Monday, June 18, 2018
Truth
Churchill: "Truth is very valuable. It is so valuable often times it is protected by a bodyguard of lies."
Sunday, March 13, 2016
Cyrus and Trump
1. Deciding to vote or not vote for Trump has a lot to do with the perception of how bad things are now. My opinion is that the stakes are very high, i.e., things have gotten very bad in this country. Under liberal leadership, religious liberties are at stake, abortion has been promoted, sale of baby parts is accepted, freedom of speech is under attack, marriage is redefined (attempted), God is invoked to bless abortion, we are losing jobs to other countries, and we are perceived as weak by other nations.
2. I understand that many people including Christians are concerned and shocked with Trump's language and other things. Personally I am much more outraged with the smooth talking of our current leaders both democrats and republicans.
Example: Obama is good speaker. He is very polished, convincing, and smooth. But what he actually says when you listen carefully, is very troubling. Here are examples: at the National Prayer Breakfast he "admonished" Christians for supposed past "sins". That is a very arrogant thing for someone like him to say. Is he at a higher moral ground? Likewise, during a Planned Parenthood conference last year he invoked God's blessing over Planned Parenthood. With this invocation of God's blessing he, Obama basically was saying that God should bless something that we all know very clearly that God doesn't bless. That is taking the name of God in vain at one of its highest levels.
Let's contrast Obama's invocation of God to bless PP with Trump's comment that PP does a lot of good things, except abortion. Trump is not wrong - it is possible that PP does some good things.
Abortion is not one of them. But Trump is not elevating himself to a divine moral level by saying PP does some good things.
Obama was what he is now from the very beginning. Way before he was elected he was already promoting abortion, and held very liberal views. He has never downplayed it any of his extreme views. This is a very much more aggressive promotion of a liberal ideology trying to impose over everybody else. I don't want more of Obama which is what we will get with Hillary. Smooth talking is deceiving. Many wore very enamored by his elitist talk for many years.
Establishment Republicans are almost as much to blame as liberals but for different reasons. They have become complacent. They accept the status quo that is being pushed and promoted by liberal ideologues as "fait accompli" , i.e., "well what can we do about".
That is what I mean when I say the stakes are high. On the liberal side, the elites are trying to push their ideology on everybody, who you do business with, what bathrooms you use (see North Carolina recent laws about bathrooms), what words you use to not offend, the merits of abortion, gay marriage, etc, etc. On the other side, Establishment Republicans are weak and do nothing to oppose these ideological forces.
If one more liberal justice is nominated we will have liberal ideology running through the veins and heartbeat of the nation for generations to come.
3. So, why do I support Trump? He is like the bull in the china closet. And that is precisely what we need now. The country does not need the china relics standing in their elitist positions in Washington or at Universities polishing their politically correct status quo, while the country loses billions to China and Mexico, our borders are porous, US companies leave their profits overseas, we lose jobs, the middle class struggles, and moral values are corroded.
4. I support Trump on pragmatic terms. As you said, we need to wake to the fact that America is not a Christian country. I would love to be comfortable voting for Cruz or Rubio because both have very good strong values, especially Cruz. However our responsibility is not to elect a Sunday School teacher, a theologian, or a spiritual guru. Our responsibility is to elect a leader who is most likely to advance conditions for the flourishing of the nation's foundational values and to improve economical conditions.
The reality is different from just 15-20 years ago. This is a post-Christian nation. Long gone are the days of leaders like Ronald Reagan.
Trump deals with his opponents on their terms. He does not smooth talk anybody but he tells it as it is. Trump's crude words and disrespect is a at-your-face version of the much more insidious deceiving smooth talk of the elites.
A book that gives specific examples of how the left functions is called "The Silencing: How the Left is Killing Free Speech" by Kirsten Powers. Powers is a liberal who is appalled by how liberal elites try to silence other people whose views they oppose.
Of all the candidates Trump is the one with enough strength to oppose the elites. He is independent, he is not getting piles of money from any special interest group.
If he is elected I am sure there will be many things he may do that we would not agree with. But he is very unlikely try to impose liberal ideology on everyone. He is way more likely to establish conditions for freedom of religion and speech to flourish than is Hillary.
5. I understand that many Christians are opposed to Trump and I understand why. But what I don't understand is that many who are now appalled by Trump's antics, were completely silent when the videos of Planned Parenthood selling baby parts came out, or when the Supreme Court voted for gay marriage, or even when Obama invoked God over PP. In my view these are much more serious issues to which conservative Christian should react with passion.
6. Martin Luther is known to have used foul language when attacking opponents of the Gospel. I don't mean to put Luther at any comparative level with Trump. But it is helpful to remember this fact. Rightly or wrongly, Luther felt the ferocity of the devil's schemes should be attacked with the same level of ferocity and the use of foul language was one way to do it. Calvin used harsh language not as crude as Luther, but harsh nevertheless. Apparently there was much harsh language exchanged between Calvin and Servetus throughout the Servetus issue.
