The Truth Matters

I wrote a few days ago about the importance of truthfulness as it relates to those who serve in public office. I'm not going to try and "wax eloquent" on the importance of truthfulness but will instead let a video that I was sent do the talking. I hope this video helps you see how important it is to vote for officials who tell the truth and then to hold elected officials accountable for telling the truth. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EH_Izul6J5M&feature=youtu.be

Should Christians vote for a Mormon?

As the 2012 election fast approaches I've been somewhat confused and somewhat disturbed by a question that I hear Christians debating--Should a Christian vote for a Mormon? I have read one Pastor's blog explaining why he is choosing not to vote at all in the upcoming election. He opposes the current administration's approach to social issues, but cannot reconcile voting for a Mormon. What follows is my interaction with some of the objections to voting for a Mormon that I have heard. It has been posited that since the current administration openly supports abortion and homosexuality that the goal should be to "Beat Obama!" To state such a goal then seems to imply that the ends justify the means. I would suggest that the real question for believers is, “What does it mean to live out my faith in a way that shines the light of Christ in the culture” (Mt.5:16)? For some, “Beating Obama” is the goal but why? I truly believe that for people of faith the issue is a desire to stand against the forces of evil pressing against us in a way that points people to the cross and Christ. Support for Abortion, promotion of homosexuality, runaway welfare, broken promises, blatant deception, corruption, dishonesty, and stealing from the rich to give to the poor (all hallmarks of the current Obama administration) are offensive to God. Christians are to expose sin so that people will repent and be saved. We are called to defend the helpless, defenseless, and abused (Isaiah 1:17). As believers in the U.S. we have a great privilege and responsibility to help shape the culture through our participation in the political process. Voting is part of being subject to the authorities God places over us (Romans 13:1-4). The goal is ultimately, “bring glory to God”. Since God is ultimately in charge our actions are simply to reflect submission to Him while trusting that God will do what is best. It is argued that Christians should not just vote for a Mormon whose moral convictions are closer to their own because by doing so we are endorsing a cult. We are talking about electing the next President of the United States, not someone to the deacon board of our church. If the person’s policy perspectives are inconsistent with our personal convictions then we may find it impossible to support them, but when we find someone whose values reflect our own I think this is someone we want to see in public office rather than someone whose views are diametrically opposed to ours. Who do you want guiding policy on the life of the unborn, an avowed abortion supporter or someone who believes in the sanctity of life beginning at conception? Support for a Mormon for public office does NOT amount to approval of his/her religion. Christians should make the distinctives of Mormonism and Christianity clear with regard to the person and work of Christ, how a person is saved from sin, the supreme and ultimate authority of the Bible, etc. We are to speak the truth in love, share the Gospel of salvation by grace alone through faith alone, in Christ alone with everyone including Mormons. Christian support for Mitt Romney is not an endorsement of his religion, but of his leadership. I fail to see how a Christian supporting a Mormon for President equates with legitimizing their faith system. I thought under the constitution and under God’s gracious rule, people are free to worship as they please. The government of the United States is NOT a church. Obviously a person’s faith impacts his/her politics (that is if it is a genuinely held faith) and we should expect Mitt Romney’s faith to influence his leadership. A practicing Mormon is a very decent person. Mormon’s are responsible, fair, honest, caring, family centered, generous people whose values are very close to those of Evangelical Christians. Evangelicals would simply say that what we do by means of grace (live a holy lifestyle because of Christ’s work in us) the Mormons do as a means of grace (in order to attain a higher status). I don’t have to agree with their motivation to agree with their manner. Finally, I find it disturbing that a believer would suggest that Christians should draw a line of separation between themselves and unbelievers that is artificial and damaging. If we are to reach people for Christ then we might say more to a watching world about the reality of our Jesus by working with someone who is “not of our stripe” and with whom we disagree on some things. I’m just thinking about how Jesus hung out with the tax gatherers and sinners (Mt.9:11-13) in order to reach them. The religious types condemned Jesus for being “contaminated” by His interactions but those who condemned Him were the ones who missed the point. Jesus wants us hanging out with, spending time with, rubbing shoulders with, and I would say--supporting for public office--people who are not like us. I'm not talking about compromising our faith, or corrupting our practice. When it comes to supporting people for public office we should find those with whom we most agree and work for the common good. If we aren't willing to work with others then we will have no chance to positively impact their theology, and we will fail to work together on what the two of us agree on for the betterment of society. Will Christians be labelled hypocrites for voting for a Mormon one day and then warning others about the spiritual dangers of Mormonism