Liberty

“Democracy is Christ’s government in church and state.”

This is probably not the definition you have heard of democracy. The attempt to secularize American education has largely been successful, and darkled much of the Christian aspect of our governing documents.

The above quote about democracy was taken from George Mason’s Virginia Declaration of Rights, presented to the general assembly in July, 1776. While brief, it does summarize the essence of American democracy, for it is the Christian ethic, the Law of Moses and Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, which is necessary for our democracy to function.

Actually, it was George Mason who provided many of the seminal ideas which became part of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution of the United States. The Declaration of Independence, for example, is a great Christian and spiritual document. It naturally arises from the Christian practices of the colonists. Thomas Hooker, a Connecticut pastor, addressed the Connecticut General Court in 1638 with these inspiring words: “The foundation of authority is laid in the free consent of the people…The choice of public magistrates belongs unto the people by God’s own allowance.” It was Thomas Jefferson , author of The Declaration of Independence, who freely “acknowledged his best ideas of democracy had been secured at church meetings” (from a speech by President Calvin Coolidge, quoted in Thinking Cal Coolidge on the Declaration of Independence, by L. John Van Til, The American Story, June 29, 2009).

As I write this, the 10th Anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks is near. Called simply “9-11”, this will be a time when Americans will reflect upon that attack. Hopefully, it will also be a time when Americans reflect upon how precious are liberty and freedom.

May we understand that liberty as we know it is rooted in the nature of God, the Yahweh of the Bible. Tyranny and despotism are rooted in the nature of man. It is not a mistake for America to have as its motto, “In God We Trust.” This creed must be believed and our practices conform to it if the liberty that has made America such a great land is to endure.

But there is one more thought to share. Christ’s government in church and state is frustrating unless His government rules the individual spirit. Does He rule your spirit?

With the 10th Anniversary of 9-11 approaching, may we not take our heritage for granted. Christianity is the heritage that has made liberty possible.

“Proclaim liberty throughout all the land…” (Leviticus 25:10). Know where this scripture is found? If you answered “It is inscribed on the Liberty Bell”, you are correct. America! God shed His grace on thee.

Democracy is Christ’s government in church and state. This is how He meant it to be. The opposite of tyranny, Biblically inspired democracy is what has spawned…

liberty.

Be Ready When the Hard Times Return

I can recall, while growing up, of stories told about “The Great Depression.” Of course, these stories always involved a warning: be careful how much you spend and what you spend on, because someday you may need that money to survive.

So naturally, I have to wonder about the yo-yo performance of the stock market recently. Fear and greed may be what moves the market, but in general it is a strong forecast of what lay ahead for the economy. Right now, it is telling us that uncertainty lay ahead; it may be telling us that another difficult time, even a recession, is in the near future. This would be devastating to the national economy and to thousands of families, probably the same ones who suffered through the last recession.

How do we get ready if the hard times return? One of the most prudent steps we can take is to reduce or eliminate our personal debt.

Julie Crawshaw of MoneyNews.com has recently written that the “Misery Index”, the unemployment rate plus the inflation rate, is at a 28 year high. It is 62 % higher than when President Obama took office.
Mort Zuckerman, who writes for U.S. News and World Report, has expressed concern that Mr. Obama’s stimulus plan has backfired against the President. Every job gained since 2000 has been wiped out in the past three years – over 7 million. Zuckerman argues that from the moment the Obama administration has come into office there has been no net increase in full-time jobs, only in part-time jobs.

Then when Congress politicizes the nature of debt (debt is almost always bad, don’t they know that?) and raises the debt ceiling (the amount of debt the country may legally have – who do you think will pay for it?) we have to wonder just how long the republic will endure. Some things are simply out of our hands, and this economy is one of them. Is it all smoke and mirrors? This has to end sometime, and when it does there will be a lot of pain.

As I consider these articles and recall the stories told by grandparents and parents, I think of the Biblical admonition, “Owe no man anything, except to love one another” (Romans 13:8).

I really don’t know what would happen if another “depression” hit the country. I know that particular word would not be used by either government or media for fear of inducing riots in the streets. But I have come to believe that such a terrible episode is within the realm of distinct possibility.

Neither you nor I can live like the Federal government. No business can operate this way and remain solvent.

I encourage you to become personally disciplined in the use of money, and especially credit. Learn to control your impulses when shopping and learn to resist the temptation to impress others with what you have rather than who you are. Work toward becoming debt-free. Owe no man anything, except courtesy and politeness.

Do you need help in this area? There are several sources to assist you in developing a discipline as regards money. One of the better ones is www.mastermoney.org. Go here; learn from the experts, and …

be ready when the hard times return.

What Do You Want America to Be?

The stock market is on a roller coaster ride as investors wonder what is happening, our Washington politicians cannot produce a budget that is reasonable, and our President (as of this writing) promises people in Illinois that he “has a plan” to be unveiled after Labor Day.

The debt ceiling was raised recently, but do people really understand what this means? It means we may now legally acquire more debt. That is not more income, mind you, just more debt. If you keep acquiring debt and do not increase income, what happens?

Is the America you want for the future one where everyone works for the government? Where the citizenry considers itself entitled to government payments? Where the government obviously keeps everyone on a short leash? Or is it an America that maintains its heritage, with certain truths being self-evident: “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (from The Declaration of Independence)?

One remedy that would help America’s debt crisis is the teaching of (unrevised) history. So says Niall Ferguson, a professor of history and business at Harvard University. “It’s impossible, I think, to understand the rise of the United States separately, as a story on its own of American exceptionalism. You have to understand it as part of the extraordinary explosion of dynamism from Western Europe, not just across the Atlantic, but all around the world” (Ferguson).

Okay, so when does he place the start of such dynamism, having begun in Western Europe and eventually contributing to the founding of America - the greatest nation in history? If you guessed after 1411, you are correct. You might have even guessed October 31, 1517 – the day Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses on the door of Wittenberg Cathedral as a precise date, although Reformation thinking and discussions had begun prior.

