Category: Politics

Hope…In Times Like These

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discouraged

I am done. I am officially washing my hands from politics and this atrocity of an election. Can it possibly get any worse? Hillary Clinton is the epitome of what is wrong with government in this country and Donald Trump is the epitome of what is wrong with our culture as a whole. And like it or not, in less than three weeks one of these two will be elected as the next POTUS. I have played out the scenario over and over again. A Clinton presidency assures that the 1st and 2nd amendment will be under attack, the murder of innocent babies will continue to increase, SCOTUS will be in danger, religious liberty will be jeopardized, freedoms we love will be threatened, and government will continue to grow out of control. But if Trump wins evangelicals who vote for him lose more than an election. By promoting Donald Trump to the highest office of the land, we lose the right to talk about a candidate’s integrity. Morals and character issues become obsolete. In the future there will be no standard in which to measure a candidate. Anything will have to go. Did the candidate sexually abuse women? It won’t matter. Is he unrepentant? Who cares? Does he make his money in lascivious ways? Who are we to judge? It’s not that standards will be lowered; there won’t be any. Our witness and integrity is lost.

We’re all asking the same question. How did we get here? We could blame the liberal left for ignoring the facts. We could blame the right for being more concerned with holding on to power than actually doing what is right. We could blame uneducated voters, media bias, compromising Christians, 3rd party voters, those who refuse to vote, or a host of others. But it doesn’t matter.  The outcome is still the same. Our country is doomed. And I’m done with it all…

This is simply how I felt, that is last night. However, with the morning light peeking through my window I woke with a glimmer of hope. For the first time in months I was able to see our country through different eyes. Last night my husband and I attended a fundraiser for Family Council. We gathered with friends and acquaintances in an effort to support a great ministry. Admittedly, I was hesitant to go. (Remember, I had already washed my hands…) Yet, something compelled me.

Senator Tom Cotton was one of the guests and after dinner we gather around the living room and listened to him speak. What he didn’t say was just as remarkable as what he said. He didn’t stand up pontificating as a typical Washington politician. Nor did he cry out from the depths of despair. He didn’t paint a doom and gloom picture of our current state. And he didn’t highlight the government’s corruption or even cast blame. Instead, He reminded us that man is fallen. He talked of hope, faithfulness, duty and loyalty. He reminded us of the unity we showed in our country just days after 9/11 and how we stood together and overcame great darkness. He was encouraging and even more so convicting.

My friend Jerry Cox, founder and president of Family Council, followed the Senator and continued to encourage. He told personal stories that emphasized the reality of the American Dream. He spoke about the worship service that took place this year in the Capitol Rotunda.  He reported that Arkansas is ranked as the fourth most pro-life states in the union and that we are currently blessed with a rather conservative government.

I needed to hear that message last night. We all do. Listen, it is easy to stay in a defeatist state. I know because that is where I lived. When we look from the top down, cast blame and pessimistically ask “what in world is wrong with this world?” we overlook the most important aspect of this question. The ugly truth and answer is, “I am.”  I’m what’s wrong because I believed the lies. I lost hope. I forgot that God has a bigger plan than who wins the election. I forgot that His plan involves the remnant – God-fearing individuals who wake up each day making a difference to the world around them. They are all around us. They are not giving up. They are not washing their hands from it all. They are not tearing their brothers and sisters apart for simply casting a differing vote. They are looking up, working hard, and fighting local battles in their community, school boards, and city council. They are supporting good causes with their time, treasure and talents. They are strengthening their own family because they know that the family is the building block of all society. They are doing good works and supporting their pastor and local church. They are encouraging others, bearing burdens, and pointing the lost world to the Savior.

I want to be this person. I choose to be this person. I will look into the future with hope because I know there is good left in our country. But even more so, because I am determined to be that good. When my heart breaks for the thousands of babies aborted, I will do the good works. When I see the poor and homeless, I will do the good works. When bad laws are introduced and liberties are threatened, I will do the good works. When marriages are in trouble and families fall apart, I will do the good works.  My efforts do not have to be perfect to be beautiful. In fact, it is in my weakness – in all of our frailty– that God gets the most glory. For when we are weak, He is strong. When all hope is lost in mankind; we remember that it is in Him we trust.  And should darkness continue to engulf our nation then I choose to see the night as gloriously dark. And I choose to remember that stars shine their brightest against the darkest of nights.

