Hope Lake Country Podcast Jason Ewart

Culture wars become an incredibly divisive topic within American culture. As a nation, we’re at odds over immigration policy, gun laws, abortion, support for Ukraine, support for Israel, and more. Some Christians respond by retreating from these culture wars. Others respond by attacking their cultural enemies. This Sunday we’re going to see that Jesus did not intend for us to retreat from culture wars. Nor did he intend for us to fight them. He taught us that the objective isn’t to win culture wars, but to pursue something far more important.

The trust that citizens have in government institutions has been cratering in recent years. The
public’s faith in the government is at all-time lows. But how’s your faith in God? Is it also
running low? Because there’s an important link between your relationship with God and your
relationship with the government.

Jesus never fought to reform the political system of his day. Neither did the early church. Instead, they loved the people sitting in institutional chairs (along with everyone else) and invited them to repent and believe. They di it without taking up political positions? Why? Because they weren’t interested in saving Judea, they were interested in saving Jews. They weren’t worried about saving Rome. They were worried about saving Romans. Their focus was fixed on what happens after this life because they didn’t see their earthly home as their native
land. They saw heaven as their native land. America is not a city on a hill. The church is. And we will be the light to all the earth when we firmly plant our feet in the soil of our true native
land.

We live in an age of expressive individualism, and Americans uphold “freedom” as our highest value. But what began in America as political freedom, hallmarked by empowering citizens and giving everyone an equal vote, has devolved into radical individualism, in which no one has the right to restrict the individual. And this is one reason why society is fragmenting. It’s going to get worse until we realize that a lack of restrictions doesn’t lead to freedom but enslavement. It is the careful selection of the right restrictions that leads to freedom.

When life is predictable, losing sight of what’s most important is easy. But in the face of
uncertainty, a person’s true values come to the surface. As we face (yet another) election year, does the uncertainty surface anything in you? As you think about what comes to the surface, what does it say about what’s most important in your life? And is it Jesus? The Christian faith begins (or ends) with your answer to the question, “Who is Jesus?” If a New Testament author were to write a letter to the American Church, the correct answer to this question might be the central theme. Jesus is God’s Son. Jesus is King. Jesus has the words of life. To believe in him is to fear him and to follow him. He must be central.

Imagine a moment where everything changes—for the better. We're celebrating a turning point in history that brought hope and new beginnings this Easter. It’s not just about painted eggs and bunny rabbits; it’s about the incredible story of a man named Jesus who, after making the ultimate sacrifice, didn't let death end his story. Against all odds, he rose, offering a message of renewal and love that's as relevant today as it was over two thousand years ago.