Sermon Sunday: Thomas Watson
April 17, 2011 at 7:31 am | Posted in Sermon Sunday | Leave a commentTags: abortion, affection, agony, America, assurance, ateasetees, Bible, children, Christian, church, clay, communion, compromise, crucified, David, death, Delilah, desire, dishonor, estate, evangelism, evil, faint, faith, fasting, fig, France, frost, Gaul, God, gold, gospel, grace, grief, heart, heat, heaven, hell, hide, holy, hope, iron, Israel, Italy, Jacob, Jesuit, Jesus, jewel, joy, judgment, law, lethargy, life, love, Luke, marriage, merchant, mercy, money, mourning, murder, ordinance, pain, pastor, Paul, peace, Peter, Philistines, pit, prayer, prince, Rachel, repent, reverence, righteousness, sacraments, saint, salvation, Samson, scripture, sin, slothful, soul, Stephen, sweet, ten commandments, truth, weeping, wept, wicked, worldly
A Test of Assurance: How We Know Whether We Love God?
by
Thomas Watson
(1620-1686)
HE WHO LOVES GOD DESIRES HIS PRESENCE. Lovers cannot be long apart, they soon have their fainting fits, for want of a sight of the object of their love. A soul deeply in love with God desires the enjoyment of Him in His ordinances, in word, prayer, and sacraments. David was ready to faint away and die when he had not a sight of God. “My soul fainteth for God” (Psalm 84:2). Such as care not for ordinances, but say, “When will the Sabbath be over?” plainly reveal their lack of love to God.
He who loves God DOES NOT LOVE SIN. “Ye that love the Lord, hate evil” (Psalm 97:10). The love of God, and the love of sin, can no more mix together than iron and clay. Every sin loved, strikes at the being of God; but he who loves God, has a hatred of sin. He who would part two lovers is a hateful person. God and the believing soul are two lovers; sin parts between them, therefore the soul is implacably set against it. By this try your love to God. How could Delilah say she loved Samson. when she entertained correspondence with the Philistines, who were his mortal enemy? Continue Reading Sermon Sunday: Thomas Watson…
Wisdom for the nation
March 24, 2009 at 2:56 pm | Posted in Christianity | Leave a commentTags: America, ateasetees, children, Christian, diligence, evangelism, evil, fear, God, greed, hell, Jesus, lazy, lies, prosperity, reverence, righteous, sin, teach, truth, wisdom
Last week, I wrote about where our country is and why. I wrote about how the government has fallen away from the Constitution and now only serves itself, ignoring the people it supposedly represents. I ended with some ideas on what I would love to see happen and what I think could begin to fix the nation. After I posted that, I thought about a few more things.
Many people today talk about being Christian and show very little evidence for it. Many claim to believe in God, but they refuse to believe the Bible is His very Word. Along with them, the world mocks the Scriptures and says that they have no value other than some ethereal “good teachings”. This week, I wanted to look at some of the scriptures to show how they are pertinent to every situation, at any time, anywhere. Many of these verses are thousands of years old, and yet, they still hold more than “good teachings”. The main place I’m going to go this week is Proverbs. As you read this week’s blog, I ask that you contemplate the problems that our nation (and much of the rest of the world) is facing right now. Solomon wrote most of the proverbs in the Bible. Solomon is known as the wisest man who ever lived besides Christ. During his reign as king of Israel, the people were at peace and they flourished and grew. It seems to be simple logic to look at what Solomon did/believed and see if we can’t do the same. It must be made clear though: Solomon’s wisdom was God-given and did not come from any man (1 Kings 3:3-10). To understand the proverbs, we must first know their purpose:
The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, to receive instruction in wise behavior, righteousness, justice and equity; to give prudence to the naive, to the youth knowledge and discretion, a wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, to understand a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:1-7)
The purpose of the proverbs is to understand wisdom, to receive instruction in wise behavior, righteousness, justice, and equity. They also give prudence to the naïve, knowledge and discretion to the youth, and increase the learning of the wise man. But, Solomon makes a caveat to all of this in verse 7. The proverbs are only helpful to those who fear (revere) God. The wisdom that Solomon is sharing is from Him and it is only through a correct view of God Himself that this wisdom will make sense:
Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; for if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding; if you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will discern the fear of the LORD And discover the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. (Proverbs 2:2-6)
The LORD by wisdom founded the earth, by understanding He established the heavens. By His knowledge the deeps were broken up and the skies drip with dew. My son, let them not vanish from your sight; Keep sound wisdom and discretion, so they will be life to your soul And adornment to your neck. Then you will walk in your way securely and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. (Proverbs 3:19-24)
There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers. (Proverbs 6:16-19)
The eyes of the LORD are in every place, watching the evil and the good. (Proverbs 15:3)
The fear of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom, And before honor comes humility. (Proverbs 15:33)
The proverbs are filled with examples of those who follow wisdom and her teachings and those who don’t. For those who refuse to listen to wisdom, the consequences are severe:
“Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention; and you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof; I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes, when your dread comes like a storm And your calamity comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but they will not find me, because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD.” (Wisdom speaking – Proverbs 1:24-29)
Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge, And he who hurries his footsteps errs. (Proverbs 19:2)
But for those who will listen to the wisdom of God and be obedient to it, there are much different results:
Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings: “How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing and fools hate knowledge? Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.” (Proverbs 1:20-23)
“But he who listens to me shall live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil.” (Proverbs 1:33)
How blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding. For her profit is better than the profit of silver and her gain better than fine gold. She is more precious than jewels; and nothing you desire compares with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who hold her fast. (Proverbs 3:13-18)
“Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; Love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding. Prize her, and she will exalt you; She will honor you if you embrace her. She will place on your head a garland of grace; She will present you with a crown of beauty.” (Proverbs 4:5-9)
“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And I find knowledge and discretion. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverted mouth, I hate. Counsel is mine and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine. By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, All who judge rightly.” (Proverbs 8:12-16)
The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, honor and life. (Proverbs 22:4)
By wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established; And by knowledge the rooms are filled With all precious and pleasant riches. (Proverbs 24:3-4)
In my opinion, these examples alone should be enough for our nation to begin to radically restructure our lives to turn back to God. But, for the sake of those skeptics who mock the Lord and see faith in Him as a “crutch”, let’s look at some other things that the proverbs touch on.
In today’s time, it has unfortunately become so common to hear about school shootings (like the recent ones in Germany) that we have become numb to those things. Add to this the out of control sexual activity, drinking/drug use, and the absolute lack of morality that our kids are being brought up in through public schools it is an utter catastrophe both for our society and for the church. Proverbs is something important for our children as well as for ourselves. If you teach your children to read a chapter of Proverbs a day (and repeat it every month) the wisdom they will come away with will keep them from many of the things that they will face. Solomon wrote down his wisdom to pass it along to his children. Look at some of the things that he said:
My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause; Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, as those who go down to the pit; We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with spoil; Throw in your lot with us, We shall all have one purse,” My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path, For their feet run to evil And they hasten to shed blood. (Proverbs 1:10-16)
My son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments; For length of days and years of life And peace they will add to you. Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. (Proverbs 3:1-7)
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it,” When you have it with you. Do not devise harm against your neighbor, While he lives securely beside you. Do not contend with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm. Do not envy a man of violence And do not choose any of his ways. For the devious are an abomination to the LORD; But He is intimate with the upright. (Proverbs 3:27-32)
Do not enter the path of the wicked And do not proceed in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on. For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; And they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble. For they eat the bread of wickedness And drink the wine of violence. But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day. Put away from you a deceitful mouth And put devious speech far from you. Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil. (Proverbs 4:14-27)
My son, give attention to my wisdom, Incline your ear to my understanding; That you may observe discretion And your lips may reserve knowledge. For the lips of an adulteress drip honey And smoother than oil is her speech; But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death, Her steps take hold of Sheol.
She does not ponder the path of life; Her ways are unstable, she does not know it. Now then, my sons, listen to me And do not depart from the words of my mouth. (Proverbs 5:1-7)
Imagine if our children were taught this? What would our nation be like? If generation upon generation were to walk in the truth of Proverbs how great would it be? If they had a healthy reverence for God and obeyed Him imagine what it would be like? What if our children were able to pull this nation up from the dregs and move it forward because they stood on a sound and strong foundation based on Biblical truth? It would be amazing! It would be what it is supposed to be…
Throughout Proverbs, there is a comparison between the upright/righteous and the wicked/evil. The righteous are those who believe in God and fear Him. They are obedient to His Word and are willing to change themselves to fit it. The wicked are those who hate God and turn away from Him and His wisdom. They rebel against Him and live their lives the way they want to.
