When the Facade Crumbles

Prelude: I never thought I would use my blog to post something like this. However, I still hold out the hope that I will keep the “social” in social media. Just so you know, I am not aligned with a political party. I believe in God, that the Bible is His written word to us, that Jesus is the Living Word, and that we are created to bring Him glory.

I have been watching, off and on, different reports of the “protests” taking place in our nation’s capital today (January 6, 2021). This time it is not those we would label as flaming liberals, anarchists, communists, socialists, terrorists, etc. This time it is in the guise of those who would otherwise call themselves conservatives, patriots, law abiding, and, in many cases, Christians. It raises many questions such as: Why do I see more Trump flags than American flags?; Why are a law-and-order president’s supporters showing or, at the very least, allowing such disregard for law and order?; How long will it be before I hear this despicable behavior being blamed on the other side?; and, honestly now, why are people behaving in such a way that we can’t even watch “The Price Is Right” because all the major networks are focused on this embarrassment?

The gospels of Matthew and Luke record Jesus saying that a tree is known by its fruit. (Matthew 12:33 and Luke 6:44) In other words, you can hang a sign on an apple tree that says “Orange Tree” but it will still produce apples. Whatever label they may give themselves (and it does vary depending on the individual event and participants), thugs are thugs. The end does not justify the means. It never has and it never will. The facade will eventually crumble.

I also watched president elect, Joe Biden, speak during this crisis. In all honesty, I believe he was not only saying what needed to be said but he has begun to lead the nation, two weeks before his inauguration, while the current president addressed the lawlessness via a weak tweet. I am looking forward to seeing our future president’s actions match his remarks about protecting democracy.

A word of moderation: Representative MarkWayne Mullin, of Oklahoma, has shared that those committing violence do not represent the majority of the people who are pretesting and that those committing violence should be prosecuted. Agreed. Along the same lines, in the ekklesia, the body of Christ, we are charged to “purge the evil from among you.” (1 Corinthians 5:13) Even though we do not ask for them to cause problems, we are responsible for policing our membership and ridding ourselves of the frauds. The same should hold for groups who raise a voice and present themselves in force. You need to be accountable for those in your midst. From the protestors in Seattle to those in Washington DC, call the evil ones out. Make sure everyone knows they are not a part of you. Distance yourselves from them.

A sentence about my observation of the network news media: During the past four years, especially the past few months, news “reporting” has unashamedly surrendered its facade to personal commentary, opinion, and negative name calling and labeling.

Finally, true followers of Christ reflect the life of Christ in their own spirits, attitudes, communications, and actions. Jesus lived in a time when His people were oppressed by Rome and their own leaders, both civil and religious. Jesus never took part in, condoned, or encouraged rebellion against authorities. He addressed the wrongs but never lost His focus on pointing people to His Father and glorifying Him. 

“One nation, under God”? Not today. Not in our capitol. Not in their hearts.

Something To Chew On

“Don’t put so much food in your mouth all at once and wait until you chew and swallow what’s already there before you take another bite!” That compound sentence is taken from the files of, “Things My Parents Had To Tell Me Too Many Times.” The urgency of the moment did not allow for a thorough account of the rationale behind it. The basic idea was, “Do what you are told and you will eventually understand… hopefully… maybe… someday… if we let you live.” Agreement, understanding, and wisdom may have been in short supply but past experience had instilled a sufficient measure of fear and a more exhaustive level of mastication immediately commenced.

Having finished reading Jeremiah yesterday, this morning’s devotion time included beginning Lamentations. Normally this would include several chapters, perhaps twenty minutes to half an hour or more. But this morning ended up just being that first chapter. Even before finishing the second verse, it was clear that it was too much, too fast. The need to more fully chew on it and swallow before moving on was clear.

Jerusalem had fallen and, with it, the last hope for Judah. The writer portrays the emotions, the questions, the grief, the bewilderment, the inevitability, the feelings of betrayal, the loss, and the despair so vividly and within such a relative economy of words. Had they ignored what was coming? Was it the worst of all nightmares? Were they dumbfounded? Did they deserve it? Was God’s wrath more than they could bear? Was there enormous regret and grief? Were their spiritual weaknesses now exposed and undeniable? Were they overwhelmed with shame and embarrassment? Did they plead for help?