It is impossible to understand America apart from understanding its history. And its history includes Christian people coming to these shores in search of religious freedom, and the right to follow their individual consciences. This is a direct result of the Protestant Reformation. The Reformation made a major contribution to our understanding of personal responsibility, individual freedom, and treatment of others. The Protestant work ethic offered dignity to work of any kind and frowned upon laziness; the command to love your neighbor as yourself led to a compassionate society where advances in science and medicine occurred, and where honesty and trust were most highly valued in business dealings. Easy credit was discouraged and avoided. It was feared that too much debt would not just lead to financial ruin, but make it impossible to repay your neighbor. “Dirt, debt and the devil” were dreaded.

What is clear is this: to really know America we must understand its religious history, and the values that history represents. The values represented by Judaism and Christianity differ greatly from those of other faiths or from those of no faith. It is this knowledge that enables us to understand the country’s religious, political, and economic liberty.

The lessons of our Christian religious history will help us solve our debt problem and determine what we want America to be.

Faithfully Serving Christ

I had to view the web site for myself. There it was – a huge announcement that the end of the world and the final judgment was to arrive on May 21. I could not help but think, “How many others have been caught up in this date-setting mindset, later to learn they are wrong?” It was Jesus himself who said, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know” (Acts 1:7). And at another time, “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only” (Matthew 24:36). Well, the Father and a man named Harold Camping, apparently.

By the time you read this, Harold Camping and his prophecy will have proved false. Who is this man, anyway? Camping is a very successful businessman from California, who retired from the building industry and began Family Radio (www.familyradio.com), comprised now of dozens of stations. Pleasant stations for listening, I should add. Now, at the age of 89, he has alarmed many by saying that he is “absolutely certain” about this date.

I noticed while reading the home page of his web site two days before the “absolutely certain” date that donations were still being solicited and received. Hmm, I wonder why?

Michael S. Rosenwald of The Washington Post writes that Camping “says he came up with the very precise date of May 21 through a mathematical calculation that would probably crash Google’s computers.” This contrived date is the result of Camping’s study of the dates of floods, the use of numbers in the Bible, multiplication, addition and subtraction. In other words, it is a convoluted mess, impossible for anyone to understand. Really, it may be that Camping is “losing it” as they say.

The words of Jesus are plain enough. No credible person can claim to know the exact date of Christ’s return and the end of the world. To claim otherwise is to put oneself squarely in the category of “false prophet.”

Let’s be clear. The Bible says of itself, “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16- NLT). The Bible is intended to be understood, believed and obeyed. It is here for our personal benefit and for the benefit of others. It contains no hidden codes or mathematical formulas that only a few can detect and understand. Its teaching is clear.

And when it comes to the return of Christ, the Bible’s teaching could not be clearer. He could come at any time, the world in general will not be looking for Him and will be surprised, and His church is to be faithfully serving Him on earth until that time, doing what Jesus would do if He were bodily present. That would be teaching God’s truth and helping others along life’s way.

In the spirit of Harold Camping, let me make a prediction. Here it is: there is no person who can correctly date the return of Christ, because there is no person who knows.

And since we don’t know, we should stay busy…

faithfully serving Christ.

Make Jesus Lord

“Dad, we got Osama bin Laden!” shouted my son as he awakened me from sleep. I said little and rolled back over to continue my Sunday night rest.

The next morning, like a lot of Americans, the reality sunk in. The number one criminal in the world had been executed in a daring, heroic raid. I watched the President’s announcement from the previous night and, like most other people in the world, sighed in relief that this perpetrator of evil was gone.

And yet, at the same time, I sensed sadness. The sadness that such a person would misuse his life so horribly, becoming a hardened killer. When one considers the wealth, intelligence, organizational and leadership skills of Osama bin Laden, it makes you wonder how much good he could have done, if only Quranic teaching had not warped his mind. There are two things for which we can thank Osama bin Laden: he taught the world what a fully committed follower of Muhammad acts like practicing jihad, which Sunni Muslims refer to as “the sixth pillar of Islam.” Osama also taught us that justice always prevails in the end. You just can not do wrong and get away with it.

Romans 13 has something to say about the role of government in fulfilling natural law (God’s law) on earth. “(The government) is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid, for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil” (verse 4). There are other verses that say the equivalent, promising that God will use human agents (government, military, law enforcement) to bring justice to bear against those who practice evil.

No one, regardless of how wealthy, clever or charismatic he may be, can perpetrate evil against others and last. Those whose names are remembered with respect are those who understand natural law and, even if they do not acknowledge Jesus as the source, practice the ethical and moral teachings of Jesus (Mohandas Gandhi, for example, who used Jesus as an example of how to live, but did not acknowledge Jesus as his personal Savior). The names we remember with pain and disgust include Hitler, Jack the Ripper, Timothy McVeigh, Lenin, and now you may include the name Osama bin Laden.

God establishes government. A major purpose of government is to prevent and punish evil (violation of natural law). The government that chooses instead to perpetrate evil, thus defying God’s natural law, will crumble. As for me, I commend the Navy SEALs who fulfilled our government’s role in seeing that an evil man was eliminated and justice was done. I am proud to be an American, proud of our military, our intelligence service and of our President and his staff in seeing this operation through to completion.

But in another vein I consider the lost potential of bin Laden’s life. A lot of “what if’s” cross my mind. What if someone had presented Osama with the truth claims of Jesus when he was younger? What if he had used his wealth and personal magnetism for good? What if he had not become so proud that he had chosen to bow before Christ and acknowledge Him as Lord? What if his arrogance had not led him to become a law unto himself? What if he had chosen to honor natural law rather than violate it? What if he had desired to treat others by the Golden Rule rather than murdering them? What if he had chosen God’s grace and mercy rather than God’s justice (and the instrument of government that delivered this justice)? What if…

Today I view the justice that has prevailed as regards Osama bin Laden. I remember that justice always wins in the end. I know that government is to be respected as an instrument of natural law and justice. I pray that those in government will know this and practice it. I remind myself that the teachings of Jesus show me the way to live.