Pro 2:21-2 For the upright will live in the land And the blameless will remain in it; But the wicked will be cut off from the land And the treacherous will be uprooted from it.
Pro 3:33-5 The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the dwelling of the righteous. Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the afflicted. The wise will inherit honor, But fools display dishonor.
Pro 5:21-3 For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the LORD, And He watches all his paths. His own iniquities will capture the wicked, And he will be held with the cords of his sin. He will die for lack of instruction, And in the greatness of his folly he will go astray.
Pro 6:12-5 A worthless person, a wicked man, Is the one who walks with a perverse mouth, Who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet, Who points with his fingers; Who with perversity in his heart continually devises evil, Who spreads strife. Therefore his calamity will come suddenly; Instantly he will be broken and there will be no healing.
Pro 10:2-3 Ill-gotten gains do not profit, But righteousness delivers from death. The LORD will not allow the righteous to hunger, But He will reject the craving of the wicked.
Pro 10:6-7 Blessings are on the head of the righteous, But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. The memory of the righteous is blessed, But the name of the wicked will rot.
Pro 10:9 He who walks in integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will be found out.
Pro 11:3 The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.
Pro 11:6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, But the treacherous will be caught by their own greed.
Pro 11:10-1 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, And when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting. By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, But by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.
Pro 11:18 The wicked earns deceptive wages, But he who sows righteousness gets a true reward.
Pro 11:20 The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, But the blameless in their walk are His delight.
Pro 12:5 The thoughts of the righteous are just, But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
Pro 12:7 The wicked are overthrown and are no more, But the house of the righteous will stand.
Pro 12:13 An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, But the righteous will escape from trouble.
Pro 13:5 A righteous man hates falsehood, But a wicked man acts disgustingly and shamefully.
Pro 14:2 He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD, But he who is devious in his ways despises Him.
Pro 14:34 Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a disgrace to any people.
Pro 15:8-9 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But the prayer of the upright is His delight. The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But He loves one who pursues righteousness.
Pro 15:29 The LORD is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous.
Pro 16:8 Better is a little with righteousness Than great income with injustice.
Pro 16:28 A perverse man spreads strife, And a slanderer separates intimate friends.
Pro 17:15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
Pro 17:26 It is also not good to fine the righteous, Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
Pro 21:15 The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous, But is terror to the workers of iniquity.
Pro 21:21 He who pursues righteousness and loyalty Finds life, righteousness and honor.
Pro 22:12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, But He overthrows the words of the treacherous man.
Pro 24:1-2 Do not be envious of evil men, Nor desire to be with them; For their minds devise violence, And their lips talk of trouble.
Pro 26:24 He who hates disguises it with his lips, But he lays up deceit in his heart.
Pro 28:12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, But when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.
Pro 28:22 A man with an evil eye hastens after wealth And does not know that want will come upon him.
Pro 28:28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; But when they perish, the righteous increase.
Pro 29:2 When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, But when a wicked man rules, people groan.
Pro 29:7 The righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor, The wicked does not understand such concern.
Pro 29:16 When the wicked increase, transgression increases; But the righteous will see their fall.
Proverbs also talks about lying and deceit and shows what God thinks about it. It also shows the results and problems that come from lying and deceit. Unfortunately, lying is so commonplace that it is an accepted and even encouraged part of many professions and life in general. Our lawyers, politicians, and (sadly) many preachers are seen as liars. This is a tragedy on many levels. First, it has obscures the truth and it causes a lack of trust that hurts marriages, families, and the infrastructure of our nation. If we can’t trust our family, friends, or leaders, then we are at a loss to build anything that lasts:
Proverbs 12:19 Truthful lips will be established forever, But a lying tongue is only for a moment.
Proverbs 12:20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, But counselors of peace have joy.
Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, But those who deal faithfully are His delight.
