The Mission
This excerpt is from the thirteenth chapter of Conversations with a Stranger by Larry Tate
A few weeks later I received notice that I was to be permanently transferred to the new office on the East Coast. The daily ritual of visiting my favorite coffee shop came to an end.
Occasionally I have an opportunity to return to my hometown on business. Before heading back East, I usually visit my old coffee shop one more time. I no longer expect to see Him at my table, but I enjoy sitting down and remembering the conversations I once had with the stranger, who became my Savior.
It’s not often that I tell people about the day I met my Lord face to face. I have learned that people tend to excuse themselves from my presence rather quickly when I say such things.
Now days, I am less driven by ritual. I visit various coffee shops. I make myself friendly with others. I now have a smile on my face, not unlike that of the stranger. Now, it is me who begins conversations with other people. I have learned from my own mistakes. Through conversations, I lead others to ask themselves if they know Jesus and if they have a personal relationship with Him. I encourage them to direct their thoughts and desires toward accepting Jesus into their lives. This has been a wonderful journey.
I keep my spiritual eyes focused on Jesus. As long as He is my passion, I can rest assured that I am actively involved in theKingdomofGod. I tell people about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I tell them that He loved them before the foundation of the world and that He is the sacrificial lamb that saves the world from its sins.
Sometimes I think back to the Wager spoken of by the stranger and how every person will either choose to believe he exists or choose not to believe he exists. There is a great irony to that Wager. During life, every person can make a personal choice to believe or not to believe. But a day will come when, at the judgment, every person who made a decision not to believe, will confess with their mouths that He does in fact exist.
I am on a mission. My mission is to introduce everyone I meet to the Lord Jesus Christ. I ask them to choose to believe in Him and accept Him into their lives. Then they, too, will be assured of an eternal life with Jesus.
I have a mission. You have a mission. We are to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, and we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. When we do, we will be obeying His call to be fishers of men. We will be helping those in need. We will be feeding the hungry. We will be ministering to the distressed. We will be visiting the sick. We will be visiting those in prison. We will be encouraging the down hearted. We will be sharing the Gospel.
I have learned that religion is not accomplished by the act of sitting in a church. We go to church for fellowship, teaching, and encouragement, but that is not our purpose. Pure religion is caring for others.
Will others physically see Jesus as I did? I can’t say for sure that I physically saw Jesus that day. Perhaps it was a dream. Perhaps it was a vision. It doesn’t matter whether or not I actually saw Jesus with my own eyes. What does matter is that I saw Him with my heart. I am walking with Jesus by faith, not by sight. No, the people we witness to may not physically see Jesus, but I can tell you with certainty that they will see Jesus through us. When we truly love our neighbor; when we feed, clothe, visit and care for our neighbor, we are doing those things directly for, and directly to our Lord. When we love our neighbor and share His Good News, they will see Jesus in us. When they look on us, they will be looking on Jesus.
The above excerpt is from the copyrighted book Conversations with a Stranger by Larry Tate
Monday, July 4, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
Politically Correct Ten Commandments
What would it have been like if Moses was a card-carrying member of the ACLU? Try to imagine what the Ten Commandments may have looked like if they were written from a politically correct viewpoint. Perhaps the document would have looked like this:
Ten Suggestions
1.There are people who believe in the existence of a higher being, and they refer to this alleged higher being as “God.” For those who subscribe to this unlikely and unproven theory, they would be well advised not to believe in even more higher beings. It is difficult enough to believe in one higher being, much less two or more higher beings.
2.For those who insist on believing that there is a higher being, they would be foolish to create graven images of that higher being. Obviously, if the higher being is invisible, it’s only logical that an image of that higher being would have little or no chance of having a true resemblance of that higher being.
3.If anyone continues to insist on believing in a higher being, it stands to reason that he or she should think twice before speaking in vain about that higher being. Such an activity could end up being harmful to that person. After all, by definition, a higher being would most likely have a certain degree of control and power over human beings. The last thing a person would want would be for a higher being to be upset with him or her.
4.Other than days set aside for recreation and relaxation, no particular day should be different from any other day. No one should be coerced into believing that one day should be set aside in order to revere and meditate on some higher being that probably doesn’t exist anyway.
5.Honoring one’s mother and father is nothing more than a distant memory of days gone by. In this generation of enlightenment, all of our citizens should understand that mothers and fathers have little more than a biological connection to their children. Every person should understand that he or she is an independent being and should be able to do whatever he or she pleases.
6.It isn’t the best idea for someone to terminate the life of another. There is one exception to this rule, however. In the case of unborn and unwanted children, a woman should have the right to end that child’s life however and whenever she chooses. A woman is completely and unequivocally in charge of her own body, regardless of the alleged life that may be dwelling in her womb.
7.All people have the right and the privilege of engaging in intimate relations with any other consenting person, whether those partners are of the same gender or of the opposite gender. This right is valid even among those who have entered into a so-called “marriage” contract.
