Render Unto Caesar!

How well I remember sitting in a Bible class discussing the story of Jesus paying taxes to Caesar.  Jesus said..“Give to Caesar what is his and unto God what belongs to Him.” (my translation). Although this probably had to do with paying taxes I think it also can apply to many situations today.  Would you have bowed down to a statue of a pagan god if it meant your life?

In our Bible classes, we all agreed that we would never submit to any laws that contradicted Biblical principles.  We felt safe and secure in our church pews and that nothing could shake our convictions.  We could handle anything that Big Brother might shove our way!!

Today our Caesar is requiring the same……not only our money but our allegiance to laws which actually are a contradiction to Biblical principles.  Here follows a case in point. 

Just read in two papers (this is taken from the Wall Street Journal), where the Catholic Social Services (aka CSS) of Philadelphia is being sued  for not allowing same sex couples to be in their foster parenting program.  The CSS has been doing this work since 1919 and does use city and state funds to helps support its efforts to find suitable homes for young children.  However, it is against their principles to place children with same sex couples. The agency has placed thousands of children through the years using both public and private funds for support.  The issue has been scheduled to come before the Supreme Court and will be heard next October.  So why is this of concern to us? 

Here’s why.  Many, if not all, church related services, although supported by individuals, church funds etc. do receive some financial aid from public funds.  As it reads these agencies cannot prevent same sex couples from adoptions, working as parents in children’s homes and other church related missionary activities.  If these agencies receive any public funding then they come under the same laws which will allow homosexual couples to take and raise children. 

But wait, it doesn’t stop there.  Who is to say that in the future our church property won’t be subject to taxation if we discriminate against same sex couples on staff of church boards; teachers or administrators?  Even though we don’t take public funding….with any change of government in congress/ or president, church property can be taxed.  Our Christian schools would by law have homosexuals on staff; have open bathrooms etc.   Our donations would not be tax exempt.

In fact one man running for president already said he approved taxing churches if they don’t except the laws for same sex couples being admitted to all aspects of church related activities.  I think he was just making threats unless of course churches take public money in any form. 

It is not the intent of this blog to discuss homosexuality in our society. Just wanted you to be aware of the dangers this poses to those of us who want to be of service to others but at the same time have religious convictions which prevent us from complying with certain laws which seem to favor one segment of our society over others. 

Can we/will we be able to fight Caesar?  The best outcome will be for the Supreme Court to vote in favor of the CSS.  If not, then be prepared.

                                   No funds from the feds! 

Is the Constitution Christian?

I am no Constitutional scholar.  However, lately,  all of us have been deluged with various groups reciting constitutional principles , especially regarding the latest impeachment trials of President Trump. Those of us who feel that our country is a product of divine intervention in one way or another, also feel that our Constitution was at least an “inspired” document. 

Critics assume that several of the Founders were not even Christian and the Constitution itself gives no indication that God was ever involved in its writing.  True enough.  The Constitution does not explicitly label America as a Christian nation.  The Founders did not make laws forcing citizens or our government officials to adopt Christianity.  They desired religious freedom.  The government’s role was not to interfere with the religious views of its people. 

However, the laws still required a foundation.  What better place than Biblical principles?  The various laws that were written back in the 1700s point to Christianity as the bedrock the Founders used. 

OK…….here is a good example.  Let’s look at the Sunday clause. When the Founders wrote how a new law was to be passed, it was given to the president who had a time limit of 10 days.  If the president did not pass or veto the bill after 10 days the bill automatically passed.  Within   that time period however, Sundays were not counted!!  They assumed that the President would not want to rule on a law on the Christian “holy “ day. 

Swearing an oath:  Article VI of the Constitution mandates that all members of Congress, as well as any executive officer, swear an oath to protect the Constitution.  This has traditionally been done by holding one’s left hand on the Bible, one’s right hand in the air and ending the oath by saying…..”So help me God.”  We read in Isaiah 62:8, “The Lord has sworn by His right hand.”  The founders saw a connection here. 

