To God’s Beloved At Cloverdale Baptist Church:
We got back last night after a LONG FULL day of travel. Thought we would sleep in well, but here we are at the kitchen table working…and wide awake…well a little foggy, but not sleeping…and thinking around noon we will crash...
When we were younger jet lag didn’t seem to exist, now it is exhausting to try to get back to our normal time. When we were in Armenia, it was exactly 12 hours ahead…although while we were there, there was a time change of an hour, so we will be a little discombobulated (Lori’s word).
Heart still is full of joy for the privilege of being a part of the missions movement in a persecuted country and we are hearing of even more impact we had together. One lady described it as the best week of her life and Tony is sharing that there are a number of others considering the cost of being house church pastors…we praise God! Two new believers that we know of...and eternity was impacted through your prayers and passion for these precious people...we are so THANKFUL!
Getting back to the real world where the news and sports are in English has led to an overwhelming inundation with new things. The Canucks won with three goals in under a minute just to push it to overtime…and if you haven’t heard…there is an election coming in Canada in the midst of the USA and world chaos that will have a huge impact on us.
How should we respond to an election as Christians? Especially one where it looks like the impact on charitable status and our freedom as Christians to hold what the Bible teaches could be under threat?
This is such an important question for those of us who believe strongly that our citizenship is in heaven, and yet we are to be the best Canadians possible while here on earth as those who seek to glorify God in this world but not of this world.
The two ditches to avoid are the ditch of political focus that somehow thinks that politics are the hope of the believer, or the danger of putting our heads in the sand and avoiding being salt and light in this fallen world.
So how do we stay on the highway of obedience to God’s Word and engage in important things in this world like elections?
Four keys to staying on God’s side in a great democracy like Canada when it feels like so much is on the line…
- Focus:
This seems like one of the main attacks of the enemy, to get our eyes off of Jesus and the Gospel, and to fixate on anything or anyone else (Hebrews 12:1-3). Sadly we have proven in the past few years (maybe past 6000) that we are easily distracted from what really matters...
So in this election season FIX YOUR EYES ON JESUS! Really…take 10 looks at Him for every one you glance at the election or other legitimate things in the world.
This will allow you to stay hopeful and humble in a time when it seems like we are being pulled apart in every direction by less important things.
So in this election season remember that our hope is in the GOSPEL OF JESUS, not getting the right political party elected. I am not saying that politics don’t matter, I am saying that they matter a lot less than helping people know Jesus and live for His glory as a healthy part of the local church. If you find your mind drifting to an unhealthy fixation with the coming election, take captive your thoughts and make them obedient to Jesus and remember why we exist (2 Corinthians 10:5; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 2:1-10). Jesus did not get heavily involved in politics in His day, and in fact focused on preaching and His Kingdom, not the one on this world…and we should follow His example.
Your service of Jesus, being His witness in the world, and serving in the local church is a lot more important than the coming election...if you struggle with that...just read your Bible and see the focus God's Word has.
Keep your focus where it should be in terms of having a biblical worldview (Romans 12:1-2; 1 John 2:15-17).
- Pray:
This should be our natural response to Christians for everything but especially when things that matter so much to our nation are happening. PRAY…really, that is even more important than research and voting…PRAY!
Prayer is God’s way for us to engage with Him and for Him in a world that is fallen. Don’t be anxious, PRAY (Philippians 4:4-6). Cast your anxieties on Him for He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). Not praying actually impacts the world negatively and we do not have because we do not ask (James 4:2-3).
Pray as your heart feels heavy for Canada, pray as you rejoice in the Sovereign love of God, pray as you delight to know He is using us as a church family for His glory, pray as you have concerns about persecution…even in Canada…PRAY PRAY PRAY!
Do this personally and together…for our prayers actually matter for Canada, and for eternity…and the Bible is full of great patterns to pray…including Jesus teaching and Paul’s patterns…and we can pray in the Holy Spirit and be used by God for the greatest impact at times like these…AND REALLY ALL TIMES!
Keep your focus and pray...
- Engage:
Some of you have felt a little frustration that we talked about focus and prayer to get to this point because you realize how truly important this coming election is…(and it is huge for Canada).
Christians should vote. There is no perfect candidate, but we should vote in elections and we should choose the person or party that we believe will best protect and present values from God’s Word and help us to be free to serve God with maximum effectiveness. Carson once said that we should always vote, even if it means we hold our nose as we vote...for the best possible candidate even when the choices are not great.
I do not believe it is our role as a church to direct your voting, but I do believe it is your role as a follower of Jesus to know the issues that matter to God and His Word and vote accordingly.
Ask and get answers for the right questions!
- Who will protect and value life from the womb to the tomb?
- Who will best value marriage as it is defined by the Bible?
