Mixing Politics and Religion | Part 6 | The Real Grassroots Movement
Alright well we’re there in 1st Timothy 4. This morning I’m preaching on the subject of “The Real Grassroots Movement”. And of course we’ve been dealing with this political series and we spent the first several weeks kind of learning about what the Bible teaches about and how we as Christians should think about Government. We learned how we’re called to interact with Government. And then last week we kind of shifted gears a little bit and started dealing with the spiritual aspect of Government. And of course I talked about “The Rulers of the Darkness of this World” and taught about the elites and the New World Order and all of that. And today I want to deal with Christians and I want to talk about this idea of the Real Grassroots Movement. The Grassroots Movement is a term that you often hear about a lot during a political season. And I’ll give you a definition for those of you that may not be familiar with it.
Grassroots is a type of Movement or campaign that attempts to mobilize individuals to take some action to influence an outcome often of a political nature. The distinguishing features of Grassroots Movements or campaigns are that they mobilize masses to participate in politics such as contacting their legislators or turning out to vote or some other cause. Whenever you hear about Grassroots or Grassroots Movement in politics, the idea is that you energize the base. You often hear that terminology of people getting out there in the communities to come out and help push for some sort of a political agenda or to get out the vote to contact the legislator or whatever.
This morning I want to preach on the subject of the Real Grassroots Movement or what should be the Real Grassroots Movement or maybe what we could call a spiritual Grassroots Movement. Because over the last several weeks, I’ve had many positive conversations. In fact, I would say the overwhelming amount of conversations I’ve had about this series or feedback on these sermons, the overwhelming amount has been positive. So I don’t want you to think that it’s all been negative. Most people have said “Man, these are the sermons we need and these are the things we need to learn.”. I’ve had a lot of positive conversations about politics with Christians due to the “Mixing Politics and Religion series”. But I have also had some negative feedback.
I already kind of knew this would be the case but I’ve had enough negative feedback that I’m a bit saddened by the amount of passion and energy I’ve seen in Christians during this political campaign for political things. And yet in those same Christians, you don’t see that same energy or passion for the things of God. It’s become extremely sobering to me that most Christians in this country seem more loyal to Fox News than the Word of God. And you say “How do you know that?”. Well I know this, they spend more time with Fox News they do with the Word of God. They spend more time with Alex Jones than they do the Word of God. They spend more time with Chuck Baldwin than they do with the Word of God.
And it’s become sad to me as I realize the state of our country. If we could get these so-called conservative Christians to actually get right with God and get as excited about the Lord Jesus Christ as they are Donald Trump, we might actually do something in this country. People keep wanting to tell me “Make America Great Again.”. I’m not sure that America was ever great and I’m not sure that we’ll ever make America great again. But I’ll tell you that my concern is to make America right with God again, if it ever was right with God. I want to give you some thoughts in regards to energizing the Christian base, the real base. I’m not talking about the Republican party. I’m talking about people that are supposedly saved or actually saved having the Holy Spirit in their heart.
1st Timothy 4:13 “13 Till I come, give attendance…”. I want you to notice what the Apostle Paul is saying to a young man Timothy to “give attendance”. Now the word attendance there, the way you and I would say that today is “I want you to pay attention to. I want you to give attention to. I want you to devote yourself to. I want you to give your time, your energy, your passion to.”. Notice what he says “13 Till I come, give attendance to reading,”. Listen, I’ve already lost some of you but before we go further, just ask yourself this question “How much time did you spend reading the Bible this week as opposed to reading about politics this week?”. And if you’re honest with yourself, you’ll realize that I’m right about the fact that this country is going to hell, not because of the politicians but because of Christians. “13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.”.
Notice verse number 6 of the same chapter. 1st Timothy 4:6 “6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things,…”. And by the way, that’s my job. People have made comments to me like “Why do you keep bringing up Trump?”. I’m going to keep bringing up Trump as long as people keep bringing up Trump to me. Some of you have never been in a Baptist Church or you’ve never actually met a man of God. But let me tell you something, I don’t do well with bullying. See, most preachers can be manipulated and bullied. But the more people criticize me, the more I want to preach about it. The more comments I get and the more things people tell me trying to defend Trump, the more I’m going to preach this. See, I’m not up for election. You say, “Aren’t you afraid people are going to leave?”. I never started Church to try to build a mega Church. If I was trying to build a mega Church, I’d have gotten rid of the King James Bible and old hymns a long time ago. It’s called verity Baptist Church because we preach the truth whether you like it or not.
