Another political season is upon us and I can hardly wait until it is over. If I see one more political add on TV or receive one more political phone call I just may scream! Often, when the political climate is so charged like it is today I hear people wanting Foothills to get involved politically. They want to know where we stand on issues, candidates, and just how we are going to get involved in this “very important” time. Therefore, let me be very clear how we are going to get involved…we’re not! Sorry to disappoint some people. We are a church committed to transformation not politics. We are committed to advancing the Kingdom of God not the kingdom of men. For too many years the church has gotten their focus off the Mission given to us by our Lord Jesus and turned to trying to advance the Kingdom of God through politics. It will NEVER happen at Foothills while I am here as your pastor.
Now, before you brand me as “un-American”, let’s be clear on some things. Should followers of Christ vote? Yes. Should they understand the issues that face our City, County, State and Nation? Of course. Should their biblical convictions influence how and who they vote for? I certainly hope so. BUT, transformation will NEVER come through a political process. Transformation is a spiritual process. If we want to see our nation and our communities transformed, the church must be more concerned about who is in charge of the human heart than who is in charge of the House or Senate! When Jesus is in Majority of a person’s life, then real transformation takes place that effects everything…even their politics.
So Foothills, let’s not get the cart before the horse. Our calling is to “Go and make disciples” not Republicans or Democrats. Let us not get our focus off the mission of the church to go make a difference by lifting up the name of Jesus. This election will soon be over and we will still be left with all the same problems facing us today. What will make the difference is when the church decides to stand up and act like the church by embracing their call to be instruments of God’s power of transformation. This is the real miracle. God changes the human heart. When God truly changes the human heart, everything else changes with it. May we see the above picture multiplied so many times over that Molalla will never be the same. There’s something I can vote for!
Staying true to our calling,
Pastor Dale
