Paul Lytle: Speeches and sermons

Paul Lytle
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Gaining the Whole World through Politics

Essays by Paul Lytle appear in:

January 4, 2008
for MySpace

"For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?"

-Mark 8:36

The political season is well on its way, and I am certain that we'll all be quite tired of it before the year is out. I'm not going to talk to you about who you should vote for or nonsense like that. Not that I'm ignorant politically. I was a political science major in college, and this sort of stuff really used to excite me. I would stay up all night looking at election results, write political commentary, and all of that. I read all the books, studied the trends, and theorized on tax policy with friends.

But I was caught up in something that is very dangerous, and it was something that misled me for some time. I am not here telling you that you should not be involved. In fact, I do think that the Bible requires everyone involved with government to strive for justice. Romans 13:4 calls government "a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil." In a Representative Democracy, we are part of the government when we vote. Therefore strive for justice in your votes.

At the same time, we must be careful when approaching politics. The reason we must be careful is because it is so easy to be caught up in trying to save the world in politics, where it is almost impossible to save the world. Consider: Have you ever, through protest, debate, argument, or logic, changed anyone's political views fundamentally? Have you changed anyone into a Liberal from a Conservative, or vice versa, through debate? I never did myself, and, goodness, I have tried. So much of my life was spent in trying.

If you have, well, good for you. Have you changed a second person? Has that person you changed changed someone else? You understand my point. Even the most politically active of us can only claim to have changed one or two people out of millions. You have not changed the world. Unless you are a John Locke, Thomas Jefferson, or Aristotle, you will not have that sort of influence, and those sorts of people only come along, at best, once in a generation, usually once in a century.

So you can spend all your time trying to save the earth through the environment, but you cannot. The Bible tells us that the earth will be destroyed. It tells us that the environment will be ravaged. You have tried to make things better politically. But it will only be temporary. The Bible tells us that things will get worse politically before Christ returns. You can try to save children in Africa, but without Christ, they are not truly saved. You can only postpone death without Christ.

Should we be good stewards of this world? Absolutely! Absolutely. Work to clean the environment, work to a better political system, and work for that child in Africa, but do not be consumed by things that are passing. Put you effort into those things that will last.

Which brings me to the verse I quoted at the beginning of this message. Jesus asks us, in Mark 8:36, "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?"

This verse speaks of money, absolutely. Of course it does. It speaks of possessions too. But it also speaks of attitudes. What does it profit a man, it says, to become famous and yet lose his soul? To have a lot of sex and yet lose his soul? To never lose at Free Cell, and yet lose his soul? To change the whole country politically, and yet lose his soul? Yes, to be knowledgeable, intelligent, witty, kind, popular, influential, and comfortable, and yet lose your soul?

So what is worth the time? What is worth the effort of your whole life? When you stand before the throne of God, will you have had a life mission that will not embarrass you on that day? The only life mission that will not embarrass you is Christ. Christ alone can make a lasting change. Christ will restore this world, Christ will overcome political problems. But Christ can also save that child in Africa. He can provide a new body to that AIDS victim. He can give life to the dying, and we are all dying. Only those things we do for Christ will matter in the next life.

If, through politics, time, or money, I save the life of a young girl, and yet she does not gain Christ, she is dead. But if I give her Christ, though she may die, yet will she live. if I change the government, still will that government pass away. But if I give one person Christ, that person will never die. "The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever" (Isaiah 40:8). This place will pass; these bodies will pass. This election will pass. But that little girl who accepts Jesus will live forever with the Father.

Please do research the candidates this season. Please put thought and effort into this. We are to be good stewards of this earth and our powers, and so we must be informed when we vote. But do not make politics your savior. Do not make it your treasure. Pursue Christ above all, for only He can heal any of us, can make any of us whole. If you are a Christian, then seek Christ in all ways. Keep praying, reading the Word, and talking about Christ. If you are not a Christian, then it is critical that you find out who He is. Read the Bible and learn about Him, for only He can provide life for you. The Gospel of John is a good place to start. Let me pray.

Heavenly Father, I thank you for the meaning that our lives can have on your creation. It is by Your will alone that we are able to have influence. Persuade our hearts toward you always, so that our influence may be an influence for Christ rather than ourselves. We desire to make You the center of all we do. We thank you for the state of the world, for You use all things together for the good. We also lift that state up to You. Use it as You will. Let Your kingdom come here, just as it is in heaven. In Jesus name, Amen.