“6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ,…”. And by the way, that’s why God told Jeremiah “Don’t be afraid of their faces.”. “6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.”. See, the Bible says that we get nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. The Bible says that we get fed, that we get built up as we give attendance to reading, as we spend time in the Word of God.
Number 1 – Get excited about the Word of God and not excited about news. We as Christians should get excited about the Word of God, we should get excited about the things of God, we should get excited about reading God’s word. Matthew 4:4 “4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”. See, people get excited about all sorts of things that they think they need but let me tell you something, the Bible says there’s only one thing you need and it’s the Word of God. Man shall not live by bread alone. You need bread to survive physically but he says you also need every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
You say “Pastor, are you mad?”. I’m seeing America slide to hell and I’m watching Christians get excited about an adulterer, whoremonger, profane individual. And they get mad at me because I’m preaching the Bible to them. I’m mad about it. You say “Why are you mad?”. Because the problem is not the politics. I’m not asking you to do this out loud but in your mind ask yourself “How much time did I spend in the Word of God today.”. That’s the problem. Maybe I’m not communicating clear enough but if you spend more time watching Fox News this week then you did reading the Word of God, you’re not right with God. If you spend more time watching Alex Jones than reading the Word of God, you’re not right with God. See, the problem is that most conservative Christians spent more time watching their little political binge-watching garbage than they did trying to knock doors and reach people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. That’s the problem.
Matthew 22:28 “28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.”. I feel good that people ask me stupid questions because here they ask Jesus a stupid question also. This question about a woman getting married to 7 brothers who all die. And they’re trying to prove to him that there is no such thing as the resurrection. It’s like come on. She married seven brothers and they all died? Somebody needs to arrest this lady. “28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.”.
Notice the response of Jesus. “29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.”. Listen to me, this is the message for this morning to these Fox News Baptists. “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.”. When you stand up there and defend an adulterer, defend a whoremonger, when you sit there and try to defend a female judge to me, “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.”. He is saying that they don’t even know what they’re talking about. They aren’t even reading or studying the Bible. He says “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.”. And really the key is the last part “nor the power of God.”.
I’m here to tell you that we’ve lost the power of God as Christians in this country because we do err not knowing the scriptures. I’m here to tell you there’s no power of God in your Christian walk because you’re not spending time in the Word of God, you don’t understand the Word of God, you’re making errors by not knowing the scriptures. “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.”. The Book of Hosea says “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”. That could be the life verse of Christianity in 2020. “6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.”. You say why is America being destroyed? Because of a lack of knowledge.
Here’s all I’m saying. You may get excited about binge watching Fox News but all I’m saying is that you should be excited for the Bible and it’s good news. 2nd Timothy 2:15 “15 Study”. The Bible says this, “study”. You know why you don’t study? Because it’s hard work. Because it’s easier to listen to Sean Hannity for 3 hours. Because it’s easier to listen to talk radio for 3 hours. “15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God,”. And by the way, that’s why Christians today are not approved unto God. “a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”. You say, “I don’t want to be ashamed.”. Then study the Word of God, learn the Word of God, apply it to your life. “15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”.
You say “Pastor, I don’t like this. You’re making me feel bad because I didn’t read the Bible this week.”. Good. I hope you feel bad. I hope you feel offended. I hope I’m making you feel shameful. You ought to be ashamed. God wrote you a book. God gave you a letter. God gave you instructions from heaven and you sit it on a table and don’t even touch it till next week’s service if you even show up for next week’s service.
Acts 17:10 “10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Look, they didn’t sit there and say “Well I’m going to like what the Pastor says as long as the Pastor agrees with me.”. Well here’s the problem with that. You’re wrong in most things. You say Pastor, “I don’t think you should say that.”.
Why do you even come to Church then? If you want a Pastor who’s just going to affirm you in all your stupidity then I can help you find one. His name is Joel Osteen. Go to any mega Church and the preacher is just going to advocate your actions. “You’re addicted to drugs? No problem. God bless you. You’re committing adultery? So is Donald Trump. Praise the lord!”. Hey, if that’s what you want, you can find that. They’re a dime a dozen. These people showed up to Church. They were “more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind,”. They were ready to hear the Word whether they liked it or not. And then what’d they do? “and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”. They didn’t search YouTube daily to see whether those things were so. They searched the scriptures daily.
