Christian Faith in America

Happiness!

Written by James A. Frost

The ringing of their excited voices filling the air.
Adventure is the order of the day, and joy is everywhere.
The glad laughter of childhood is so thrilling to hear.
I breathe a prayer that they will always be in God’s care.
Their love is so healing to this aging heart,
I am conscious of a kingly presence near, and joy’s tears start.
Oh, my wonderful Grand-boys, such happiness you have brought.
Fashioned in Heaven, by God’s hands wrought.
In this early morning hour as I write, your radiant beauty fills my eyes.
you have given me the Wealth that money never buys.

My Grands, I love you So!

View original writing

Poppy Frost loved all his grandkids while he walked this earth.  I used to love to see him with my oldest son.  They cherished each other.  We lived close and Poppy Frost could come by often.  Oh that all families could love each other and care for one another.  Too often, in this rushed modern world, we miss opportunities to love and care for those closest to us.

Psalm 127 says “Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.

Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.”

If we are to ever see God’s blessing on this nation, as in days gone by, we need to return to being a nation that values children enough to raise them in God’s love.  We need to return to being a nation that cherishes life and not one that destroys it in the womb or terminates it when its societal value is gone.

~Sam Lawrence

By Dr. Tony Beam

I have to admit I had second thoughts about the title of this column….especially in light of the words of James in chapter 2 verse 18; “And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” I also had second thoughts when I consider the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the peacemakers because they will be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9  HCSB).

But when I read the words of Paul written to his young protégée Timothy encouraging him to “fight the good fight for the faith” (1 Timothy 6:12 a) and I when I hear Paul say at the end of his life “I have fought the good fight….” (2 Timothy 4:7 a), I am convinced the title is appropriate.

Charles Colson, former Nixon advisor and founder and President of Prison Ministry Fellowship, verbally paints an accurate and disturbing picture of the challenges evangelical Christians face in the world today. Colson said, “Christians face two serious threats, one from the East (radical Muslim extremism) and one from within (the culture war).

The threat from Islamofacism is growing exponentially as radical elements within the Muslim faith try to destroy the very foundations of Christianity. Extremists use both the sword and fear of the sword to gain an advantage over the complacent hearts and minds of Westerners. Many Christians in the West believe the extremists represent a minor departure from the mainstream of the Muslim faith and that we should not be too worried about the possibility of another 911 type of attack. These misguided brothers and sisters in Christ believe if we will just leave the extremists alone they will leave us alone.

That line of thinking applied to Adolph Hitler by the Europeans prior to World War II left most of Europe in ruins and cost the lives of well over a million people. We make the same mistake today if we do not take the threat of an Iran armed with nuclear weapons seriously. We make it when we fail to realize the influence the terrorist nation of Iran has in Iraq, in Syria, in Afghanistan, in Lebanon, and most recently, in Gaza. We should remember it took the defeat of the Turks by the Polish cavalry in 1683 as the Turks encircled Vienna to stem the fast rising tide of radical Islam. If the United States loses its resolve to win the war on terror, however and wherever that war manifests itself, we may well see the day when all we hold dear will be relegated to the dust bin of history.

The second enemy Colson mentioned is what he calls “Neo-atheism.” This new brand of 21st century atheism is much more pervasive and exceedingly more dangerous than any of its earlier manifestations. Neo-atheism goes much farther than the mere denial of God’s existence. It actually calls for the eradication of all forms of Christianity. One prominent Neo-atheist has gone so far as to suggest that Christian parents should be prohibited by law from passing their religious values down to their children. They consider the teachings of Jesus Christ to be the moral equivalent of child abuse. They believe absolute truth is a myth and objective, fact-based reality is a fairytale told by fools. Relativism has so infested the thinking of many Christians that they are slowly beginning to buy into the ideas put forth by the Left concerning what true Christianity is all about. Moral relativists on the political Left reduce abortion to nothing more than a woman’s right to choose and homosexuality to nothing more than one lifestyle choice among many. They turn the “faith once delivered to the saints” into the “faith once distorted for the sake of political gain.”

If Colson is right (and I believe he is), how can Islamofacism and Neo-atheism threaten a culture that claims to be overwhelmingly Christian? The answer lies in understanding the real threat to Christianity is not the philosophies we face but the faith we lack. It is what I call “Regressive Christianity.” Regressive Christianity’s main problem is the lack of standing room. In fact, every Church in America could use a sign posted prominently over the pulpit that says, “Standing Room Only.” The Apostle Paul, after reminding the Ephesians that our fight is not against “flesh and blood” but against rulers, authorities, the world powers of this darkness and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens” exhorted them to “stand therefore…”(Ephesians 6:10-17). He essentially called them to fight not with the weapons of the enemy but through the enablement of God with “truth like a belt, righteousness like armor, faith like a shield, salvation like a helmet, God’s Word like a sword, all while standing in the shoes of the gospel.”

