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!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
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!
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