Can Reality Come Between A Man, and Christ?

"Hi, I'm at Lifeway. Want anything?" My wife asked over the phone after attending one of my oldest daughter's basketball games.

"Absolutely! If they have The Great Good Thing by Andrew Klavan, pick it up!" I replied. She did. And over the past day and a half, I have been in reading heaven.

I first discovered Andrew Klavan by accident. Someone had linked to one of his videos on Facebook. Klavan's most recent incarnation is that of a political pundit on The Daily Wire. His daily podcast mixes satire with politics and current events. Klavan, without being risque or rude, says what we really think, and turns the turmoil of today's political corruption into a daily sitcom. The first video I watched, a rapid fire assault on the ridiculousness of the boycott on North Carolina due to their bathroom law, said essentially everything I thought about the controversy, only in a more entertaining way. 

Andrew Klavan

If I had only known Klavan for his political commentary, I'd have been a fan. However, a few weeks after I discovered him, Klavan released his new book, The Great Good Thing. The book is Klavan's story of growing from a secular Jew to a believer in Jesus Christ. The title, premise and author were enough to sell me on the book, but Klavan's commentary on his book, offered on a series of TV interviews and podcasts I found on YouTube, enticed me even more. 

During those interviews, Klavan discussed his search for the truth, his never-ending self-assessment of his motivations, and ultimately how he came to believe the truth, and to show his conversion via a Protestant baptism. 

So, as soon as Jessica returned home with the book, I opened it to the introduction. Introducing the premise of the book, Klavan discussed his struggle with converting to Christianity. Among other things (doubt as to his motivation, family heritage, etc), Klavan discussed his love for life, his fascination with the things of this world, and his attraction to what is real. 

Klavan discussed how, during his struggle with converting to Christianity, he feared he would lose touch with reality. Already well-known for writing thrillers, murder mysteries, and TV shows, Klavan was concerned that his writing would drift toward softer stories, like a little girl whose bunny turns up missing but miraculously returns. While this may seem silly to some, Klavan understood the gritty nature of the real world around us, and he didn't want to be converted to a fruit-loop with his head in the clouds when he converted to Christianity. (My words, not his). 

To a degree, I can understand his concern. Working in the news business, and political talk radio, I see every day the effects of sin on this world. I read and research news stories about kids who kill their parents, parents who kill or torture their children, politicians who carelessly leave America's finest to die while they plan their next fundraiser, and the devastating effects avarice and lust have on this society. 

Being a minister of God's Word, I've had to counsel with the teenage girl 'abused' by her father, the child who witnessed his/her father nearly murder his/her stepmother, the teenager whose been left homeless, the kid abandoned by both parents, the war veteran living with PTSD, and the family living in extreme poverty.

These experiences propel me to do battle. This is a Spiritual war that can only be won by proclaiming God's word, confronting evil, and honoring your responsibilities. It's the kind of battle that you cannot win by saying "too blessed to be stressed." Such pithy sayings, in my opinion, are a disengagement of the Spiritual battle we face, and constitute living in denial. Sure, God is good all the time. Sure, God holds us in the palm of His hand. Sure, God is in control. However, God not only gave us the capability to join His cause and battle on His behalf, but has also called us to do so. 

As a result, I lack the polished appearance, speech and demeanor many pastors have. (And they use that demeanor as an armor they wear into the Spiritual battle.)

So, when Klavan feared that he would lose his edge, his understanding of reality upon conversion, I understand where he is coming from. Furthermore, I find it interesting that his understanding of the Christian nature was one where reality is denied, and people keep their heads in the clouds. Have we as Christians put forth an image of softness, denial, and rose-colored glasses? If so, that's a shame. 

We have been put on this earth to shine God's light, to spread His Gospel, to visit the orphans and widows, and to feed His sheep. That process involves standing against evil, and from time to time, beating away the wolves. 

Life is a gift. It's wonderful, fun and interesting. It's also hard, gritty, dirty, and deadly. We need to engage the reality around us, and rescue those who are perishing. The lost around us need to know that we can help, and that we can speak true wisdom into their lives, not just quote "God's Little Instruction Book."

May God bless you as you do the Lord's work. 

Why This Election Will Not Stop The Great American Decline

Sorry for the reference to The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again," but I've been through enough elections to know that the results of this election will not bring sweeping change to our country. The United States has been on a downward trajectory for years, and it has less to do with whom we elect, than who we are.

Our elected leaders stink, because we stink. Our government is dysfunctional, because we are dysfunctional. Our society crumbles because we removed the bedrock foundation that made it great. I don't care how magnificent the structure, you remove it's foundation, and the whole thing falls.

The foundation of American society was faith. Faith in God who built this country and blessed it. Faith in the American people who built this country and defended it. Faith in the American dream which built the greatest society and economy the world has ever known. Faith.

