I’m Not a Politician, But Here’s My Agenda

Always be ready to give an answer …

“It is time for us to do what we have been doing, and that time is every day."

That’s what Vice President Kamala Harris said when a reporter asked her about any plans the White House has for addressing the coronavirus pandemic.

I’ve read this over several times, and I have to be honest with you — I have no idea what in the world she’s talking about. I assume she was trying to avoid telling us that the White House has no plan, even though Joe Biden promised he had everything under control. 

Harris didn’t really lie – she just knew she had to say something, so she crammed a few words together and called it a response. After listening to politicians talk over the years, I’ve picked up on a little clue that tells us when they’re about to utter nonsense in an effort to hide the truth. Whenever I hear one of them say, “Let me be very clear,” what they really mean is, “I’m about to pull the wool over your eyes.”

When anyone fails to speak plainly, what that reveals is that their primary objective is to win. Win political races! Win approval!

MY AGENDA IS DIFFERENT

I have a different agenda.  I’m all about winning, but the only kind of winning I’m interested in is winning folks to the kingdom of God. I’m all about snatching folks from the fire of confusion and condemnation. 

When I gave up on myself and was baptized into Christ all those years ago, one of the first changes in my life was my speech. What I said! How I said it! Whether or not what I will say is the truth.

You’ve heard me say that you’ll never hear profanity coming out of my mouth. That’s not always been true about me, but ever since I’ve became a follower of Christ, it’s been my goal to eliminate unwholesome talk from my vocabulary.

But I’m talking about something else. I’m talking about my commitment to speak plainly, without shading my words to keep people from knowing what I really believe. 

The reason that I want to be easily understood is that I am neither confused about nor ashamed of what I believe. Many years ago, I read what the apostle said in Romans 1:14, and I believed it. Been living by that truth ever since.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes…

As I said, I do have an agenda, but it isn’t a hidden one. Not at all. In fact, I wish that I could be even more clear about my faith in this infinite God that I’ve pledged my life to. I don’t want to utter a single word that confuses anyone about the reality that the death and resurrection of Jesus is the incarnation of God’s power to change lives. 

HOW TO AVOID CONFUSION

People who follow Christ don’t have any reason to hide their agenda. I don’t have to say “let me be very clear” when a reporter shoves a microphone in my face. I don’t care what the question is — Gospel clarity is always my goal. I don’t care what they think of my faith in God.  I’m not being cocky. 

Soon after I agreed to follow Jesus, I read another passage and took it to heart.  From the first day I found it in my Bible, I read it over and over again.  Then, I made a deal with the Almighty: “God, if you’ll give me the strength, this is who I want to be.”

But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect… (from 1 Peter 3)

As a result, rather than fearing that my true agenda will be exposed by my words, I do everything I can to clearly lay out my plan before everyone.  I’m under the Lordship of Christ! And since he is my Lord, I also want everyone to know that my only job on Planet Earth is to obey him in everything I do and say. I have nothing to hide. This is why I’ve been prepping for almost 50 years to give a ready answer to anyone who wants to know why I haven’t given in to despair and hopelessness. No one else has the words of life. Only the Almighty does!

MAKING IT SIMPLE

I’m just a simple man, but simple isn’t all that bad. In fact, the closer I get to the day I meet the Lord Jesus Christ face-to-face, the more committed to simplicity I get.  I follow Jesus, and so far, he’s the only one to introduce clarity into creation. I’ve boiled it all down to one simple, plain, easy-to-understand statement: I revere Christ as Lord. I love God with everything in me, and I love my neighbor as I love myself. Just let me clear about that!

If you were to ask my advice about how to navigate the world today, I would advise you to commit yourself to speaking the truth of the Gospel into our confused culture. You can go the way of politicians and public figures who work hard to disguise their true plans, but I predict that you’ll be angrier and more confused. Your world will be more chaotic, not less. So, I recommend that you read that scripture above and pray that God will give you the power to live above it all — to prepare to always be ready to give an answer for the hope you have. To know who really has your back. Then tell the story of Jesus to everyone you meet, and don’t back down.

Speak plain truth! Proclaim the name of Jesus. You won’t regret it!