Christian Joe

Archive for the ‘politics’ Category

I was reading the introduction to a book written recently concerning marriage and the family.  The author began with something that you will find in most Christian literature written today.  He began with the premise that we are living in a post-modern era and therefore living in a culture that believes truth is relative.  I used to believe this, but as we look at the spiritual, social, and political landscape around us, I have begun to wonder, “Is our society really post-modern?”  Another way to put it, “Does our culture believe that truth is relative?”  I am not so sure that is the case anymore; and yes, I do believe there is something worse than believing truth is relative.  What is worse than relative truth?  How about a reversal of truth whereby the culture proclaims that there is morality, there is truth, it is just that the truth they are talking about is the polar opposite of what God says is truth. One of the principles of a society where truth is relative is to suggest, “You have your truth, I have my truth-let’s just live and let be.”  But our society no longer thinks that way. As evidenced by the post yesterday, the society is not content to live and let be, but is determined to conform everyone to their standard of morality and truth.  Or the way the Word of God puts it, “Woe to them that call evil good and good evil.” (Is. 5:20).  In the “modern” era, men rejected absolute truth, in the “post-modern” era men ignored absolute truth, but now in the era we are living, men have redefined truth.  Now, it is not just that everyone can do his own thing, but if you insist upon Biblical truth, dogma, or Biblical literalism, you are not just considered wacky (post-modern)-you are considered evil.  If you desire to share the Gospel truth with an unbeliever, you are not just considered rude and intolerant, (post-modern) you are considered the enemy of “truth.”  Christians should do well to heed the reminder of Jesus, “Marvel not if the world hate you.”  I am still trying to think about what we should call this era if it is not post-modern, post-post-modern is just not creative enough, but whatever era we are living in now, we need to be on guard and arm ourselves with the mind of Christ.  Persecution is coming to those who hold to the God’s inspired Word (the Bible) as dogmatic truth.  The world has a gospel, it is just not the gospel of Jesus Christ found in the Bible.  In future posts, I would like to examine what the world’s gospel truly is.  Stay strong Christian.

I recently saw this commercial Audi Green Police (okay so it has been out for a while, but I guess I don’t watch enough TV and when I do, I am notorious for channel surfing during the commercials); and I get that it is just a commercial and supposed to be funny, but since when did totalitarianism become a hip way to communicate your message?  And then I saw this commercial Glee Recycling and was bothered by the subtle message being sent.  I am a supporter of recycling.  I am for energy conservation.  I get irritated and will cranky about morons who litter water bottles and granola bar wrappers along the trails I like to hike, but there is a trend within the world to adjust morality.  For years, the world has protested against standards of morality.  The world is amoral and toleration is supreme.  But I noticed an important message being sent in these commercials.  It is that there is a morality, but it is not a Bible-based one.  In the first commercial, it is a crime worthy of serious arrest to be found using plastic instead of paper for your groceries.  You are evil scum if you use an incandescent “normal” light bulb.  And the second video is less subliminal.  If you recycle you are good (note the ad. says nothing about doing good, but being good).  And if you do not, you are bad (not just doing bad, but your nature is bad (or evil). This adjusting of morals becoming so publicly blatant is evidence, that the cries of amoral tolerance and pluralism have been and are smoke-screens to hide the truth that the world is the enemy of true morality.  This is not about being responsible with our environment and created world, but is about what is right and what is wrong.  What really is morality?  Evidently society makes that determination, not an outside source of righteousness (God).  Some thoughts to consider.

If, as a Christian, I believe that God is supreme over nations and governments. . .

and if, as a Christian, I live in a nation that allows me freedom to express my belief in God. . .

Then I have a duty to be a patriot by proclaiming the sovereignty of God in America.

If I am to be a patriot for the glory of God . . .

And I believe that God is glorified through the gospel of Jesus Christ . . .

Then I have a duty to declare that gospel and live out its implications boldly and passionately.

I am pondering that the most patriotic thing that a Christian can do is not protest injustice, not run for political office, not campaign against evil-doers, not engage in political rhetoric (although these all might be good and wholesome, but I am speaking of the most patriotic duty), but rather the most patriotic duty is to speak the evangel to my neighbor, my post-man, my barista (I don’t have one but some of you do-I get my coffee from the gas station), my co-workers, etc.

The gospel of grace which promises to redeem sinners, justify the guilty, forgive the fallen, and make new the destitute will be the only thing that can stem the decline of the United States of America.  God make us good citizens by being passionately evangelistic Christians.

Happy Belated Birthday, USA.  And may God truly bless America only through faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

I think G. K. Chesterton is one of the most quotable authors of the 19-20th century.  I wish that I knew the spiritual state of Chesterton, for his writing is much like his life, full of paradox.  Chesterton was formally accepted by the Catholic religion toward the end of his life, but much of what he writes is of general “Christian” substance.  I would not trust Chesterton for theology or doctrine as he was no doubt highly Romish, but how he writes with wit and perception undoubtedly has influenced Christian as well as secular thought.  I thought I would print a few GKc quotes to ponder today.

