Article for The New Castle Courier-Times, Christian Perspectives, December 26, 2009
And in despair I bowed my head,
“There is no peace on earth,” I said.
For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, goodwill to men.
It’s the day after Christmas, and this article is sharing the newspaper with stories of current events that impact our community. Inside its pages you will likely find a section filled with names and photos of individuals who have died in the last 36 hours. You’ll see stories about the war in Afghanistan, a tragic fire or domestic assault. You likely read a story about political squabbling or mudslinging, and one of our superstars may be in the news again – for all the wrong reasons. Maybe today will be the day when the annual “Grinch” story will be written about this year’s hard-hearted person who stole all of the Christmas presents from under the tree.
It’s clear, even as you examine this paper, that Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was right. Hate is strong. In these “United” States, we are experiencing more animosity and division than we have in several years as politicians pit the Haves against the Have-Nots. The threat of a nuclear Iran is foreshadowing a handful of responses, all of which make Sodom and Gomorrah pale in comparison. The "good-old-days" of abortion on demand have mutated into today's headlines of a Virginia woman being able to kill her own live-born daughter without consequence because "the mother and baby were still connected by the umbilical cord."
This day is not unlike the days following the first Christmas. The part of the advent story we seldom read in our "sanitized" version of the Christmas story was very dark and tragic. Herod, the king, was so afraid of this new born King that he had every male child under the age of two slaughtered. Mothers and fathers across Judea wailed in anguish over the loss of their sons.
"There is no peace on earth," I said.
But, what is the source of this animosity, these dark-days, this war that is waged every day in our neighborhoods, and political parties, and churches, and families? Could it be that the source of this ill-will can be found in our freedom of choice?
Of all people, Americans should have the most intense understanding of the power we find in the freedom of choice. Our nation was founded on this freedom-of-all-freedoms. We are free to choose our own paths as we “pursue happiness.” We are free to choose how we will live. It is with this power, our freedom of choice, that we can transform the world both for good and bad.
Examine a passage of scripture common to Jews, Muslims, and Christians says, “I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life!” This may come as a shock to some right-wing individuals who have invested far too much energy in the wrong argument of the abortion debate, but God is pro-choice. Before us every day are countless decisions. In each one we can choose between blessings and life, or curses and death. God wants us to choose life. He commands us to choose life. But the choice is ultimately ours, and so are the consequences.
The angels on the hillside announced "Peace on earth, good-will toward men." But that is just God's side of the equation. What is our side of the equation? Are we choosing life over death? Are we choosing peace over conflict? Sadly, I think not.
All too often we choose the things that promise hope, only to be disappointed. Herod promised peace as long has he was in control. But when his power was threatened, even by an infant, pain and anguish replaced the stillness found in Bethlehem. God never asked us to choose hope; he asked us to choose life, even if choosing life meant a life of challenge.
Longfellow's final stanza reminds us what can happen if we choose life; if we choose right; if we reject wrong. He reminds us that we must fight for what is right and reject what is wrong. The choice is ours. Now is the time. Choose well.
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
God is not dead nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, goodwill to men.
You can find more my Facebook Page (http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=504321719).
Or my Flickr.com Page (http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtisferrell/)
Thanks for reading!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
On Divisions In The Church
Courier-Times Christian Perspectives Article for 11/14/09
Three weeks ago a brother in Christ took issue with these words that I wrote the week previous: "The Bible speaks very clearly about the sanctity of life; about our responsibility to the poor, the orphaned and the widow; about God's view of homosexual behavior."
I try to follow the guidance of C.S. Lewis, who stated in Mere Christianity, "Our divisions should never be discussed except in the presence of those who have already come to believe that there is one God and that Jesus Christ is His only Son." But I would like to take this opportunity to discuss WHY there are divisions in the church, and divisions with peoples of other faith systems.
A friend of mine, and national speaker for women and youth events, Lori Salierno, says that there are three general areas of belief in the church: standards, convictions, and preferences. For example, divisions in the church about the style of worship are preference differences. Scripture does not speak directly to these issues.
Divisions among believers about the day for worship, the appropriate age for baptism, the manner of baptism (i.e. sprinkling or dunking), and women in ministry are based on conviction. In other words, we believe the Spirit of God has convicted us that "this" way is the way God wants "us" to behave. We don't deny that other Christians have a different understanding. We don't call them non-Christian, or believe that they are sinning. However, if we act in a way, different than the way that God has convicted us to follow, we would be committing an act of sin.
Finally, standards are truths that scripture declares are true for all people, for all times. If someone opposes a standard, the bible calls those actions "sin". The church doesn't label it a sin; individuals don't label it a sin; it is the bible that labels those actions as sins.
While there are some Christ-followers that will identify as standards, the things that I identify as preferences and convictions, most believers will acknowledge these three general areas of belief in the church.
In the late 1960's, intellectuals began toying with an idea called "deconstruction". This idea states that you cannot know what a writer "actually" meant, so you, the reader, must deconstruct what is written and decide for yourself what you think the author meant. In other words, you re-construct what is written in the way that you think it should be read. Actually, the first deconstrucionalist was the serpent in the garden, "That's not what God really meant; you won't surely die."
Armed with this new tool, people have been deconstructing documents for over 40 years and re-constructing them according to their own preference.
They deconstructed the First Amendment to the Constitution which reads: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. "Surely freedom of speech doesn't mean ALL forms for speech." As a result we have a new type of crime: Hate speech. Additionally, religious expression is being restrained by public law on several fronts.
They deconstructed the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. "Surely they didn't understand that we would need National Health Care." As a result, we are well on our way to a government-run health care system; a power that was not enumerated in the Constitution.
There are also those who deconstruct scripture. Where scripture is clear but uncomfortable, some say, "That's not what God REALLY meant." Sadly, this is where some divisions among believers occur in the area of standards. In past generations this re-construction of scripture was called heresy. Now we timidly say, "That's your understanding of truth; not mine."
As to areas of agreement, my brother is correct in saying that what brings us together is far more important than the things that separate us. But that is also true of my Jewish and Muslim friends. These faith systems, as well as Christianity, all count the Hebrew Scriptures in the Old Testament as holy scripture. There are many areas in which we can all agree. But the areas that divide us are significant.
For example, the Jewish faith does not accept every scripture we accept (i.e. The New Testament). In the other instance, the Muslim faith accepts, as scripture, documents we cannot accept (i.e. The Koran). Interestingly, they are both battling attacks by those who wish to deconstruct their holy scriptures.
This week we celebrated the veterans that have served this country by fighting for and defending freedom in all of its forms. Many of them died for the truths that we find in the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. They didn't worry about what the Founders of this nation "really" thought. They clearly understood what was at stake and what the cost could be. They fought for freedom. All gave some; some gave all.
Deconstruction has done damage to the fabric of America and has resulted in the loss of some of the freedoms they fought and died for. Deconstruction has resulted in the creation of an expanded hate crimes law. Someday, we will be reading the report of an individual being charged under this new law for simply speaking his or her mind and defending biblical truth. It could be your pastor. It could be me. It could be you. We were warned and failed to do enough to defend the right to freedom of speech. Someday, someone will have to fight to win it back.
Deconstruction is doing damage to the unity of the church; the unity of all believers who claim to follow Christ. If we begin throwing out the passages of scripture that make us uncomfortable, soon we will have little left that we can call scripture; little left that unites us. Fortunately, scripture defends itself very well, if we have faith to believe what it says.