8.Taking that which belongs to another person may not be the wisest of decisions. Such activities are likely to create strife and misunderstandings with others. However, if you can deal with that sort of strife, then who am I to suggest that you not do it?
9.Bearing false witness against another person is totally up to the each individual. Freedom of speech is your right and privilege.
10.While it isn’t a good idea to steal another person’s belongings, it is perfectly normal behavior for one to covet that which belongs to his or her neighbor. How can a person get ahead in life if at first they don’t harbor a bit of healthy jealousy over that which someone else has?
Ten Suggestions
1.There are people who believe in the existence of a higher being, and they refer to this alleged higher being as “God.” For those who subscribe to this unlikely and unproven theory, they would be well advised not to believe in even more higher beings. It is difficult enough to believe in one higher being, much less two or more higher beings.
2.For those who insist on believing that there is a higher being, they would be foolish to create graven images of that higher being. Obviously, if the higher being is invisible, it’s only logical that an image of that higher being would have little or no chance of having a true resemblance of that higher being.
3.If anyone continues to insist on believing in a higher being, it stands to reason that he or she should think twice before speaking in vain about that higher being. Such an activity could end up being harmful to that person. After all, by definition, a higher being would most likely have a certain degree of control and power over human beings. The last thing a person would want would be for a higher being to be upset with him or her.
4.Other than days set aside for recreation and relaxation, no particular day should be different from any other day. No one should be coerced into believing that one day should be set aside in order to revere and meditate on some higher being that probably doesn’t exist anyway.
5.Honoring one’s mother and father is nothing more than a distant memory of days gone by. In this generation of enlightenment, all of our citizens should understand that mothers and fathers have little more than a biological connection to their children. Every person should understand that he or she is an independent being and should be able to do whatever he or she pleases.
6.It isn’t the best idea for someone to terminate the life of another. There is one exception to this rule, however. In the case of unborn and unwanted children, a woman should have the right to end that child’s life however and whenever she chooses. A woman is completely and unequivocally in charge of her own body, regardless of the alleged life that may be dwelling in her womb.
7.All people have the right and the privilege of engaging in intimate relations with any other consenting person, whether those partners are of the same gender or of the opposite gender. This right is valid even among those who have entered into a so-called “marriage” contract.
8.Taking that which belongs to another person may not be the wisest of decisions. Such activities are likely to create strife and misunderstandings with others. However, if you can deal with that sort of strife, then who am I to suggest that you not do it?
9.Bearing false witness against another person is totally up to the each individual. Freedom of speech is your right and privilege.
10.While it isn’t a good idea to steal another person’s belongings, it is perfectly normal behavior for one to covet that which belongs to his or her neighbor. How can a person get ahead in life if at first they don’t harbor a bit of healthy jealousy over that which someone else has?
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Those offensive Easter Eggs
A Seattle school made headlines when administrators insisted that Easter Eggs be referred to as “Spring Spheres.” The City of Seattle is going to new lengths in order not to offend its citizens. The city’s parks department has removed “Easter” from “Easter Eggs.” Now, the kids simply go on “Egg Hunts.” In order to comply with Separation of Church and State, the city felt it necessary to remove the offensive term, “Easter” from this long-held tradition.
If a person wants to have an egg hunt at home, it’s okay to call it an Easter Egg hunt, but if it’s sponsored by the community, it must simply be an “Egg Hunt.” With a community comprised of people who are Jewish, Christian, Atheist, Agnostic, and more, then it must be politically correct to remove the Christian term, “Easter” from the language associated with this tradition. Doing so ensures that the community is inclusive and caring.
If a person wants to have an egg hunt at home, it’s okay to call it an Easter Egg hunt, but if it’s sponsored by the community, it must simply be an “Egg Hunt.” With a community comprised of people who are Jewish, Christian, Atheist, Agnostic, and more, then it must be politically correct to remove the Christian term, “Easter” from the language associated with this tradition. Doing so ensures that the community is inclusive and caring.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Christianity and Government Involvement
Should Christians be involved in Government?
Should American Christians be involved in political issues and elections? Should Christians vote for their leaders? If they do vote, do they vote in every election that comes around, or do they just vote in the “major elections?” Do they take the time to acquire a sample ballot prior to the election so they can make an informed decision on what they are voting for? Do they make any effort do in-depth research on the candidates, the issues and the questions? Should Christians write to their Senators and Congressmen?
If you ever decide to poll your Christian friends with these questions, you may want to prepare yourself for a shock. A fair number of Christians will tell you that they vote in Presidential elections, but you aren’t likely to find many who vote in every election that comes around. Even more disturbing is the degree of background information that most Christians actually utilize in order to make informed decisions about what they are voting on. Outside of headlines and bullet points acquired in the evening news, most voters have little to no information about the candidates or the issues. Why are many Christians simply not interested in our political process?
Voting is merely the starting point in citizen involvement. Our responsibility isn’t over after the election. Our President, our Governors, our Senators and our Representatives still need to hear from us on a regular basis. Our elected leaders need to know and understand the heart of the electorate. It’s very easy to communicate with our representatives these days. Nevertheless, very few Christians have ever written to their elected leaders.
