Secularism Part 2

 Last time, I went hard after the secularism that caused the "right" to drift to a non-traditional candidate four years ago in Donald J. Trump. Since that post the RNC has had their national convention, nominated Trump for a second term, and done their best to convince Americans that he continues to be the right man for the job. Their argument has been bolstered of late because of the further demise of decency and values throughout our nation expressed in the riots, demonstrations, and crimes that are plaguing our major cities in recent days. Again, I am not a Trump defender and I am more than happy to call the president out when he tweets inappropriate comments or violates the principles of conservatism rooted in historical liberalism, but that is not the purpose of this post. 

The purpose of this post is to turn our attention to the Left and its continual lurch toward secular humanism and the removal of the bedrock of Western Culture, the Judeo-Christian Ethic. To get the fullest picture of these things I would encourage any reader to check out RC Sproul's teaching series "A Blue Print for Thinking." For simplicity you can click here and it will take you to the teaching series. From the Enlightenment on thinkers and philosophers have been seeking to understand humanity outside of the normal, or at least the historical ways, that man was pondered before. There was the idea that man was not the center of the universe, but something outside of him. And whatever that something was, it was what drove man "to be" and to live in such a way that he promoted the good of others, even if it meant suffering for himself. This was modeled in Plato's writings concerning Socrates, the Hebrew Bible, and ultimately in the New Testament with the life of Christ. Now, of course the Biblical record has an even greater purpose in its writing, namely the personal revelation of the God who has made all things and for whom all things exist, but for the purpose of this examination we are simply highlighting the ethical and moral teachings of that Sacred Book. 

With Enlightenment thinking aimed more directly at man's pursuit of his own personal happiness, philosophy and other disciplines began to follow suit. The greatest display of man's desire to make himself the center of the universe finally arrived in the mid-19th century with Darwin's book, "On the Origin of Species." Evolutionary biology and humanistic philosophy now had their treatise on how to break away from the problem with a "Creator" and move to a view that all of creation was not actually a creation at all as much as it was an accidental achievement of evolutionary chaos. This only further cemented the view that man existed for his own good, because without a god to keep man accountable to himself or his fellow man he was free to pursue his own pursuits however he saw fit. Now, for clarification I will state that in varying degrees man has always been given over to this desire to throw-off his Creator. This was exactly what happened in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve, and what man has being doing ever since that day in worshiping idols, false gods, himself, or any other thing like science, sports, politics, money, fame, etc. has only further illustrated man's fallen heart and sinful nature. 

Man's proclivity to such thinking is what allowed for the immediate spread and adoption of Darwin's view as the chief "scientific" and "philosophical" received truth that began to be pushed by the intellectuals of the day. It truly did not take long, historically speaking of course, for Darwin's theory to become the accepted science and for it to even find its way into classrooms and colleges in no time at all. With this mindset also came the Progressive Era, where men and women seeing themselves as the center of everything, began to demand rights not based on Natural Law or what may be best in a pluralistic society, but on the basis of what made them feel "equal." Whether it was the right to vote, taxing income, a right to work, the need for safety nets, or the great number of issues that arose in the early 20th century, no longer were we as a people seeking what Higher Law had established, but we were finding comfort in the Civil Law, man's ideal of equity based on jurisprudence and legislation and not a rooted ethic. Yes, there had been some Natural Laws that had been violated in the past by this government and others, namely the acceptance of race based slavery and the idea that people of color where somehow less human than others. However, this errors were exploited to deny the usefulness of Natural Law, instead of rightly recognizing where people had been erroneous in their interpretation of what God had rightly demanded from his creation. 

