By Deborah Jian Lee REUTERS http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080622/pl_nm/usa_politics_evangelicals_dc
Today I am saddened by the article above and what it depicts of our "Evangelical" roots. After hearing a sobbering message on the coming end of the Age (dispensation) of Grace, I read the article thinking how can we come to this, that abortion, the single most despicable of crimes against humanity is prioritized below "global warming" (an unproven theory) and "social justice" (you want social justice? QUIT ABORTING BABIES, THEY ARE INNOCENT OF EVERYTHING EXCEPT BEING AN ANNOYANCE TO THE PARENT EVACUATING THE WOMB!). What hipocrisy, I am astounded that social protests takes precedent over evangelizing with the gospel. Nowhere did Jesus preach about the coming warming age, or the age of social injustice, he spoke of varied changes to the Earth yes, just as have happened from times since the flood.
However, he didn't say that we should go out and protest for the salvation of the Earth and its weather or the environment, we are commanded to preach the Good News to every living creature, in the highways and biways, the message is the same message that Peter (remember him, the dude with the keys to the kingdom) preached on the day of pentecost (Acts 2:38), REPENT, and be BAPTIZED (Baptizo=submerged, not Rantizo= sprinkled, )everyone of you in the name of JESUS CHRIST (not the titles father son and holy ghost) for the remission of sin, and ye SHALL (absolutely will) recieve the gift of the Holy Ghost (as evidenced in Acts 2:4,by speaking in tongues, as the Spirt gave the utterance). We know this to be the formula preached because it is repeated later on in the book of Acts several more times.
Likewise concerning gay marriage, Jesus would not have condemned the gay person , but rather would have loved them enough to admonish them for the sinful act and commanded thenm to repent and turn away from their wickedness. That is not a condemnation of them, only the action. Just as what is preached to the murderer or the thief. But getting people to worship the creation (Earth and all its elements and inhabitants) rather than G_D is a reproach on mankind. Even the Great White Hope, Bill O'Reilly has bought into the myth of absolute s by theory. Just because a scientist in one field says something that recognizes A change does not pre suppose that the same scientist knows the cause. A specialist in one field can't always recognize the anomolies in another. So, for the self righteous, and indignant preachers of SAVE THIS EARTH, give us a break, if Jesus split the clouds tomorrow, none of your environmentalist pandering will have saved one person from death, hell, or the grave. Focus, people, let the doomsayers say on, if a person is an evangelical, he is about his father's business.
The Bible says in the last days people shall wax (OE= weaxan, grow, increase) worse and worse, it says that just as in the days of Noah people will be partying and marrying, and he shall come quickly, in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye (approx. 1/10th of a second). How will all of the social justice advocates answer for the people they freed from prison yet left imprisoned in their guilt and shadows without the spotless robe of redemption and grace. And, how many of the social and envirnmental "preachers" shall themselves be backslidden for their preponderance of good works without commitment to their own souls' redmption.
Sadly, too many of us "Christians" feel our way through our walk with G_D even though we are told "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" - KJV Philippians 4:8 All of these things flow from G_d. Even the idea of "just" is not one of human justice but those things that G_d would do. It doesn't say make a separate platform from one of them but instead instructs us to think on all of them.
What is true? G_d's word; and, all that ascribes itself to it. Our history is true, and all the evil and good we do in it. Of the good by faith is righteousness, the evil is sin and is our ticket to Hell. Since the word is true and the word says the protals of Hell are enlarged daily I must believe that many more sinners die than righteous. Something to ponder. Truth is not relative. Only man's version of the truth is. In some regard Plato understood this. In the Republic (many years since reading, so correct me if I'm wrong) he describes FORMS, being those designs having universality about them, a table, chair, cup, platter, knife, ear etc. etc.. These would be immutable IDEAS of functionality applied to an object. G_d has a similar set of commandments and descriptions that are applicable to all things and all mankind for all of history. Philosophers call them principles or first thoughts. A run through the Book of Proverbs will lay most of them out; but, they are in evidence from the Book of Genesis. Don't miss them, perhaps I''ll cover them as examples of the preponderence of political excesses.