Most of all, I celebrate the grace and mercy of God that is freely bestowed upon any person willing to acknowledge the pride and vanity that are latent within the heart, and who turns away from such to make Jesus Lord.

Worship Him

This week I have been working on two sermons – one for Good Friday and the other for Resurrection Sunday, otherwise known as Easter.

Then, on Thursday, I was informed by my younger son that Good Friday coincides with Earth Day. Furthermore, that school children will be taking field trips to his place of work for Earth Day. He didn’t say it, but it is doubtful any public school will be commemorating the death of Christ on Good Friday.

We call it “Good” because it was good for us and the cosmos, not Jesus. It was by His death that our personal sins were forgiven and, according to Romans 8:22 – 23, all of creation will be redeemed. Good Friday is a day when Christians reflect upon the sacrifice of Christ and express sorrow for their sin.

I know what Earth Day means, and I know how it is sometimes celebrated. I know it was promoted by Senator Gaylord Nelson and environmentalists and first held in 1970. It is not a coincidence that Earth Day was placed on the calendar in such close proximity to the most important Christian holiday. By the way, “holiday” comes from “holy day” and is derived from Christian holy day observances.

Earth Day is a pagan holiday for some – a time to worship earth. For others it is a day to reconsider their roles in taking care of earth. For promoters of Earth Day It is the time to express worry about Mother Earth. Is Mother warming too fast? Is Mother having too much difficulty with carbon dioxide? You will observe that the typical participant in an Earth Day rally is a privileged person whose basic needs are met. People who worry about earth are people who have the luxury to worry about earth. It is easier to worry about earth when pressing personal needs are met. Have you noticed that people who live in underdeveloped countries where sanitation measures are lacking and disease is rampant or where famine is stalking don’t seem to celebrate Earth Day? Earth Day is a creation of the affluent and those with too much time on their hands.

I wish everyone in North America would read The Skeptical Environmentalist by Bjorn Lomborg. Lomborg details in his work the environmental problems that have been overcome in recent years. He then considers the more radical concerns of present day environmentalists, doing a cost versus benefits analysis of their agenda. He puts things into perspective. Disaster, my friend, is not around the corner.

Here is the point: as American culture has abandoned its Christian heritage, it has grabbed at ideals and false gods to fill the void. Mankind is religious. If Good Friday demands I repent of my personal sin and I don’t want to do that, then I will substitute something for it. In this case, I replace Christ with Earth. I will not speak of a Heavenly Father, but of a planetary Mother. I will disregard the stories in the Bible, and replace them with legends of the pre-industrial, pristine past. I will ignore the possibility of living in a perfect heaven and I will attempt to create a perfect earth – by my standard of what is perfect, of course, not yours.

We should work together for clean water and air, healthier environments and lifestyles. This we should be doing as good citizens of the planet – 365 days a year. But while doing this, let’s never forget that it was Christ who gave us this earth in the first place. He owns it and He will redeem it. He visited this planet to show His love for it and for mankind.

Worship Him.

It’s Time to Pray and Act

I am tired of reading, listening, and watching news about the budget debate in Washington. What is there to debate? The March 2011 Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report shared that for the forty years prior to Barack Obama’s election, federal deficits averaged around 35% of the country’s annual GDP. That number rose to 62% by the end of 2011. If action is not taken that number will rise to 87% over the next ten years. This information is easily accessible to anyone owning a computer by accessing www.cbo.gov.

Most businesses, every single church I know of, and families all had to tighten the belt in recent years. Job losses and the worst recession since the Great Depression forced such changes.

Here is the news the federal government needs to produce: debt reduction is real, not a political illusion. The country will not go broke. The government is tightening its belt, and while it may hurt for a while, it is a long term cure for what ails us. Remember when the budget debate was about “millions” or even “billions”? Well folks, it is now about “trillions”. Is this a runaway train or what?

What is wrong with a picture where businesses, churches and families all can cut back spending on non-essentials, but our government cannot? My hunch is that our political leaders, with some exceptions (like Paul Ryan) are afraid of cutting back. The political repercussions are too scary – note the government union workers and their spirited demonstrations in Columbus, then multiply that by about, oh, one hundred and you can see what could happen. That would be a mob and would mandate force and a possible police state. It is a politician’s worst nightmare. Cool heads and steady hands must prevail in this debate and political posturing should end. This is a critical moment in our country’s history. The financial mess in which the nation finds itself is non-partisan. Both parties are responsible and both parties must find people willing to work together to lead in this matter. Let’s be frank about it: unless the country cuts spending seriously and begins reducing debt just as seriously, the term “trillions” will be replaced very soon by “quadrillions” and every cent gathered by the government will be used for debt repayment.

But really, I want to take another tack. The scriptures say, “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” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

My tack is twofold. First, this is the time for people to pray. Pray that God gives our political leaders courage. They are all pretty bright individuals who understand what needs to be done. They do not lack in intelligence. Neither do they lack knowledge. But many seem to lack courage. And they appear to live from election to election. Pray that God will raise up statesmen and save us from mere politicians.

And here is the second tactic: put some strength to your prayers. Write your congressman and senators and ask that they work with others, even those from the opposing party, to bring the ravenous spending appetite and mindboggling debt of the federal government under control – for our sake and the sake of our children and grandchildren. Be nice – they are people, too. Be encouraging. Let them know you are praying for them and our country. Perhaps we will see a great movement of God in our time and through our government, one that would parallel the beginning of America through the Continental Congress.

It’s time to pray – and act.

Do Something for Japan


James Hudson Taylor was founder of the China Inland Mission in 1865. Now known as Overseas Missionary Fellowship (www.omf.org), OMF is an outstanding missionary organization. Taylor would be pleased to see OMF today.

