Obama’s Secular Faith

June 24,2008 – Secular Faith – isn’t that oxymoron? Well, it really is, but that hasn’t stopped Barack Obama and many other politicians from trying to create it. Obama’s marxist underpinning have given him the impetus to try to mix his secular progressive view of government with his quasi-religious background in an effort to use America’s Christian heritage against itself, and get it to overturn it’s Judeo-Christian morals. Karl Marx, Vladamir Lenin, Fidel Castro and all their ilk have for years taught that religion is the opiate of the people. Now Barack is doping the American public to get them to vote for him. Even after two years have past, and he has had to disown his own pastor and church of twenty years, Obama is still defending statements that he made in a speech to the Call to Renewal’s 2006 conference. Recently Dr. James Dobson dedicated a large portion of his daily radio broadcast to rebut Obama’s speech because Barack actually used Dr. Dobson’s name in his address, and it appears that only recently did the Christian psychologist find out about the reference. In any case, the substance of the debate is plenty current, given the fact that faith is to play a major role in this years election, as it has in many recent ones.

Science Teacher Gets Burned

This week a science teacher from Mt. Vernon, Ohio, got burned by the school board. Sure, he’s getting sacked because he mistreated a student. But, if you isolate the events leading up to this firing, and only look at the experiment that lead to the lawsuit, you can clearly see grounds for a reprimand, not wholesale dismisal. Let’s face it, many teachers have done much more horrible things to students in the past and gotten away with it [doesn't make it right]. But, the fact is, nobody has stated whether the kid willingly submitted to have the experiment done to him. Nobody has asked if the other kids had adverse affects. Just a few weeks ago, I met a girl who, when she scratches her arms, the simple scratches turn into tremendous welts.

Faith Healing

On Tuesday of this week, 16 yr. old Neil Beagley died in his Oregon home of complications from congenital urinary tract infections. He and his parents refused simple medical treatment that could easily have saved his life. The basis for the parent’s decision is the belief that accepting medical treatment is a sign of a lack of faith in God. This abusive teaching has been around for many centuries, and will definitely not be eradicated by the press reaction over this case. Hopefully, however, it may serve to wake a small number from their error-induced stupor.

On one hand, it IS true, the prayer of faith will save the sick.

Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. (James 5:14-15)

But, the context of this verse is a condition provoked by chastisement for sin.

There are other passages in the Bible, the basis for true faith, that teach that medical treatment is a legitimate recourse for a child of God.

Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities. (1Ti 5:23)

Paul, an apostle of faith, did not tell Timothy, a minister of faith, to just pray for healing. He tells him to take medically recommendable steps to treat himself.

What a shame to lose this precious life over doctrinal error. I doubt this pseudo-Christian group approves of abortion. So why did they abort this young man from their congregation? They will have to answer God for that.

God the Father

Father’s Day is a good time to ask, “Who’s your father?” Viviana Sanchez, a young lady of 21 years, on this Father’s Day asked herself that very question. She had been separated from her father when she was still in the womb, and her mother didn’t want her to know who her father was. But, despite her mom’s efforts, an adult has the right to look into these things, thankfully. With the help of the police Viviana was able to locate her father and invite him to meet her. He agreed and the meeting was quickly arranged. Amid tears of joy both embraced, and the 21-yr.-old empty spots in their hearts were filled. Hopefully, they will not be separated long again, and will be able to keep in touch regularly. That will be the easy part, after a hard and long soul-separation.

My question then for us this Father’s Day is, “Do you know who YOUR father is?” I’m not referring to your physical father. I think the vast majority reading this would know that. I’m rather speaking of your spiritual father. Jesus warned us not to call any man father. “And call no [man] your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.” (Matthew 23:9) What could he possibly have meant by that? Is Jesus against Father’s Day? I can assure you, that is not the point of this verse. It’s apparent that what Jesus was talking about was how we refer to our spiritual leaders. We should not consider an earthly person responsible for our spiritual birth into spiritual things life eternal life, baptism, Bible knowledge, etc. [Incidentally, I am not sure how certain religions get around this verse and calls their spiritual leaders fathers anyway, in spite of this clear statement.]

Well, there must be a good reason for this. What might it be? I’m glad you asked! The Bible has the answer. The reason is God Himself wants to be our spiritual Father.

Despite the common perception among religious people, according to the Bible we are not all children of God by creation. Jesus looked at the pharisees one day and bluntly told them, “Ye are of your father, the devil” (John 8:44). “Well,” someone might say, “I knew that. Of course the pharisees were of the devil; they were evil men; they crucified him later. But, me, I’m not that bad.” Well, consider then Jesus’ challenge to us in Matthew 5:20, “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Whoa! You mean the pharisees were “good” men? Yep, in the eyes of the people they were impeccable. Religiously speaking they had all their “t’s” crossed and “i’s” dotted just right. Their problem was, they would not receive Jesus as their Savior, and less their Lord. That was the only thing standing between them and having God as their Father. Instead, they had the devil as their father.

What then is standing between YOU and having God as your Father? It’s simple, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12). All you need do it receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and you will be MADE a child of God. Verse thirteen explains that the only way for this to happen is by the power of God. Verse twelve explains that it is you choice. Your choice will release the power of God in your situation, and God will become your Father. The sins that have separated you from Him will be forgiven and erased. The enmity (ill-will) will be placated, and you will have the perfect Father that your heart seeks.

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2Corinthians 6:17-18 )

Diligent Search

“Receiving the end of your faith, [even] the salvation of [your] souls. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace [that should come] unto you:” (1Pe 1:9-10)
24 yrs. ago this September my heart made a diligent search for salvation while holed up in my bedroom after a very long night that included a visit to a local hospital. At the end of my rope and that the end of my self-filled efforts to be a good person, my heart found my soul’s love — the Lord Jesus Christ. There is nothing like a near-death experience to create a strong desire that produces a very diligent search regarding the question, “Where would I have gone, if I had died?” And, there is nothing like the Bible to answer that question. Jesus himself said, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you [of] heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, [even] the Son of man which is in heaven.” (Joh 3:11-13) He is the only qualified individual to tell us what happens after death, because he designed death and then experienced it for us to save us from the power of it. Hallelujah! So, when I searched diligently, He gave me the answer, and I became a child of God. What a day! I hope those who read this might make the same search and find him, First of All.

After that, there are a few “little issues” that concern me from time to time. Given I am a missionary, the issues often have to do with mission work, the Bible, spirituality and the like. However, from every once in a blue moon, I might toss out a political comment or two.

So, let’s see how it goes. This is just cyber-paper that can get crumpled and tossed, if it’s a flop. So, here goes…

Timely Times

It’s high time I let my thoughts be known! Even though for 22 yrs. I have been making them known from different pulpits and coffeeshops in nine different countries. So it’s time to make time to have time to write a few things. Perhaps it won’t make me rich and famous, but maybe, just maybe it will be a help to someone somewhere and glorify God in the process. We would be tickled.