There are many overt Biblical principles included in the Constitution:  Article III. Section 3 states that on the topic of treason one cannot be found guilty unless at least two people testify against that person.  Deuteronomy 17:6 states ”on the testimony of two or three witnesses a person is be put to death but no one is put to death on the testimony of only one witness.”

There are many more references in the Constitution implied in its biblical foundation. Today’s liberal voices still reject the assumption that the nation’s founding was clearly based on biblical morality. 

As one author quipped “when you take God out of the equation, out of our origins, then you have nothing left.”  Well said.

Happy vs Miserable

Why all this unhappiness….especially among our young.  The teen years can be miserable.  Faces with acne, the handsome boy who won’t ask me out for a date; the girls’ whisper behind my back; I didn’t make the football team!!  Basic teen miseries.  These have always been with us. 

 However, unhappiness now manifests itself in the most horrible ways.  The rates of suicide, self-injury, depression, mass shootings, and loneliness are higher than ever recorded.  It seems that American kids may have been happier, and certainly less lonely, during the great Depression and WWll than today, even with today’s unprecedentedly high levels of health, longevity, education and material well-being. 

There is of course, no single explanation.  I’m sure that each of you reading this blog will come to your own conclusions but let me add my own:  increased use of illicit drugs; less human interaction; the use of cell phones and internet for social contacts; lack of a strong family environment; access to porn sites and too much TV viewing; no religion or faith in the home; single family homes or absent fathers.   The list is rather endless. 

In 1831 a Frenchman named Alexis de Tocqueville wrote an observation about his visit to America.  He said Americans’ unique strength derived largely from their participation in professional, social, civil, political, artistic, philanthropic and of course religious causes.

These have all dwindled as government has become ever larger and taken over the role of these individual and private enterprises.  Whereas young adults got together and formed bonds of friendship through nongovernmental associations, churches and community activities……through what organization will they form friendships today? 

So perhaps the angst of our youth is not capitalism, not inequality, not sexism, racism, homophobia, or xenophobia, but rather having no religion, no community, no country to believe in and ultimately no meaning in life. These might help explain much of the unprecedented unhappiness today. 

Only a return to the traditional values of the past: love of country, the sanctity of  human life; a return to Biblical principles;  love of God………can bring the deep down happiness that will restore the human heart and bring real happiness into one’s life.

“Only the fool has said in his heart………there is no God.” (Ps 41:1)

“Keeping up with the Joneses”

I have heard that phrase for many years.  In other words we should try living within the means (money) that we earn and not to strive for more. 

This is a conundrum for us as believers.  Is having more money sinful?  Is striving after more money sinful? I’m sure we all have heard many times……”it’s not money but the lust for more.”  It’s the “love of money” that is the root problem.  We can say amen to that.

However, think on this.  If  it wasn’t for the wealthy and the generous in this world, we would not be able to have Christian schools, children’s homes,  art museums, symphony orchestras, historical sites……..all maintained by generous benefactors who are willing to share their wealth with others.  It’s the American dream.  It’s part of our democratic ideals to want to better our life. 

”Keeping up with the Joneses” is much more than acquiring wealth.  This is a heart issue as are most of the writings in scripture.  Jesus mentions “where your heart is that is where your treasure is also.”  (Matthew   6:21)

“Keeping up with the Joneses “, by its very nature, is more the pursuit of conformity to others.  This actually means a loss of our individuality.  Society has an interesting effect on us.  Think of the changing styles and how quickly the masses adopt them.  But deep down do we really want these things?

We follow the new fashions.  We watch the same shows and movies and read the same books.  We even conform in the décor of our homes.  I remember wanting avocado appliances and harvest gold in the kitchen!!!  I had wild orange and green wall paper in the bathroom.  It was really dreadful. All because I wanted to conform with the décor of the 70s!

We as believers are indeed set apart from others.  By the nature of who we are and Who we follow we will find inner peace and calm that allows us to experience sufficiency, regardless of how much others have.  When our resources are spent on pursuits that are needful in this world then we will find fulfillment.

Will others have more?  Absolutely.  But when we are doing the best we can with the resources we have, the end results will be a confidence and peace that the Joneses have been chasing all along.   We give up our ideas of conformity because we must follow in the footsteps of the Master. 