Proverbs 14:25 A truthful witness saves lives, But he who utters lies is treacherous.
Proverbs 17:4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips; A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
Proverbs 17:7 Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool, Much less are lying lips to a prince.
Proverbs 19:5 A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who tells lies will not escape.
Proverbs 19:9 A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who tells lies will perish.
Proverbs 19:22 What is desirable in a man is his kindness, And it is better to be a poor man than a liar.
Proverbs 20:17 Bread obtained by falsehood is sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
Proverbs 25:14 Like clouds and wind without rain Is a man who boasts of his gifts falsely.
Proverbs 29:12 If a ruler pays attention to falsehood, All his ministers become wicked.
As I said above, Proverbs touches on a number of things. It is a book of wisdom that all men, women, and children should be digging into every day. Another important thing that Proverbs touches on is a strong work ethic. Many times in his writings, Solomon condemns those who are lazy and will not work:
Proverbs 6:6-11 Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise, Which, having no chief, Officer or ruler, Prepares her food in the summer And gathers her vision in the harvest. How long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? “A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest”–Your poverty will come in like a vagabond And your need like an armed man.
Proverbs 10:4-5 Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, But the hand of the diligent makes rich. He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely, But he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully.
Proverbs 12:11 He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, But he who pursues worthless things lacks sense.
Proverbs 14:23 In all labor there is Proverbsfit, But mere talk leads only to poverty.
Proverbs 15:19 The way of the lazy is as a hedge of thorns, But the path of the upright is a highway.
Proverbs 16:26 A worker’s appetite works for him, For his hunger urges him on.
Proverbs 18:9 He also who is slack in his work Is brother to him who destroys.
Proverbs 19:15 Laziness casts into a deep sleep, And an idle man will suffer hunger.
Proverbs 21:5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.
Proverbs 21:25 The desire of the sluggard puts him to death, For his hands refuse to work;
Proverbs 28:19 He who tills his land will have plenty of food, But he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty.
For those who say that this is not throughout scripture and that we have a responsibility to take care of those who can’t work, let me explain. I am not against taking care of those who can’t work. Like scripture, I’m against those who CAN work and refuse to do so. Unfortunately, our nation is filled with men and women who hold this view. I’ve heard stories of women who stand in line to pay for lobster and wine with food stamps and then pay for their cigarettes with a $100 bill. I’ve also heard of men who stand outside gas stations with signs that say they need help and then brag to the station’s owner that they are making $200-$300 a day. This is both angering and sad. Our nation used to be filled with men who took pride in being able to work honestly for the privilege to support their families. Now, we have greedy and dishonest men who will connive and deceive their way into money because they have no honor. I am going to say something that many will probably disagree with. I believe and agree with 2 Thessalonians 3:10:
For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.
If you don’t work, you don’t eat. Period. This is probably hard to swallow with the current job situation, but listen to what I’m saying. I am not against women working at a job. But, I think that if more women spent time at home with their kids, things would be better. The children would have someone there for them. I’ve actually heard stories of women who have lost their jobs and found the joys of motherhood through it. To be honest, the work done by women at home is more special, much harder, and extremely more lasting than the work that any man will do (other than teaching their kids the truth and disciplining them when necessary). All of this is supported many times in scripture including Proverbs 31. Instead of men dragging their feet and trying to chase after what they want, they should be doing whatever is necessary to provide for their family and take care of them. I also think that welfare is unnecessary. Again, hear me out. It is not the government’s job to give people handouts and bail them out of the situations they’ve gotten themselves into. It is the church’s job to help the widows, orphans, and those who need it. It is the church that should be taking the initiative to help those who are in need.
If our nation is going to be restored, it’s going to happen through hard work and diligence. Lazy, unmotivated people will not rebuild the nation, but that is what we are creating. We are teaching the next generations that they can expect everything to be handed to them by the government. This undermines the drive and resolve for people to strive for the best.
Leadership is another topic that Solomon touches on in the book of Proverbs:
Proverbs 11:14 Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in abundance of counselors there is victory.
Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.
Proverbs 13:23 Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor, But it is swept away by injustice.
Proverbs 14:28 In a multitude of people is a king’s glory, But in the dearth of people is a prince’s ruin.