You know what’s missing in American Christianity? Christians who actually search the scriptures daily. Christians who actually open up their Bible and read it and study it and learn it. See, Jesus said “29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.”. Why don’t they know the power of God? Because they don’t know the scriptures. And the reason your life is such a mess, the reason everything you’re doing is wrong, the reason you’re hurting is because you don’t know the scriptures. You spend more time letting that stinking television program you and brainwash you with Hollywood’s crap than you do with the Word of God. That’s what’s wrong with New Testament American so-called American Christianity. You say “Pastor, I’m really excited to binge watch Fox News.”. Ok that’s fine but how about getting as excited about the Bible and it’s good news.
Number 1, get excited about the Bible as the news. Here’s number two. You should be more excited about men opening up the Bible and preaching to you than a political speech by your favorite politician. The hope for America is in Bible preaching, not in political speeches.
2 Timothy 4:2, notice what Paul says. “2 Preach the word;…”. You say what’s wrong with most conservative Christians today? That they preach the Republican talking points. They preach the Republican platform. They only have the boldness to preach whatever the Republican party tells them they’re allowed to preach. That’s not what the Bible says we should be doing. It says “preach the word”. And if you preach the word you’re going to preach against all of them. “2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come” And I’m here to tell you that time is here. “when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”.
And this is the day we live in today. People don’t want to hear the truth. People don’t want to hear the truth. You stand up and say something negative about Trump and it’s like “I can’t believe you would say that.”. I mean do you understand there are quotes from that man that I can’t even utter from this pulpit because they’re so vulgar that I would never even say in front of my children or my wife. Quotes where he is talking about the fact that he’s got so much power that he can touch ladies and certain parts of their body and they let him because he’s famous. I mean things I couldn’t even say due to common decency. And you want me to get excited about this man? I’m not excited about it. I’m heartbroken that Christians are so worldly that they think that’s acceptable because he’s better than Biden.
2 Timothy 3:16 “16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,”. What’s doctrine? That’s what we as Christians stand for and believe. Do right until the stars fall. You need to understand this about the Bible. There is no such thing as just circumstantial rightness. What do I mean by that? I mean that if one candidate is a little worse then it’s ok. You don’t find that in the Bible. Paul says that it’s not right to do evil that good may come of it. The Bible says that we are never to do wrong in order to do right. That is what the Mormon Glenn Beck will tell you. You didn’t get that from the Word of God. “16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,”. That’s when something is wrong, something is not right. That’s what you don’t like hearing preached because you feel guilty. Reproving or reproof is when I preach against your sin.
He says “16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”. Perfect means matured, balanced, complete. I’m here to tell you that are not balanced, you’re not even close to being mature, you’re not even close to being perfect when you are defending female judges being put in authority. You err because you don’t know the scriptures or the power of God. You say, “I don’t think you should say this.”. You get excited about binge watching Fox News but you should get excited about the Word of God. You should be excited about the Bible and its good news. You get excited for a political speech but you should get excited when a man of God opens up the Word of God to preach.
Here’s number three. You may be excited for the door-to-door get out the vote campaigns. All I’m saying is I wish you’d be excited about your Church’s door-to-door assault winning crusades. People say “We need to get out the vote.”. How about getting out the gospel. People say we need to go door-to-door to make sure people vote for Donald Trump but how about we go door-to-door and make sure people vote for the Lord Jesus Christ. You say, “Pastor, I need to talk to you about these Donald Trump sermons.”. Ok, let’s talk about it while we are out soulwinning together. If you decided to show up door to door soulwinning then we can talk about it all day long while knocking doors. If you let this country go to hell then don’t tell me how much you love this country while you let people die and go to hell. Don’t tell me how much you love this country while you let people die and go to hell never giving the gospel to anybody yet you’re going to sit here and correct the Pastor about your political ideas. Let’s go out and preach the gospel.
Jude 1:22 “22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:”. So how do we make a difference? Here’s how you do it. By preaching the gospel and having compassion, making a difference. Here’s how you do it. “23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”. And by the way, I said this last week and let me just say it again. In 2016 I preached a whole sermon about how Christians should not vote for Donald Trump. I haven’t changed my view. You say, “Why are you bringing that up?”. I thought he was wicked as hell when he was a reality tv star and I think he’s wicked as hell as the President. I didn’t change. You’re the compromiser. This is what it looks like when a man of God takes a stand for the Word of God and doesn’t change. That’s what it looks like. Take a picture when somebody decides that they believe the truth whether circumstances change or not, when you’re loyal to the truth which would have some Christians change. Be loyal to the truth. “23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”. You know why you can’t make a difference? Because you’re not different. Because you’re just like every other Republican and so-called Christian out there. “22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:”.