There is another truth that is clearly spelled out in Scripture. Faith in Christ means more that simply acknowledging that He exists; it means being obedient to His Word. Those who wish to debate this truth will have their opportunity one day, face-to-face with the Author of Truth. Personally, my debate with scripture is done; the Word won.
Questions or comments? Write curt@smdcog.org
You can find more at my Facebook Page (http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=504321719).
Also at my Flickr.com Page (http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtisferrell/)
Thanks for reading!
Three weeks ago a brother in Christ took issue with these words that I wrote the week previous: "The Bible speaks very clearly about the sanctity of life; about our responsibility to the poor, the orphaned and the widow; about God's view of homosexual behavior."
I try to follow the guidance of C.S. Lewis, who stated in Mere Christianity, "Our divisions should never be discussed except in the presence of those who have already come to believe that there is one God and that Jesus Christ is His only Son." But I would like to take this opportunity to discuss WHY there are divisions in the church, and divisions with peoples of other faith systems.
A friend of mine, and national speaker for women and youth events, Lori Salierno, says that there are three general areas of belief in the church: standards, convictions, and preferences. For example, divisions in the church about the style of worship are preference differences. Scripture does not speak directly to these issues.
Divisions among believers about the day for worship, the appropriate age for baptism, the manner of baptism (i.e. sprinkling or dunking), and women in ministry are based on conviction. In other words, we believe the Spirit of God has convicted us that "this" way is the way God wants "us" to behave. We don't deny that other Christians have a different understanding. We don't call them non-Christian, or believe that they are sinning. However, if we act in a way, different than the way that God has convicted us to follow, we would be committing an act of sin.
Finally, standards are truths that scripture declares are true for all people, for all times. If someone opposes a standard, the bible calls those actions "sin". The church doesn't label it a sin; individuals don't label it a sin; it is the bible that labels those actions as sins.
While there are some Christ-followers that will identify as standards, the things that I identify as preferences and convictions, most believers will acknowledge these three general areas of belief in the church.
In the late 1960's, intellectuals began toying with an idea called "deconstruction". This idea states that you cannot know what a writer "actually" meant, so you, the reader, must deconstruct what is written and decide for yourself what you think the author meant. In other words, you re-construct what is written in the way that you think it should be read. Actually, the first deconstrucionalist was the serpent in the garden, "That's not what God really meant; you won't surely die."
Armed with this new tool, people have been deconstructing documents for over 40 years and re-constructing them according to their own preference.
They deconstructed the First Amendment to the Constitution which reads: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. "Surely freedom of speech doesn't mean ALL forms for speech." As a result we have a new type of crime: Hate speech. Additionally, religious expression is being restrained by public law on several fronts.
They deconstructed the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. "Surely they didn't understand that we would need National Health Care." As a result, we are well on our way to a government-run health care system; a power that was not enumerated in the Constitution.
There are also those who deconstruct scripture. Where scripture is clear but uncomfortable, some say, "That's not what God REALLY meant." Sadly, this is where some divisions among believers occur in the area of standards. In past generations this re-construction of scripture was called heresy. Now we timidly say, "That's your understanding of truth; not mine."
As to areas of agreement, my brother is correct in saying that what brings us together is far more important than the things that separate us. But that is also true of my Jewish and Muslim friends. These faith systems, as well as Christianity, all count the Hebrew Scriptures in the Old Testament as holy scripture. There are many areas in which we can all agree. But the areas that divide us are significant.
For example, the Jewish faith does not accept every scripture we accept (i.e. The New Testament). In the other instance, the Muslim faith accepts, as scripture, documents we cannot accept (i.e. The Koran). Interestingly, they are both battling attacks by those who wish to deconstruct their holy scriptures.
This week we celebrated the veterans that have served this country by fighting for and defending freedom in all of its forms. Many of them died for the truths that we find in the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. They didn't worry about what the Founders of this nation "really" thought. They clearly understood what was at stake and what the cost could be. They fought for freedom. All gave some; some gave all.
Deconstruction has done damage to the fabric of America and has resulted in the loss of some of the freedoms they fought and died for. Deconstruction has resulted in the creation of an expanded hate crimes law. Someday, we will be reading the report of an individual being charged under this new law for simply speaking his or her mind and defending biblical truth. It could be your pastor. It could be me. It could be you. We were warned and failed to do enough to defend the right to freedom of speech. Someday, someone will have to fight to win it back.
Deconstruction is doing damage to the unity of the church; the unity of all believers who claim to follow Christ. If we begin throwing out the passages of scripture that make us uncomfortable, soon we will have little left that we can call scripture; little left that unites us. Fortunately, scripture defends itself very well, if we have faith to believe what it says.
There is another truth that is clearly spelled out in Scripture. Faith in Christ means more that simply acknowledging that He exists; it means being obedient to His Word. Those who wish to debate this truth will have their opportunity one day, face-to-face with the Author of Truth. Personally, my debate with scripture is done; the Word won.
Questions or comments? Write curt@smdcog.org
You can find more at my Facebook Page (http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=504321719).
Also at my Flickr.com Page (http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtisferrell/)
Thanks for reading!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Freedom Of Speech No Longer Exists In America
Courier-Times Christian Perspectives Article for 10/17/09
Just four months ago I wrote these words: "The Bible speaks very clearly about the sanctity of life; about our responsibility to the poor, the orphaned and the widow; about God's view of homosexual behavior. The church needs to rediscover the authority found in the Word of God and stand on it. However, that kind of stance could become something more than politically incorrect, it could become illegal. The U.S. Senate is considering a Hate Crimes Bill (S.909) which could be used to prosecute ministers for declaring God's truth on homosexuality."
As I write this article, the President of the United States is set to sign the Defense Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2010. Hidden in this bill, which will fund our troops around the world for the coming year, is an amendment which couldn't pass the House of Representatives on its own merit. A handful of legislators from the U.S. House and the Senate quietly included the Senate Hate Crimes Bill as an amendment to the Defense bill during the development of a conference report that was supposed to merge two different versions of the Defense bill, one from the House and one from the Senate.
When that merged bill is signed, it will establish restrictions in U.S. law preventing certain kinds of speech. At that point every Christ-follower, including and maybe especially pastors, priests, and ministers, will have to determine if they are willing to risk prosecution and jail time to proclaim the whole truth found in scripture.
Many will be tempted to ignore the topic of homosexuality and what the Bible has to say about it. If you don't talk about it you cannot be arrested and charged.
Others will be tempted to deny the authority of the Word of God so that they can pick and choose which verses they like and which verses they don't like.
You may be thinking, "Curt, you are crazy! It would never come to that!" Let me tell you what is happening around the world, where speech has been limited with recent hate crimes legislation.
In the Netherlands, film maker Geert Wilders will stand trial on January 20th, 2010 for true statements that he included in a film he produced that is offensive to Muslims.
In June 2001, A Canadian man was found guilty of hate speech, when he advertised bumper-stickers he was selling which depicted the outline of two men holding hands inside a red circle with a slash through it. Next to this image was an equal sign and four bible references: Romans 1, Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. As a result of this court decision, the nation of Canada has found that these four scripture passages constitute hate speech, and to affirm them as true is to commit an act of hate speech, punishable by law.
In the United States we see other efforts to curb biblically-centered speech. Colleges and universities, long thought to be bastions of free thought and free expression, have increasingly established hate speech codes to protect students from racial, sexual, and other forms of harassment. In 2004 the Colorado Supreme Court upheld a ruling in a custody case which required Cheryl Clark to protect her daughter by making sure "that there is nothing in the religious upbringing or teaching that the minor child is exposed to that can be considered homophobic." This would include the first chapter of the book of Romans. A high school in the U.S., while approving the Day of Silence, which promotes a homosexual lifestyle, tried to deny the observance of the Day of Truth, which tried to counter the ideas promoted in the Day of Silence.
