Here in America over the last week, there was a tragedy in Minnesota. A woman was shot while obstructing law enforcement/ICE operations. Although debated, it appears to me, whether intentional or not, she swiped an officer with her SUV. She was in the area specifically to obstruct law enforcement as well. That was her purpose. She lost her life as a result. There has been an uproar over what happened. While I grieve her loss of life, I also wonder as a society if we have forgotten Biblical teaching on the purpose of government. As Christians, we can grieve her loss of life while also respecting and supporting authorities right to defend themselves and enforce laws. I fear our society is digressing into a state of lawlessness, where we don't not believe in any rule of law in the name of compassion and kindness. We must always remember that God is both the God of order/justice as well as the God of kindness/compassion. I believe a lot of the confusion comes from a lack of reading of 2 key Scriptures where we learn what the biblical role of government is. These key passages are Romans 13:1-7 and 1 Peter 2:13-15. "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed."

Here in America, politicians are starting to run campaigns with socialistic messaging and platforms. Sometimes, the Bible is quoted to support the messaging and principles. I've often heard on social media and even some friends saying things like "the Bible is more socialistic". I find that interesting. They usually point to 2 acts passages (at the exclusion of the rest of the Bible's teaching on resources). "All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Acts 2:44-47 "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales." Acts 4:32-34 A couple observations. -These were remarkable moments of generosity in the local church -All generosity was willing and not forced by government or even by church leaders -They still owned property as seen in other passages where they met in believers houses -In Acts 5 (directly after Acts 4:32-34), we have the story of Ananias and Sapphire. Paul affirms that the property they sold and its proceeds were theirs to do what they wanted, not under compulsion from anyone. -The Bible affirms private property ownership in the 8th commandment, "You shall not steal". The command implies people have individual ownership over property and possessions, and that God respects their ownership. -God owns everything, but He stewards ownership to people, respects ownership and holds us accountable for how we use what He gives us.

Over the past decade, there have been some confusion about Christmas having pagan roots or being pagan altogether. Last year, I did my own study and found to be true much of what Wesley Huff shares below. He put together a nice explanation on his Instagram. I wanted to share it here for our group. Click the link for the PDF. Merry Christmas!