You say “Pastor, I thought you didn’t care about politics?”. I don’t care about politics but I’m mad at lame Christians. It’ll be a cold day in hell before I allow this movement of lame, Fox News, Republican Party Christianity to come into this Church. If you want to fight me on influence then we’ll fight on it. I can preach on this every week if you want. We’re not letting it in. We will stand with the truth. “What if everybody leaves and it’s just your wife and your kids?”. Then my wife and my kids will stand for the truth. And by the way, last I checked, attendances are fine. Offerings are fine. By God’s blessing we’re good to go. And last I checked, Trump didn’t do anything for me in the last four years. He didn’t do anything to further the cause of Christ.
Acts 26:18 “18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”. That’s what God called us to do. So excuse me if you are excited for the door-to-door get out the vote campaigns. I’m just a little more excited about our door-to-door soul-winning crusades when we preach the gospel, where we make a difference, where we actually do something that really matters for eternity. And look, I’m not mad at you if you said this to me but everywhere I go, everyone is saying “This is the most historic election in our country’s history.”. That’s what they said last time also. That’s what they said the time before that and that’s what they’ll say next time. They say that every time. I’m not sure if you realize this but the greatest thing you could do for somebody’s soul is to get them saved. It’s more historic than 200 years. It actually will affect them for all eternity.
Do what you want with this sermon but I’m just telling you that should be more excited about the Bible than Fox News. You should get more excited about Bible preaching than political speeches. You should get more excited about a door-to-door soulwinning campaign than going door-to-door trying to get people to vote. And by the way, don’t tell me door to door soulwinning doesn’t work. If that is the case then why are all these politicians going to the door? Why are all these volunteers going out door to door? Because it works. God’s smarter than you are. God’s smarter than I am.
Number four, you may be excited for a political push to keep the white house but we should be excited for God’s people to get back to the Church house. 1st Timothy 3:15 “15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”. See, that’s why people don’t like the house of God. And when I say that I mean a real house of God with real preaching. Why? Because it’s the pillar and ground of the truth. What’s a pillar? It’s a tall vertical structure that holds something up or that supports something. All I’m telling you is that the reason your mind is so messed up, the reason you have so much faith in Government and you have so much faith in politics and you have so much faith in in the Government system to save you is because you need to be renewed in the spirit of your mind. You need to have your mind renewed, to have your brain washed.
They always tell us “You guys are brainwashing people.”. You know what? That stinking television is brainwashing you too. “Let us not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.”. So how do you do that? “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way but by taking heed there to according to thy word.”. “Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth.”. See, what we need as Christians is to actually read the Bible and preachers to actually preach the Bible. What you need is not to get so excited about the white house but get excited about God’s house. Get excited about the truth that is proclaimed in the house of God. And look, truth is truth whether you like it or not. Truth is truth period. Truth is not susceptible to circumstances. There’s no such thing as circumstantial truth. We’ve been sucked into this idea that truth can change based on circumstances. That’s why some of you think it’s okay to go to these water parks or these beaches or these lakes where a bunch of girls are running around half naked. If a girl walked into this Church wearing that underwear you’d say “Oh that’s terrible.”. But you go dig a hole in the ground and put water in it and all of a sudden it’s fine. No, nakedness is nakedness friend.
I’m really proud of our young people in this Church who stay out of those water parks and those lakes and those rivers and those beaches where people are running around naked. That’s nowhere for a Christian to be. Truth is true whether you like it or not. You say “You’re not my friend.”. I don’t need to be your friend. I’d rather be your Pastor. If I could do both then I’ll do both. But if I need to choose one then I’ll be your preacher. If you make me choose one then I’ll be your Pastor and preach the truth to you and you can find somebody else to be your friend.
When I was growing up, my parents told me that your only friend you need is Jesus. Sometimes he’s the only friend I have other than my wife. The Bible says lay hands suddenly on no man neither be partaker of other men’s sins. Do you know what that means? That means that when you put your hand on someone to push them into authority, when you endorse somebody and say okay I’m going to lay my hands on you and I’m going to promote you into authority. Here’s what the Bible says “Lay hands suddenly on no man neither be partaker of other men’s sins.”.