Paul, the great Jewish theologian wrote these words to his Roman believers,  “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”  (Romans 12:2)    

 I guess that tells us about keeping up with the Joneses! 

Diversity…A Good Thing Isn’t It?

Our country is truly a melting pot of various traditions and beliefs.  We respect the faith and ideals of others. However, as we come into the New Year the news is filled with “hate” crimes. Jewish Synagogues and meeting places have been attacked.  Now it seems that going to Church is hazardous to your health!  You might get shot.

Diversity has become the byword of the liberal elite.  We as believers may not think this problem of diversity applies to us.  Think again.

Those of us who have held fast to our faith and  have decided that we will follow and be faithful to a Jewish rabbi who lived 2000 years ago….  does not fit into the idea of diversity.   Our Master revealed to us a belief in God who set standards for our behavior and worship. He is the atonement for man’s sins.   We call ourselves Christians.  Scripture itself says we are a “peculiar people”.  We are set aside for the very purpose of discipleship.  We are not diverse even though within the broad concept of Christianity there are various views on modes of worship etc.

 We are also promised persecution. It wasn’t just for the early faithful but also for us today.  Can you see how the world views us?  Are we Christians really diverse in our attitudes?  Do we believe all faiths will lead to God?   We believe that there is really only one way……..through faith in Jesus. That isn’t diversity is it? 

There is increasing anti Semitism also.   Many Jewish people have become secular in their beliefs but those being attacked are the conservatives and orthodox.  Since our faith comes from the teachings of the Old Testament we can expect the same discrimination.

Christians are loving and generous to others.  Both Jews and Christians are always the first to help our neighbors.  We regard the dignity of man because all men are created in the image of God.  We do love our neighbor because it is commanded of us.  Love becomes a verb!! It is an action.

The idea of diversity is a word that takes on a particular meaning in politically correct thinking. It isn’t a generous all accepting word.  Diversity becomes rather narrow in regard who is accepted and who isn’t. Diversity becomes conformity!

If we hold fast to our faith in spite of “adversity” then expect dangers ahead.  Christianity/Judaism will face increasing hostility and derision.  Only time will tell how many will remain in the Faith.  

1 Peter 2:9.. “ But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light”  KJV

Needing Heroes

 Looking on our culture today I find little evidence of “proper” heroes.  Throughout history, human beings have looked to heroes, both mythical and real, as models to be admired.   In our modern age, we have created mythological heroes such as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, etc.  We like to see our superheroes as the good guys, as men and women we could take as models for ourselves. I remember reading stories of heroes.  We went to movies where the good guys always won.  We knew the bad guys.  They were evil both in what they did and what they said.  We always knew who the good guy was!!

Now however, we seem to be in short supply of real-live heroes these days.  Figures from American History who once inspired young people……Washington, Robert E. Lee, Clara Barton, Edison, Amelia Earhart and many more……..either fail to meet our politically correct standards and/or are simply left out of the classrooms or schoolbooks. 

Do we still recognize villains?  Or is the line between the villains and the heroes becoming somewhat blurred?   I don’t mean villains such as Hilton or Stalin or the terrorist shooting people in shopping malls.  Villains here might be those who defy what we consider right or wrong.  And how are we to judge the difference? 

Between the internet, face book and other modes of propaganda, the day of recognizing the heroes/villains has become hard to define.  Is it the guy who refuses to stand when hearing the national anthem?   Is it the guy who burns the American flag or tears down a statue of an old war hero?  Is it the teen that stood up to someone speaking against American values?  Or perhaps the guy who privately recorded a conversation between an abortionist selling baby parts to a lab.  Who is the real hero?  Who is the villain?

So now a question:  How do we as a society view the new heroes or villains?

How many of our young people view Jesus as a hero or just a sad Jew who was crucified by the Romans? Do His teachings have an influence on how we make our judgments as to heroes or villains? If not it should. 

When Jesus says……..we are not to judge another, in what way was he speaking?   Perhaps we have taken that statement to mean that we as believers are not to say anything about the deeds of another.  Really?  Then Jesus certainly could be accused of betraying his own words when he was so condemning of many in His society who professed to be religious leaders. 