“We have no business interfering with God’s plan,” say many Christians. “God is in charge of all the rulers and kingdoms of the world. There is nothing we can do about it.” One of the scriptures these Christians are likely to quote is: Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Romans 13:1
“As a matter of fact,” they may continue, “We are instructed that instead of being involved in the governmental process, we should just pray for our rulers.” I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
I Timothy 2:1-3
Many Christians defend their silence on political issues by saying, “God did not call the church to influence the culture by promoting legislation. What happens in this world is God’s will. We are to stay out of it. We should only pray that God’s will be done.” They continue to say, “The Bible does not specifically instruct us to be involved in government, therefore, we should not voice our opinions to our representatives. Instead of trying to manipulate the direction of government, we should just pray for our leaders.”
And finally, many Christians say that the Great Commission instructs us that our duty is to win souls, not influence government. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Matthew 28:19.
Are these responses right? Are we to stay out of our country’s political business? Should we forego the opportunity to inform our leaders of our opinions about the direction our country is heading?
Old Testament Examples of Government Involvement
Maybe this would be a good time to spend a little time looking at other scriptures in the Bible. Are there any instances in scripture where God’s followers participated in government?
Joseph was involved in government. Not only was he involved, he actually participated as a government ruler. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.
Genesis 41:39-44
Another example of government involvement is found with Mordecai. And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.
Esther 8:15
For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.
Esther 10:3
This is interesting. If God’s followers are not to be involved in government, why were Joseph and Mordecai involved in government?
“Well, those examples are found in the Old Testament,” some Christians may say. “What about the New Testament? The New Testament sets the stage for Christian activities.” Okay, let’s consider someone in the New Testament. John the Baptist wasn’t afraid to offer his opinion to King Herod. For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.
Mark 6:18
“That isn’t a very good example,” some may say. “For one thing, it is only one example out of the whole New Testament. For another thing, John the Baptist lived prior to the Church age. Since the Bible is silent about Christian involvement in government, we should stay out of such affairs.” That may be a fair statement, so let’s explore it a little further.
Models of Government in Jesus’ time
What sort of governmental bodies existed in Bible times? Almost without exception, all governments were of an authoritarian sort. Generally, every country in the known world was ruled by a king, a monarch, a dictator or a pharaoh. In these kinds of governments, one or a handful of people were forcefully in charge of their subjects. If someone were to approach the king and tell him that he was running the country wrong, that person would likely be executed on the spot. In Jesus’ day and in the days of the Apostles, the world’s countries were still controlled by men who ruled by force.
As a consequence, the Bible was silent when it came to instructions regarding Christian involvement in government. “That’s not fair,” some may say. “If God wanted us to be involved in the direction of our country, the Bible would have found some way to give us the proper instructions for such involvement. Besides that, all governments are put in place by God and ordained by God. We have no business interfering in God’s plan.”
Examples of commands in N.T. that we do not follow
Well, let’s look a little closer. With that kind of logic, every modern-day Christian woman should be silent in the Church.
Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
I Corinthians 14:34-35.
In spite of this scripture, modern Christian women are far from silent in the Church. This seems to be a direct command, yet it is not obeyed in modern churches. Why? Perhaps it is because the position of women in Bible times was far different than the position of women in modern times. Times have changed and circumstances are different.
Then, there is the issue with slavery. Slavery was commonplace in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. There was nothing wrong with a Christian being a slave owner. Actually, it was quite normal. Consequently, there were rules that a Christian slave owner was obliged to adhere to. Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
Colossians 4:1
We Twenty-First Century Christians would never think of owning a slave just because the Apostle Paul thought it was just fine to own one.
U. S. government is a Republic that is based on Democracy not Dictatorship
The Bible says that governments were put in place by God. It stands to reason therefore, that the United States government was put in place by God. The Bible also says that we are to obey the government. According to Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, our government is, “…of the people, by the people, and for the people.” The Preamble of the U.S. Constitution says, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
The “of the people and by the people” in Lincoln’s Address, and the “We the people” in the U.S. Constitution implies that all of the country’s citizens are by default, involved in the direction our country takes. As citizens of this great nation, we are obliged to have a voice in our government’s affairs. This nation that was “…ordained of God” (Romans 13:1) was established to be ruled by the will of its citizens…not by the will of its leaders.
How often have we heard ministers remind us that we should thank God every day that we live in a free country where we can say what we want, do what we want, read what we want and go where we want to go without fear of punishment from the government? How often have Christians expressed thankfulness that we can freely read our Bibles while at the same time, citizens of other countries are at risk of being jailed if they are caught with a Bible in their possession?
These freedoms did not come about by accident. Christian men formed this nation of freedoms. Ever since this nation was formed, voters have been electing people to office who have continued to keep our freedoms in place. In addition to voting people in office, a certain number of concerned citizens have reminded our leaders of the people’s will. This is done by communicating with the leaders, either personally, by phone, or by mail.