You say “Why don’t you vote Pastor?”. Because I don’t want to be a partaker in his sins. Because when I cast a vote for Donald Trump, I’m not right with God. Now if you did it then well live with it, deal with it, confess it to God and get right with God. Because if that man does anything wicked in office then God also puts the blame on you because you put him there. It says “Lay hands suddenly on no man neither be partaker of other men’s sins keep thyself pure.”. Let me just give you some advice on voting. If there’s not someone that you can stand before God and support biblically, don’t vote. All these Churches this weekend, the Sunday before the election, they’re all trying to tell everybody how to vote. Let me tell you how to vote. Don’t vote for a politician because they’re all wicked. And by the way, by voting for the lesser of 2 evils, you’re showing that it doesn’t matter how lame or stupid or weak the Republican Candidate is. You will vote for him every time as long as he’s a little better than the Democrats. It would be nice if we had an election where no conservative Christian voted and said we’re sick and tired of all your garbage. That would actually send a message. See, no vote is actually a vote. Give me a candidate that I can actually support and I’ll vote for him.
But if you just vote for someone because Sean Hannity said to vote for him then you will never send a message. Let me give you some tips on voting. Don’t vote for people that are wicked as hell. Don’t lay hands on someone who is wicked because you become a partaker in their sins. Let me give you some advice on voting. You say “Pastor, I’m voting this year but not for a politician but for propositions. Can you give me some advice?”. Everything that raises taxes, gives more power, more regulations; vote against that. They don’t need any more money. They don’t need any more power. We don’t need any more regulations. It’s not working. Look at every Government system and show me one that’s working. Ask a veteran if the VA is working. It’s like Obamacare. How about the public school? How about the DMV? I mean which one do you want to defend? They don’t need any more power. They need less power. They don’t need any more regulation. They need less regulation. They don’t need any more money. They need less money. If you vote for President, just write in the Lord Jesus Christ or King Josiah or King Hezekiah.
We need the truth of God’s word. But you know what else we need? We Americans need to get back to God and Christians need to get back to the house of God. I understand the cautions with the Coronavirus but we need to be with God’s people. I understand that there are risk concerns and if you’re in a high-risk situation then I understand that. I’m not mad at you and you need to do what you need to do. But please understand this, God has not given us the spirit of fear. If you’re living your life in fear then you’re not living by the spirit of God. You’re living by the spirit of the antichrist. You may be excited for a political push to keep the white house. That’s fine. All I’m saying is we should be excited to get God’s people back in God’s house because the hope for America is in the house of God. It’s with the people of God. It’s with the Word of God.
Point 1 – You may be excited to binge watch fox news but you should be excited about the Bible and its good news. You may be excited for a campaign speech but you should be excited for men of God who open up the Word of God and preach. You may be excited for the door-to-door get out the vote campaigns but you should be excited for our Church’s door-to-door soul-winning crusades. You may be excited for a political push to keep the white house but you should be excited for God’s people to get back to the Church house.
1 Peter 4:17 “17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God:”. It doesn’t say judgment must begin at the white house. “17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”. Look, all I’m saying is if there is ever to be a coming revival, if there’s ever to be a revival then it must begin at the house of God. Americans need to get back to God. America needs to be less worried about becoming great again and needs to get more worried about becoming Christians again. Americans need to get back to God and Christians need to get back to the house of God. You say “Pastor, we need a Grassroots Movement. We need to energize the base and get out the vote.”. No, what we need to do as Christians is to get right with God. We need you to quit defending Donald Trump and open up your Bible and read it and pray and go soul winning and show up to Church and get your heart right with God. We need you to teach your family to love God above all else and to teach your neighbors to love God above all. That’s what we need.
“17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God:”. Christians need to be less excited about Donald Trump and more excited about Jesus Christ. They need to be less excited about the political Movement and more excited about the things of God and then we might actually accomplish something for God. See, this is the Real Grassroots Movement. Some of you just haven’t been paying attention. We started this Church 10 years ago with soulwinners getting out there and knocking doors. We had 96 soul winners out yesterday giving the gospel. That’s what’s the hope for America.
You say, “What if Joe Biden the socialist, pedophile, child sniffing pervert gets elected?”. You know what I’m going to do on Wednesday morning? The same thing I always do. We will go downstairs, my wife will serve us 2 cups of coffee and we’re going to open up our King James Bible and read it and pray and say “This is the day that the Lord hath made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”. Because my hope is not connected to a politician. And if your hope is in some politician then you are of all men most miserable. You’d be happier if your hope was connected to Jesus Christ because Jesus Christ is the hope for America. And the sad thing is that I we actually have to convince Christians about that.
Let’s pray.