Christian Nationalism, Hēp̄eḵ, And Christianity

Three months into the year there has still been no movement on the Texas border crisis, although it has dominated the news headlines, it is still just a big mess. Almost 2 months after the bill’s introduction, the GOP-led House still hasn’t brought a vote to the floor.

While Speaker Johnson claims to be doing God’s work, yet, the truth is he’s only bowing to and following former president Trump.

Deception
Abusing power
Uncompassionate

Despite all of this conservatives believe they are doing God’s will, but clearly they’re only pursuing their political agendas in the name of God. Christian nationalism is man’s attempt to justify its selfish desires.

Christian nationalists believe they are justified to be above the law. Just yesterday the Supreme Court attempted to handle Texas’ right to prosecute illegal immigrants and kicked the can to a lower court who disagreed just hours later. In the end, God always does what He wants and His ways are the opposite of ours (Isaiah 55:9-9!)

Opposite

In this cursed world, we can see the power struggle going on between God’s way and the selfish ways of men. Since God is pure and we aren’t, our ways are the opposite of His.

Christianity has warned against fo0llowing the ways of man and this world for almost 2000 years (Matthew 15:7-9, Romans 12:1-4, 1 Corinthians 1:1, James 1:14-15), because the ways of this world are temporary (James 4:4, 1 John 2:16.)

As we near Easter, Lent reminds us to change our ways and walk in the steps of Jesus. The Apostle Paul understood this world’s ways lead us away from God because they are the opposite of His nature (Proverbs number 14:12, Colossians 3:2.)

Hēp̄eḵ

I’m reminded of how Judaism teaches God’s people to be set apart from this world (Deuteronomy 14:2.) God’s people are called to be countercultural to the world.

The Hebrew word in the Old Testament for opposite is Hēp̄eḵ and it can also mean, “contrary, a difference, or perversity.” The world’s ways are the opposite of God’s and perverse.

Judaism teaches God’s people to live God’s way, not the world’s way or even their own beliefs (Psalm 25:8-9; 32:8, Proverbs 3:5-7.) The Apostle Paul leaned on his Jewish upbringing when he outlined the differences between the fruit of the Spirit and the fruit of the flesh (Galatians 5:22-26.)

Love/hate or indifference
Joy/despair
Peace/anxiety
Patience/impatience
Kindness/rudeness
Goodness/evil
Faithfulness/unfaithful
Gentleness/harsh
Self-Control/undisciplined

The ways of God’s people must be the opposite of the world’s and even our own selfish hearts. This is why Jesus taught His followers to deny themselves daily (Matthew 16:24.)

Jesus was sinless because He wasn’t a part of this fallen world. He may have been tempted by it but chose God’s way over the world’s (Matthew 16:26.)

Jesus understood Heaven will be better than whatever this world has to offer us and this world isn’t Heaven (Philippians 3:20-21, Revelation 22:1-5.)

Christianity teaches God’s people are to be counter-cultural just like heaven is the opposite of earth. It means being like Jesus, not this world!

Christianity

The Christian faith has always reminded God’s people to live God’s way (Leviticus 23:1-44, Romans 6:1-23.) The world’s ways are the opposite of Christianity.

Jesus even rebuked the Pharisees and the religious leaders of His day for not practicing what they preached (Matthew 23:1-5.) Even God’s people can be the opposite of God.