US Elections and Divisions Among Brethren

As I sit here trying to engage fully in prayer and study, I find my self flooded with tears. Certainly there is plenty to grieve when it comes to the condition of our nation - the hatred, the resurgence of politician and media-fueled (even engineered) racism, the ongoing holocaust of abortion, and of course - the two primary candidates for the highest office in the land. Yet all of this actually pales to what truly is causing me painful grieving right now, and that is the divisions I am seeing between brothers and sisters in Christ.

My heart is drawn back to my old study of 1 Corinthians and Paul's letter that mostly dealt with a divided church - brother against brother. Where each acted in their own personal interests, ignoring the spiritual needs of their brethren, and callously (brazenly, even) continuing in the divisive behaviors. And I see the same kinds of divisions among Christian brethren today - with the bulk of it being in relation to the current election cycle.

You see, the inarguable reality is that we, as a nation, have been manipulated such as Ephesians 6:12 so clearly illustrates - not flesh and blood, but evil rulers, authorities, cosmic powers of the present darkness - spiritual forces of evil... A nation that has been so greatly blessed by God - a nation that has, despite many failings, been a light of biblical values with a foundation planted on Christian values, has chosen, over time, to listen to those "cosmic power of the present darkness", choosing leaders that seem to be progressively more evil. Indeed, as we have actively rejected God in the public square, removed references to Jesus Christ from our schools and our daily function, we have seen a demonstration of the old physics rule - for every action, there is an equal but opposite reaction.

And here we are at yet another political season drawing to a climax, and I see those who should stand united against the very evil Paul warned of - instead more divided than ever. We are divided over two individuals, both of which represent a history of evil deeds, corruption, and ugliness that should make even a fairly uncivilized person embarrassed, and we have allowed these two to divide brother from brother - church member from church member, and faithful Christians from faithful Christians.

I see supporters of one candidate deriding brethren who cannot, by their own conscious, support that same candidate. I see a lack of love for the brethren (1 John 3:14).  I have seen pride made manifest in ways I never before have seen among Christians. I have seen so-called "Christian Leaders" fuel this division by jumping out early and supporting some of the most ungodly candidates to be considered, over men (and women) who have demonstrated faith and integrity, and who admit their sins and repent of them. I have seen godly men and women mocked by fellow Christians, and even the use of logical fallacies to denigrate believers for not falling in line.

What this election comes down to is this - do we have faith in God that He is in control? I mean - do we GENUINELY believe that God ordains rulers - and that HE has a plan that supersedes our fleshly bickering and quarreling? Do we truly see where the REAL issue is - that it is NOT with our brothers and sisters who don't feel the same need to cast the same vote as you - but with a spiritual darkness that can ONLY be overcome by the power of Jesus Christ? And do we not see that our own bickering and shaming of EACH OTHER only further puts our light under the proverbial "basket"? If I spend my time deriding my brother in Christ because he or she is voting for a candidate I find reprehensible - instead of seeking to proclaim Jesus Christ as my King and LORD, and THE Answer to every other issue we face - then I have bene worse than a clanging cymbal - but a stumbling block.

If I have, unwittingly, contributed to the divisions among the brethren by my words or actions - then I am truly sorry for that and want to repent. One thing I find even more painful than the thought of either primary candidate being elected is the possibility that I have contributed to divisions among the body of Christ.

Sadly, every division that is opened up by attacks on each other is another victory for Satan, who has long used division and confusion as some of his most effective tools.

Let me close with this prayer:

Lord, I come to you with a broken heart. A heart broken because we have brought shame to your Holy Name by placing politics, fleshly desires, and pride before you in our lives.  I pray LORD for my own words, thoughts, and actions to NOT be divisive to the body, but to be only the words of truth - words that edify believers, that lead to conviction to the lost, and that point to Jesus Christ - giving YOU all the honor and glory.

And LORD, I pray that I would remain humble through this all, relying not on my own strength or wisdom, but crying daily for your wisdom. Lord that I would forgive those who have done me wrong, and that I would myself receive forgiveness for any words or deeds that may have contributed to divisions between brethren. 

