Christianity, The President, and Abortion

The opening remarks of Casey Treat in first service this mornin, January 11, 2009, seem to be particularly relevant to our times. With a major change in the presidency and economic problems there is much room for negativity and reduction of faith. A friend from my old church in Monroe called me this morning. He asked me if I thought that the president elect might be the anti-Christ. I tried to make the point that the government is of this world and the Lord’s is of the heart.
I asked him why he thought that Obama might be the anti-Christ. He replied that Obama supports abortion. He also asked if any democrat can be a Christian? After the election Dutch Sheets says that he is quite confident that the election of Barack Obama was definitely not God’s will. http://www.dutchsheets.org/index.cfm. He seems to base this on the premise that Mr. Obama supports abortion. when I listened to Obama it seems to me that he knows that abortion is not the best option. It seems to me that President -elect Obama would like to enhance the life options, rather than returning to wire coat hanger abortions.
Let’s not just look at the particular issue of abortions, but the entire issue about a Christian individuals relationship to the Government. The fate of new born or unborn are issues that are of intense opinions thought out our society. This issue causes many to break laws and to lose their inner peace. look at those who are in prison now for the destruction of Abortion clinics. The opposition also shows much anger about the issue. Decades ago, I visited a friend of mine, Bill Warren. He was a photographer. When I met him he was very proud of his latest assignment. he had made the cover of Newsweek Magazine. It was a collage of shots that he had taken at some abortion protests. At that time abortions were illegal. Women were dying from ill performed abortions. Today almost forty years later I can still feel the anger of the demonstrators.
     These events have caused me to look at these issues in light of the Bible. After the election I looked up the verse about government in Romans 13:1-5.

1. Every person must be subject to the governing authorities, for no authority exists except by God's permission. 

2. The existing authorities have been established by God, so that whoever resists the authorities opposes what God has established, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.
3 For the authorities are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you like to live without being afraid of the authorities? Then do what is right, and you will receive their approval.
4 For they are God's servants working for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for it is not without reason that they bear the sword. Indeed, they are God's servants to execute wrath on anyone who does wrong.
5 Therefore, it is necessary for you to be subject, not only because of God's wrath but also because of your own conscience. ISV
One interesting point about the Romans of the Biblical era was the way they handled a birth in a family. The baby would be presented to Pater Familias, the family head, who would decide the fate of the newborn. At the whim of the Pater Familias the baby would be taken to the forest and abandoned. There is archaeological evidence that some babies were actually placed on the trash heaps and never made it to the woods. If Paul admonished the Romans to obey the government and they were to pray for their leaders and to pay tribute. How can it be any thing other for us? God’s plan for us is peace. We may not see it in the world, but peace in our hearts, now!
I would like to comment about the Pastor that led President-elect Obama to the Lord, and to whose church Obama attended for many years. maybe you have seen the press videos of the Pastor ranting. Sometimes people vent. Does any Christian always have God’s Peace and His mind? I think that it would be almost impossible for anyone born in white middle class America to understand the Black experience in America. This certainly was made abundantly true for me one night in the mid sixties.
I had made friend a when I was working on the minuteman guidance system at the aircraft factory. His last name was the same as mine. We would go out at lunch time and ride our motorcycles together. He had a full dress Harley. I had a 250 rice burnin Yamaha. His first name was Vinsone, or Vinnie to me. One day he invited me to a party at his place. His place was in Watts, California. Vinnie was Black. It was only a year or two since Watts had burned the first time. So there I was, at a place that looked something like a plain old apartment complex, two story stucco sided buildings with lawns in between the building and close line poles in the lawns. At that time Vinnie chained his Full Dress Harley to a steel clothes line pole in the lawn in front of his apartment. While Vinnie's girl friend was trying to teach me to dance, Vinnie's brother burst in the front door and said that some guys were scheming to steal his bike. So, I said, “Let’s call the cops.” No response, only a heavy silence hung in the room as all eyes turned to look at the dumb white boy, me. So finally, it dawned me that in that part of town, in the local inhabitants minds, the cops weren't friends, allies or protectors, but something else.
Vinnie opened the closet by the front door and reached for the chains and baseball bats that were kept there. So, I said, “Let’s get ‘em.” I too reached for the goodies in the closet. Vinnie grabbed my arm and told me to stay there. It was good advice that kept my obit out of the Garden Grove paper. The guys went out without me, they were not gone long. When they returned they said it was all cool now. That night made me eventually realize that I am just a dumb white boy from the suburbs. As a white boy from the 'burbs I realize that I cannot, with the natural mind, understand another man's framework of thoughts and experiences. 