And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. (Daniel 12:3)

It’s not about Republicans vs. Democrats

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redWow! What an election week. The Republican Party won control of the US Senate on Tuesday giving the GOP full control of congress making it a historic defeat for Democrats. Then yesterday, Dr. Ben Carson, famous pediatric neurosurgeon and conservative political star, announced his intention to run for President in 2016. This, in my opinion, gives conservatives the best news of the week. See news story here.

 
Do you feel a sense of hope and change coming our way? Maybe so….hopefully so….but if change comes it will have nothing to do with Republicans or Democrats.

 
My husband and I attended the Arkansas Renewal Project a few weeks ago where we were privileged to hear Bob McEwen speak. He summarized conservative politics perfectly. Here is a recap:

 
Politics equals Integrity + Economy

 
Integrity is made up of morality (not doing what is wrong) and character (doing what is right). You cannot do what is right (have character) if you are doing what is wrong (lack morality). In other words, if a politician’s reputation is that where I would not trust him in the same room with my teenage daughter, then I should not trust him to run our country.

 
When it comes to economy a look at history will teach us that greater freedom always equals greater wealth and that greater government always equals greater poverty. This is without exception.

 
The above seems simple enough and certainly intelligent enough. So, you might question why is there such a split in our country. When we break it all down is boils down to only two worldviews.

 

• Either man is in charge or God is in charge
• Either man is good or man is evil
• Either rights come from groups or God is our source of rights

 
This is why I say that the state of our country has nothing to do with Democrats and Republicans, but has everything to do with a humanistic worldview vs. a biblical worldview.

 
If man is good, then murder can’t be his fault. It must be the gun so we need to regulate gun control. If man is good then his environment is responsible for his behavior. Therefore if the youth are having premarital sex and children are born out of wedlock it is because we do not educate the youth enough on birth control or pass out enough condoms in the schools. And we could go on and on, throwing out personal responsibility and replacing it with blame.

 
But, if man is evil (as the Holy Scriptures states) then murder is sin against God and man is personally responsible for it (and will held accountable) whether he uses a gun, knife, sword, rope, bomb, or abortion doctor.

 
If man is in charge then our rights come from the group (women’s rights, minority rights, black rights, elderly rights, Hispanic rights, homosexual rights, etc.). And because man is good – group rights are good.

 
But, if God is in charge, He alone is the source of our rights and we all stand as individuals before our Creator. Our Founding Fathers understood this when they wrote:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are LIFE, LIBERTY, and the PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men.

Man did not institute government. Government is instituted by God. “For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God,” Romans 13:1. Man does not give the people rights, our rights come from our Creator.

Now, notice in the order of rights that life is listed first. Liberty is of little value if you are dead. This is why the abortion issue is so important. Those with a humanistic worldview ignores the fact that God is in charge, that man is evil, and that God gives us our rights. Because God is in charge He will judge mankind and His Word declares that “hands that shed innocent blood” are an abomination to Him (Proverbs 6:16-17).

This is how these two worldviews apply in politics:

Those that have a humanistic worldview will always want more government, more taxes, weak defense and diverse lifestyles.

Those that have a biblical worldview will always want less government, fewer taxes, a strong defense, and traditional family values. (Notice the theme of freedom –liberty- here.)

Why is this? Because the two view diametrically oppose each other. Those with a humanistic worldview believe that man is good and man is in charge. They have no fear of God (Romans 3:18) and do not believe they will be held accountable for their actions. Because they have no fear of God, they do not have wisdom (Proverbs 1:7). Decisions are therefore based on self or the flesh – in other words, humanistic (Romans 8:8).

Those with a biblical worldview understand that mankind is evil and wicked (Jeremiah 17:9) and that there is no one who is righteous (Romans 3:10). Our only hope is in the righteous of Jesus Christ. And understanding that God is the one in charge, we hold to His standards of right and wrong.