Should Modern-Day Christians be involved in politics?
Many Christians are quick to point out that our mission is to simply “let our light shine” before all of the unbelievers in the world, yet far too many Christians are not only apathetic when it comes to politics, they actually refuse to let their light shine when it comes to making their voices heard regarding the direction that our country is heading.
There are two forces at work in this world, one evil and one righteous. Jesus said, He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathered not with me scattereth abroad. Matthew 12:30. By voting and communicating with our leaders, our nation goes in the direction its citizens instruct it to go. If Christians don’t vote, and if Christians don’t communicate with our leaders, this nation will go the way of other nations of the world, which is away from God and God’s principles.
Our country was established on Judeo-Christian principles. However, that moral consensus has given way to many morally corrupt and hedonistic principles. This happened only with the tacit approval of the Christian majority. How did the Christian majority approve such a change? They approved this change by their apathy. Instead of voicing their opposition to such changes, only a vast silence has been heard. The silence of many Christians has also been evident at the polls. Sadly, less than half of self-described Christians voted in federal elections in the last fifty years. Too many voices within the Christian community are encouraging fellow Christians to keep silent, especially when it comes to civic and cultural concerns.
The preservation of our freedom and morality depends on our citizens placing principled men in office. If we fail in this obligation, our government will soon be corrupted, and laws will be made that are not for the public good. Corrupt or incompetent men will end up being appointed to be judges, and the rights of our citizens will be violated or outright disregarded.
Americans are blessed with the freedom to organize, campaign, vote and write to their Senators and Congressmen. If they allow apathy to cause them to ignore that freedom, they may find themselves someday being held accountable for that apathy.
It seems to reason that if Christians neglect their civil duty, they should not expect deliverance from the national consequences to follow. On the other hand, when Christians do the opposite and diligently fulfill not just their duty toward God, but also their civic duty to their government, they set the stage for His blessings on their land. When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice” Proverbs 29:2 and Righteousness exalts a nation. Proverbs 14:34.
Some Christians say that rather than voting and being otherwise involved in government, we should obey I Timothy 2:1, 2 which says that we should just pray for rulers. Continuing, they say that by being involved in the government, we might be working against God's power to choose rulers according to His will.
Think on this for a moment. God instructs us in Matthew 6:11 to pray for our daily bread. Does this mean we should just sit back and let God do it all, or should we try to find a job and let God use us as the means to answer the prayer? Should we avoid looking for a job because we might take a job other than the one God in His providence wanted us to take?
In III John 2, we are instructed to pray for good health. Some people mistakenly believe that going to a doctor shows a lack of faith in God's power to answer prayer. Yet Christians know that the doctor may be the very means God uses to answer the prayer!
By default, all Americans are participants in political involvement. By participating, we have the opportunity of voting for our elected officials and for ensuring that we have proper and decent laws and traditions. If we truly believe our government was divinely ordained and instituted by God, this freedom and opportunity should not only be enjoyed, it should be exercised.
Christians who vote but are at the same time against writing to their Congressmen and Senators could be confused. These Christians mistakenly say that voting is one thing, but writing to their leaders is meddling in God’s plan. What then, is voting? Casting a vote can also be defined as meddling in God’s plan. The very act of voting is the same as voicing one’s opinions.
Christians should not be passive spectators in society's culture. While our primary task may the Great Commission, we are to engage our culture at all levels, advancing moral principles and seeking to restrain evil.
Should American Christians be involved in political issues and elections? Should Christians vote for their leaders? If they do vote, do they vote in every election that comes around, or do they just vote in the “major elections?” Do they take the time to acquire a sample ballot prior to the election so they can make an informed decision on what they are voting for? Do they make any effort do in-depth research on the candidates, the issues and the questions? Should Christians write to their Senators and Congressmen?
If you ever decide to poll your Christian friends with these questions, you may want to prepare yourself for a shock. A fair number of Christians will tell you that they vote in Presidential elections, but you aren’t likely to find many who vote in every election that comes around. Even more disturbing is the degree of background information that most Christians actually utilize in order to make informed decisions about what they are voting on. Outside of headlines and bullet points acquired in the evening news, most voters have little to no information about the candidates or the issues. Why are many Christians simply not interested in our political process?
Voting is merely the starting point in citizen involvement. Our responsibility isn’t over after the election. Our President, our Governors, our Senators and our Representatives still need to hear from us on a regular basis. Our elected leaders need to know and understand the heart of the electorate. It’s very easy to communicate with our representatives these days. Nevertheless, very few Christians have ever written to their elected leaders.
