I just read an excellent article on the Newsweek website by Jon Meacham. It’s long but it is worth your time. You can check it out at http://www.newsweek.com/id/192583/page/1 . There’s not a lot I disagree with in this article. I hope you’ll read it, consider it, and post some comments on my Blog. It should create some good dialogue. Blessings.
Archive for the ‘Politics’ Category
“The World Was Not Worthy”
March 31, 2009I just read Hebrews 11 in the New Testament for the umpteenth time. It is all about people who live by faith and talks about the radical, committed lives that many of the great biblical heroes lived. The chapter “Who Really Lives That Way?” in Francis Chan’s book Crazy Love reminds me of Hebrews 11.
Hebrews 11:37-38 says, “They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—of whom the world was not worthy…,” speaking of those who live(d) radical lives in God’s honor.
And so here I am in the comfort of Starbucks, drinking a $3 Venti Caffe Americano, wearing a warm wool blazer on a cold, spring day, wondering if I’m trying to be too much like “the world.” Wondering if me and “the world” deserve each other, knowing the destiny of “the world”—and that does not strike me in a positive way.
I want God to look at me and say “The world was not worthy of him,” but I think that will only happen when I stop (really stop) serving myself and start serving God by helping people—especially the spiritually lost and the economically challenged. Ultimately and unfortunately, I don’t know what that should look like but I’m convinced that God will show me (and likely change me).
What do you think?
Only One Constant
March 13, 2009This week I talked to a gentleman named Gustavo who asked me if I thought that America had seen its greater days come and go. He believes the present economic collapse crisis is indicative of the coming collapse of American Culture/Capitalism/Democracy/Freedom.
Today I was listening to talk radio and commentator Michael Medved was interviewing an author who argued just the opposite. He believes that the past 100 years has just been a precursor to the greater influence America will wield in the 21st century (A.D.).
And the “A.D.” strikes me because we are, in fact, living “in the year(s) of our Lord.” And to be honest, I don’t know what the future holds for our culture but I do know that “the grass whithers and the flowers fall but the Word of the Lord stands forever.” Whether American influence and supremacy rises or falls, the supremacy of Jesus Christ will still be a perpetual Light in our dark world.
My prayer is simply to teach my children and my church to put their hope in God alone while shining the light of Christ. Meanwhile I want to help them learn to faithfully navigate whatever culture we live in. And in the process I myself don’t want to be disqualified for the prize.
Rick Warren and Barak Obama
December 18, 2008I just want to give a quick nod to Barak Obama for choosing Rick Warren to pray at his inaugural ceremonies. I’ve always said that I struggle with Obama’s politics, but my great hope for him is that he can bring some semblance of unity to our very divided country. I think choosing Warren is a good start.
Fox News did a story on the outrage by the very intolerant/extreme homosexual response to the selection. You can check it out at http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2008/12/18/obamas-rick-warren-inauguration-pick-sparks-gay-fury/.
Merry Christmas Greetings:
December 16, 2008I received the following Christmas Greeting via e-mail today and thought I would share it with you all.
Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2009, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere. Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee.
My thoughts? Whatever happened to “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year?”
With Liberty and Justice for All
December 9, 2008The last phase of the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag says “With liberty and justice for all.” It’s a lofty idea and a noble promise, but it hasn’t always been such in America. There have been whole people groups who have been denied liberty (at least for a time), and there have been whole socio-political groups who have been denied justice (and/or have escaped the arm of justice). But the promise and ambition still stands. We want to be “one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all.”
I believe in that very pledge and promise. I believe in that ambition. And that’s why I’m a Conservative—because I believe that the very best way to create “one nation under God with liberty and justice for all” is to create a nation that is colorblind (but not colorless), a nation that is protected by a small government whose primary purpose is blind justice (punishing those who do evil and rewarding those who do right, per Romans 13:3-4), and a nation where people have the freedom to make their own way in the world without the fear of government intervention or intrusion. That’s Conservative because that’s clearly the kind of government that the Founding Father’s (with all of their strengths and some of their weaknesses) aspired to build.
Somewhere along the way, however, our Government has turned into a kind of “Big Brother;” although not so big, not so corrupt, and not so oppresive as Orwell envisioned in 1984. I still respect our government, and will continue to honor our leaders, nontheless I fear that it will someday evolve and progress into something akin to the Orwellian Vision.
I’m not an anarchist in any way (I believe in the rule, righteousness, and importance of Law) but I do have some libertarian leanings. Nor am I Republican, because I no longer believe that the Grand Old Party that liberated America from slavery has my values and interests in mind (our President, whom I believe is a good man who makes his decisions based on his conscience, has built the biggest federal government in American history and has failed to fight many of the battles I hoped he would). And the DNC is even further from my values than the RNC/GOP.
So where does that leave me?
It leaves me as a Conservative without a viable party. It leaves me as a citizen still willing to die for the right to vote and still willing to believe in the promise of the Pledge. It leaves me as a minister of the Gospel wondering if the future will continue to protect my right to live, express, share, preach and “contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 3). It leaves me to contemplate the fates of George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich (one corrupt Republican governor of Illinois and one allegedly corrupt Democratic governor of Illinois)—anecdotal evidence that big government has the power to corrupt leaders and empower corruption. But if they can end up in prison where they belong (allegedly), then we can still have some hope for justice.
About liberty for all? Only time will tell.
Clinton Adminstration, Part 2
November 19, 2008Rom Emmanuel will be chief-of-staff.
Tom Daschell will be the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Eric Holder will be Attorney General.
Hillary Clinton will be Secretary of State?
Any guesses as to where Pres-Elect Obama will place Madeline Albright and Janet Reno?
