The Word of God...suggestion, recommendation or command

I once sat in a room with a group of men who represented churches in Australia with congregations in excess of 500. We were privileged to listen to Philip Adams from the ABC, a well known atheist on how he saw the church. It was one of the more refreshing talks of the whole conference and one I enjoyed immensely. He was witty as usual, his opening comment "I feel like a lion in a room full of Daniels!

But more thought provoking was his remark that if indeed the room full of men represented churches of over 500 then the church as a political lobby was larger than both of the major political parties. The question remained of course was that if Philip's assessment was accurate why doesn't the church exercise more infuence on the political front?

The short answer is of course that the church is not called to dominate the political agenda. It is called to establish the Kingdom of God here on earth...ambassadors of Christ. The modern trend of the church to get into bed with one side of politics is dangerous to the extreme and does little to advance the cause of Christ.

The church can have the influence Adam's sees possible but it can only come through the way Jesus gave to us. "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. therefore go and make disciples of all nations baptising them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Matt 28:18-20

When the church treats this as a little more than a suggestion or recommended option and begins to accept it as a command...then maybe we the church will have a tad more influence in the land.