I agree that since the elections there seems to be a sense of hope that our country is moving in the right direction. But, let me assure you that our hope does not rest on the Republicans, or any man for that matter. The only hope for change in this country is that the hearts of men turn to God. As the old hymn states, “My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness!” And as the psalmist proclaims, “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man,” Psalm 118:8.

Here is where I want to say, “God bless you all and God bless America!”  But, instead let me end with not asking for blessings but that we will be a blessing.  May each and every one of us who claim the name of Christ become a blessing to God, our Father and may America shine with the light of the gospel  and be a blessing to Him and His Holy name.

SAHM – My family! My choice!

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Anerican-dreamYesterday during a speech in Rhode Island, President Obama claimed that being a stay at home mom (SAHM) is not a choice we want American mothers making. What a funny comment from a man who hangs his hat on women’s choice, especially the right of women to choose the murder of innocent babies in the womb.

Sometimes, someone, usually Mom, leaves the workplace to stay home with the kids, which then leaves her earning a lower wage for the rest of her life as a result,” he said. “That’s not a choice we want Americans to make.

We can all hope that it was a slip of the tongue or part of a speech taken out of context. But, one look at the agenda of the progressive left leaves little doubt that he meant exactly what he said.
• It’s not about women’s rights.
• It’s not about better day care.
• It’s not about lower wages for women.

 
It never has been with the left. It’s about expansion of the government. All which leads to the fragmentation of families, indoctrination of children and a push toward complete dependency on the government.

 
But I digressed; let’s get back to a woman’s choice…
There is still an attitude toward women who choose to stay at home of, “Oh how nice to be able to stay at home and not work” as though these families are independently wealthy and don’t need two incomes. The idea that being a SAHM is a rare privilege for a few fortunate is insulting. My husband and I made the choice for me to become a stay at home mom 18 years ago when our first child was born. That choice was not easy and we have made many sacrifices to make sure I could be at home. During this time my husband has worked extremely hard to provide for us, often working two jobs. He has done this in the middle of spending 7 years in college and seminary. Eighteen years ago I started a home business that I successfully ran for 8 years. We sold it so that I could devote more time to homeschooling (another sacrifice we chose to make). I have spent the last 5 years researching, writing, building a self-publishing business and marketing my books – all at home. This year, while pastoring and teaching online classes, my husband started another business which alone takes about 60 hours a week of his time. We certainly didn’t choose this lifestyle because we thought it would be easy. We chose for me to be a stay-at-home-mom because we knew it was best for our family. We knew that I could do a much better job at raising my children than anyone else. We knew that the sacrifices could never compare to the blessings.

So, Mr. President, would you really like to help the families of America? Do you really believe in women’s right to choose? Do you really want what is best for our country?
Here are some thoughts….

  • Why don’t we work to lower the ever increasing tax burden so that husbands’ paychecks could reach further allowing moms to stay at home? Between federal income taxes, state, county and city taxes, social security, property taxes, and sales taxes a working husbands pay is cut nearly 50%.
  • Why don’t we stop with all the regulations and stay out of health care? Here’s an idea – stop taxing people who already can’t afford insurance for not having it. Because we all know how sensible that is, right?
  • Why don’t we stay out of the way of small business so employers can have the discretion and ability to pay their hard working employees more? Stop regulating them to death and let them thrive. Small businesses ran by American families is part of the reason we are blessed with such a great country.
  • Why don’t we start enforcing laws and punish those who come into our country illegally instead of giving them our hard earned money. Stop rewarding the law breakers with free health care and government assistance.
  • Why don’t we stop pushing for the enrollment of 6 million American children into preschool? Instead, elevate a mother’s choice and once again appreciate the value that mothers have in raising their own children. The President might not want stay at home moms, but I can promise you that American’s children do! They want their mothers. They need their mothers. It doesn’t and never has taken a village to raise a child.

Election Day is 4 days away. I will choose to vote for those who hold these same values. What about you?

