Aug | 24 | Stop Bloomin Blasfeemein!

Key Word:- BELIEVE


Title:- Stop Bloomin Blasfeemein!

Titus 3:1,2 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.

In our text for today, ‘To speak evil of’ is a translation of the Greek word: 'Blasfeemein'. That's right, blaspheming! It is possible to curse, swear, and use foul and odorous language against other people. It is possible then to blaspheme other people, especially if they are politicians! I think that this is the context of the admonition related to this kind of 'speaking evil against'. The text for today appears to be saying: “Obey your rulers and authorities, your politicians and don't blaspheme them.” Now there's a challenge! No really, it is a challenge! Especially within free and democratic societies. Especially when they've all been 'on the fiddle'! Well, nearly all.

In my home country of England, our form, over the years of political debate has always been adversarial. In England, the floor of the House of Commons has two drawn swords facing one another. The government and the opposition in their opposing benches often going beyond probing and testing, to verbal prodding and tearing, ripping and ridiculing the other member to shreds, always in the most polite and ‘Speaker’ guided way of course. Indeed, prefix any statement with “The right honourable member” and you can carry on to kindly 'gut' anyone you do not agree with. This kind of a verbally vicious environment is the stuff of present day politics, ask any 'shock jock.'

In addition to this, some Presidents and Prime Ministers have ensured by their double dealing, dirty living and foul and odorous actions, to bring curses upon themselves and the countries they represent. It's hard not to speak evil of such people isn't it? But let's ramp it up a little further. How about not speaking evil of such leaders as Hitler, Nicolae Ceausescu, Stalin, Idi Amin, Pohl Pot, Saddam Hussein.....and the list goes on. Let me ask you, "Was it OK to speak evil of them? "

The church and its members are to be the bulwarks of any community, acknowledging the sovereignty of God and His administration of protecting the good and punishing the evil. However, we are called to discern when Governments protect evil and punish good. When this happens, that is when evil is rewarded and good is punished, our response to such calamity as individuals, communities and nations will be difficult, disconcerting and somewhat divisive, especially within our own communities of faith. History has at least taught us this! Never the less, in the face of such a sickness in social order, if we as Christians go on to merely adopt an attitude of ‘head in the sand spiritual other worldliness,’ we shall appear to be so disinterested that we will certainly be ridden over by the opponents of truth and good! We shall also be seen to be totally disengaged from the real world and therefore amongst our neighbours, we shall be powerless, disenfranchised and therefore ineffective for any good work whatsoever.

Every committee, community board, political party and neighbourhood scheme of every kind needs to have powerfully gentle, honourable and humble, truth talking, good working Christians involved in them, for we can be sure of this, if we don't: “Evil shall triumph when good men do nothing” With truth, goodness and honour, let us then fully engage the political world at community, local and naitonal level.

Listen:- …of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command; 1 Chronicles 12:32-33

Pray: - Lord in all areas of our life, from local communities to national and international politics we cry out for the raising up and revelation of the men of Issachar; anointed ones who understand the many types of hurricanes and tornadoes, that the end of days shall bring upon us. Lord help us to engage in prophetic power. Amen!