In his book, Democracy in America, Alexis de Tocqueville noted the role that faith played in the American experiment. Faith, he wrote, was essential to democracy working, because it was the faith of Americans which convicted us that we had a responsibility not only to ourselves, but to do right by others.

Following de Tocqueville's logic, if you remove faith, then America descends into a conglomeration of warring factions, with each group and individual seeking pleasure and power at the expense of others. The nation degrades into a group of fractured demographics, all of which are opposed to the others, with leaders seeking the support of these warring factions until ultimately the country tears itself apart.

This is not Obama's fault, and it's not going to be solved by Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump. This crisis will only be resolved by a revival in our country.

This Decline Is Evident In The Foster Care Crisis

Every week, I read stories about the supposed "failing" foster care system in Texas. There aren't enough workers, foster homes are overcrowded, and of course, there isn't enough money.

The problem with the foster care system, at least in Texas, is not that there's a lack of money, foster homes or case workers. It only appears such because we have an abundance of parents, who, after having rejected faith, have elected to abuse drugs and their children. Right now, there are approximately 6,000 children in the Texas foster care system awaiting adoption. That's not including the children who were taken into care last month, or those whose parents' rights have not been terminated. Think about that, there are enough children in foster care in Texas to populate a small city. That means that thousands of parents have shirked their responsibilities, and actively harmed their children.

The increase in abusive households is not the fault of the federal government, government policy, nor is it the fault of Child Protective Services. The increase in abusive households is the result of the degradation of society brought on by the abandonment of faith.

Poverty

The fact that, with all the prosperity we see in America, poverty affects families across generations is another sign that our foundation has been compromised. America is the land of opportunity. Despite all of our complaints with the tax system, welfare state, and corporate corruption, America is still the one place that you can go from rags to riches in one generation.

While millions of people find themselves temporarily in poverty, perpetual poverty is the result of the foundation of faith being removed from American society. Once again, if you remove faith, you remove hope, and you remove personal responsibility.

Currently, we have millions living in multi-generational poverty, when the formula for escaping poverty is as simple as it has ever been. The left-leaning Brookings Institute has released three steps to escaping poverty. Basically, if you follow these three steps, you will escape poverty without fail.

These three steps are: (1) Graduate high school, (2) wait until you turn 21 to get married, and don't have children out of wedlock, and (3) get a full-time job.

Yet, we have generations of Americans who are dropping out of education, who are having children out of wedlock, and who refuse to do what it takes to get a job. These decisions are influenced, not only by a lack of hope, but a never-ending list of voices who tell the impoverished that there is no hope, they are not responsible to make good decisions, and that their plight is caused by the rich man. These dishonest voices are motivated by greed, as an entire class of activists and political operatives draw their power and income from the plight of the poor. Once again, faith has been removed, and ruin follows.

Calling Good Evil, and Evil Good

America is going through a time of transition where our values are fundamentally changing. The institutions that made America great, the church, higher education, the family and the community, are metamorphosing in ways we never imagined. In order to remain relevant, many churches are abandoning orthodox teachings and normalizing sinful behavior. Many avoid standing on moral principle, or standing for God's word, by employing a "judge-not" philosophy on life.

Higher education no longer seems to challenge the thinking of its students, electing rather to avoid hurting anyone's feelings. (That's really a shame. Though I had liberal professors who challenged my conservative Christian views, it was through defending those views to said liberal professors that I learned to think for myself, and construct my own world view, which is even more in line with scripture, and more conservative than it was prior to going to college).

The family is being redefined from a mother, father, and children, to any group of people who happen to live together. This arrangement diminishes and even negates the responsibility to raise children, which gets relegated to government schools.

As these changes progress, the American world view degrades into a cesspool of self-loathing, moral ineptitude, and rampant sin, which will ultimately result in the loss of America's greatness.

I could go on...

... but I won't. I could address how rampant sexual immorality is victimizing today's children, thus perpetuating itself to the next generation, or how the abdication of personal responsibility is leading us to communism and the loss of all freedom. I could talk about the evaporation of the American economy as companies are less interested in creating value and products, and more interested in automating financial reports. I could discuss our fascination with violence, the loss of decorum, the rejection of truth, and the admiration of evil. But I won't. That would be running up the score.

So, if your candidate loses, don't lose heart. If your candidate wins, don't celebrate too much. The real problems in America originate with our hearts, and not in the Oval Office.

It's time for America to repent. It's time for us to turn from our sin and turn back to the Lord. It's time for us to renew our faith in God, our faith in each other, and our faith in the American way. If we fail to do that, even a resurrected Ronald Reagan won't be able to help us.

Renew your faith, and I'll see you in church on Sunday.