Proverbs 14:31 He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker, But he who is gracious to the needy honors Him.
Proverbs 16:12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts, For a throne is established on righteousness.
Proverbs 20:6 Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, But who can find a trustworthy man?
Proverbs 20:18 Prepare plans by consultation, And make war by wise guidance.
Proverbs 20:28 Loyalty and truth preserve the king, And he upholds his throne by righteousness.
Proverbs 22:16 He who oppresses the poor to make more for himself Or who gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.
Proverbs 24:6 For by wise guidance you will wage war, And in abundance of counselors there is victory.
Proverbs 24:24-5 He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” Peoples will curse him, nations will abhor him; But to those who rebuke the wicked will be delight, And a good blessing will come upon them.
Proverbs 25:5 Take away the wicked before the king, And his throne will be established in righteousness.
Proverbs 25:19 Like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot Is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.
Proverbs 28:2 By the transgression of a land many are its princes, But by a man of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.
Proverbs 28:4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, But those who keep the law strive with them.
Proverbs 28:15-7 Like a roaring lion and a rushing bear Is a wicked ruler over a poor people. A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding, But he who hates unjust gain will long his days. A man who is laden with the guilt of human blood Will be a fugitive until death; let no one support him.
Proverbs 29:4 The king gives stability to the land by justice, But a man who takes bribes overthrows it.
Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law.
While Solomon mentions kings, the premises of the wisdom can be applied to the leader of any nation, king or otherwise. He shows how important it is for leaders to be upright and honest. They should rule in righteous and justice, but these things are defined the way God sees them and not the way that man does. They should remove treachery and deceit from them and their advisers. They should not oppress the people or act wickedly toward the righteous. Imagine what our nations would be like if their leaders would follow these precepts as they lead the nation. Their people would flourish and grow as the trust between them and their ruler grows. It would be something that changes our country.
Greed and wealth have been the focus of many Americans lately. Our leaders continue to pump money into a system that isn’t working. They flip-flop between the horrible catastrophe that we face and the encouraging outlook our nation sees from their senseless waste of our money. Many of the situations we now face are the direct result of greed and the desire for wealth. The CEOs of major companies are more concerned about themselves and the amount of money they can immediately gain then they are about their employees and their welfare. The government continues to throw money at these companies who in turn continue to waste it. The book of Proverbs talks about all of this:
Proverbs 11:28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.
Proverbs 13:11 Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles, But the one who gathers by labor increases it.
Proverbs 13:22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.
Proverbs 15:27 He who Proverbsfits illicitly troubles his own house, But he who hates bribes will live.
Proverbs 19:6 Many will seek the favor of a generous man, And every man is a friend to him who gives gifts.
Proverbs 22:2 The rich and the poor have a common bond, The LORD is the maker of them all.
Proverbs 22:22-3 Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Or crush the afflicted at the gate; For the LORD will plead their case And take the life of those who rob them.
Proverbs 22:26-7 Do not be among those who give pledges, Among those who become guarantors for debts. If you have nothing with which to pay, Why should he take your bed from under you?
Proverbs 23:4-5 Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, Cease from your consideration of it. When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings Like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.
This is just a small portion of the wisdom and knowledge that can be found in the Bible. If our nation and its leaders would apply the wisdom found in scripture to the different issues in their lives, as well as our nation, we would see drastic changes immediately happen in our country. If they would be examples to the people, teaching them about sacrifice, righteousness, and honor, it would help restore the people’s trust in them. See, America’s problem (and the problems of every other nation) result from sin and a lack of absolute morals. Without absolute morals, there is no guideline to know right from wrong and man is free to do whatever he deems right. This is exactly what is happening in our country as I type this. This is ridiculous. We continue to try to solve problems with “answers” that have already been proven not to work. The only answer the will work is the one that is consistently ignored. It is my prayer that our nation and its people will turn their eyes back to the Lord and trust in Him instead of man:
Proverbs 16:20 He who gives attention to the word will find good, And blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
Your thoughts?