Yes, we are to judge the deeds of others……. based on the very truth of scripture.  We must stand up and speak for the values that we hold dear or we will lose our right to say it.  The villains would put us down.  They would win by intimidation or make themselves out to be heroes!!  They want to blur the lines between what is proper and good and humanistic/agnostic thinking. 

There is a canyon of difference between heroes and villains. If we have arrived at the point where we build a bridge across the canyon, then we too have been deceived.  There is no turning back.  The villains have won.

God Vs. Evolution (continued)

This is a follow up to my writing on God vs. evolution.  Our nation along with most of the modern world is in conflict with Judaism as well as conservative Christianity in regards to Origins.  There is now a more recent revival of this issue.  Debates on college campuses are drawing large crowds.  It is a conflict of ideas that simply won’t go away.  Rightly so. 

Stephen Meyer, director of the Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture wrote a book in 2013 entitled……..”Darwin’s Doubt”.  In his book, Meyer rebukes Darwin’s reigning principle: that all life forms including humans, have evolved from a common ancestor through the simple process of random, heritable variation, and natural selection. Most fossil scientists have accepted the “Cambrian” aging idea.  Dating the fossils by the rocks in which they were found.

 The theory of evolution brought death and decay before the first humans were formed.  Not from the dust of the earth but as merely random and accidental acts of an unknown source. 

Meyer’s proposed alternate theory of intelligent design seems as highly rational as that of Darwin’s theory. However, evolutionary scientists simply refuse to admit that their so called evidence is highly suspect.   These agitated Darwinists won’t hear of any theory that admits to the possibility of a Creator.  They want to tar and feather anyone who even suggests that perhaps there is a God who might not need ions of time to bring about Creation.  They ridicule those scientists who believe in biblical literalism as stated in the first chapter of Genesis.

Why such deep anger even at the very idea that there might possibly be a Creator?  Because it spoils the master narrative of the atheist intelligentsia, who see belief in God as a way that would effect humanity’s way of living and eventual salvation.  A Divine God who set moral values upon His creation would mean that humans must conform to a standard of behavior!!!

Not far behind lie  the thinking of Lenin, Mao, Hitler and others who view religion as the scourge of humanity and that  only rational secularism can advance human society to a state of harmony.  Ours is a heresy that prevents mankind from complete fulfillment in order to benefit ourselves.

 Secularists tell us that we who believe in a Creator God are stuck in our biblical literalism, ignorance, and our hostility to science.  However, human nature abhors a spiritual vacuum, which is why the neo-Darwinists have sanctified their “prophet” and why environmentalism has evolved as a new a powerful religion much of it faith based and hungry for saints of their own making.  Thus “saving the environment” is the pathway to saving us from ourselves.  Population control through abortion; actions against “global warming” and returning to primitive ways of living will somehow bring its own reward.

But that’s not an option for people of faith and those who respect the immense benefits conferred on the world by the Judeo-Christian tradition. We are to be keepers of the earth and respect its creation by the Divine Hand. But we also use the earth and its resources for the benefit of mankind.

 We have too long been silent.  Our state controlled schools also have withheld any conflicting theory to the evolutionary thesis.

Humanists and evolutionists have had their day.  It is time for us to take a stand.  We must be the defenders of the faith and to the God who created it all. 

God vs. Evolution.

Most Christians don’t even try to cope with the complexities of evolution let alone refute the philosophy.  It isn’t real science you know.  It is theory, a philosophy; it is a supposition despite the so called “evidences” which prove the theory.  Science should be based on facts not supposition.  The way I learned about science was this.  You come up with an idea, a theory in fact…. something that warrants scientific inquiry.  Once the theory is formulated then through study and experimentation the theory is proved or disproved.  There is no guessing involved.  Evolution is based on unverifiable data.  The theory also involves circular reasoning.  The ages of the rock strata are verified from fossils…Oops……..No!..the fossils are dated by the rocks!!  Oh dear, what a problem for evolutionists. 

Remember the Piltdown man?  He was proven to be a fake.  I remember those little charts which showed the evolution of man from a humpbacked ape looking creature to Homos erectus…..that’s us or something similar. 

