Lately it's been up for debate whether America is indeed a Christian country founded on Judeo-Christian principles. Some have argued the faith of the founding fathers and the biblical framing of the constitution. Some have argued the assumption of the Creator by the founding fathers. Some have argued that we as Americans have left our religious roots and need to return to the faith of our fathers.
What are these Judeo-Christian Principles, really?
What is the definition of a country that is Christian?
As far as the principles go, the "Judeo" ones would at least be the 10 commandments. The "Christian" ones would be principles of faith in Christ expressed in denying ourselves and following Jesus, even if it means rejection, suffering, and death (a cross.)
So, focusing on the ten commandments, "freedom of religion" cannot mean freedom to worship any God other than the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, for this very God said that His people were to have no other god and that they were not to make any images of things in creation to worship them as the Creator. All of the Old Testament clearly portrays God as having absolutely no tolerance for worshipping any other god except Him IN ANY OTHER WAY EXCEPT THE WAY HE COMMANDS! And this is rightly so, because He is God, and there is no other, and we dare not approach Him without giving Him His due respect. We could not just enter the White House, nor can we just enter God's presence without reverence.
And Christ Himself said that He came not to abolish the law (these Judeo principles) but to establish them. He also said that He was the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one comes to the Father except by Him. So these Judeo-Christian principles are quite exclusive and dogmatic.
Not only this, but what would a Christian country founded on Christian principles look like from beginning to end, from the foundation until now? What kind of relationship would have defined the interactions with the natives who were here already? We think of Thanksgiving, turkey, the pilgrims, and well being between "the settlers" and the natives. All seemed well. But as we know, all did not remain well. And all is not well in the present for the natives.
What about the 400 years of slavery in this country? What about the times that are considered "the good ole days" by some, which were clearly not the good ole days for others? What about the dollar bill, which has "In God we trust" on one hand, symbols that are clearly not founded upon Judeo-Christian principles.
The name of God is taken lightly literally daily. This is against the "Judeo-Christian Principle" known as the third commandment. The word Christian has lost all value and meaning when celebrities who are clearly singing or acting in ways that absolutely contradict who Christ is and what He did thank God and Jesus for winning music awards or movie awards for such irreverence.
Where is the line?
What is the distinction between those who believe in Christ and those who do not?
Clearly mere church attendance doesn't make the difference in our nation. Both Senator John McCain and President Barack Obama, while running for president, claimed to be born again Christians, yet were in bitter opposition and contradiction.
What would be the assumptions of a Christian nation and its constitution? Rebellion? Independence? Unqualified freedom. Observe these scriptures:
"Submit to God, resist the devil and He will flee from you." James 4:7
"Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities." Romans 13:1
"Apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5
"The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." 2 Cor. 3:17
"Whom the Son sets free is free indeed." John 8:36
So, according to the scriptures above, some Judeo-Christian principles are:
1. Submission to God and to His delegated authorities (not rebellion)
2. Total dependence upon Christ (not independence)
3. The Lord Jesus Christ and His Spirit, who is Lord, as the true source of true freedom (not a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.)
"Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." Luke 12:15, the Lord Jesus Christ
What is the American dream, realized in capitalism, if not the acquiring of an abundance of possessions? Doesn't capitalism assume that happiness indeed is directly related to abundance of possessions? If not, what is capitalism? It's not just the idea of each person receiving what they earn. It is competitiveness. And it is measuring competitiveness by productivity, abundance, who has "the most toys." Was this the mindset of Christ? Then how can it be one of the fundamental assumptions of a Christian country?
"Fear God, and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, and every secret thing, whether it be good or evil."
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
Where is God's honor, respect, and fear in this country? Do we not applaud movies as "irreverent?" Where is honor for "the king/those in authority?" Indeed, where is honor for authority itself, which scripture says comes from God? Do we not call the lone soldier who rebels against his commanding officer a hero? Indeed, the American hero?