Let Us Not Do Evil, So That Good May Come

There's an old saying that "the ends justifies the means." Basically, if you get a good result, it does not matter how you arrived at your destination. Therefore, you can freely justify any behavior so long as your intentions were for a good result. This line of thinking has caused thousands of good Christians to sacrifice their integrity and surrender their testimonies, all for the sake of pursuing a goal, whether that goal was a legislative or electoral victory, or whether that goal was effecting change in their local churches or communities.

History is full of churches that died as a result of splits caused by members pursuing a Godly goal through unGodly means. Maybe the preacher did deserve to be fired. Maybe the church needed to launch a youth ministry or transition its worship style. Maybe the red carpet was the best choice... however in many cases, those changes were pursued using the unGodly means of gossiping, backbiting, slander, and vote stuffing. The results of this behavior have been devastating each time this strategy has been employed.

This morning on News/Talk 102.3 KXYL in Brownwood, TX, I once again drew fire from listeners for not defending Donald Trump's candidacy for President. Particularly, I said he was as deplorable as Hillary Clinton, and when asked about his Christianity, I expressed my doubts.

(1) He has never made a public profession of faith. Trump has never publicly stated that he has had a conversion experience.

(2) He has publicly stated that he hasn't had to ask forgiveness for anything, because he hasn't done anything wrong. (I'm referring to the statements he made back during the primary, not during a recent Presidential debate.)

What we do know about Donald Trump is there is a line of women accusing him of sexual harassment. There is audio tape of him describing his tendency to grope women (statements that mirrored a 1997 sexual harassment suit against him). There are questions about his business practices, and just a few years ago, he was pro-abortion, and pro-government healthcare. There are serious questions about his character.

Now, this is the part of the discussion where people ask me, "What about Hillary Clinton?" She's deplorable, and could possibly be the most despicable person to be elected President. However, Clinton does not claim to represent my values. Clinton does not claim to speak for my Lord, and Clinton is not trying to court my vote. Clinton represents the other side of the political aisle. It is not my job as a conservative, evangelical Republican to hold the Democratic Party accountable for its values and nominees. It is my responsibility to make sure my own house is clean. Before I should seek to remove the speck from the Democrats eyes, I must first make sure my own are clear.

While I understand that a Hillary presidency would be disastrous, I have no obligation to endorse anyone who opposes her. At the same time, I have to keep in mind that when I sign my name to a candidate, I am also putting my credibility and testimony on the line. While a Trump victory would give Republicans the White House, I would also have to explain why it's okay for Trump to commit adultery, but not Bill Clinton. I would have to explain why Trump is inherently innocent of all accusations brought against him, but why Hillary is automatically guilty.

Furthermore, I have to look at the girls in my youth group and tell them why we should support Trump, in spite of his "locker room" talk, while at the same time teaching them about living in holiness. For those reasons alone, I cannot bring myself to endorse Donald Trump. That's before we even delve into the issue of his changing positions on conservative issues.

Donald Trump may win the 2016 election. He may lose. Regardless, the Republican Party, and the evangelicals that supported Trump's nomination and campaign, are about to learn a hard lesson. Compromising the means to achieve a desired end leads to devastation each and every time. Perhaps we should have actually consulted our Bibles during the primaries, and remembered Romans 3:8, which says (paraphrased) let us not do evil so that good may come.

From Pulpit To Pundit: When Pastors Enter The Political Fray

Pastor Robert Jeffress has been a lightning rod since becoming pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas. He has consistently weighed in on the issues of the day, often promoting Biblically correct, yet politically incorrect positions. The first time I saw Dr. Jeffress on television, he was giving a statement from the pulpit of First Baptist Church in Dallas, addressing negative press he had received from the Dallas Morning News. He was not explaining his comment, nor was he apologizing. He was doubling down, and giving new information to back up his position, concluding his remarks that his position was the result of research, and that he was not "ignorant on this topic."

Initially, I was skeptical of his ministry, but after hearing one of his sermons via KCBI in Dallas, I began to appreciate his ministry a little more. (Ironically, his sermon was on the role of being a culture warrior AND a representative of Christ.)

Typically, when a pastor enters the fray of political discourse, he angers many, and people leave the church. Meanwhile, at First Baptist Church of Dallas, the congregation grows and efforts to build a new campus are currently underway.

While I can't say I endorse everything Dr. Jeffress has said (I haven't researched his positions on every topic on which he has weighed in,) I do appreciate his boldness in speaking out. In the above-posted video, Dr. Jeffress highlights the differences between Christianity and Islam.