A strange thing happened at the first Battle of Bull Run during the Civil War. People packed up their picnic lunches and loaded up in their fine carriages to ride out and watch the opposing armies do battle. But shortly after the battle began, those sideline thrill seekers realized being mere bystanders was not an option. Three times in this passage Paul says the key to the fight is to stand. It really doesn’t matter how well equipped we are to charge the gates of hell if we retreat or outright refuse to enter the battle. We must replace “Regressive Christianity” with the mystery of an aggressive yet gentle faith that is firmly grounded in God’s Word and faithfully demonstrated in the lives of God’s people.

You can hear Dr. Beam live on Christian Talk 660 weekday mornings from 7:00-9:00 AM (EST) as he is the host of Christian Worldview Today.  You can also listen to recorded broadcasts in the Christian Worldview Today Archive.

Dr. Tony Beam is Vice-President for Student Services and the Director of the Christian Worldview Center at North Greenville College in Tigerville, South Carolina, Dr. Tony Beam received his Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina, and his Doctor of Ministry from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.

By Chuck Baldwin

In Patrick Henry’s immortal “Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death” speech, he said, “[I]t is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth.” Never have Henry’s words been truer than they are today. For too long, good men have turned a blind eye to the obvious reality that America’s Ship of State has swerved significantly off course. In fact, it is no hyperbole to say that America’s Ship of State is completely rudderless and, absent a speedy course correction, seems destined to crash against the rocks of oppression and economic ruin in the very near future. For anyone willing to open their eyes, the manifestations of America’s almost-certain collision with history are everywhere.

America’s Liberty Ship is dependent upon the twin mainsails of Morality and Constitutional Government to stay on course. It is an irrefutable and irreversible law that these twin sails are indissolubly linked. We cannot have one without the other. America’s founders clearly understood this.

For example, our second President, John Adams, said, “We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

Samuel Adams (called the “Father of the American Revolution”) said, “He therefore is the truest friend to the liberty of this country who tries most to promote its virtue, and who, so far as his power and influence extend, will not suffer a man to be chosen into any office of power and trust who is not a wise and virtuous man . . . The sum of all is, if we would most truly enjoy this gift of Heaven, let us become a virtuous people.”

Thomas Jefferson (the author of the Declaration of Independence and our third President) said, “Self-love . . . is the sole antagonist of virtue, leading us constantly by our propensities to self-gratification in violation of our moral duties to others.”

Jefferson also said, “[If a] people [are] so demoralized and depraved as to be incapable of exercising a wholesome control, their reformation [must] be taken up ab incunabulis [from the beginning]. Their minds [must] be informed by education what is right and what wrong, [must] be encouraged in habits of virtue and deterred from those of vice by the dread of punishments, proportioned indeed, but irremissible; in all cases, to follow truth as the only safe guide, and to eschew error, which bewilders us in one false consequence after another in endless succession. These are the inculcations necessary to render the people a sure basis for the structure of order and good government.”

Our first President, George Washington (called the “Father of his Country”), said, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great Pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens.”

And to quote Patrick Henry again, “Bad men cannot make good citizens . . . A vitiated state of morals, a corrupted public conscience, is incompatible with freedom.”

Yet, what do we see taking place all over America–including in the halls of government, the boardrooms of business, and the sanctuaries of churches? An almost complete and total breakdown of morality. And by a breakdown of morality, I am referring to much more than sexual immorality.

Morality demands honesty and equity in judgment. Morality is selfless. Morality is humble. Morality is jealous over truth and justice. Morality would never jeopardize the future on the altar of the present. Morality does not place personal advancement above principle. Morality respects its heritage and honors its ancestors. And Morality gladly submits to lawful authority, especially divine authority.

But compare basic morality to the modus operandi of today’s governments, businesses, and churches. Instead of truth and moral principles, we find people who are almost totally absorbed by a culture of deceit, selfishness, ambition, and greed. Rightly does the Scripture say, “The love of money is the root of all evil.” (I Timothy 6:10) Of more than one church or nonprofit ministry leader could it be said, “He doesn’t let his Christianity get in the way of his business.” Ditto for many so-called Christian businessmen and politicians. In fact, a good many religious leaders and churchmen today would not take a backseat to the most greedy, corrupt politician, or shady businessman that could be found.

Sunday-by-Sunday, pastors prostitute themselves to wealthy contributors, community leaders, or politicians. Day-by-day, unscrupulous bankers and businessmen give the shaft to honest, hardworking Americans. And almost hour-by-hour, politicians sell their souls to the highest bidder–even if that bidder represents values and principles that would destroy freedom and liberty in our land.