“We have no business interfering with God’s plan,” say many Christians. “God is in charge of all the rulers and kingdoms of the world. There is nothing we can do about it.” One of the scriptures these Christians are likely to quote is: Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Romans 13:1
“As a matter of fact,” they may continue, “We are instructed that instead of being involved in the governmental process, we should just pray for our rulers.” I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
I Timothy 2:1-3
Many Christians defend their silence on political issues by saying, “God did not call the church to influence the culture by promoting legislation. What happens in this world is God’s will. We are to stay out of it. We should only pray that God’s will be done.” They continue to say, “The Bible does not specifically instruct us to be involved in government, therefore, we should not voice our opinions to our representatives. Instead of trying to manipulate the direction of government, we should just pray for our leaders.”
And finally, many Christians say that the Great Commission instructs us that our duty is to win souls, not influence government. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Matthew 28:19.
Are these responses right? Are we to stay out of our country’s political business? Should we forego the opportunity to inform our leaders of our opinions about the direction our country is heading?
Old Testament Examples of Government Involvement
Maybe this would be a good time to spend a little time looking at other scriptures in the Bible. Are there any instances in scripture where God’s followers participated in government?
Joseph was involved in government. Not only was he involved, he actually participated as a government ruler. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.
Genesis 41:39-44
Another example of government involvement is found with Mordecai. And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.
Esther 8:15
For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.
Esther 10:3
This is interesting. If God’s followers are not to be involved in government, why were Joseph and Mordecai involved in government?
“Well, those examples are found in the Old Testament,” some Christians may say. “What about the New Testament? The New Testament sets the stage for Christian activities.” Okay, let’s consider someone in the New Testament. John the Baptist wasn’t afraid to offer his opinion to King Herod. For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.
Mark 6:18
“That isn’t a very good example,” some may say. “For one thing, it is only one example out of the whole New Testament. For another thing, John the Baptist lived prior to the Church age. Since the Bible is silent about Christian involvement in government, we should stay out of such affairs.” That may be a fair statement, so let’s explore it a little further.
Models of Government in Jesus’ time
What sort of governmental bodies existed in Bible times? Almost without exception, all governments were of an authoritarian sort. Generally, every country in the known world was ruled by a king, a monarch, a dictator or a pharaoh. In these kinds of governments, one or a handful of people were forcefully in charge of their subjects. If someone were to approach the king and tell him that he was running the country wrong, that person would likely be executed on the spot. In Jesus’ day and in the days of the Apostles, the world’s countries were still controlled by men who ruled by force.
As a consequence, the Bible was silent when it came to instructions regarding Christian involvement in government. “That’s not fair,” some may say. “If God wanted us to be involved in the direction of our country, the Bible would have found some way to give us the proper instructions for such involvement. Besides that, all governments are put in place by God and ordained by God. We have no business interfering in God’s plan.”
Examples of commands in N.T. that we do not follow
Well, let’s look a little closer. With that kind of logic, every modern-day Christian woman should be silent in the Church.
Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
I Corinthians 14:34-35.
In spite of this scripture, modern Christian women are far from silent in the Church. This seems to be a direct command, yet it is not obeyed in modern churches. Why? Perhaps it is because the position of women in Bible times was far different than the position of women in modern times. Times have changed and circumstances are different.
Then, there is the issue with slavery. Slavery was commonplace in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. There was nothing wrong with a Christian being a slave owner. Actually, it was quite normal. Consequently, there were rules that a Christian slave owner was obliged to adhere to. Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
Colossians 4:1
We Twenty-First Century Christians would never think of owning a slave just because the Apostle Paul thought it was just fine to own one.
U. S. government is a Republic that is based on Democracy not Dictatorship
The Bible says that governments were put in place by God. It stands to reason therefore, that the United States government was put in place by God. The Bible also says that we are to obey the government. According to Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, our government is, “…of the people, by the people, and for the people.” The Preamble of the U.S. Constitution says, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
The “of the people and by the people” in Lincoln’s Address, and the “We the people” in the U.S. Constitution implies that all of the country’s citizens are by default, involved in the direction our country takes. As citizens of this great nation, we are obliged to have a voice in our government’s affairs. This nation that was “…ordained of God” (Romans 13:1) was established to be ruled by the will of its citizens…not by the will of its leaders.
How often have we heard ministers remind us that we should thank God every day that we live in a free country where we can say what we want, do what we want, read what we want and go where we want to go without fear of punishment from the government? How often have Christians expressed thankfulness that we can freely read our Bibles while at the same time, citizens of other countries are at risk of being jailed if they are caught with a Bible in their possession?
These freedoms did not come about by accident. Christian men formed this nation of freedoms. Ever since this nation was formed, voters have been electing people to office who have continued to keep our freedoms in place. In addition to voting people in office, a certain number of concerned citizens have reminded our leaders of the people’s will. This is done by communicating with the leaders, either personally, by phone, or by mail.
Should Modern-Day Christians be involved in politics?
Many Christians are quick to point out that our mission is to simply “let our light shine” before all of the unbelievers in the world, yet far too many Christians are not only apathetic when it comes to politics, they actually refuse to let their light shine when it comes to making their voices heard regarding the direction that our country is heading.