Woodrow Wilson was the first president to not only use his progressive ideas to come to political prominence, but he himself was a racist who viewed people of color as inferior to others, which was a logical conclusion based on his view of human beings and their origins. Some may have tried to use biblical links such as the infamous "curse of Ham" to make the same arguments, but this only revealed their ignorance of Scripture, because there is no "curse of Ham" mentioned in the Bible. Canaan is cursed by Noah in the biblical account after the flood, but the larger family of Ham is not included in that cursing. The argument can be made historically that this is what sets God against the people of Canaan, and contributes greatly in their future judgment by the people of Israel in their conquest of Canaan's land after the period of Egypt captivity. All of this is in fulfillment of God's promises made to the Patriarch Abraham and continued through his sons Isaac and Jacob. All this aside to simply say the continuation of racial injustice and inequity has much more of a basis in progressivist secularism than it does in a Biblical Ethic. 

This is the direction I want to continue in as we further examine 20th and 21st century culture and society and how we have arrived at where we are today. I do believe that secular humanism rooted in an evolutionary philosophy of mankind pushed by the progressivist left has been the primary engine that has moved our society and culture away from Natural Law, Western Philosophy, and a common morality. However, I think the same mindset that has allowed this is universal in all man. I think our fallen nature blinds our eyes, deafens our ears, clouds our minds, and hardens our hearts to the truth of God and what He demands of His creation. I do not think that Truth can be found in governments of politicians, but I do think that those in authority have a God-mandated right to do what is good and to protect the people God has placed them over. I firmly believe the Left has diminished the role of the family, men, and the church in the lives of people to the extent that the violence and anarchy that is ongoing today is a direct product of. In my next post I hope to finally getting around to explaining those things, and then ultimately providing good and healthy solutions to how we might be able to solve the problems that plague us, if we are not too late. Thank you for reading. God bless you and come, Lord Jesus! 

Secularism's Failure: Part 1

Secularism is killing the American experiment. When people have no ethical foundation, they have no absolutes to control them or ground them to reality. Then they are left to perceiving everything as some sort of injustice or crime on the basis of it hurts their feelings or their notion of what should be considered "right" and "wrong". Once this occurs, they come after everything and everyone they believe to be in violation of the morals they choose to value at the moment. Right now what is valued is anything not connected with Trump, conservatism, or the narrative that has been created by whomever it is that is controlling the press.
I am not a Trump fan. I did not vote for the man in 2016 and I have NO DESIRE to vote for him this year. I do take more delight than I should in the anger that he creates from those on the left, but I have no desire to support him, his immorality, or his stupidity in leadership. He is indeed feckless and immature in his ability to lead and should never have been entrusted with the office of Washington, Lincoln, and Reagan. Yet, he has become a litmus test in many ways for people struggling to really understand the American experiment. America has never been a nation symbolized by one man, even though many outside her boarders reduce her to this picture. But those of us inside understand that the Executive branch of our government is an every changing office. I am on the seventh president of my lifetime. Carter was still in office at my birth, even if he only had a few months left, and I am now a man near 40 with the hope that an eighth president will be inaugurated in January of 2021 (For the record I do not desire that to be Joe Biden the presumptive Democratic nominee, perhaps Kanye West will overtake them both! You never know in 2020!)
In the eyes of many, Trump represents a regressive decision by Americans after the "hope and optimism" of the Obama years. We had elected our first president of color, and were viewed as progressing to some sort of utopian future by some. Those on the other side of the aisle viewed things slightly differently from a political and governing standpoint, and because of the concern of liberalism that was arising from most Americans feeling marginalized or unrepresented all together by their government, they elected a loud-mouth, neophyte in the realm of politics because they thought they were throwing off the status quo, and electing a true change maker. In the end they were electing what many on both sides knew to be an immoral, untrustworthy, self-promoter who was simply running in hope of building his brand.
Trump was never prepared for the task of being president and everything from Day 1 has displayed that. The best credentials Trump has ever had was that the people that hate him were the people that the right hated. In other words, he at least had the right enemies, and as we know, "The enemy of my enemies is my friend." This idea was what carried him to the White House, as well as the notion that experience in politics, actual intelligence, and personal morality where a standard of the past. "HEY! Clinton was a lousy moral example, but at least he governed as a centrist" seemed to become the motto of the very people that sought to impeach Clinton because of his infidelity. It's a great reminder that ANGER, BITTERNESS, and DIVISIVENESS are never good motivators for supporting a candidate, pastor, and any other person for that matter. It's also revealing how much FEAR became an instigator in the mind and hearts of those that choose to support Trump and continue to till this day.
What they fear is a lost ideal that I don't think America ever really possessed, or at least hasn't possessed since Woodrow Wilson brought in the Progressive Era, and potentially even before then. This is where secularism began to take its hold on the American Experience and where we will pick back up on this topic in my next posts...