How is it that pastors are unwilling to educate themselves (and their congregants) about the dangers and pitfalls to which America’s leaders are subjecting us? How is it that businessmen will smugly look the other way as their practices advance the causes of our enemies and weaken our own country? How is it that politicians will allow themselves to be corrupted, not only by evil forces from within America, but also by devilish forces from alien powers?

As a result of this total breakdown of basic morality in virtually every distinguished element within the American framework, constitutional governance is also virtually nonexistent. Adams was right: “Our Constitution was made only for a moral . . . people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

America’s political officeholders routinely ignore their oaths to preserve, protect, and defend the US Constitution. Routinely! Many have never read the Constitution, or if they have, they desire neither to understand nor to obey it. And even worse is the fact that most Americans (including America’s spiritual leaders) seem totally unbothered by it all. As long as their favorite politician, political party, or personal cause benefits, they could not care less whether the Constitution is followed or not. More than 50 years of moral relativism has now reached almost total and complete social saturation.

If I’m a Republican, it doesn’t matter if the Constitution is followed as long as Republicans win elections. And Democrats behave the same way. “As long as my party wins, who cares about the Constitution, honesty, or truth?” is the attitude of many politically involved Americans–including many Christian Americans.

Democrats don’t care if Bill Clinton or Barack Obama lies, and Republicans don’t care if George H. W. Bush or George W. Bush lies. The only time we care about someone lying is when it’s the person from the “other” party. If the “other” party promotes evil, we are enraged, but when “our” party promotes evil, we sit on our anatomical posteriors in complete silence and with full approbation.

And this is the bottom line: because We the People have lost our morality and fidelity to constitutional government, we have countless conscienceless criminals located at virtually every level in and out of the federal government (political party notwithstanding) that are up to their necks in total and absolute EVIL! I mean down-in-the-gutter, Genghis Khan-type evil. I’m talking about drug running, kidnappings, sexual exploitations, assassinations, family ruinations, illegal imprisonments, torture, and mass murder. If they desire it, they do it (or hire/order it done). Because there is no moral compass guiding our churches and businesses, there is no moral compass guiding those Machiavellians in Washington, D.C. After all, where do all these politicians, bureaucrats, blood-merchants, and mercenaries come from, if not from within our own social and religious establishments?

Until we wake up to the fact that our country, our Constitution, our liberties, and our future are up against evil–PURE, UNADULTERATED EVIL–we are never going to be able to muster the dedication and resolve required to turn this Ship of State around. Until we get our heads out of the sand and start seeing things as they are (and not as the national news media wants us to see them), until we are willing to stop indulging in the illusions of hope, and until we stop shutting our eyes against a painful truth, it will not matter to a tinker’s dam who we elect or which party is in power. Folks, wake up to it: WE ARE FIGHTING AN EVIL SYSTEM!! And there is nothing that the people who are caught up in this evil system will not do. Nothing! They will steal; they will lie; they will cheat; they will kill; they will rape; they will pillage; they will plunder; they will do ANYTHING they think is necessary to fulfill their evil machinations.

Setting our Ship of State aright starts with We the People returning to the basic, moral laws of right and wrong. Whether it is business, religion, or politics, right is right and wrong is wrong! (And one does not have to be a born-again Christian to know right from wrong: anyone who understands and respects the principles of Natural Law can and will be an ally in the fight for right. In fact, sometimes our enemies come from within our family–even the family of faith. See Matthew 10:36.) It means to stop covering for evildoers, whether that person belongs to our own political party or even our own family. It means to stop living for personal gain and advancement. It means being honest and demanding honesty in others. It means elevating truth to a position above expediency. It means acknowledging that there is a Supreme Authority to which all men must submit–and I’m not referring to the US Supreme Court.

America’s Ship of State is currently rudderless. And as long as we are expecting someone in Washington, D.C., to fix the problem, we will continue to be lost–adrift in a sea of evil and criminality. To get America’s Ship of State back on course, you and I must get back on course. And it starts by being willing to OPEN OUR EYES TO PAINFUL TRUTH.

This column is archived at:

http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/c2010/cbarchive_20100129.html

*If you appreciate this column and want to help me distribute these editorial opinions to an ever-growing audience, donations may now be made by credit card, check, or Money Order. Use this link:

http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/donate.php

Copyright © 2010 Chuck Baldwin

NOTE TO THE READER:

Chuck Baldwin’s commentaries are copyrighted and may be republished, reposted, or emailed providing the person or organization doing so does not charge for subscriptions or advertising and that the column is copied intact and that full credit is given and that Chuck’s web site address is included.