Tag: Christian life

Privileged and Not Ashamed

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

In a world where many people seem to rage against privilege, the privilege of being in Christ is nothing like the kind of privilege the world argues about. Salvation is open to every person, no matter race, status, money, past sin, prison record, or anything else. Christ freely shed His blood so sinners can be forgiven, covered in His righteousness, and welcomed into the presence of a holy God. The Holy Spirit living in a believer is a whole lot bigger than any little privilege the world can hand out.

Paul’s words in Romans 1 show what this privilege looks like in real life: “I am not ashamed of the gospel.” Paul was not some perfect man who had it all together. Paul had hunted down believers and murdered them. He called himself the worst of sinners, yet Christ changed him and sent him out. The gospel gives salvation to everyone who believes, and the righteous live by faith, so shame has no place in the life of somebody covered by the blood of Jesus.

Christ sends every believer into the world. John 20 says, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you,” and Matthew 28 says that all authority belongs to Jesus. The King of kings does not leave anybody out. Christ chooses His people, sends them to love folks, share the gospel, live different from the world, and let the power of God do what only God can do.

The gospel remains the only message that saves anybody from eternal separation from God. Christ suffered, died, rose on the third day, and calls people to repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The urgency of that truth comes from the fact that people leave this world every day, while nobody is promised the next minute. The church carries this truth not by forcing anybody to believe, but by faithfully offering Jesus and being ready to share the details about the gospel truth.

Discipleship goes beyond getting somebody baptized and then leaving them alone in a hard world. Paul tells Timothy to entrust truth to faithful people who will teach others also. The church helps new believers learn how to walk with Christ, stand against Satan’s lies, move from spiritual milk to spiritual meat, and make disciples who make disciples. This privilege becomes a life that outlasts a person, like ripples moving out across a pond until Jesus comes back.

Key Takeaways
  • 1. Salvation is the greatest privilege Salvation brings sinners into relationship with the holy God who could not look upon sin apart from Christ’s blood. The privilege is not earned through background, behavior, or social standing. Christ makes this gift available to every person, and faith receives what grace has freely provided.
  • 2. The King personally sends believers Christ sends His people with all the authority of heaven and earth behind that call. The assignment may happen at work, at home, in a hard conversation, or around a meal. God does the life-changing work, but He honors believers by making them available in somebody else’s life.
  • 3. The gospel alone brings salvation Christ’s death, burial, resurrection, and call to repentance are not one spiritual option among many. The gospel is the only message that deals with sin and eternal separation from God. That truth makes Christian witness urgent, humble, and full of real hope.
  • 4. Disciples make disciples for generations Discipleship does not stop when somebody comes up out of the water. Christ’s people are called to help others learn obedience, endure discouragement, and grow into mature faith. Faithful witness can keep multiplying long after a believer is gone from this planet.
  • 5. Joy keeps witness from becoming burden Privilege in Christ changes gospel witness from a scary duty into an honor. The world may pressure believers to stay quiet, but the King’s commission gives courage. A life genuinely overjoyed by Jesus makes the invitation believable to people watching.

The Most Powerful Influencers

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

Matthew 5 puts Jesus’ people right in the middle of a watching world and says, “You are the light of the world.” Jesus does not say, “Go try to be light,” or “see if a little light can be brought in.” Jesus says that is who his people are because Christ is in them, just like he had already said they are the salt of the earth.

The influencer craze in today’s world shows how badly people want to be seen, followed, and known. Jesus takes that desire for influence and turns it toward the kingdom of God. The question is not whether somebody is influencing people, because somebody is always watching. The question is whether that influence is causing people to look at a life and glorify the Father in heaven.

The image of a city set on a hill makes the point plain. A city like that cannot be hidden, especially when darkness settles in and even a little light shows up from far away. Christ’s people are meant to be visible, not covert Christians, not “double o six” believers hiding behind private spirituality. The light is supposed to be seen, because God has pulled sinners out of a mess and put them on display as trophies of grace.

The lamp under the basket shows how foolish it is to hide what Jesus has lit. God puts the light in a person through the gospel, through repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. The hard part is not making the light shine, because God does that. The hard part is getting self, attitude, pride, words, and behavior out of the way so the light can actually be seen.