Faith is not just something we feel on Sundays. Our faith is what shapes our lives, and drives our decisions. Which means our faith involves every single aspect of our lives, from how we behave at work, to how we vote, to whether or not we truly represent Christ. Indeed, our faith affects how we interpret the news and issues of the day. For that reason, pastors such as Dr. Jeffress weigh in, providing Biblical perspective to the events of our day.

Perhaps I should say that more strongly. Pastors such as Dr. Jeffress tell us what God says about the events of our day.

The goal here is not to deliver votes to the Republican Party, neither is it to force views onto others. It is an attempt to give Spiritual guidance to those who follow Christ, and to influence others into seeing the Christian point of view. Ultimately, we (Christians) all want a nation that pleases God, a nation that He blesses.

For that reason, it is incumbent upon pastors to give Biblical insight into the issues of the day, and a Godly perspective into the news of the day. All too often, pastors avoid this in order to avoid controversy which could impact the church. There are a few, however, that are willing to take on the controversy if it means that the truth gets spoken. And that's why pastors like Dr. Jeffress should be congratulated, even if we don't always agree with them. Pastors like Dr. Jefffress actually have core beliefs and convictions, and act out on them, and that is something that we call can appreciate.

But those are just my thoughts... what are yours? Should pastors use their platform to weigh in on the issues of the day?

It's Not About Right to Religion, It's About the Right to Connect with God

National Public Radio recently ran a story about the conflict between the law of the land, The Affordable Care Act, and the religious beliefs and practices of the Catholic church, which doesn't believe in the use of birth control. The premise of the story is what happens, and what should happen, when one's religious views run contrary to the law of the land. While I am glad that NPR has chosen to highlight the consequences American Christians are facing for holding to their faith, the piece misses fundamental truths about God, man, and freedom.

The U.S. Constitution prohibits Congress (and by extension, the state governments) from making a law respecting the establishment of religion, or the free exercise thereof. This was the first right listed in the Bill of Rights, and for good reason. Those who colonized America often did so to escape religious persecution in Europe. Further, the founding fathers remembered the days under British rule, when personal liberties had become rare.

So, in the Declaration of Independence, the founding fathers affirmed their belief in a Creator, and that the Creator had endowed all men with the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. At the core of these rights is the freedom to determine who you are, what you believe, and your sense of right and wrong. These freedoms were affirmed and protected, because the founding fathers knew that government could not connect people to their Creator, nor could it coerce the worship of Him. Each man must connect to God on his own.

Their intent, was for you to be able to freely seek out God, and discover His plan for your life. You were then free to pursue that plan as long as you wanted.

Fast forward nearly two and a half centuries, and we have a law passed that requires Catholic ministries to provide coverage for something their doctrine opposes... contraceptives. Meanwhile, we have courts in Colorado and New Mexico forcing business owners to partake in same-sex weddings, which are a violation of their faiths. In its decision against a wedding photographer who refused to photograph a same-sex wedding, the New Mexico Supreme Court ruled that part of being an American involves doing things that violate your own conscience.

I wonder if those justices have read the founding documents of our country. I wonder if they realize that the Constitution was written in such a way as to protect our right to follow our conscience. You see, many who support the New Mexico Supreme Court's decision to force a wedding photographer to participate in a same-sex wedding, which violates her Christian faith, don't see what the big deal is. After all, the court didn't hinder her going to church or participating in her religion. It merely required her to do something she disagreed with, in the interest of stamping out discrimination. However, in doing so, the requirement was set forth by the government that would force this photographer to do something that would shatter her relationship with God. It's a very serious matter.

You see, faith begins when you repent from your sin and trust Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. That is a change made inside your heart, and no government entity can take it away from you. That faith is then manifest in how you live... which involves participating in God's religion, the Christian church. Any attempt to regulate your involvement in the church, or any attempt to compel you to sin, is a violation of the founding father's affirmation that you have the right to freely connect with God. And that's what the secularist doesn't understand.

Religion is not a social club or a civic organization. It is an expression of  the innermost part of your being. That right, to be who you are, is given by God, and affirmed by the Constitution. So, if you choose to live a secular lifestyle, apart from God, or His influence, you are free to do so. If you choose to follow a lifestyle of homosexuality, you are free to do so. However, you are not free to require that others participate in that lifestyle with you, nor can you require that others accept that lifestyle. To do that, you'd have to regulate the human heart, and that is something that no government can do.

That being said, you will reap the consequences (good or bad) of the decisions you make in this life when you die and face the Lord in judgment. Choose wisely.

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: Why Christians Engage the Political Process

1 Corinthians 1:27 says "God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;" To put it more plainly, God has chosen the common, everyday man to proclaim His message to the world. With that in mind, it's easy to see why the bearded brothers and patriarch of A&E's Duck Dynasty have been able to influence American culture far and above any other cable reality series.

