Ok I give you full permission to tell me "I told you so" when I say this comment : ) I was listening to Glenn Beck this morning with Cyrus before he went to work. He was talking about what is currently happening in Egypt with the Muslim brotherhood killing all those people including Christians. He was getting all worked up as he usually does and saying we need to pray for it all and how sickening it is we as a government don't do anything to quit funding the Muslim brotherhood. Yeah it's sad what is going on, really sad. It makes me really thankful that we don't have it that bad at all. But what was frustrating was how he was reacting. Yes we should pray but we can't allow our anger to get the best of the situation. It is more then our freedom that is at stake. What should be said is what is our foundation during these times?
God has been unbelievably faithful the few past weeks. He really has been challenging me on what I believe with what's going on with our freedom and our country.
As I said in my 4th of July post, it is more than just Obama with why things are so messed up. Recently I have been reading about 3 different things, the Constitution, FDR, and this series called American heritage series by wall builders. Our constitution was made in order for the 3 branches of government to be defined and to balance and check each other out. The Bill of Rights were also established because alot of the founding fathers and fellow statesmen were not comfortable completely with the Constitution in fear of the government being more in control than it needs to be. The Bill of Rights are for us as individuals, as citizens of this free world. But then men, not for the constitution, came into power who felt they had the right to abuse what our founding fathers had establish. Some of these men were our presidents. Others were historians who felt like God was no longer to be our foundation as a country and wrote textbooks that gives only half of the truth. The most research I have done is on FDR. This president was all about taking away our responsibilities as a nation to grow and thrive and build and influence each other on an individual, local, and state basis. Within 100 days of starting his presidency, he came up with all these government based programs that stifled small businesses and state and local government growth. The book I have been reading is FDR:the first hundred days by Anthony J Badger. He stated,"only 5 percent of Americans paid income tax. In 1929, federal tax receipts were only 3.8 percent of gross national product (to emphasize the context, the figure for 1981 was 20.1 percent)". Imagine that 3.8 percent. Wow... It only just started there. Throughout the years, more presidents continue on adding more programs which meant more taxes and less responsibility for ourselves. No longer do we see the need to take on our duties as an American or even as a Christian to do what we need to do. It really got to me. I have little skills in order to contribute to society like our country was establish to do. I am a product of my government.
Another point of view was what I watched on these American heritage series. David Barton, a Christian historian, is challenging us as Americans where our heritage comes from. I am still not sure about him but alot of what he says makes sense. He says in the 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s that there historians and textbook writers that began to write about our founding fathers and what they intended.
History has turned in on focusing on the money. It's all about the money! That is why most of us probably has heard that our country wanted freedom from England because of taxation without representation. But Barton was saying that taxation without representation was one of the lesser grievances. The top 3 he gave was abuse of representative power, abuse of military power, and abuse of judicial power. For example, the colonies wanted to raise money for missionary purposes to teach others the gospel. The king did not like that and deny them that power. Did anyone hear that in school? I sure did not. Also Barton said when we think about the founding fathers, textbooks tell us that most of them were deists or atheists. Now when you think of the founding fathers who are the first guys who come into your head? Seriously stop and think about who you think of. I asked 4 people who they thought of. All four agreed with Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. Some said George Washington or John Adams. Barton said that Jefferson and Franklin are the ones most talked about. They are the least spiritual founding fathers even though if we compare them to some Christians today they were some bible thumpers themselves. So that is who we have been taught. But what about the other 54? What about Benjamin Rush from Pa? Or Francis Hopkinson? Or John Witherspoon? Rush was the first to start the bible society where he wrote a constitution for it where he states the benefits of one, 1. builds a personal relationship with God and 2. bible study would dismiss all social problems. Witherspoon was responsible for the first family bible. Hopkinson was a church music director and wrote one of the earliest hymn book that had all 150 Psalms put to music.
But what does this have to do with a solid foundation? God really has come to show me the importance of knowing about our American hertiage, the Constitution, and how we have developed as a nation in order to be more informed to build a Biblical foundation. As we know as adults, the government and what it has been doing really has been hitting us hard economically but also a reality check that our comfortable lives will not be so comfortable for much longer. I also have come to see how this is affecting the next generation while they are at school or even with their friends. I was talking to some 12 year olds at CEF camp one week and they were telling me kids were getting detentions for bringing their Bible to school. My friend also told me that her mother-in-law who is a teacher is told to teach about the history of the homosexuals. Most young people are on their cell phones all the time and lack any healthy socializing. History and science seem to be twisted and dumb down. Another week at CEF camp, the kids had no basic reading and finding the answers comprehension. Now yes I know as a Psychology major that there are environmental issues at home that also affect these things but the issues are still at hand.
I was talking to my former pastor about this and he led me to the scripture in Acts 4. The story is Peter and John are arrested for preaching about Jesus and the resurrection of the dead. The Sadducees in the temple got angry about it and took the 2 men into custody. The next day, they brought Peter and John out where they continued on preaching Jesus to them. The Sadducees marveled and realize that they did see Jesus and could not say anything else against them. They than told Peter and John that they no longer could preach about Jesus and were allow to go. Peter and John go back to their companions and other followers and said this,
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Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:
‘Why did the nations rage,
And the people plot vain things?
26 The kings of the earth took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His Christ.’
For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus."
Then they continue on praying for boldness! Wow! We too need to realize this and pray also for boldness. Nations and rulers are gathering together today going against Jesus our Lord. But just like Jesus being handed over to Herod and Pilate was and is God's purpose so is what is going on today in our nation and in the kids' schools and friends. There are threats and God sees them. We just need to pray for boldness to speak out God's word. It should not also come to us as a surprise because Paul mentions this was going to happen in his 2nd letter to Timothy in chapter 3,
" But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."
But Paul continues on telling what Timothy and also us what we need to do.
" Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
The word of God is our answer. Men, teachers, politicians are all evil men and imposters that want to deceive and mislead. But we need to hold onto what we have learned as children from the scriptures and be bold. Even people who were not Christians when they were little, still have the word of God. Read it! It will change your life! This is also important for us as adults to teach others younger than us who might not have that Biblical influnence. We are all going through it one way or other and the Bible is our solid foundation.
Now, what if those who get involved and become frustrated and want to fight against what freedoms that are getting taken away. I know personally for me I know I can get on my soap box and get angry with what FDR started and what Obama continues on doing to this nation whom he hates. But I have to remember that these things cannot come to a shock to me because of Paul's words but need to go to God's word knowing that is far more stable than anything else. Paul also tells Timothy in the same letter in the previous chapter to
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But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness... Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will."
Avoiding foolish and ignorant disputes that generate strife is hard but knowing that if I do, allows them to be granted repentance from God and they will know the truth, I say go for it. We need to personally and for others hold onto the word of God during these times. We need to rest in knowing God's promises and character traits. He is the only one who is our solid foundation not our religious freedoms