So how can I judge the stance or position of another person's walk with the Lord? Is He finished with me yet? Is He finished with you yet? A persons heart is only too easy to be deceived. The walk with the Lord, for many, is long and perhaps rocky. I can only think of the years that I walked in an abusive nature, while thinking that I was close to perfection.
It is with this background that when I saw Obama’s Pastor go verbally ballistic, ranting about this country, I thought, "This man has a lot to vent." Although, only God can know a man’s heart, I believe that someday Barack’s Pastor, Rev. Wright,  Barack and I will all be in heaven.

Today I posted a comment to president elect Obama's economic team. It is great way to express my thoughts. His web change.gov gives us access to many different layers of his administration. It seems to be a practical way to give "Power to the People." Empower yourself, It even feels good! Below is what I what sent them.  

I liked where Jason Furman spoke about something that is lasting that TRANSFORMS OUR ECONOMY FOR THE LONG TERM. FDR made long term changes when he electrified our country. We in the West still reap the benefits of the Columbia Project with cheap power. Other areas have similar projects. The South west has Boulder Dam, the TVA still provides power to a large area.
We need to change from Carbonaesous fuel to others. I have done much research and believe that hydrogen is a viable path. Make more electricity from wind, solar, tidal, and geothermal. Convert that at a local level to H2 hydrogen. This has hugh advantages over our present use of fossil fuels. One is the low,almost no environmental impact, the other is that it is produced solely by us. GM has done a study saying that fueling stations to serve a hugh majority of drivers can be built for 15 billon dollars. Didn't Exxon have profits in excess of 40 billion in 2006? Yet they have done virtually nothing for change. I hope that you act to change this fossilized thinking.

Tim Jones
tinysview.blogspot.com
www.TimandKimberlyJones.com

Myths of the Church #2

Yesterday I was telling a friend from our church that I had an appointment to discuss partnering with New Horizon Ministries. NHM reaches out to young street people. My friend said that they won't listen. That is the myth! That they won't listen.   

I still remember a time, about fifty years ago now, when my step mother told me that Roy Rogers and Dale Evans were very rare because they were active in Hollywood's Motion Picture industry and still married. They were Christians. Years later, that witness spoke to me, even though it didn't appear that I was listening when the story was told.

My part, and other Christians, is to reach out with the Love of God. That is the end of our responsibility. Those receiving God's Love, either spoken or demonstrated, may appear to not listen or to receive. But sometimes testimony takes time and goes circuitous routes. One thing is for sure, if the words aren't spoken, they will not be able to hear. My choice is give, and not withhold, give the chance that once was given to me. 

Isaiah 55:11
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

It becomes apparent that it is necessary to be speaking the word of the Lord. 

Myths of the Church

Years ago I had a preacher talking to me, while I was drunk. When I tried to respond to him, he threw up his hands, saying that he couldn't talk to me, he was only talking to the alcohol. I have not had any alcohol for many years now. I still hear preachers say that they can't talk to people that have been drinking or are on drugs.

Two things make me disagree with this statement. The first was experience, the second is the Word of God. Decades ago when I was a long hair, not the classical musician type, but the other more radical type. I was homeless, but was crashing at a friend's house. He left one day to go to a park and get stoned on acid. When he came back he had a quizzical look on his face. He stated that he had gotten stoned, and as he sat there in the park a man came up to him and told him about Jesus and the Bible. He just commented that it all made sense. 

In Isa 55:10-11 The word says,"For as the rain and snow come down from the heavens, and return not there again, but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to me void, but it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. 

