous tools when exercised, are evidence that we actually believe in God and Trust in Him in all things.The more we trust God the better we are able to manage our emotions because we are more comfortable with giving them to Him.

The following pieces of scripture are simply a few parts of God’s Truth. I hope that you will read them and consider putting your faith in what they mean.

“casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7

“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad.” – Proverbs 12:25

“For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.” – 2 Timothy 1:7

The bottom line here is that us human beings were created to believe in God and walk with Him. This is the Christian life. This kind of life requires faith. Faith is the key to living the life that Jesus died on the Cross for. Faith is the key to truly knowing God as He intended for us all! Faith is the key to overcoming these emotions so that they do not control our lives and dictate our every decision.

In case anyone does not know or understand what faith is. I will point out Hebrews chapter 11:1.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” – Hebrews 11:1

Yes, I know. Easier said than done. If was easy, a caveman could do it. It is not meant to be easy, but it is very possible. All it takes is deciding to believe in God and then believe God. It means that we trust God always in all things.

I pray that if you struggle with anxiety, fear, or worry that God would draw you near to Him and that you would by FAITH draw near to Him. He is faithful and will give you victory!

To God be the Glory.

Our Struggle with Patience

On By Archie L. GilmerIn Culture & Conviction, Faith & Discipleship, Life & PerseveranceLeave a comment

As I sit down to write this blog post, I find myself overwhelmingly aware of the reality of this topic. What I mean is that I have spent much time in thought and prayer as to just how to word my thoughts about patience and how it impacts the Christian life. The problem is, the more I think about getting it done, the more impatient I become about getting the words out to finish the blog post! The struggle really is real!

To get on with it. I was having a discussion with some people recently about the fruit of the Spirit as described by Paul in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” While making the point in the discussion that we should notice that scripture shows the word ‘fruit’ as a singular and not a plural. Meaning that each of these virtues which make up the fruit of the Spirit are simply a part of the totality of the fruit of the Spirit. Sort of the DNA of the fruit of the Spirit.

While we discussed each virtue, when we looked at the virtue of patience, like always, we all expressed frustration about the fact that we all struggle with patience in our lives. I personally believe that struggling in this area of life is normal and should be expected. However, I do think that many times, people may misunderstand what this part of the fruit is really about.

It is common that our knee jerk reaction when talking or thinking about patience that our thoughts go to all those time in life when we have trouble waiting for someone or something. Or maybe we think about having to put up with a person or people that are difficult to put up with. I would say that both of those thoughts are correct and applicable. However, I would submit that God in His Word intends that we have a deeper understanding of what patience is all about and how it plays part in the totality of the fruit of the Spirit.

Recently while teaching through 1 and 2 Samuel, we studied how David was running for his life while King Saul was in hot pursuit for the purpose of killing him. All the while, David had knowledge of God’s promise and plan for his life that he would eventually become King of Israel. David exercised patience each time he had opportunity to kill King Saul and showed self-restraint. David at that time was a superb example of what it looks like to trust God and His plan.

Oh, how we wish we could be patient like David was. Oh, how we wish we could be as patient as Noah was while he built this gigantic boat in the middle of ridicule and persecution. And it definitely seems impossible to exercise the patience that our Savior displayed when He was arrested, beaten, mocked, spit on, cursed, and eventually crucified! He showed us the ultimate example of waiting on the Father to complete His plan! That is what patience as well as the rest of the virtues of the fruit of the Spirit is all about.

We say Amen! While at the same time, we continue to struggle with patience in our lives. Let us consider that maybe some of that struggle exists because our perspective on the things of life can be out of place. If our perspective is that which is focused on ourselves and how the world affects our own lives according to our plans and desires, then it is possible that we will experience unnecessary struggles in our lives.

If our perspective on the things of life and the events of this world are that of the Christian life, then our faith will have a great affect on our ability to exercise patience in all aspects of our lives. At the same time, it would not mean that we will never struggle with patience, it simply means that our struggles will ultimately build strength in our faith and our walk with Christ.

“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.” – James 5:7-8

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”- James 1:2-3

James explains this struggle that we all have with patience. He tries to help us understand that even this struggle has a purpose in the plan of God for our lives and for the bigger plan for His Kingdom!

