January 20, 2005
Separation of government and religion
George Bush has done it again! He has offended a group of atheists, and probably others as well. Crosswalk.com reports that "An atheist group is criticizing President Bush for saying he can't see how
one can be president without a relationship with the Lord. Bush's comments were "divisive," they say, and an insult to those who don't believe in religious creeds or a deity."
Ellen Johnson, president of American Atheists, went on to say, "Bush's interview with the Washington Times demonstrates clearly that he does not respect the diversity of the country."
What stirred this controversy were these words from President Bush:
"I fully understand that the job of the president is and must always be protecting the great right of people to worship or not worship as they see fit. That's what distinguishes us from the Taliban. The greatest freedom we have - or one of the greatest freedoms - is the right to worship the way you see fit. And on the other hand, I don't see how you can be president - atleast from my perspective, how you can be president, without a - without a relationship with the Lord."
That is quite a statement. Can you be president without the Lord? Of course you can. I am sure we have had many presidents who did not have a relationship with Christ, and I'm sure many would say they did a fine job. But I understand what President Bush was saying. The Apostle Paul once said, "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me." Those who have a relationship with Christ discover a power, a joy and peace, a new quality of life that others simply cannot understand. Paul also said, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." Once a person has discovered the secret of new life in Christ, he is forever changed, and begins the great adventure of knowing and serving Him wherever he goes. But only a person who has discovered Christ can understand this.
I have Christ in my life. I have worked as a postal carrier, and Jesus helped me deliver mail, while I was being paid by the federal government. I have also taken Christ into the public schools while doing substitute teaching. Some may consider this illegal, but the power and life of Christ cannot be separated from me. Of course the president cannot dictate that others follow Christ. But neither can those without faith dictate to him how he lives out his life as the president. This is all a part of our freedom.
But our greatness as a nation does not come from freedom from religion. I comes from the long heritage we have as a nation built upon the practice of a Christian faith by those who believe in it.
Bill Bright related the following story:
In the 1830's, French diplomat Alexis de Tocqueville toured America in
search of the key to America's greatness. When his tour had been
completed, he made this observation: "I sought for the key to the
greatness of America in her harbors...; in her fertile fields and
boundless forests; in her rich mines and vast world commerce; in her
public school system and institutions of learning. I sought for it in
her democratic Congress and in her matchless Constitution. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with
righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power.
America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great."
He continues, "The Americans combine the notions of Christianity and of liberty so intimately in their minds that it is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other."
I am sure those without Christ could never understand this, but I believe it is very true.
Posted by Pastorkeith at 11:34 PM | Comments (0)
January 14, 2005
Is it right to evangelize with Tsunami relief?
Some people are horrified that some Christian organizations are sending more than basic physical relief to people overwhelmed by the Tsunamis. Articles in the paper point out that most of the people who were afflicted are Buddhists, Hindus and Moslems. The articles state we must not take advantage of this situation, but simply use the opportunity to share God's love by meeting their basic needs. Obviously many organizations will only care for physical needs. UNICEF has been advertizing on the radio for donations, and they, along with the Red Cross will do a fine job of sending blankets, food, and funds to provide for shelter and relocation. Many denominational missions, such as One Great Hour of Sharing will not only provide for the immediate human needs, but also continue to help meet long-term physical needs.
But what did Jesus offer to those He saw in need? When a great crowd of people followed him, and it was getting late, Jesus recognized their human needs, and asked the disciples, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" John 6:6 tells us Jesus knew what He was going to do. He fully intended to provide for their physical needs, and He did, multiplying the loaves and fishes that were available. But shortly thereafter, when the crowds continued to follow Jesus, He said to them: "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you." Jesus went on to say, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty."
Should we feed the hungry and provide for the needy? Of course we should, for the Lord instructed us to love our neighbor as ourselves, and the related story of the Good Samaritan makes clear that our neighbor is anyone who needs help. But the most loving thing we can ever give to anyone is the gospel. James reminds us how foolish it is to offer only prayer and religious words to those without clothes and daily food (James 2:15-16). But if we really understand that Jesus is the Bread of Life, and source of eternal life, and that those who do not believe in Christ stand condemned (Christ's words, right after John 3:16), and all we offer is physical support, how loving is that?
What is the purpose of the church? What did Jesus command His disciples to do? It was not to feed the hungry, but to preach the gospel, and take this good news to everyone, everywhere. While the politically correct will tell us to keep our religion to ourselves, fortunately Peter and James and John did not listen to those who told them to stop talking about Jesus. (Acts 4:12-20, 5:28-29)
Knowing that most of those who suffered from the Tsunamis are not Christian should motivate those who know Christ to not only provide for physical needs, that will bring temporary help, but just as urgent, spiritual truth that will bring life eternal. It is for this reason that my missions giving goes to those who provide both physical and spiritual needs. What do you think?
Posted by Pastorkeith at 09:28 PM | Comments (1)
January 13, 2005
What is truth?
There are a lot of sources for information in the world today. Generations ago, not long after presses would roll out the hotest news stories, news boys would stand on the street corners peddling the latest edition. Then came the radio, and FDR used it well with his famous fireside chats. In the 50s TV began to capture our attention. Today, while TV cameras transport us to scenes of disaster within hours of when calamity strikes, and we hear reports on the radio within the hour, we can still read a full report in the newspapers. But Dan Rather has reminded us that everything we see, hear, and read is filtered through a bias. Someone decides what is worth reporting, and what slant should be given to the story. Too often, good news is left out, because it does not sell, or someone feels it is not news worthy. Too often, the facts are twisted to make a point, and a skeptical audience is left wondering what, really, is the truth.
Today the internet provides many more sources for stories, as well as an opportunity to dig out the facts. But with so many sources coming from the left and the right and everywhere inbetween, we are still left wondering where to search for something black and white, something that will not change from generation to generation. Jesus said that is why He came. Standing before Pilate, Jesus testified, "In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." Pilate, evidently, was not convinced. It was at this time that he asked his familiar question, "What is truth?" (John 18:37-38).
The Pilates of our day will argue that there is no abolute truth, and cannot be, for each of us must determine for himself what is truth. But after exploring the claims of Christ, I became convinced that He is who He claims to be, the Creator of all, who came to deliver us from darkness, and bring us into His light. If it is true that He formed our universe and established the laws of nature, and created each one of us for a purpose, He alone can reveal to us the absolutes because He established them. I believe they have been revealed to us in Scripture.
A careful study of the gospels demonstrates that Jesus clearly believed the Scriptures were without error, and that what the Scriptures said, God said. Whenever Jesus was questioned about what he was doing, He appealed to the Scriptures: "Have you not read?" For Jesus, the Scriptures provided the foundation of truth upon which we must base our lives. Having accepted Christ as my Savior and Lord, I want to look at our world through Christ's eyes, and live consistently with His ways. But how can we do this?
Our responsibility is to keep in touch with what is happening in our world, by watching TV, listening to the radio, reading the papers and checking the internet, gathering the opinions of the day. But then we must open the Scriptures, and determine what God's Word has to say about what we see and hear, and then apply the principles of Scripture to life in the world today. This will be my challenge.
Posted by Pastorkeith at 11:54 AM | Comments (5)