Through the decades of this experiment called the United States of America we have heard voices warning against limiting free expression and free speech. Political scientist Martin Gruberg said that we, "should confront offensive ideas by rebuttal, not by suppression." Ben Franklin stated “Without freedom of thought, there can be no such thing as wisdom; and no such thing as public liberty, without freedom of speech." And consider this statement from President Harry S. Truman: "When even one "American" -- who has done nothing wrong -- is forced by fear to shut his mind and close his mouth, then all Americans are in peril."
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution reads, Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
The idea that speech should be free from constraint is not universal. We see this in a response during the investigation into the Canadian ruling to outlaw the four offensive scripture passages. When asked, "What value do you give freedom of speech when you investigate one of these complaints?" Investigator Richard Steacy said, "Freedom of speech is an American concept, so I don't give it any value."
Actually it is a biblical value, the first chapter of the Old Testament Book of Isaiah contains these words: Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. "Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."
Reasoning together requires freedom of thought and freedom of expression. These ideas, these truths, did not originate in a civil document authored by the founders of America. These ideas originated in the heart of God.
There are those who try to say that this bill will not be used to attack religious expression, and can only be activated if someone commits a felony and says that he or she was encouraged or enticed to commit the crime based on "hate speech" statements. These are the same people that assured us that abortion on demand would never happen in America and euthanasia (mercy killing or assisted suicide) could never be seriously considered in such a civilized society.
What can you do? Encourage your spiritual leaders to boldly preach the Word of God without fear or hesitation. Defend the authority of scripture. Pray for the church in America. Love and pray for those who disagree with the truth found in scripture. Support politicians who value freedom of speech and freedom of expression. Encourage the appointments of judges who value freedom of speech and freedom of expression. Prepare yourself to boldly face the consequences of the words you speak or write.
Someday, we will be reading the report of an individual being charged under this new law for simply speaking his or her mind and defending biblical truth. It could be your pastor. It could be me. It could be you. We were warned and failed to do enough to defend the right to freedom of speech. Someday, someone will have to fight to win it back.
You can find more my Facebook Page (http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=504321719).
They are also posted at my Flickr.com Page (http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtisferrell/)
Thanks for reading!
Just four months ago I wrote these words: "The Bible speaks very clearly about the sanctity of life; about our responsibility to the poor, the orphaned and the widow; about God's view of homosexual behavior. The church needs to rediscover the authority found in the Word of God and stand on it. However, that kind of stance could become something more than politically incorrect, it could become illegal. The U.S. Senate is considering a Hate Crimes Bill (S.909) which could be used to prosecute ministers for declaring God's truth on homosexuality."
As I write this article, the President of the United States is set to sign the Defense Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2010. Hidden in this bill, which will fund our troops around the world for the coming year, is an amendment which couldn't pass the House of Representatives on its own merit. A handful of legislators from the U.S. House and the Senate quietly included the Senate Hate Crimes Bill as an amendment to the Defense bill during the development of a conference report that was supposed to merge two different versions of the Defense bill, one from the House and one from the Senate.
When that merged bill is signed, it will establish restrictions in U.S. law preventing certain kinds of speech. At that point every Christ-follower, including and maybe especially pastors, priests, and ministers, will have to determine if they are willing to risk prosecution and jail time to proclaim the whole truth found in scripture.
Many will be tempted to ignore the topic of homosexuality and what the Bible has to say about it. If you don't talk about it you cannot be arrested and charged.
Others will be tempted to deny the authority of the Word of God so that they can pick and choose which verses they like and which verses they don't like.
You may be thinking, "Curt, you are crazy! It would never come to that!" Let me tell you what is happening around the world, where speech has been limited with recent hate crimes legislation.
In the Netherlands, film maker Geert Wilders will stand trial on January 20th, 2010 for true statements that he included in a film he produced that is offensive to Muslims.
In June 2001, A Canadian man was found guilty of hate speech, when he advertised bumper-stickers he was selling which depicted the outline of two men holding hands inside a red circle with a slash through it. Next to this image was an equal sign and four bible references: Romans 1, Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. As a result of this court decision, the nation of Canada has found that these four scripture passages constitute hate speech, and to affirm them as true is to commit an act of hate speech, punishable by law.
In the United States we see other efforts to curb biblically-centered speech. Colleges and universities, long thought to be bastions of free thought and free expression, have increasingly established hate speech codes to protect students from racial, sexual, and other forms of harassment. In 2004 the Colorado Supreme Court upheld a ruling in a custody case which required Cheryl Clark to protect her daughter by making sure "that there is nothing in the religious upbringing or teaching that the minor child is exposed to that can be considered homophobic." This would include the first chapter of the book of Romans. A high school in the U.S., while approving the Day of Silence, which promotes a homosexual lifestyle, tried to deny the observance of the Day of Truth, which tried to counter the ideas promoted in the Day of Silence.
Through the decades of this experiment called the United States of America we have heard voices warning against limiting free expression and free speech. Political scientist Martin Gruberg said that we, "should confront offensive ideas by rebuttal, not by suppression." Ben Franklin stated “Without freedom of thought, there can be no such thing as wisdom; and no such thing as public liberty, without freedom of speech." And consider this statement from President Harry S. Truman: "When even one "American" -- who has done nothing wrong -- is forced by fear to shut his mind and close his mouth, then all Americans are in peril."
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution reads, Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
The idea that speech should be free from constraint is not universal. We see this in a response during the investigation into the Canadian ruling to outlaw the four offensive scripture passages. When asked, "What value do you give freedom of speech when you investigate one of these complaints?" Investigator Richard Steacy said, "Freedom of speech is an American concept, so I don't give it any value."
Actually it is a biblical value, the first chapter of the Old Testament Book of Isaiah contains these words: Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. "Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."
Reasoning together requires freedom of thought and freedom of expression. These ideas, these truths, did not originate in a civil document authored by the founders of America. These ideas originated in the heart of God.
There are those who try to say that this bill will not be used to attack religious expression, and can only be activated if someone commits a felony and says that he or she was encouraged or enticed to commit the crime based on "hate speech" statements. These are the same people that assured us that abortion on demand would never happen in America and euthanasia (mercy killing or assisted suicide) could never be seriously considered in such a civilized society.
What can you do? Encourage your spiritual leaders to boldly preach the Word of God without fear or hesitation. Defend the authority of scripture. Pray for the church in America. Love and pray for those who disagree with the truth found in scripture. Support politicians who value freedom of speech and freedom of expression. Encourage the appointments of judges who value freedom of speech and freedom of expression. Prepare yourself to boldly face the consequences of the words you speak or write.
Someday, we will be reading the report of an individual being charged under this new law for simply speaking his or her mind and defending biblical truth. It could be your pastor. It could be me. It could be you. We were warned and failed to do enough to defend the right to freedom of speech. Someday, someone will have to fight to win it back.
You can find more my Facebook Page (http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=504321719).
They are also posted at my Flickr.com Page (http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtisferrell/)
Thanks for reading!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Why Does The Health Care Debate Confuse Us?
Courier-Times Christian Perspectives Article for 10-10-09
Jesus said, "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." That's easier said than done.
We are in the midst of a national debate regarding health care: who will pay, what will it cost, what services will be available, how many will be covered, how will it affect my ability to choose? These questions are difficult enough to get our minds around, especially when the numbers being used are in the billions and trillions. But the debate has now been thrown in the moral arena.
