Curb your enthusiasm?

Psalm 139:13-14
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

Before the election, there was much debate in Christian circles of who to vote for and what system of ethics should be used in coming to a conclusion.  Abortion was a hot button topic but not as hot as normal.  It was different this time as many true followers of Jesus and many psuedo-Christians moved the abortion issue down on the priority list.

I really believe that most bought into the illusion that the issue was a non-issue and that there wouldn’t be any real ramifications…I mean Roe v. Wade was not overturned in the last 8 years by the Supreme Court or a constitutional amendment…so why should it be a deciding factor?  What I believe many failed to realize is that the issue is far more reaching then Roe v. Wade.  It has to do with Executive Orders and smaller laws and probably a bit down the road FOCA.

Today, the day after the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Obama has started down the road he has consistently said he would take.  On his third day of office and his second day of business he used his executive power to overturn the “Mexico City Policy”.  When the policy was in tact federal tax funds only went to organizations that “neither perform nor actively promote abortion as a method of family planning in other nations.”

Our federal tax dollars will now be given to organizations that promote and perform abortions in countries around the world.  My understanding is that tax dollars still cannot be used for the actual procedure, but it can be used to support the overall operation of the organization and promotion of abortion; thereby, freeing up other money the organization has to actually perform the procedure  In short, money that was given to organizations to save lives, prevent and cure disease, and feed the hungry will be diverted to other organizations who will promote abortion and end life.

Please know that my heart has not changed in my love for both the unborn children and women who have had abortions.  If you have read my previous posts on the subject or talked to me personally I think you know my heart.  It is always painful to write about this subject, and I don’t write this post as an I told you so.  It is simply a reminder that our first ethical responsibility in loving other humans is the protection of life itself.  If your ethical priorities have been out of order I beg you to put them where they belong.  In this matter, on this day, justice was not done, and the innocent were not protected.  It is a sad day for the world and “the cloud of witnesses” to its sadness is great indeed.

I am still praying for President Obama, and I hope that you will continue to as well.  I Timothy 2.

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Prayer on Inauguration Day

Already on this site I have written about the responsibility we have to pray for our President and leaders.  If you missed that post see it here.

And as previously written about we should rightfully give thanks for the progress our country has made in the area of race made evident today (though we still have a long way to go).  If you missed that post see it here.

Today let us not forget to pray for all who are seen as great and small on the earth and remember that one day all will give account to God Almighty.  Here are some specific things to pray for for our new President Obama:

• Wisdom – as he has so many important decisions to make.  Pray that he would accept godly counsel and reject the counsel of the ungodly.

• Justice – that he would seek to do justly

• Clarity – to know good and evil and to pick the good

• Safety – for him and his family

• Marriage – for the health of his marriage in the face of intense stress

• Family – for his families wellbeing as they live under a microscope

Let us pray!

 

A pre-post election post

Regardless of whether Obama or McCain wins tonight or whether you will be happy or shed tears after the election results, please keep a few things in mind if you are a follower of Jesus.

God’s people must let nothing keep us from the priorities that God has set before us – to proclaim the Good News about Jesus.  I am encouraged that so many followers of Jesus I know really love God and love people and strive to live what they believe.  Let us endeavor more to share the love of God!  Let us endeavor more to be generous with all that God has made us stewards over!  Let us endeavor more to help the most oppressed!  Let us endeavor more to be salt and light and hope in our very dark world!

1.  We have a responsibility to pray for our leaders (I Timothy 2:1-2).

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”

The Scripture does not tell us to pray for them only if we like them.  Praying for our leaders to have wisdom, discernment, justice, peace, love, and truth is commanded for us to do.  

2.  Jesus is still the only true and eternal hope!  (Luke 4:18-19, John 14:6).

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, 
      because he has anointed me 
      to preach good news to the poor. 
   He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners 
      and recovery of sight for the blind, 
   to release the oppressed, 
    to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Words of Jesus)

 “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

3.  We must endeavor to love, live, and share the Good News about Jesus, the payment for our sins (I Timothy 2:3-7).

“This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time. And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.”

4.  We have a responsibility to stand up for the oppressed.  (Isaiah 1:17)

“Learn to do right! 
Seek justice, 
encourage the oppressed. 
Defend the cause of the fatherless, 
plead the case of the widow.”

5.  Regardless of who our leaders are, God is still God, and our privilege is to look forward to the day when Jesus Christ will reign (Revelation 11:15).

“The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.'”

I am so looking forward to the day when there will be no more tears and no more pain.  In that day, we will no longer have to wonder whether our leaders know what they are doing, or if they have good or bad intentions, or if they are wise enough for the job.  Our King Jesus will reign and all will be as it should be – finally!  What a sweet and blessed hope we have in Jesus!