Since God's Word is His Word, I would think that if you are only speaking to the alcohol then you are only speaking your own words. But if you are speaking God's Word, it will accomplish God's purpose. As it did when the man in the park spoke to the stoner. 

The Election

Since the last Presidential election I have heard several different takes on the outcome. One author, http://lakesideblog.blogspot.com, although not agreeing with all of President elect Obama's views, thinks that he is an inspirational leader. Another, John Michael Talbot, thinks that the outcome would help the racial healing of our country and the worlds view of the US. But, he goes on to express concern about Obama's willingness to continue the murder of unborn and just born children. Another view that was expressed, by Dutch Sheets was that the outcome was not God's will. It is easy to see the first views, and agree in principle with many of them. However, it is most difficult to agree with Doctor Sheets view that the election was not God's will.
It is sometimes difficult to understand and know God's will. But we do have the Bible to go to in times of uncertainty. In this case Romans 13:1-5 says: "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God." Dutch Sheets said that the outcome was not God's will because the president elect favors abortion of unborn children.   But, the verse in Romans was written to the Romans who had policy that was just as grievous. They would take a newborn to the Grand father or the father who would make a decision to kept the baby or not. history tells us that if the baby was unwanted it was taken to the country and abandoned. If someone wanted the baby, they may take it and keep it as their own. Archeology would indicate the many healthy babies actually ended in the trash heap of the dump.

Does this mean that God is not concerned about the fate of babies, both born and unborn. I think not. He is most concerned! What then does this apparent conflict mean? The Kingdom of God is within.  It is peace within oneself, not peace by the force of law. God's Kingdom reigns in the hearts of men and women in almost every country of the world.  

We are to pray for the leaders of our country. After watching an interview where the president elect was asked when a baby gained its human rights, he answered that it was above his pay grade. I think that a little more prayer will reveal to his heart that answer. I know that it took years before it became clearer to me. 

Rising Above in Washington

Today, I am preparing paperwork for a non-profit organization. so far the name I have come up with is Rising Above Ministries of Washington. The name does not feel quite right. So if you have another suggestion let me know.

Three strikes, you are out!

When I have a need such as having new windows installed in my house, or flying on an airline, I like to evaluate the companies that I am considering for their performance. For the windows I might ask for references, for the airline I might go on line and evaluate the safety record and the on time flight record. These inquiries would help me to decide which companies to use, or whether to use that company at all. If the airline companies had a poor safety record I would not fly at all. If all the window companies had broken windows in a short time, I would not put in new windows.
Today some of the prospective mangers, or politicians, of our country are telling us that their company, the Federal Government, needs to be the overseeing company that will handle our health care. Their argument is that many can't pay for health care insurance. This is a problem. But can the Federal Government fix this problem? The wannbe managers say that they have a solution. But let's take a few minutes and look at the Feds record on handling a few other things that we have entrusted them with.
About seventy years ago, the American People entrusted our retirement to the Federal Government. That program will soon be broke. I have been paying social security tax since I was seventeen years old, and my bosses have been matching my payment for that time, too. After 48 years of working and being taxed, at sixty-five I am eligible for $1200 per month. Strike ONE on the Feds.
In the sixties, we entrusted our government with the medical care of the elderly. The program is called Medicare. We and our employers have been paying taxes for this program for decades. It has so many holes in it that most have to buy supplemental insurance. It doesn't work well and it to is going to be broke in several years. Strike Two on the Feds.
Our country owes a lot to our veterans. If it weren't for them, those on the east part of our country would probably be speaking German today, and those on the west would probably be speaking Japanese. I think that most would agree that we owe the vets. But the reports on the Veteran Administration Hospitals are less than satisfactory. Recent headlines will attest to that. Also, the fact that my father in law, who was an Officer in the Air Force for over twenty years always went to private facilities rather than the VA hospitals. Strike THREE for the Feds.
There is an old saying. "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." Three times we have been fooled. What do we say if they fool us a fourth time? How many times can we have our hopes devastated by the Feds?
Have I undermined your hope? I hope not! This is only Tinysview. Later, I will give Tinysview solution to the problem of health care.