Individuals like Jim Wallis, a Washington based moral activist, and even the President himself have suggested that it would be immoral NOT to support the health care policies that are being proposed today. Others, like Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh, say that the health care proposals in congress are immoral and downright evil. So how do we, as Christ-followers, cut through all the fog of politics and moralizing to find the answers?
Let me suggest that we spend more time in the Word of God and more time in prayer. The decisions made in the next few months will have far reaching implications for decades to come. Scripture says that if any of us lack wisdom we should ask God for it, and He will give it to us. But what else does scripture say?
The Apostle Paul told the church at Corinth that we should give what we have decided in our heart to give, "not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." But in his letter to the Christ-followers in Rome, Paul said, "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God . . . Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor."
In the same way, the Apostle Peter wrote, "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right." This suggest that a primary role for the government is to maintain order and punish evil-doers. But in the Old Testament we see that when Joseph was in power in Egypt he used that authority to secure grain for the coming famine so that the government could feed the people that otherwise would have starved.
A shrewd follower of Christ will also consider history. Part of the confusion we are dealing with stems from the fact that we are the first government in history to be "of the People, by the People, and for the People". Even though it doesn't feel like it all the time, WE are the Government; WE make the decisions; WE make the call. What is our responsibility, as a government, to the People?
We are also members of the church. What is our responsibility, as a church, to "the People"? History again shows is that time and time again the church has relinquished its role as caregiver and allowed the government to fill that vacuum. Who built the first hospitals? The church. Who built the first schools? The church. Who cared for orphans and widows and provided adoption services? Initially it was the church. But over the years we have allowed the government to assume those duties.
As individuals we are called to love our neighbor as ourselves. What is our responsibility, as individuals, to "the People"? Scripture clearly teaches that we are to give to the poor, care for the ill, visit those in prison, feed the hungry, and clothe the naked. Are we as Christ-followers still doing this, or are we expecting other people to fill the vacuum that we've created?
I think, if we are honest with ourselves, we will see that the reason we are struggling with the current health care issues is because we don't want to examine our own moral failures, as individuals and as the church. We understand that there is a need; a moral requirement that we care for those who are ill. We also understand that the primary role of government is not to care for the sick. That is not even the secondary or third or fourth role of the government. So we are stuck because we are ignoring the fact that, in most instances, the church has failed to care for the sick. And we don't want to admit that, in many instances, we as individuals have failed to care for the sick.
Maybe if we spent more time in prayer and more time in the study of scripture we would discover God's plan for our society. Maybe we would better understand God's definition of freedom, found in the book of Galatians. "You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: Love your neighbor as yourself."
Brothers and sisters in Christ, we have a choice to make. Will we live free and love our neighbor in tangible ways, or will we use our freedom to indulge in the things that please us and, as a result, lose more of our freedoms as we are bound by the debt that we owe? Will we as churches stop simply going to church and actually BE the church? The choice is ours; we must choose well. If we fail to choose well we will likely hear these words: For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.
You can find pictures at my Facebook Page (http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=504321719).
They are also posted at my Flickr.com Page (http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtisferrell/)
Thanks for reading!
Jesus said, "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." That's easier said than done.
We are in the midst of a national debate regarding health care: who will pay, what will it cost, what services will be available, how many will be covered, how will it affect my ability to choose? These questions are difficult enough to get our minds around, especially when the numbers being used are in the billions and trillions. But the debate has now been thrown in the moral arena.
Individuals like Jim Wallis, a Washington based moral activist, and even the President himself have suggested that it would be immoral NOT to support the health care policies that are being proposed today. Others, like Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh, say that the health care proposals in congress are immoral and downright evil. So how do we, as Christ-followers, cut through all the fog of politics and moralizing to find the answers?
Let me suggest that we spend more time in the Word of God and more time in prayer. The decisions made in the next few months will have far reaching implications for decades to come. Scripture says that if any of us lack wisdom we should ask God for it, and He will give it to us. But what else does scripture say?
The Apostle Paul told the church at Corinth that we should give what we have decided in our heart to give, "not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." But in his letter to the Christ-followers in Rome, Paul said, "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God . . . Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor."
In the same way, the Apostle Peter wrote, "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right." This suggest that a primary role for the government is to maintain order and punish evil-doers. But in the Old Testament we see that when Joseph was in power in Egypt he used that authority to secure grain for the coming famine so that the government could feed the people that otherwise would have starved.
A shrewd follower of Christ will also consider history. Part of the confusion we are dealing with stems from the fact that we are the first government in history to be "of the People, by the People, and for the People". Even though it doesn't feel like it all the time, WE are the Government; WE make the decisions; WE make the call. What is our responsibility, as a government, to the People?
We are also members of the church. What is our responsibility, as a church, to "the People"? History again shows is that time and time again the church has relinquished its role as caregiver and allowed the government to fill that vacuum. Who built the first hospitals? The church. Who built the first schools? The church. Who cared for orphans and widows and provided adoption services? Initially it was the church. But over the years we have allowed the government to assume those duties.
As individuals we are called to love our neighbor as ourselves. What is our responsibility, as individuals, to "the People"? Scripture clearly teaches that we are to give to the poor, care for the ill, visit those in prison, feed the hungry, and clothe the naked. Are we as Christ-followers still doing this, or are we expecting other people to fill the vacuum that we've created?
I think, if we are honest with ourselves, we will see that the reason we are struggling with the current health care issues is because we don't want to examine our own moral failures, as individuals and as the church. We understand that there is a need; a moral requirement that we care for those who are ill. We also understand that the primary role of government is not to care for the sick. That is not even the secondary or third or fourth role of the government. So we are stuck because we are ignoring the fact that, in most instances, the church has failed to care for the sick. And we don't want to admit that, in many instances, we as individuals have failed to care for the sick.
Maybe if we spent more time in prayer and more time in the study of scripture we would discover God's plan for our society. Maybe we would better understand God's definition of freedom, found in the book of Galatians. "You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: Love your neighbor as yourself."
Brothers and sisters in Christ, we have a choice to make. Will we live free and love our neighbor in tangible ways, or will we use our freedom to indulge in the things that please us and, as a result, lose more of our freedoms as we are bound by the debt that we owe? Will we as churches stop simply going to church and actually BE the church? The choice is ours; we must choose well. If we fail to choose well we will likely hear these words: For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.
You can find pictures at my Facebook Page (http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=504321719).
They are also posted at my Flickr.com Page (http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtisferrell/)
Thanks for reading!
Monday, August 17, 2009
The REAL Danger of H.R. 3200
During the Trojan War between the forces of Greece and Troy a tale of cunning strategy is told. After a long, ineffective siege on the city of Troy, the Greek army built a large empty horse and left it as a gift to the people of Troy. The priest, Laocoön, wanted to warn the city of Troy but was strangled by the henchmen of Athena. The King's daughter, Cassandra, warned that the horse would be the downfall of Tory. Nobody listened to the warnings. We all know what happened as a result.
Eerily, there are many similarities between this tale and the current health care reform bill in the House (HR 3200).
I have tried to digest HR 3200. I have scanned the entire document and then I went back to study it (in my spare time). I've only gotten through Title 1, Subtitle E but I am beginning to see why so many people are having a hard time describing the details of this bill.
