Goldfish and Clowns

Continuing from the most recent post:

One of the standard lines used in most arguments about matters of philosophy and the political position derived from same is accusing the other side of having a “closed mind.” This implies an unyielding adherence to something — ideology, personal preference, what have you — at the exclusion of considering other viewpoints or data sets. Which is, by the definition of the one leveling the charge, a bad thing.

Not always.

There are absolutes in this world, ones that are often more than a little inconvenient. Heaven, hell, sin, salvation — these are not negotiables. Jesus is who He says He is. His Word is His Word. The honest believer knows these things and acts upon them.

Yet even with this, the honest believer never fails to give God His proper place as the sole judge. They are mindful of His admonition that He will have mercy on whom He will have mercy and compassion on whom He will have compassion. With this in mind and heart, the honest believer lives in a state of free-flowing love toward others even as their mind is closed against all lies against Christ and the truth. How can one live in any other fashion and honor Jesus? To do anything else boils down to our playing God; a game we must never play. Never.

Therefore, the Christian who works in the political realm approaches it with an open hand, open heart and closed mind. They know the individual on the other side of the aisle is as they are, both a sinner completely reliant on God’s grace and a person of such worth Jesus died so they could have the opportunity to spend eternity with Him if they ask Him into their life. They know that, as has been said before and will be said again, the Prince of Peace trumps politics every single time.

They also know it is vital to avoid compromise of their beliefs.

If one genuinely believes their political philosophy and practices are rooted in a Scriptural view of life, it is of paramount importance they have the courage of their convictions when acting in the political realm. As noted above, there are absolutes. If you believe something, act like it. Otherwise your beliefs are meaningless.

Open hand, open heart, closed mind. Acknowledge the reality of evil; oppose it at every turn. Choose your compatriots wisely. Value people as they are valued by Christ.

These are the things we must do to confront the evil that men do.

Continuing from the previous post:

The honest believer’s life is, to those who observe it without understanding the reasons behind it, filled with contradictions. One is how the believer can and does preach a hardcore, unyielding message of either/or, one where eternal damnation isn’t a figure of speech but instead presented as a fact needing to be dealt with by every individual. Yet at the same time, the honest believer interacts with most everyone with ease and grace, spreading encouragement and love regardless of whether those on the receiving end are by Biblical definition reprobates of the lowest order. What gives?

Reference what was said earlier concerning the honest believer’s knowledge they are in no way better than others. Being fully, painfully aware of their own sinfulness and complete reliance on Christ’s sacrifice for their salvation humbles one who seeks to serve Jesus. However, this is only part of the equation. The honest believer knows they, in the same manner as everyone else, has been created in God’s image and therefore is worthy of love and respect. The honest believer seeks that which is beautiful within everyone. Even as they teach through word and example the necessity to abandon sinful ways via repentance, they actively practice loving in the same manner they know they are loved by God, sharing compassion and actively caring for others.

Taking this to the political realm, the honest believer understands practicing politics as usual — the smash bash and crash mudslinging muckraking drek — is sinful. Again it needs to be said: the Prince of Peace trumps politics every single time.

Every. Single. Time.

What do we see when we view a political opponent? Someone whose policies and proposals will lead to disaster? A dangerous imbecile for thinking the way they do? One who must be opposed by all means available? An individual for whom the only appropriate response is milking a cobra for its venom, gathering up feathers and putting another log on the fire currently burning underneath a pot of tar?

Or do we see someone for whom Jesus died?

More later.

Continuing from the last post:

The natural tendency when faced with evil is to react much in the same manner as oft demonstrated by Arthur and company in Monty Python And The Holy Grail when danger approached. Namely, charge feet first in the opposite direction while yelling, “Run away! Run away!” Standing toe to toe with evil while shouting “bring it” is the exception, not the norm.

That said, the honest believer does not fear evil. They know there is nothing on this earth capable of overcoming the power of a life with Christ at its center.  They understand evil can indeed be overcome with good. In fact, nothing else is capable of defeating evil. It is impossible to combat it with more evil under the delusion of how being the one doing so, with of course all good intentions, somehow mollifies its nature.

