Elections

Haven't blogged in a long time. Not much to say that has come to mind that might be helpful or impactful in people's lives, so no need to put more words out there (as if there weren't already enough). Maybe we should start worrying about word overpopulation instead of world overpopulation.

But with the elections coming up, maybe just a few things. Not really deep thoughts (plenty of wiser men have already written), not just political bullying, and not just bemoaning, just things that I think that we should think about as believers WHEN we vote.

1. We are not of this world, we have another home and another kingdom, which is far more valuable. It's King and it's advance is our first priority.
2. We are given the privilege to vote for our representatives and governmental leaders in this country. Even if we don't like our choices, realize the blessing. I'll stop short of saying it is a Christian duty to vote, but I think you should.
3. God is the one who raises up kings and kingdoms, and he also removes them, and he does it all for his purposes. Sometimes we are not to know those purposes.
4. Vote your conscience! There are not only two choices. Refuse to be bullied into doing something that goes against your convictions. Know the candidates, and the likelihood of the ramifications of your vote. It does count.
5. There are some issues which candidates hold that are deal-breakers, such as abortion. There are some that really important. Then there are some that are preferential. 
6. Realize that thoughtful, wise, believers may come to different conclusions, especially as it relates to the last two of the previous categories. This is okay. We can still love each other, and especially in the public sphere, we must resist the urge to respond in anger.
7. Realize that the candidates are substantially different on many issues, but people thought that Obama was the anti-Christ and would bring the destruction of the country, and people thought that about Bush before that. America will be here after Clinton, Trump, or whoever the House of Representatives chooses if nobody reaches 270 electoral votes. Research your constitution, too. Know what happens "if..." So stop decrying the end of civilization as we know it. Politics are corrupt, shouldn't be a surprise to you.
8. Trust Jesus Christ, fixing your eyes on the things above, pressing on toward the prize of the high calling of God in Jesus Christ!

Just my thoughts. Thanks for both of you who read it :-) 

Can My Worldview Not Affect My Judgment?

Can one truly get unbiased opinions, even about facts (things true that correspond to reality, which is the definition of a Correspondence view of Truth)?

I read an article this morning that affirmed a principle that would be helpful for us all to remember as we evaluate our decisions in life, especially those that related to pressing issues. This article deals specifically with an attempt by a homeschool curriculum producer to give an unbiased "worldview friendly" curriculum. The article was written by Dr. Georgia Purdom of the Answers in Genesis ministry, so it dealt with creation science worldviews, and whether or not one could truly be unbiased related to science, because science, according to the publisher of the curriculum is only based on "observable" facts.

I also had a conversation on Twitter last week with a woman with a passionate agenda, who after some obvious evidence simply refused to evaluate words. It was a simple question I asked. I was willing to be persuaded. However, she just did not offer an opinion regarding the accuracy of primary source documentation on a particular website regarding statements and quotations that were made in some of Margaret Sanger's (early eugenics activist, population control, racist, and founder of what would become Planned Parenthood) books and biographies. She just refused to look, claiming she already knew, because she had read Sanger years ago. Her decision was made before ever entering the exchange.

I went on an archaeological dig in Israel in seminary, and the organization that orchestrated that dig was the Associates of Biblical Research, they believed the bible was historically accurate, even down to dates. While there, we were exposed to various interpretations of archaeological data that led to other conclusions by other reseachers. Same evidence, different conclusion.

Many issues face us today: politics, free speech, right to bear arms, legalization of drugs and gay marriage, education, science (especially creation science, as the previous mentioned article points out), racism, police use of force, and within Christianity theological issues abound, even the Supreme Court is usually divided on major cases down what we could call "conservative" and "liberal" interpretations. The words in the Constitution are clear, previous decisions are clear, but their interpretations are different. One cannot get away from the fact that all people have their biases, from which they start their interpretations of facts; they have a worldview that acts as their filter for ideas and information. We must make sure that ours is informed and accurate.

