OK, so I’m preaching through the book of Romans right? I started this back in January and was supposed to be done by Mother’s Day.
Mother’s Day!
Sunday is July 3rd and I’m just starting chapter 13.
I resolve here today that I will be done with Romans by the end of July.
This Sunday, the day before Independence day, I will deal with the passage on submitting to governing authorities.
Is this providential? No. It is purely by design and creative timing that this has happened.
But as I sit before Scripture, commentaries, lexicons, dictionaries and concordances I find myself somewhat at a loss with my own conflicting emotions over the state of this nation.
I am distressed.
I am so sick of political rhetoric. I mean, really, what is being said that is of a substantive nature today by our elected officials? After last night’s address by GW and the predictable Democratic response the answer is nothing.
I am tired of our incessant need to label people as extremist, conservative, green, liberal, myopic, fundamentalist, etc. People are more than a label, right?
I’m tired of Howard Dean on one side saying ludicrous things.
I’m tired of Rush Limbaugh on the other side saying equally ludicrous things.
I’m tired of being unable to question our role in Iraq without being lumped with Teddy Kennedy.
I’m tired of being unable to hold a pro-life position without being lumped with those brandishing Molotov cocktails outside of Planned Parenthood clinics.
I’m simply tired. Preaching through Romans 12 Paul was clear about how we are to treat one another: with respect, kind words, and no thoughts of retribution or vengeance.
The Democrats in this country fail miserably in this regard: they treat Republicans with scorn, ridicule and contempt.
The Republicans in this country fail miserably in this regard: they treat Democrats with scorn, ridicule and contempt.
We need to restore those principles in Romans 12: kindness, civility and respect. Not by force or coercion. I don’t want anyone to agree with me without discovering truth for themselves.
In the meantime let’s be about the business:
Let’s eradicate poverty–if every Christian in America would simply tithe we would eliminate poverty in the world with millions left over.
Let’s be a beacon of hope for the hopeless–yes, we hold tightly to the conviction that we possess the truth. That will not change even in a multi-cultural, pluralistic society. People are free to choose their own paths but we must be vigilant in extending the gift of God’s grace for all those who would come to Him.
Let’s be peace-lovers–War is a bad thing. Whether or not our excursion into Iraq is justified or not, we must be people who seek peace at all costs. There may be times when war is the only alternative. But peace must always be our primary intent. We must be people who endeavor first to reconcile before we engage.

I know I’m not supposed to do politics here but somehow I am supposed to preach this passage Sunday and, to be honest, I don’t yet know what I am going to say.
Paul always does this to me. I can be cruising along in a text and then he throws me a curve.
But this I do know: it does not matter what the state of our nation is. It does not matter what other people believe or what political positions that they hold.
It does not matter if I feel I am in the minority caught in the crossfire of warring political parties.
It does not matter if I cannot verbalize the answers or reasons for the positions I hold.

What does matter is if I treat others with love and respect.
That I be Jesus to the world.

C’mere Democrats.
Step on over Republicans.
You too, Perot, Nadar, Ventura, ET AL.
Let’s have a group hug, shall we?