Thursday, January 19, 2012

To endorse or not....

Dr. Voddie Baucham endorses Ron Paul - Here's why:
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gracefamilybaptist.net%2Fvoddie-baucham-ministries%2Fblog%2Fwhy-ron-paul-2012-01%2F&h=NAQFFjh90AQHHm4z89TyfWO1W7w8ARuH6Bd865lwCRjzaWQ
And who is Dr. Voddie Baucham? Watch this to see: http://youtu.be/​EPNraxxxRO8 (or read the transcript: http://playpdf.sa-media.com/media/530914253/530914253.pdf

A real case can be made as to why Christian leaders should or shouldn’t endorse individuals running for political office.  And while I respect the view which says they should not because it can detract from the message of the gospel, I think otherwise in certain cases.  If the ministry is large and the leader is highly visible great caution should be taken on political endorsements.  Why?  Because it diffuses the message of the gospel?  It need not.  Rather I think those in highly visible ministries ought to refrain if the endorsement is not clearly explained and if it’s not in line with the ministry.   Actually, we should never put our endorsement on any man, in the sense of trusting in this one’s ability and leadership.  Our hope is not in men.  Our hope is in the Lord. 
Yet we do live in this world, and men are called into positions of power and authority.  So we ought to be free to examine them publically and call them out or praise them accordingly.  We just need to make the praise in accord with the Father. 

Let me illustrate.  Let’s say for examples sake we have a state governor who has righted some egregious wrong that the state has had to deal with for many years.  Look at Governor Walker of Wisconsin.  I happen to believe that his drive to get rid of collective bargaining for benefits for government workers was exemplary.  How should I say so without touching the man himself?  As a Christian I do not want the appearance of worshipping or praising any man because my praise should always be to the Father and secondarily because men will always let me down.  (I have a confession to make here.  I have not always been so careful in this area, but I am learning.  Facebook is a place where we can make a case for support for someone but because of its nature, it is not always the best place to do so.)
I can direct my enthusiasm for Governor Walkers work like this, “I praise God for using Governor Walker as he led the state of Wisconsin to a more equitable accounting of the state funds.”  By saying it this way, I am directing the praise to God while displaying the instrument in a more neutral light.  I also show my respect for a Scriptural view of equity by doing so.  Governor Walker may be a good governor, or even a great governor.  However, to say that he himself is worthy of praise crosses the line.  Only One is worthy.  Worthy is the Lamb to be praised. 

So what about Ron Paul?  Dr. Baucham has issued a statement of support for the man.  Was he directing worship to him?  No.   Read it.  Dr. Baucham is as precise as one can get.  He lays out his case point by point logically.  And Dr. Baucham is VERY compelling in his argumentation.  Here is the outline of his case:
I.             Ron Paul is a Christian Conservative
II.            Ron Paul is a Constitutional Conservative
                                a) Constitutional Money
                                b) Constitutional War
                                c) Constitutional States' Rights
                                d) Constitutional Foreign Policy
                                                 -Dealings with Israel
III.           Ron Paul is a Consistent Conservative

I happen to agree with Dr. Baucham on Dr. Paul.  Let me now present some additional thoughts.  On the issue of states’ rights, consider this.  We teach our kids all about the ways the government is SUPPOSED to work, yet all the while, it really doesn't work that way. So we teach hypocrisy in the name of expediency.  Because there are so many other UNPRINCIPLED men in office, many have caved in to the idea that the system must be circumvented in order to get any justice.

Dr. Paul is so principled his oath ACTUALLY MEANS something to him.  This will at times put a man at odds with his own values.  One of the reasons that Scripture cautions against oath taking is for this reason. (James 5:12 - Matthew 5:34-37)  We are to keep the oaths we take because, as Christians, we represent the Holy Lord.  Yet because of sin we have no integrity.  Nevertheless, we face a dilemma in that we do take oaths.  Oaths taken by godless men have no value.  Those taken by Christians ought to have ultimate value. 