There are two forces at work in this world, one evil and one righteous. Jesus said, He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathered not with me scattereth abroad. Matthew 12:30. By voting and communicating with our leaders, our nation goes in the direction its citizens instruct it to go. If Christians don’t vote, and if Christians don’t communicate with our leaders, this nation will go the way of other nations of the world, which is away from God and God’s principles.
Our country was established on Judeo-Christian principles. However, that moral consensus has given way to many morally corrupt and hedonistic principles. This happened only with the tacit approval of the Christian majority. How did the Christian majority approve such a change? They approved this change by their apathy. Instead of voicing their opposition to such changes, only a vast silence has been heard. The silence of many Christians has also been evident at the polls. Sadly, less than half of self-described Christians voted in federal elections in the last fifty years. Too many voices within the Christian community are encouraging fellow Christians to keep silent, especially when it comes to civic and cultural concerns.
The preservation of our freedom and morality depends on our citizens placing principled men in office. If we fail in this obligation, our government will soon be corrupted, and laws will be made that are not for the public good. Corrupt or incompetent men will end up being appointed to be judges, and the rights of our citizens will be violated or outright disregarded.
Americans are blessed with the freedom to organize, campaign, vote and write to their Senators and Congressmen. If they allow apathy to cause them to ignore that freedom, they may find themselves someday being held accountable for that apathy.
It seems to reason that if Christians neglect their civil duty, they should not expect deliverance from the national consequences to follow. On the other hand, when Christians do the opposite and diligently fulfill not just their duty toward God, but also their civic duty to their government, they set the stage for His blessings on their land. When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice” Proverbs 29:2 and Righteousness exalts a nation. Proverbs 14:34.
Some Christians say that rather than voting and being otherwise involved in government, we should obey I Timothy 2:1, 2 which says that we should just pray for rulers. Continuing, they say that by being involved in the government, we might be working against God's power to choose rulers according to His will.
Think on this for a moment. God instructs us in Matthew 6:11 to pray for our daily bread. Does this mean we should just sit back and let God do it all, or should we try to find a job and let God use us as the means to answer the prayer? Should we avoid looking for a job because we might take a job other than the one God in His providence wanted us to take?
In III John 2, we are instructed to pray for good health. Some people mistakenly believe that going to a doctor shows a lack of faith in God's power to answer prayer. Yet Christians know that the doctor may be the very means God uses to answer the prayer!
By default, all Americans are participants in political involvement. By participating, we have the opportunity of voting for our elected officials and for ensuring that we have proper and decent laws and traditions. If we truly believe our government was divinely ordained and instituted by God, this freedom and opportunity should not only be enjoyed, it should be exercised.
Christians who vote but are at the same time against writing to their Congressmen and Senators could be confused. These Christians mistakenly say that voting is one thing, but writing to their leaders is meddling in God’s plan. What then, is voting? Casting a vote can also be defined as meddling in God’s plan. The very act of voting is the same as voicing one’s opinions.
Christians should not be passive spectators in society's culture. While our primary task may the Great Commission, we are to engage our culture at all levels, advancing moral principles and seeking to restrain evil.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Words and Actions from Barack Obama
Christian Nation
While on an overseas trip to Turkey in April 2009, Obama said, “…we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation…”
Muslim Nation
June, 2009. In an interview with Laura Haim on Canal Plus, a French television station, Mr. Obama noted that the United States also could be considered as “one of the largest Muslim countries in the world.”
National Healthcare
In June 2009, President Obama suggested at a town hall event that one way to shave medical costs is to stop expensive and ultimately futile procedures performed on people who don't stand to gain from the extra care. Obama said that families should not be unthinkingly approving so many additional tests or additional drugs. Instead, he said, "Maybe you're better off not having the surgery, but taking the painkiller."
Benefits of abortion
In March 2008, Obama said, “…politicians must trust women to make the right decisions for themselves.” Then he said, “…I've got two daughters. 9 years old and 6 years old. I am going to teach them first of all about values and morals. But if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby.
Defense of Marriage Act
To drum up support for his Senate bid in 2004, Obama wrote a letter to the Windy City Times, a publication targeted to Chicago’s gay community. “I opposed DOMA [the Defense of Marriage Act] in 1996. It should be repealed, and I will vote for its repeal on the Senate floor,” he vowed. “I will also oppose any proposal to amend the U.S. Constitution to ban gays and lesbians from marrying”
Feb. 24, 2011 The Obama administration said it will no longer oppose court challenges to the Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages for purposes of taxes, social security and other programs.
In response, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said, “I will instruct department attorneys to advise courts in other pending Defense of Marriage Act litigation of the president’s and my conclusions” that the law’s definition of marriage as between a man and a woman is unconstitutional, Holder said in a statement. Members of Congress “who wish to defend the statute may pursue that option,” he said.
Coal-fired energy plants
In November 2008, Obama said, "…we would put a cap and trade system in place that is as aggressive, if not more aggressive, than anybody else's out there." Continuing on, he said, "So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can; it's just that it will bankrupt them because they're going to be charged a huge sum for all that greenhouse gas that's being emitted."