the next day? I believe most people will have the common sense to realize that Christians aren't supporting Mormonism, but a man who happens to be a Mormon, a good person, and a capable leader. Those who don’t make that distinction may need a refresher in civics, or in theology. Seriously, I just don't think most people are so stupid that they will equate Christian support for a Mormon for public office as an endorsement of that person's faith. If I was convinced that Mitt Romney was bent on instituting Mormonism as the state religion of the U.S. or using his “bully pulpit” to convert people to Mormonism I certainly would not encourage people to support Him. I personally believe people can make the distinction that supporting a person to lead the country is not an endorsement of that person's religion. “So you don’t agree with Romney’s religious system, but you line up with him in the social, constitutional, and fiscal issues involved in governing the country?” I really think people "get it." Christians who won't vote for Mitt Romney because he is a Mormon should ask themselves if they would have voted for some of our founding fathers who weren't Christians despite the fact that they recognized the importance of God, faith, and morality. I personally don’t see a contradiction between working to be salt and light, standing up for Biblical principles (remember, all truth is God’s truth even if a Mormon says it), fulfilling civic and spiritual responsibilities and supporting a Mormon for public office. If you think otherwise then you best not violate your conscience for whatever is not of faith is sin (Ro.14:23). Some argue that since the "Democrats have embraced sin (their platform consists of the sins of Romans 1) and the Republicans support false religion (i.e. Mormonism) we should support neither. So abdicate your God-given rights and privileges as a citizen of the U.S. and just stick your head in the sand? You are certainly free to do that, but I don’t think you can make a solid Biblical case for such dereliction of duty. Of course I'm not advocating supporting any party or candidate whose practices, whose morals, whose aim as a politician is known to be contrary to the scripture. I understand the Scripture to teach just the opposite--that we should confront evil to reach people with the Gospel. We should do what is in our power to stem the tide of wickedness as John the Baptist did. He spoke out against Herod's adulterous relationship and it cost him is head. Standing against evil certainly includes voting for someone whose morality and sense of responsibility most closely matches my own. Of course there is always the option of supporting a third party or a write in candidate. But if there is actually someone in office whose practices and policies are reprehensible and it is obvious that as a Christian this person should be confronted, then voting third party is often times a wasted vote since that person will never win and the one whom we most disagree with will certainly win. I would argue that when we have a person who most closely aligns with our perspectives among the two party candidates then any vote that is not given to that person is a wasted vote. Another argument put forth is that by refusing to vote for a Mormon (Mitt Romney) we are calling Christians and non-Christians to stop looking at politics and focus on our certain hope of heaven in Christ. Certainly believers need a greater realization that, “our citizenship is in heaven from which we anxiously await a savior” (Phil.3:20). To whatever degree we are unnecessarily fawning over or anxiously panicking about a candidate or an election is a testimony to our misplaced dependence (Mt. 6:25-34). So should we abstain from voting as a demonstration of faith? I simply do not see that refraining from voting is the only way to express our trust in the Lord. I discipline my children, but I still have to trust in the Lord, because I cannot “make” them into reproducing disciples of Jesus Christ no matter how hard I try. But I do not simply throw my hands in the air and say, it’s all up to the Lord so I’m going to leave everything to Him.” That is failure to fulfill my duty. I could stay home from work and tell others to stay home from work, arguing that if they had faith it would be okay based on the same logic. Throughout scripture we are told that it is our efforts and God’s work. We don’t decide, but God wants us involved in sharing our faith, serving others, submitting to authorities, loving our wives, and I would say voting. Does refusing to vote for a Mormon aid in pointing people to trust in Christ? We certainly want people to repent and come to Christ. Yet we are in this world and called to be salt and light, to let our light shine in the darkness which necessarily involves concerted efforts to confront evil and speak truth. I’m not completely convinced that unborn babies who are being aborted, people who are having their income stolen from them, those who are unemployed, and those whose health care costs are skyrocketing, will consider Christian's abstaining from voting as endearing when we could have voted and possibly changed their circumstances. Of course, it may be that God desires the difficult circumstances to persist in order to drive more people to himself. That is his choice, but ours should be one of obedience. I’m just not convinced that a failure to vote, a failure to do something to stand in the way of runaway evil, injustice, immorality, and incompetence is an expression of faith or an endearing testimony to the world. I would not want any believer to endorse Mormonism for political expediency, but again, it is hardly clear to me how voting for someone who is a Mormon to fill public office (not a church office) amounts to endorsing his/her faith. As for me, I’d rather have a practicing Mormon in the White House than someone who pretends to be a Christian.

