FEATURE: STRAIGHT SHOOTING
By Associate Editor Joe May
Growing up, I was often admonished to “practice what you preach.” If you tell others to do it, if you say you believe it, follow through with it yourself.
How many of us heard similar statements during our growing up years? Recently I read a column by a denominational minister who expressed great fear and shock that anyone would even consider voting for a candidate who has the audacity to believe that our society’s laws should reflect what is found in the pages of the New Testament.
Had he said Old Testament, I might have understood. Stoning folks isn’t something in which I would want to be involved.
Recently, U.S. Senator and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton stated that while she was a person of faith, she would not allow her beliefs to dictate how she would govern the nation. Actually, what she said was that she would leave her faith “at home.”
Her statement was likely prompted by former Arkansas governor and Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee’s continued calls for changes to the U.S. Constitution that would make that 200-year-old document more aptly reflect godly values in a nation that has, at least on the national scene, left these principles behind.
I get nervous when I hear folks who claim to be Christians expressing fear about someone wishing to inject Biblical values into our society. Suffice to say, I’ll never buy a used car from someone expressing those sentiments.
If one were to reshape our nation’s laws after the New Testament, would that be such a horrible thing? After all, this nation was built on godly principals.
While revisionist historians will insist that the Founding Fathers wanted a “separation of church and state,” they cannot escape the fact that those gentlemen did not want their government separated from God nor His moral code.
I wonder what such individuals fear? What is it in their lives that is so amiss that they would not want godly values in our society?
I’m not speaking of doctrinal in the denominational sense; rather I am referring simply to moral behavior.
Tell me, is it wrong …
- To demand that a defenseless baby not be ripped from his mother’s womb simply because she doesn’t want to hassle of having to deal with said child?
- To demand that couples be faithful to each other instead of mating like animals and leaving behind a trail of disease, broken homes and unwanted children?
- To demand that couples first purchase a marriage license before having children?
- To demand that both parents financially and physically care for children conceived out of wedlock?
- To demand that homosexuals cease from the public practice of their behavior or to even offer programs assisting them with their affliction?
- To demand that people be truthful in all their dealings upon penalty of law?
- To demand that citizens not take what does not rightfully belong to them?
- To demand that we act in such a way as to not murder or injure each other?
- To demand that we be allowed to acknowledge the existence of the One who created the heavens and the earth?
- To demand that we have the right to speak up to correct injustices without fear of reprisal from the government or private citizens?
- To demand that pornography, violence and sensational material that offends the moral conscience of our nation not be offered up to the viewing public?
These are fundamental building blocks of any society. When we begin to undermine the foundation of our society, we cannot expect it to stand much longer. No society that tears down such basic moral principals can exist for any length of time. When we give lip service to God’s moral precepts and yet fail to put them into practice in our lives, we cannot call such a failure intelligent nor open-minded.
At best, such behavior is inconsistent. At its worst, it is hypocrisy.
The inspired writer James had this to say to all those who would follow this policy: “To him who knows to do right and yet does not do it, to him it is sin.”
Are we so afraid of others that we will not speak up for the Master? Do we crave earthly company so badly that we will forsake the comfort and fellowship of Jesus our Savior rather than tell someone of their sin or refuse to partake in it?
This earthly life is but a stage for all eternity. If we cannot or will not follow the rules here, we not spend eternity with the Lord.
Myself, I’m simply a spiritual being having a mortal encounter. I fully intend to live my life in such a way that I may return home to be with my Father.
How about you? Will you not only live “in a manner worthy of your calling,” but will you also encourage others to live by God’s dictates?
2008-01-30 at 7:56 pm
Very nicely said! Great job!!
2008-02-02 at 2:50 am
Excellent article! I am continually amazed by those who promote the separation of church and state to the extreme! Our founding fathers no doubt are continually rolling over in their graves at this lack of reliance on God in our public servants.
2008-03-04 at 11:17 am
“Tell me, is it wrong …
To demand that a defenseless baby not be ripped from his mother’s womb simply because she doesn’t want to hassle of having to deal with said child? ”
No it is not wrong. But lets talk about what is right. How many unwanted childred have you taken into your home? How many unwed mothers and their children is your congregation supporting. What kind of life is this mother and child going to be able to have if she has to drop out of school thereby limiting her education and employment options? Wouldn’t it be a better use of time and money to try to help these individuals better themselves than to rant and rave about abortion? I know it is cliche but what would Jesus do? Would he be leading the charge against abortion? Or would he be working to help the mothers and children? …
2008-03-04 at 5:31 pm
Killing for convenience sake is never moral, nor should it be legal. King Saul was condemned of God and it was prophesized that he would be killed in battle, yet the man who, at Saul’s request, ended his suffering was himself put to death because no one has the right to take another person’s life. You ask how many unwanted children we’ve taken in? We currently have two, both of whom we adopted. How many unwed mothers? We have a ministry to the projects and I couldn’t tell you the number of children without fathers that come through for help. It was our Savior who commanded us to “Judge not, lest you also be judged…”
2008-03-04 at 8:29 pm
Joe,
I appologize for not proofreading my message better. I was agreeing with the initial statement. I want to be clear that I am not advocating abortion. I am glad to see you are doing a little bit to help. The point that I was trying to make is that everywhere we turn we see people taking abortion and using it as a sensational rallying point. But no one is talking about how to help those in need. We need more solutions, more loving and more caring. If we had these things there would never be a need for a law. And I guess that is what I reacted to here. Lots of strong angry words, but no meaningful solutions or encouragement to others to help those who need it.