We must watch what we eat
Speaking about the U.S. role in being a good example for taking care of the planet, Obama said in May 2008, "We can't drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times ... and then just expect that other countries are going to say OK."
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
In December 2010, President Barack Obama signed a landmark law Wednesday repealing the ban on gay men and women serving openly in the military, fulfilling one of his major campaign pledges and casting the issue as a matter of civil rights long denied. "No longer will tens of thousands of Americans in uniform be asked to live a lie, or look over their shoulder in order to serve the country that they love," Obama said.
Pro-Lifers are ideologues
In May 2009, Obama related a story about how a Christian, pro-life doctor was concerned about a comment on his web site saying Obama would fight "right-wing ideologues who want to take away a woman’s right to choose." After reading the doctor’s concerns, Obama said that even though he was not changing his position, he would delete that language from his website.
What exactly is an ideologue? It is a blindly partisan advocate or adherent of a particular a systematic body of concepts especially about human life or culture.
So, it seems that Obama is suggesting that Pro-Lifers are blindly partisan advocates of those who are yet unborn.
Obama could not have been placed in his office of President of the United States without the support of a large number liberal Christians. Why did they vote for Obama?
They may say that they voted for him because of his liberal fiscal policies such as entitlements, welfare, increased support of the poor, powerful labor unions, etc. Okay, that is a subject that we can argue about for many hours. However, liberal fiscal policies are only part of the package. What about the other half of his stance?
In one hand, he supports liberal fiscal policies, but in his other hand are liberal social policies. He supports terminating the life of unborn children. In fact, he suggests that those who call themselves Pro-Life are little more than blindly partisan advocates of silly concepts such as life. He supports the right of homosexuals to be united in marriage. In order to be politically correct, he tells the world that the United States is not a Christian nation. In order to make his National Healthcare plan work, he supports restricting life-saving medical care, and instead suggests that we take pain killers and accept the inevitable.
When people vote for a candidate, they are voting for the whole man, not just a part of the man. When Christians voted for his liberal fiscal policies, they also told the world that they support terminating the life of unborn babies; they support allowing homosexuals to marry; they shout to the world that we are not a Christian nation; and they support restricting medical care for the sick, and instead consider end-of-life options, possibly even euthanasia.
Many Christians are quick to say that the Bible instructs us to care for the poor and the needy. Therefore, they believe we should adopt mandatory fiscal policies that support the poor. Okay…but at the same time, these same Christians are telling the world that they are for abortion, homosexual marriage, and hiding the light of Christianity. Is this really how Christians should stand for Christ?
While on an overseas trip to Turkey in April 2009, Obama said, “…we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation…”
Muslim Nation
June, 2009. In an interview with Laura Haim on Canal Plus, a French television station, Mr. Obama noted that the United States also could be considered as “one of the largest Muslim countries in the world.”
National Healthcare
In June 2009, President Obama suggested at a town hall event that one way to shave medical costs is to stop expensive and ultimately futile procedures performed on people who don't stand to gain from the extra care. Obama said that families should not be unthinkingly approving so many additional tests or additional drugs. Instead, he said, "Maybe you're better off not having the surgery, but taking the painkiller."
Benefits of abortion
In March 2008, Obama said, “…politicians must trust women to make the right decisions for themselves.” Then he said, “…I've got two daughters. 9 years old and 6 years old. I am going to teach them first of all about values and morals. But if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby.
Defense of Marriage Act
To drum up support for his Senate bid in 2004, Obama wrote a letter to the Windy City Times, a publication targeted to Chicago’s gay community. “I opposed DOMA [the Defense of Marriage Act] in 1996. It should be repealed, and I will vote for its repeal on the Senate floor,” he vowed. “I will also oppose any proposal to amend the U.S. Constitution to ban gays and lesbians from marrying”
Feb. 24, 2011 The Obama administration said it will no longer oppose court challenges to the Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages for purposes of taxes, social security and other programs.
In response, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said, “I will instruct department attorneys to advise courts in other pending Defense of Marriage Act litigation of the president’s and my conclusions” that the law’s definition of marriage as between a man and a woman is unconstitutional, Holder said in a statement. Members of Congress “who wish to defend the statute may pursue that option,” he said.
Coal-fired energy plants
In November 2008, Obama said, "…we would put a cap and trade system in place that is as aggressive, if not more aggressive, than anybody else's out there." Continuing on, he said, "So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can; it's just that it will bankrupt them because they're going to be charged a huge sum for all that greenhouse gas that's being emitted."
We must watch what we eat
Speaking about the U.S. role in being a good example for taking care of the planet, Obama said in May 2008, "We can't drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times ... and then just expect that other countries are going to say OK."
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
In December 2010, President Barack Obama signed a landmark law Wednesday repealing the ban on gay men and women serving openly in the military, fulfilling one of his major campaign pledges and casting the issue as a matter of civil rights long denied. "No longer will tens of thousands of Americans in uniform be asked to live a lie, or look over their shoulder in order to serve the country that they love," Obama said.
