Social Justice?

We hear this term a lot these days. On the surface it sounds like it must be a good thing. After all, when we pledge allegiance to our nation's flag, we end with, "one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

"Justice" implies fair, equal treatment under law. God is perfectly just. Because He is omniscient, all-knowing, He can make perfect judgments. He is Lawgiver and Judge.

We imperfect humans often make imperfect judgments, even when we are trying our best to follow the perfect law that God has given us.

But when humans pervert true justice and bend it to further their greed for money and power, they make a mockery of God's justice.

So it is with "social" justice. Although we may think that term has to do with helping folks down on their luck, those currently in power see the term far differently. They use it as an excuse to take from those who produce and give to those who will not help themselves--i.e., redistribution of wealth, otherwise known as Marxism or communism.

Stealing from those who work hard to take care of their own families and giving that money to ungrateful recipients helps no one. Workers should be encouraged to do their best by allowing them to keep the fruits of their labors; shirkers should be treated with "tough love" so that they might grow in character and learn to earn their own way. ("If any will not work, neither let him eat." II Thessalonians 3:10)

True justice would send those who push for "social" justice to prison for thievery as well as aiding and abetting the destruction of our society's moral fiber.

Tea Party Time!

April 15th has long had significance as "tax day," but beginning with last year's T.E.A. parties ("Taxed Enough Already"), it now has a new incarnation.

In nearly every town and city across America average, hard-working citizens like you and me will exercise our Constitutional rights enumerated in the First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

Some may scoff or cynically say, "What does a rally accomplish?" I can tell you from personal experience that it accomplishes much. The most important reason to attend is to be encouraged that YOU ARE NOT ALONE! The concern and patriotism of so many of your friends and neighbors, all gathered in one place as you pray to Almighty God, pledge allegiance to the Flag, sing the National Anthem, and listen to others put into words what you are feeling in your heart is priceless. You will be lifted up and motivated to continue to educate yourself and be involved in the political process.

Remember, the current crop of Alinsky disciples wants to make you feel alone and hopeless, full of despair. That's part of their tactics: "Isolate the target. Freeze it. Polarize it. And then destroy it."

If we stand together, arm in arm, not only in our local communities, but state by state across this land, we can become a human tsunami to wash away the rotten taint of hedonism and Marxism that has invaded and pervaded our centuries-old values and institutions.

"If one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken." Ecclesiastes 4:12

Corrupting the Heart

"Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life." Proverbs 4:23

Just as our physical heart is vital to sustaining our life, our spiritual heart is vital to our morality, our moral compass, if you will. Our heart can be trained, along with our conscience, to seek God's ways. Conversely, if we neglect our heart or seek baser ways, it will quickly be corrupted.

Ecclesiastes 7:7 says, "A bribe corrupts the heart." Bribery is defined as a "Crime of giving a benefit (e.g., money) in order to influence the judgment or conduct of a person in a position of trust (e.g., an official or witness). Accepting a bribe also constitutes a crime."

How does giving or accepting a bribe corrupt one's heart? By shifting the heart's allegiance from the Creator to a created thing, by corroding the godly principle of justice with covetousness, by leaving the path of light and truth and entering the shadowy realm of darkness and sin.

It's no accident that Article II, Section IV of the Constitution states, "The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors." If elected officials engage in bribery, there is no respect for the rule of law. Our Republic cannot survive such corruption. It must be rooted out.

"But there will be no justice, there will be no government of the people, by the people, and for the people, as long as the government and its officials permit bribery in any form." John Jay Hooker

Getting out of the comfort zone

Let's face it: we all have a comfort zone. It's not easy pushing beyond that self-imposed boundary. But often it's necessary to do more than we feel comfortable doing; sometimes it's absolutely vital.

When God called Moses out of the burning bush to lead His people out of slavery in Egypt, Moses didn't jump right up and say, "Of course I will!" He was comfortable as he was. He even gave excuses why he couldn't do God's will. But God didn't relent and Moses eventually obeyed. He learned to trust God and grew mightily in faith as a result.

