Topic: Social and Cultural Issues
A Message to Christians that Support Ron Paul This article addresses the root causes behind the cultural changes of the 20th century and how and why Christians are uniquely positioned to effect a reversal of the decline we’ve experienced.by Lou Poumakis
(Libertarian)
Sunday, February 3, 2008
The western world (Europe, Britain, America, Australia) was founded on the Christian faith. Until recently (100 200 years ago), Christianity was the norm. Christians dominated virtually all the centers of power and controlled most of the wealth in this country. The widespread faith of the American people made possible the freedom that was expressed in the Constitution and Declaration of Independence. As Robert Winthrop articulated so well, it's either the Bible or the bayonet. Because of the sin nature that we are all born with, some form of restraint is needed to maintain an orderly society. Man's tendency toward sin is either held in check by his faith in God or by the force of government. Freedom is measured by the extent to which the former is present and man governs himself. Self-government is a prerequisite for freedom and America was free because Americans believed in God and governed themselves.
In the 20th century, however, we have seen a major cultural shift, amounting to a reversal of this situation. Now it is primarily non-Christians that are in control of education, entertainment, the news media, the political process and virtually every power center in the country. If we look at the very wealthy, those with the greatest ability to direct the future of our nation, we see very few that espouse the Christian faith. These wealthy, powerful individuals form what we call the Establishment, they disclaim religion but are really very religious themselves. They believe that man is his own master and as an inevitable consequence look to the state as the head and focus of all rule and authority. They are statists because of their religious faith in statism and will not stop until their goal of an all-powerful, socialistic, totalitarian New World Order has been imposed on everyone.
The transition from a Christian to a humanistic culture came about as a consequence of a weakening of the faith and a subsequent shift from an earthly to an unbiblical other-worldly focus on the part of Christians. We lost sight of the fact that God has put us here for a purpose, to be the salt that preserves the good and the light that shows the world the true way. We have retreated from our responsibilities in the world and directed our attention to our personal affairs assuming that there's nothing we can do about it. And anyway, haven't we been told over and over again that all will be made well when Christ returns and straightens out the mess? But that isn't God's way. We can see from Scripture and from history that God deals with us as responsible creatures. We are blessed when we obey Him and cursed when we reject His commandments (Deut. 28-29). The blessings that sprang from the faith of our early American fathers will eventually return but only to the extent that that faithful obedience is restored.
Many Christians now see the need for change and are beginning to get involved in culturally oriented activities such as the Ron Paul campaign. In doing so, it is important that we not lose sight of the larger picture. The power centers in this country (and around the world as well) are dominated by non-Christians that don't have the Bible as an option. In the society they envision, the only instrument available to maintain order is the bayonet. This translates into statism and, if they have their way and drive Christianity underground, it will be statism with a vengeance. Freedom, even the vestiges of freedom we have left to us today, would become a thing of the past.
This is the face of the enemy we are up against. It is not a matter of getting a better government, of correcting some relatively minor, or even major, faults in the system. It's a question of what kind of world we, or our children, will live in. If we understand this and still do nothing, how will we answer God when He asks us why we allowed it to come about, on our shift as it were? Don't we need to do everything we can to fight against it? For Christians, the Ron Paul revolution is much more than a presidential campaign. It is a means of doing God's work and in which we can be the salt and light Christ commanded us to be. It's time for the salt to get out of the salt shaker and into the world.
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2008 Lou Poumakis, all rights reserved.
Published: Sunday, February 3, 2008
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"...and as an inevitable consequence look to the state as the head and focus of all rule and authority. They are statists because of their religious faith in statism and will not stop until their goal of an all-powerful, socialistic, totalitarian New World Order has been imposed on everyone."
Hmm, and Christians have never wanted to impose thier will on anyone?
"The power centers in this country (and around the world as well) are dominated by non-Christians that don't have the Bible as an option"
Thank the Flying Spaghetti Monster for this.
"In the 20th century, however, we have seen a major cultural shift, amounting to a reversal of this situation. Now it is primarily non-Christians that are in control of education, entertainment, the news media, the political process and virtually every power center in the country."
So I guess prohibition of Alcohol, Drugs, Pornography, the 7 dirty words, Prostitution, Abortion, Safe Sex Education, and Evolution were all brought on by Atheist Statists?
Christians are by thier very nature Conservative Statists. They are anti-personal freedom and make no appology for it.
"Self-government is a prerequisite for freedom and America was free because Americans believed in God and governed themselves."
Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and many other of Americas founding fathers were deists. They didn't favor a particular religion primarily because they didn't believe that any single one held the truth.