7. Finally, I see a parallel between Trump and Cyrus, the Great, of Persia in about 550 B.C. Cyrus was a brilliant military leader who expanded the Persian Empire to establish the largest Empire ever. He defeated the Babylonians by diverting the Euphrates and marching his troops into the city through the river bed. He is the only pagan king to be specifically called an anointed of God in the Bible.The Jews were captives in Babylon where they were systematically mistreated. After Cyrus captured Babylon he allowed the Jews to return to Judea. So in Ezra and Nehemiah we see the return of the Jews to Judea under the protection of Cyrus edict.
Cyrus was pagan king. He didn't allow the Jews to return to their land and rebuild the temple out of kindness. He did that with other peoples too. It was a geopolitical strategy. Nevertheless he was used by God to protect the freedom of God's people to rebuild the temple and worship. He did not, however turn to God himself as he should have (see prophecy about him in Isaiah 44).
Trump's language may not consistent with what you would expect of a Christian. His attitude appears to not give evidence of him being a Christian, other than a nominal Christian. But he may be the best leader for Christians because he is likely to protect Christian values rather than attack them. He has enough credibility that we can have reasonable confidence that he can negotiate better deals with China, Mexico, Iran. He is more likely to bring corporate money back to the US. He is more likely to create jobs because he already has created many jobs. And, he is more likely to not take the status quo for granted.
One way to better understand him is to read his book "The Art of the Deal". One of his strengths is his ability to negotiate when the stakes are high. That is a skill the country needs. If anyone thinks the Iran deal, Obamacare, disrespect for Israel, China trade deficit, virtual inactivity towards ISIS, job flight, US corporations paying taxes to other countries, are good things, then they probably should not vote for Trump. I think he has the strength to tackle those things in way that would be good for everybody in the country.
In the past we have had strong leaders who had many personal flaws when seen from a Christian perspective: Doug MacArthur, George Patton (foul language), and Monty were prima donnas who won us a war. Eisenhower had a mistress but hardly anyone judges him for that. Churchill was aggressive, decisive, unflinching. Reagan, the divorcee and mediocre actor was considered a political light weight before he became President. Harry Truman never finished college, had a failed business, and county judge before becoming a senator.
My point: of the people right now who could become president, who, if elected, would be most likely to create conditions for the country to flourish and for religious liberties to be protected? I don't think it's Hillary.
Friday, July 31, 2015
Thursday, July 30, 2015
How Silent is Silence?
Dietrich Bonhoefer quotes "To be silent in the face of evil is evil itself". If that is true, why is it true?
Throughout history great evils have been perpetrated against vast amounts of people. Often times a few have spoken out against widespread social ills. Speaking out against evil can be dangerous. Bonhoefer is the classic example but hardly the only one. Dr. Martin Luther King is another example of the danger of speaking against a widespread ingrained social evil. William Wilberforce was not killed for speaking out against the evil of the slave trade but he suffered vicious opposition throughout his career. Often time evil is blanketed over by economic and political forces that attempt to minimize the seriousness of the injustices with myriad stratagems, euphemisms, and counter-attacks. The present day euphemisms are words such as: "human tissue" to designate baby body parts, "women's health services" to designate abortion, "reimbursement of cost" to designate fees charged for body parts, and "appearance of selling" to designate selling for profit.
The evil of abortion in this country has claimed close to sixty million unborn babies since Roe v. Wade. Over this period, the death of unborn babies has been blanketed over under the pretext of health care for women with disregard to countless accounts of botched abortions and unsanitary conditions at abortions clinics. As it turns out the reality of what takes place at abortion clinics is much worse than previously thought. Not only the rights of the unborn are denied and unprotected, but their organs are harvested, parted out, and sold for profit, in a barbaric practice to which the closest historical parallel we have, are the atrocities of the Nazi regime.
Such injustices must be stopped. The way to stop them is to speak out against those who commit, protect, and support such inhumane practices. It is not unreasonable to think that if Dietrich Bonhoefer, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and William Wilberforce (as well as Mother Theresa and others) were here today they would fight for justice for the unborn.
We must speak out demanding legislative action and justice. No unborn human being speaks. Our compassion must have reality under its feet, treading for justice, and speaking a real language of love that seeks protection of life not of personal preferences. Silence often resonates loudly. In the face of such great evil, silence can mean acceptance, reluctance, denial, or defiance. No decent and truthful line of reasoning can come up with an excuse for what the abortion industry and its supporters are doing to this country. Either we speak out against these practices or we accept them. Let not your silence fall on the wrong side of compassion.
Bold Conservative Values
A return to conservative values, respect for the individual, protection of life, preservation of religious freedom, may not happen any time soon but even if it does it will not be the same.
Saturday, July 25, 2015
From Lerner to Nucatola, The Implosion of Liberalism Amidst Its "Success."
In recent years the United States of America has experienced
the most dramatic cultural revolution since President Reagan reined in the
free-for-all ever bloating big government, stood up to the soviet empire, and
reestablished national pride. The current revolution started in 2012 and is now
in over-drive but it is moving in the opposite direction.