One of Taylor’s primary concerns was that Christians around the world – and this would include affluent Chinese Christians – share any abundance they might have with those less fortunate, the poor. Although J.H. Taylor is renown in church circles as a missionary spokesman who spent his life in China, the truth is that he made frequent return trips to England to impress upon people his worthy cause, to raise money. He needed funds! As someone (not Taylor) once said, “Prayer is what turns the wheels of the church, but money is the grease.”

Okay, here is what I am driving at in this week’s column: would you consider giving a special gift to help Japan? Almost overnight many Japanese lost everything. They lost loved ones, their home, their job9 and their possessions. I mean everything.

When Taylor would return to England and address the need to give in the churches, he would use Psalm 41:1 – “Blessed is he that considers the poor; the LORD will deliver him in the time of trouble.” Taylor would then proceed to tell people that the one who is blessed is not the one who quiets his own conscience by gifts that cost no self-denial. Rather, the blessing that God promises is for those who “consider the poor” – those who think about their plight and what it must be like. The blessing is for those who ponder what spending a week in the shoes of the poor would be like. The blessing is for the one who decides that he, materially well off, could do without a few (or many) things and redirect his spending to make sure the very basic needs of the poor are met and their misery is lessened. The one who is blessed is the one who sacrifices in order to provide for the poor. In some supernatural and wonderful way, God in Heaven will make certain that such a one is blessed himself. Taylor would then remind his audience that Jesus spent a great deal of His time ministering among the poor and afflicted, seeing that their basic needs were met. He would conclude his exhortation by telling his audience that such giving, to assist the poor in their desperation, is Christ like.

As I write this, reports are that another earthquake has shaken northern Japan, and a tsunami may follow. If ever you have wanted to help people, now is the time and Japan is the place. The evangelical churches and mission societies in Japan have come together in an effort called CRASH Japan, and your donation through either OMF or The Evangelical Alliance Mission (TEAM) will go to that fund. Our church recently sent funds to TEAM, P.O. Box 969, Wheaton, IL 60187 and designated those funds for the Japan Earthquake Relief Fund. Or you may donate online by going to either the TEAM or OMF web site (TEAM’s web site is www.teamworld.org). I found the TEAM web site easier to navigate.

Now is the time to…

Do something for Japan.

Glorify God in Art

Last week I attended an art show sponsored by the Canton Institute of Art. The majority of the works were realistic expressions of the world and life. My favorite was a watercolor of a village at dusk. It was calming and meditative. It reminded me of having seen the paintings of the Dutch Masters a few years ago when they were on tour. The Dutch Masters, heavily influenced by the Reformation in northern Europe, painted for the glory of God. They painted God’s world as it really exists.

Then today I received a photograph of a fresh snowfall on fields. The beauty of the photograph is directly related to the reality of the world as God has made it.

These experiences make me realize that God’s world possesses unsurpassed beauty. This reality expressed through art is what makes it meaningful.

Philosophy and art have always been twins. Philosophy, the way leaders in society think, forms the culture. Art then becomes the expression of the philosophy and the culture. If the society is, well, bankrupt of Judeo-Christian values then the art will reflect it.
In the last century most, if not all, moral restraints were removed from art. In music, “rap” lyrics speak of rape and other assorted sordid practices; in visual art, Robert Mapplethorpe’s homosexual representations - and the works of others - openly flaunted every measure of good taste, not to mention morals. When even the standard of good taste is violated, one must assume that art, and society, have gone about as low as possible. I might have written “gone to the dogs”, except that I have too much respect for dogs. The rejection of absolute morals and the secularization of our society has produced art that, while called contemporary, is often ugly and, frequently, downright repugnant.

There is a point in time when contemporary art as we know it began. In 1913 at the International Exhibition of Modern Art in New York City, critics and patrons were stunned at Marcel Duchamp’s “Nude Descending a Staircase #2”, a completely new style of work by the cubist painter. It is a good thing the work was named, or no one would know what Duchamp was trying to express. Due to the attention given this work and sensing the change in cultural values (in prior shows, such work would not have been admitted), the race was on. Now artists became “contemporary”, competing to see who could come up with the most extreme and strange interpretations of modern life.

That competition may now be slowing. There is a swelling opinion among art critics that it has gotten out of hand. The bizarre has become the norm, and this does not bode well for galleries and funding.
But this style of art does say something to us. It says, “Society has lost its way. We as a people have lost our values, purpose, sense of awe and destiny. And we are going crazy as a result.” I use the term “crazy”, but the Biblical word is “fool”, as in “The fool has says in his heart, ‘There is no God” (Psalm 14:1). If art is a reflection of the culture, and it is, then what are we to make of it when every standard of decency is violated, when religion is mocked, when respect for others is ridiculed? Doesn’t it say that our society is bankrupt of morals and the traditional values that have built a strong nation? Have we become a nation of fools?

By contrast, the paintings of the Dutch Masters, the village at dusk and the photograph of freshly fallen snow over fields are refreshing to the spirit and express the beauty of God’s creation and that may be found in life.

If you are an artist, or an aspiring artist, please consider these suggestions. Forget about impressing your peers with your avant-garde style. Separate yourself from the craziness of the world of geopolitics. Instead of attempting to be novel and provocative, how about concentrating on balance, color and unity? How about looking for real beauty in the creases of an older person’s face, an infant’s innocence or a mountain’s grandeur? How about less subjectivism and more objectivism? Maybe, just maybe, your art can influence philosophy rather than the other way around. Maybe you can, through art, help rescue society from the craziness of atheism, humanism, evolutionism and the other isms that are unraveling society and individual lives.

Like the Dutch Masters, the village at dusk and the photograph of freshly fallen snow -

Glorify God in art.

Trust God’s Heart

By now everyone in the world has learned of the terrible earthquake and tsunami that has shattered Japan. On top of the natural disaster, nuclear plants at Fukishimi have exploded, sending radiation and contamination throughout the region. Only time will tell how many people are injured by this radiation. Some, perhaps many, will experience premature death.