The threat to the free-market form of health care that we have now, and the real possibility of creating a single-payer system is certainly something to be concerned with. But other than the government entering the game as a major health care financier, which is really a philosophical difference in the political arena, there are no policy initiatives in this bill. HR 3200 is simply the establishment of a structure; an empty shell. Advocates can only tell us what they "hope" the bill will do, and opponents can only say what we "fear" it will do. But this is exactly where the real danger lies.
Like the Trojan horse, this empty shell will be filled with people. Most of the people filling this horse will be appointed by whoever controls the White House in any given year. These individuals will be the ones defining what Essential Benefits are and, as a result, which medical procedures are mandated in any give medical situation. This, in turn, will determine which procedures are paid for by federal tax dollars.
Who will this administration pick to fill this horse? People like Tom Daschle, Kathleen Sebelius, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, and John Holdren. These will be the policy makers for the current administration. The policies that these individuals champion are rationed health care, quality-of-life decision making, and unrestricted abortions even late in the pregnancy. These will be the frontline policy initiatives, but what policy ideas will next emerge from our Trojan horse? Genetic engineering, genetic determination of usefulness to society, population control, and diversity-weighted health care decisions have all been floated, if not promoted, by individuals in this likely pool of candidates. Who knows what else lurks inside this empty shell.
It is possible that the Athena's of today will strangle out the warnings of modern-day Laocoöns. And our fellow citizens may not listen to the warnings of the sons and daughters of the king. But the reality is that, after a long ineffective siege, a Trojan Horse has been presented to the city of Washington. We would be foolish not to learn from the lessons of history and fable.
Thanks for reading!
Eerily, there are many similarities between this tale and the current health care reform bill in the House (HR 3200).
I have tried to digest HR 3200. I have scanned the entire document and then I went back to study it (in my spare time). I've only gotten through Title 1, Subtitle E but I am beginning to see why so many people are having a hard time describing the details of this bill.
The threat to the free-market form of health care that we have now, and the real possibility of creating a single-payer system is certainly something to be concerned with. But other than the government entering the game as a major health care financier, which is really a philosophical difference in the political arena, there are no policy initiatives in this bill. HR 3200 is simply the establishment of a structure; an empty shell. Advocates can only tell us what they "hope" the bill will do, and opponents can only say what we "fear" it will do. But this is exactly where the real danger lies.
Like the Trojan horse, this empty shell will be filled with people. Most of the people filling this horse will be appointed by whoever controls the White House in any given year. These individuals will be the ones defining what Essential Benefits are and, as a result, which medical procedures are mandated in any give medical situation. This, in turn, will determine which procedures are paid for by federal tax dollars.
Who will this administration pick to fill this horse? People like Tom Daschle, Kathleen Sebelius, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, and John Holdren. These will be the policy makers for the current administration. The policies that these individuals champion are rationed health care, quality-of-life decision making, and unrestricted abortions even late in the pregnancy. These will be the frontline policy initiatives, but what policy ideas will next emerge from our Trojan horse? Genetic engineering, genetic determination of usefulness to society, population control, and diversity-weighted health care decisions have all been floated, if not promoted, by individuals in this likely pool of candidates. Who knows what else lurks inside this empty shell.
It is possible that the Athena's of today will strangle out the warnings of modern-day Laocoöns. And our fellow citizens may not listen to the warnings of the sons and daughters of the king. But the reality is that, after a long ineffective siege, a Trojan Horse has been presented to the city of Washington. We would be foolish not to learn from the lessons of history and fable.
Thanks for reading!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Live Free or Die!
Article for Courier-Times Christian Perspectives Article for July 4, 2009
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. ~ Galatians 5:1 (NIV)
The current "Tea Party" organizers have resurrected many of the slogans that were popular during the American Revolution. One of the most popular is "Live Free or Die" which actually was coined after the war.
That phrase, now the motto of New Hampshire, came from a toast by General John Stark in 1809. He was a famous Revolutionary War soldier and was unable to attend a reunion of the Battle of Bennington, so he sent his regrets with this toast: "Live free or die. Death is not the worst of evils."
Scripture has a lot to say about freedom. In fact, God loves freedom so much that he has given us the freedom of choice. God is pro-choice! This is what he told the Israelites through Moses: This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. ~ Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NIV)
God gives us the freedom to choose, but he expects us to make the right choice. When we fail to make the right choice there are always consequences. In the 34th chapter of Jeremiah we read the story of the Israelites a little further down the road of history.
Included in the instructions that Moses gave the people was the policy that, every seven years, the Jews were supposed to free anyone who had sold themselves into slavery; a Sabbath Year. For decades the people of God failed to observe this practice and continued to force people, those who had sold themselves into slavery, to remain in slavery.
Jeremiah recounts the story of King Zedekiah and how he made a covenant, or a sacred promise, with the people to obey God's directions about the Sabbath Year and setting the captives free. But as the years rolled by, they changed their minds and re-enslaved the people they had promised to free. God was not happy!
"Therefore, this is what the LORD says: You have not obeyed me; you have not proclaimed freedom for your fellow countrymen. So I now proclaim 'freedom' for you, declares the LORD--'freedom' to fall by the sword, plague and famine. I will make you abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth."
God gives us freedom of choice, but he expects us to choose life, to choose justice, to choose integrity, to choose freedom. When we fail to choose correctly, we will suffer the consequences. No nation or people, no matter how great, can choose to ignore God's law, his desire for people to live free, and expect to escape the consequences.
Paul, the apostle, wrote to the church in Galatia and challenged them, "It is for freedom that Christ has set you free!" In other words, You've been given this great gift, so use it! He could say the same thing to the church in America.
Barna Research has found that evangelical Christians were the least likely demographic to contact their Congressmen and Senators. You've been given this great gift, so use it!
The Constitution has given us the freedom of speech and expression, the freedom to practice our faith as we choose, the freedom of assembly, and yet these rights are being eroded almost daily. A pastor in California has just been told that he cannot have a bible study in his home without a special permit from the county. A Catholic church in Connecticut has been threatened with a fine for using its web site to encourage parishioners to call their Congressmen and Senators. PBS has announced that they will no longer allow any new religious content on their stations. You've been given this great gift, so use it!
Benjamin Franklin said, "They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security." Many in the American church have traded their religious freedom, not for security, but for a life without controversy. You've been given this great gift, so use it!
General John Stark and the original Tea Partiers may not even recognize the Americans that are found in many churches today.
Hear their cry, "Live Free or Die!"
Better yet, hear the call of Christ, "Die to yourself so that you can truly live free!"
Questions or comments? Contact me at curt@smdcog.org
Thanks for reading!
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. ~ Galatians 5:1 (NIV)
The current "Tea Party" organizers have resurrected many of the slogans that were popular during the American Revolution. One of the most popular is "Live Free or Die" which actually was coined after the war.
That phrase, now the motto of New Hampshire, came from a toast by General John Stark in 1809. He was a famous Revolutionary War soldier and was unable to attend a reunion of the Battle of Bennington, so he sent his regrets with this toast: "Live free or die. Death is not the worst of evils."
Scripture has a lot to say about freedom. In fact, God loves freedom so much that he has given us the freedom of choice. God is pro-choice! This is what he told the Israelites through Moses: This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. ~ Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NIV)
God gives us the freedom to choose, but he expects us to make the right choice. When we fail to make the right choice there are always consequences. In the 34th chapter of Jeremiah we read the story of the Israelites a little further down the road of history.
Included in the instructions that Moses gave the people was the policy that, every seven years, the Jews were supposed to free anyone who had sold themselves into slavery; a Sabbath Year. For decades the people of God failed to observe this practice and continued to force people, those who had sold themselves into slavery, to remain in slavery.
