Exchange

I just finished ripping out the old front door on myh daughter's house. It wasn't quite as old as the one pictured here, not even European, but it was old enough. It gave no privacy, it squeaked, it was hard to shut, and could be easily broken into. It was time to upgrade.

Upgrades are not so easy. There are consequences to disturbing the surrounding plaster, and the trim won't fit to the upgraded so it will have to be redone. That's tomorrow's project. The new door is solid, made of steel, tight to the seal and air tight. It shuts quietly and smoothly, and is reinforced with an iron plate. It will be really hard to break into, thus safety, privacy, and energy efficient. It's and UPGRADE.

Isn't it great that the Lord is always ready to give us an upgrade? Eph. 3:20; "To him who is able to do exceedingly more than we could ask or imagine." His upgrades leave our old plaster disturbed too, but his upgrades in our character, spiritual passion, and faith are worth the pains of change. Let him take out the old and restore it with his best.
Pastor Jim

The War of the Worldviews

"For a time is coming when people will not endure sound doctrine, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."
2 Timothy 4:3,4

The presidential race of 2008 is a picturesque microcosm of the culture war taking place in America. What Barrak Obama and John McCain are bringing to the table is more than a philosophical difference in governance--it is an example of worldviews being polar opposites.

On one side stands the vanguard of the cultural elite: a worldview built upon a foundation of postmodernist, multi-culturalism. On the other stands an advocate for traditionalism. To understand better, I must attempt to define those grandiose terms so that a joesixpack, like myself (without the six pack) can understand.

Postmodernism....is the current norm that refuses to accept the premise that there exists a universal, transcendent truth. Flowing from naturalism (evolution), it reduces all ideas and truth to the level of personal preferences that are formed by environment, class, gender, and ethnicity. Truth is relative--making all cultures, all perspectives, all ideas, all morays, all lifestyles and behaviours, and all beliefs equally valid.

Multiculturalism....reduces identity to race, gender, or ethnicity. Since there is no transcendent truth (no Supreme Being from whom absolute truth flows) then the individual has no significance beyond his particular group. He adopts a group-truth, a group-validity, and a group-advocacy. To be valid within a greater culture, a group must rise to a place of power--not by persuasion since rational debate is rejected, by by force. This as also been labeled as Liberation Theology.

Then, there is Traditionalism....In simple terms, traditionalism is a worldview that staunchly holds to an absolute truth. There is a Transcendent Being from whom all truth springs, and to whom every individual is ultimately accountable. All individuals are equally valued and every life is sacred. But ideas, societal morays, philosophies, and behavior are not equally valid. Only the moral law, passed down from the character and nature of the Transcendent Being are valid. Therefore, culture, group, and other points of identity only have worth as they adhere to the truth of the Transcendent Being. In Traditionalism, family is elevated above race, gender, or a behavioral subset, and has a narrowly defined structure under the marriage of one man to one woman.

The Traditionalist values every life as sacred and attributes certain inalienable rights to each individual. Therefore, everyone must have the opportunity to grow both socially and spiritually and, in fact, all other structures should be formed as helps, rather than governors. The responsibility for growth, action, and well-being does not rest in the authority of a Utopian-bent government, but upon the individual within the confines of the Transcendent Truth that has been revealed by the Creator.

Now, with these definitions, one can better understand how one candidate might shirk from making a declarative statement concerning the moment a fetus can actually be considered to possess human rights; while the other candidate can definitively proclaim that rights are bestowed "at conception."


Using these terms, one can see how a postmodernist, multiculturalist candidate for president can sit under the teachings of a racism-spewing, group-elevating, fascist-sounding mockery of Biblical Christianity....seeing no reason to walk away until it becomes politically expedient.

One candidate (Barrak Obama) can sit across the table from an enemy bent on proven terroristic activity, and practice diplomacy without pre-conditions. Why? Because the other's worldview is as equally valid as the candidate's. The opposing candidate (John McCain) will establish pre-conditions because he holds his own moral truth to be valid,(based on God's transcendent truth) not the terrorist's.

For the moral-relativist, tolerance is the virtue....at least until he encounters a person with a view to absolute truth. In that case, intolerance is tolerable when it is committed by the "tolerant!"