Such events have happened before in history. On November 1, 1755 a three minute long earthquake struck Lisbon, Portugal. We now know this earthquake would have rated a 9 on the Richter scale. Buildings shook and fell, leaving massive amounts of rubble. As the earth shook, people fled their homes and other buildings into the streets where gaping holes, some as wide as fifteen feet, suddenly opened in the earth and into which untold numbers were swallowed. Thousands went the Tangus River in the middle of the city, thinking it safe. They were wrong. Within a short time following the quake, an enormous tsunami several feet tall swept into the Lisbon harbor and up the Tangus. Boats, rafts and all those aboard were tossed around like toothpicks by the violent current. A large number of drownings occurred, and the waves caused by the tsunami were later noticed in Britain and north Africa. This event, known as the Great Lisbon Earthquake, rates as one of the worst natural disasters of all time. All of Europe and most of the world was shocked. Lisbon, a city with 100,000 residents, had seen half that number very suddenly and tragically wiped away by death. Its buildings lay in ruins, with many precious works of art and history destroyed.

A lot of thought was later given to this tragedy. Whenever something on this magnitude happens, people try to understand. Had God sent it as judgment? Or perhaps there is no God, and it just was “one of those things.” Or maybe God didn’t cause it, but permitted it. Or maybe evil is inherent in the world, and this is an example. Maybe the earthquake and natural disasters are just the result of what we call nature. The French philosopher Voltaire in his work Candide made this last view popular. He proposed that evil surrounds us and we must learn to live with it. His explanation might have satisfied some in France, but it did nothing to help the Portuguese who were stunned, grieving and desperate for a word of hope.

While no one can fully comprehend natural disasters, and so cannot adequately explain them, the scriptures call us to faith in God at such times. It is precisely because we cannot comprehend fully nor explain adequately such mindboggling, numbing events that we must turn to God and find our consolation in Him.

The Biblical character Job is our role model. He lost his family and his possessions. He then lost his health. There was no scientific or philosophical explanation that satisfied him. His friends tried, but failed to solace him with their explanations. They even tried to invoke God in the discourse: “Job you are getting what God thinks you deserve.” Job’s reply was, in essence, “Well, I know God. He is my friend and He is not like this.” It took some time, but eventually Job was proved right. God is not like that.

Toward the end of the book, God replies to Job. God knows what is happening and it is all under His control. It really doesn’t matter whether Job understands it or not. Actually, there is much Job does not nor will ever understand – just like us. Job has a responsibility, and it is not to understand all of God’s ways. It is rather to understand God’s character, God’s heart. His then to trust God’s heart. God will bring good from every situation, and especially one that involves pain.

The disaster striking Japan is mind numbing and any explanations we offer are inadequate. I hope you are praying for the Japanese people. If possible, I hope you will consider helping the churches of Japan during this time by making a donation (I suggest www.teamworld.org and look for Japan Earthquake Relief Fund).

There is only one message we can offer that provides hope: trust God. Trust God in both the good times and the bad. He is good and good will triumph.

When difficulties arise you do not understand,
Trust God’s heart.

The Most Innocent Neighbor Among Us

I recently attended a banquet sponsored by The Alliance Pregnancy Center (www.alliancepregnancycenter.com). This is a wonderful group of people performing a great service to the northeast Ohio community. While I listened to presentations regarding statistics and needs, the thought kept running through my head, “I wonder what God must think about elective abortion?”

Actually, I know what God thinks about it. While several passages of scripture teach the Creator’s high regard for life, there is one in particular that comes to mind. Amos 1:13 – “This is what the LORD says: For three sins of Ammon, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. Because he ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to extend his borders...”

Ammon is now known as “Amman” and is the capital city of Jordan. You can see that centuries ago the strife between Esau and Isaac, Arab and Jew, was real. Not only was it real, but it was brutal. Greed for land had bred a cruel genocide – the killing of pregnant women and their fetus. This particular brutality is singled out by the living God deserving judgment (“even for four” is a figure of speech meaning the about to be mentioned item is the worst). I suppose this dreadful act is especially marked for judgment because the fetus has never sinned against any one.

When Jesus was asked, “What is the greatest commandment?” He replies by giving the Shema of Deuteronomy 6 (“love God”) and then quickly adds, “And the second is like unto it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:36-40). What is interesting about this episode from the life of Jesus is that He was asked for one specific commandment- “ What is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus provides an answer that links two commands, one to love God (Deuteronomy 6) and the other to love your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18). It is hardly an act of love to kill an innocent child, whether born or unborn. Amos’ point is: this is a particularly grievous sin against God. It was not Amos’ opinion; it had come from the LORD, who was fully aware of what was happening. Amos was simply God’s messenger.

I have heard and spoken words of forgiveness and reconciliation to women who have chosen abortion. The regret and guilt many bear crushes them. God is merciful and does forgive and a woman need not carry guilt– but there are consequences to a person’s behavior and living with regret can be one of those consequences. Living with “what might have been if…” can be difficult.

Perhaps it is time to offer a preventive rather than a redemptive word, since an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So here is my word of preventive therapy: God will take notice of brutality against the unborn.

Elective abortion of an unborn is under God’s watchful eye. If the killing of the unborn in Amos’ day, about 750 years before Christ, caused God to take note you may be assured that He is taking notice today. It does not matter whether abortion as a choice is protected by the Constitution of the United States or not, it is still wrong in God’s sight. Just as He brought judgment and punishment upon the Ammonites for murdering pregnant women and their fetuses – whom He counted as persons – so He will judge the person and nation that violates the lives of those made in His image and likeness today.

We have been led into thinking that national peace and material prosperity are the measures of a country’s greatness. Political leaders tend to dismiss morality as being irrelevant or personal. But the scriptures teach clearly that the morality of a state is what genuinely determines its greatness. This is because the morality of a state is foundational – peace and prosperity are the results of a strong moral foundation.

Loving neighbor as self is one of the building blocks for a strong foundation. Let’s begin to love and provide resources for the unborn child…

the most innocent neighbor among us.

