December 30, 2024

Our 39th President, Jimmy Carter, passed away yesterday at age 100.  He was the longest-lived President in history.  Considering that he left office in 1980, most Americans were not alive when he served as President.  Isn't that an astounding statement?  

The next few days and weeks will certainly bring the media to unpack much of his life, especially the more positive notes.  Most of the rhetoric will make him sound much better than he really was (true of most public figures on their passing - and true of each of us at our own funerals).    History (hopefully) has and will tell a more balanced story.   There are absolutely things to be admired.  President Carter served in the Navy.  He was married to one wife, Rosalynn, for 77 years.  77 years!   He went from a peanut farm to the Oval Office.  He served as an ambassador and worked for many years after leaving the White House.  He taught Sunday school for over 60 (maybe 70) years.  

President Carter professed to be a Christian.  Yet, if we were to unpack his theology, we would certainly find several differences. Some might even question his salvation in many of his past statements.  As I have been reflecting on this, it occurred to me how I have questioned, in the past, why our founding fathers left this country fairly open as far as religion goes.  In fact our first amendment reads:  "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." They could have just as easily wrote these words: "The United States shall be a Christian nation and there will be no law establishing other religions."   Some have wished we were clearly, legally, a Christian nation.  

But, then, the question would be, "Whose Christianity?"  Would we want President Carter's Christianity?  

Our founding fathers had already experienced national Christianity.  It had failed them.  It would have failed in the United States as well.  What doesn't fail, though, is biblical Christianity; the body of Christ, living out their walk according to the Bible, cannot be stopped.  Not even the gates of hell will prevail against the true church of Christ (Matt. 16:18).  Because He is the foundation (1 Cor. 3:11).  Our call is to build on that foundation with solid materials that will not burn up when He returns.   It matters not so much what the man in the White House believes about Christ but about what the man (or woman) in your house believes about Christ and then lives out.  Are you truly saved?  Are you truly sound in your theology, testing it repeatedly against Scripture?   Are you obeying God's Word?  

We do not need Christianity as our national religion.   Be more concerned about obedience to and winning folks to Christ than concern about you or your political party.    Live out true Christianity... which begins by dying:  "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Gal. 2:20).    I hope you agree with me....   I don't want a "Christian nation" to prevail; I want Christ reigning and His kingdom worshipping Him for now and for ever.  

Elder and assistant treasurer voting materials are available in the information box in the church narthex.   The nominating committee consists of Neil Hammond, Mike Houdek, Pat Plagman, Chris Sebranek, and Pastor Ken Wombacher.   The offices of elder and assistant treasurer are voted on by the SSB membership annually.  

Be in prayer, consider the men of SSB, visit with one or more to see if they might let their name stand, and then speak to a member of the nominating committee about them.  This needs to happen before the week of January 13th.