Clay Feet and Tumbling Strawmen

One of the greatest motifs of the Bible is the constant refrain that even the "good guys" mess up. From the outset this lesson becomes clear with Adam, our first father, bringing sin into the world by disobeying the ONE command given to him by his Creator. Then just a few chapters later we see the next "father of the world", Noah, get drunk in his tent and have to have two of his sons care for him in his inebriated state. Then there's Abraham, the first of the patriarchs and the "father of faith", who seems to turn coward every time he meets any man of power. And on and on we could go through Moses and Aaron, Gideon, Barak, Jephthah, Samson (seriously, have you read about this guy??? NO WAY he would survive 21st century scrutiny. I bet he would be blasted for being friends with Joe Rogan or perhaps just listening to his podcast!), David (man after God's own heart, you say?), Solomon, Jonah (spoiler alert, he's kinda racist), and even into the New Testament with the Apostles Peter and Paul all of these men have serious flaws and foibles that lead anyone reading with an open mind wondering how these guys could ever be considered "Heroes" of the faith.  However, if you read with eyes and ears opened by the Spirit, you'll be able to understand why God is prone to use men with clay feet (and by "clay feet" I mean "obvious imperfections") to accomplish His glorious purposes because it highlights who the real hero of the Bible truly is.
Throughout the Bible there is only one person who is presented as, and is clearly known, to be perfect, and that is the God-Man Jesus Christ. From his birth to John announcing the beginning of his public ministry to his death and resurrection and the teaching of the Apostles about all of these things, it is made clear that the one true HERO of the Bible is Jesus Christ. Hebrews makes it very clear when the writer says, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15, ESV) Jesus is "the spotless lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world." Jesus is the one who endures every temptation known to man,"lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life", so that he could be the sin bearer for those whom the Father had given him. That means when Christ went to the cross and suffered the Father's wrath he was doing it to redeem the sins of all his brothers and sisters for all time. Christ died for Samson's sins, Jonah's sins, and my sins. He also died for the sins of Southern slave holders, Confederate soldiers, western expansionist that persecuted American Indians, Jim Crow proponents, and any other sins many today deem unforgivable.
I don't understand why God allowed some of the most famous men of faith in the Bible to be polygamist, scandalous, murderous, and racist in their words and actions. But I do know that's exactly why Christ came and died, because all of us are sinners in need of Christ's redeeming work to save us from the wrath of God. All of us have sins that we are unaware of because of cultural acceptance, lack of maturity, or spiritual blindness. It doesn't make those sins less grievous or offensive to a Holy God, but it does display why our sins must be judged by a Holy God because we are so comfortable in our own sin that we don't even realize how sinful we are in thought, word, and deed on a daily basis.
This is why I will never be a fan of tearing down statues, especially by mob rule, of men that by all accounts were men no different than some of the men the Bible praises. And yes, I mean praises, read Hebrews 11, commonly known as the "Hall of Faith" chapter, and whose names do you read? Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, and David. Would I like it better if all of these men were perfectly moral with no obvious flaws or shortcomings? Most definitely! Do I cheer or promote their sins? NOT AT ALL! But do I understand that ultimately they are only men with clay feet not honored for their perfections, but highlighted because despite their imperfections they had faith in the one who would take away their sins and justify them before the Father? YES! Now, I know that not all of the statues being torn down and left to the trash-bin of history are men of faith. As a matter of fact very few of them may have been men of faith, perhaps that could be an explanation for their sins. However, they all serve to remind us that our own American history wasn't established by innocent men, but by those willing to take a stand in their own generations for things they were convicted needed to be defended. Were some of them wrong in their convictions? YES, and shouldn't that be worth remembering? The only thing we can be certain of is the truth that is contained in God's Word, and tearing down the statues of those we deem unworthy is only an exercise in tearing down straw-men arguments of our opponents because we are too insecure about our own beliefs to explain the truth and nuance of those who have gone own before us.
So let's take a lesson from Scripture, instead of tearing down statues and monuments, let's learn. Let's ask the hard questions about life and being. Let's not forget that even good and decent men could be wrong about issues we believe to be so clear now. Let's be humbled because there may come a generation after us that recognizes more clearly the sins that we committed as a people. And let us all be thankful that even those sins we commit in ignorance are put away through the death and resurrection of Jesus, and despite our blindness, God is full of grace and mercy and will not withhold his forgiveness from all who are in Christ and have submitted to Him.