It seems doubtful from our beginnings until now that we have ever truly and unambiguously been a "Christian Nation founded on Judeo Christian Principles." But if this was the aspiration of the founding fathers, then we at least, as individuals, can live by the principles of Christ. But in doing so we will have to draw many a line and disassociate ourselves from many "American Causes." In order to be a true Christian nation, the American must have one true allegiance, and that allegiance must be to Christ. But do we fear theocracy too much for this? Must we focus more on a government "of the people and by the people" instead of "one nation, under God?" Jesus is Lord, not Congressman, Senator, or President. To Him we submit, and our submission is not based upon our voting Him into His position. He is a King, the King, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. A "Christian Nation" submits to Christ as Lord. Do we?
Thursday, June 25, 2009
A Change of Heart
Does God change our hearts, or do we change our hearts? From what I understand, in scripture both truths are expressed.
"Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live." Ezekiel 18:31-32 ESV
"Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." Ezekiel 36:26
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalms 51:10
"Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause." Isaiah 1:16-17
"Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil." Matthew 12:33-35
"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." James 4:8
Remember, one of the scriptural premises or assumptions of this entire blog is that we can be as close to God and like God as we choose to be. God will not make us draw near to Him or be like Him. Jesus compares the heart to a tree and words/actions to fruit. The heart has to do with our ultimate intent, whether we be centered on God's will or self-will. So, when we submit our wills to God's truth, God changes our hearts (thoughts and intents) by empowering us with the desire and ability to do all of His will, as Paul said to the church in Phillipi:
"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." Philipians 2:12-13
So WE work out OUR salvation with fear and trembling. God does not work out or salvation for us. But He works in us who are working out our salvation. When we do our part by faith, God does His part. For as James said, "Faith without works is dead."
So lets make this practical:
A husband has been committing adultery. He feels convicted. But he "loves" the adulteress and doesn't "feel" like breaking off the adulterous relationship. So he prays as the psalmist prayed, saying to God, "Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit in me. Change my adulterous heart to a faithul heart. I just don't 'feel' love for my wife, but i do 'feel' love for the adulteress." Now, of course, the husband should want to genuinely feel love for his wife and to genuinely feel like ending adultery. But what is he to do? Or does God have to change his heart first? Does he have to wait for God to "change his heart," before he stops committing adultery? We all know the answer. Whether he is "struggling" with adultery or not, we rightly expect him to stop committing adultery, and we believe that he can actually do that, that he doesn't need a miracle supernatural spiritual heart transplant before he can be faithful to his wife. Would his wife accept this need for a change of heart from God while the man continues in adultery? Would she accept these words from him:
"Honey, I know I'm supposed to love you, but I just don't. I just don't feel love for you. But I do feel love for another woman. I try to not love her, and I struggle to love you, but I just can't do it unless God changes my heart. I am struggling with my desire to continue to have sex with another woman. I try not to have sex with her, but I keep doing it." We all know the answer to this. He is to love his wife, whether he feels it or not, and to stop committing adultery, whether he wants to or not. Indeed, he can pray for God to change his heart, but he cannot ignore the scriptures that command him to change his own heart as well. He can pray that God cleanses his heart, but cannot ignore the scriptures that tell him to purify his own heart. He can ask God to give him the desire and abilty to flee sexual immorality, but he cannot ignore the fact that HE IS COMMANDED TO FLEE SEXUAL IMMORALITY! HE IS NOT COMMANDED TO FEEL LIKE FLEEING SEXUAL IMMORALITY. AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT IS ASSUMED BY THE WORD "FLEE" THAT HE IS DOING SO AGAINST HIS DESIRE TO STAY!
If you are struggling to do what you know God wants, indeed pray for Him to give you the desire and abilty to do His will. But by faith, DO IT, believing that He will supply the needed desire and abilty. Don't wait fo feel like doing God's will. DO IT. Don't focus on FEELING like doing God's will. DO IT. We do not control our emotions directly, but indirectly, for emotions are responses to objects that arouse or inspire emotion. The adulterous man focuses his attention on the adulterous woman, focusing on her body and her personality. As a result, he feels aroused or desire. She is the object. His emotions are in response to her as the object of his attention. This is why he must flee her, avoid her, stay away from her, according to scripture:
"My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding, that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge. For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, but in the end she is bitter aswormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword."
"Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house..."
"Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love. Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress?"
Proverbs 5:1-4, 8, 18-20
Notice Solomon's appeal to the passions AND actions of his son, describing intoxication in relation to the son's wife verses intoxication towards the adulteress. The son is commanded in the context of wisdom to stay far way from the adulteress, to not go near her house. These are actions. Solomon then tells his son to rejoice in his wife, calling her lovely. Solomon encourages his son to be fulfilled by his wife's body (breasts) and intoxicated by his wife's love, NOT THE BODY AND LOVE OF THE ADULTERESS. Do you see this? Do you see that the son's passions are connected to his actions, according to the object of emotion THAT HE CHOOSES: EITHER CHOOSING THE INTOXICATION OF THE ADULTERESS OR CHOOSING THE INTOXICATION OF HIS WIFE. CHOICE.
We have a choice, direct influence over the state of our hearts. We can yield our hearts to God to change them and purify them, and we can change and purify our own hearts by our choice of intent or focus. The adulterous husband can repent, turn from unfaithfulness to faithfulness, stop focusing on the adulteress and start focusing on his wife. By changing the intent of his focus, he changes his heart. And in doing this by faith, God will empower is emotions and actions with needed continual motivation. But we cannot blame God for not changing our hearts if we are unwilling to change them. Surely the adulterous husband finds something pleasing about his wife's body and personality. Something caused her to be attractive to him. Something! Surely there must be one desirable physical trait, one desirable personality trait, at least. Surely he can focus on these. "But you don't know my wife or my situation," the man may say. Indeed, but God clearly did when He inspired the scriptures. He wouldn't command a man or woman to love their spouse if it were absolutely impossible to do so with some feeling, if some feeling is required. If the husband is required to feel like breaking off the adulterous relationship before he does it, but he absolutley cannot do so "in his own strength," then both God and the wife should cut him some slack. Try as he might, the man just can't do it! He just can't muster up enough "feeling/motivation" to be faithful. But we know this is not so.
So here we are before God and each other, called upon by God to change our hearts, that He might change them also. What will we do? What will WE DO?
"Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live." Ezekiel 18:31-32 ESV
"Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." Ezekiel 36:26
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalms 51:10
"Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause." Isaiah 1:16-17
"Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil." Matthew 12:33-35
"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." James 4:8
Remember, one of the scriptural premises or assumptions of this entire blog is that we can be as close to God and like God as we choose to be. God will not make us draw near to Him or be like Him. Jesus compares the heart to a tree and words/actions to fruit. The heart has to do with our ultimate intent, whether we be centered on God's will or self-will. So, when we submit our wills to God's truth, God changes our hearts (thoughts and intents) by empowering us with the desire and ability to do all of His will, as Paul said to the church in Phillipi:
"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." Philipians 2:12-13
So WE work out OUR salvation with fear and trembling. God does not work out or salvation for us. But He works in us who are working out our salvation. When we do our part by faith, God does His part. For as James said, "Faith without works is dead."