Lesser of Two Evils

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According to a recent survey[i], 46% of Americans polled said that they will be voting for the “lesser of two evils” this presidential election.  Since it seems to be the most prevalent comment I’ve heard, I’m not surprised in the least.  And while I completely understand the rationale behind the thought, the notion is troubling.  Laying aside all political loyalties, social concern, or even emotional motives, this issue boils down to the simplistic truth that choosing the lesser of two evils is still choosing evil.

Let me speak to Christians.  If we hold to God’s Word as all truth, we must admit that “lesser evil” is still “evil”.  We are told in Romans 12:9 to “abhor that which is evil.”  In I Thessalonians 5:22 we are told to “abstain from all appearance of evil.”  Proverbs 8:13 states that “the fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way.”  And Ephesians 5:11 tells us to have no fellowship (or partnership) with the “unfruitful works of darkness.”  Instead believers are to “reprove” (admonish or rebuke) evil.

Voting is a privilege as well as our Christian duty, and I would never tell a person who they should vote for.  But I will exhort my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to prayerfully consider what your vote will stand for.  A fellow blogger made the statement that in 1933 Germany the two most “electable” parties were the Nazis and the Communists.  Then he asks a pointed question.  “For which of these did German Christians have a ‘civic duty’ to vote?”

It has been said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.   I believe that it is foolish to expect different results in our country until God’s people change their ways (repent) and begin to stand firm on truth.  When Christians step away from absolute truth and blend right and wrong with relativism, or try to cover up black and white issues with shades of gray, we are in danger of God’s judgment.  The Bible is filled with antithetical laws: good or evil, black or white, saved or unsaved, right or wrong, heaven or hell, narrow way or broad way, foundation on solid rock or sandy foundation, righteous or unrighteous, God’s children or the children of the devil, etc.    May our faith and practice once again line up with this truth.

From Darkness to Light

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I asked my Christian friends to take a serious look at the upcoming election in my last post.  One of the questions I asked was whether a Mormon was truly a Christian.  I wrote this because the only talk I seem to hear in some Christian circles is that Mitt Romney, a Mormon, is the “only” hope for Christians in this upcoming election.  It concerns me that those on the Christian right are placing so much hope in a man who worships a false god.    My response is simply that “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man,” Psalm 118:8.  However, many Christians lean toward a pragmatic view, reaching after what seems to work and completely ignoring whether it is right or not.   Too many times we view our political choices and our faith as separate matters.  As the people of God, could we please get back to absolutes?  You know…right and wrong…light and darkness…truth and lies…  There is an unyielding warning to those who don’t.  “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” (Isa 5:20-21)

I know there are still those who scoff and think that voting for a Mormon for President is no big deal.  All I ask is that you do some research and look into what the Mormons truly believe.  After my last post I was introduced to a young lady who visited my blog.  She has an incredible testimony about coming out of Mormonism.  It’s her heart’s desire to share it with others who are entangled in cults and false teaching.  I encourage each of you to take the time to read it.  You can see it here.  You also might want to read her post called, They Use Christian Words.  It is very interesting.

As I have said many times before, God in His sovereignty has already determined this election. His will is always accomplished.  I just wonder if the results will be His judgment upon us.  They, of course, don’t have to be.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2Ch 7:14)

Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.  (Jon 3:9-10)

A Christian’s Response to the Upcoming Election

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My last post talked about consequences and I am afraid that this next election will hold grave consequences.  So what should a Christian’s response be to the upcoming election?   It appears that our options for voting are between current President Obama and Mitt Romney.  I’m not even going to address the President’s policies these last 3 ½ years.  Let his actions speak for himself.  I’m also not going to address that fact that Mitt Romney is not a career politician (which I believe is a great asset) or his apparent values.  Laying all political, financial, and moral views aside, I want to address something different.  Should a Christian vote for a candidate who is not a Christian?

Regardless of how the media likes to spin the issue, the truth from God’s Word is that, “by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:20).  Evaluate for yourself the “fruits” produced by our current President who strongly supports the murder of innocent babies and homosexual marriage.

So I ask the next question.  Is Mitt Romney, a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a Christian?  While I cannot know his heart, I can look at the Mormon religion as a whole.