I normally don't weigh in on Christian celebrities, or major news events surrounding individuals... mainly because my experience is that those placed on pedestals often let us down. Who can forget how Miss California was blasted by Perez Hilton in the Miss America (or was it Miss USA) pageant for not affirming gay marriage. Immediately, we had high-profile Christian leaders rally to her defense, claiming persecution of Christian values. That defense was silenced a few weeks later, when compromising photos of Miss California surfaced, and it became evident she wasn't living up to the values she professed publicly.

Which is why, despite his testimony, and the hours I have spent watching his TV show, I have been slow to weigh in on the controversy surrounding Phil Robertson. Still, there are two things about Robertson that I cannot get away from. (1) His testimony of how God took him from being a wretched sinner, to being a Christian who actually uses his life as a platform to promote the Gospel, and (2) his deep, abiding respect for the American way of life, particularly our founding fathers' commitment to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. How amazing is it that God is allowing these bearded rednecks, who are a laughing stalk among the cultural elite, to re-insert Christianity and Biblical principles into mainstream American life.

While the producers of the Duck Dynasty TV show limit Robertson's ability to proclaim the Gospel over the air, he is repeatedly able to discuss the three unalienable rights granted to us by our Creator... the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, rights to which the founders of our nation committed this country when they drafted the organizational documents and mission statement of our government. They were the guiding values of the American revolution, and the drafting of the U.S. Constitution.

The problem in America today is that the society, and government officials, have either forgotten that our country is built on preserving those three basic rights, or forgotten what they mean altogether. These are rights that every Christian should stand up and defend, not only because they were granted by the Creator, but because without the protection of these basic rights, we are not free to "lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." (1 Timothy 2:2) Basically, without the protection of our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, we are not free to worship God in Spirit and truth, and we are not free to seek His will for our lives. For that reason, Christians should be involved in the political process, because every piece of legislation and so-called national defense initiative are eroding those rights.

All that said, let's look at these three unalienable rights, and what they truly mean to us. The first right is basic... the right to life. God created us to live. Life is such a basic right that many take it for granted. However, the Bill of Rights, and due process under the law are designed to protect this most basic right. Both the Bill of Rights and laws governing due legal process prevent a person's life being taken from them without a proper trial, without being proven guilty of a crime, and laws are in place to prevent someone else from taking your life away from you.

Yet today, the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government is slow to speak against using deadly force against Americans who are suspected of being engaged in domestic terroristic activity. While this may seem to some to be a common-sense way to combat terrorism, keep in mind that if one of your fellow Americans can be labeled a national security threat, and terminated without due process, you can be as well.

Furthermore, U.S. law allows for unborn children to be denied the basic right to life, based on the decisions, values or whims of the mother, or medical advice of a physician. Some abortions are performed because the unborn child has Downs Syndrome, or a serious disability. To counter the idea that unborn children should be aborted, and denied their right to life because of a disability, I will quote abortion survivor Gianna Jessen, who suffers from Cerebral Palsy as a result of a botched abortion. Jessen's mother tried to abort her, but she survived, and was later adopted.  Jessen told a crowd of supporters in Brownwood, Texas, recently, that it is arrogant for a healthy person to determine whether a disabled person can enjoy a good quality of life.

The second unalienable right given by our Creator, and recognized by our country's founding documents, is the right to liberty... the right to make your own decisions. While Christians are often accused as being enemies of liberty for opposing homosexuality, same-sex marriage, drug legalization, etc, it is not Christians who are trying to dictate what you feed your children for lunch, or what values are taught to your children through the public school system. Today's government seeks to monitor and control child nutrition, caloric intake, how much water flows through your toilet when you flush, what kind of light bulb you can buy, what options are in your health insurance package, what kind of car you drive, and even mandate with whom you are allowed to do business.

There have been court cases where business people (like a wedding photographer in New Mexico) were compelled by legal penalty to partake in activities that violated their very conscience. In a land of liberty, the individual should have the ability to decide for whom they would like to perform services, and for whom they would not. In a land of liberty, no one should be compelled to engage in religion, neither should one be compelled to engage in what they view as a sinful event. So, liberty is being attacked.

And finally, there is the pursuit of happiness. To properly understand what it means to pursue happiness, you really have to read Thomas Jefferson's writings. Jefferson's view of the pursuit of happiness was to determine what your talents were, and then to live life pursuing those interests, building your talent, and becoming all you could be. It was about self-actualization, rising through the income brackets, accomplishing great things, and breaking barriers. It was about the son of a blacksmith becoming a senator, or the son of a senator becoming a teacher. The pursuit of happiness is about finding your passion, and following it, and maximizing your achievement.

However, today's culture and government penalizes such behavior, and encourages settling for serfdom in low income positions, and mediocrity in ambitions.