Jeremiah recounts the story of King Zedekiah and how he made a covenant, or a sacred promise, with the people to obey God's directions about the Sabbath Year and setting the captives free. But as the years rolled by, they changed their minds and re-enslaved the people they had promised to free. God was not happy!
"Therefore, this is what the LORD says: You have not obeyed me; you have not proclaimed freedom for your fellow countrymen. So I now proclaim 'freedom' for you, declares the LORD--'freedom' to fall by the sword, plague and famine. I will make you abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth."
God gives us freedom of choice, but he expects us to choose life, to choose justice, to choose integrity, to choose freedom. When we fail to choose correctly, we will suffer the consequences. No nation or people, no matter how great, can choose to ignore God's law, his desire for people to live free, and expect to escape the consequences.
Paul, the apostle, wrote to the church in Galatia and challenged them, "It is for freedom that Christ has set you free!" In other words, You've been given this great gift, so use it! He could say the same thing to the church in America.
Barna Research has found that evangelical Christians were the least likely demographic to contact their Congressmen and Senators. You've been given this great gift, so use it!
The Constitution has given us the freedom of speech and expression, the freedom to practice our faith as we choose, the freedom of assembly, and yet these rights are being eroded almost daily. A pastor in California has just been told that he cannot have a bible study in his home without a special permit from the county. A Catholic church in Connecticut has been threatened with a fine for using its web site to encourage parishioners to call their Congressmen and Senators. PBS has announced that they will no longer allow any new religious content on their stations. You've been given this great gift, so use it!
Benjamin Franklin said, "They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security." Many in the American church have traded their religious freedom, not for security, but for a life without controversy. You've been given this great gift, so use it!
General John Stark and the original Tea Partiers may not even recognize the Americans that are found in many churches today.
Hear their cry, "Live Free or Die!"
Better yet, hear the call of Christ, "Die to yourself so that you can truly live free!"
Questions or comments? Contact me at curt@smdcog.org
Thanks for reading!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
It's Time To Think . . .
Courier-Times Article for June 6th, 2009
It's time to think . . .
Earlier this year, a prominent U.S. politician said , "Our moral authority is derived from the fact that generations of our citizens have fought and bled to uphold these values, [life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness], in our nations and others. And that's why we can never sacrifice them for expedience's sake."
The statement sounds thoughtful and profound, but is it? It sounds like a truth that spans generations, but is it?
As Americans, we've gotten lazy. We don't like to think much. Just go with the flow; live and let live; my truth may not be your truth. Unfortunately, in many cases, the church has stopped thinking as well.
We used to be called people of the WORD, but now we spend much of our time debating whether that word is TRUE. Should churches ordain homosexuals or bless homosexual unions? After all, THOSE parts of the bible might not be true. Should we be more concerned about babies who were aborted or those chained by poverty? Let's pick one and ignore the other . . . That's the content of many of our discussions.
The Word of God is the Law that governed the Israelites, and the foundation that birthed the church. At some point, many in the church have become untethered from the Word of God and have now turned around and questioned its veracity. This behavior would have utterly confounded the Christ-followers in Berea.
Dr. Luke records that the believers in Berea, after listening to the preaching of Paul, examined the Scriptures every day to determine that what Paul said was true. To the Breans, scripture was the source of truth, the measuring stick to determine whether the greatest preacher of their time was speaking truth. Moral authority was found in holy scripture, not in the sacrifice of fellow citizens.
The Bible speaks very clearly about the sanctity of life; about our responsibility to the poor, the orphaned and the widow; about God's view of homosexual behavior. The church needs to rediscover the authority found in the Word of God and stand on it. However, that kind of stance could become something more than politically incorrect, it could become illegal.
The U.S. Senate is considering a Hate Crimes Bill (S.909) which could be used to prosecute ministers for declaring God's truth on homosexuality. Will the church "search the scriptures" to find the truth, or will we poll the people to find out what is acceptable?
If we fail to think through all of these issues, and instead follow "thoughtful and profound words" blindly, we will end up in places we never thought we would be. After all, if our moral authority lies in the sacrifices made by our fellow citizens, then both the Palestinians and the Israelis have moral authority. The Nazis and the Japanese had moral authority during World War II, just like the Allied Forces. If shedding blood is the only prerequisite for establishing moral authority then gangs like the Bloods, the Crips, the Mafioso, the MS-13, and the Yakuza each have the same moral authority as the fighting men and women of the U.S. military.
Moral authority can only be found in the author of morality. It's time to learn from the Christ-followers in Berea. It's time to search the Word of God for timeless and time tested truth. It's time to think. Don't ya' think?
Thanks for reading!
It's time to think . . .
Earlier this year, a prominent U.S. politician said , "Our moral authority is derived from the fact that generations of our citizens have fought and bled to uphold these values, [life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness], in our nations and others. And that's why we can never sacrifice them for expedience's sake."
The statement sounds thoughtful and profound, but is it? It sounds like a truth that spans generations, but is it?
As Americans, we've gotten lazy. We don't like to think much. Just go with the flow; live and let live; my truth may not be your truth. Unfortunately, in many cases, the church has stopped thinking as well.
We used to be called people of the WORD, but now we spend much of our time debating whether that word is TRUE. Should churches ordain homosexuals or bless homosexual unions? After all, THOSE parts of the bible might not be true. Should we be more concerned about babies who were aborted or those chained by poverty? Let's pick one and ignore the other . . . That's the content of many of our discussions.
The Word of God is the Law that governed the Israelites, and the foundation that birthed the church. At some point, many in the church have become untethered from the Word of God and have now turned around and questioned its veracity. This behavior would have utterly confounded the Christ-followers in Berea.
Dr. Luke records that the believers in Berea, after listening to the preaching of Paul, examined the Scriptures every day to determine that what Paul said was true. To the Breans, scripture was the source of truth, the measuring stick to determine whether the greatest preacher of their time was speaking truth. Moral authority was found in holy scripture, not in the sacrifice of fellow citizens.
The Bible speaks very clearly about the sanctity of life; about our responsibility to the poor, the orphaned and the widow; about God's view of homosexual behavior. The church needs to rediscover the authority found in the Word of God and stand on it. However, that kind of stance could become something more than politically incorrect, it could become illegal.
The U.S. Senate is considering a Hate Crimes Bill (S.909) which could be used to prosecute ministers for declaring God's truth on homosexuality. Will the church "search the scriptures" to find the truth, or will we poll the people to find out what is acceptable?
If we fail to think through all of these issues, and instead follow "thoughtful and profound words" blindly, we will end up in places we never thought we would be. After all, if our moral authority lies in the sacrifices made by our fellow citizens, then both the Palestinians and the Israelis have moral authority. The Nazis and the Japanese had moral authority during World War II, just like the Allied Forces. If shedding blood is the only prerequisite for establishing moral authority then gangs like the Bloods, the Crips, the Mafioso, the MS-13, and the Yakuza each have the same moral authority as the fighting men and women of the U.S. military.
Moral authority can only be found in the author of morality. It's time to learn from the Christ-followers in Berea. It's time to search the Word of God for timeless and time tested truth. It's time to think. Don't ya' think?
Thanks for reading!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
A Story Of Self-Sacrifice
Courier-Times Christian Perspectives Article for April 11, 2009
As I write this, the story gripping the headlines is the Maersk Alabama hijacking saga; the first pirate capture of a United States boat in about 200 years. Details about the hijacking are fluid, but it appears that the storyline unfolding off the coast of Somalia mirrors a storyline almost 2000 years old.