The Institute for Religious Research has a page on the Mormon religion (http://mit.irr.org/mormonism-christian-2) that explains the basic beliefs of Mormons.  Below are a few, but not all, of Mormon beliefs.

  • Many gods made the world (Abraham 4:1-31)
  • God the Father was once a man (LDS Church teaches that Jesus Christ, humans, angels, and fallen spirits including Satan are all eternal beings that were never created and that are all spirit brothers and sisters. In particular, Christ and Lucifer (Satan) were two spirit brothers; Christ supported Heavenly Father’s plan while Lucifer did not.)
  • Adam’s sin was “a necessary step in the plan of life and a great blessing to all of us” (Book of Mormon—2 Nephi 2:14-26; Book of Moses 5:10-12)
  • Mormonism teaches that a person must become worthy in order to obtain forgiveness of sins and eternal life in the presence of God the Father through obedience to all the commands of the LDS Church (Book of Mormon—2 Nephi 25:23;
  • LDS Church teaches that the Bible has been corrupted, is missing many “plain and precious parts,” and does not contain the fullness of the gospel (1 Nephi 13:26-29)
  •  LDS Church teaches that faithful Mormons who fulfill all of their spiritual, moral, and ritual obligations can eventually attain the status of gods, beings of the same essential nature as God the Father ruling over their own worlds. “As man now is, God once was: As God now is, man may be” (Lorenzo Snow, in Presidents of the Church: Student Manual [2004], 88, 90; Gospel Fundamentals [2001], 201; Gospel Principles [2009], 275-79; Teachings of Presidents of the Church: George Albert Smith [2011], 71).

The Mormonism Research Ministry has compiled this list. (http://www.mrm.org/god-of-mormonism)

  •  The god of Mormonism is one of many gods.
  • The god of Mormonism is not self-existent.
  • The god of Mormonism is not transcendent.
  • The god of Mormonism is not immutable.
  • The god of Mormonism is not eternally God.
  • The god of Mormonism is not incorporeal.
  • The god of Mormonism is not omnipresent.
  • The god of Mormonism cannot dwell in the believer.
  • The god of Mormonism is not omnipotent.
  • The god of Mormonism does not forgive completely.

In his famous “King Follett Discourse” Joseph Smith (prophet, teacher, and leader of the saints) taught,

“God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens. That is the great secret… [Y]ou have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before you…”

According to www.mormon.org in addition to the Bible, Latter-day Saints accept the following books as scripture:

  • The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, a record of God’s dealings with the inhabitants of ancient America (2000  BC – 400 AD).
  • The Doctrine and Covenants, a collection of revelations and inspired declarations given for the establishment and regulation of the Church of Jesus Christ in the last days (1830 AD – 1978 AD).
  • The Pearl of Great Price, a selection of revelations, translations, and writings of Joseph Smith.

This information does not even touch on all the false beliefs of the Mormons.  Check it out for yourself.

http://www.biblebelievers.com/jmelton/Mormons.html

http://bible-truth.org/arelds.htm

http://cnview.com/on_line_resources/are_mormons_christian.htm

So, it is clear that the god the Mormons worship is not the True God of the Bible.  It is also clear that they do not worship the true Christ who says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). Nor do they uphold the true Word of God.

So here is the dilemma.  If we have two unbelievers running for president what do we do?  How do we vote?  Let me answer that question with this one.   Are there only two choices?  As a Christian I believe that I should not only vote in each election, but that I should pray and seek out God’s will.  So, would God give His children the choice between two unbelievers?  Would God want us voting for an unbeliever?  Would God not give His children a way to make the right decision?  We might be tempted to cast a vote for an unbeliever because it is the “lesser of two evils.”  We might be tempted to lay aside the candidates faith or our faith and focus on the politics. But as a Christian I cannot separate my faith from my vote.  My faith is not what I do; it is who I am.  My conscience tells me that I would be wrong to vote for an unbeliever, regardless of the circumstances.  You see, God always gives His children the ability to do what is right.  “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1Co 10:13)

 It was John Quincy Adams that said, “Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”  So it looks like that over the next few months I am going to be doing some research on other 3rd party candidates, trusting that the God of the Bible is sovereign and knowing my conscience is clear.