Of course, other than theology as a pastor, as referenced by the Twitter conversation above, abortion is one of the issues where our biases come through, a big one where we must be informed and accurate. An issue that represents about one million lives each year in the US not including mothers, fathers, and other family. As scientific knowledge of human development in utero increases every year due to advances in technology and science, challenges to case law on many levels and to worldview abound. Ultrasound in 3D/4D, surgery in the womb, DNA advancements, cameras, fetal pain studies, earlier viability of babies due to life saving technologies, better mental health assessments related to the damage done by abortion, further studies linking abortion to breast cancer, STDs, future reproductive health, depression, abuse, suicide and other long-term effects; and social media information transmission related to these advancements are changing minds. However, the same information, interpreted by a different worldview (one espousing a pro-abortion point of view) might continue to ignore objective facts, in my opinion :-) , and argue that these things do not undermine choice. They may argue that a baby is not a baby until it is viable outside the womb, or they may say that the first breath is the time where one becomes human. Or they may say that the conditions of conception can justify the taking of life, or various other reasons. Different worldview.

Culture and anecdotal evidence such as illegal sale of "fetal tissue" and the heartless means of extraction and intentionality to make money quick from the business of human body part trafficking are changing hearts. Of course, we can say that changing "hearts" is simply switching biases, even though we may rejoice at the seeming national trend of revulsion against tearing babies limb from limb inside the womb.

So, as you believe what you read on the internet (or in print, or the news media for that matter), consider biases. As you choose at the ballot box, consider biases. As you choose curriculum or schools for your children, consider biases. Consider not only the fact that others in these issues and fields have biases, but we all have them, only varying by degree; and most of us do not know it, because we are convinced we are right.

My bias, just in case you are wondering, is an evangelical, Southern Baptist view of biblical Christianity. One of the reasons that I espouse the Christian worldview (differences in flavor aside) is that there is a standard outside of me. And if I believe (bias alert) that the ultimate author of the Bible is God, he will not provide incorrect worldview boundaries. I think that I can make a good case with credible evidence for my view. However, if it were that easy, seemingly everyone would be evangelical Christians (whatever that means right now).

Thanks for reading, I know this one was kinda long. I like to read relatively short blogs, so I have failed you if you share my preference.

Culture Assault

Three areas that are significant to mention where our culture is continuing down a path that will bring the erosion of society and the judgment of God. I am definitely not qualified to deal with these in full, but I think it is important to note trends, and prepare accordingly. I am going to be brief, because of the multitude of topics.

Sexuality and culture: The sexual revolution in the '60s and '70s led to a number of things affecting our culture right now. Teen sexual intercourse stands now at 47% for up to high school students. Will they be yours? That's down slightly from 20 years ago, but still 47%! Marriage is going out of style too with the number of cohabitating couples rising 88% (and the latest stats from 2007). 55% of Americans now approve of this model for families (again, 2007). The culture advocates for marital privileges in law, healthcare, and benefits for unmarried couples. Gay marriage, of course, has been approved by SCOTUS, and therefore is making progress state by state. Finally, the LGBT community is forcing it's agenda on law, churches, education, and business--bathrooms, ordination of gay clergy, sex ed including LGBT lifestyle, college campus policy changes, and anti-discrimination suits against private businesses.

Politics: The Democratic party has gone off the deep end with issues like sexuality, socialism, abortion, environmentalism, and immigration. However, the acceptance of our country's more conservative population of leadership like Donald Trump with his character and behavior is insane! The only positive thing about it all, is that the possibility of the rise of a third or fourth party might be more possible than ever. The SCOTUS continually legislates from the bench, forgetting it's place in the constitution, which, interestingly enough, is used very little in government now anyway.