Ten Years Later...

Well... it's been 10 years since I posted a blog on this site. In that time my wife and I have added four more children, moved a few times, settled in Laurel, MS, survived Covid, and are a month away from celebrating our 18th wedding anniversary. And of course it would take the absolute craziness of 2020 to finally get me to find my way back to this old place and make some random comments about the seeming insanity that we see all around today.
The family and I have been enjoying the quarantine life since I tested positive for Covid-19 on June 6th. It's been over two weeks since we started our time in quarantine, and we are waiting another week before really getting out to make sure that we've given plenty of time for everyone to have gone through their full two weeks since their first symptoms. By "really getting out" I mean allowing everyone to be out in public and not just sit in a vehicle while getting gas or picking up groceries in the pick up lane. In the mean time I have enjoyed getting some reading done, spending time with the family, and getting hooked home renovations shows.
Also, I've been watching how secularism has revealed all of its downfalls over the last several weeks, and even though it's been fulfilling watching secularism prove its inability to order a society with its ever changing morals and lack of belief in absolute truth, it's sad to see people giving over to chaos and uncertainty because their worldview has proven to be built on sinking sand. For example, I was reading on Twitter about how upset people were about all of the things they WERE NOT taught in public school, or at least not given the full story about. I laughed audibly at the things being mentioned, not because they were inconsequential and didn't deserve to be included in the curriculum of public schools, but because public schools have been leftist institutions basically since their inception. John Dewey, the founding father of public education in America, was a leftist and most (I'm being generous because "all" seems a bit presumptive) public schools have been overseen by liberals ever since. Therefore, those wringing their hands over what wasn't or hasn't been taught have only their friendly leftist-secularist leaders to blame. And of course all of this begs the question, "Why wouldn't our secularist educators want us to know all about their failed policies throughout American history?" But, I'm pretty sure you know the answer to that one...
This isn't to simplify the complicated issues around us and just point the finger at the left and say "it's all your fault!" No, Christians do in fact have some responsibility to own up to and most of that is connected to not being more forthright in their preaching and teaching of the whole counsel of God, and, instead, being intimidated by the ever-changing demands of secular culture. Soft-pedaling the Gospel, avoiding biblical ethics, adding to Scripture the opinions of men, churches seeing one another as competitors instead of co-laborers are just a few examples of ways Christians have failed the culture they have been planted in and haven't helped their fellow man to understand their Creator's expectations for them and why He has every right to make those demands on His creation.
I think I am going to use this post as a jumping off point to start a series of posts diagnosing the problems around us today and offer some real solutions at how to begin remedying those problems. I'm not a fan of pointing out problems without offering some sort of solution, so my aim will be to do that as detailed as possible. You may not agree, but I would hope to at least start a conversation or two that may result in seeing fruitful results for Christians, like me, who are seeking to persevere in this life, while anxiously waiting for the hope of the world to come.