Consequences

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The title of my husband’s sermon Sunday was “A Nation on the Edge of Heartbreak” taken from 2 Chronicles 7:12-22.  The passage deals with Solomon and the nation of Israel shortly after the completion of the Temple.  The glory of the Lord fills the Temple, Solomon prays, fire comes down from heaven, the nation offers sacrifices, and celebrates the Feasts of Tabernacles for seven days.  Then the Lord appears to Solomon by night with a warning.

“If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2Ch 7:13-14)

God promises Solomon that if he will walk before Him as his father David did and obey His commands and observe His statutes and judgments that He would, “stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel.” (2Ch 7:18)

But, if Solomon turns and forsakes God’s statutes and commandments and goes after other gods…

“Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations. And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and unto this house? And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers…”  (2Ch 7:20-22)

Israel was one generation away from heartbreak.  I realize that America is not Israel.  However, I could not help but see a striking correlation between Israel on the edge of heartbreak and our country on the edge of heartbreak.  Consider the news reports, read the papers, follow the state of our country online.  It is clear that we live in a very wicked and evil country, ruled by wicked and evil people.  This is not to say that there are not good, godly people in our country and government.  There is, but when we look at the sin of our land we can’t help but see that God must be grieved.  Yet, His mercy is great.  While we certainly have not deserved God’s blessings, He has given them nonetheless.

But will the blessings last?  I believe we are living on the laurels of the past and sadly the godly heritage and biblical foundation that this country was built upon is cracking.  The Psalmist states, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psa 11:3)  The examples of destroyed foundations are many, with homosexual marriage and abortion being at the top.  Another one that has chipped away at not only our freedom but the very foundation of this country is the latest ruling of the Supreme Court on the unconstitutional health care law.  Justice Roberts surprised the nation with his vote.  But what I found interesting was part of his explanation in which he said, “It is not our job to protect the people from the consequences of their political choices.”  Consequences – that’s not a word we talk about a lot, but if we would read the Bible we would realize that it is filled with consequences.

Do you remember when Israel rejected God by wanting a king like the other nations?  God warned them through the prophet Samuel that a king would:

“…take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.”

“And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.” (1Sa 8:11-18)

Consequences…

People ask, “Why hath the Lord done thus unto this land…?”  The answer is, “because they forsook the Lord God…therefore hath He brought all this evil upon them.”

Again we see consequences…

There is no doubt that we are living with the consequences of the previous election.  The people wanted change and that is exactly what we got.  And now we have gotten ourselves into a mess.  “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.” (Rom 13:1)  God has ordained government and He alone determines who rules.  Sometimes, like the children of Israel, God gives us not what is best but what we ask for.  Maybe, just maybe, we will learn.  The cycle of sin always goes like this – abundant blessings, sin/rebellion, God’s judgment, and repentance/forgiveness.  Then the cycle starts over again.  Time and time again we have seen it with the children of Israel.  Time and time again we see it in our own lives.  The people of God need to humble themselves, pray, seek God’s face, and turn from their wicked ways.  Will we be able to bear the consequences if we don’t?

Should Christians Vote for a Woman President?

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As the 2012 election approaches there is a lot of talk about potential candidates.  Who will be the next United States president?   Will a woman make history by being elected?  Perhaps it is too early to decide.  However, it is not too early to discuss the possibility.  And more importantly, what biblical stand should Christian people take on the matter.  Does God’s Word address such issues?

God ordained three institutions upon this earth.  He ordained the family, the church, and government.   The Scriptures are clear about the hierarchy within the family.  The husband is the head of the family; the wife is to submit to him as unto the Lord; and the children are to honor and obey their parents. (Ephesians 5:33-6:3)  The Scriptures are clear about the hierarchy within the church.  I Timothy 2: 9-15 and I Corinthians 14:33-35 explains this clearly.  Men are to be the spiritual leaders not only within their home but also within the church.  I realize that even within Christian circles today that this is not taught.  However, the authority of the Scriptures still stands.  We can accept the truth or deny the truth, but we cannot change it.  So if God has established men to lead in the institution of the home and within the church.  Why then, would we think that God would not have a hierarchy within the institution of government? 