And finally, LORD, help me to have faith that all is in your hands. Help me to understand my responsibility is to speak truth, in genuine love.  And LORD, please help your people stand firm on your Word - may all honor and glory be yours now and forever - AMEN

Are You a "Values Voter"?

     It really is a simple question: Are you a "values voter"?  I suppose I need to begin with defining the term.  A values voter is someone who participates in the election process by casting their votes for the candidates that most closely reflect their values.  Anyone can be a values voter - as values are individual. So with that bit of housekeeping in order, let us proceed.

     I consider myself a "values voter" because I try my best to determine what candidates on my ballot come closest to representing what I believe.  While I do not insist on a candidate holding the same specific doctrinal positions I do, or even be a member of "my church" or particular denomination, I do believe for a candidate to represent my values, they should be a born-again Christian. I further have a priority list of issues and positions that range from absolute, non-negotiable values, to those things that I can tolerate some variance in, to those things that have little weight in my values list. For example, among the issues that are non-negotiable are abortion (100% pro-life) and the biblical definition of marriage - one man and one woman (for life).

     But believe it or not, I have respect for those with very different views from me on my core issues, so long as they are genuine in their stand and with their vote.  Consistency that matches ones actual beliefs is admirable, and indeed brings me to the point I wish to make:

     If you consider yourself a "values voter (which I believe anyone taking the responsibility of voting seriously should be), then you will take the time and effort, no matter how "busy" you may think you are, to actually look at what the candidates say and believe. One glaring example of this is Jerry Falwell Jr. of Liberty University. Jerry has decided to throw his name and the name of Liberty University behind a candidate.  Of course, for such a public figure, particularly ministry-related, this can be a rather precarious step, regardless of who one supports. But I question if Mr. Falwell actually has even taken a moment to pray over his endorsement. With professing Christians in the race who have no qualms admitting their need for salvation, Mr. Falwell has decided to throw his weight behind a candidate who has a rather lengthy history of supporting "abortion rights", "gay marriage", and has praised socialist medical systems across the border. Certainly I am a firm believer that anyone can be changed in the very heart by the Divine hand of God through His Holy Spirit. Yet This particular candidate Mr. Falwell has chosen to endorse has never actually repented of his support of those very positions that Falwell himself claims to abhor.  This candidate has even specifically stated recently that he has never asked God for forgiveness, even going so far at one point to say "thats not my thing".

     This is the same candidate who has made a fortune through both shady and sometimes quite dishonest business practices, casino operations, and even strip clubs. This is a many who has made such a mockery of marriage as to render any opinion he now might express rather weak at best.

     And this endorsement by Falwell Jr., the son of famed evangelist and preacher Jerry Falwell Sr., who made a great deal of his name by leading the "moral majority" and their campaign against morality in this nation (love him or hate him). So the Falwell name goes from staunch opposition to smut and rampant sin, to endorsing a candidate who had made his fortune off of smut and sin. This is the same candidate that even Planned Parenthood has said they could live with (could it be the friendly statements he has made on their behalf defending the abortion mill? Or maybe the donations he has made to them over the years?).

     But let us take another glance at this situation - maybe one doesn't hold the same moral and biblical positions as the traditional Falwell family positions or mine.  But what does this candidate stand for that, just maybe, could be in some way redemptive?  He has a campaign slogan he rests his entire political fortune on - "lets make America Great again".  Hey - I like that! So, please tell me how that is going to come about (and what might that actually look like)? Oh, wait - so this candidate doesn't really have much of a plan to actually bring this to pass. But hey - he has some great hats and t-shirts available that say "Lets make America Great"!

     Well, maybe this candidate is going to fix the economy, right?  After all, we have record numbers on public assistance, record numbers unemployed or otherwise not in the workforce. So this candidate brings up coming down on China with tariffs because of unfair Chinese trade practices. Ok - thats fine. Except that this candidate has profited hugely by that same-said China trade situation that he now condemns.

     So again, I ask - are you a "values voter"? Do you actually care enough to measure available candidates by your own values (assuming you actually really know where you stand on the issues)? Regardless of your moral and political positions, I import you to do do-diligence and actually vote according to your beliefs and values, even if they are contrary to mine. But don't just base your vote on what the media tells you (about ANY candidate). Don't just rely on sound bites. What does the candidate really stand for and on? What is their record, whether in the political realm, or the private sector?