My new part-time job

All information regarding EIM can be found at http://www.eimworldwide.org/

Evangelistic International Ministries (EIM) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the spreading of the Gospel to all peoples. Its ministry also includes providing humanitarian assistance to the underdeveloped countries that it ministers in. Some examples include providing feeding programs in Honduras; Ghana, West Africa and the Philippines. They also provide medical care in Honduras, water well construction in Ghana and have provided aid to countries like Pakistan when they have encountered natural disasters. They have met the needs of many different people in many different ways, but their main objective in all of this has always been to open up avenues in these countries were they are then able to share from the scriptures the amazing sacrifice of Christ to all who would hear.

My role with EIM is to be the new program director. My job responsibilities include planning and developing programs in these countries targeted at reaching more people with the kindness and love that all Christians are called to display. Along with this it is my responsibility to raise the necessary funds for EIM to operate these programs as well as their day to day operations. EIM has $2.2 million in assets around the world, and for any small business this can be a heavy burden to maintain, let alone a non-profit organization that is dependent upon donor giving to run all of its ministry needs. That is why I am asking all of you out there to begin praying about how you can begin supporting EIM. If you are on staff or affiliated with a church in any way, I or one of our directors would love to come to your church and share with you what EIM is all about and what we are doing to reach those in need. If you are apart of a foundation or charity that would be interested in supporting the General operating cost of such an organization as EIM, or more specifically interested in the many projects we are invested in, then please let me know how we could garner your support in our world wide efforts.

EIM was started out of the burden my grandfather had for people of all color, creed and culture and has spread into a world wide ministry that has reached countless people with the Gospel. My desire is not to simply raise money to fill the coffers of EIM, but to make it a stronger organization capable of meeting the needs of more and more people.

First, let me end by asking you to please start praying for the work that EIM is doing around the world. Secondly, Would you please pray about supporting the work God has given us? Thirdly, Would you please pass this on to any person, church or group that you think might be interested in assisting us? Finally, maybe God is also laying it on your heart to visit one of the many mission fields that EIM is active in. If so, then go to our website at http://www.eimworldwide.org/ where you can find out all the information you need to know about who we are and where we are working. Thanks for your time and God bless.

Townhall meetings, cowardice Senators and Congressional Reps and Arlen Specter

First things first, is it me or does Arlen Specter have the only voice in the world that Stephen Hawking isn't jealous of. I mean when the guy talks he literally sounds like he is drowning. I was listening to the news the other day not realizing it was him at a townhall meeting and I thought someone had switched the television to shark week on the Discovery Channel and they were playing audio of someone who was trying to talk while being pulled under water by a great white. Come on great people of Pennsylvania, I know you couldn't have elected this man because of his eloquence, or really even understood what he was saying at all. Was his opponent R2-D2 or some other primitive robot that truly couldn't be understood?

Now to the townhall meetings and the great Senators and Representatives who are hosting them. First of all, why do these things always have to turn into screaming matches? I mean haven't we proven that intellectual discourse about conservatism always wins out over liberalism. There is no need to scream and yell, because no matter what you are saying you always come off as being ignorant and intolerant OR Nancy Pelosi. There are legitimate concerns about the Democrats Health Insurance proposal and just shouting out about loss liberties and government control isn't going to convince more people about the danger of this legislation. Talk about the lack of Tort Reform in the bill that would drastically reduce cost as well as unnecessary test ordered by doctors to cover their own backsides or any chance of a mistake in their diagnosis. Mention the need for illegal immigration reform to stop people that aren't here legally from abusing the system being paid for by legal US citizens. There are ways that the Democrats could actually present a bill that would be cost reductive and good for all citizens needing health insurance but the bottom line is that isn't their (the democrats) real concern. There only concern is getting their hands on 1/7 of the GDP of this country and being able to control the type of care and lifestyle that many Americans have become accustomed to. And this whole point about them mandating seniors to meet with their doctors once they turn 75 to discuss "end of life care". Are you really surprised by this? I mean this is coming from the party that has no care at all for the unborn of this nation, why be so surprised that they wouldn't care for the elderly as well. They can kill the baby in the latest stages of a pregnancy, and now people are bothered that they might be able to tell your grandparents or great grandparents that they need to just go ahead and die since they are in the late stages of their lives. It is merely a continuation of their philosophy in regards to life don't be so shocked when liberals are simply being liberals. It's just what they do.