What is honest? That which gets its substance not from theory or conjecture; but instead, from the affirmation of the observance with what G_d says in the word. Honesty is a loving general. It forces you to admit fault, speak beauty where evident, and repent whenevr necessary. As Paul Spoke , "I die daily". G_d knows all and sees all is is all things to all men and is everywhere, and since he hates lies and deception, it is best to acknowledge sin when it occurs and work to avoid the same trangressions later. Sounds like good diplomatic policy as well. DOn't lie to the devil to win him over or offer something that you may well regret. Instead take th ebattle to him and deliver a rebuke and a sound warning to leave your blood bought life alone. Even the devil knows the honest man's face.
What is just? An eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, reaping what we sow, etc.. It is not a patty cake message of all is forgiven in all ways. G_d is still G-d, he changes not, which is not to say that he can't have different rewards, discipline and punishment for the different ages of man. He simply has chosen to reward us with grace in this dispesnation, even so, there is still a reward for the wicked if a person rejects his grace. So, a just man is one that respects G_d and with all his might attepts to obey G_d's commands to please him and foment a response around him from others that pleases G_d. Abraham exhibited "justness" when he bargained with G_d over Sodom and Gommorrah to save his family. Moses demonstrated the same when he bargained to save Korah and the rest of Israel, Rahab did so also when she hid the Hebrew spies looking into Jericho, she was a harlot that wanted to live and in return for obedience toward G_d and his will, she was rewarded with new life.
What is pure? An unborn baby, an unspoiled young man or woman before they recognize their faults, water from steam, Gold or Silver without dross. Innocence is purity. How people can sanction politicians who will support a woman's (or man's) right to choose is beyond me. What part in sin did the child have. And who died and made the mom or dad G_d? How can we support efforts to bring abortion to other countries to aleviate over crowding or poverty. A final note on this subject, what happened to no taxation without representation? I don't hear the politicians answering those of us they wish to ignore on tese subjects.
Are we believers yet? Jesus said the poor shall always be with us, and that poverty is a curse. Likewise, the Bible says that if a man doesn't work he doesn't eat, yet we sanction through politicians, a welfare state that rivals the former Soviet Union. We vote for politicians that promise that which is not theirs to other people who also do nothing to deserve it. Meantime, regulate the very people who give the most to charity, and use more of their untaxed income to help others, the Christians conservatives and the wealthy.
What things are lovely? A wedding between man and wife, a sunset at The Wedge at Newport Beach or at Gates Pass in Tucson AZ. My 7 year old autistic son playing the closing music from MIB on the piano (Danny Elfman would be proud). My wife relaxing on a cruise in the caribbean after a day enjoying the Jamaican culture. My pop's photographs of the Bradbury Building in LA or his photos of the Apollo capsule being constructed in Downey. Bart Doe's portrait of my mom after she died and Beth Duke's photos of the Idaho flora. And on, all of these things the result of G_d's genius, making mankind in his own image, able to design, devise, construct and reproduce with variation for purpose all that he recognizes as good and useful, pleasing and full of promise.
What things are of good report? Men and women that stand for others less fortunate, those who battle for those oppressed by tyrants, those providing from the meat of their own table rather than Robin Hooding their way through life, a woman sacrificing her life for the indigent poor and diseased of Calcutta, 4 chaplins giving their lives for others to live through a tragedy, an unemployed laborer falling atop a man on the New York subway, ready to die for another, my pop who raised me as his own flesh and blood and made sure I was ready for this life as well as he understood it. Jerry Tipton, a fine pastor in York, PA, that never asked anything of me when I was down and depressed when he first brought me to church; but instead, asked me when I was on my feet only to do the same for others.
Virtue, a much maligned and misunderstood word. From the Latin - virtüs, manliness, excellence, goodness, this is the root... that men should act as pillars of society and that they exhibit the traits expected of morally upright, protectors, observing and attending to the needs of a civilization and not their own self serving desires. Christian women with virtue were chaste and pure in thought not thinking of how best to work morality in their favor but exhibiting separation from unrighteous behavior.
Finally,and if there be any praise, there is, praise the creator, but not until remembering that he made the commandments, not guidelines, not suggestions; but, commands to keep us from destroying ourselves. We should praise G_d because he loves us and provides a way of escaping our stupidity. We should praise him because he alone is praiseworthy all the time. He can defend us, rescue us, feed us provide water where there is none, give us peace and destroy our enemies. He can get us through a battle by making us bold and help us to suffer the little children who are the aggregate sufferers of mankind's ignorance and selfishness. We can praise him in the midst of our troubles because he is and was and is to come, never changing.
THINK ON THESE THINGS!