- Who will align closest with God’s view of protecting children and families from the world system of gender confusion and chaos?
- Who will protect children from the world and its way of thinking (okay more than children, but they are most vulnerable)?
- Who will protect our religious freedoms and help us to flourish as a church?
- Who will help the poor and needy most effectively?
- Who will most free us to support God’s global mission?
These are hard questions, and I am sure you will have more…and as far as I can tell there has never been any perfect candidates, but we are to choose the one that we believe best fits in with God’s agenda and vote for them.
And yes, I will say this again...followers of Jesus should vote. Pray together and research together and ask lots of questions about where parties and individuals stand on issues that are biblical and protect the vulnerable. I believe there is a clear choice this election cycle, but if you differ with me, and vote differently…make sure it is for God’s perspective and not the worlds!
It is way more important to share the Gospel with your neighbours, keep your eyes on Jesus and pray, but this does not release us from our privilege and responsibility of voting.
VOTE! You might have to hold your nose as you do it...but vote who you believe to be the best option from a biblical perspective.
- Humility:
By this I mean two key things. Humility as a human before God and humility as humans before other humans.
God is Sovereign over all, and if we can remember passages like Isaiah 40 (just shared this passage with the Christians from a persecuted country) and the greatness and tenderness of God then we can trust Him no matter what comes our way. We are His servants regardless of what He allows, and He is GOD (even the evil king Nebuchadnezzar realized this in Daniel 4).
We can trust God even if the world appears to fall apart if Psalm 46 is accurate…and it is! So, be humble enough before God to know that His is God and we are not…and if His response to Job was enough for Job, it should be enough for us in the midst of anything and everything that happens in Canada in the next few years (should Jesus not return first).
Not only can we trust God fully, we should be humble with one another. If someone disagrees with you on who to vote for, or what is best for Canada, LISTEN…and then LISTEN some more…and then LOVE them. Yes present the issues you think matter the most, and yes defend what you believe…BUT remember our greatest passion is for God and His glory and the forward progress of the Gospel and Kingdom…NOT…who we vote for. Our hope is not the next Prime Minister...it is Jesus and the Gospel!
Remember our greatest passion is for God and His glory, and our pathway is humble service and preferring one another (Romans 12:10, Philippians 2). So keep your passions right and the main thing the main thing.
I am so thankful that we can trust God during times like these, and encourage you to join me in FOCUS, PRAYER, ENGAGEMENT, and HUMILITY as this month comes and goes and the impact on this nation I love will be great!
Thankful to be Canadian, and WAY MORE THANKFUL to be Christian!
It is great to be home…and so thankful that Jesus has gone and prepared a place for me that is far better (John 14:1-6). Our citizenship is in heaven...and on the way we want to take as many people as we can with us!
For God's Glory and the Good Of His Bride
Pastor Rob (and Lori)
It is always helpful to prepare your hearts for what God can do in you and through you for Sunday. Pray for an opportunity to be a blessing to someone who God places in your pathway and help us build an atmosphere of Christlike love!
We are beginning HOLY WEEK:
Text: Matthew 21:1-11
Title: The King Has Come
Holy Week is an opportunity for us to fixate even more on Jesus and what He has done for us. We want to learn to live in light of His love all of the time, and these next few Sunday's allows for a special focus on that!
We long for an all defining relationship with Jesus, and we have so far to grow!
- How can you use this season to share the Gospel with people in your sphere of influence?
- How is understanding that God has a plan helpful for us in our every day lives?
- Why is the Gospel story so shocking for those in Jesus time, and for us?
- What does Jesus have for us, and how do we get those benefits?
- How can you grow over the next month to love Jesus more deeply, and share that love with our church family?
Keep Informed!
Bulletin
Holy Week at Cloverdale Baptist
- Palm Sunday Service Apr. 13th at 10:30am
- Good Friday Service Apr. 18th at 10:30am
The Fellowship Hall will be reserved for young families. Nursery will be open but parent-supervised. - Pancake Breakfast Apr. 20th at 9:00am
- Resurrection Service Apr. 20th at 10:30am
Women's Ministry Events
- Bridal Shower for Taryn Kloss: Monday, April 28th at 7pm in the Fellowship Hall. Join us as we encourage and support Taryn in this exciting new phase of her life. Sign up at cloverdalebaptist.ca/Showers to bring a snack to share.
- Ask the Pastor: Friday May 2nd at 7 pm in Fellowship Hall. Our second annual 'Ask the Pastor' event with Pastor Rob. Bring your Bible questions arising from our Bible study this past year or general questions. Light refreshments will be served. No RSVP needed.
- Thank You Celebration for Nancy Millard: Tuesday, May 20th at 11am in the Fellowship Hall. Join us as we celebrate Nancy's many years of devoted service as she retires from leading our Women's Bible Studies.