Being Honest


Every elected official wants to save money. At least that is what they say. In Wisconsin, the legislators have had an opportunity to prove if they mean it or not. Its Governor has introduced legislation that requires a put up or shut up vote.
In the Badger State, 14 state senators did not want to put up or shut up. Rather than fulfill their responsibilities and debate then vote on a proposal by Governor Walker, they skedaddled to other states. Some were reported partying in Chicago. What was the proposal these party-going senators feared so much? It was a budget repair bill – a debt refinancing that would save Wisconsin taxpayers $165 million in fiscal year 2011. They were torn between voting in a way that reinforced their rhetoric or voting for some core supporters. On the last day of February, Governor Walker warned these AWOL senators that if they refused to return to Madison, establish a quorum and cast their votes the bill would die. And, the next day –March 1- an option to refinance a portion of the state’s debt would expire. An opportunity to save the taxpayers’ money would be forever lost. They returned, some under arrest, to cast their votes.
I am not interested in writing about the legislation or the politics involved. But it does concern me that a group of state senators would flee the state to avoid debating and voting on a bill. Isn’t this one of their functions, perhaps even the primary one?
At this point, I have to tip my hat to Governor Scott Walker. The son of a pastor (he can’t be all bad), the man evidently is a rare commodity: an honest politician. He ran on a platform of fiscal austerity, advertising that this budget cutting measure is exactly what he would propose. His opposition campaigned against it. Now he has followed through, expressing the wishes of the voters. An interesting article in the February 26, 2011 edition of The Wall St. Journal was written by John Fund. Titled “Wisconsin’s Newest Progressive”, it is a very revealing narrative of state of present affairs in Wisconsin.
Mr. Fund quotes Governor Walker as saying, “I won (the election) because people will ultimately respond to the truth.” This has been the pattern of his campaigns in Democratic Milwaukee County, where Walker has won three county-wide elections. He goes among the people, conducting what he calls “reality tours” and laying the cards on the table. People may not like what they hear or his proposals, but they find the candor and honesty refreshing. They understand that the solutions may not be painless because he tells them otherwise. But they vote for him anyway. After all, it makes little difference whether Republican or Democrat, an honest person in an elective office is valued by everyone. Maybe Scott Walker has learned from history. It is no accident that “Honest Abe” Lincoln is considered our greatest President.
This article is not an attempt to promote Scott Walker; but it is an attempt to promote honesty in government, business and our personal lives. This kind of transparency is what is meant in the words of 1 John 1:6-7, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” While these verses have primary application to our communion with God, the term “walking in the light” refers to transparency and honesty – before God and others.
“Walk in the light” states the Bible. “Tell the truth” says Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. There is no substitute for …

Being honest.

The Best Protection for Your Job

I have been reading with interest about the public workers unions’ demonstrations in Ohio and Wisconsin. The public union and collective bargaining battles are actually spreading across the United States. With money not available to provide the benefits which had been expected and with the opportunity to strike being threatened, these public demonstrations are cause for concern. Change is in the wind. These demonstrations are reminiscent of the workers’ strikes in the 1930’s. Those strikes led to the founding of the American labor union movement, the most notable union becoming the AFL-CIO with its well-known spokesman, John L. Lewis. Just as those strikes changed the face of American labor, so do these current strikes speak of change that is looming. And, be assured, it is looming.

I have been wondering about the future of labor unions. If they continue to exist (I think they will), what form will they take? Of course, if they become extinct - well, the question becomes moot, doesn’t it?

Most laborers in “the rank and file” – the ones who do the physical work – paid some pretty hefty dues to support the union bosses – the ones who do the negotiating and provide information to the press. During the time of union prosperity, the rank and file made decent wages and the bosses became wealthy. At least, that was the talk around my boyhood home, near Akron, Ohio where the URW (United Rubber Workers) were headquartered. A sad thing has happened however. The rubber workers have disappeared from Akron and the URW was swallowed up by the United Steel Workers in the 1990s. Perhaps they overreached. Good wages and outstanding benefits being paid, along with the job protection afforded loafers invited foreign competition. And foreign competition, especially from Asia and South America, meant lower prices for the consumer. How could Akron with its cost of labor compete against an Asian or South American company that paid its worker a pittance in comparison? Why not take the factory where you can pay for cheap labor? If not to a foreign company, then at least move the factory to a “right to work” (workers not forced to join unions) state. That way the company can compete.

Overreaching could happen to the public workers unions also. Let’s face it. Some things have to change.
Mediocre workers can no longer be paid the same as productive ones. The unions can no longer afford to foist this economic policy on Americans. This applies to public workers as well as those employed in the private sector. Firemen who can’t fight fires and policemen who won’t police need to be replaced. Poor teachers in the schools have got to go, making room for teachers who prepare their lessons and challenge the students to learn. Bringing it home, mediocrity in the pastoral ministry should end also (pastors have no union, but should work diligently, too). People need to take pride in their work and need to work at their work. Employees need to see employers as partners, not as adversaries. Employers and management need to treat employees and workers well, knowing that apart from the person “on the floor”, there will be no business and no job for anyone.

But wait a minute. Does all that ranting sound like it comes from the First Century? Maybe even from the Bible?
“Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism. Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven” (Colossians 3:22-4:1).

In those words are bits of wisdom for you and me. Seek high standards of reliability. Work hard and be a producer. Keep in mind that the annual review is not as significant as the eternal review – you are working “as for the Lord, not for men.” Increased productivity and honest, diligent work is what God wants from us all.

These principles provide economic success and economic success is…

the best protection for your job.

National Bankruptcy

This morning I read in the daily paper that the Federal Government might close down. From Associated Press, the exact words were “In a deepening struggle over spending, Republicans and Democrats swapped charges Thursday over a possible government shutdown when funding expires March 4 for most federal agencies.”