The darkness of sin is pictured like a house after the power is gone, so black that a person cannot see even someone close by. Into that kind of darkness, the Spirit positions believers so the light reaches real people in real moments. Good works are not for earning salvation, proving greatness, or showing off Christian achievement. Good works are meant to open a window where people can see God and say, “Glory be to God.”

Jesus’ call ends with purpose. The light shines “in such a way” that people see the works and glorify the Father. The Christian life is not about living a best life, making a name, or becoming impressive. Christ lives his life in his people, and the right prayer becomes, not a desire to be a great Christian, but a surrendered desire for God to be glorified through whatever he wants to do.

Watch full sermon videos here: Salt and Light Sermon Series Videos

Key Takeaways
  1. Influence belongs to the kingdom Jesus does not leave influence in the hands of fame, platforms, and public attention. The believer is already shaping somebody’s view of God, whether that is intentional or not. Kingdom influence asks a better question than “Who is watching?” It asks whether the watching world is being pointed toward Christ or away from him.
  2. Light is identity, not performance Jesus says, “You are the light,” not “try harder until light appears.” That means the believer’s visibility begins with Christ’s presence, not personal effort or religious image management. The danger is not that the light is weak, but that self can stand in front of what God has already lit.
  3. Darkness makes little light obvious The world’s darkness is not just inconvenience, but the blindness of sin and separation from God. In deep darkness, even a small light gets attention and changes what can be seen. God places his people in ordinary roads, homes, workplaces, and neighborhoods because real darkness needs real light nearby.
  4. Good works aim at God’s glory Good works are not spiritual trophies for the believer to polish. Jesus gives them a direction, so that people see them and glorify the Father in heaven. The work may pass through human hands, but the praise must land on God, because only God cleans up the mess and makes a sinner new.
  5. Surrender gets self out of light The biggest struggle is often not knowing what God should do, but letting God do it without self taking over. Pride, fear, attitude, and old habits can block what the Spirit is trying to show. Dying to self is not vague religious talk here, but the daily work of moving out of the way so Christ can be seen.

Stay Salty

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

Jesus stands on the side of the hill and says what the kingdom of God is like. Jesus does not tell His disciples to try real hard to become salt. Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth.” That little word “are” matters. The disciple’s usefulness begins with what Christ has already made true, not with religious effort trying to manufacture something fake.

Salt was valuable, necessary, and understood. Salt preserved meat from decay, brought flavor to food, and even served as payment in the Roman world. Jesus uses that picture to say that believers matter in the world. Salt preserves what is right and healthy, slows down the rot sin brings, and adds something that gets people’s attention. The Spirit of God in the believer is the real saltiness. Christ in the believer is what changes lives, blesses people, and makes a disciple different from the world.

Romans 12 says not to be conformed to the world, but to be transformed by the renewing of the mind. God is the one holding the salt shaker. The disciple is the vessel, and the Holy Spirit is the one who brings the flavor. Ephesians 2 says believers are created in Christ for good works prepared ahead of time. The Christian life is not a bunch of Christians running around trying to bless people in their own strength. The Christian life is disciples walking around letting Jesus in them preserve life and change people.

Jesus also warns that salt can become tasteless. That should get a believer’s attention. Compromise does not always look like open rebellion. Compromise often looks like gradual dilution, like water leaking into a barrel of salt until the salt washes away and only gray useless grit remains. A person can look full and still be full of dirt. A disciple can say the right words, show up at the right times, and still stop being useful if the world has been allowed to dilute the life of the Spirit.

James calls friendship with the world hostility toward God because giving the heart to the world after belonging to Christ is spiritual adultery. Jesus says tasteless salt is good for nothing except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. That warning is serious, not because Christ’s sacrifice was weak, but because Christ died to make His people useful to the Master. The call is simple and weighty: be salty, stay salty, stay close to God, pray in the Spirit, walk in truth, and let the world see something real enough to make it thirsty for Jesus.

