The Dangers of Moralism

Morality does not save you. Pushing moralistic virtue does not redeem a nation.

Whether you are as immoral as the worst sinner, or live as righteous a life as the most moral model citizen, you can still be damned to hell. And without a genuine repentance before God which transforms the hearts of unrepentant sinners, laws on the books or political parties in power will not move things in our nation toward heightened values one single inch. When pastors charged with communicating God's Word step away from the purpose of the pulpit to extol the virtue of morality in politics and the power of the vote, they misrepresent the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and they deceive believers.

Such is the case of Pastor Rick Scarborough. His Vision for America crusade tours the nation preaching to Christians that through an increase in political involvement, America can become more moral and can return to traditional American Values.

See for yourself here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-de_iXYJP4

Telling Christians that "to not vote is a sin!" and that once organized, Christians can 'win' back our nation for God through political action, Scarborough screams his frustration with the state of American society and laments the removal of God from public and political discourse. And pastors and church leaders all across this country are forgetting the Hard Truth and exposing Scarborough's error of a 'vision for a Christian America' to their flock.

As noble as his ideas may sound, they completely miss the point.

The calling of communicating the Gospel of Jesus Christ has nothing to do with politics in this country or this world. Government can't save anyone. Even a government as unique as ours. And neither can calling on people to be more involved in the political process, working toward changes in government, or voting can cause a substantial difference in the ultimate fate of the souls of lost men and women. Every Christian's commission is to spread the good news of the salvation offered through Jesus Christ for the kingdom of God. God does not bless a nation because of an increase in the moral fiber of its people or by the inclusion of His name on the side of a building or on a piece of currency. God blesses a people and a nation in one way and only one way. When they love and honor His son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

There is no other way to win God's favor, forgiveness or blessing.

In Jesus' day there were men who lived to practice every law of God written in the Word of God in every way possible and to perfection. These Jewish priests called Pharisees were the picture of supreme morality, upholding ritual and law in such a way as to view themselves as perfect in God's sight. But Jesus scolded them, reminding them that they were no more worthy of God's forgiveness and blessing than the worst prostitute.

Why did he do this? Because morality and the belief that a pristine life lived could cause God's blessings to be poured out is a damning lie.

Only by true repentance through faith by God's grace in the saving redemptive work of Jesus Christ can recreate the heart of fallen men and truly cause people to change for the better.

Do you want to make a difference in the world and in this country? Repent. Ask for God's forgiveness. Share the gospel and be a tool God can use to bring people to Himself and into faith in His son. Don't waste your time waging a worldly war of politics that you can't win, and that God won't bless anyway. Vote your conscience for the issues that are important to you and support men and women who stand for biblical principles.

But don't expect government to save you.

The Hard Truth is it can't.