Returning to our study in 1 and 2 Samuel, we are reminded throughout the life of David that hardship and struggles will prepare us for whatever God has in the plan for our future. It is most likely true that most if not all of us who are walking with Christ genuinely can testify that God had been preparing us for the things in are life today throughout our younger days. If we are honest with ourselves, we will admit that many of our worries and anxieties were unwarranted.

As James points out in the previous text, when we experience challenges to our patience, we should notice that our faith is being tested and we are being strengthened for endurance. Therefore, we should expect our struggles with patience to be different the longer we live and walk with Christ!

Finally, I would offer encouragement when we say to ourselves, “that all sounds great but this patience thing is just too hard!” Thank God for His Holy Spirit who lives in all of us who are part of the body of Christ through submitting to the work that Jesus did on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins! Jesus taught that the Holy Spirit would be sent to be with us, be our guide, to be our strength. We are not expected to work hard at being good at all these virtues that Paul described as the fruit of the Spirit. What Paul is saying is that if we live surrendered to the presence of the Holy Spirit then this fruit, (singular), will be evident in our lives. Not only one or two at a time but all of them.

Our hard work is simply the work of submitting to the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Surrendering to God. 100%. This is when patience will be on display in our lives for the world to see!

To God be the Glory.

The Power of Expectations

On By Archie L. GilmerIn Culture & Conviction, Faith & Discipleship, Life & PerseveranceLeave a comment

Anyone who has been “around the block” would testify to the fact that things do not always go the way that we plan or expect. When our expectations are not met, we might sometimes say “life happens.”

The truth of the matter is that when our expectations in life are not met, disappointment is the result. Therefore, we should make an effort to notice that expectations, while not always wrong or out of line, can be immensely powerful. Expectations can be so powerful that they could lead to either overwhelming anxiety and depression when not met or unbelievable success and blessings when applied appropriately.

I personally have spent most of my life learning to appropriately deal with expectations. My own toward others, others toward me, and expectations between me and God.

For years I struggled with managing expectations between myself and others. I often crumbled under the weight of the expectations that I felt others placed on me and also became defeated when let down by the expectations that I had put on others around me. Mostly, the expectations or lack of expectations that I had for myself had done the most damage early on.

It is only when we can learn what God expects that we then have any chance to manage expectations between others as well as ones we have for ourselves. After all, who knows better than God?

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.” – Isaiah 55:8

After giving our lives to Christ and receiving forgiveness and grace through the blood of Christ, only then can we understand that what God expects is that we be who He created us to be. Then after we see that because of our desires to sin against Him that we cannot live up to His expectations, then we cry out in repentance and surrender to God. That is when we begin to learn and truly understand what God expects. He expects us to trust in Him by faith.

The point is this. Once we learn the proper place for expectations to live in our lives, then we will experience more joy and less disappointments and anxiety in life. After all, is that not what we all are searching for? There is nothing more miserable than a broken spirit.

“A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.” – Proverbs 17:22

Just to be clear. There are many situations and roles in life that require expectations to be in place for all of us. Parents definitely should have expectations for their children. Spouses should have expectations for each other. Employers should have expectations for their employees. Society should have expectations for their government and so on and so forth.

However, when we put all of our weight on those expectations and insist that our lives play out exactly according to those expectations, well then, we would be setting ourselves up for failures, disappointments, anxieties and ultimately those broken spirits.

This is not the life that God would have us live. He would have us live lives that are able to put those expectations in their appropriate places all the while leaving room for God’s plan. In other words, as we try to manage expectations appropriately in our lives, we would do good to expect some unexpected realities to impact our lives.

We can know the will of God, via the Word of God, however we cannot know the mind of God, nor do we always know God’s plan as it plays out. So, we would do better to be more flexible when it comes to our expectations for ourselves, others and even God. We should learn to commit our plans to the Lord and let Him have His way.

“Commit your works to the Lord And your plans will be established.” – Proverbs 16:3

To God be the Glory.

God Knows About the Darkness

On By Archie L. GilmerIn Culture & Conviction, Life & PerseveranceLeave a comment

Any of us who have been around the block even only a few times would know that life is not always sunshine and roses. However, often times once we put our faith in Christ for salvation, we soon find out that not even the Christian life is always sunshine and roses. In fact, Jesus taught that there would be trouble. He taught that there would be trouble because people would hate Him. Not to mention that we just cannot get along. That is why we need Jesus.