Christianity, oddly enough, is just as infected with this cultural clash. Sound doctrine is no longer tolerated as it is too narrowly defined by the Traditionalist. (Judeo-Christian adherent) How can there be only one way to God? How could there truly have been a virgin birth or a resurrection? How can a Christian deny reproductive freedom (pro-choice) to a woman? How can the homosexual lifestyle be considered aberrant behavior according to the Bible?

These are all symptoms of the war of the worldviews! The race for the White House will end soon, but the philosphy that occupies the highest seat in American government might be established for an entire generation....it is that important an election. But before you become disheartened or discouraged, understand that, as postmodernism runs its course and is seen by the individual as empty and bankrupt, the gospel we preach will still "be the power of salvation to all who believe!" Keep loving, know what you believe and why, and tell everyone about the Truth every chance you get. Keep the faith, no matter what happens on election day.

Pastor Jim

Israel's Dismay at the Actions of President Bush

I have disagreed with the crux of the President's policy toward the Israeli/Palestinian issue for years. That hasn't changed. I remain constant in my belief that the division of Israel, especially Jerusalem, will unleash the wrath of God on all involved in forcing it to happen. The President, though distracted by the financial crises, has missed the boat again. He persuaded Israel to refrain from going after Iran's nuclear technology, then dropped the ball in doing it himself. Nothing, I repeat nothing is more dangerous to the world than nuclear weapons in the hands of the Ayatollahs of Iran...or Ahmadinijad, for that matter.

Listen to the sentiment of the Israelis through the following article which appeared Sunday in Debka.

Washington calls off planned diplomatic outpost in Tehran
DEBKAfile Special Report

October 4, 2008, 12:02 PM (GMT+02:00)

Secret US-Iran understandings go up in smoke
Saturday, Oct. 4, the Bush administration indefinitely shelved its plans to set up a diplomatic outpost in Iran for the first time in three decades, following Iran’s refusal to discontinue uranium enrichment and come clean on its suspected weapons program. Rather than appearing to try and influence the US presidential race, it was therefore decided to leave the decision to President Bush’s successor.

DEBKAfile’s military sources disclose that another factor influencing the decision was fresh intelligence that Iran has gone back to pumping into Iraq Shiite combatants trained by Revolutionary Guards and Hizballah instructors. Several hundred have crossed over and some are posted in Baghdad’s Shiite districts.

Furthermore, the backdoor US-Iranian meetings to resolve the nuclear controversy have run aground. Tehran appears to have taken advantage of America’s financial crisis and weak moment to step up the momentum of its nuclear arms program. Iran has also been encouraged by North Korea’s reactivation of its nuclear reactor in defiance of US efforts to bring Pyongyang back in line.

In sum, the Bush administration’s diplomatic offensive for an accommodation with Iran on the nuclear dispute, Iraq and Lebanon, has foundered. For a time, Tehran was helpful; it reined in Shiite militia attacks in Iraq and shared intelligence on al Qaeda and other terrorists, while in Lebanon an understanding between them brought about the election of a president. Bush and the heads of his administration had hoped to bow out leaving a certain level stability behind them in these areas.

However in recent weeks, when the administration’s focus shifted to putting out financial fires and the onus of the war on terror moved from the Middle East to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Washington’s understandings with Tehran faded into the background of major events.

Israel has lost out on its strategic options twice: At the beginning of 2008, the Bush administration discarded its military option for dealing with Iran and leaned hard on Israel to refrain from a unilateral strike against its nuclear facilities. The Olmert government was advised to rely on international diplomacy and sanctions. This substitute option has also gone bankrupt leaving Israel high and dry with the prospect of an unstoppable nuclear-armed Iran."

My Brief Commentary....