“Religious liberty might be supposed to mean that everybody is free to discuss religion. In practice it means that hardly anybody is allowed to mention it.” Autobiography 1937

“Brave men are all vertebrates; they have their softness on the surface and their toughness in the middle.”

“Diplomacy is the art of saying “Nice doggie” until you can find a rock.”

“The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because generally they are the same people.” ILN,7/16/1910

“Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried.” What’s Wrong with the World, chapter 5, 1910

“I regard golf as an expensive way of playing marbles.”

There are many more quotes and whether he was a true follower of Christ or not, there is depth and truth in a lot of what he says.  I encourage you to read a little bit of Chesterton.

Over 27,000 Catholics, Protestants, Evangelicals, Mormons, JWs, and a whole host of  other religious people have recently affixed their names to a document called the Manhattan Declaration.  This document is championed by Chuck Colson who was the originator of the Evangelicals and Catholics together in the early nineties.  It is an attempt to foster unity between different groups who call themselves “Christians” to preserve and defend conservative values.  While I am in full support of conservative values, I cannot support this declaration by any means.  Some leading evangelicals have affixed their name to the document, which greatly disappointments me.  I was also delighted to see some names notably absent from the document.   Here is a list of the leading religious leaders who affixed their names.

Manhattan Declaration

Christians, when they have lived up to the highest ideals of their faith, have defended the weak and vulnerable and worked tirelessly to protect and strengthen vital institutions of civil society, beginning with the family.

We are Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical Christians who have united at this hour to reaffirm fundamental truths about justice and the common good, and to call upon our fellow citizens, believers and non-believers alike, to join us in defending them. These truths are:

1. the sanctity of human life
2. the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife
3. the rights of conscience and religious liberty.

Inasmuch as these truths are foundational to human dignity and the well-being of society, they are inviolable and non-negotiable. Because they are increasingly under assault from powerful forces in our culture, we are compelled today to speak out forcefully in their defense, and to commit ourselves to honoring them fully no matter what pressures are brought upon us and our institutions to abandon or compromise them. We make this commitment not as partisans of any political group but as followers of Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Lord, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

What is most troubling to me is the continual referring to the signers as Christians, and in essence, describing the signers as Christian.  All of those who sign might call themselves Christians, but being a Christian is more than “following” a historic person named Jesus the Christ.  It is absolute surrender to what Christ came to proclaim-the Gospel, and it is not just some fuzzy idea of what the Gospel might “mean to me.”  The Gospel is the historic account of Jesus being fully God and fully man dieing on behalf of depraved sinners who when they come to him by faith alone because of grace alone, they are completely justified, forgiven, and being sanctified.  Catholics have a different gospel.   Mormons have a different gospel, liberal protestants have a different gospel.  Therefore there is more confusion generated when Evangelicals unite with unbelievers under the banner of the Gospel.  This does not mean that no Catholic or Mormon or Protestant is possibly saved, but rather that the belief systems are in fundamental opposition.  How can those who believe the Gospel is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone think it is okay to blur lines like this.  I know that my position does not make me popular as well as more notable Christian leaders who did not sign the declaration (after all, I really am not an “influential” Christian leader), but I will not contribute to the confusion created by reducing the word “Christian” to a political moniker, or “tradition” marker.

Note, my main problem is not what the declaration is trying to do.  My concern is that we soften Christianity and the demands of the true Gospel when we fudge on what the Gospel means.  Did not Paul tell the Galatians that there would be some who bring another gospel which is not another, but a twisted Gospel?  And did he not tell us that, that person who preaches that perverted Gospel should be accursed?  We have come a long way from Galatians in justifying participation with unbelievers “for the sake of conservative values.”  Let us have a clear voice that resonates with the true Gospel as defined in the pages of Scripture alone.

It doesn’t matter which side of the political spectrum one falls upon, there is certainly some who are willing to hack up God’s most holy Word, run it through the grid of what they think it should say, and then publish it for all to cringe over.  See the latest in attacking the authority and inerrancy of God’s Divine Word. www.conservapedia.com.

I had a hard time understanding why a “conservative” group would want to rewrite Scripture, since the word “conservative” carries the idea of “preserving” and “conservation.”  But then I realized they are supposedly “politically conservative” who want to give Bible translation to the people and let the “free market” decide what the Scripture means.  Are you kidding me?