A Declaration
March 16, 2009 at 3:50 pm | Posted in Christianity | Leave a commentTags: accountability, America, ateasetees, Britain, character, Christian, Constitution, corruption, Declaration of Independence, entitled, evangelism, faith, God, government, honesty, Jesus, judgment, liberty, lies, life, morality, Obama, pursuit of happiness, reverence, sin, sovereignty, transparency, truth, unalienable rights
In the 200-plus years that our nation has existed, it has faced many issues. From the beginning, the colonies that made up our future nation faced tyranny and strife. The monarchy of Britain tried to remove the liberties and freedoms of the colonists that they were entitled to under the British constitution. As the pressure and strife increased, the colonists made their views and grievances clear. Many of the ideas expressed in the Declaration they made would shape the future of our nation. The colonists saw “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” as God-given, unalienable rights and not the benefits of the government. They believed that the government was responsible for the securing these rights and that the government “derived their just powers from the consent of the governed”. They also believed that if the government failed in securing these rights, it was the right of the people to alter/abolish the government and institute a new government that was built on the aforementioned principles. They believed that the new government should have its powers “organized in such a way that the people feel will most likely affect their safety and happiness”. Because of the beliefs and the grievances Declared, our Founders were forced to fight for their beliefs and the morals attached to them. After winning the war the colonies came together to create a new government designed to secure the rights they had so desperately fought for.
This new government was created by the states and was laid out in the Constitution. The Constitution created a federal government with limited powers and responsibilities. Any power of responsibility not found in the Constitution automatically belonged to the states. The Founders saw the inherent problems in a strong federal government. It would create the same possibility for tyranny that they had just freed themselves from. Instead, the Founders left the majority of the rights and powers to the states. It was up to the states to provide for the needs of their people. They felt that because each state was basically a group of like-minded people, this would be the most beneficial and efficient way to handle the issue.
Since it’s founding, our nation has grown and prospered because its leaders feared God. For many years the government stayed small and the men who took office held to the Constitution (as the oath they took required them to). There were men, even in those days, who desired to expand the federal government, but the character of those men and others wouldn’t allow them to overstep their bounds. The federal government kept itself in check and the people benefited. Unfortunately, as the nation grew, some of those elected began to use their position to exercise powers they weren’t given under the Constitution. They consolidated the power of the federal government and then used that power to fulfill their own desires, reward those loyal to them (and not the Constitution), and trample the rights of thousands of Americans.
Along with this, the moral character of many elected seemed to deteriorate. It was no longer about the character of the President et al., but about what they said and how much they promised. It no longer mattered whether the President was an adulterer, liar, or thief as long as they looked good and told the people what they wanted to hear. All the while, they would use the American people to fulfill their agenda at the expense of the people. Sadly, this has become the epitome of American politics. It is commonly said that you can tell when a politician is lying because their lips are moving, and yet, they are still elected to office. We no longer look at someone’s character as long as they promise us things it isn’t in their Constitutional power/privilege to provide. This has been going on for at lease 100 years now and will only stop when the American people do something about it.
America has recently elected a new president. Although his character (he supports abortion, infanticide, and “gay marriage” and still calls himself a Christian) and selection of friends/”mentors” (Bill Ayers, Jeremiah Wright, Raila Odinga) is questionable at best; and even though he has lied numerous times during his political campaign, people still voted for him because he promised them what they wanted and had good intentions. Since the new president has taken office, he has spent trillions of dollars of taxpayer money (who else is going to pay for it?), put into office men and women of questionable character (when they weren’t shamed into denying the position), and lied to the American people by breaking promise after promise (tax raises, earmarks, putting lobbyists into government positions). All the time he was doing this, he spoke of transparency and accountability in his administration like never before. In less than 100 days the new president has saddled our children and grandchildren with an enormous debt in an effort to save us from “economic catastrophe”. He has also lowered the image of leaders (I didn’t think it was possible either) and set a horrible example for the next generations. He attacks those who bring real concerns about his efforts and spends a lot of time talking loud and saying nothing. Congress is also to blame. They too have greatly overstepped the powers and responsibilities given to them by the Constitution under the guise of “general welfare”. Instead of honestly representing the people and endeavoring to secure their rights, they have fought with each other to see who can steal more money from the people in the form of pet projects for their own states to secure their personal desires. Sadly, most of these projects are useless wastes of time and money. Like the president, Congressmen and women are expected to be liars, cheats, tax frauds, adulterers, and thieves. No one expects anyone in Congress to have any sort of backbone or honest care/concern for America or her people and we let it continue.
