Let us learn a powerful lesson from the words of the Prophet Jeremiah:
This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” [Jer. 29:4–8NIV84 emphasis added]
If we start with the understanding that we are sojourners here (1 Pet. 2:11), and in some sense “exiled” from our heavenly home (Phil. 3:20), then it follows that we are to build homes, etc., and “Seek the Peace and prosperity of the city to which [He has] carried [us] into exile!” …And we are to “Pray to the LORD for [our city], because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” So, to isolate ourselves from our culture seems to be contrary to this Word from the LORD through the Prophet Jeremiah (Cf. Jn. 17:15; 1 Cor. 5:10). A true, godly patriot prays to the LORD for the prosperity of his/her city. A true godly patriot seeks Peace and prosperity for his/her city, and this “seeking” is not passive in the least. It involves purposeful, prayer-filled intuition. At the very least, we can vote in our great nation, especially as we celebrate our 250th anniversary! But, some of us are called to much more in “seeking the Peace and prosperity of our city.”
What is the LORD whispering to you to do?
Shalom,
Pastor Mike