There is a growing trend, not a new one, but one continually growing and seemingly out of control. . .everyone is a victim!  It doesn’t seem to matter what the issue is, there is always someone else who is to blame.  It is not that people in authority and those who make decisions should not be held accountable for poor choices, but this preoccupation with blaming others (notably leaders) has risen to a new level where those who truly should be held responsible are ignored because the “victim” is looking for a bigger fish to fry.  There are two examples in the news that have caused this to roll around in my brain.  One is the story of the murderer who killed four Seattle deputies.  I have read stories and heard accounts of individuals highlighting the “difficult past” of Clemmons and expressing the thought that if he could have gotten help sooner, he never would have done this wicked deed.  Meanwhile, I was reading the comment board from a news story reporting on Gov. Mike Huckabee’s clemency granting of Clemmons.  People on that board were calling for Huckabee to be killed, beaten, tortured, or imprisoned for the time that Clemmons would have served had he not been killed.  I know that people can be emotional and I believe there ought to be investigations into the clemency practices of government officials.  I am sure that Huckabee shares some (maybe a great part) of blame for allowing Clemmons back on the street, but let’s not forget Clemmons was the murderer.  Another example I read today was a report that the crew of the ship that was captured by Somali pirates is blaming the company and captain they worked for (the crew is already suing the company they work for) because they allowed them to go into dangerous waters.  It is not that the Captain shouldn’t be held to some level of accountability, that is what it means to be a leader; but really, why aren’t the crew coming out in condemnation and calling for “war” on Somali pirates.  The pirates get a pass, but the Captain who helped save their lives, he is going to pay!  Where have we gone as a society, where everyone but the perpetrator gets blamed?  Writing from a social perspective (not necessarily a Christian one), this “victim” mentality will destroy civility.  Why should I perform CPR on an individual when I will probably get sued for breaking his ribs?  This mentality has destroyed the medical profession.  Why would you want to go into a profession where you will more than likely get sued multiple times because you didn’t treat the disease as well as you may have been able?  I was reading a blog for police officers and it said that an officer should expect to get sued several times during their service.  Shortly after reading that, I went for a ride along with a deputy.  I watched as the deputies detained a youth who obviously was involved in a drug deal.  In searching the area, they found drug paraphernalia,  he was with a known drug dealer; but they determined they had actually caught him before anything happened.  They eventually released him with a warning.  As the youth left, the officer I was sitting with explained the situation to me, and then we saw the kid returning.  He came to officer and wanted their names with the obvious intent to sue them.  I was dumbfounded, this guy was an idiot.  They had let him go; he should have been running home, thankful he wasn’t going to jail with the resolve to change his life.  It should have been a wake-up-call; but sadly, “he was the victim. . . how dare they detain him!”

How should the Christian respond to this trend?  First, by realizing that this problem is as old as the Garden of Eden and the first two people.  Second, by refusing to be victims, Christ has taken our “victim-hood” when he died on the cross.  We of all people, should be ready to stand accountable for our actions and not to constantly seek to blame others.

I wonder why the Liberal agenda is so inconsistent.  I read on my Social Security statement today that in 2017 we will be paying out more in benefits than receiving in taxes.  Obviously this is because there are more elderly people collecting than younger people paying taxes.  Therefore as the ever pragmatic libs should realize the more children born in this country means more tax revenue from those prospect tax payers and Social Security is fixed!   But wait, aren’t they also the ones who are in favor of murdering thousands of potential tax payers in the form of abortion.  True to the liberal inconsistent agenda, the answer will probably come in the form of euthanasia rather than life for babies.  It makes me wonder why the inconsistency????

I am in mourning today regarding the presidential election.  I do not mourn the loss of “my candidate” nor do I mourn the win of Mr. Obama.  Instead I grant my congratulations and a promise to President-elect Obama, that I will submit myself to the United States Government’s authority as long as it does not contradict my duty to my God.  I also promise the President-elect, that I will not speak ill of his person (although, I will freely and boldly denounce policies that I believe to be ungodly).  My last promise to Mr. Obama, is that I will pray for him.  The Bible commands us in Scripture to submit to governmental authorities as well as pray for them.  What will I pray?  I will pray that God would grant him wisdom and direction so that we might lead quiet and peaceable lives.  But I am stilll in mourning-I mourn the deaths of millions of infants that will lose their lives if he pushes to loosen the abortion laws.  Mr. President-elect, please let the innocence of those children still in the womb and those whom you have called “post-birth fetuses” enjoy the same opportunities you have enjoyed.  Please do not allow the wickedness of partial-birth abortions to have a place again in our society; I fear for our nation and her people.  God will not tolerate murder of the innocents.  He said in the Bible, upon which our President-elect will take an oath, that it would be better that a millstone were tied around the neck and those who harm his little ones, and that they were cast into the sea–God loves children, even those still in the womb receiving nourishment from their mother.  The most important issue to me is not the economy, (and I am by no means wealthy) nor is it the war on terror, but the already war being raged against children in the womb.  The children are losing, they are defenseless.  As a citizen of this great nation, I want America to return to greatness.  As Alexis de Toquville noted that America is great because she is good, she will cease to be great when she ceases to be good. 

May God have mercy on America.