Just a law abiding citizen?

I must comment one more time on the possible prosecution of school officials for praying over a meal. I heard a short exchange on a news program between 2 people arguing for and against the ruling to bring criminal charges against these educators.

The one advocating criminal charges against them said since there was already a judicial warning (I don't know the particular name, injunction, whatever) against this school district that he sheds no tears over this ruling. They broke the law, and he, as a law abiding citizen, thought those who broke the law should be prosecuted.

There is a method Jesus used in answering questions and exposing flaws in ones argument and that was asking questions Himself. He did it when they asked him if they should pay taxes to Caesar, when they asked whose authority He spoke in, etc. I wanted to pose a question to the man on T.V. In fact, I may have been talking to the T.V.

I would have liked to say, so you are a law abiding citizen and just think laws should be upheld, hey? A few decades ago in this country it was legal for a white person to own a black person as property, if you were under that law would your policy be to just uphold it and prosecute those who opposed it? I TROW NOT!! (I think trow is the right word, but if it isn't substitute think in its place). I'm sure he would not think that was appropriate. So the question is not simply upholding all law, but is that law good or righteous.

The possible jailing of school officials in America for offering a prayer over a meal in public is evidence that even though the U.S.S.R. no longer exists, they may have won the cold war. They have influenced the philosophies of America and some of those, who see themselves as intellectually elite and offering justice for all, who have been duped into being puppet propagators of a philosophical framework based on no ethical value or moral system, or atheistic morals and values if that is possible, and are truly clueless to the facts that the Christian moral and value system of this nation is what made it great. (Whew!!) (Don't let Miss Taylor, my high school composition instructor, see this sentence.)

The writings on the walls of our national monuments, the writings in our national documents and the records of the historical meetings of this nation all point to our reliance and acknowledgement of God and our dependence on His wisdom for our existence and success. Prayer has been our heritage in beginning legislative and legal sessions. And if you trace the prayers, it has not been prayers to just some god, it has been prayer offered to the Creator of all things revealed to us in the person of Jesus Christ.

The first major Bible printing done in this nation was commissioned by Congress and the Bibles were printed for use in schools. Our law abiding citizen probably has no idea how to define right and wrong because he has no standard to base it on. It changes with the wind or at least with whoever is in power or has influence over the legal system of this nation. I'm sure he wouldn't think it right to own another person as property, or push an old lady into the middle of a busy street. Although that would be one less burden on our health care coverage expense, unless of course she just got maimed and not killed. But how do you know what's right, if you have no objective outside values to evaluate your laws by? After all, not all that many years ago it was against the law to kill babies in their mother's womb, now it's not. Did right and wrong change? I TROW NOT!!

Illegal Prayer!!

The first congressional session that ever convened in this land we live in, began with a prayer meeting. Now, however, school officials at Pace High School in Florida face criminal prosecution and possible jail time for praying before meals at the school.

I remember when I was growing up we used to talk about our arch enemy, the Soviet Union. They were controlled by the evil of Communism. We even talked about them in school. One of the worst evils of Communism was that it was Godless. They didn't allow the Bible in public and you certainly couldn't pray in public. As a nation we saw and realized how oppressive this regime was and how dangerous it was to the very fabric of what made up our great nation.

There was real evil in our nation such as racism, but historically in England and in the U.S., although many who called themselves Christians embraced racism, it was also true Christians are the ones, who led much of the resistance against it, most notably William Wilberforce in England as he fought against slavery and slave trade. So, I understand the nation was not in a state of euphoric perfection, but there were foundations that were endorsed and adhered to that had made this nation great. We had a Christian heritage. We actually prayed in schools back when I began my education. It was not illegal or oppressive it was the acknowledgement that we needed more than our own ingenuity to succeed. We needed the blessing of Almighty God and we asked for it. And you know what? He gave it!

Our students were some of the best in the world. We excelled in understanding, agriculture, science among many other things and became a world leader.

With the action being considered against these school officials in Florida the realization is now beginning to appear very clearly that we have become our enemy!!

The Spirit and the Word

We had a wonderful time this last weekend with a group of radical passionate young adults. The goal of the conference we attended was not to take away anything from the Holy Spirit passion of these followers of Jesus but rather to add a foundation in the Word of God to help them stand through all circumstances. Otherwise it is like being at the base of Mt. Sanai and you hear the thunder, see the lightning, feel the earthquake and leave saying let's do that again but you don't listen to the voice speaking to you from the midst of the cloud. Or, like the hyenas in the Lion King just wanting to hear someone say Mufasa one more time

Joshua led Israel boldly and without hesitation when the word of the Lord came to him to enter the land. Joshua was able to do that because he had spent so much time hanging out at the tent of meeting where the Lord's Presence rested. Spending time in His Presence should prepare us to obey anything He says. True humility means we follow His leading and obey His Word no matter where He takes us, to the Penthouse or to the outhouse, we just say yes, Lord.

With this in mind we had the opportunity to hear a brother share how the Lord has led him to give away everything, including his retirement fund. It was fascinating to hear that the Kingdom still operates the same way it did in Jesus' day. For anyone who gives up all, He promised to multiply back to them to take care of them as they walk in obedience. Most of us know very little about what is revealed when we follow Jesus without any reservations. There is a kingdom life that exceeds the natural reasoning mind, but one must dive into it with full faith.

The rich young ruler in the Bible was told to sell all give to the poor and follow Jesus, but couldn't, much like most of us. I would say the wisdom I heard years ago to use common sense unless you have a direct word from the Lord still stands. Common sense would not beckon one to give away his retirement account when in your 50's. But Jesus said your life does not consist in the accumulation of possessions. You don't get life from what you own, but from who owns you.

I remember launching off years ago giving up rights to all I owned to live in community with some other brothers. We made a lot of mistakes, but we also saw unmistakable Divine provision. I have been challenged by this weekend to pursue the Lord with more passion and to try to make sure my talk measures up with my walk. Total surrender means total peace and total provision. He said he would return 100 fold to his people. The condition was to give up ALL. May the Spirit of Jesus lead us all to our total surrender and entry into true Kingdom life.