Yes. To all those questions, the answer is a shivering, “Yes”.

There was no way to read those twenty-two verses without recognizing the course our nation has been on for a very long time. It is as if one is looking into a future—being given a preview of coming attractions—to which we have been prepaying our admission. And it seems to be a future to which we have finally and fatally arrived.

Who will save us? The answer God gave Solomon remains true today. "If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV)

Since God always keeps his promises (Numbers 23:19; Psalm 103:17) and in light of 2 Chronicles 7:14, why is our nation not being healed? Where do we point the finger of blame?

Growing Pains

I do not like pain. Really. I do not like it. But they say pain serves a purpose: Pain tells us when something is wrong. Pain also occurs when drastic steps have been taken to fix something that was wrong. Everyone who has ever gone through major surgery understands this.

You face double the pain when the two come together and that is bound to happen for anyone seeking to live a Christlike life. First, there is the pain of identifying something specifically wrong with your life in spirit, thought, and/or deed. Sometimes the error is so deeply engrained that it is a tangible part of what defines you. Next is the pain that comes with making a clear, meaningful, and permanent correction. Then, and only then, healing and recovery can occur.

Here is an example in down-to-earth terms: 

1. We love God and we love our country.

2. No matter how many good people immigrate into our country, some bad ones slip in, too, and it only takes a few of the bad guys to do a lot of damage (witness 9-11-01).

3. A conflict arises (or should) when we seek to be Christlike but desire to "protect" our country by turning away immigrants because some might do us harm (rather than recognizing where our real safety lies as revealed in 2 Chronicles 7:14).

4. You have to make a decision to be totally Christlike or seek a worldly solution to national security. 

It isn't pretty but it is true. Denial only cancels the hope of change and healing.

Final note: I am not a fan of the modern Episcopal Church. But I do have respect for a recent stand they have taken and thank Tom Wiles* for sharing it. You can read it here.

*Tom Wiles is Executive Minister for the American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island. We were also roommates our Senior year at Oklahoma Baptist University. I had the great privilege of having his mother-in-law, Marilyn Bryant, as pianist when I served in my first staff position out of college at First Baptist Church, Lindsay, OK.

Liberate Yourself Politically

The wonderful people of Kitsap Lake Baptist Church in Bremerton know that I try hard to keep politics out of what we do as God's people. As a rule, I do not discuss politics. There are more important things.

Many years ago, I made a decision: I will no longer be aligned with any political party. That decision has produced numerous benefits. Here are a few:

• I am free from "loyalty" to any political party or agenda.
• Distinctions between a conservative political view and a biblical view become much clearer.
• The responsibility God places upon His own people to repent appears much greater.
• There are more prayers "for" than "against" (things, people, etc.).
• I am more inclined to search through information on all the candidates and issues to see who supports God's views instead of a political stance.
• I care much more about God's truth and much less about worldly ideologies.
• National patriotism is always subject to and filtered through patriotism to God's kingdom.
• Arrogance cloaked in false piety is quickly evident and disgusting…especially in myself.
• The two greatest commandments are more in our heads than in our lives.
• Satan loves politics.

Bonus:

• My "non-alignment" has made my involvement more meaningful.

To Date, I Have a Problem

2012 Presidential front runners: 1. A cult member who also is pro-life and pro one-man, one-woman marriage; 2. a person who calls himself a Christian but is pro-choice and has stated his support for gay marriage.

So, why is this a problem for me?

1. The teachings of the cult (The Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints) include that Jesus became a god, that Jesus and Lucifer are brothers, that God was once a man like me and became a god, that we can become gods, that Jesus and God are not One, that there are three different "heavens" and God is only in one of them, that there is not a literal hell and that all will be saved except for the few "sons of perdition" who will be punished for a time and them be annihilated, and a host of other teachings that are in direct contradiction to God's Word (the Bible) and stem from the other scriptures used by the Mormon church—specifically Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price—as well as teachings of the church leaders—"prophets"—throughout the history of the cult.

