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Scott's Blog 10/02/08

Presidential Politics and the Pulpit

http://a.abcnews.com/images/Politics/abc_mccain_obama_070525_mn.jpg

Imagine taking your usual seat at your usual worship service at the usual time next Sunday.

But then, the unusual happens.

The pastor asks the ushers to come forward and pass out voter guides.

He then makes an impassioned plea for support of a presidential candidate, going so far as to say that "No Christian in their right mind could possibly support ... John McCain."

Or, "Anyone who knows their Bible couldn't vote for Barak Obama."

Would you support that use of a Sunday sermon? Or would you find yourself looking for a new church?

Many believers may find themselves in just that kind of situation if a move from a conservative leaning legal advocacy group gets their way.

The Alliance Defense Fund has launched an effort to remove the threat of churches losing tax exempt status if they endorse political candidates. http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4690

Should churches wade in on behalf of specific candidates and issues?

Christian political columnist Cal Thomas offers a couple of on target points of caution.

The first obstacle is what Scripture teaches about a Christian's relationship to the state. In one of the best-known passages, Paul the Apostle writes, "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established." (Romans 13:1) Is defying the law, no matter what political motivations were behind it, submitting to such authority, or opposing it?

Obstacle number two has to do with the reason people attend worship services. It is not, or should not be, in order to pledge allegiance to a party, candidate or earthly agenda. One can spend inordinate amounts of time on that subject simply by watching cable TV, or listening to talk radio, or reading the newspapers. No matter how hard they try to protect the gospel from corruption, ministers who focus on politics and politicians as a means of redemption must minimize their ultimate calling and message. The road to redemption does not run through Washington, D.C. Politicians can't redeem themselves from the temptations of Washington. What makes anyone think they can redeem the rest of us? http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/thomas093008.php3

One undeniable truth we enjoy daily on Scott Richards Live is how relevant and relatable the message of the Bible is to even the most modern and contemporary issues. Certainly where the Bible speaks we should speak on the issues of the day.

But the moment we cross the line and endorse individual candidates we invite both division and distraction from our primary purpose as a church - to win as many people as possible to Christ.

This certainly was front and center in Paul's set of priorities.

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.(I Corinthians 9:19-23)

It is significant to note that although Jesus lived in Roman occupied Israel, He never wasted teaching time railing against Caesar.

Paul was certainly the target of politically motivated persecution, but he never advocated insurrection against the powers that were.

Both were more interested in the peoples' spiritual condition than in public policy.

The moment a church takes a stand for a particular candidate it immediately loses half their audience.

What do we gain if we elect an earthly candidate, but lose the ability to speak to peoples' souls?

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Scott's Blog 10/01/08

The Appeal of Appeasement

“Can’t we find out what they want?”

“It’s better to talk than not to talk.”

“I’m sure if we see things from their perspective we can see they have a point too.”

“If we can meet them half way, surely we can live in peace.”

In a perfect world, who would ever disagree with this approach to conflict resolution?

The problem is, we don’t live in a perfect world. Or anything close to it.

We have detailed in this space the hard lesson the world learned almost exactly 70 years ago.

At 1:30 am, September 30, 1938 the Munich Pact was signed. Britain and France gave in to Adolf Hitler’s demands for a strategic section of Czechoslovakia called the Sudetenland.

From left to right: Chamberlain, Daladier, Hitler, Mussolini, and Ciano pictured before signing the Munich Agreement.

 

When Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain returned he declared that he believed the agreement was “peace in our time.”

Winston Churchill disagreed. he said, “You were given the choice between war and dishonor. You have chosen dishonor and will have war.”

Three years later, when the German Blitz was laying waste to London “Peace in our time” had become a cruel joke.

There is no doubt that the motives of Chamberlain were noble. But when confronted by evil, all compromise, diplomacy and photo opportunities end up doing is ringing the dinner bell.

I couldn’t help but think of the lessons of Munich when I read of a similar attempt at meeting evil half way that happened recently.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert attempted to find middle ground with Hamas, Hezbollah and their Iranian sponsors by declaring that retreat from territory was his country’s only hope for survival.

Olmert pronounces Greater Israel dead

Published: 9/14/2008

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says the idea of "Greater Israel"-- the main motto of the Zionist founders of the Israeli regime-- is dead.

"'Greater Israel' is finished. There is no such thing as that anymore. Whoever talks in those terms is only deluding himself," the prime minister admitted at a cabinet meeting.

"It doesn't help Israel. The international community has changed its perspective ahead of the possibility of Israel becoming a bi-national state," he said.

" I believed that the land from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean was all ours since in every place there that is excavated, there is evidence of Jewish History. But finally, after a lot of suffering and misgivings, I came to the conclusion that we need to share the land with whom we are residing if we don't want to become a bi-national state," Olmert said.

The premier also warned that the clock is "not ticking in Israel's favor." http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=251735

 What was the response to this reasoned exercise in what has come to be known as “realpolitik”?

Nasrallah: 'We Killed Greater Israel'

(IsraelNN.com) Hizbullah head Hassan Nasrallah gloated on Tuesday night following Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's statement earlier in the week that “There is no more 'Greater Israel.'” Hizbullah was responsible for “pounding the last nail in the coffin of 'Greater Israel,'” he said. “The victories of 2000 and 2006 destroyed the dream of a vast Israeli power,” he said, referring to Israel's retreats from southern Lebanon. “Today, we face 'Mediocre Israel.'”http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/153113

 Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejhad was more than happy to endorse Olmert's comments and take things a step further.

 Ahmadinejad: Israel won't survive in any shape or form

Tags: nuclear, Iran 
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad lashed out again at Israel on Thursday, saying that it won't survive in any shape or form.

Speaking to reporters, the hard-line leader smirked at a former mantra of the Israeli right of a Greater Israel that would include Palestinian territories. The idea has since been abandoned, with Israeli consensus now that there will be a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that the idea of a Greater Israel, which includes the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, is a thing of the past, and that anyone who still thinks in this way is delusional. Ahmadinejad said that "while some say the idea of Greater Israel has expired, I say the idea of a Lesser Israel has expired, too." http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1022398.html

 The bottom line?  Try as we might, we can't make a peace treaty with evil.

And what is true in the realm of geopolitics is also true in our personal lives.

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says:


      “ Awake, you who sleep,
      Arise from the dead,
      And Christ will give you light.” (Ephesians 5:11-14)

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (Romans 8:12-14)

 Take it to the bank - If we give evil an inch it will take a mile.

Just as the world learned in Munich, compromise with darkness will only leave us compromised and in darkness.

 

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