Christians struggle with sin often–every day.  Different Christians have different struggles.  The key word is struggle.  If you can sin and not struggle with it, meaning that it doesn’t bother you to sin, then you must examine your relationship with Jesus Christ.  If someone as great as the Holy Spirit comes to live within you, He will convict you of sin.  If there is no conviction, there is great reason to think that the Holy Spirit is not living on the inside–and that you do not have a genuine relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

In Mark 6:11 and Luke 9:5, Jesus instructs his disciples to shake the dust off their feet against a town if the people refused to hear the message.  In Matthew 23:37, Jesus laments Jerusalem’s rejection of him:  “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.”

Jesus is clear that people have rejected either him or his disciples.  It is inconclusive to say that those towns will no longer have an opportunity to respond to the Gospel.  However, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were often used as examples of ultimately rejecting God and receiving ultimate judgment.

In short, if God knocks, answer the door.  We are not promised another second of life.

Question:  If government  is in place by God, then are all laws God-given?

Answer:  Government, led by fallen leaders, can pass laws that are not Godly, that are even immoral.  It would be wrong to assume that those laws are God-given.  However, I believe that all laws are either God-given or are a perversion of a God-given law.

Question:  Should our government carry out God’s justice/wrath to the point of death to those who break the law?

Answer:  The Old Testament maxim, an eye for an eye, was given not so that people could exact revenge.  It was given to suppress revenge and to execute justice.  It was given so that the punishment would fit the crime.  This is still just.  There are certain crimes in the Old Testament that require death as the penalty.   I believe there are certain crimes today that still call for the death penalty.

However, as a recipient of God’s grace I am also grateful for His compassion toward me.  A believe who has been offended, especially to the point of losing a loved one, must be willing to forgive.

Check this 3 minute interview out from NPR:  http://www.npr.org/2011/05/20/136463363/forgiving-her-sons-killer-not-an-easy-thing

Question: How should citizens respond when their governments or political figures are not serving God?

Answer:  Elect new ones!  Pray for them to change!

Question:  What if your parents are telling you to do something something ungodly?  Do you do what they say or do you do what you’ve been taught in God’s eyes?

Remember the following reasons you should resist government.  They will apply to your parents as well.

1. If asked to violate God’s command.  (Acts 5…when authorities arrest the disciples for preaching and then order them not to teach)  They went right back to preaching.  We must obey God rather than men.  (Acts 5:28,29)
2. If asked to do an immoral act.  Examples:  falsifying records for “security reasons.”  Perjury for the sake of the department; covering for subordinates by lying.
3. Never go against Christian conscience.

Question:  What about the defense attorneys who are assigned the criminals?  Do they get in trouble if the criminal is found innocent?

Answer:  No.  As long as they are honestly defending the person, it is up to the court/jury to decide if the person is innocent or guilty.  However, if they are dishonest, they are only adding sin to sin.

Question:  Should there be christian lobbyists putting so much money into politics at all?

Answer:  Well, you asked the wrong person this question.  I personally struggle with all the money spent on politics while children go hungry, communities are in such desperate need, and the Gospel needs to reach the ends of the earth.  However, we must effectively address the issues and sometimes that requires money.  We should do it with great discretion.

Question:  What happens when the child abuser or whoever commits a crime gets away or is found innocent?

Answer:  God is a God of justice.  He will have His way and He will have His day.  Always.

Question:  If we are to be surrendered to a government that, like Nero’s days, slays or seems only to oppose Christian values, are we supposed to remain quiet and submit although our letters to representatives seem only to fall on deaf ears?

Answer:  I alluded to Wilberforce in the sermon.  He fought slavery in England until it was abolished.  We should never be quiet.  We should pursue all God-given avenues for making our voice known, even when our efforts seem to be ineffective.