Seeing the slow erosion of these freedoms, and the awareness and value placed on these freedoms, Christians should be involved in the political process. The goal should be to defend, protect, and restore those basic rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. For, if we remain silent, one day those rights will be gone, and so will our ability to live peaceably, and holy, and worship in Spirit and truth.

UnGodly Holiness Part 5, Silencing the Church

In Poland, under the Communist regime of the 1950s, churches were required to register with the government, pastors had to be licensed by the government, and pastors could not speak out on politics. Doing so could result in the shutdown of the church and the pastor's license could be revoked, making it illegal for him to follow God's call in the ministry. This was fairly common in Iron Curtain countries prior to 1980, as is my observation from reading "God's Smuggler" by Brother Andrew.

Governments have always despised religious intervention from the time King Henry VIII decided that he didn't like being told by the pope that he couldn't divorce his wife. While governments tolerated religion, some even officially adopting certain religions, the movement in the world has been to rid countries of religion. The Communist were very effective at this. Government wants the churches to stay out of the political arena.

Now Baptists believe in separation of church and state. What this means is that the state does not pick an official state religion, neither does the church usurp authority over the state. The United States put into the Constitution with the first amendment the prohibition of Congress making "any law regarding the establishment of religion or the free exercise thereof." What this meant was that Congress would not adopt a state religion, neither would it regulate religion, neither would it limit the free exercise of religion. It did not say that churches could not petition Congress, support a candidate for Congress, or lobby for or against legislation.

However, IRS tax code does just that. Churches seeking the non-profit status are legally prevented from attempting to influence legislation or elections. This code is in direct violation of the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution because it regulates the free exercise of religion. It limits churches' abilities to stand up against pro-abortion legislation, and stand up in favor of pro-family legislation. Furthermore, churches are not even allowed to contribute money to political causes. (Read the IRS tax codes and state business codes).

The problem we face as churches today is that we not only have the government silencing our voices in the political arena, some of our own people are calling for us to shut up as well. They cite examples such as Jesus being apolitical, their belief in separation of church and state, and rail against Christian PACs that lobby for pro-family legislation, or legislation that expands Christian liberties. We should be all about saving souls and not worry about the politics, or so they say.

To fall into this line of thinking is to ignore thousands of years of precedent, not only in scripture, but in Baptist history as well. Did not the prophets try to influence the kings they were under? Did not Jesus try to explain His Kingdom to Pilate? Did not Paul try to convert and influence Festus, Felix and King Agrippa? Was Rhode Island not founded by Baptists seeking refuge from persecution? Did not Baptists, and John Leland in particular, lobby the U.S. Government for the freedom of religion clause in the first amendment? These are just a few examples.

The point is, when governments follow evil trends and pass evil laws, God's people must rise up and voice opposition to those laws. If they do not, then the evil consequences will come upon the nation with little or no warning.

Paul wrote that we should pray for our governments that we can live peaceably and worship freely, and James wrote that we should put our prayers into action. We have the ability to petition our government for the purpose of protecting our Christian liberties, and for the purpose of keeping our government in line with the things that God finds acceptable. Should we neglect this blessing, and turn a blind eye to the evils being perpetrated by our government, we have no one to blame but ourselves when the persecution comes.

Therefore, the church is right to oppose pro-abortion, pro-homosexual, and pro-immorality legislation. Don't let the opposition, either external or internal, silence you. You will be held accountable by God.

Detroit in Ruins

A Couple of Thoughts on the Stimulus Bill

There are a couple of news briefs being passed through ABA circles about the economic stimulus bill being formed now in Congress. Both raise concern about the language in the bill that would prohibit religious activities in public/school/college buildings that use stimulus money for rennovations and construction. These concerns are valid, and we should be contacting our representatives in Congress about them.

There were a couple of statements made, though, that I feel should be addressed.

(1) If the bill passes, we have only ourselves to blame.
I don't think we should take the blame for the rebellion against God that is taking place in Congress. Did we not work to get Godly men elected to office? Did we not vote for the men we thought God would have run our country? Furthermore, if you live in the district of a Congressman who voted against the language prohibiting religious activities in stimulus-funded buildings, what more can you do? Really? Call your Congressman, but remember, if Congress passes the bill with the anti-religious language in it, it's not you they rejected, but God. (Isn't that what God told Samuel?)

