Monday, March 15, 2010

Taking a Stand in the Political Debate

How should Christians respond to the current political climate in the United States? Glenn Beck has recently called on anyone who attends a church that supports a leftist socialist agenda, often termed "social justice" to leave such churches. His call is rooted in his deeply held political belief that such an agenda will undermine American liberties guaranteed by the U. S. Constitution and replace our representative republican form of government with a socialist/communist state. For an excellent discussion of Beck's call, see Dr. R. Albert Mohler's blog at http://www.albertmohler.com/2010/03/15/glenn-beck-social-justice-and-the-limits-of-public-discourse/

Recent moves in Congress do have some elements that I think should be disturbing to any Bible reading and history savvy Christian. On the front burner is the debate over national health care. On the back burner is an immigration bill that would require every U. S. citizen to have a federally issued identification card with his/her fingerprints on it and other possible biological markers as well as a condition of employment.
In the big picture this looks ominously like the federal government seeking more and more control over every aspect of our lives in complete disregard of the Tenth Amendment to the U. S. Constitution. But how should a Christian view such events?

At the risk of being labeled an apocalyptic, I'm going to venture into territory where I don't usually go. I want to be clearly understood at this point. I am not saying that this is the fulfillment of a specific biblical prophecy. I'm saying this looks similar to that. In Revelation 13: 11-18 John describes a "beast" from the earth. That "beast", I believe in context, represents the fascist state of the Roman Empire and stands as a type, or figure of a future government or dictator that will seek to impose his will on everyone.

Fascism is nothing new. It was not invented in the twentieth century. It was the heart of the Roman political system after the fall of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Caesars. Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary defines fascism as " a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition" (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fascism). At its heart, fascism usually includes the worship or adoration of the state or the dictator. Such was the case with the ancient Roman emperors, who saw themselves as gods, and such was the case with Adolf Hitler of the National Socialist (NAZI) Party in Germany.

In the text in Revelation 14 the "beast" assumes the role of God vis-a-vis the people of the world. There is no way for anyone to provide for his/her own needs or those of his/her family apart from the permission of the "beast", which is the state or the dictator. To me the current trend in Washington toward government sponsored health-care, the welfare program, social security, medicare/medicaid, and the new immigration reform bill all look like attempts to make the federal government all-powerful and the place everyone must turn to for help instead of turning to God.

I believe it is the duty of every God-fearing Christian to resist these items of legislation whether they become law or not, as unjust laws that infringe on the rights of every free-born U. S. citizen under the Bill of Rights of the U. S. Constitution. I also believe that to submit to this movement is to allow the state to assume the role of a "god" in your life by making the state your source of hope for deliverance from life's trials rather than the God of the Bible. Resist the cult of big government. God alone is sovereign over your life.

8 comments:

  1. A.J.--May we assume that when you reach retirement age that, for reasons of conscience, you will never apply for nor accept any Medicare or Social Security benefits?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yes, you may. I opted out right after my ordination for some of the very reasons I've given in this blog. Of course, the way things are going, I may never be able to retire, but I'm okay with that.

    Two things I do want to be very clear about, though. First, I'm not saying that the events we're watching are the fulfillment of Revelation 13, because I don't know if they are or not. I believe there's a sufficient parallel to warrant believers being cautious about big government (although I do believe that some kind of insurance reform is needed). Secondly, I am not advocating any kind of violent resistance. Christians have a long history of passive resistance to state infringement upon God's prerogatives in matters of conscience and loyalty. That means being willing to bear the legal consequences of such actions, too. I believe persecution is coming in America. We've had it easy while the church around the world has suffered. Why should we believe we're exempt?

    Louis, you've been to foreign countries on mission trips. You've probably seen what I'm talking about. You've probably seen first hand suffering and persecution I've only read about. What do we need to learn from our brothers and sisters in other countries that will help us here in the days ahead?

    ReplyDelete
  3. A.J.--I think you missed the point of my question. I was not asking if it was possible to turn down S.S. & Medicare benefits based on personal conscience. I was asking if you personally, based on the information cited here, intend to turn down all Social Security and Medicare benefits to which you are entitled, when you become eligible for those benefits.