Pro-Lifers are ideologues
In May 2009, Obama related a story about how a Christian, pro-life doctor was concerned about a comment on his web site saying Obama would fight "right-wing ideologues who want to take away a woman’s right to choose." After reading the doctor’s concerns, Obama said that even though he was not changing his position, he would delete that language from his website.
What exactly is an ideologue? It is a blindly partisan advocate or adherent of a particular a systematic body of concepts especially about human life or culture.
So, it seems that Obama is suggesting that Pro-Lifers are blindly partisan advocates of those who are yet unborn.
Obama could not have been placed in his office of President of the United States without the support of a large number liberal Christians. Why did they vote for Obama?
They may say that they voted for him because of his liberal fiscal policies such as entitlements, welfare, increased support of the poor, powerful labor unions, etc. Okay, that is a subject that we can argue about for many hours. However, liberal fiscal policies are only part of the package. What about the other half of his stance?
In one hand, he supports liberal fiscal policies, but in his other hand are liberal social policies. He supports terminating the life of unborn children. In fact, he suggests that those who call themselves Pro-Life are little more than blindly partisan advocates of silly concepts such as life. He supports the right of homosexuals to be united in marriage. In order to be politically correct, he tells the world that the United States is not a Christian nation. In order to make his National Healthcare plan work, he supports restricting life-saving medical care, and instead suggests that we take pain killers and accept the inevitable.
When people vote for a candidate, they are voting for the whole man, not just a part of the man. When Christians voted for his liberal fiscal policies, they also told the world that they support terminating the life of unborn babies; they support allowing homosexuals to marry; they shout to the world that we are not a Christian nation; and they support restricting medical care for the sick, and instead consider end-of-life options, possibly even euthanasia.
Many Christians are quick to say that the Bible instructs us to care for the poor and the needy. Therefore, they believe we should adopt mandatory fiscal policies that support the poor. Okay…but at the same time, these same Christians are telling the world that they are for abortion, homosexual marriage, and hiding the light of Christianity. Is this really how Christians should stand for Christ?
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Belgium is now harvesting organs from euthanasia victims
Human euthanasia became legal in Belgium in 2002. Any patient over the age of 18 who claims to be constantly suffering from a physical or psychological condition may request to be euthanized. If the person is not in the terminal phase of his illness, his doctor must consult with a second doctor, either a psychiatrist or a specialist in the disease concerned. At least one month must pass between the written request and carrying out the act.
As of December, 2010, a new phase in this euthanasia practice has been adopted. Belgian doctors have begun harvesting organs from euthanasia donors. What started out as “compassionate” mercy killing of the terminally ill, has evolved to killing people who don’t have a good quality of life, to harvesting perfectly good organs for the purpose of improving the lives of other people who still have a desire to live.
Prior to this, it had been rather difficult to obtain healthy organs for needy patients. This new practice has the potential to increase the supply of available organs. One factor leading up to this decision is the discovery that 20% of people choosing to be euthanized, have organs that are of relatively high quality for transplanting to other people.
Society has evolved to the point that we now see those who are paralyzed, and those who are merely down and discouraged as nothing more than potential organ givers. Society is now telling us that if we are tired of living, in the interest of compassion for others, we should just kill ourselves so that we can help out someone else. Doing so, would demonstrate that we are utilizing the ultimate in utilitarian compassion.
As of December, 2010, a new phase in this euthanasia practice has been adopted. Belgian doctors have begun harvesting organs from euthanasia donors. What started out as “compassionate” mercy killing of the terminally ill, has evolved to killing people who don’t have a good quality of life, to harvesting perfectly good organs for the purpose of improving the lives of other people who still have a desire to live.
Prior to this, it had been rather difficult to obtain healthy organs for needy patients. This new practice has the potential to increase the supply of available organs. One factor leading up to this decision is the discovery that 20% of people choosing to be euthanized, have organs that are of relatively high quality for transplanting to other people.
Society has evolved to the point that we now see those who are paralyzed, and those who are merely down and discouraged as nothing more than potential organ givers. Society is now telling us that if we are tired of living, in the interest of compassion for others, we should just kill ourselves so that we can help out someone else. Doing so, would demonstrate that we are utilizing the ultimate in utilitarian compassion.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
And the Word was made flesh
We all know that the scripture, “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” was referring to Jesus Christ. Even Nancy Pelosi made a reference to that Biblical truth. However, when she was questioned about whether Jesus had the right to life at the moment of conception, or if that right only occurred at the moment of birth, she refused to provide an answer.
Isn’t it a good thing that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was Pro-Life? Had she been influenced by the likes of Nancy Pelosi, she may have aborted that which was conceived of the Holy Ghost, because it was “nothing more than so much biological matter.”
Isn’t it a good thing that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was Pro-Life? Had she been influenced by the likes of Nancy Pelosi, she may have aborted that which was conceived of the Holy Ghost, because it was “nothing more than so much biological matter.”
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