So lets make this practical:
A husband has been committing adultery. He feels convicted. But he "loves" the adulteress and doesn't "feel" like breaking off the adulterous relationship. So he prays as the psalmist prayed, saying to God, "Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit in me. Change my adulterous heart to a faithul heart. I just don't 'feel' love for my wife, but i do 'feel' love for the adulteress." Now, of course, the husband should want to genuinely feel love for his wife and to genuinely feel like ending adultery. But what is he to do? Or does God have to change his heart first? Does he have to wait for God to "change his heart," before he stops committing adultery? We all know the answer. Whether he is "struggling" with adultery or not, we rightly expect him to stop committing adultery, and we believe that he can actually do that, that he doesn't need a miracle supernatural spiritual heart transplant before he can be faithful to his wife. Would his wife accept this need for a change of heart from God while the man continues in adultery? Would she accept these words from him:
"Honey, I know I'm supposed to love you, but I just don't. I just don't feel love for you. But I do feel love for another woman. I try to not love her, and I struggle to love you, but I just can't do it unless God changes my heart. I am struggling with my desire to continue to have sex with another woman. I try not to have sex with her, but I keep doing it." We all know the answer to this. He is to love his wife, whether he feels it or not, and to stop committing adultery, whether he wants to or not. Indeed, he can pray for God to change his heart, but he cannot ignore the scriptures that command him to change his own heart as well. He can pray that God cleanses his heart, but cannot ignore the scriptures that tell him to purify his own heart. He can ask God to give him the desire and abilty to flee sexual immorality, but he cannot ignore the fact that HE IS COMMANDED TO FLEE SEXUAL IMMORALITY! HE IS NOT COMMANDED TO FEEL LIKE FLEEING SEXUAL IMMORALITY. AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT IS ASSUMED BY THE WORD "FLEE" THAT HE IS DOING SO AGAINST HIS DESIRE TO STAY!
If you are struggling to do what you know God wants, indeed pray for Him to give you the desire and abilty to do His will. But by faith, DO IT, believing that He will supply the needed desire and abilty. Don't wait fo feel like doing God's will. DO IT. Don't focus on FEELING like doing God's will. DO IT. We do not control our emotions directly, but indirectly, for emotions are responses to objects that arouse or inspire emotion. The adulterous man focuses his attention on the adulterous woman, focusing on her body and her personality. As a result, he feels aroused or desire. She is the object. His emotions are in response to her as the object of his attention. This is why he must flee her, avoid her, stay away from her, according to scripture:
"My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding, that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge. For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, but in the end she is bitter aswormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword."
"Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house..."
"Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love. Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress?"
Proverbs 5:1-4, 8, 18-20
Notice Solomon's appeal to the passions AND actions of his son, describing intoxication in relation to the son's wife verses intoxication towards the adulteress. The son is commanded in the context of wisdom to stay far way from the adulteress, to not go near her house. These are actions. Solomon then tells his son to rejoice in his wife, calling her lovely. Solomon encourages his son to be fulfilled by his wife's body (breasts) and intoxicated by his wife's love, NOT THE BODY AND LOVE OF THE ADULTERESS. Do you see this? Do you see that the son's passions are connected to his actions, according to the object of emotion THAT HE CHOOSES: EITHER CHOOSING THE INTOXICATION OF THE ADULTERESS OR CHOOSING THE INTOXICATION OF HIS WIFE. CHOICE.
We have a choice, direct influence over the state of our hearts. We can yield our hearts to God to change them and purify them, and we can change and purify our own hearts by our choice of intent or focus. The adulterous husband can repent, turn from unfaithfulness to faithfulness, stop focusing on the adulteress and start focusing on his wife. By changing the intent of his focus, he changes his heart. And in doing this by faith, God will empower is emotions and actions with needed continual motivation. But we cannot blame God for not changing our hearts if we are unwilling to change them. Surely the adulterous husband finds something pleasing about his wife's body and personality. Something caused her to be attractive to him. Something! Surely there must be one desirable physical trait, one desirable personality trait, at least. Surely he can focus on these. "But you don't know my wife or my situation," the man may say. Indeed, but God clearly did when He inspired the scriptures. He wouldn't command a man or woman to love their spouse if it were absolutely impossible to do so with some feeling, if some feeling is required. If the husband is required to feel like breaking off the adulterous relationship before he does it, but he absolutley cannot do so "in his own strength," then both God and the wife should cut him some slack. Try as he might, the man just can't do it! He just can't muster up enough "feeling/motivation" to be faithful. But we know this is not so.
So here we are before God and each other, called upon by God to change our hearts, that He might change them also. What will we do? What will WE DO?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)