With this in mind, the honest believer is wary about who to select as an associate in the battle for that which is right and good. The mantra ‘the enemy of my enemy is my brother in arms’ falls flat when examined in the light of God’s truth. Remember, the Prince of Peace trumps politics every time. Ideology must never take precedence over adherence to Jesus.

The honest believer’s operational philosophy in regard to social interaction, how one conducts oneself in business, and public affairs such as politics is based in Christ; their relationship with Him and following His teachings. Others may adopt the form and fashion of this, but without Jesus at its core such efforts are intellectual exercises that ultimately will reveal the lack of a true foundation. It is not a case of insincerity, for many if not most who follow a particular path embrace it because they believe it to be true rather than as a matter of expediency. However, this does not negate the fact that adherence to the tenets of the Christian life without actual belief in and acceptance of Christ is window dressing and shadowboxing; an empty exercise without substance. The most plain, harshest explanation of this was provided by Christ Himself: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

None of this is a call to isolation. This is never an option for a believer. We are called to be in the world but not of it; living as followers of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit living in us, teaching us and working through us. Hiding away from and/or refusing to associate with those who do not believe is sin. Where would we be if those who led us to Jesus had done so? So, while we refresh ourselves through fellowship and find invigoration through accountability, we do not hide from the world. That said, we are best advised to select our compatriots carefully.

What common ground does the believer have with a rabid atheist? The honest doubter we embrace, for we too once had doubts and even as we walk with Christ have moments of questioning different things. But the atheist, the one who deems us fools for our faith, who mocks Christ at every opportunity — what kind of fellow laborer is that? Why should we support someone who believes we are idiots one and all? Because there is some kind of shared political ideology? Again it must be said: the Prince of Peace trumps politics every time. Every. Single. Time.

Of what use are the agreements of an atheist? As David wrote in the Psalms, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” Are our arguments so anemic we must rely on the word of fools to bolster them? Is currying favor with the in crowd by cheering on a high profile Christ-hater who happens to be in our political camp more important than making a clear personal stand for our belief in Jesus? If so, we are sadly, seriously deficient in our witness.

Before we clean up Washington, we need to clean out our own camp. If we don’t, how can we genuinely expect to receive God’s blessing?

More in the next post.

Continuing from earlier:

It is unfashionable in the extreme to speak of hellfire and damnation these days, for to do so forces us to stare into truth’s unblinking eye. It demands we confront the evil not only in the world and each other, but ourselves.

The truth about and reality of evil was confronted with the most brutal, direct action imaginable: human sacrifice. Further, this sacrifice was voluntary and for its purpose utterly necessary. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came down to this earth and was born in human form for the express purpose of paying the penalty for our sins, namely death, thus enabling sinful imperfect humanity to individually reconnect with the sinless perfect God.

The honest believer knows this and acts on it by never indulging in the forbidden luxury of acting as judge and jury over others, freely condemning them for their sins. They know nothing — nothing — stands between them and an eternity spent in hell as just punishment for their sins except the shed blood of Christ on the cross. With this in mind and heart, the honest believer acts along with speaking out of love and compassion for all, knowing there is no genuine difference between them and others who do not yet know Jesus. Indeed, this knowledge compels the honest believer to deepen their pursuit of living a holy life, ever reliant on God and always reaching out to others with love in the same way they have been touched by the love and grace of a living Savior.

However, to live in love and reach out in love does not mean benign acceptance of others where they are. Note it’s where they are, not as they are. Huge difference. The honest believer does not condemn others due to their sins — as they are — for as mentioned they know they are no better. That said, the believer also never hesitates to speak up and act upon their knowledge of sin’s ultimate destination, which is death and eternal separation from God. With this harsh reality pressing on them, the believer is even more compelled to speak and live out the truth about Christ; the need for everyone to come to Him and by doing so not remaining where they are.

More in the next post.

I’m fond of the saying “the Prince of Peace trumps politics every time.” Whether I came up with it or someone else did I honestly don’t know, and it’s not germane to the conversation. I like the phrase because I believe it to be true.

