Commonality

Much of human history has involved being able to find common ground and compromise. Conflict begins when we cannot come to terms. As children we beg our parents for that extra piece of pie, to stay up past our bedtime “for just 10 more minutes” and to the number of chores we are assigned. As we age, the stakes may be higher, but negotiations continue in an effort to obtain those things we want. Legislation is passed with each side of the political aisle cooperatively bargaining in order to achieve a common goal that ultimately benefits both sides and the public at large. Today, our political dialogue has devolved into nothing more than an increasingly negative rhetoric, escalating into hateful and demeaning memes posted on social media, directed at those with opinions different than their own. The rise of the leftist agenda and the embracing of those ideals by academia, the media and the Democrat party are first and foremost in driving the decline of our political discourse. Those institutions attempt to cast the blame upon the rise of conservative talk radio for our ever increasing political divide. That is far from the truth.

This embrace of the leftist ideology has driven us to the place we now find ourselves. Since the birth of our nation, conservatives and liberals have had common goals. Our disagreements centered on the methods used to attain those goals. All can agree on the goal to eradicate poverty. Liberals favor the big government welfare state and trickle up economics. Conservatives want to provide our economy the tools necessary to produce wealth, facilitate the environment necessary for those that are able, to enter the workforce so that they can create their own wealth and contribute to society, rather than simply take. Both agree that those who cannot work and need assistance should receive it. The left does not want to end poverty. The left wants to tear down our economic system and replace it with total government control. Those who have amassed wealth will have it taken away and redistributed to the masses. The left does not share a common goal with the vast majority of Americans.

The Green New Deal proposed by freshman Congresswoman, Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, is painstakingly impracticable and unattainable. Yet, the declared Democrat presidential candidates (Corey Booker, Kamala Harris, Kirsten Gillibrand, and others) agree that they could support this policy. The Democrats are leaning more and more toward the leftist concept of no borders that allow unfettered immigration with its’ inherent problems, such as drugs, criminals, terrorists, and diseases entering the country uncontrolled. Allowing this to occur is the true immoral action. The Democrats ever increasing support for socialism is rising from the shadows and being bandied about by all their declared candidates for president. Tolerating the murder of unborn children up to and apparently after birth, is touted as important to maintain a woman’s control of her body. This is reprehensible conduct that is simply government approved homicide. The normalization of same sex relationships has long garnered support from the left and has rightly occurred. Any person acting in a lawful manner should never be ostracized or reviled. This is not enough for the radical left, as the same sex relationship has expanded to include other behaviors including the attempt to normalize transgenderism, or what should be classified as a mental disease. These are but a few examples of the leftward lean of the Democrat party.

Shortly before President Obama was elected, he stated that the fundamental transformation of this country was days away. We are watching as it unfolds right before our eyes. As with the radical Muslims that want nothing more than to destroy our society, so does the left. Anarchists, such as Anti-fa, Black lives matter and the occupation movement, are apparently supported by the Democrat party, as evidenced by their silence and failure to condemn their behavior. The United States will not be conquered by an invading army. The United States will not be destroyed by bombs and bullets. The United States will fall from within, as more and more leftists gain more and more power. The media and academia have been brainwashing our population for decades now and it apparently is beginning to have the desired effect. Many millennials believe that socialism is the cure to capitalism, imagining that it will create a more equal society. It will do nothing of the sort. Socialism is the great equalizer, tearing down everyone, so that everyone suffers the same misery, except for those that lead. For those who are too lazy or complacent, content to let others determine our fate, our entire way of life stands in the balance. For those of you that do not take your responsibility to properly inform yourselves and to say no to this plague that is descending upon us, and stop it at the ballot box, you will wake up one day and find that the country that you love and cherish is gone. Allowing these leftists to gain power will take us where every other socialist country has ended, in ruin. It is imperative that we take our responsibility seriously and fight against this disease that is the left. Our way of life is in the balance. What will you do to protect those you love?

Words That Speak

"We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.  Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things.  For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." 2 Peter 1:19-21 (NIV)

As I spend time in Your Word, I am amazed by how the words speak to my current situation. Each time I read Your Word You can show me slightly different things about myself or the world around me. To read of actual people's trials and seeing how prophecies actually came true show Your faithfulness to people throughout the ages and prove that You continue to be faithful today. Thank You for Your Word. Thank You that it is alive and real and relevant. Thank You that You have provided such a wonderful resource where You can show history, demonstrate Your love, teach life lessons, and embrace the world with Your Gospel Truth to lead all people to salvation. Help me to continue to delight in Your Word the rest of my life. Amen.

This prayer, written by my wife Sandy, articulates just how important and relevant God’s Word is to us yesterday, today and tomorrow. I often find more than just words of wisdom, but God speaking directly to my heart. And those verses can speak in different ways in different times according to the situations I face in my daily life. As I read my daily devotions, it is sometimes difficult for me to take the time to really sit back and listen. God does indeed speak through the Word and we need to be quiet and listen for His voice. My grandson Jack, at age 5 was staying overnight at grandma and grandpa’s house with his twin brother Ian. As my wife prayed with them before bed, she chose to not pray the standard “Now I lay me down to sleep” prayer. After finishing the prayer, Jack piped up and said, “Grandma, if I am really quiet, I can hear Jesus talk to me.” Sandy responded that she agreed. He then said that he knew what words she would pray because Jesus told him so. Out of the mouths of babes! Perhaps we need to listen with the innocence of a child to truly hear Him.

Far too often, God’s Word is minimized by many of our mainline churches, particularly the protestant denominations such as the ELCA, UCC and Episcopal churches, as they try to fit in with the world. New doctrine is adopted while the refrain that God is telling us new things is used to justify the rebuttal of God’s Word. Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.  For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.  Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:17-20 (NIV) So those churches can continue to rationalize their drift away from God, but these “new” doctrines ring hollow when one truly dwells in His Word and listens for Him.

As I hear more and more of God’s people are led astray by these false gospels that sound so inviting, so loving and so enlightened, it truly saddens me. Our foremost task is to preach the Word so that all may hear and come to faith in Jesus Christ. These “new things” simply drive God’s people away from Him, as they lift up the self and minimize our Lord and Savior. Placating the desires of us sinful human beings is not the task of God’s church. These new doctrines are all about “feeling good about ourselves” and not about loving God. When we place our needs, desires and cravings as foremost in our lives, we entirely miss the point. This world, this universe, all that we are and have is a gift from God. Everything you see, feel, hear and touch was made for you by a loving God. We cannot lose track of what that means to us. We are to share the joy of our salvation with everyone in an effort to bring them to Christ. Being a disciple of Christ is not an easy task. Just ask believers who live in other parts of the world that are not simply persecuted, but place their very earthly lives in danger when they worship Him. We are truly blessed to live in a country where we can share our faith without the fear of losing our lives. The next time some “new things” are promoted by those uninspired by the Holy Spirit, take the time to dwell in His Word in order to properly examine whether it is truly inspired by God.

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and is already in the world at this time. You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. They are of the world. That is why they speak from the world’s perspective, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. That is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.” 1 John 4:1-6