Do you believe that God is the author of death and decay? That He allowed the millions of years and the “accidental” evolution of His creation?  Do you believe that Jesus came to only promote the goodness of man?  That the Bible which teaches us about sin and death is merely a collection of stories on how to behave nicely?   Then this writing isn’t for you.

The Bible which I read states there was a real man called Adam who sinned and brought death to all people.  Therefore we need a Savior since we are unable to save ourselves! Evolution negates Adam, Eve and the Christian meaning of sin and salvation ……the very reason why Jesus’ (Jeshua) earthly life was necessary.  Here is what Paul wrote in letter to the Corinthians (1) 15:21-22.
              “For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.”

Historians depict the longstanding tension between what evolutionism means and the Christian faith.  William McLoughlin of Brown University sums up what many believers concluded early on about evolutionism:

              “It (evolution) challenged the Bible by denying its account of creation.  It challenged the concept of an absolute moral law by its doctrine of survival of the fittest.  It challenged the millennial goal by describing nature as amoral and purposeless.”

Or perhaps this statement might sum up the theistic evolution theory.  (John Bascom. 1897)….  ” It was a slow spiritual process of adjustment to environment; salvation was the slow evolution progress of the race in conformity with the laws of nature!”

My last quote from a the American Atheist magazine ( 1978)
              “Christianity has fought, still fights, and will fight science to the desperate end over evolution, because evolution destroys utterly and finally the very reason Jesus’ earthly life was supposedly made necessary.  Destroy Adam ad Even and the original sin and in the rubble you will find the sorry remains of the son of god…taking away the meaning of his death.  If Jesus was not the redeemer who died for our sins and this is what evolution means, then Christianity is nothing.” 

What does your faith mean to you? 

God vs. Self Fulfillment

So what’s wrong with self fulfillment?  The book shelves are filled with sage advice on how to find your true self.  These books and articles are found not only in the secular world but also lining the book shelves in the religious isles.  God wants the best for you–now go out and find it!!  Books such as
“Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young, gives one the impression that somehow your right thinking can bring you happiness.  Unless I misread her writings she believes that the road to happiness lies just beyond your reach. Jesus wants you to be happy.  Happiness is out there in never never land but it’s up to you to find the path to enlightenment.  We have become a “me-ism” society.  What is best for me!

In a new poll conducted by the Wall Street Journal and NBC news said that nearly 80% of people aged 55-91 being patriotic is important to them.  Only thirty percent of Millennials and Gen. X young adults said religion was important…… compared to over 75% of older adults. The one category in the poll where young people outpaced their elders was the importance of self-fulfillment.   In other words, life is all about what makes me happy and fulfilled!

Love of country, love of God, love of family and the desire for children ….are these not the basic building blocks of civilization?  How can so many young people consider them unimportant?  These are God given ideals that should be instilled in every home.  Are we teaching our children that God doesn’t always bring happiness into one’s life?  There are times of sorrow and depression.  Bad things do happen to both the agnostic and the believer.   That sometimes self fulfillment comes through sacrifice and self giving.  It comes when we put God, family and others before ourselves.

Since the 1960s the media, many of our educators, and various commentators have demonized American history and American ideas.  They have minimized the idea of a God who is the Creator of the universe and who has given mankind a code of ethical behavior. God, who knows that moral values and righteous living are the only things that will bring self fulfillment into one’s life. 

Though we give lip service to a deity—“in God We Trust”, activists, judges, and politicians have driven the Judeo/Christian faith from the public square.  Have we become a better people? 

Compare the view of family life on television and in the movies from just 40 years ago.  Shows like “Little House on the Prairie, or the “Brady Bunch”.  Now try to think of a television show or movie from the past decade that offers the positive portrayal of an intact family; a father, a mother, and obedient children. 

As for the pursuit of self-fulfillment, we indoctrinated these young people with the line, ’I am Special.“  We taught our children that the world revolved around them.  In too many cases, we neglected to teach them sacrifice, to put others ahead of themselves and to seek to accomplish the good or the great rather than satisfying their own desires.  Selfless- giving brings self- fulfillment! 