When tackling the subject of women in political leadership, often Christian’s will point to two particular passages in the Bible – Esther and Deborah.  Esther is the heroine of the Old Testament book named after her.  She was the young Jewish Queen of the Persian King Ahasuerus.  She was responsible for saving her people from mass slaughter.  Esther was placed in her position, “for such a time as this.” (Esther 4:14)  The account of Deborah is found in the book of Judges Chapter 4.  She was a prophetess who judged her people.  She was the only female judge of Israel.  Deborah led a successful attack against Jabin, the King of Canaan.

Those that contend that God is pleased with women in leadership often use these examples from history.  In looking at the story of Esther it is important to remember that she did not have a choice in the matter.  She was not seeking a position of political leadership.  She did not purposely forsake her family in order to become Queen.  She was not given an option.  Look at Deborah from Judges Chapter 4, many others will say.  God used her to lead the nation of Israel to great victory.  This is a convincing argument other than the fact that people forget to take the story in context.  When you look at the whole passage contextually the children of Israel “did evil in the sight of the Lord,” (Judges 4:1).  God was not pleased with them and put them in bondage.  It was a shame to the men of Israel for a woman to judge over them.  Isaiah 3:11-12 says, “Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him. As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.”   There is a lot to this passage.  But simply put, God gave the wicked people what they wanted.  It could be that God, in His sovereignty, will allow a woman President.  Romans Chapter 13 tells us that there is no power but of God.  God Himself will place our next President.  But Christians must remember that sometimes God gives His people what they want, not what is best for them, (I Samuel Chapter 8).

 When sharing this view with a young lady, the other day, I was asked, “What if the vote comes down between an unrighteous man for President and a Christian woman?”  Wouldn’t we have to vote for a woman in this case?  Many believe that we must often choose the “lesser of two evils.”  The assumption is that God will not give His people the right option.  However, I believe that God always gives His people a way to make the right choice, (I Corinthians 10:13).  It was John Quincy Adams that said, “Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”  

 Whether we are speaking about the home, the church, or government, the issue has never been if women were capable of leading.  Of course women are capable of leading.  There are many talented women who have a great gift of administration.  The issue has never been if they were smart enough.  There are many women who are well educated and skilled above even men.   The issue has never been if they could lead.  It is true that there are women that could lead very well.  But these are not the issues.  The biblical issue is whether women should lead.  Christian people can rationalize woman leading in the home, in the churches and within our government.  However, they cannot from the Scriptures establish that this is God will.  He did not design women to lead in any of the institutions He has ordained.  The fictitious principle is just not there.  The modern feminist movement has caused many Christian’s to err.  I pray that we will lay aside this fallacy and come back to Scripture.  May the pure Words of God be our standard for our beliefs.

RINO’s and CINO’s

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With the 2010 elections far behind us and the long awaited 2012 presidential elections ahead, there is a lot of talk about political parties. What party should I be affiliated with? Should I support the party whose platform is based on abortion, homosexuality, socialistic government, and such? Does morality matter or should I just be concerned with my wallet?

First, the true believer cannot separate his political views from his religious views. You see, it is because if you are truly saved your life is not just about a changed opinion. Your life is not just about going to church. Your life is not just about “religion”. It is about a relationship with your Lord and Saviour. It is about a complete change in your life. You are a completely new creature as we are told in 2 Corinthians 5:17. To separate your moral convictions from your political views would be akin to separating your mind from your body or your heart from your chest. It is impossible. A true, born-again Christian will hold to the truth in every area of life – morally, politically, socially, and personally.

So what about these RINO’s? You know who I’m talking about – Republicans In Name Only.

*The Republican National Party “affirms that the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed.” In other words, they are pro-life.

 The Republican National Party “cautions against the doomsday climate change scenarios.” In simpler terms they believe that God is the Creator and Preserver of all things, not the mother earth god who is formed in the minds of innocent children via evolutionist teachings.