Along with state workers demonstrating in Wisconsin and Ohio, it appears that something everyone fears is finally on our doorstep: our country is drowning in debt. The debt crisis is unusually grave and it is no time to blame others. If we can unite on this issue, Republicans and Democrats alike, it may not be too late for resolution.

But don’t hold your breath. And don’t stick your head into the sand, either. It is time to expect a difficult episode in American history. Let’s just admit it and stop the denial coming from Washington: the country is broke. The official accumulated debt of the federal government has passed $14 trillion dollars and this is understated. According to the U.S. Treasury, in a report dated January 21, 2011, the public debt is just under $21 trillion dollars. This includes “off-budget” items like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, student loans, bailouts and other debts that are presumed uncollectible. And like the Energizer Bunny, it just keeps going and growing. This is a number that is, frankly, unimaginable. I have read commentators’ pieces where they write about trying to imagine this debt. It goes something like, “imagine you had a trillion dollars in $100 bills. Now stretch those bills from end to end and they would stretch from New York to St. Louis…” Sorry. I can’t imagine like that. Perhaps others can, but regardless it is a grim picture of greed, avarice and irresponsible politicians trying to buy the next election. There may not be any elections to buy in the not-so-distant future. Nearly every country that has undergone financial upheaval has seen a despot or the military take control, at least for a temporary period. Witness Chile under General Pinochet.

By the way, I have written nothing about Social Security, local governments and their problems, nor the public threats made by Moody’s, the debt-rating agency, to downgrade the credit rating of many states. This downgrade, if it occurs, will make borrowing more expensive if even possible by those states. Look for the state governments threatened by a downgrade to exercise bully efforts against Moody’s. And for heaven’s sake, think twice before purchasing a municipal bond.

You would think that with the peril this poses for every citizen, something would have already been done. Incredibly, just last December, three months ago, Congress (the previous one, not the sitting one) passed a 2% reduction in Social Security withholding. Intended to stimulate the economy, it adds to Social Security’s woes and serves to worsen the debt.

Other than being prudent in managing our own finances, we must ask God to guide our national leaders in the decisions to be made. We are still under the command to pray for our rulers (1 Timothy 2:1-2). If the debt problem of the United States is not handled properly and soon, we will face…

national bankruptcy.

Pray for a Positive Outcome in Egypt

Are you praying for a positive outcome in Egypt?

The stakes are high in this most populous Arab nation. As this is written I might also add that the tensions are high as well.

Any person who has seen the televised news has noticed the enormous crowd gathered in the public square in Cairo. Most are young and most are desperate. They desperately desire a new life, with opportunities for personal growth, for jobs that pay decent wages and a brighter future. Many – perhaps most – have set aside their personal differences in the hope for an American style democracy. The United States is regarded as the bastion of liberty. The Christian-based moral code in America has provided a basis for genuine liberty – freedom within the boundary of mutual respect for others and reverence for God. Actually, apart from the aspect of reverence for God, there is no basis for respecting others. It will not occur. Hence it is one boundary.

The scenes of the crowd and the interviews of young adults in Cairo who want hope, jobs and liberty lead me to recall the French Revolution. The French Revolution was a mass movement against an autocratic king, and it had as its motto: “Liberty, Fraternity and Equality.” The masses poured into the streets and gathered in Paris, where eventually the king was guillotined. Celebration occurred for a while – and then, because there was no Christian moral foundation upon which to construct a new government, “might makes right” became the law. The French Revolution became one of the bloodiest and worst in history.

The Christian morality that had established order and security – respect for others was advocated, violence was eschewed, and this even though the king was not liked – had been undermined by “reason.” That is, leading intellectuals had led the French to believe that the Biblical basis for law, the way we treat others, was archaic and obsolete. God was not absolute. Man’s reason was absolute. Man was not a sinner who needed restraint, but inherently good and this goodness should be expressed. This expression would take the form of whatever a person desired. That is, whatever he or she wanted to do, then simply do it. At the start of the French Revolution, a “Festival of Reason” was held, where a prostitute climbed onto the altar at the Notre Dame Cathedral and was proclaimed “goddess of reason”. The deceived masses then declared – someone declared, anyway – that the cathedral was now dedicated to her worship. This was like saying, “anything goes.” Before long, people moved from one indulgence to another, eventually murdering one another. The French were rescued from this fratricide by Napoleon, the ruthless dictator. This little man with the big ego consolidated the French by turning their now violent nature loose not on one another, but on neighboring states.

But back to Egypt. Many of those gathered at Cairo’s Tahrir Square think that American style democracy is waiting in the wings for them – if only they can persuade Hosni Mubarak to resign as President. Perhaps they are right. But they may be wrong. Waiting in the wings may be a despot and unspeakable factional violence.

This is why we pray for Egypt and the Egyptian people.

Pray for a positive outcome in Egypt.

A Contentious Spirit


I have been following the events in Egypt recently. Having visited in the country, I have a real concern for the people.

The events also make me think about the issue of contention and strife.

Contention among people, even those who share much in common, is not all that unusual. The Bible records many such instances. There were Cain and Abel, in the very beginning of the human race, then Ishmael and Isaac, Rachel and Leah – Biblical history is full of contentions, and it continues today. Pastor James asks the question in his epistle, Chapter 4, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?”

In reading modern literature, you might conclude that the causes of contention and strife are racism, poverty, nationalism and religion. However, these topics are not the cause, but are symptoms of an underlying dysfunction. It is the dysfunction of the individual soul, or “heart” as the Bible calls it. We could say, “the heart of the problem is the heart.” In essence, James tells us that people become contentious and fight because of covetousness. People want something that belongs to another, and if they can’t get it through legitimate means, they will fight for it.