“Train a child in the way he/she should go and even when old they will not depart from it.”(Proverbs 22:6)

V

                                   God vs. Atheism.        

Who was the most hated woman in America? Ask almost anyone living in the 30’s and they would tell you.  In the 1930’s Madelyn Murray O’Hare was widely known, and generally disliked for her atheism and her successful challenge to prayer in school. 

My, how times have changed!!  Who would challenge her views now?  Many in our society today claim to be atheists.  Despite being a minority they are clamoring to remove all signs of our Judeo/ Christian heritage from public places.  Not only is prayer prohibited but gone are the days of celebrating any religious holidays in school.  How did this happen?   From the founding of our Republic in 1776 to 2019 we have become a society which was once based on Christian principles to one where all manner of moral righteousness has been discredited. 

Most people of this generation have never heard of Madelyn Murray but her effect on our society has been overwhelming.  She formed the American Atheistic Society.  She was scorned and ridiculed at the time but almost singlehandedly was successful in her fight with God.  At least she thought so.  Prayer was removed from schools; there was a renewed interest in refuting any and all outward signs of spiritual values. 

So what is the thinking of those with the atheistic mindset?  The term coined for this type of thinking is “secular humanists”.  They firmly believe that the triumph of civilization has been largely accomplished through the systematic debunking and elimination of religious beliefs and by force if necessary.  In the 60s and 70s, we find that these secular humanists took control of the media, academic institutions, and many offices in the federal government.  American universities are fairly bursting at the seams with a kaleidoscopic assortment of former 60s “revolutionaries” or neo-Marxists who espouse similar beliefs.  They are of course the principal  “purveyors” of truth to young students.

For these atheistic “believers”, religion in general and the Bible in particular, is not just wrong but actually dangerous.  That’s because religion and the Bible stand in the way of everything they value most in life……..primarily unlimited sex, freedom from all restraints, and the right to be whatever they deem will make them happy.  They believe that Christians are scheming to impose a kind of Christian theocracy on the enlightened secular societies of the West.  Those who object to partial birth abortion, or condemn homosexual behaviors, are no different than Islamic terrorist groups! 

Sam Harris, the author of the 2005 bestseller “The End of Faith” wrote that the solution to world problems lie in eliminating biblical religion.  His basic arguments are hardly original. They have an unfortunate pedigree. The philosophies of Marx and Lenin wanted to “free mankind from superstitions and the imbecilities of organized religion.”  We need look no further than then horrors of Nazism and Communism to see the millions of human lives snuffed out by faith-hating fanatics.  

 We cannot deny that hundreds have been killed by religious zealots in times past. By this, I mean those who proclaim to speak from a Christian viewpoint.  Yet as horrible as this type of religious intolerance may have been, they pale in comparison with the single minded, bloodthirsty, satanic fury unleashed upon the innocent by the secular atheistic society.  That number might well total to 170 million deaths. 

Richard Dawkins, an avowed evolutionist, writing in his book “The God Delusion” concedes that Hitler, Stalin, Mao and other Communist tyrants were furiously atheistic.  But didn’t these same tyrants kill in the name of science, rational state planning and revolutionary “morality”?

Indeed, it was the arrogant belief of the secular humanists that absolute power belongs to the State. Their direct opposition to the teaching of the Bible, led to the horrors of their regimes.  It was precisely atheism’s teachings that there are no “moral limits” on man’s behavior that allowed these societies to commit mass murder in the name of a higher cause.  “If God is dead, all things are permitted.” (Dostoevsky)

Most Americans, and all believing Jews and Christians, know there are moral limits and that all things are not permitted!  Some things are both sinful and evil. We should never put our trust in an all powerful government, but in an all powerful God who is Himself concerned with our morality and has in fact revealed standards of right and wrong.

Atheism has proven that the blind, useless and dangerous philosophy of atheistic humanism is the greatest danger to world peace.  It is the greatest danger to those of us who value the concepts of Biblical teaching….those of us who value the need and desire for God!

“The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done      abominable works, there isnone that doeth good.”  (Psalm 14:1)