    I know that you claimed exemption from Social Security taxes for your ministerial income (you had told me that a number of years ago), but you still were subject to S.S. & medicare taxes for all other non-ministerial jobs you have ever held. And based on those taxes (which the S.S. Administration euphemistically calls "contributions"), you at some point will be eligible for those benefits. So again what I am wondering is, based on your concerns stated in this article, do you intend at that time to tell the Social Security Administration, "Thanks, but no thanks. I don't need or want a monthly check, nor do I need or want Medicare coverage"?

    ReplyDelete
  4. The cult of big government is Political Correctness. It is a religion which all politicians are guided by whether Republican or Democratic. It removes the freedom of speech and exhaults the wicked among us. Anthing Christian oriented is outlawed while at the same time all other forms of religion are encouraged and acceptable. Those who vote Democrat, the "Big Tent" Party, and claim to be Christian, vote against biblical principles. Is your responsibility to God first, or to Party?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Louis,

    My understanding of the agreement when I opted out was that I could not ask for any public assistance for me or my family, even if I did pay in from other income, ever. I knew that going in. So, no, I will not ask for SSI. I've never applied for Medicaid for my kids, even though we've qualified in terms of income, and I never will. My understanding is that I couldn't, even if I wanted to.

    ReplyDelete
  6. A.J.: I applaud your consistency.

    As to the rest of your article: Oh my, where do I start.....

    In your first paragraph, you state: "Glenn Beck has recently called on anyone who attends a church that supports a leftist socialist agenda, often termed 'social justice' to leave such churches. His call is rooted in his deeply held political belief that such an agenda will undermine American liberties guaranteed by the U. S. Constitution and replace our representative republican form of government with a socialist/communist state." Although do do not say so outright, you leave the impression that you agree with Beck's assertion. Permit me to point out that JUSTICE was a biblical concept long before it was a talk radio football. The Scriptures command us to be people of justice, which means that we seek to provide all persons with those things that are their birthright by virtue of their being human beings, created in God's image. And the biblical picture of justice is one which does not tell us simply to bandage the wounds of those individuals who have been treated unjustly, but to seek to correct the societal structures which give birth to injustice. Glenn Beck is a boob (and as a Mormon, a non-Christian boob at that), and he ought to study his Bible to know what it says, before presuming to instruct Christian people about how to address matters of Christian conscience. (Disclosure: I "reported myself" to Glenn Beck, and to my church, as a "social justice" Christian. My church supports me, but I have yet to receive a reply from Beck.) I don't know what I find more disturbing--the fact that Beck is seeking to wield spiritual influence over Christian persons, or that Christian people are permitting their worldview to be shaped by this man who is so utterly ignorant of God's Word, and who himself is a member of the cultic LDS church.

    (Gonna continue this in another comment--your blog just told me that my comment was too long...)

    ReplyDelete
  7. (continued)

    Second: You state in your final paragraph, "I also believe that to submit to this movement is to allow the state to assume the role of a 'god' in your life by making the state your source of hope for deliverance from life's trials rather than the God of the Bible." Permit me to point out that political conservatism commits this very same sin of deifying government, albeit in different arenas than that which political liberalism does. Case in point: The traditional Conservative position on immigration reform. I cannot speak to the official position of the Republican Party on this matter, but most of the political conservatives I know think that the appropriate response to the influx of "illegal aliens" is to round them all up and throw them in jail until such time as they can be deported. (Or worse yet, to station men at with guns at the Rio Grande to shoot them if they try to cross.) But the Scripture places the alien alongside the widow and the orphan as rightful recipients of our gracious love and care. But rather than following those Scriptural commands and then trusting God to provide for both our national economy and personal safety, many conservatives look to the government to "deliver" us from this "trial."

    In the interest of full disclosure: I did not vote for either Mr. Obama or Mr. McCain in the last presidential election. I could not vote for Mr. Obama because of his stance on abortion, and could not vote for Mr. McCain because I believe that his history of marital infidelity renders him morally unfit to lead. I am pretty apolitical, and I am concerned that so many equate political conservatism with biblical Christianity. It most certainly is not.

    I anticipate vigorous disagreement from you, A.J. But we are friends, and I value your friendship. Thank you for your candor in expressing your views, and for your graciousness in permitting me the same opportunity.

    P.S. As I was preparing to post this, a thought occurred to me: What if the antichrist actually turned out to be Glenn Beck? If that were the case, a lot of Christians who became his fan on Facebook are going to have red faces some day!(rofl)

    ReplyDelete