(2) Our MBSF's are gone.
To be brutally honest, the MBSF (Missionary Baptist Student Fellowship... college campus ministries) have been dead in the state of Texas for years. I know we have some vibrant ones in place, and I'm not being critical of those. I am not even criticizing the struggling MBSF's, as all college ministries from all denominations go through cycles of prosperity and struggle. But, what I will point out is that in the state of Texas, home to UT, TAMU, Rice, U of H, Baylor, UTEP, Texas Tech, UTEP, Texas Pan-American, Texas State, SFA, Sam Houston, North Texas, TCU, SMU, numerous smaller schools like Tarleton State, Midwestern State, West Texas A&M, Howard Payne, HArdin Simmons, Abilene Christian University, San Angelo State, all the TAMU and UT branch schools, and numerous junior colleges, like TJC, Blinn, Kilgore, Jacksonville, Lon Morris, NE Texas CC, Lee, Harris County, San Jacinto, Cisco, Ranger, and so on, we have only 4 MBSF's in the state of Texas.

Some of those four are severely underfunded due to an unwillingness of our churches to add them to their missions budget. Some pastors have even told MBSF directors and sponsoring churches that "I don't want to send you money to help your church grow."

In addition to being evangelistic outreaches, MBSF's are a way to continue the discipleship process when our youth go on to college, plus they can be the training ground for our next generation of pastors and missionaries. The road that led me to salvation traveled right through a college ministry. The director worked tirelessly to try to get me to see the light. It was at that college ministry that I met my wife. That very college ministry, in addition to playing a role in my salvation, helped prepare that director for the pastoral ministry, and trained at least two other pastors that I can think of. Futhermore, I can point to some other MBSF leaders in our work who will likely go on to great things in the pastoral ministry or missions.

So, the stimulus plan would deal a blow to our ability to conduct MBSF on campus... but is that the greater tragedy? Or is the greater tragedy the fact that we had 50 years of freedom to conduct MBSF, and have chosen not to?

Brethren, I love you all. Things are going to get rough for the next few years. This dark period will come to an end in one of two ways. (1) The American people will react to it and we'll see a spiritual revival in our land (there are signs this might be coming), or (2) Jesus will return and we'll get to be with Him forever, and all this will be a minor, distant memory.

Let me close by offering you a verse from I Peter 4:12 - Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.

Let's not be suprised, confounded, and let's quit acting like we are scrambling to counter-act the enemy. Let's face this, knowing what we are facing, and continuing to do the work God has planned for us. There will be a harvest.

No Voice

For as long as I can remember, Christians and church-goers have stumped hard for the Republican Party. This was due to the pro-family, pro-life, pro-values platform we were being told the party stood for.

I remember that feeling of "almost victory" after the 2000 election, and the dissappointment after Jumpin' Jim Jeffords left the party, and sided with the Democrats, effectively yanking the power in the senate toward the Donkey logo.

I remember the 2004 elections, the promises of marriage ammendments, pro-life legislation, and rejoiced to see the Republican Party win at the polls. Just after the election, Democratic Strategists James Carville said, "Let's see if they mean it!" They didn't.

Since the 2004 election, we had one piece of pro-life legislation passed, which was quickly set aside by a district judge within minutes of being signed into law. No challenge to the judge's ruling was issued. Since then, I don't think I can remember one bit of pro-life, pro-family legislation passed through Congress. With gas prices on the rise, and unfulfilled promises still on the table in Congress, Republicans offered a pathetic campaign in 2006... basically, their campaign was "The Democrats would be worse." That failed, and the Donkey Party took over Congress in 2006.

You think they'd have learned their lesson. They didn't. In the 2008 election, the party nominated John McCain, who put forth a token effort in his Presidential campaign, tried to see if he could get elected with a pro-choice administration (remember the efforts to name Tom Ridge or Joe Lieberman to the VP spot?), and only threw a bone to Christians in the final months with Sarah Palin being picked for VP (and then blamed her for the loss).

So, with the ineffectualness of the Republican Party, the so-called family values party, the Democrats have now taken control of 2 of the 3 branches of the federal government with little to stop them from implementing whatever anti-Christian policies they wish to pass.

I think the overall lesson to be learned is that Conservative Christians have no voice in American government. Now, I know what Republican Congressmen will say to this. "We couldn't have passed all that pro-life, pro-marriage and pro-family legislation in the 2004-2006 term, we wanted to take a more long-term approach to implementing our values." Well, take note, because you are about to see two years of the Democratic Party implementing the very policies they campaigned on. And don't be surprised to see them use the "nuclear" option to get their judges on the bench.

So, while we have a party that panders to us in campaign season, we don't have a party that actively represents our views in Congress.

So, what can be done? Well, first of all, we have to quit fighting spiritual battles in Congress. We have no troops there. Secondly, we have to take the spiritual battle to the streets... by winning lost people to the Lord and by bringing the unchurched into our congregations. Thirdly, we need to hold our Congressional representatives accountable. When a new candidate approaches you on a pro-Christian platform, say, "Okay, I'll vote for you." If he wins, hold him accountable. It is not enough just to vote pro-Christian should the issue ever creep up. He needs to be introducing pro-life, pro-family, pro-marriage legislation. If he fails to do so, we should work for his defeat in the following election cycle (even to the point of seeing him go down in the primaries.) If the legislation fails to pass, that's not necessarily his fault. But an unwillingness to introduce, politic for, and fight for pro-Christian legislation is grounds for termination, in my book. Hey, they are our representatives, are they not?