Government can be national or statewide, depending upon the way a nation is formed and established. There can be merit to a national set of standards. But this is not the point. The issue is that we already live in a nation which DOES NOT FOLLOW it's clearly established constitution, turning every rule on its head. The founders intended the states to establish these rules. They EXPECTED each state to have differences in many of these issues. The states each individually ratified the constitution, so the people agreed. If you want a national change, it ought to be that the people and the states all agree and we go through an amendment procedure.
Instead we have a nation that for over 100 years has not followed the rule of law repeatedly. Look up whether the 16th amendment was legally ratified (http://​www.givemeliberty.org/​features/taxes/​notratified.htm).  Benjamin Franklin, at the close of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, when queried as he left Independence Hall on the final day of deliberation, “Well, Doctor, what have we got—a Republic or a Monarchy?” Dr. Franklin responded, “A Republic, if you can keep it.” (From the notes of Dr. James McHenry, one of Maryland’s delegates to the Convention.)  I fear that without the changes Ron Paul is advocating, we have lost it.

A nation which touts a rule of law yet does not follow it is no better than any other godless Socialist nation. Are we a better nation? Yes. We are still the best and most just nation on the planet, but we aren't lily white either. We have grave failings which have gone unchecked for too long.  We need a leader who is as principled as the founders intended. We need Ron Paul.
(Another article to consider is here: http://online.worldmag.com/2012/01/18/christians-and-ron-paul-a-counterpoint/)

Friday, January 13, 2012

Boxes of time

The other day I was reviewing the contents of some hard disks I saw in the basement, and ended up reminiscing quite a bit.  Many files I had thought were lost to time were still preserved.  As I read through old school papers, some from as far back as 24 years ago, and mused at jpegs that record another world, I was drawn into that world.

Fascinating how we live in this world.  At any given time we can think we are making the best choices, saying the most right thing… yet later we can see how short sighted we have been.  One thing which was encouraging was that although I saw many changes, I also saw some things that never seem to change.  It seems that though I thought I was constantly changing in my ways, I really wasn’t.  Fundamentally I was the same guy, though a bit more patient with people and a bit more tolerant of others faults.  What does this mean?
I am both glad to see this and also not so glad.  Obviously I could become very discouraged if I saw dramatic changes in the beliefs I once held.  If I thought I was becoming less principled and more liberal at a base level – it might even be devastating.  And I say this because looking back can show very dramatically how much I DID change.  The question I need to be asking is whether those changes were fundamental to who I am – and if so, were they for the better.  All men change.  The Scripture is plain about that matter.  Yet to change fundamentally is a compromise no one wants to see – unless such a change was for the better.  The fact that men can change is a huge blessing. 

Many years ago one of my cousins wanted to show me something he was obviously very proud of.  He pulled out an old driver’s license from 20 years ago and put it side by side with his current one.  I was searching to see what was the point when he told me that he was the same. (‘cept for the grey…!)
Consider how our God is.  The Scripture plainly states that God does not change. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).  God is not a man, that he should change (Numbers 23:19).  For God, NOT to change is an essential.  God is by definition perfect.  To change for him would be an abdication of who he is, yet for a man to remain obtuse and not be willing to change over time is akin to Egomania.  It would be the essence of hubris.  To have the humility to see his shortcoming’s and change is a huge blessing.  We all like sheep have gone astray (Isaiah 53:6).  Because of sin, we all NEED to change.  Unfortunately apart from God all our efforts at change will always be insufficient. 

So I was encouraged at the changes I saw in me, as well as that I am essentially still the same guy.  Speaking of which, I was at McDonalds last Wednesday picking up some coffee and other breakfast.  I noticed the price was a bit cheaper but chalked it up to taxes (I was in Wisconsin).  I stuffed the receipt in my pocket and took my food and went to work.  That evening as I looked at the receipt, this is what I read:
SNR COFFEE         .79
SNR DECAF          .79
McSkillet Burrito 2.70

Huh? I got the SENIOR rate??!!  I only just turned 46?!  Yikes!!!  Time has apparently changed me in another way I see….  Well, at least I saved 42 cents!
Dave

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Learning to ride a bike...