I remember when my wife and I received salvation. It was urgent in my heart that we both accept the forgiveness that God had offered us through the sacrifice of Jesus. I remember it brought such a peaceful feeling into my life that I had never experienced before. Then it was not long before we both began to get involved with the work of the Church. As we began to grow, we began to realize that life was still hard at times. We quickly realized that accepting Christ did not mean that life would be stress free.

It has been thirty-two years and a few months since my wife, and I got saved. During that journey, many trials and dark times have come and gone. I still remember times when it seemed that all had failed, and I began to question everything about my life and ministry. It was very confusing and very defeating during those times. Loneliness and depression became a very real part of my daily life during those dark times. I remember feeling like I was all alone. Even though I never believed that God had forsaken me, at times I had to continue to tell myself that He was there. Even though I could not see or feel His presence. As I think about these times, I think of them as the dark days of despair.

The dark times I am referring to had nothing to do with any of our efforts to share the gospel or make disciples and evangelize the lost. No, I am referring to the challenges and troubles that came about between the believers. That’s right. I am referring to the trouble that happens within the church. The times I am referring to usually were brought on by extreme situations brought on by only a few.

As I reflect, I think of 1 Samuel as we read about David being on the run from Saul who was desiring to kill him. We read that God had called David to become the king of Israel and Saul had turned from God and began to be threatened by David. We find in 1 Samuel that David at one point was hiding in a cave in the wilderness. While his heart was filled with anxiety and confusion, David expressed his feelings, and they are found in Psalm 142. It is in these verses that I find truth in my dark times.


In the first two verses, David simply cries out to the Lord in the darkness of the cave. He is honest about his feelings and condition before the Lord.

I cry aloud with my voice to the Lord;
I make supplication with my voice to the Lord.
 I pour out my complaint before Him;
I declare my trouble before Him.

Verse 3 shows that David is dealing with a situation that is bigger than himself all while expressing his trust in God’s knowledge and involvement.

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,
You knew my path.
In the way where I walk
They have hidden a trap for me.

It is when I read verse 4 that God reveals to me that I am not the first to feel alone and desperate. I am not the first to be overwhelmed by the troubles of this world brought on by others. David felt hopeless and totally alone.

Look to the right and see;
For there is no one who regards me;
There is no escape for me;
No one cares for my soul.

It was at this point that I would have to force myself to continue to read through verses 5-7 of the Psalm. It is imperative to see how David was able to encourage himself in the Lord and cry out to God for deliverance.

I cried out to You, O Lord;
I said, “You are my refuge,
My portion in the land of the living.
“Give heed to my cry,
For I am brought very low;
Deliver me from my persecutors,
For they are too strong for me.
 “Bring my soul out of prison,
So that I may give thanks to Your name;

The righteous will surround me,
For You will deal bountifully with me.”

You see, David knew that God had picked him to be the next king of Israel. He also knew that God would do things in His own time. So, we can see in this Psalm how David was able to trust God in his darkness by believing God and trusting in His promises. He knew that the only way to find his way through the darkness was to trust and wait on the Lord to deliver him.

Just as David was able to survive his dark days, we too can take note of how he would cry out to the Lord and depend on Him even when he felt all alone and like no one cared about his troubles.

I can testify that God has never failed me. He always delivered me from the darkness and many times sent a brother or two into the darkness to wait with me. Also, I have never seen Him fail anyone else who would cry out to Him while trusting in Him and His timing.

Notice that David’s request to be delivered from his trouble was ultimately so he could praise God and give Him the glory!

I praise God that each and every time I cry out to Him from the darkness, He is faithful in delivering me. It has always been in His time, and I have been learning to wait on Him in the darkness.

I would encourage anyone who is going through some dark times and feeling alone and anxious, read Psalm 142 and begin to cry out to our Lord. Lay your heart out before Him and trust what you know to be true about Him and He will deliver you in His time.

I love you and the Lord loves you,

To God be the Glory.

Do We See What God Sees?

On By Archie L. GilmerIn Culture & Conviction, Faith & DiscipleshipLeave a comment

Often times as I look around at our world, I wonder if we really see what God sees. I mean are we really able to see people the way God see them? I would like the answer to that question to be yes, of course! However, I think it would not take much pondering on the reality of our lives to discover that, maybe not so much.