Silencing of the church: Christians and churches are among the most targeted groups in America. It's OK to be about anything else but white, middle-class, evangelical Christians (and to be fair, some of our behavior has earned this persecution). I only use the term persecution lightly, because in actuality, we experience little persecution compared to believers in other countries. In recent years, pastors have been forced to submit their sermons to governing bodies, sabotaged by spineless governors and legislative bodies to refuse to allow extra legal protection from discrimination because of their religious convictions. Churches are having to rewrite their by-laws to protect against gay couples desiring to marry in their sanctuaries, and after being denied, filing lawsuits.

One bright spot: abortion trends. I don't know if you can say that it is a bright spot when you are speaking of babies being murdered, but here is what I mean. The trend in the numbers of abortions nationwide is falling. We are under a million for the first time in 40 years. The high mark was back in the mid 1990s with over 1.3 million abortions. And since 2013 we have been just under one million. 2014 numbers, which are the latest we have, were ~977,000. Now, those numbers may not paint the whole picture. The "morning after" pill is not counted in that number; and there is no way of quantifying how many abortions that it may or may not have caused. Clinics have been closing at a record pace because of new state regulations. In 25 years prior to 2011, about 150 closed. Since then, we are seeing 31 per year closing; that's another 150 in five years. The number of clinics in now at about 400 (these are clinics that perform more than 400 abortions per year). Good trends, long way to go, still losing about 975,000 lives that would produce generations.

So, I lied. I said I would be brief. Most of this was preaching, rather that careful thought out writing. However, I want you to take away something from this: 1) prepare your children and grandchildren, or congregations for increasing relegation of our faith to a minority in society. Help give the tools to stand firm. Don't assume just because they go so church and seem spiritual that they will be fine. 2) Be bold. Don't shrink back from a witness to this cultural erosion. Do it in love, but maintain truth. It is not helpful to unbelievers to soften truth, but it is always helpful to love them to it. Change is continuing to happen, most of it not for the better for Christianity, but do not be dismayed, our God is with us, and He is large and in charge.

Religion and Politics

Politics, Politics. Some of us despise it, some of us enjoy it. Some of us are passionate, and some of us are apathetic. Like it or not, the 2016 election is coming upon us. There are many systems of government; we have a democratic representative republic. We do have the right, and as good citizens, the responsibility to vote. So, I am assuming you are going to vote. Sixty million evangelical voters did not vote in the last election, don’t be like them, vote. I am not going to endorse a candidate, but I do think there is an understanding of biblical principles regarding government and conscience that we must consider.

Order rather than chaos. The bible teaches that this is one of the purposes of government. Anarchy, the absence of government, is defined this way according to Merriam-Webster: a situation of confusion and wild behavior in which the people in a country, group, organization, etc., not controlled by rules or laws; a state of lawlessness or political disorder due to the absence of governmental authority; absence or denial of any authority or established order. God is a God of order. Therefore, just as in the home, just as in the church, He has established an authority structure; to rebel against government is to rebel against God, and bring judgment on yourself, Romans 13:2. Just like the home, just like the church, God, as the author of order, is its head, Romans 13:1. All authority is given by give him. Jesus told Pilate that he would have “no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above,” in John 19:10-11. So the purpose that we draw from scripture is that government exists to give order. As you vote, consider this: is your candidate going to help bring about order in our nation?

Good rather than bad. The bible also teaches that one of the purposes of government is to ensure welfare of people. The main way this is carried out is by rewarding of good behavior and the punishing of bad behavior. Romans 13:3-4, and also in 1 Peter 2:14, we are told that the government is to recognize (and help society recognize) what is good. It is given the power to execute punishment (God’s wrath) on criminals, even capital punishment. Therefore, as we vote, ask the question: does the candidate I vote for understand right from wrong, good from bad? Even from a non-religious standpoint, any leader must have this basic understanding to govern well. 

