Archive for July, 2012

July 17, 2012

Hard Pressed, Hemmed In, and On The Horns…

Christian Americans know that this nation has fallen disastrously far from the biblical principles of it’s founding, and is reaping the results of the continuing failure to acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus Christ. We also know beyond any doubt that He Who ascended to the right hand of God the Father almighty is the One to Whom every knee shall bow. Standing on the timeless, true word of God we know that just as the promise of the Messiah (the Seed of the woman in Genesis 3:15) came to pass in the fullness of time, He shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead. Hallelujah. But lets not get ahead of ourselves. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet (1 Corinthians 15:25). Many of us overlook this critical revelation.

We are hard-pressed on every side in this time and place because we are in the period of advancement of the kingdom of God, and the age-old battle rages on. Our Lord Jesus Christ reigns in heaven even now, as the sovereign Holy Spirit calls the Father’s children to covenant in the invisible church, to be living stones in a living temple, built upon the chief Cornerstone. While this is an indescribably blessed status for us to have, it puts us at enmity with our own flesh, the seed of the serpent, and the world (culture) that we are still smack dab in the middle of. The secular humanist forces have been doggedly advancing their anti-god agenda here in the United States of America, a nation founded as a constitutional republic under God.

We are hemmed in by wickedness in high places. Big bankers control the political process so that the two-party system is a stark reality, and we are limited to a choice of either one or the other in electing leaders, especially for the highest office in the land. A complicit major media, along with an electorate that is largely ignorant and gullible, helps maintain the status quo. Any candidate who is not a puppet for the system is systematically excluded. Of course our ideal candidate is a bonafide, born-again Christian whose faith is not separated from his politics, and who has biblically informed positions on all the issues. Let us continue to pray and work for such even as we realize that there is no one so qualified in the running at present. The closest we have come to a realistic alternative to the status quo is Ron Paul, a professing Christian whose positions at least consistently align with the U.S. Constitution. He would end all unjust wars and foreign entanglements and cut a TRILLION dollars in government spending. Now that’s real change. Ron Paul has been the Christian’s best hope by far for election to the office of President of these United States.

We are on the horns of a dilemma as the fat lady appears to be clearing her throat and getting ready to sing the end of the Ron Paul revolution. Let’s see what happens at the Elephant Convention, and hold fast with prayerful hope for what would be no less than miraculous at this point. Even so, its time to square up to the consideration of an Obama vs Romney race for President. First of all, as difficult as it is to do, we must face the fact that once the opposition nominee is officially determined, there is no viable third option. Careful, prayerful consideration has led me away from vowing to cast a write-in, or determining to opt out with a no-vote. There shall surely come a day when Christians will no longer be bound by the cords of the wicked, but for now we are indeed hemmed in (see above).

Yes, it is a sad state of affairs when Christians must vote for the “lesser of two evils” who is an adherent of Mormonism, a religion which teaches the abominable blasphemy that Jesus and Satan are brothers. Yet, with a clothes pin on our noses if necessary, we must vote for Romney because any other vote, or a no-vote, is effectively a vote for Obama, who is undeniably proven to be an unmitigated disaster. Obama’s particular anti-American deception and destructiveness must be cut short. For the sake of damage control alone, Obama has got to go. Without going into a lengthy political analysis, lets just look at life and death: Romney says he is now pro life; Obama has proven to be unswervingly pro murder. Romney favors repeal of Roe v Wade; Obama glorifies it. Romney agrees with parental consent; Obama eschews it. Romney has been on record supporting de-funding of Planned Parenthood; Obama reveres it. Romney is not in favor of embryonic stem cell research; Obama aggressively supports it. Romney has promised to scrap obamacare which if left unfettered, only the Lord knows how many will be harmed.

He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8). Remember this: we are not violating or compromising our commitment to scriptural doctrine by making a practical political choice in voting, and we should not equate the two. Voting for Romney against Obama is not making a compromise to nor an endorsement of Mormonism. This election is just one battle in a long-term war. If we insist on writing-in someone or voting for a 3rd party candidate who we know will not win, we are only contributing to losing this battle for whatever its worth, and each and every battle makes a difference. Likewise, the only statement a no-vote makes is that Christians have a lack of political clout. We cannot keep ceding battle victories to the greater evil without things continuing to get worse and worse. We are not compromising biblical standards by not letting idealism deter us from the realistic political action we need to take for the greater good.

George Bush prevailed over Al Gore by a mere five hundred-something votes in Florida, giving him the electoral total for victory. If only 500-some-odd more Bush votes had been no-votes or gone to a 3rd party candidate instead, we would’ve had Al Gore for President. Something to think about as we bite the bullet and vote for Romney this year.

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18)

 

July 3, 2012

Government, Gospel and God’s Glory

A famous quip made by the 40th President of these United States which hit home and rings true today is “Government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem.” [listen] Previously having served as the 33rd Governor of California, it was Ronald Reagan who also astutely observed that “As government expands, liberty contracts.”

Indeed an out of control government, having undergone unprecedented expansion, now presents a practically insurmountable fiscal problem for this once prosperous nation, while personal freedom gives way to statist control. The highlight of the Obama economic record is a 43% increase in the Federal Debt which stands at an unspeakable $15.2 TRILLION, and all the so-called “stimulus” government spending has completely failed. Regardless as to whether this is a case of good intentions combined with pathetic incompetence; misguided ideology mixed with power-hungry narcissism; all Bush’s fault; or worst case – deliberate “Cloward-Piven Strategy”, it is undeniable that individual rights, which come from God, have correspondingly suffered and necessarily erode under bigger and more intrusive government.

So what is the solution? Even the limited government model established for our nation by its founders was and is dependent on the gospel of Jesus Christ. Everything is dependent upon, contingent to, defined by, and judged according to the gospel. The word gospel literally means “good news”. The gospel is really good news because it is the solution to a much bigger problem that all of mankind faces: the problem of sin. Why is sin such a big problem? Because it cannot be tolerated by our creator God, Who is infinitely holy and the sovereign judge of all. So why did God permit sin to come into the world? I’ll tell you exactly why: for His glory. Life is not about the ordinances of men. No matter what political philosophy is en vogue, all is meaningless outside of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Its just so, you must know.

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15)
By this gospel you are saved…that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time…(1 Corinthians 15:2-6).

Glory, glory and hallelujah for the Holy Bible which is the word of God. It affirms that Jesus Christ is God. The Holy Spirit inspired Scriptures are to be believed, as His word carries both instruction and authority for every area of our lives. We stand uncompromisingly on the authority of the Word of God! Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Pontius Pilate, when staring right into the face of Truth personified, pondered, “What is truth?”. We know Who the Truth is and we stand for Him even unto death. Jesus prayed to the Father for His disciples (and us), “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” (John 17:17), which confirms that the Word of God – both the eternal Word Himself as well as the canon of Scripture (the Holy Bible) – is Truth. Amen!

If you don’t have the Bible, GET IT.

If you have the Bible, READ IT.

If you read the Bible, BELIEVE IT.

If you believe the Bible, LIVE IT.


But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18)