What disgusts me about our politicians and the church

I try not to get political on my blog however I'm so disgusted with our politicians that I must express my discontent.  What angers me most is when our politicians or any organization, put their interests ahead of the interests of the people or the body in which they were created to serve.  I detest those who are more concerned with preserving their own power than doing the right thing.  When I hear that we must vote this way or get behind this movement because it benefits the party, I am immediately turned off.  

Both political parties are guilty of this.  The democrats are making a lot of policy, not to help our country but to either aid their own party or hurt the republicans.  Some of their actions border on violating laws or constitutional rights in order to preserve their political power.   Examples are the IRS scandal and Benghazi.  This really disgusts me!  

But I also get upset at Republicans when they put the party ahead of the good of the people.  I've seen the argument that any immigration action that gives a pathway to citizenship for illegals would hurt Republicans because the majority would vote democratic.  It doesn't matter what the right thing to do is, what is most important is what helps the party.  This disgusts me. 

I'm angered because It reminds me of the Pharisees and their self-preserving actions against Jesus and the early Christian church.  It is exactly the reason Jesus battled the Pharisees because he recognized their self-righteous, self-serving system that valued power over the needs of the people they were given the responsibility to serve.  

I'm disgusted when churches put building their own kingdom ahead of building God's kingdom.  It makes my stomach turn when a pastor enlists and uses people to build his own kingdom "in the name of God." I get queasy when I see a budget that is weighted heavily on serving the members instead of reaching the lost. 

It is so easy to lose focus and forsake your purpose.  The Pharisees did it, the church has done it, our political parties have surely done it, and I'm guilty also. It's an age old problem that began in the garden.  But that doesn't excuse anyone's selfish actions, especially our religious and political leaders, who were put into that position to serve others.  That is why it is so important to remember your purpose and your values. When you live and act from your true purpose, you are less prone to fall into the trap of serving yourself.  

Let's hold all of our leaders accountable to honor and stay true to their purpose and values.  And let us all remember our God-given purpose; to be salt and light in this dark world.