The Maersk Alabama is a cargo ship laden with food supplies to relieve some of the suffering and starvation in several African nations. A few days ago it was hijacked by Somalian pirates wanting to trade it for ransom money. The economy in Somalia is very depressed and the most efficient way to earn money there is to hijack cargo ships; 66 have been taken since the first of January.
Like I said, the details are still sketchy but the crew members were able to regain control of the ship. Apparently the ship’s captain, Capt. Richard Phillips, has traded himself for the lives of his crew. The outcome of the story is still being determined by the actions of the pirates, the crew, the captain and the U.S. Navy, which is now on the scene. The story of self sacrifice has been played out before in many ways but most notably in the Easter story.
But to fully understand the Easter story, we really need to go back several hundred years earlier to the story of the Exodus. You remember, the story where Charlton Heston raised his staff in the movie, “The Ten Commandments”, and parted the waters for the Israelites to escape the oncoming armies of Egypt. Whether it happened the way Cecil B. DeMille scripted it in the movie we’ll never know, but the bible tells us that what happened before the sea parting was the key to the Israelites release from captivity.
There were several plagues that came upon Egypt in an effort to prompt the Pharaoh to free the Israelites. Each succeeding plague increased in intensity until the final plague, the death of the first born. The plagues affected Egyptians and Israelites alike but, when the death angel was sent to take the life of every first born, God provided a way of protection – the Passover lamb. The night of the final plague, the Israelites were instructed by God to kill a spotless lamb, consume all of it by morning, and to place some of its blood on the doorframe of their houses. The death angel would see the blood on the doorframe of the house and “pass over” the house, and all those inside, protected by the blood of the lamb. One life exchanged for many.
For generations the Israelites have celebrated the Passover as the way God chose to deliver his people. It was during the Passover meal that Jesus revealed to His disciples that He would be sacrificed, like the Passover lamb, and that His blood would deliver His followers from spiritual death. One life exchanged for many.
On that dark day that we call Good Friday, just as the lamb was being sacrificed for the Passover celebration, Jesus was crucified and became the true Passover Lamb for all people. The sinless Christ traded his life for the lives of His disciples. And the headlines on that following morning read that Jesus Christ was dead.
But, like many stories in this modern, 24-hour news cycle world, the story was still being written. On the first day of the week, Sunday morning, Jesus Christ was resurrected from the grave! Death had been conquered; Christ was alive! And the story continues . . .
Who did He save? Who were His “crew members”; His disciples? That part of the story is still being written. You and I have an opportunity to write ourselves into the story, the greatest story ever told.
The self sacrifice of Capt. Richard Phillips may save the lives of as many as 20 crew members. The self sacrifice of Christ is still delivering people from captivity. The bible says all we need to do to be part of this great story line is to become a “Christ follower”; a disciple of Christ. All we need to do is to claim the sacrifice of the Passover Lamb for ourselves.
The final chapter of the Maersk Alabama piracy case will soon be written. Hopefully it will end with no loss of life, but that part of the story is still being written by the pirates, the crew, the captain and the U.S. Navy.
The final chapter of the Passover Lamb saga may soon be written, only God knows. The question today is, have you written yourself into the story line? Will you be one of His disciples who are saved by the self sacrifice of Christ? Or will you be a tragic reminder of what could have been? On this day before Easter, you have a choice. Choose well.
Any questions or comments? Write Curt Ferrell at curt@smdcog.org
You can find info at my Facebook Page (http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=504321719).
Also at my Flickr.com Page (http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtisferrell/)
Thanks for reading!
As I write this, the story gripping the headlines is the Maersk Alabama hijacking saga; the first pirate capture of a United States boat in about 200 years. Details about the hijacking are fluid, but it appears that the storyline unfolding off the coast of Somalia mirrors a storyline almost 2000 years old.
The Maersk Alabama is a cargo ship laden with food supplies to relieve some of the suffering and starvation in several African nations. A few days ago it was hijacked by Somalian pirates wanting to trade it for ransom money. The economy in Somalia is very depressed and the most efficient way to earn money there is to hijack cargo ships; 66 have been taken since the first of January.
Like I said, the details are still sketchy but the crew members were able to regain control of the ship. Apparently the ship’s captain, Capt. Richard Phillips, has traded himself for the lives of his crew. The outcome of the story is still being determined by the actions of the pirates, the crew, the captain and the U.S. Navy, which is now on the scene. The story of self sacrifice has been played out before in many ways but most notably in the Easter story.
But to fully understand the Easter story, we really need to go back several hundred years earlier to the story of the Exodus. You remember, the story where Charlton Heston raised his staff in the movie, “The Ten Commandments”, and parted the waters for the Israelites to escape the oncoming armies of Egypt. Whether it happened the way Cecil B. DeMille scripted it in the movie we’ll never know, but the bible tells us that what happened before the sea parting was the key to the Israelites release from captivity.
There were several plagues that came upon Egypt in an effort to prompt the Pharaoh to free the Israelites. Each succeeding plague increased in intensity until the final plague, the death of the first born. The plagues affected Egyptians and Israelites alike but, when the death angel was sent to take the life of every first born, God provided a way of protection – the Passover lamb. The night of the final plague, the Israelites were instructed by God to kill a spotless lamb, consume all of it by morning, and to place some of its blood on the doorframe of their houses. The death angel would see the blood on the doorframe of the house and “pass over” the house, and all those inside, protected by the blood of the lamb. One life exchanged for many.
For generations the Israelites have celebrated the Passover as the way God chose to deliver his people. It was during the Passover meal that Jesus revealed to His disciples that He would be sacrificed, like the Passover lamb, and that His blood would deliver His followers from spiritual death. One life exchanged for many.
On that dark day that we call Good Friday, just as the lamb was being sacrificed for the Passover celebration, Jesus was crucified and became the true Passover Lamb for all people. The sinless Christ traded his life for the lives of His disciples. And the headlines on that following morning read that Jesus Christ was dead.
But, like many stories in this modern, 24-hour news cycle world, the story was still being written. On the first day of the week, Sunday morning, Jesus Christ was resurrected from the grave! Death had been conquered; Christ was alive! And the story continues . . .
Who did He save? Who were His “crew members”; His disciples? That part of the story is still being written. You and I have an opportunity to write ourselves into the story, the greatest story ever told.
The self sacrifice of Capt. Richard Phillips may save the lives of as many as 20 crew members. The self sacrifice of Christ is still delivering people from captivity. The bible says all we need to do to be part of this great story line is to become a “Christ follower”; a disciple of Christ. All we need to do is to claim the sacrifice of the Passover Lamb for ourselves.
The final chapter of the Maersk Alabama piracy case will soon be written. Hopefully it will end with no loss of life, but that part of the story is still being written by the pirates, the crew, the captain and the U.S. Navy.
The final chapter of the Passover Lamb saga may soon be written, only God knows. The question today is, have you written yourself into the story line? Will you be one of His disciples who are saved by the self sacrifice of Christ? Or will you be a tragic reminder of what could have been? On this day before Easter, you have a choice. Choose well.
Any questions or comments? Write Curt Ferrell at curt@smdcog.org
You can find info at my Facebook Page (http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=504321719).
Also at my Flickr.com Page (http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtisferrell/)
Thanks for reading!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Who Will Save Us?
Courier-Times Christian Perspectives Article – April 4th, 2009
It was springtime in Israel and there was more excitement than normal. Passover was just around the corner. Each male Jew was making his springtime trek to Jerusalem, sometimes bringing his whole family. They would make another trip to Jerusalem in about seven weeks for Pentecost, and then once more in the fall for the Festival of Tabernacles. But this trip held more promise.