     But if you have made it this far and are still reading, and hold to what you believe are biblical/Christian values, please - for the very name of the Christ you profess - be careful who you support.

     And finally, I found the following to be rather convicting.  We are NOT stuck trying vote for the "lesser evil".  As I have said many times over the years, the "lesser evil" is still evil!

http://www.stepstopoliticalepiphany.com

     Please take voting seriously. Take any endorsement you chose to make just as seriously, and PRAY!

What Is "Marriage"?

I have been contemplating posting on this subject for some time, but with the recent events here in Arkansas, I will risk the label of "reactionary" to publish this.  One word of caution - this post is likely to be long, as there are so many factors and points to address.

#1 - What Is Marriage?

I will just jump right off on the subject.  I find it nearly impossible to grasp that in my lifetime, this is even a question being asked.  Most of us who have been alive more than a decade can recall a time when this question would have been though of as "silly".  But the answer is far from it.

Biblically, Marriage is the form of relationship established by God between one man and one woman.  This was first exhibited in the first humans to walk the earth - Adam and Eve.  God created Adam, then seeing that it was not good for Adam to be alone, God created Eve, beginning with a rib from Adam.  Eve was created as a "helpmate" - a lifelong companion and help.  Yes, not so long thereafter, we find that Eve was far from a "help" when she chose to cooperate with the serpent in the deception, opening the floodgates of sin and corruption that we are still facing and suffering with today.  But that does not diminish the picture God put into place - His divine plan played out time and again (and has been corrupted time and again by humanity) through the ages.

Both the Old and New Testaments clearly depict God's intent for humanity is to either live within the bonds of His definition of marriage (one man, one woman - for life Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5), or to live single and celibate (1 Corinthians 7:1-8).  He gives no other option to still be living within His will.

Marriage has never, either in biblical terms or on the so-called "laws of nature" been defined as between two of the same gender.

#2 - What's Going On?

In the span of about a decade, a war has been launched by those choosing to live the "homosexual" lifestyle.  A war that gained a great deal of traction in a government that has thrown God out of the public realm.  As this war began heating up, several states began passing legislation, and even constitutional amendments to "protect" (maybe better - enshrine) the definition of marriage according to historical and biblical definition - one man and one woman.  Arkansas was among those states, with the legislature voting overwhelmingly for a piece of legislation, and with the voters approving a Constitutional Amendment to protect this definition.  Many felt the battle was over, but while this issue was working its way through both the legislature and to the polling place, one county in Arkansas chose to issue marriage licenses in violation of these laws - Carroll County, Arkansas (Eureka Springs).  While these "licenses" were overturned, it proved that some would not give up so easily, even in the face of overwhelming opposition by even those outside of Christianity.

Over the course of the last several years, the war has been taken up in other states where there is measurably more sympathy for homosexuality.  Even in California, a state that has long been identified as pro-homosexual, a Constitutional Amendment was passed by voters by a large margin - only to be overturned by a court.  State-by-state, courts have ignore the will of the people and the very constitutions these judges swore to uphold and protect.

And Arkansas has found itself now the center of the spotlight in the nation in the same war.  This past Friday (May 9), Circuit Judge Chris Piazza issued a ruling, right at the close of business, overturning both Arkansas' "Marriage Protection Act" and Arkansas Constitutional Amendment 3 of 2004, based on the "Equal Protection" clause of the US Constitution.  In that ruling, we find that Judge Piazza was acting, not based upon law or the Constitution, but on a personal political agenda.  There is little other explanation on how a judge can find a Constitutional Amendment to be unconstitutional.  But the real evidence comes when one considers that the judge waited until the very last moments of business hours Friday to issue his verdict - precluding there being an appeal and a likely stay issued before the weekend.  And imagine this - but the same Carroll County Clerk was ready and waiting to be open on Saturday (outside their normal business hours) to issue a slew of "marriage licenses" to same-sex couples.  How much more blatant and obvious could the coordination be?

But what it comes down to - Marriage is being redefined daily.  The Word of God is being further thrown out, and this nation will pay a high price.

#3 - How Did We Get Here?