By stating Jesus is more important than politics, when viewed in the light of what Christ has done for us and how the fulfillment of His coming to this planet was sacrificing His own life so we might share eternal life with Him it is also stated the people, individually and collectively, are more important than any political process affecting same. The main priority of any believer involved at any level with the political process, be it member of one of the three branches of government (executive, legislative, judicial), a commentator on same, or no action save that of voter, when viewed through the priorities and calling of faith cannot be that of mere political activism and/or self-promotion. To accept Jesus not only as Savior but as Lord requires a reorganization of priorities. The pursuit, acquisition and maintenance of individual power, prestige and glory can no longer have a place in life. Even the belief of serving the greater public good by working toward what one believes are appropriate political directives and actions cannot be paramount. Rather, it is the concern for people as individuals of equal worth and value as ourselves, fellow children of God created in His image and, as we are, sinners in need of God’s grace and salvation available solely through acceptance of and belief in Christ that must reign supreme. Direct expression of our faith in action as well as word, or to be more accurate even more so than, manifested in our following Jesus by loving others as we know He loves us is the calling. Everything else — our interaction with family, friends and associates; our work on behalf of others — descends from this and should reflect this.

The calling is not reserved for pastors and preachers. All of us who believe share the same mandate. There is no caste system in Christianity. No one is lower in importance than another for any reason the world uses to judge such matters. Concern expressed through compassion and care are honored in heaven regardless of how the one doing these things is thought of in the social pecking order. God’s love for us is that deep.

A vital element to the above is understanding that the basic nature of imperfect humanity separated by sin from perfect God is, simply put, sinful. Evil, and the capacity of carrying out same, lives in the heart of every person. The honest believer knows this and responds accordingly, always wary of themselves, knowing it is vital they rely solely on God to overcome their own predilection toward evil so they might do that which is good. It is not that no one, believer or not, is incapable of doing that which is good apart from God. However, this does not negate the basic sinful, imperfect, evil nature of us all. To be able to do good, and in fact do so, does not expunge the evil living within.

Not that this stops far too many people.

Let’s take this into the political realm. The individual who fails to confess their own sinfulness in any genuine manner will act on their persuasions believing even as they are good, so are their philosophies and actions. To them, how can these be anything but good? There is no hesitation to justify actions and beliefs when there is no authentic concern these may be based in that which is incorrect.

To accept the living God as truth means taking Christ at His word: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This is a harsh statement void of leeway. Jesus’ life, death and resurrection all point toward this basic fact: we need Him. Each of us. All of us. Period.

When this is denied, along with it comes the inability to admit, let alone confront personal evil. This is reflected in political philosophies and action in which we see an individual and/or individuals banded together under a common ideology, such as party affiliation, playing God. I am good; I am in power; I know what’s best for you; here you go.

More in the next post.

I was rather forcibly reminded today that recovering from pneumonia isn’t exactly the same deal as getting over a case of the sniffles. The tight chest, the cough, the “I’ll lay down for a half-hour” that turned into five and a half hours… yeesh. I’ve definitely partied harder. Ah well.

As to the cartoon, no reason other than I thought it was cute.

There seems to be a strange affliction working its way through many people I know this month. Unlike such discernible illnesses such as the pneumonia from which I’m recovering, this disease is harder to pin down. Its effects, however, are all too evident.

It’s as if there’s a concerted effort to attack rational thought and behavior. People seemingly going out of their way to become forcibly unemployed. Folk normally blessed with clarity of vision and purpose becoming muddled, confused. Dark moments abounding; ones cared for and loved staring into the abyss while mulling over the thought of throwing themselves into its unknown finality. Strange things. Scary things. Scary things indeed.

Jesus, my Savior and Lord. Stay with me through these times. Do through me what I can never do by myself. Use me as a vessel of Your grace and love. Let the Spirit flow through me in spite of my own frail humanity to touch and encourage others. Help me to love as I am loved; to give with the same measure I have been given. I have empathy with these precious ones going through the dark times, for I too have been there. Take my hand and empower it to reach out in friendship, offering what I can. I don’t know why so many are being attacked at the same time. This I do know: through You, this malaise in October can be endured and overcome. Only through You.

And may this month end quickly.

[youtube 590ljQM08H0 nolink]

[youtube VT86HfdIrIw&NR nolink]