Watch full sermon videos here: Salt and Light Sermon Series

Key Takeaways
  1. Salt is identity before activity Jesus says disciples “are” the salt of the earth, not that they should strain to become it. Christian usefulness begins with union with Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit, not with self-made religious energy. A disciple learns to live out what God has already made true, like learning how to wear what has already been given.
  2. The Spirit brings the flavor The believer is not the one shaking the salt all over the world. God holds the shaker, and Christ in the believer is what actually affects lives. That truth humbles spiritual ambition and also removes fear, because usefulness depends on surrender to the Spirit, not on personal strength.
  3. Compromise usually dilutes slowly Compromise does not always arrive as loud rebellion against God. More often, it seeps in like rainwater through a leaky roof, slowly washing away the salt until the barrel still looks full but has become useless grit. The danger is not merely looking worldly, but becoming so mixed with the world that Christ is no longer recognizable.
  4. Usefulness belongs to surrendered vessels Second Timothy says a cleansed vessel becomes useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. The point is not endless recommitment like a revolving door, but a yielded life where the Spirit is allowed to rule. A life surrendered to the Holy Spirit becomes available for God’s purposes in ordinary moments.
  5. Distinct lives create holy thirst Salt makes people thirsty, and a Spirit-filled life can awaken thirst for Jesus in people who do not even know what they are looking for. The world does not need slightly better versions of itself. The world needs lives so clearly changed by Christ that people begin to wonder whether God is real and whether His truth can be trusted.

The Shield of Faith and Prayer in the Spirit: What Makes it All Work

On By Archie L. GilmerIn Faith & Discipleship, Life & Perseverance1 Comment

Scripture: Ephesians 6:16,18 (NASB 1995) “In addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one….With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.”

Paul brings Ephesians 6 back to the main thing: God gives the full armor so his people can stand firm in the victory Jesus already won and go make disciples. Christ died for sins, for forgiveness, for reconciliation with a holy God, and also so his people would have everything needed to participate in the kingdom of God. The Bible keeps pressing toward that same work, telling of Jesus, preaching the gospel of peace, and making disciples.

Paul says the struggle is not against flesh and blood. The real enemy is the devil with his schemes, lies, discouragement, and condemnation. Satan wants to pull as many people as he can away from God because he already knows he is defeated. Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection claim victory over those powers, so God’s people have no reason to shrink back.

The Armor Belongs Together

The armor of God belongs together. Truth cinches everything up like a man getting his belt situated before serious work. Righteousness protects the vitals because Christ gives his righteousness through faith. The gospel of peace puts shoes on the feet so the good news goes wherever God’s people go. Salvation holds the head up because forgiveness means shame does not get the last word. The sword belongs to the Spirit, not to the believer trying to sling Bible verses around by himself.

The Shield of Faith Snuffs Out the Fire

The shield of faith stands right in front because Satan keeps shooting flaming arrows into the mind and heart. Those arrows are lies, accusations, criticism, shame, and doubt meant to start a wildfire. Faith soaks the shield so the fire gets snuffed out. Satan may be stronger than any person, but he cannot win against Christ’s victory.

Prayer in the Spirit Keeps You in Step

Paul ties that shield of faith to prayer in the Spirit. Real prayer is not just talking at God about whatever is on the heart. Prayer in the Spirit means staying alert, listening, responding, and keeping in step with what the Holy Spirit is doing. The simple things like forgotten eggs and bacon at camp even became a gospel moment, because ordinary errands can turn into holy openings when the Spirit has somebody’s attention.

The Spirit helps weakness when God’s people do not even know how to pray as they should. The Spirit intercedes according to the will of God. Prayer in the Spirit means praying in God’s will, in God’s Word, in faith, for God’s glory, and for lost souls. Jesus paid too high a price for bad days, stress, pain, or busyness to make his people check out from the work of the kingdom.

