God is not red, white or blue, as you may think; yet our lord wears purple

07 Nov God is not red, white or blue, as you may think; yet our lord wears purple

God is not Red, White or Blue, as we may think; (yet our Lord wears purple)

A Christian song from the 1960s was, “Yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love” based on John 13:35. Brothers and sisters, are we known by our love or something else?

First, however, let me say: For those who would not call yourself a Christian or do not hold to the beliefs I am listing below, please accept my sincere appreciation for who you are as persons worthy of full value and respect that should be extended to each and every human being. And I welcome any opportunity to become acquainted with you, hear your thoughts & beliefs and/or become a friend or neighbor to you if our paths do meet.

But if a follower of Jesus Christ, do we not believe?:

1. That every human being has value and should be treated with dignity and respect because they are created in God’s image: (Genesis 1:26-27)
2. That God’s love extends to all: (John 3:16)
3. Yet God has a particular plan for redeeming and saving the world from sin: (John 14:6) (Acts 4:12)
4. God’s command to us, as of greatest priority, is spoken to us by Jesus: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31, see Mark 12:28-34 for full context).

So then, may we not put our hope in any political, religious or social leader, but only in the LORD, who alone is to be worshipped.  May our prayers be; “God make us more like Jesus”. For God is not Red, White or Blue in the sense of being Republican, Independent or Democrat.  God is Holy; revered above all else (Exodus 20:3-6, Psalm 146:3-10).

Yet our Lord wears purple.

While Jesus was falsely accused, beaten and flogged – because of our sin (Isaiah 53:3-6) – he had a purple robe placed on him mockingly (Mark 15:16-20, John 19:1-3).  Moses was instructed to use blue, purple, scarlet yarns – always in that order (Exodus 36:8) – when constructing the Tabernacle.  Biblically speaking, blue is associated with heaven and God, while scarlet with Adam (human beings) and sin; purple was always in between and is created when blue and scarlet are brought together.

Jesus – who is God – became flesh (John 1:1-4, 14), so that he might reconcile us to God; calling us to partake in the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:17-21). The work of Jesus “has broken down the dividing wall of hostility…” (Ephesians 2:14). 

So, let us seek Jesus as our model in how we treat one another (Philippians 2:3-8).

What a joy it will be when we are known to all – believers and non-believers – by our love.  “…Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20). 

For a more theological and in-depth resource, consider reading “For the Health of the Nation,”  from the National Association of Evangelicals.  For a wonderful Christ-focused prayer for our nation, consider: https://christnow.com/how-to-pray-down-christs-supremacy-on-a-nation-in-crisis/