An observation rather than a purpose. God uses government to accomplish His purposes. He uses leaders whether they are good or bad, to ensure that His will is done. He used Pilate, Darius, Cyrus, Nebuchadnezzar, the kings of all the nations displaced by Israel in the conquest, and Pharaoh, whom God specifically told, “for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth,” in Exodus 9:16. God used evil rulers to shape world events, as well as the biblical meta-narrative of salvation, for His glory. Therefore, this is an instance like Phil 2:12-13, John 1:12-13, 1 Corinthians 15:10, Col 1:29, and Matt 10:18-20, where we labor and do all that we can to affect a situation, and God uses that to bring about His plan. So, consider that regardless of the outcome of this election, our vote does count in electing God’s choice to lead our country.

We get caught up in rhetoric, debates, and personalities, but we must attempt to maintain a biblical mindset. Issues are important (some are deal-breakers), policies are important, and agendas are important, but think about government, not just politics. Even though at family get togethers we are not supposed to bring up religion or politics, for the believer, one should not separate a biblical worldview, as it relates to government, from thoughtful consideration prior to and at the polling place.

Greatest Obstacle

I was in a meeting the other day, and the question was asked of someone, "what do you see as the greatest obstacle to reaching the area?" The answer did not surprise me, but I think the mindset behind it is common, but misses the point. Christians confuse winning individuals with winning a nation (in the geo-political sense of the word). They are convinced that the great american cultural tide flowing against Christianity is what is to be overcome if we are to reach people. Therefore we hear proposed solutions to obstacles to reaching people:

"God needs to be back in schools!"
"The Ten Commandments still need to be taught and posted!"
"Marriage needs to be back to a man and woman!"
"Nativity scenes should be put on the courthouse lawns!"
"We need a Christian back in the White House or on Capital Hill!
"We need prayer in a our school functions!"

And of course with the most recent incident of the KY court clerk and her marriage license civil disobedience, lighter fluid has been poured on the Christian fire of former days of a national moral conscience. But I really think all of these things are not the road back to making more followers of Jesus.

The advance of the church and expansion of the Kingdom of God is not tied to whether or not there are nativity scenes in courthouse lawns. In fact, historically, baptist have argued for a separation between church and state, not in the sense of removal of all religious symbols, but in the sense of we do not want the state inserting itself into the practice of one's faith, or endorsing one particular faith over the other. Especially the Anabaptist strain of our faith history was vigilant in its commitment to this principle, almost to a fault. The actual phrase "a wall of separation of church between and state" came from a baptist to then presidential candidate Thomas Jefferson, making sure that he had no plans to set up a state church or national religion. The first amendment provides freedom of religion and laws prohibiting the free exercise thereof; basically, it is protecting the church from the government.

So, there's my soapbox for those that want a return to national morality, and Christianity specifically, to achieve revival in America. Nominal Christianity is fading, which by the way is one of the main contributing factors to increase in immorality, and this is a good thing. Statistically younger generations are more willing to listen about faith and truth, but less willing to go to a church. Therefore, the greatest obstacle to reaching our area is getting our people to love their neighbors, build relationships with them, evangelize and disciple them in their homes, then integrate them into churches, Hence, the number one obstacle is us, and our unwillingness to reach unbelievers personally, where we live.

Ferguson

I have not posted on the Ferguson, MO incident because I don't know what to say. I am the chaplain of the Sheriff's Office, and I am also working with black leaders in our community to plant a church in an black neighborhood. I have been building those relationships over the last couple of years, and cherish them. I have received considerable insight into that community from these godly men.

When I was a pastor, I was intolerant of racism to the point that a racist remark was made to me one day, and I was so taken aback that I didn't know what to say or do. At that point I felt like action had to be taken. So I found another older, wiser man from that same Sunday School class as the man who made the remark, and I asked him how I should handle it. And I will never forget what he said. He said, "Jason, you can do what you want, but know that we are all (every man) racist; it's only a matter of degree."

He was right. After all the responses to the Ferguson incident from August until now, all are tainted with a degree of bias. I read statistics this morning about percentages of men, women, blacks, whites, hispanics, Republicans, Democrats, Independents, different age brackets, and different months over the last six, and their perspectives on whether or not Islam influences its adherents to violence more than other religions. By the numbers it was clear, there was bias.