Posturing for the 2010 elections has already begun. Expect a lot of rot-gut legislation between now and then. When that nice Republican candidate points to the pro-choice, anti-Christian legislation that gets passed and says to vote for him, and he'll overturn it, tell him you'll vote for him, but he's got two years to get it done. It's time for us to move out of the Republicans' corner and make them move into ours. They can not win without us, and now they know it.

More Presidential politics thoughts

So, I am driving home tonight when my daughter Rachel begins to talk about how most women don't want to support Obama because he will raise taxes... hmmm. Maybe I've been listening to Hannity too much in the car... then I find out she learned a lot about the candidates from her teacher. I sure am glad I live in a red state.

I still need to vote early. Rachel says she's upset that she can't vote until she's 18... so she'll never get to vote for McCain. lol.

Upset over politics, again

Well, early voting is underway and it appears that Barak Obama is getting the upper hand in many of the battleground states. If this nation, indeed, elects Barak Obama, then we will get exactly what we deserve.

This is a man who had a 20-year association with a preacher who spewed anti-American venom. This is a man who owed his political career to a man whose organization bombed the pentagon. Though those events happened when Obama was 7, or 8, that same individual was lamenting that they should have bombed more buildings in the New York Times on Sept. 11, 2001 of all days. Had his views been moderated during the days he helped Obama get into politics? I think not.

Obama is a man who favors killing unborn babies, favors bombing Pakistan where we have allies, yet will sit down with our enemies without preconditions, and prefers being a citizen of the world over being an American citizen.

If we indeed elect this man, who disregards life and owes his allegiances to anti-American parties, it reveals that America is morally, intellectually, and mentally weaker than we previously thought. Furthermore, it shows how dilusional we really are. May God have mercy on us all.

What's this? A campaign?

Well, it appears John McCain is finally ready to begin campaigning for the presidency. He gave a great interview to Sean Hannity on Fox News' Hannity and Colmes program last night and it looks like he is ready to begin sharing vision while pointing out Obama's weaknesses in this campaign.

Admittedly, the campaign promises will probably be just that, campaign promises that never get legislated. However, I am glad the Republican party is finally waking up.

Concern over Presidential politics...

I read an article on AOL today about Phil Grahmm's ignorant remarks to the Washington Times about America being whiners and the recession being in their heads. This may, or may not be the case (honestly, neither I, nor the city of Brownwood is feeling the recession except for gas prices), however, you don't say things like that and expect to win the Presidential election. The Republicans are in danger of losing this election because of their stupidity, and the effect on this country may be devastating... who knows, it could have ripple effects on the entire world.

Basically, the West Coast will likely vote for Obama, along with New England (except for New Hampshire, or Vermont, one of those tiny states, which is still considered a battleground state.)

The Western states will likely vote for McCain, with the exception of New Mexico and Nevada, more battleground states. The Great Lakes states are up for grabs, along with FLorida and Virginia. The rest of the south and midwest goes to McCain.

If those predictions stand, McCain trails Obama by approximately 21 electoral college votes.

If the Great Lakes go to Obama, the election is over. Great Lakes states such as Ohio have economies that depend largely on manufacturing (cars, textiles, steel, etc). Such industries are hurting right now and layoffs are coming. Telling these people it's all in your head is a surefire way to get them to vote for the other guy.

So, I'm a little concerned here. We do not have a slam-dunk victory ahead of us in 2008 like we did in 1984 and 1988. Even 2004 was closer than it should have been. To make things worse, we have a candidate who is not acting like he's too interested in campaigning. Where's the vision and encouragement?

On a brighter note, maybe Obama will win and be used to fulfill prophecies that will usher in the second coming.

I normally don't get political in this forum... but I just can't get this stuff out of my head tonight.

Election night (Leland stays undefeated, for now)

We're done by 10:20???? WOW!!!!

I handled the newspaper advertising for two candidates.

My Commissioners Court candidate won his primary race with 55% of the vote. He defeated both of his opponents and avoided the run-off. He does not have an opponent in the general election, so the job is his.

My Constable candidate "won" his election by four votes, but the military ballots have not been counted, yet. However, if his victory stands, he will have an opponent in the general election. Furthermore, if his victory stands, I remain undefeated in the political campaigns for which I take a part in. The campaigns for which I designed the ads and ad schedules have never lost, ever! I began doing this in 2002.

Maybe one day I'll run my own campaign.