Ever heard the word “hedonism” used? It refers to the satisfying of immediate, pleasurable urges through indulgence. To be hedonistic means also avoidance of considering long-term consequences. The word translated in James 4:1 as “desires” is actually “hedonism” (“hedone”). People engage in covetous pursuits and strife without consideration of the long-term consequences. They make enemies of others who would prefer being friends; they sully themselves by preying on the vulnerable, they ruthlessly attempt to seize what they desire. They even make plans for conquest: the word translated “battle” is “strategize.” Ambushes, artillery barrages, and preemptive strikes are all part of strategizing in war time. In personal attacks and office strife, to strategize usually means undermining, slandering, backstabbing and all other types of attempts to discredit others.

Returning to Egypt: yes, there are grievances. Good jobs are lacking in this non-industrial country, large families are the norm, overcrowded living conditions in Cairo especially, and a long-ruling President who has made no real dent in these pressing problems have generated frustration. But there is no mass starvation, the military offers a secure job for young men and protects the citizenry, and the treaty established with Israel has brought peace and stability to the country. Consequently, there is much for which to be grateful. This is why there exists the conflict between those who support and those who oppose President Mubarak. If a new President is selected, will anything change? My opinion is that it could change for the worse, but not likely for the better.

It should come as no surprise to those who have read James 4 that strife and conflict arise from the fallen nature of man. We all want the perfect world. The perfect world once existed, but sin has ruined it. We need to work at rehabilitating this imperfect world through good works, and be mature enough to understand that only the return of Christ will forever fix the problems we face, making our world perfect again. Pray for the Egyptian people and the witness of the Church in that troubled land.

And while we are praying for others, let us pray about our own covetous attitude.

Avoid a contentious spirit.

Down – But Not Out


He had been knocked down many times, but never had he been knocked out.

And he wanted the other Christians to know it – and follow his example.

Of course, I am speaking of Paul. And, of course, if you are familiar with his epistles, you know that I am referring to 2 Corinthians. It was from people in this church that he had received harsh and unjust criticism. Some had even gone so far as to allege that he was in ministry for the sake of pride and influence, perhaps to gain wealth.

You really have to wonder why anyone would say such things. Was it jealousy? Perhaps someone disliked the message Paul presented. He might then have decided that since he couldn’t change the message, the messenger would have to go.

“Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked long and hard, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm” (2 Corinthians 11:24-27, NLT).

I can hear someone say now – “Hey Paul, if you had more faith these things would not have happened to you. Just think about a new chariot and a healthy, young horse to pull it. If you don’t envision it, you’ll never have it.”

That kind of attitude is exactly what his enemies had developed. His only crime, if I can figuratively say it, is that he chose to faithfully pursue and complete his calling from God.

The attitude of keeping on and of keeping the faith is becoming lost to contemporary American Christians. We in the Western world have become accustomed to instant gratification. Consequently, we easily put aside long term gain, which may invite inconvenience or discomfort. The value of persevering through difficulties is lost. Everything has to be quick, fast, instant. And easy.

The fact is, it takes time to cultivate the spiritual graces. God is very interested in seeing spiritual values developed in our lives, and He is in no hurry.

We can all be very glad that Paul, the Apostle, chose not to seek sympathy from others, did not exaggerate his victimization, and did not retreat from adversary. He was neither interested in instant gratification nor in doing things the easy way. Had he been a 21st Century American, he might have done just that. But he chose to be courageous and to persevere in the face of difficulties. We are the beneficiaries.

Does life seem difficult for you right now? If so, may you gain strength from the same source as did Paul. Persevere through troubles, knowing that the living God is with you. He is using any difficulty you may face to develop spiritual values and Christian graces.

Its okay to get knocked down, but don’t let yourself be knocked out.

The Forgiving and Life-Restoring God


Ever heard of Katyn Woods?

As the year 2010 was ending, the Russian government finally provided an answer to a puzzling situation remaining from World War II. The puzzle was: what really happened at Katyn Woods, Russia (an area near Smolensk)? The grisly truth showed the true character of the dictator, Joseph Stalin. Stalin was guilty of many crimes, but Katyn Woods was exceptional.

In 1939, Stalin and Adolf Hitler had their respective representatives sign a non-aggression pact. Part of the pact involved the partition of Poland. That is, Germany would invade, the Soviet Union would not intervene and then the two countries would partition Poland, half going to Germany and the other half to the Soviet Union. Nice little agreement between the two monsters, wasn’t it? Following the defeat of Poland by the German forces, the Soviet Union sent in an army to “stabilize” the region. It was stabilized all right. Stalin, who earlier had had his best generals executed – he feared them – now had the Soviet army round up the top Polish military minds. Thousands of Polish military officers were taken to Katyn Woods, where on March 5, 1940 Stalin himself gave the order that they should be shot. They were – and then buried in a mass grave. This mass grave was later discovered by the German army and exposed to the world.

But for decades scholars have wondered who was responsible. As time progressed, the Polish people became more suspicious that the Soviets were responsible for the needless slaughter of their fathers, brothers and sons.

The Russian Duma (the legislative body), in a gesture intended to resolve the tension and mistrust that has existed between itself and the Poles since 1940, provided information from its archives proving Russian responsibility for what happened at Katyn Woods. Russian propagandists had for years attempted to blame the Germans for the massacre, but finally had to admit culpability.

This episode, sordid as it is, does remind me of an important scripture: Numbers 32:23 – “…you may be sure that your sin will find you out.”

The practice of sin will most certainly manifest itself – it is just a matter of time. The effects are not only witnessed in a person’s life, but also manifested in his personality. Matthew Henry, a Bible commentator from an earlier era, has written for every era these words: “Be sure your sin will find you out. Sin will surely find out the sinner sooner or later. It concerns us now to find our sins out, that we may repent of them, and forsake them, lest they find us out to our ruin.”

Listen, my friend, you cannot get away with wrongdoing. It will catch up with you sooner or later. The time to turn away from such practice is now. Need help doing it? Then seek the presence and power of God in your life.

The announcement from the Russian Duma concerning Katyn Woods helps to write the history books correctly. The sin of the Soviet government, carefully hidden for sixty – five years, has now been found out.

Your sins will be found out, too. Turn from them now, and turn to the forgiving and life-restoring God.