 The Republican National Party “calls for a constitutional amendment that fully protects marriage as a union of a man and a woman.” In other words, they believe in the God ordained institution of marriage between one man and one woman, not homosexual marriage.

In case you were wondering, all of these issues are moral issues. For those career politicians and nelcons who do not hold to these values I say, “Quit calling yourself a Republican.” You are Republican in name only. Your actions and voting records bear out the truth.

Of course, the effortless approach would be to point fingers and blame the politicians for all of our countries woes. Effortless, yes. Accurate, no. After all, who is it that puts these politicians in place? We the people do. The last poll I heard said that over 80% of Americans still claim to be Christian. So we can concur that the blame of our nation’s troubles falls to the Christians. God says, “If my people… humble… pray…. seek…. turn…. then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” So here is our problem. Either God’s people are not humbling themselves; praying, seeking God, and turning from their wicked ways or the majority of Americans are not God’s people. They would be the CHINO’s. You know who I’m talking about – Christians In Name Only.

A lot of people want to claim the status but very few actually know and hold to the Truth. True Christians hold to very distinct views. We believe in only One way and only One truth. There is no other. The commands of Jesus are absolute. In comparison to the world, true believers hold to an antithetical attitude about everything. Christians In Name Only will say they believe in God but do not live like they do. They say they follow Christ’s teachings but do not know the commands found in the Bible. They say they are believers but they have no fruit. They say they are children of light but they live and walk in darkness. They say they are Christian but they support abortion, homosexuality, evolution, and other worldly ideas. Sin abounds in their life. They are puffed up and have no repentance. And because of it all they are a huge stumbling block to those around them. Jesus asked in Luke 6:46, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” At the end of His sermon on the mount he said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven,” (Mat 7:21). Jesus goes on to say, “depart from me, ye that work iniquity” or lawlessness. What He is saying is that you are living as though I have never given you a law to obey. You are a Christian In Name Only.

There are two options for those who are living the Christian life in name only, who live as though Jesus has never given them a commandment to follow, and who have a false sense of security because of some prayer they once prayed or some church membership. The options are to repent of your sins, call out to God and beg Him to save you from the promised wrath to come or continue on in your sins and one day have the Lord of Glory say, “depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” The choice seems clear to me.

 The Bible says to, “examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves,” 2 Corinthians 13:5. Why don’t you do that today? God is waiting!

*cited from, http://www.ChristianAction.com November 2010

Seeds of Turmoil

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As a small child, I remember hearing stories during Sunday School about God’s chosen people – the Israelites.  My entire life I have heard men of God preach about this insignificant people whom God loves.  As I read in the beloved Word of God, I am reminded of God’s promise to Abram to make of him a great nation, to make his name great, to bless them that bless him, to curse them that curse him, and that through him will all families of the earth be blessed (Genesis 12:2-3).  And nearly every time I read the news, the nation of Israel is in the headlines.  All eyes are on Israel; and they should be, for Israel will continue to play a significant role in this world until the end.

Recently I was privileged to review a book from Thomas Nelson called Seeds of Turmoil:  The biblical roots of the inevitable crisis in the Middle East.  The author is Bryant Wright, founding pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia.

Bryant Wright’s Seeds of Turmoil is a very enjoyable read!  In a simple, concise way he takes you back to the days of Abraham.  He shows you the sin of one man and the worldwide consequences brought forth from his sin.  Wright gives a peek into the life of Sarah, Hagar, Isaac, Ishmael, Esau and Jacob in a way that will make you reach for your Bible.  Combining biblical facts with current events, this book answers questioned that explained the hostility between the State of Israel and her neighboring Arab nations.  And it gives hope for all those who trust in the One and Only God of Abraham.  It is not only an interesting read but also very informative.  I will be adding this book to the list of studies to be used in the home discipleship of my oldest son and will recommend it to anyone who desires to learn more about God’s Chosen People.

Disclaimer:  I received Seeds of Turmoil from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for an honest review.   I do not receive any other form of compensation for the reviews posted on this blog.