2. Nowhere in God's Word is abortion condoned under any circumstance while life is the creation of God and the very reason Jesus came (John 10:10). Nowhere in the Bible is any kind of marriage acknowledged except between a man and a woman and the sinful practice of homosexuality is recognized in the Bible, even specifically identified such as in Sodom. Additionally, gay and lesbian behavior is clearly condemned in both the Old and New Testaments (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Deuteronomy 23:17; Romans 1:24-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:8-11; Jude 7).

On the one hand, a person who calls himself "Christian" but stands against the teachings of the Bible…well, if Jesus really is "Lord" (kurios: supreme in authority) of his life, then his life would reflect God's values and not those in opposition to the Bible.

On the other hand, a person who calls himself "Christian" but his Christ is a man-made, altered version the Christ of the Bible…well, he is following a false god and his election will only serve to confuse those weak and immature believers who do not perceive the difference between man's doctrines and God's.

I can not and will not vote for someone who supports the notion that murdering a baby is okay and places perversion on the same pedestal as holy matrimony. I can not and will not vote for a polygamist who worships a false god and diminishes my Savior, Jesus Christ. I will not even appear to validate a pagan religion.

God called me to be a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ and that gospel impacts souls for all eternity. That has, does, and will always take precedence over the privilege and responsibility of being a patriot citizen. I am to regard the eternal as infinitely more important than the temporal.

It would be better for the United States of America—with all the freedoms, privileges, wealth, and other advantages—to cease to exist than for the gospel of Jesus Christ to be diminished, weakened, confused, changed, or otherwise denigrated. Countries/nations are of the earth and, therefore, are ultimately worldly, carnal, and temporary. The kingdom of God is eternal. Placing more importance on the physical world (and our elections do that very thing) than the spiritual is not of God but a "scheme of the devil" (see Ephesians 6:10) and we must stand firm against it (not just try to survive it). Murdering innocent unborn babies and endorsing or engaging in homosexuality are disgusting and sickening sins to me, personally. Yet, murderers and sexual deviants who turn to and believe in God will be given eternal life. Good, honest, decent, and moral people who never believe in the one true God will enter into eternal condemnation because they have not believed in the only Son of God (John 3:18).

Please, note that I am not insisting on a perfect candidate. They do not exist. That is not because they are politicians but because they are people and "all have sinned." But I seek a candidate who is "a man after God's own heart" rather than after the heart of people.

So, what will I do this election? I will seek to find a write-in who really does seek to follow the one true God. If that search fails, I may not cast a vote at all. LIke others, I am not voting for a pastor, but, apart from a clear word from God to the contrary, I will not vote for either of the two leading candidates.

Pray FOR President Obama

Hiram was not an Israelite. He was from Tyre in the territory given to the tribe of Asher but probably never conquered by Israel. Anyway, he was the Sidonian king when Solomon became the king of Israel after David. Hiram had been on friendly terms with David but the rulers of countries seem to get a bit nervous when a neighboring country gets a new leader. So Hiram sent an envoy to check things out and talk to Solomon who sent a message back to Hiram that was very pleasing and kept the peace between the two nations. 1 Kings 5:7 (HCSB) says, "When Hiram heard Solomon's words, he greatly rejoiced and said, 'May the Lord be praised today! He has given David a wise son to be over this great people!'"

As I was reading the passage, it was at that point that God clearly impressed upon me the imperative to pray for our president – not against him, not about him, but for him. It is important for our political peace that the leaders of other countries with which he has interaction be favorably impressed with him. It is important that, like Solomon, he has great wisdom to "discern between good and evil" (1 Kg 3:9) as he makes decisions that affect us and our relationship with other nations. It is important that the citizens of the United States of America have confidence in him. But we must pray for our president because it is most important that we bring God back into the equation. 2 Chronicles 7:14-15 indicates that this is what God wants.