Today Christians are the biggest protesters of personal freedom. They believe that they are in the right and everyone else is wrong. They oppose gay rights, scientific theories like evolution, Embrionic Stem Cell research, and other scientific research that could save numerous lives. Christians do not all agree on this. Some of them go so far as to not allow thier children proper medical care. Funny these 7th day adventists and Christian "Scientists" will pray to an invisible man in the sky for a cure, but will reject proven science on multiple conspiracy theory allegations.
So Ron Paul who would have no problem with gays getting married, raising children, or existing without labeling them as "sinners". Will the Chrisitian Community accept the fact that he wants to abandon the Christian Iraqi population? What about his ending of the war on drugs? Will christians accept this? What about his stance on government regulating the sale of Alcohol? Ron Paul is not favored by these anti-personal freedom zombies.
For a Christian the Constitution can be seen as an attempt at bringing divine government, each individual governed by God, down to the level of human understanding and implementation.
The foundation of your essay's premise is rubbish and I know it to be false! I know many atheist and agnostics that are more ethical and righteous then most evangelicals. Thus mitigating your statement "Man's tendency toward sin is either held in check by his faith in God or by the force of government".
Further, no disrespect intended, I suspect that you knowledge of Christianity is on par with most Americans knowledge of the U.S. Constitution. Jesus is the new contract Jewish Laws are of the old contract and so two are the 10 commandments. That is just but one error which needs to be addressed within the Christan community. A lot of what is taught in church is of tradition not of Christ's teachings.
You state things as though they are fact such as: "Now it is primarily non-Christians that are in control of education, entertainment, the news media, the political process and virtually every power center in the country." Show me the numbers and the methodology in the collection of the numbers. Which reminds me of a story... While in the military my first sergeant was railing against the evils of communism (i.e. Soviet Socialism) and the whole time I knew he himself was an employee of the state, living in state housing, utilizing state health care; his whole speech was propaganda. I believe so too is your post above. Until I see such evidence that contradicts my stated belief I am of the opinion that your commits are theocratic propaganda.
There were so many silly historical errors on American history, that I failed to point out that Europe was founded on Pagan principles, considering that Christianity hadn't reached Europe until the 600's. Christianity is only 2008 years old, so I doubt that you could say that Europe was always Christian. The best part about Christianity? The fact that they allowed more Statism to exist than they do freedom. The Pope made Hitler's Birthday a Catholic holiday, and the Eastern Orthodox Church made it possible for the Czar to be on the same level as god, and therefore when Communism came to Russia, they didn't challenge it. In the US there are waaay to many infringements on freedom to be listed here. But here are some things that Protostant Christianity braught us:
1. The Mark of Cain theory to justify slavery.
2. The Ku Klux Klan and Jim Crow Laws.
3. Anti-Alcohol legislation.
4. Anti-Interracial marriage legislation.
5. Segregation.
6. Anti-Gay laws. (still to this day)
7. Laws regulating speach and the FCC (still to this day)
8. Anti Pornography laws (still to this day)
9 Anti Abortion laws (still to this day)
10. Anti science, anti safe sex education, and anti atheist education (All replaced by Intelligent Design, Abstinance only classes in public schools, and Christian Holidays still effecting school schedules.)
It is pretty obvious that some are judging Christianity by what they see in others that claim to be Christian. There is God's law and mans law. No true Christian wants to force his will on others. The contract is simply laid out for anyone to take it or leave it. As far as mans law we are obligated to obey it unless it violates Gods law.
Anti science? What a crock! Science comes from the Latin scientia, meaning knowledge. There are many examples both current and historical of people who are both scientists and Christian.
Evolution? You could not get an evolutionist to the polemic platform if you tried. An example is Dr. Carl Sagan who claimed that evolution was a fact and offered to debate the issue with any credible opponent. He made that statement on both the Johnny Carson show and in Time Magazine. Immediately, Dr. Thomas B. Warren accepted the challenge and Sagan convienently hid under his desk! Dr. Warren was certainly credible with the Ph.D. in Philosophy from Vanderbilt.
War on drugs? This Christian is adamantly opposed to the war on drugs. All that stupid government program does is to create a black market, produce violence, fill our prisons to overcapacity with non-violent users, increase taxes, grow government in the area of interdiction, make third world slobs richer than their own governments, siphon resources away from normal border patrol activities, and more. And, the war is unconstitutional as well. I play tennis with a supervisor in the Border Patrol. He has lost several friends to this stupid war and hates the drug laws with a passion. Before you get the wrong idea, I have never taken any drugs, prescription or otherwise, never had a beer, and never smoked a cigarette. I did not abstain from these things because there was some government bureaucrat looking over my shoulder, but because I revered my Creator and respected His creation.
