This week we answer the question “what does it mean to be a Christian who is an American?” What does the Bible say? Not a podcast or talk radio or Facebook or the so-called conservative media or even a “Christian” politician. What does Jesus say, and how did his followers in the 1st century understand the intersection of faith and politics – citizenship on earth and citizenship in heaven?
To begin, we’ll explore what is perhaps the most familiar“ political” story in the Bible. Read Matthew 22:15-22 as you prepare to join your GCC family for worship this weekend.
Jesus confronts legalism in Mark 2:23-3:6 when Pharisees criticize His disciples for picking grain on the Sabbath. Their man-made rules had overshadowed God's true intentions for the Sabbath, which was made for humanity's benefit, not as a burden. When Jesus heals a man with a shriveled hand on the Sabbath, the Pharisees respond by plotting to kill Him, revealing how legalism can lead to spiritual blindness and even hatred. Legalism manifests today through imposing unbiblical standards, promoting performance-based religion, and creating unnecessary division. The antidote is living by faith in Christ alone, whose grace and righteousness are completely sufficient for salvation and Christian living.