The elections in America tend to distract us from the seriousness of what is happening in the Middle East. We must continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, as well as for our President until he leaves office. It is also extremely important to choose a new President that will stand of for a singular, undivided Israel. The problem is, that candidate doesn't seem to exist.
Pastor Jim

The Prospects of Virtue and Morality

On November 22nd, 1800, the second President of the United States, John Adams, issued the following prayer at the dedication of the new Capitol building in Washington.
"It would be unbecoming the representatives of this nation to assemble for the first time in this solemn temple without looking up to the Supreme Ruler of the universe, and imploring his blessing. May this territory be the residence of virtue and happiness! In this city may the piety and virtue, the wisdom and magnanimity, that constancy and self-government, which adorned the great character whose name it bears, be forever held in veneration! Here, and throughout our country, may simple manners, pure morals, and true religion flourish forever!"(John Adams, pg 554 David McCullough 2001 Simon & Schuster)

Imagine today, an unpopular and ridiculed President, standing before a joint session of congress and offering that prayer? Adams was at the very lowest point in his presidency, even though he had averted a war with France and had maintained a fragile peace with England; even though he held the new Union together when it was being bombarded by a growning internal strife over State's rights; even though his efforts to protect the country brought about the genesis of US naval power, Adams remained the but of jokes and disdain. Yet there remained in John Adams a deep desire, motivated by a true vision, that the country would somehow find its way forward by looking toward God. Amazing!

How would that play out today? For the most part, the entirety of the nation would receive that prayer. It would go over nicely. Few would get upset. In fact, whichever President voiced it would be pat on the back and appreciated. Our culture would probably react with a heart, Christianlike, 'Amen!' But would it mean anything?

The problem would not be with the words of the prayer themselves, nor with the humility in Adam's attitude. It would be in the current meaning of the words, not the words themselves. In Adam's day, everyone held the same definition of virtue and morality, of good manners, and proper conduct. Seeking a Supreme Ruler of the universe meant seeking calling on one, and only one being. They all knew who He was.

Today, virtue means anything an individual wants it to mean. Noah Webster, a contemporary of John Adams, the creator of Webster's dictionary of the English language, defined virtue like this: "conformity to a standard of right: a particular moral excellence: manly strength of courage: Valor: commendable quality: chastity in a woman." In our culture, this word has given way to ambition and appearance, not genuine integrity of character. When an occupant of high public office can, in private, commit generally defined sexually immoral acts, yet be extolled for his virtues as a leader, something is amiss. When a candidate for the same office can sit for twenty years and listen, with all acceptance, to morally bankrupt drivel from his spiritual leader, yet be seen as a truly virtuous follower of Christianity, something is wrong. When a candidate can politically partner with known terrorists, frauds, and the Hollywood elite, yet still be rising in popularity, something is horribly wrong with today's definition of virtue.

Morality....there's another one. Adams knew what it meant...so did the congress. It meant an avoidance and disdain of every appearance of evil. Shame was the natural result of adultery, or incest, or homosexuality. Sure, sin was just as present then as it is now. But can we honestly say that our society accepted it then as it does now? I think not! In the 1800's, breaking God's moral law was genuine taboo. Today, morality is relegated to individual preference....preference being the new standard of truth. If it's okay for me, then it's not a sin...it's not immoral. That's how we got a Bill Clinton, or a John Kennedy.

Let's talk about manners and decency. What, you ask, is good manners? If I would have walked down the street as a teenager with my pants hanging at half-moon level, I would've been corrected by every man and woman who could get their hands on me, plus, I would've been taken to the woodshed by my peers. STANDARDS APPLIED! Sure, legalism can get harsh, yet no law gets harsher. What happens if this slide into a standardless, indecent culture continues unabated? Homosexuals already have the right to parade in public...ludeness included....pornography is rampant....language standards have been removed from the public airwaves....violence has become a virtue...there is no true religion...hmm. How much worse can it get?

If John Adams or George Washington were to visit the Union and the Capitol today, I do believe they would quickly succumb to death by heartbreak. There is no longer any public virtue, morality, or good manners..in their definition of the terms. Oh, there is seeking after a Higher Being...several Higher Beings in fact. It's all good! Right? How the mighty have fallen!!

But, there is still virtue, there is still morality, there are still good manners. They are wrapped up in one...Supreme Being....and his name is Jesus of Nazareth...Messiah, Son of God, soon coming King! His kingdom is real. We who call upon his name must begin to live out loud with his virtue, his morality, his good manners, his holiness, his truth, his incredible love, and with his boldness to speak the truth, even when it got him a cross. This is the only hope for America. This is the only straight talk. It is the only CHANGE that will work. Are you on board to live out loud? Go John Adams!
Determined to Believe,
Pastor Jim