Calling it Like it is.

I remember hearing about an umpire who used to brag that when a pitch came into home plate and he had to decide if it was a ball or a strike he would say, "They ain't nothing til I call em." He reserved the right to create his own reality. Unfortunately, the number of people in our society who create their own reality is increasing. With only two weeks to go until the 2012 General Election most of us have been bombarded with so much information that it is dizzying. I've watched some of the debates and the level of dishonesty that I've seen has been very disheartening. I have watched as certain candidates look at the camera and without blinking tell the American people the exact opposite of what is true--"It ain't nothin till they call it." Most recently the American people have been subjected to the grand deception which surrounds the attack of the U.S. embassy in Benghazi, Lybia. This is just one of many incidents in which the American people are not being told the truth. As others pass the rampant deception off as "politics" I'm appalled. In the short list of things God hates (Proverbs 6) a "lying tongue" is in the top two. I find myself getting very upset at 1)the telling of lies and 2) the seeming complacency or at least indifference of so many that a blatant lie has just been told that I'm sure I respond in anger rather than in sorrow. Reading in Ezekiel 33:1-11 about God's appointment of Ezekiel as a watchman for the house of Israel it struck me that his message was to warn them of impending doom that was coming upon them because of their wickedness. His duty was to warn the people and if he did so he was not responsible. If he failed to warn them then he would be held accountable. God's people have a message from God--the good news of salvation by grace through faith alone in Christ (Acts 1:8; 2Cor.5:17-21). It is a message of warning that if people don't turn from their sin they will suffer God's judgment. But I noticed in verse 11 that God declares that "I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live." So the purpose of warning, of pointing out the wickedness was to bring about repentance. Notice in 33:11 Ezekiel is to declare, "turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?" It's one thing to be on watch for other people's sin so that we can piously point it out because we do not sin in that way and we feel good about ourselves--that is Pharisaism. It is quite another thing to be a watchman of sorts and share the truth of the gospel with people, to point out their sin so that they will see that they need to turn from it, trust Christ and live. This second rationale is what God meant for Ezekiel to do. God's heart is always that people repent. God's people are to point out sin so that people will repent. If my approach to those in sin is a desire to see them turn from sin so that they will live--gain new life in Christ--then I will confront sin humbly and graciously. If all I want to do is let people know how much worse they are than me, then I best keep my mouth shut. Lord, as I look around and see so much deception, jealousy, greed, idolatry, and pride I ask that you search me and know me and reveal those sins in my life that I need to repent of. Then would you please give me your heart of mercy so that when I confront sin I do so only so that those confronted will repent and live. Let me take no pleasure in the death of the wicked Lord, but only that they would turn from their way and live.

