FROM THE PASTOR’S HEART
OP / ED BY DR. ROBERT KENNEDY
It’s incredible how many millions are supposedly devoted to the former president of the United States. The more despicable and egregious his actions, the more he gets people’s commitment. If the funds he is raising are a testament, and the number of persons who are going to jail for him or have lost their Bar license, and the $787.5 million that Fox TV paid to settle the lawsuit with Dominion before the case went to trial in Delaware Superior Court before Judge Eric Davis tell of the devotion, I rest on my word that it is “incredible.”
Here is a passage rooted in Scripture that calls for devotion. It says, “Be devoted to one another.” (Romans 12:10). But such devotion is based on conditions I shall soon explain.
Allow me to be alliterative by stating that the call for devotion is not speaking of blind devotion, blind loyalty, blind adherence, blind allegiance, blind obedience, blind faith, or blind attachments to persons or things that will take us away from right actions. The devotion of which the Bible speaks is not the mindlessness that is driving so many who are doing things that are getting them into the kind of troubles that I sighted above as connected to the former president of the United States. I do not intend to blame the former president for all the mindless commitment that we are seeing about us. But, as I have sighted, each person and corporation must take responsibility for their actions.
We cannot even be blindly devoted to people calling themselves Christians today, for it is more than tragic that people are so caught up with popularity, power, possessions, and positions that they endorse anything and follow any personality that attaches themselves to so-called Christian churches. Yes, it is disconcerting that so many call themselves Christians in the falsity of devotion. And, of course, the word Christian in this context does not mean a commitment to Christ in all cases, but it stands more as cultural identification in the contemporary world. The term Christian is being tossed about most recklessly, and people need help distinguishing who is authentic. But I need to say that not all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Hear the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV: 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”
The point I am making is that while we need to practice devotion to those within our families and communities, and at times in our nation, we need to be clear about whom or what persons and causes we are giving our devotion. And when we call ourselves Christian, we must be sure that Christ comes first and that it is his love that we are speaking of and not some erotic idolatrous sentimentalism, which is being foisted as love today.
We must remember what loving devotion is and what it demands, namely, giving our total selves to a purpose. It means the total loyalty we give to a person or a cause. It requires our most profound sacrifice. It asks for our steadfastness. This is why devotion is so prized in marital and familial relationships. If you read of partners who have survived the vicissitudes of family relationships for many years, you will note that their devotion sustained them. Likewise, if you read the stories of great soldiers in nations’ armies, you will notice that they are about the most devoted soldiers to their countries.
Yes, devotion is essential; I commend it as the Bible admonishes. And as such, we need more people who are genuinely devoted to their families, churches, and communities. The world is broken enough because of the lack of trust and love that are the ingredients of devotion. And while, as I said, we should not practice blind emotion, we must be wise to find persons of integrity and causes worthy of our devotion. Therefore, it is only in deep devotion that we will be effective in our service.
Do not give your devotion because of loyalty to any political ideology or ideas and individuals who lack honor and integrity. Instead, I encourage you to ensure your devotion is within the bounds that God commends.