Jesus answered the question presented to Him by the Pharisees about which was the greatest commandment. His answer being to Love God and Love People. Well, some may think it to be an easy thing to do and others may think it to be rather challenging. Not to mention the variables that exist. Especially the fact that not all of us are that easy to love at times. That’s right, I said it. You know it is true. That is why we need Jesus!

I believe that there are many obstacles in life that prevent we the believers from really being able to love God and love people in the way that Jesus meant when He answered that question. One of the largest obstacles is the fact that the world demands society to look at one another and instantly pass judgement on one another solely based on our own personal opinions about what is right or wrong or what is acceptable or not. This leaves little to no room for being able to see people the way God sees people.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:34-35

We see here in John 13 how Jesus explains how to love God and love people. Especially that the Church would love one another. Yes indeed. It is a lot more than just being nice and exercising manners while in public. As Jesus made obvious, this is a command! If we profess to be believers, disciples of Christ, we must understand this as one of those things that is not an option.

I personally do not see this command as having multiple ways of going about doing. Jesus simply said to “love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” This would require us to have a good understanding of just how Jesus loved us. Once we have that understanding, then we can hope to love others and be a proper witness in the world for the Kingdom of God!

Notice that as we pursue this understanding, the result would naturally be that we are moving away from the way of the world which calls us to treat one another based on our own judgements and opinions. The fact is that we cannot love others the way that Jesus loves us while picking sides and viewing those who are standing on other sides as the enemy. It is impossible to see what God sees in people if we are focused on what we believe are their faults or sins. Yes, I know, this is the most challenging to say the least.

God sees what He created in all human beings. After all, He is the creator. He does not make mistakes. Yes, He sees our sin. Yes, He knows our hearts. However, God’s plan has always been to allow Jesus to come into the world for the purpose of dealing with the problem of sin. The problem being that sin separates us from God an His Holiness and demands a payment, death.

This is God’s plan because when He looks at His creation, He see past the sin and sees what He intended for each of us. He sees what He loves. Oh, how powerful our witness could be if we could just see others the way God sees them! If only we could see people the way God sees them, we might consider that God loves each one therefore, how could I do anything other than love?

Oh, how powerful our witness could be if we could just see what God sees in ourselves! Too many of us struggle with loving ourselves because we do not see what God loves. If we would see what He loves, then we would consider that if God loves me then how could I not love me? Then, we would truly have the ability to understand exactly how and why Jesus loves us the way that He did and does!

So, I would encourage each of us to consider seeking the Lord prayerfully that we would continue to grow in our understanding of Just how it was and is that Jesus loves us. I would encourage each one to prayerfully seek the Lord for strength and wisdom as we are in the world as witnesses to the lost. Pray that we would see people the way the God sees people.

To God be the glory.

The Best Way to Pray for Your Community is to Pray for Yourself

On By Archie L. GilmerIn Culture & Conviction, Faith & Discipleship1 Comment

As disciples of Christ, we are to be in the world in such a way that we are exposing our communities to the love of God. It is the “great commission”! Everything we do and everything we are about should indicate that not only does God love us but also that we love God!

We have a powerful resource available to us that provides a pathway to success in this mission. Prayer! It is my belief that praying for someone is the most powerful thing you can do for a person. After all, prayer is entering into the presence of God by way of the blood of Christ who opened the door for it. We are invited into conversation with the Father. It is His will that the believers go into the world and make disciples. So, it would make perfect sense that we would start off by calling on Him for guidance, wisdom, and strength. I mean, otherwise how can we proclaim His will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven?

Over the time of my existence in this world, I have heard many who lament over the condition of our world or our nation and sometimes even the condition of our own communities. I submit to you that it is not proper to cry out for God to do something to make the world a better place without realizing our role in how He wants to do that.

Take a moment to think about it. When we cry out to God to bless our community or our nation, even the entire world because we see the condition of society and are concerned. But are we concerned about what God is concerned about? Do we want God to bless our communities for the reason He wants to bless them? If we are about making disciples and exposing the world to the Love of God, then Yes. Yes, we are in line with His plan!

Let us look at Paul’s ministry for a moment. As Paul traveled the world teaching and preaching the gospel message and loving the people, he often told them that he would be praying for them. However, the most powerful thing he ever did for his ministry effort was to pray. I mean that he prayed for himself.