Reagan's revolution
sought small government, strong international policies, and the establishment
of traditional values. The current revolution is moving the country in the
direction of big government, more spending, more dependency upon the state, and
more state intrusion into private affairs, and weaker international stature. Present
leaders seek the advancement and promotion of values that are contrary to the
time honored and proven fundamental values of protection of life, marriage, and
liberty. This is perhaps the largest expansion of liberalism that the Nation
has seen in such a short period of time. It has been ostentatiously framed
under the idea of evolvement and progress, and...it is failing from the inside.
Lois Lerner, the IRS bureaucrat at the Cincinnati office
under whose supervision, conservative non-profits were particularized and
targeted with audits and unreasonable demands, has refused to answer
Congressional inquiries. The case lingers in courts costing taxpayers
substantial sums of money. Despite the absurdity of such wanton
heavy-handedness by the state, Lerner's episode may have elicited, at the time
it come out, a yawn and shrug from the White House. It now hangs in the back
closet of the Nations conscience.
Lerner and IRS's ethical escapades were nothing compared to
present times. The times, they are a changing indeed, as points of reference
for ethical behavior are shifting. From Lerner to Benghazi and beyond, the list
of absurdities continues to grow: the expansion of ISIS, failed international
policies, misleading Health Care promises, curbs on religious freedom, a
disastrously bad nuclear agreement with Iran, and the re-definition of marriage.
The recent exposure of the practice of harvesting and sale of baby body parts
by the Nation's biggest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, a company that
enjoys full support of the White House, is just the latest in a string of
scandals and failures that have elicited shock and disbelief from some and
silence and denial from others.
Liberalism has successfully established itself in the psyche
of part of the Nation through legislative heavy-handedness. In practical and
functional terms though, it appears to be in full implosion mode. The liberal
policies implemented in the last few years are failing because they were not
well done and they lack ethical underpinnings. The disastrous failure of
Obamacare launch is just an obvious example of a government unable to muster
knowledgeable people to build something as simple as website. Incompetency,
together with poor ethical standards is stamped across all the major liberal
policies of recent years so magnanimously touted by liberal luminaries.
But why should we say that liberalism is successful? It is
successful because it has indeed gained a huge portion of ground in the legal
and political arenas with high visibility victories (health care, same sex
marriage, the promotion of abortion, Iran Nuclear deal, and others) which are
here to stay. The irony is that liberals do not seem to mind the catastrophic
failures even when the evidence stares them in the face. The barbaric practice
of selling baby organs and the casual manner in which a top director discusses
the practice while chomping on salad and drinking wine, did apparently little
to stir up indignation by a ever so silent (on this subject) White House leadership.
For those who respect the rule of law, high ethical
standards, small government, and accountability to the American people, the social
and political future does not look bright. A return to conservative values,
respect for the individual, protection of life, preservation of religious
freedom, will most likely not happen any time soon. If it does happen it will
never be the same as before. Even if conservative leaders are elected, many of
the liberal changes are well established both legally and culturally.
The continuation of practical and functional implosion of
liberal policies however, seems inevitable. Take the most recent case of sale
of baby body parts as an example. All the smooth talking and politicking cannot
sustain such barbarism over a long period of time. That does not necessarily mean
abortion is going to become illegal any time soon. Unfortunately and by all
accounts, the legality of abortion is not under threat yet. But in practical
terms, the disclosure of barbarism by the abortion industry will be difficult to
justify on ethical grounds. Anything pro-choice will be automatically
associated with sale of baby organs.
What is shaping up is a new American order (some may prefer
to think in terms of a new American disorder) characterized by legally
sanctioned dysfunctionalities. Morally failed movements such us the abortion
culture, same-sex marriage, and restrictions of religious freedoms, will
continue to fly large banners and enjoy the support of high profile individuals
and organizations. On the inside though, and in functional terms neither one of
these movements can sustain coherent continuity for the long haul because they lack
a natural basis of support.
The new cultural order will be something different from
classical liberalism and different from classical conservatism. The legality of
institutionalized murder of the unborn, the redefinition of marriage, and the
threats against individual freedoms will stay around for a while. They have
changed and continue to change the foundations of common and time proven social
values. Hopefully, as the inevitable functional failures of these practices and
movements continue to surface, many will ponder their moral legitimacy.
God is not mocked.
"Not even God could sink this ship." Titanic crewman to Mrs. Albert Caldwell and her husband prior to boarding. April, 1912
"Thank you Planned Parenthood. God bless you". Barack Obama speaking at Planned Parenthood conference, April, 2013.
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. Gal 6:7
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Wednesday, July 22, 2015
From Lerner to Nucatola, The Implosion of Liberalism Amidst Its Success
The current revolution is moving the country in the direction of big government, more spending, more dependency upon the state, and more state intrusion into private affairs
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Thursday, December 05, 2013
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