Abortion? Well, we will never get together there as I believe scientifically that life begins at conception and that the Supreme Court should never have taken the case in the first place and in doing so simply removed the civil rights of the unborn. In my view, the woman has the right to choose not to get pregnant, but once pregnant there are two lives to consider. In the event the mothers life is at stake it then becomes a rescue effort. I leave the case of rape or incest to the conscience.
Segregation or interacial marriage? To the Christian there is only one race, the human race.
Mark of Cain? Another crock. Slavery is a human institution and it is going on today in many forms. Christianity will always displace slavery over time.
The true Christian is not for the State legislating morality. In Christianity the individual is the important element. And, he is a free moral agent able to decide for himself as to the course in life he chooses. Whether the broad way that leads to destruction or the strait (difficult) way that leads to life eternal.
BTW, Christ came here to pay the price of the contract that none of us could pay. He finished His work and ascended back to the Father. Why would anyone expect Him to come back again? If we are to take our government back it is up to us!
I am not an expert on Christian theology, let alone the specific theological differences of the various branches and denominations of Christianity. I believe there are Christians who endorse some statist policies. There are many who know that individual liberty is the guarantor of religious freedom. Many understand that a nation where the primacy of the individual is enshrined with the structure of a true constitutional government is not at odds with the tenants of Christianity.
While I am not what many would consider a practicing Christian, I have never had any objection to or problems with Christianity or practicing Christians. I have found that like all of society, many are honorable persons of good character. I am not willing to say they are more so than society in general as I reject generalizations of this nature.
I believe that many Christians are natural allies of those non-Christians who believe in constitutional government. A nation of laws and not men, where government power is limited and is instituted in order to establish and protect the liberty of the citizens should not be an anathema to persons in either category.
This is not to say that some Christians throughout history have not behaved in a way contrary to the aforementioned principles, just as non-Christians have done. I will judge Christians and non-Christians by the same standards of good character and honest and honorable behavior, and look to encourage such persons to work together for the good of the nation.
I have to disagree with this article as a whole. It bases its perspective on a version of Christianity that has no biblical foundation. These interpretations happen a lot in religion. A belief is bolstered by verses taken out of context. It happens. But, particularly your point that God will sort it out in the end as being a false premise is patently incorrect. It's unfortunate that a non-Christian such as myself understands that better than many Christians.
In Revelations the entire world turns against God, and God sorts it out. Either that happens because it is inevitable, or it happens as a part of God's will. Either way, humans cannot fight it, just accept it. To do otherwise is to appear to say that God's plan or his prophecy of the end of days, is faulty, that he is mistaken about what is coming and needs your help to change it. If you believe in the god of the Bible, you should believe that this is not the case. Jesus did not come to build a religion that would win the world for God. He said his kingdom was not of this earth, stop trying to make it one! It is clearly prophecied that such an attempt will fail, and that God will sort it out himself.
Christianity is about the souls of individuals, it is about the behavior of individuals. It is not about the behavior of countries, or society. The Bible instructs that Christians are to be in the world, but not of the world. Too much concern about the morality of worldly society indicates a state of being that is too concerned with being part of the world. Save souls, it is God's job to deal with the world.
Pretty good, but I have to disagree with your characterization of Revelation. It begins by stating that the Angel would show them things that will shortly come to pass. It ends by saying the time is at hand. If you transport the prophesies forward thousands of years you essentially accuse the Angel of lying. The entire work of Revelation was completed in the world changing events of the first century.
Indeed, Christ did say that His kingdom was not of this world, but He also said that the kingdom was in our midst. So, I think we can agree that the kingdom is not the good ole USA.
I work in both realms. In one to influence souls. In the other to try to work to improve the best government among men.
DX10, I was raised, as were many Christians, with the view of Revelations as a future prophecy. I'm assuming with a 95% certainty, that the author here would have the same assumption. Some events indicated cannot be said to have taken place until recently or not at all. The restoration of Isreal, for one thing, did not occur in the first century, indeed the opposite occured. If one supposes an eternal god, one supposes that 'shortly' may be a little longer to him than our interpretation, hence no lying occurs. It is safe to say that it did not come to pass in that generation as Jesus said before he ascended, but he also said he himself did not know the hour. Some of the other prophecies, such as bloody rivers, brimstone showers, and Armegedon, not to mention a 1/3 drop in the population, to the best of my knowledge did not occur in the first century. Unless they were metaphors.
At any rate, the full discussion of theology is probably for another website. I should probably get to work writing my thoughts on the actual religious foundations of our country, that should help clarify some of my perspective on that.