When God called Gideon to deliver Israel from the oppression of the Midianites, he must have thought God had made a mistake, for he kept asking God for a sign, for proof that he was hearing God correctly. But once he trusted God and did what He said, Gideon's army of only 300 defeated an enemy that was too numerous to count (with God's help, of course).

Many of our country's founders were initially reluctant to declare independence from England. But the time came that they had to leave their comfort zones when liberty was threatened as the growing tyranny of the British increased beyond their ability to bear. Had they not been willing to "pledge their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor," the United States of America would have been stillborn and the world would be a very different place.

Let's resist the temptation to remain in our comfort zones. If we step out in faith, we may be amazed at the spiritual growth and moral courage we will find, even during (and probably because of) this dark time in our nation's history.

The Cost of Ignorance

It has been said that "ignorance is bliss." There sure are a lot of blissfully ignorant people in this country.

Sometimes I envy them. Often I wish I didn't know what I know.

But because I choose to be a truthseeker, I turn over many rocks that expose ugly crawly things living in dark places.

Who is behind all the evil in the world? Satan, of course. He is real, and even though he has already been defeated by the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ, his mission is to take down as many of us as he can to join him in eternal torment. (Hell, BTW, was prepared for the devil and his angels--Matthew 25:41.)

Why is ignorance a bad thing? If we're "ignorant of Satan's devices" he will get an advantage over us (II Corinthians 2:11). A person does not sleep alone outside in the area where a man-eating lion has been known to hunt. A prudent person is watchful, on guard. And that takes knowledge. "Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour." I Peter 5:8

Some people serve Satan willingly; others serve him and don't even know it. We must judge each person's words and actions by the yardstick of truth and not let smooth words deceive us: "Satan changes himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness...." II Corinthians 11:14-15

Jesus said, "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." Matthew 10:16

We can't remain ignorant and be wise to the way of the devouring wolf or lion.

"In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33

True Courage

If you haven't read the actual account of David and Goliath in a while, look in I Samuel 17. It's an amazing true story: The Philistine army had God's people cowed at the presence of this giant (9'9") who defied them. Not one man in Israel's camp had the fortitude to stand up to him.

But the teenage shepherd David, youngest of eight sons, brought food to his brothers who were in the army and heard the giant's challenge. He was amazed at the fear displayed by God's people and wanted to answer Goliath. He told King Saul, "The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of the Philistine."

He refused Saul's armor and weapons and chose his shepherd's staff, sling, and five smooth stones.

When Goliath saw David coming, he made fun of and cursed him. But David, full of faith, replied, "I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day will the LORD deliver you into my hand…that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear, for the battle is the LORD's, and He will give you into our hands."

It didn't take five stones; it only took one to dispatch the giant. Afterwards, the Israelite army had courage to defeat the Philistine army. Courage is contagious!

What need we fear as long as we have true faith in the LORD? No matter how big the evil giant, the LORD is far, far greater. Let's enCOURAGE one another to greater faith and fortitude.

Resurrecting this blog

After months of wondering if adding my words to the din was worth the effort (as well as spending many, many hours sewing Revolutionary War costumes for George & Martha Washington and the Young Patriots Fife & Drum Corps) I've decided that I need to keep writing, even if I'm the only one who reads it.

The present course of our nation's federal government often brings me to the brink of despair. In the last months I keep reading and reminding myself of these verses:

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in the LORD forever, for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength." Isaiah 26:3-4

I KNOW that God has a purpose for everything. He doesn't send evil to anyone, but He sometimes allows evil to happen in order to chastise His children, to help us see that we have strayed from His noble purposes.

I have to trust Him with my whole heart and remember that He is bigger than any evil man can devise. Just as Peter was able to walk on water as long as he focused on Jesus (Matthew 14:29), we can accomplish the seemingly impossible as long as we fix our eyes on "the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2)

I'm going to work on growing my faith and trust in the LORD. How about you?