Finally, to all those Congress people and Senators who are cancelling their townhall meetings to hold teleconference meetings instead. I hope all of you lose your next election in landslide defeats. How you can't muster the courage to go before the people you represent and defend this monstrosity of a bill shows both your cowardice and ignorance in regards to the Democratic process. Americans have the right to voice their displeasure, and in turn be proven wrong if public perception has erred on the facts. However, a lack of any true attempt to persuade the citizens that they have been wrong on their interpretation of any legislation shows that it is the Representative who is in error and must be the one to admit it and vote the will of his people. Ultimately, if a Congressional worker decides that he is smarter than his constituents or knows better what is best for them, then in turn those same people have every right to make their voices heard at the ballot box and remove that person from office. Democracy is a beautiful thing. It keeps uprisings from occurring and the will of the people ever before those who are suppose to be looking out for them. When any Senator or Representative negates their constituents the ability to flourish in this system they show themselves to not only be unpatriotic, but the same type of tyrant that this country fought against for it independence.

God and government

Once abolish the God and the government becomes the God -- G.K. Chesterton

In a world seemingly dominated by pragmatism and illogical thinking, the search for hope in many areas of life becomes more and more simplistic for many individuals. They search for hope in many places and institutions, thinking that somewhere along the road they many stumble upon someone or something that gives their life meaning or value. For those who are poor and destitute it could be anything from a simple meal to a dry bed, for the middle class it might be a nice home, car or secure employment and for the wealthy a high six figure salary or a vacation home far from the worries of every day life. All of these mentioned are examples of how God and His Word has been pushed aside by people of all colors and societal levels in favor of immediate or instant gratification, and an embracing of what the world has to offer over the gift of eternity in fellowship with a Holy God.

Another example in America today of how people are seeking refuge in other places besides the Gospel, is the overwhelming growth in our government being allowed by the great citizens of this country. Now, I know that there are many who are beginning to see the dangers of this colossal mistake, but the true foundation of this problem was laid down many years ago and has been slowly progressing ever since. This is not to in any way link faith in God to the need for a small central government, but, however, I do want to make the case that a true faith in God assures us that we then have no need for a large, authoritarian government that scrutinizes our every move.

Above is a quote from G.K. Chesterton that ascertains that once God has been removed from public thought government becomes something of a god to many individuals, because there is essentially nothing left to give them the care and protection that they know they need. To me this is a horrendous thought. If we have learned anything as a country in the last 233 years since we declared our independence it is that man universally is flawed in both his character and his conduct. And if we begin to hang our hopes and desires upon any leader we will certainly have our hearts dashed on the rocks of reality. Governments fall, men sin and those who have blindly followed their direction will be tossed aside.

The Christian today faces an incredible battle against public opinion and a post-modern mind-set. These two things are in direct contrast to what the Christian knows to be true, yet the feeling of exclusivity scares him to the point of being enveloped by the whims of main-stream thinking. What the Christian must do is unshackle himself from the chains of an idealitic fallacy, and cling to what he knows will ultimately lead to his rescue.

The Christian today must no longer see government as an institution that works to accomplish his betterment, but as an entity established by God to teach us our need for protection and the importance of following the rule of law. Not in a salvivic since or legalistic since, but knowing that as we follow the law we do so with the intent of Glorifying God for His willingness to protect us through any means possible for the time being.

The culmination of our Great Salvation will not come through an utopian society established by any human creation, but by the glorious return of our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ. In him we place all of our hope and faith. In Him we place our security and need for protection. In Him we place our care and concerns both physically and spirtually. We know that the Kingdom of God is here in part and one day will be here in full, but while we wait we do so patiently and wisely not allowing ourselves to be fooled by the folly of man nor the guise of the devil in giving us empty promises or false hopes. We must and are established in Christ chosen in Him before the foundations of world, built up through His Spirit and grounded in His Word. Let us never forsake the promises of Sacred Scripture for the futility of vain earthly pledges.