There was a charismatic figure, someone who was both a healer and an excellent teacher, who had been traveling the countryside for three years talking about a new form of government, the Kingdom of God, and how it was coming soon. This was welcome news to a people who were experiencing an economic burden, due mainly to their forced financial support of an occupying force from a far off country. The people were also oppressed by the terrorist tactics of Herod, a ruthless, heartless King who would do anything for power. News of this new Kingdom of God generated hope and excitement!
Now incredible reports circulated that this Teacher had brought someone back from the dead. Unbelievable, I know, but so many people witnessed it that it had to be true. The Teacher, the one who had been talking about the coming of the Kingdom of God, clearly had divine power. Perhaps he was the Messiah; the leader that would deliver his people.
A rumor spread through the group of travelers that, like them, the Teacher was also making his way to Jerusalem from the village of Bethany. A crowd gathered on the road that this teacher-healer would be taking in hopes of seeing him “up close”.
During these tri-annual trips to Jerusalem the people would sing Jewish traveling songs and wave branches from palm trees, myrtle trees, and willow trees. They would start by singing “Praise the Lord”. Then they would retell the story of their deliverance from Egypt with the song, “The Sea Looked And Fled”. These songs would be followed by “Not To Us, O Lord”, “I Love the Lord”, and “Praise the Lord, All You Nations.”
The last traveling song was “Give Thanks to the Lord”. Toward the end of this tune they spotted the Teacher, riding on a donkey, but they kept singing . . . “Hosanna! Blessed Is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”
They knew in an instant that this was the Messiah. They threw their palm branches on the road for the donkey to walk on. Truly this man would be the one who would save them. That’s what hosanna means – Lord Save Us!
Suddenly minds were racing ahead to a picture-perfect future. This new government, the Kingdom of God, would save them. That’s what they had been waiting for! They could finally get rid of those wealth guzzling Romans! They could hunt down that terrorist leader, Herod, and bring justice to all who followed him!
Unfortunately they forgot the truths found in the songs they had been singing. “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. . . I was pushed back and about to fall, but the LORD helped me. The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: The LORD's right hand has done mighty things!”
Instead of taking refuge in God, they trusted in the apparent political power that came with the popularity of the Teacher. And in just five days their hopes would be dashed. They would reject the Teacher as their new King. They would return to their desperate lives, full of fear and despair.
Who would save them now?
Who will save us now? Over the centuries the people of God have, at times, forgotten what scripture says. From the beginning of recorded history the people of God have periodically forgotten the truths found in their songs.
My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness . . . Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me. . . He is able, more than able to accomplish what concerns me today. . . He knows my name, He knows my every thought; He sees each tear that falls, and hears me when I call. . . Where could I go, but to the Lord?
During that last week before Jesus went to the cross, the God followers of the day began to place their faith in things other than God. They saw Jesus only as a man, and not as the Son of God. They began to think that man-made tools and man-made solutions could solve problems that were spiritual at their core.
Is it possible that we do the same thing today? Do we really believe that only government can save us? Or, only education can save us? Or, only cutting edge medicine can save us? Or, only money can save us?
Or is it possible that spiritual solutions are the only real solutions, because our problems are spiritual at their core?
Tomorrow is Palm Sunday; the day when we remember the Teacher as He made his way to Jerusalem for the last time. Will we see Him as the Son of God or simply as a popular teacher? Will we remember the truths found in scripture and in our songs, or will we search for salvation in man-made solutions? The choice is yours; choose well.
You can find more information at my Facebook Page (http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=504321719).
Or at my Flickr.com Page (http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtisferrell/)
Thanks for reading!
It was springtime in Israel and there was more excitement than normal. Passover was just around the corner. Each male Jew was making his springtime trek to Jerusalem, sometimes bringing his whole family. They would make another trip to Jerusalem in about seven weeks for Pentecost, and then once more in the fall for the Festival of Tabernacles. But this trip held more promise.
There was a charismatic figure, someone who was both a healer and an excellent teacher, who had been traveling the countryside for three years talking about a new form of government, the Kingdom of God, and how it was coming soon. This was welcome news to a people who were experiencing an economic burden, due mainly to their forced financial support of an occupying force from a far off country. The people were also oppressed by the terrorist tactics of Herod, a ruthless, heartless King who would do anything for power. News of this new Kingdom of God generated hope and excitement!
Now incredible reports circulated that this Teacher had brought someone back from the dead. Unbelievable, I know, but so many people witnessed it that it had to be true. The Teacher, the one who had been talking about the coming of the Kingdom of God, clearly had divine power. Perhaps he was the Messiah; the leader that would deliver his people.
A rumor spread through the group of travelers that, like them, the Teacher was also making his way to Jerusalem from the village of Bethany. A crowd gathered on the road that this teacher-healer would be taking in hopes of seeing him “up close”.
During these tri-annual trips to Jerusalem the people would sing Jewish traveling songs and wave branches from palm trees, myrtle trees, and willow trees. They would start by singing “Praise the Lord”. Then they would retell the story of their deliverance from Egypt with the song, “The Sea Looked And Fled”. These songs would be followed by “Not To Us, O Lord”, “I Love the Lord”, and “Praise the Lord, All You Nations.”
The last traveling song was “Give Thanks to the Lord”. Toward the end of this tune they spotted the Teacher, riding on a donkey, but they kept singing . . . “Hosanna! Blessed Is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”
They knew in an instant that this was the Messiah. They threw their palm branches on the road for the donkey to walk on. Truly this man would be the one who would save them. That’s what hosanna means – Lord Save Us!
Suddenly minds were racing ahead to a picture-perfect future. This new government, the Kingdom of God, would save them. That’s what they had been waiting for! They could finally get rid of those wealth guzzling Romans! They could hunt down that terrorist leader, Herod, and bring justice to all who followed him!
Unfortunately they forgot the truths found in the songs they had been singing. “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. . . I was pushed back and about to fall, but the LORD helped me. The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: The LORD's right hand has done mighty things!”
Instead of taking refuge in God, they trusted in the apparent political power that came with the popularity of the Teacher. And in just five days their hopes would be dashed. They would reject the Teacher as their new King. They would return to their desperate lives, full of fear and despair.
Who would save them now?
Who will save us now? Over the centuries the people of God have, at times, forgotten what scripture says. From the beginning of recorded history the people of God have periodically forgotten the truths found in their songs.
My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness . . . Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me. . . He is able, more than able to accomplish what concerns me today. . . He knows my name, He knows my every thought; He sees each tear that falls, and hears me when I call. . . Where could I go, but to the Lord?
During that last week before Jesus went to the cross, the God followers of the day began to place their faith in things other than God. They saw Jesus only as a man, and not as the Son of God. They began to think that man-made tools and man-made solutions could solve problems that were spiritual at their core.
Is it possible that we do the same thing today? Do we really believe that only government can save us? Or, only education can save us? Or, only cutting edge medicine can save us? Or, only money can save us?
Or is it possible that spiritual solutions are the only real solutions, because our problems are spiritual at their core?
Tomorrow is Palm Sunday; the day when we remember the Teacher as He made his way to Jerusalem for the last time. Will we see Him as the Son of God or simply as a popular teacher? Will we remember the truths found in scripture and in our songs, or will we search for salvation in man-made solutions? The choice is yours; choose well.
You can find more information at my Facebook Page (http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=504321719).
Or at my Flickr.com Page (http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtisferrell/)
Thanks for reading!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