Is it just me or this looking eerily like the Clinton Administration, Part Deux? …and it is eerily similar to W’s appointment of all of HW’s proteges.
I agree that Washington needs change, but this isn’t what I was hoping for.
I’m really trying to keep an open mind—I suppose time will tell.
The Gospel According to Matt Endorses…
November 5, 2008People often ask me who I’m going to vote for, and as a Minister of the Gospel I’m rarely comfortable with that question. I believe my calling is to preach Christ and Him crucified—not to become a partisan Politico. Honestly, I can see how some Christians feel compelled to vote for the Democrats with their focus on poverty and social justice; and I can see how some Christians feel compelled to vote for the Republicans with their focus on the Right to Life and Judeo-Christian values.
Now that the election is over I am willing to say that I voted for John McCain and Sarah Palin. People on either side of the political isle will just assume my vote was related to abortion issues, or gay-right issues, or because of some sinister Republican alliance with Evangelicals. Such an assumption would be wrong-headed and misplaced. I am not a Republican and there is no such alliance. I am a believer in Jesus Christ and a student of the Bible. And I base my votes on my faith in Christ and my understanding of Scripture, not on searing and mostly false, divisive, fear-mongering political propaganda that oozes from both major parties.
My faith in Christ tells me to be non-partisan and non-political in my role as a Christian leader (He never spoke ill of the Roman occupation or of the unfair taxes levied against His culture in the first-century). Meanwhile my understanding of Scripture tells me that the job of government is not to provide for its citizens but to protect them—the essence of justice—not to provide jobs for citizens but to protect those who labor; not to provide homes for citizens but to protect the homes of its citizens; not to provide money for citizens but to protect citizens’ right to earn money. I did not vote for McCain because of his party affiliation but because I believed that John McCain would do the best job of protecting the citizens of our country—and that is precisely what the Bible says government leaders should do.
Despite my vote, my next president is Barak Obama. My understanding of the Bible insists that God has chosen him and that I should honor and respect him, for the Lord’s sake. God has made him the next president of the United States of America. God has placed him in authority over me and he will have my prayers. I don’t know what decisions he will make, what crises he will face, or what legacy he will build. Likewise I am puzzled by some of his political promises and past acquaintances. But he is my president and he will have my honor and respect.
Moreover, his election represents what I’ve been saying for years—that all Americans are indeed equal and that Race should no longer be used as a political football. Is there still bigotry and racism in America? Yes, but it is not mainstream and it will no longer suppress or oppress citizens of our great country.
Tonight John McCain, gracious in defeat, proved himself to be the great American statesmen that he is. The next four years will prove just who Barak Obama is—something I’m looking forward to finding out. In the meantime, I’m praying that all Christians will let their faith govern their politics rather than letting their politics govern their faith.
Biblical Truths about Citizenship & Government
November 3, 20081. Our Primary Citizenship is in Heaven, Philippians 3:20
“But our citizenship is in heaven and we eagerly await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
2. The Purpose of Government is Justice, Romans 13:3-4
“For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.”
3. All Government Leaders are put in place by God, Romans 13:1
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”
4. Our first responsibility is to pray for our Leaders, 1 Timothy 2:1-3
“I urge then that, 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.”
5. Our second responsibility is to respect our Leaders, Romans 13:7
“Give everyone what you owe him: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor then honor.”
6. Our third responsibility is to obey our Leaders, 1 Peter 2:13-14
“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.”
7. Our fourth responsibility is to pay taxes to our Leaders, Romans 13:7
“Give everyone what you owe him: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor then honor.”
8. Our fifth responsibility is to live as free men, 1 Peter 2:16
“Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.”
Redistribution of Wealth: Is it Christian?
October 28, 2008A couple of nights ago I watched an interview with Geraldine Ferraro where she was asked about the latest Barak Obama flap regarding the “redistribution of wealth.”
Believing in the some such tenets she replied, “Christianity is the source of this idea. Early Christians and the early Church believed and taught the redistribution of wealth for the sake of the poor,” (my loose paraphrase).
I’d like to appeal to my Bachelor’s Degree in Biblical Literature and/or my Master’s Degree in Theology to refute her misunderstanding; but it does not take a biblical scholar to read Acts 2-5 and conclude that any such “redistribution of wealth” in the early Church was purely voluntary, not a requirement for membership in the Church, and not commonly practiced except by a handful of very generous Christians.
Giving and sharing certainly are Christian values and spiritual disciplines, but they were never intended for imposition on a governmental tax system or to help the poor in general—they were intended as free will offerings to help poor “believers.” If you weren’t part of the Church then you didn’t get the help—one of many reasons that people wanted to become part of the early Church.
Honestly, I have some respect for Geraldine Ferraro. Before the politicians start quoting the Bible, however, they should try reading it. And they should try knowing their political history as well.
With that being said, our responsibility as Christians toward all politicians is to pray for them and offer them our obedience and respect—whether or not they seem fit or worthy.
–Matt Summers, TH.m
Editors Note: My intent in this article was not to discuss the merits of the “Redistribution of Wealth” per se, although I am certainly opposed to such an idea. My intent was to address the theological and historical spin that it is a Christian idea. Although Jesus has much to say about helping the poor, He has nothing to say about robbing from the rich to give to the poor, or taxing the rich to give to the poor. Nothing. Those who know theology know that the “Redistribution of Wealth” is not a Christian concept. And those who know history know that it is a primary tenet of Marxism. Ferraro, and those who agree with her, simply don’t know their theology or their history; otherwise they intend to mislead their audiences. It is simply untrue to say that the “Redistribution of Wealth” is a Christian idea.