Key Takeaways

  1. Faith snuffs out Satan’s fire. The shield of faith does not keep every arrow from hitting, but it keeps the fire from taking over. Satan aims at the mind and heart with shame, accusation, and doubt, hoping one spark becomes a wildfire. Faith answers those lies with settled confidence in what Christ has already done, not with confidence in personal strength.
  2. Prayer means staying in step. Prayer in the Spirit is more than telling God everything on the list. The Spirit calls for attention, listening, and obedience, so prayer becomes a way of keeping pace with God instead of running ahead or lagging behind. The life that prays this way learns to ask, listen, and get back to kingdom work.
  3. Ordinary errands can become ministry. Things like forgotten eggs do not have to be just a funny camp story, because God may use a grocery delivery to put unbelieving people near the gospel. The Spirit often works through small interruptions, inconvenient details, and plain old daily life. A disciple paying attention may find that the next open door is sitting in an every day life exchange.
  4. The Spirit uses the Word. The sword is the Spirit’s sword, not a weapon for careless hands to swing around. Scripture does damage when it is thrown at people apart from surrender, context, and the Spirit’s work. The Word first cuts, heals, and shapes the believer, then the Spirit uses that same Word through that life for somebody else.
  5. Discipleship is the whole point. The armor does not exist so God’s people can feel safe while staying still. The whole outfit is given for standing firm, bringing the gospel of peace, resisting the enemy, and making disciples. Busyness with personal kingdoms can dull spiritual attention, but Paul keeps the church alert to the mission Christ died to make possible.

Stand Firm Without Freezing: The Armor that Moves You Forward

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

Scripture: Ephesians 6:13–15 (NASB 1995) “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.”

Ephesians 6 keeps saying, “stand firm,” but standing firm does not mean freezing in place. The command to stand firm calls God’s people to be strong in the Lord, suited up in what God has already supplied, and ready to move forward for the gospel. The “frozen chosen” picture exposes a fake firmness that sits still, gets comfortable, and calls fear wisdom. The text presses past that comfort zone because Jesus never promised that obedience would always be fun, easy, or comfortable.

The Belt of Truth Holds Everything Together

The belt of truth holds the whole thing together. The Roman belt was not just decoration and it was not there to hold pants up. The belt kept the armor in place so the soldier could move, fight, and not get tangled up in his own gear. Truth does that spiritually. Truth gives confidence when fear says, “What if they react badly?” Truth reminds the believer that the power is in the gospel, the power is in Christ, and the job is not to save anybody by personal strength but to step in and let the Lord do his thing.

The Breastplate of Righteousness Guards the Heart

The breastplate of righteousness protects the vital places. The breastplate guards the heart, the lungs, the life blood, all the places where one blow can do terrible damage. Christ’s righteousness does that for the Christian. God no longer looks at the believer as a sinner standing on personal merit, but as one standing in Jesus’ righteousness. That confidence matters when Satan fires lies, guilt, hesitation, and fear into the mind. If that ammunition gets to the heart, faith gets weakened. The breastplate keeps the mess of the world from striking the vital organs spiritually.

The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace Prepare You to Move

The shoes of the gospel of peace make the whole armor ready to go somewhere. The gospel of peace is not just a calm feeling. The gospel is God making terms of peace with enemies through Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. Sin made people prisoners to sin behind enemy lines, and the gospel sends God’s people to tell prisoners they can be free now. The task is not to throw the Bible at sinners or fight lost people as enemies. The task is to tell them, “God doesn’t hate you. Jesus died so you can be free.”

Armor That Equips You to Stand and Step Forward

The armor of God equips the believer to stand strong and step forward. The belt, breastplate, and shoes belong together. Truth holds righteousness in place, righteousness protects the heart, and the gospel of peace moves the feet toward one more person who needs to hear that freedom is available in Christ.

Key Takeaways

  1. Standing firm is not freezing. Standing firm in Ephesians 6 does not mean staying safe, still, and untouched. Fear can make comfort look like faithfulness. The armor of God is given so the believer can hold ground and still move toward the world with the gospel.
  2. Truth holds everything together. The belt of truth gives stability because truth keeps the rest of the armor from shifting out of place. Confidence in Christ comes from knowing what is true and walking in it. The gospel has the power, and the believer’s part is to step into obedience while the Lord does his thing.
  3. Righteousness guards the heart. The breastplate of righteousness protects the place where Satan aims his lies, guilt, fear, and condemnation. Christ’s righteousness gives the believer courage to speak without being ruled by how another person may respond.
  4. The gospel announces peace. The gospel of peace means God has made terms of peace through Jesus for people who made themselves enemies. Lost people are not the enemy to be attacked, but prisoners to be told that freedom has already been won.
  5. Proper shoes mean forward motion. The shoes of the gospel prepare the believer to move into hard places without slipping all over fear. God’s armor is not for looking dressed up on Sunday, but for going out ready to love one more person behind enemy lines.