V.P.'s Confusion on Abortion

As I sat and watched the Vice-Presidential debate last night several things went through my mind, but the one issue that was raised that I wanted to address today is how each man dealt with the issue of abortion. Paul Ryan was clear, concise, and cogent in his answer. He stated that his faith impacts everything he does. He articulated his position that life begins at conception which is the teaching of the Catholic church of which both he and Joe Biden are members. Ryan said that a Romney administration will seek to protect the life of the unborn and would allow for abortions in the cases of rape, incest, and the life of the mother being in danger if the pregnancy continued. Joe Biden articulated his longstanding membership in the Catholic church and that he is a devout Catholic who is personally in agreement with the position of the Catholic church which teaches that life begins at conception. Then he qualified his statement by saying, "But I do not seek to impose my beliefs on others. I believe a woman should hae the right to choose what to do with her own body." Now I've heard this sort of double talk from others who seek to appease abortion advocates by saying essentially, "Personally I'm against it, but I don't push my views on others." The perspective espoused by V.P. Biden is terribly problematic. I would submit that for Joe Biden to say, "I'm personally against abortion but don't feel that I have a right to impose my views on others" is intellectually inconsistent and religiously hypocritical. Mr. Biden is saying that he will not impose his moral conviction that abortion is the taking of a life upon others, but through his personal efforts and those of the current administration he imposes the support for abortion on those who supposedly share his personal convictions against it. So Mr. Biden will not impose restrictions on abortion which he says he personally opposes, but he will impose support for abortion on those who oppose it. By support for abortion I'm referring to Federal funding for international abortions (President Obama's very first executive order provided for such funding), the inclusion of abortion provisions in Obama Care, support for Roe vs. Wade and his concern that newly appointed Supreme Court Justices may overturn that decision if a Romney/Ryan ticket wins, his support for HHS Secretary's mandate that contraceptives be provided for in the health care plans of every business in America. Mr. Biden sanctimoniously declares that he will not "impose" abortion restrictions, but he has no qualms whatsoever imposing support for abortion on millions of Americans. His duplicity is revealing. Additionally, the V.P. has no reservation about imposing his moral convictions in other matters on others. For example, he is morally opposed (or seemingly so given the vast energy spent on opposing domestic energy exploration) to utilizing our vast domestic supply of coal, oil, and natural gas resources. He works tirelessly to prevent their use thus imposing his moral will on the rest of the country who believes we should be utilizing these resources to achieve energy independence. Secondly, the V.P. champions without apology a policy of stealing from the rich to give to the poor (euphemistically known as "income redistribution."). Mr. Biden sees income redistribution as a moral imperative. Funny thing that some moral issues are held to so strongly that they impact his policy, but the value of a human life is not one of them. Mr. Biden is not only logically inconsistent but he is a spiritual hypocrite. Paul Ryan stated that his faith impacted every aspect of his life. That is the only thing that a genuine faith can do. James tells us, "faith w/o works is dead"(James 2:20). We only really believe that which motivates us to action. It is a convenient way to frame the discussion to say that a person will not "impose" their views on another, but this is dishonest. Every law is the imposition of morality upon others. The only question is "what morality" will determine the law. The law of the land currently is a law that supports the murder of innocent unborn children. This is a morally reprehensible law, not based upon Scripture, but secular humanism. Mr. Biden cannot at the same time be a devout, practicing Catholic and avid supporter of abortion rights. These two positions are diametrically opposed. Any claim to the contrary creates an inevitable dichotomy that reveals hypocrisy. Mr. Biden says he is against abortion, but the action he has taken in public office does not bear this out. His professed faith is not practiced, thus impugning his profession. If a person believes that life begins at conception and that abortion is the taking of an innocent life, he/she cannot then support the taking of unborn life and require others to do so against their conscience unless he/she is deceived. It is no faith at all that fails to act in a manner consistent with that faith. In the case of Mr. Biden, it is not that he "fails to impose" his views on others that is the problem. No professing Christian imposes their views, but if they truly believe a matter they will of necessity advocate for their view, declare their view, and defend their view. More telling is that Mr. Biden not only fails to advocate for and defend the life of the unborn, but he deliberately advocates for the taking of human life and for coercing others to support this same grizzly business. That's all for now. Steve Smith