This is the "Million Dollar Question", and yet when we begin to take an honest (and not very popular) look, we will find that we shouldn't' be so surprised by the events of the last decades.

You see - the war on marriage has been going on since the very first couple in the Garden of Eden.  As I mentioned earlier, Even willingly participated in the corruption Satan plotted to insert into creation.

Then, as the biblical record unfolds, we find that even among many of God's chosen people and leaders - they stretched and adulterated God's definition of marriage - through polygamy, adultery, and the failure to live as God called them to live.

God gave Moses instructions in dealing with those who wished to "put away" their wives - not because God condoned divorce, but because He fully knew that corrupt and sinful man would mess up anyway, so He gave some very specific guidelines for divorce (Deuteronomy 24:1-4).  Jesus addressed divorce in somewhat stronger language in Matthew 5:31-32.  Indeed, this latter reference is the one most troublesome in the current war on marriage.

You see - Christianity, while not the only voice in favor of natural marriage (one man + one woman), has long been the most influential voice in moral issues for this nation.  Yet what have we made Marriage?  Divorce among professed Christians is the same as those outside the church.  Entire denominations have accepted divorce as the "norm".  Right along with that - both by Jesus definition of adultery, and in literal adultery, "the church" has been relatively silent.  We have condoned adultery and divorce as somehow morally acceptable (moral relativism), but have even encouraged it - providing excuse and soft talk to justify it.

Then, to further muddy the waters, how many local churches have members or the families of those members, who live together outside of wedlock?  They "enjoy the physical rewards" without the legal or moral commitment of marriage.  Generations now have been raised in such conditions - and we wonder why each subsequent group grows more sympathetic and even approving of cohabitation and by extension - the redefinition of marriage.

The sad and hard fact we must face - because the church has failed to live as the church - as the "Christ" we love to claim - because we have failed to "keep His commands".  Because we ourselves have failed to give evidence of a greater Hope in Christ Jesus - our influence and our voice has been muffled and even silenced.

And this doesn't even begin to touch on the related issue of unregenerate church membership (a whole other future blog post).

We have as much brought the current destruction of marriage on ourselves as those promoting homosexuality have inflicted.  And the unfortunate reality is - we have cornered ourselves into a reactionary position.  Now, when we speak out against homosexuality and the forcing of it as acceptable and to be supported by all - it sounds as if we have some kind of irrational hate to spew because we are focusing on the one issue at hand. We are in a difficult position.

#4 - So Now What?

The reality is - unless we, as born-again Christians wake up and return to God's Way - to the "Commands of Christ", we are going to accomplish little.  What it will take to change the course of events in this nation is a genuine revival.  Not a superficial "back to church Sunday" kind of revival, but a genuine revival, empowered by the Holy Spirit that spreads like wildfire.  But where does God's Word say revival must begin?  It must begin where judgment begins (1 Peter 4:17) - in the "household of God".  We who have received the Truth must LIVE according to that truth.  Recall the old saying - "your actions speak louder than words"?  If we speak the Truth, but fail to live lives reflecting the Truth - then we are no better than they hypocritical "do as I say, not as I do".  If we want to see marriage respected as God intended it, we ourselves must respect it.  As long as self-identified Christians continue to make a mockery of marriage - the world will think no higher of it.

This does not mean we should remain quiet and by said silence, condone the current assault on marriage.  But it does mean we must remove the motes from our own eyes before we begin digging out the splinters in the rest of the world's eyes.

If we are not willing to clean out our own spiritual house, then we have no right to try to clean out the rest of this nation's moral failings.  In this flesh, we are not perfect, but that is no excuse to live willfully in sin.

The truth is - no-one will ever find genuine happiness and contentment engaged in the homosexual lifestyle, regardless of any legal recognition or mandates by a court.  Just as those who willingly engage in any sinful behavior never find genuine joy.  The only try joy and fulfillment in this life comes through a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.  Whether it be homosexuality (and all forms of sexual immorality), adultery, idolatry, pride, or any other chosen sin - we must be willing to shun it all.  We must fight against ALL sin, beginning with ourselves, our households, and in our local churches.  If we fail in this - then we WILL fail to see a moral (and spiritual) revival in this land.

And eventually - we will incur the judgment and wrath of a Holy and Righteous God.