Not to be left out, the judicial system has also followed suit and overstepped its bounds. The Supreme Court (and other federal courts) no longer spends its time upholding the Constitution and the laws that follow it. Instead, it spends its time rewriting laws and reinterpreting the Constitution to mean whatever the judges want. They strike down state laws that are constitutional because they disagree with them. They help read the Constitution progressively as a “living, breathing document” (which is what the colonists separated themselves from in Britain’s constitution).
The worst part is that it is the American people will be the ones that suffer. The president will still make his six-figure plus salary (given by the taxpayers) while thousands scrounge to put food on the table. Congressmen and women will continue to make their outrageous salaries (along with all the money they get from side businesses, etc.) and waste taxpayers dollars. Judges will continue to rewrite the Constitution under our noses. The federal government will make every effort to grow and grab power from the states and individuals while America burns (should we hand out fiddles?). And Americans will let it happen. Between the three federal branches our rights will eventually disappear and we will be nothing but a mockery of the nation our Founders envisioned. What amazes me is that people are willing to give up their freedoms and their rights because the government says that it will take care of them, even though it has failed to do that in every instance it’s made the effort. The government has made it clear that they believe the American people are too stupid and lazy to take care of themselves and we continue to prove them right because we refuse to pay attention and speak up for ourselves.
If you’ve read this far, you’re probably wondering a few things. You may be wondering why this is on a blog devoted to Christianity and evangelism. Well, there are a few reasons. One, this type of environment is likely to lead to a situation where people like me will no longer be able to talk about Christianity without it being considered “hate speech” or treason. Second, while this blog post is about our nation and government, it is important for us to understand our history or we will repeat it. Third, it is because the kind of things going on in our government are a reflection of what our nation has become since it has rejected God (America was founded as a haven for Christians). Because America, its people, and its government have rejected the God they once appealed to; we are being subjected to things that God once protected us from. You may also be saying something like “if you don’t like it, you can leave”. Yes, you’re right. I could leave and find another place to live and one day, it may just come to that. But that day will follow my having done all that I can to fight against the mockery our nation has become. I love my country and will fight for what it once represented, even if I’m the only one.
Still others may be wondering what my purpose in writing this is or may be saying “well, do you have a solution for this?”
Let me tell you what I would like to see. I would love to see the Christian foundation of our nation restored. I would love to see God glorified in public. I would love to see children learn morals and uprightness from scripture in public school. I would love to see our nation return to God and repent of its sin. I would love to see the American people stand up and speak out. I would love to see babies have their rights restored instead of being killed by the thousands every day in the name of “choice”. I would love to see the American people regain the rights they’ve allowed to be stolen from them. I would love to see them have shame and remorse for letting out nation get to this point. But, what I would love to see most is the American people repent and return to God – to fear Him and turn from their sins. That’s what I would love to see and it could happen. If it does happen, it won’t be because of the federal government. It will happen when the people repent. It will happen when all people begin to care more about others than themselves.
My solution to this is simple. First, America must repent. We must stop doing what we know is wrong. I’m not advocating a new government or secession (although I think that it should be kept as a possibility). What I’m advocating is a return to the Constitutional government that we started with. I’m talking about returning the authority to the states and allowing them to be sovereign again. I’m talking about getting rid of unnecessary government programs that are unconstitutional and have added to our burden. I’m talking about not stealing any more money from our grandkids or just printing more money when we need it. I’m talking about government officials with character and morals that do what’s right for the people, take their job seriously, and uphold the oath that they took when getting into office. I’m talking about true accountability and transparency. I’m talking about getting rid of the political leeches that suck the life out of the American people. I’m talking about securing the rights of the American people (remember? – life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?). I’m talking about reminding the people that they are not entitled to everything. They are entitled the opportunity for a house, car, job, education, etc.; but they are not entitled to have those things given to them. I’m talking about looking at the rich history of men and women who started out with nothing and built their lives through hard work and the fear of God. That’s what I’m talking about and the amazing thing is that it can all happen if we get rid of our selfishness, the government stops what it’s doing, and America repents.
Get the Word out! 