With that caveat, Ed Stezter's latest piece for Christianity today has links to about every response from thoughtful evangelical Christians. If you have time to read them, you will find opinions of how we (the church) should react from lots of perspectives, that draw many different, even opposite, conclusions. I have my bias, you have yours, and all of these writers have theirs, but in the multitude of counselors there is wisdom. Before you act (or react), listen, think, pray.

"My Son is Gay, So...

...all the people that I represent in Ohio who used to want me to uphold traditional marriage, now want me to vote for marriage privileges to be extended to people of the same sex."

It's amazing how people in a representative, democratic republic switch their opinions on a whim!  Senator Rob Portman, however, as a professing Christian, is unfortunately, but fairly representative of believers who change the practice of their faith because of the circumstances within their family.

I don't want to take the time to redo what others have already done so much better than I can do anyway.  So, let me point you to the important links so you can get the stories.  Portman's original reversal here. You can read the Baptist Press Article about it here.  But probably the best piece on how we should interpret and think through this topic with the proper language and perspective comes from the "Ask Pastor John" segment of Desiring God's ministry here.  The reason it is important is that he explains how the arguments used of 1) everyone deserving the right to be happy, 2) happiness=what I desire, are swaying Christians into the trap that Sen Portman has fallen into, and is now leading others down into; not based on biblical revelation or conviction, but on experience and emotion.  Piper's response will only take 5 minutes of your time.

No-Brainer?

Just a couple of thoughts that are on my mind regarding gun control this morning. Sorry to turn political, not my usual. Obviously, there could be a lot more said on the subject, just a thought I had a today to add into the mix that I thought may be logical. I also realize that on both sides of this debate, logic doesn't always prevail. Just a simple thought, nothing more, nothing less...

I read an article this morning on Fox News that talked about a Maine legislator who is proposing a bill to allow teachers in schools to carry concealed weapons. There were, I thought, a lot of wise restrictions on this proposal. If you want to read the full article you can click here. His premise was that criminals and psychopaths are probably not going to obey new gun laws and tighter restrictions. So the only way to help schools be safer, is to help them not be defenseless. I like his logic, but I know some folks don't. But here's my thought,

Let me draw a parallel between gun-control and illegal immigration: Most gun-control proponents who would restrict firearms further, make an assumption that I don't think is accurate. They assume that tighter restrictions will reduce the number of guns to a level that would make a significant difference in gun crime. With the number of guns out there today, this is not good logic. Here is the comparison to illegal immigration. There is no way that we could actually get rid of illegal aliens. Complete and total deportation is not a viable option. I am not saying this is what I would do if I could, just drawing a parallel for comparison. And if someone proposed this, most people would realize the idea is ludicrous. The situation is similar, to propose that restrictions would significantly reduce gun crime is kind of ludicrous, because there are so many out there.

I didn't know this, but i found out that AR-15 rifles are the number one selling gun in the US. And there are so many people, unlike me, whose wives have allowed them to have one. There is no way gun restrictions can eliminate those that are already out there. People are not just going to hand over their weapons. And criminals will find a way to get them.

The lifespan of most modern firearms is a long time. The only way restrictions like this could even begin to help is in about 50-100 years. And then it's questionable. Gun restrictions on particular firearms, will not help. Find another way.

And just one more thought this morning that is semi-related.  I also read an article covering a breaking story in NM where a teenager killed his family.  I really think that the media doesn't help matters when they stop everything, and focus all their attention on the shooter and shootings.  They inadvertently glorify the whole incident, the shooter, and the means.  If they would ignore it, teens and other psychopaths wouldn't see the path to immortality here on earth so easily.  Instant glory, the whole nation thinks of you when you kill people.  You go from nobody to somebody overnight.  I wish the media would have a brain too.  Not my original thought, you can find the source of it for me on this video (excuse the language).

And just by the way, like Charlton Heston said, "out of my cold dead hands!"