                In June of 2003 I watched as my daughter Christina, not yet 5 years old at the time, learned to ride a bike, or as the kids used to say, a “two-wheeler”.  It was quite an exhilarating experience for all of us!  To start off I need to mention that she had had a bike for over 18 months, and would ride up and down the gangway for practice.  She had really been putting on the speed and it was becoming obvious changes were near.  On Saturday, only an hour before Grandpa was to leave for Colorado, we took the children to the alley for a little more biking freedom.  Grandpa mentioned that the training wheels hardly touched the ground as she sped past one time.  I knew then it was time.  I called Christy over and removed the training wheels.  She was so excited, until she approached the new two-wheeler.  “Daddy, hold on to me close and don’t let go!” my little angel commanded me. 

                We slowly started out wobbling first to one side and then to the other.  I thought to myself, “I wish she could be more confident.  I know she can do this.”  I began instructing her, “Christy, you have to pedal or you won’t balance.”  Grandpa told her, “Christy you need to go a little faster”.  Meandering back and forth in the alley, with the sun beating down on me, I started to sweat.  We kept encouraging her to move a little faster.  “Christy, you went 5 feet all by yourself!”  I encouraged.  As we turned around and positioned the bike in the center for another run I gave her a gentle starting push and she surprised us by taking off like a bullet.  She was easily ten feet away from me before I had a chance to catch up.  Then she went down. Just as I caught up to her she went sprawling down.  Fortunately she had only a scratch on her right palm.  I spent the next 5 minutes comforting her.  I suppose some would say we need to stop, but I like to try again.  I felt like if we quit now, the fall would become bigger in her mind, so I pressed her to try again.  Though she was clearly unhappy with my plan she went along with it as long as I stayed really close. 
                This time she seemed to take more care as she accelerated, not wanting to leave her Daddy in the dust!  As she saw I kept up, she went faster.  I had to give a corrective nudge right or left as we went along but she was doing pretty well.  Now she clearly became more confident.  Christy decided quite suddenly it was time to stop and said so.  But instead of my slowing her down as I expected, she slammed on the brakes proving their effectiveness beyond doubt!  I went careening over, but was able to halt without running her over.  She didn’t even know what had happened! 

                I write all this to share something. As I was busy running my legs off in the alley, a thought occurred that I wanted to share with you.  I have often thought the parent child relationship is analogous to our relationship with God.  In a very real sense that is true.  Which of us hasn’t asked God in a commanding manner, “Hold on to me close and don’t let go!”  We all long for the protection God affords; yet we want it and more on our conditions. 
                One of the most reassuring attributes of our God is his immutability - the inability for Him to change in any aspect.  For God to change would be for Him to admit that He is not perfect in all His ways and being, and then would, by definition, not be God (Deuteronomy 32:4).  Consider the ramifications of this, when we look at His choosing, before the foundation of the world who are His children (Ephesians 1:4).  Oh, how often we doubt salvation because it appears to be in our hands!  Once we realize that His choice of each one of us is a surety, we could never doubt, since it is tied to his immutable character.  If God chose you, he WILL not let go! (John 10:27-29)

                Also think of the confident light step we have when we are in vital union with our Lord.  I feel like I’m walking on clouds when I’m in close fellowship with Him. "When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, what a glory he sheds on our way."  But just as my daughter can become over confident and take off like a bullet away from Daddy, so we leave His path on our own way toward sudden destruction.  (Isaiah 53:6)
                The beauty of this analogy is that it breaks down.  Although there are many similarities in the parent-child relationship, one of them is not true.  As parents, we all fail along the way.  Our best is sometimes only mediocre and our worst…well we don’t want to think about that.  God never fails along the way.  As we may trip up and find ourselves sprawled along life’s highway, it is never because God has failed (remember Deuteronomy 32:4 above), and quite frequently due to our willful choice to take a path which is clearly not His path for us.

                Fortunately, we can ask Him for forgiveness and renewed direction and know He will answer in our favor.(1 John 1:8-9)  Our children can be God’s instruments to teach us His plan. Let’s all thank God for the angels in our lives, our children, and the reminder they can be to our very most important relationship, that of the Lord!