That’s right. He prayed for himself. Yeah, I know. That sounds so selfish. But maybe the selfish prayer is asking God to bless our nation or community because it is not the way we like it. No, we must understand that the life of the disciple of Christ is a life that is about the mission of going into the world and reaching others with the gospel.

We can see in scripture that Paul understood the importance of praying for himself so much that he called on others to pray for him as well.

“and pray on my behalf, that utterance my be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.” – Ephesians 6:19

“praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.” – Colossians 4:3-4

“Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you;” – 2 Thessalonians 3:1

If we really want our world to be better. If we really want people to suffer less and have more joy in life, then we must pray for ourselves! We must pray for ourselves because we, the Church, are the tool with which God is using to answer the prayers that we lift up for our Nation and our communities!

The bottom line is that God sees the condition of the world and the condition of our community! He also wants us to see it! So, when we cry out, please pray for our nation, or please pray for our community, just know that if you are in Christ, you are the answer!

Therefore, if we really want God to bless our community then we must pray for ourselves. In fact, I believe that praying for ourselves in the same way that Paul was asking other believers to pray for him, is the most powerful way to pray for others!

How will the lost ever know truth if we do not boldly live it in front of them?

I will be praying for all of you brothers and sisters and asking you to pray for me. That our witness will be bold and genuine for the sake of the gospel. For the sake of the lost!

To God be the Glory!

Christianity and Cancel Culture Cannot Co-Exist

On By Archie L. GilmerIn Culture & Conviction3 Comments

Since the opening ceremonies at the Paris Olympic Games, there has been much discussion and debate about the very offensive mockery of Christianity and the last supper presentation. Yes, I too take offense to the mockery that was allowed to happen before the entire world publicly.

I have read many different social media posts, news articles, as well as blog posts across the internet expressing different opinions and defending the actions from the other side of the conversation. It seems unavoidable if we are going to be involved in the goings on of this world.

I have heard many believers state that they plan to boycott the Olympic games and just not watch any of it. Understandably, this is their reaction to the highly offensive mockery of our God. I too initially had the same feelings at first. But after some prayerful consideration and pondering the different reactions around the world. I have come to a different conclusion. At least as it applies to the Olympic games and my reaction to the offensive actions at the opening statements.

I often think about what I find in chapter 17 of John’s gospel. This is where we find the most powerful prayer that ever was said. John recorded how our Savior communicated with the Father on our behalf. In the middle of that prayer, we can find something very important for all believers to consider. I mean, that is if we desire to be in the will of God. Verses 14-18 say,

“I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As you sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.” – John 17:14-18

As I am reacting to the events that were so offensive not only to me but to God Himself, I am tempted to “cancel” the Olympic Games from my life. I am tempted to boycott the games. However, as I ponder on the prayers of Jesus, I see that Jesus did not ask that we be taken out of the world. He did not ask the Father to separate us from the wickedness of this world but to give us the strength and courage to be in the world without being contaminated by its wicked ways.

The truth is that the world wants to “cancel” Christianity. More and more of todays society is working hard at limiting or erase Christianity from all areas of life. Anytime the world gets offended by anything that has to do with Christianity they try to “cancel” it. So, it does not make sense to me that we Christians actually “cancel” ourselves each time we get offended by the world. That is what we are doing sometimes when we boycott when we are offended.

I submit that Christianity and Cancel Culture cannot co-exist in the heart of the believer.

I am not saying that we must always be involved in everything that the world does that is offensive to our faith. However, I am saying that Jesus sent us into the world to be the witness. It is not possible to be the witness in the world if we continue to remove ourselves each time sinners do offensive and sinful things. After all, should we not expect those who are worldly to act that way?

More importantly, since we see that Jesus asked the Father not to take us out of the world, then why should we remove ourselves? No, I believe that God would rather us go into the world as commanded and be the light in a dark world. I think that it would be a missed opportunity if we boycott the Olympic Games. Because there are things happening that are offensive or that are sinful according to the word of God, it seems to me to be a good opportunity to engage in productive conversations with those in our community. A perfect opportunity to be the witness.

So, no. I do not believe I will boycott the Olympics. I will be offended by the things that offend God and pray for those who are the offenders. Not forgetting that there are many American athletes who have worked extremely hard to participate in their sport who may not have anything to do with the offensive actions of others. So as an American, the least I can do it support my fellow Americans as they compete and represent my country. All the while, being ready to have conversations about any and all situations that may happen along the way.

All for the glory of God!