Be Strong in the Lord: Standing Firm in the Full Armor of God

On By Archie L. GilmerIn Faith & Discipleship, Life & Perseverance1 Comment

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10–13 (NASB 1995) “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”

The soldier on the edge of the battlefield stands there with a real enemy in front of him and eternal stakes on the line. The commander has not handed him 98% of what he needs. God has already placed within reach the strength of His might and the full armor needed to stand firm in a victory already won by Jesus.

Paul’s “finally” in Ephesians 6 gathers up everything already said in the letter. God has saved believers by the blood of Christ, united them in Christ, made them one body, and called that body to live holy because He is holy. The assignment to make disciples never comes with an “unless.” God knows every trauma, every interference, every attack, every blessing, and still gives the command.

Strength Has a Location

The phrase “be strong” cannot stand by itself. Paul says, “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.” Strength outside Christ will not carry the mission. Christ is the place where God’s might is found—the same might shown when God raised Jesus from the dead and seated Him above every rule, authority, power, dominion, and name.

Christian confidence grows when the believer quits measuring personal ability and starts drawing from resurrection power already made available in Christ. God does not send His people into spiritual battle with missing pieces. The comfort of the Christian life is not that the battle feels small, but that the provision is complete before the first step is taken.

Armor Must Be Put On

The full armor of God is not decoration. Paul gives an active command: put it on. Armor left unused is like a coat a cold teenager refuses to wear, or fire gear a firefighter leaves in the truck before running into a burning house. The world is on fire, and the mission is to rush in and tell prisoners that Jesus has already won and there is a way out.

Spiritual immaturity often looks like freezing in the cold while the coat is already in hand. The armor does not help while it sits unused. Paul’s command requires action, not because God has failed to provide, but because believers must choose to stand dressed in what God has given.

People Are Not the Enemy

The devil’s schemes are real because lies are meant to deceive. Satan does not care two hoots about people for their own sake. The enemy wants to hurt what God loves and disrupt what God is doing. The armor matters because Satan is a master liar, and flesh and blood is not the enemy.

Paul names rulers, powers, world forces of darkness, and spiritual forces of wickedness because the struggle is spiritual. People in the room, people in the community, difficult people, broken people, and lost people are all people Jesus died for. The text calls believers to stop fighting in their own strength, stop treating people like the enemy, and stand firm in Christ.

Stand in What God Has Already Provided

Paul’s command is not to win the war, because Jesus has already claimed the victory. The call is to stand in what God has already provided, not to prove strength by trying harder. Surrender becomes the place where God’s strength shines most clearly, especially when human strength has run out.

The provision is complete. The call is simple: stand, surrender, pray, obey, and trust God to do what only God can do.

Key Takeaways

  1. God supplies more than almost enough. He does not send His people into battle with missing pieces. The strength of His might and the full armor are already provided so believers can stand in Christ’s victory.
  2. Strength is found in Christ. “Be strong” is not a call to bare human toughness. The strength has a location—“in the Lord”—and a source—“the strength of His might.”
  3. Armor must be deliberately worn. The armor of God does not help while it sits unused. Believers must choose to put it on and stand dressed in what God has given.
  4. People are not the enemy. Every person is someone Jesus died for. The fight is against spiritual forces of wickedness, not the ones held captive by the enemy’s lies.
  5. Standing is not self-effort. Jesus has already won. The call is to stand in what God has provided, surrendering so that His strength is clearly displayed.

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!

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.

Graphic featuring the text 'ONE BODY, ONE SPIRIT' and 'One Church' with people holding hands in the background, symbolizing unity and community.

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.

Close-up of two eyes with water droplets, featuring the text 'Do Not Be Afraid' in a bold font, and words 'Worry', 'Anxiety', and 'Fear' in a contrasting style.

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.

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.