Posted By: Scott from Oregon
Date: 2008-02-04 01:14:01
THe US was never a "Christian" nation.
The greatest of our founders were deists (which was a far cry from believing in the silliness found in the bible).
Science and religion do not overlap.
Science begins where religion fails AND ENDS.
I see zero difference in the irrationality of Christian thought with that of Islam or Judaism. All of y'all are nuts and without either logic or rationality. Superstition is what you practice. Scary and not benign...
The world is doomed to war as long as humans continue to believe in fairy tales and believe without evidence...
My head now hurts, thinking about how many people I just offended in America alone...
As a Christian, I strongly support Ron Paul and all that he is trying to get done for our country and for the American people as invididuals. We are not here to pit Christians against non-Christians, blacks against whites, democrats against republicans, rich against poor etc.... but to all come together and treat each other as we would like to be treated-- to demand that our Government respect our rights as given us in the Constitution.
I don't care if you're old or young, if you have long hair or short, if you're old, young, or middle-aged, if you like waltz music or hip-hop, are veg or a meat-eater... but I do care if you're willing to stand up and be a good American. That's all. America, at it's greatest, was a beautiful conglomoration of individuals with a common dream and common goal.
Let church matters be dealt with in the churches and state matters be dealt with in the states.
Lou said: "Let church matters be dealt with in the churches and state matters be dealt with in the states."
Ecellent! No more Intelligent Design or Abstinance Only classes in Public Schools, no more one nation "under god" in the pledge, no more "in God we trust" on our money and federal buildings, and no more "faith based initiatives".
No more laws based off of the preechings from the pulpit. Get rid of the FCC let us say F()ck, Sh!t, C()nt, C()ck, and T!ts on television and radio, let sex and nudity on TV be legal and uncencored. No more family based programs mandated by government. No more supporting Israel because an invisible man in the sky will favor us, but because Israel is a democracy. No more laws preventing homosexuals, swingers, nudists, and polygamists from doing what they consent to do. No more organizations trying to make more restrictive laws against legal substances. No more MADD, PETA, or SPCA
You sound like an anarchist. Do you think we should have any laws at all? How about murder or rape or theft? Should these be precluded by law and, if so, where would you go for a philosophical basis for law? Christians go to the Bible, the word of the living God that created all things. You can only go to man and therefore cannot have any absolutes. Law is whatever the most powerful people say it is and it changes whenever they desire. Look out, if you're not in favor with the in group, you may be outlawed.
I didn't say no laws at all, just quit making laws against victimless crime. Crimes like illegal drugs, anti nudist laws, anti swinger laws, anti gay laws, anti porn laws, laws limiting free speach, and laws that force you to recognize an invisible man in the sky known as "god".
The Bible was written by man and therefore can have absolutes, which of course I immagine that you think the Bible has no contradictions. Where in the Bible does it limit the 7 deadly words of the English language? Did Jesus ever say "the F word"? No, because Jesus didn't speak English. (Oh Flying Spaghetti Monster) Did Jesus ever say that you wern't allowed to drink alcohol before you turned 21? Uh, no.
One thing that upsets me is that so many people forget that many of the specific issues of what may be legally restricted in our society should be left up to the states and municipalities, within the bounds of the Constitution of course. This means that yes; there should be much fewer restrictions on personal behavior as it is not the concern of any government federal or local. On the other hand, people who wish to live in a community together and decide the acceptable moral behavior for that community should be allowed to do so as long as no person is compelled to live within that community against their will.
I believe the Constitution has enough latitude built in to allow disparate views and standards to live peacefully together within the same nation as long as they respect the rights of the other.
I do not have all the answers, nor am I a legal expert, but I do remember something I was taught when I was very young, and it has served me well. If you just worry about yourself, you have more than enough to worry about.
Scott, etal. Let's see; the KJV Bible contains 66 books of history, poetry, prophecy, psalms, and letters. It was recorded by over 42 writers spanning a period of some 1600 years and closed about 2000 years ago. As a man made document you should be able to find at least 10-thousand scientific errors in it. Want to try?
Let's set up a strong disjunction. Either good men or bad men wrote the Bible. Well the profligate did not write it because it condemns him, the liar or thief or aldulterer or any of the like did not write it because it also condemns them. I think that we can safely say that those kind of people did not write the Bible. So, did good men write it? Well the Bible claims to be the inspired word of God. So if good men wrote it, they would be lying and not be good men. Hmmm. Wonder Who that leaves?
And if you think your head hurts now, I have a reading list for you.
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2008 Lou Poumakis, all rights reserved.