Before I start this week’s “Politics and the Church”, I would like to make a quick commentary about the purpose. With this issue I complete four years of the weekly publication. I did not really think I would change anyone’s mind about politics and the church but I did want to let everyone know why I believe what I do about the importance of the church being involved with politics. I do not favor a theocracy. In fact I have seen how they fail through time. It was not the Bible’s intent for the government to be run by the church. The United States was established on Judeo/Christian principles being incorporated into the laws. It was up to man to govern him/herself led by God favored principles. Even our lest religious founders could agree with that. I believe it was up to the Church to be the conscience of that government. When the Church fails in that obligation we get a government that does what is right in its own eyes…and we get to see daily how that works out. The Christian church needs to remind its congregations frequently exactly what is and what is not in favor with God when it comes to government. When this does not happen we end up with what we have…murder of the unborn, men marrying men and women marrying women, drugs for recreation, violence for entertainment, sex available ‘meat market style’, families in disarray, children raising children, etc. That is why I write “Politics and the Church”. The liberal platform says that because a certain race commits a high percentage of crimes, we should not judge an entire race based on those statistics. I believe that any rational individual would agree with that. Individual accountability is Biblical. However, in reality it is the liberal platform that uses the scheme of victimization and blame to point the finger at entire races of people for individual failure. For example, a president four years into his term blaming the previous president for current failures…failures that were ‘inherited’. Can you imagine a football or baseball coach blaming his team’s poor performance on a coach from 4 years earlier?
As we might expect, the Bible has something to say on blaming others. The Bible says, “therefore you are inexcusable. O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who ‘will render to each one according to his deeds’: eternal to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness…indignation, and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on the soul of every man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God.” [Romans 2:1-11]. Thus the Bible says, those who are judging are condemning themselves, they are doing what they are blaming others for. They are storing up punishment for themselves for not changing and for keeping their scheme. They are following evil and not good. They will be judged righteously by God, because He shows no partiality.
What’s to come of policies that intentionally are designed to fail? Is it possible that failure could be part of a political platform to get citizens to rely on government? To create victims and blame others, says that you cannot make it on your own. Such a political platform does not speak life… it speaks ‘death’ over people. Words are powerful. Many of those living a failed life today have a victim mentality. They have believed the liberal lies and fallen into the traps set by the angel of light. As we know from the Bible it is the favor of heaven that we might have life and have it more abundantly. What advice might we accept from people who have found the exact opposite in their pursuit of life…a life not based on victimization and blame?
– “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.” (Vince Lombardi)
– “Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” (John Wooden)
– “More gold has been mined from the thoughts of men than has been taken from the earth.” (Napoleon Hill)
– “Successful people are simply those with successful habits.” (Brian Tracey)
– “Never talk defeat. Use words like hope, belief, faith, victory.” (Norman Vincent Peale)
– “Your attitude determines your altitude.” (Bob Munsey)
We will find that all quotes reflecting truth have root in the Bible. The Bible says:
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.” [Proverbs 18:21].
“He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.” [1 Peter 3:10].
“Let no corrupt word out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” [Ephesians 4:29].
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” [Philippians 4:13].
But then what is the ‘penalty’ one must pay trying to live Biblically in a liberal world? That world is so intent on destroying with their words that if you try to live a Biblical life, like getting an education and working hard, you will be shamed, ridiculed, and faced with attempts to destroy your good reputation…remember even ‘good people’ can make bad decisions. The liberal platform has a desire to keep people trapped in bondage and forever in ‘debt’ to the government for support. The young man from Pine Hills mentioned last week should have gotten an education…this was probably as much a lack of ‘family’ support as his failure to exercise initiative; worked hard; not had children until he was married…there’s a good chance his child will grow up without a father… and gotten himself a good job…even if it was just an entry position. The liberal surroundings he lived in would have probably mocked him…a ‘working stiff’… while his ‘friends’ went off to do their ‘dirt’.
There are several examples of those who have risen above dependency on government handouts only to be demeaned by those of the liberal leanings. These examples did not accept the labels liberal policies tried to apply.
– Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi in an interview called conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas an “Uncle Tom”. This is a derogatory term used to put people down who think outside the the liberal platform. Justice Thomas, a gentleman of African descent, was educated at Holy Cross College and at Yale Law School. He was an Assistant Attorney General in Missouri before becoming an associate justice on the US Supreme Court.
– Condoleezza Rice, a lady of African descent, was called “Aunt Jemima” by liberals. She had been awarded a B.A., cum laude, in political science by the University of Denver and then obtained a master’s degree in political science from the University of Notre Dame. Oh, and she also earned a PHD in political science. She went on to become Secretary of State.
– Four Star General Colin Powell, was born in Harlem, New York, to Jamaican immigrant parents. He joined the military and with hard work and dedication rose to the rank of general…an almost unheard of accomplishment. He,too, eventually served as Secretary of State. The nicest thing liberals could say about him is “Uncle Tom”.
– Presidential candidate Herman Cain was called a “Modern Day Uncle Tom” and was told he “acted like Uncle Remus.” He refused to fit the liberal mold. His mother was a cleaning woman. He received a master of science in computer science degree from Purdue University. He was a ballistics analyst for the Navy Department as a civilian. He joined Pillsbury and became director of business analysis in its restaurant and food group. Eventually he became president and CEO of Godfather’s Pizza. He ruined the whole image the liberal platform was trying to establish.
– Then there is Dr. Ben Carson, also a presidential candidate. One of Hollywood’s ‘black icons’ called him a “sellout” and an “embarrassment to black Americans.” Dr. Carson didn’t buy the liberal “BS” either. He graduated with honors from Southwestern University and while there was a senior commander in the school’s ROTC program. He earned a full scholarship to Yale and graduated with a B.A. degree in psychology. He enrolled in the School of Medicine at the University of Michigan. He became director of pediatric neurosurgery…brain surgeon… at Johns Hopkins at the age of 33.
Many more successes like these and the whole liberal platform will be in peril. These individuals should be looked at as role models in the black community…examples of values, attitudes, and behaviors. People to inspire. But no, this is not the case to those pushing a liberal agenda. Some of these individuals have been banned from speaking on liberal college campuses and they are mocked and ridiculed. What does the Bible say about ridiculing others?
The Bible says, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” [Philippines 2:3-4].
Next week we will see how liberal role models espouse their goals of victimization and blame in order to gain control of lives…just as the angel of light would desire.
– Bob Munsey
“There is nothing government can give you that it hasn’t taken from you in the first place.” Winston Churchill
Geezer Politics 