The big news this weekend has focused on Canada’s World Series ad, quoting conservative President Ronald Reagan on tariffs and how bad they are. President Reagan made it clear that he did not like tariffs and hated the use of them.
I am old enough to remember the peace and prosperity of the Reagan years. However, Pres. Trump has clearly rejected President Reagan’s policy on tariffs. After he was embarrassed by Canada’s ad, the president decided to add an additional 10% tariff on top of other tariffs on Canada in a greedy power move.
Every day, President Trump shows the whole world he is neither conservative nor Christian through his actions that contradict the Christian faith:
- Greedy
- Prideful
- Arrogant
- Deceptive
His actions are more than just moral failures; they are spiritual red flags. Yet, many conservatives ignore the teachings and warnings of the Christian faith by boastfully supporting a president who isn’t concerned about the Kingdom of God.
They are repeating the mistakes of our Jewish stepfathers who sought an earthly king and earthly greatness instead of the things of God (1 Samuel 8:5, Acts 13:2). God’s people rejected their Heavenly King because they wanted to be more like this fallen kingdom than like God.
When God’s people are more like this fallen world than like God, we have failed our purpose of being different (Deuteronomy 7:2). We are backsliding to an evil world.
What Is Backsliding
Backsliding is something we have all done at some point in our lives, whether we want to admit it or not. We all have a fallen human nature that causes us to stumble and sin (Isaiah 64:6, Romans 3:23)
I can still remember six years of my life when I backslid to a worldly lifestyle during high school and college. Although I knew Scripture and Jesus, I willingly listened to my flesh and the world. It doesn’t matter if you are a pastor, Bible teacher, or Christian author; you have the ability to backslide.
Backsliding is defined as “To relapse into old bad habits, sinful behavior, or undesirable activities.” Anytime God’s people or individuals take action that is the opposite of what God is calling us to, we are backsliding away from God and the new life He called us to (John 3:3, 16; 14:6).
That is why the Bible has a lot to say about backsliding and turning away from God (Jeremiah 14:7, Hebrews 6:4-6, James 5:19-20). Scripture warns us about our quote flesh and its works that lead us away from God (Mark 7:21-23; 14:38, Romans 7:18).
The early church often backslid to its natural and sinful ways (1 Corinthians 5:1-2, 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, Galatians 1:6-7; Galatians 5:7-9, 1 Timothy 1:19-20, 2 Timothy 4:10). The Apostle Paul remembered his Jewish education about backsliding.
Mᵊšôḇāḇ
The Torah is clear about how the world became corrupted after the fall when man chose to listen to Satan over God in their pursuit of greatness and more than God had already given them (Genesis 2:16-17; 3:1-7).
Years later, God set His people apart from this corrupt and fallen kingdom to help the world repent and return to God (Leviticus 19:2, Deuteronomy 14:2). However, even God’s people rejected Him and wanted an earthly king and earthly greatness (1 Samuel 8:4-7; 10:17, Hosea 13:10-11).
It didn’t take long for God’s people to backslide to their evil ways, even with the warnings of the prophets (2 Chronicles 7:14, Jeremiah 3:22; 8:5; 14:7, Hosea 14:4). The Hebrew word in the Old Testament for backslide is mᵊšôḇāḇ and it can also mean, “Apostasy or returned,” depending on the context it is used in.
Whenever God’s people backslid to the ways of this world, God allowed them to be exiled or enslaved to other nations (Deuteronomy 28:36-37, Kings 17:6, Jeremiah 29:4-7, Lamentations 1:3, Ezekiel 20:23):
- Babylonian
- Persian
- Grecian
- Roman
When the Messiah arrived, Israel was under Roman rule, and God’s people were expecting a savior to liberate them from Roman rule and restore the nation of Israel (Isaiah 9:6-7, Jeremiah 23:5-6, Zachariah 9:9-10, Matthew 2:1)
Instead, Jesus humbled Himself and rejected their desire for earthly power and a temporary kingdom (Philippians 2:7). Jesus redefined true greatness and power by explaining how God’s kingdom really works (Mark 9:34-36).
Our Lord emphasized humility over earthly power (Matthew 18:1-35; 23:12). He rebuked those who abused their earthly power and positions (Matthew 20:25-28; 23:1-12, Luke 20:45-47).
The G.O.P.
In other big news this week, House Speaker Johnson changed his mind on calling the conservative-controlled House back into session to handle the Government shutdown and other pressing issues.
The speaker and many GOP conservatives continue to blame Democrats for the shutdown, when the GOP has control over all the houses in Washington: House of Representatives, Senate, and the White House. Although they have the majority vote, they still cannot get the government to run.
All the while, federal workers continue to suffer, and so does the economy, as inflation has risen to the highest point since January. People in need, like the disabled and poor are losing valuable resources needed to survive.
Yet, the supposed conservative party continues to bow to their earthly king, who does the opposite of their heavenly King (Matthew 25:31-46):
- Unloving
- Unforgiving
- Uncompassionate
The current state of the GOP has gotten away from the fundamental beliefs of our beloved President Reagan, who championed helping those in need. God’s people are meant to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16).
We are commanded to put others before our selfish wants and needs (John 15:12, Philippians 2:3-4). When we focus more on an earthly kingdom and greatness than a heavenly kingdom, we are mᵊšôḇāḇ!
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In