Do I Really Have Economic Policy Convictions?

Politics has often intrigued me. To say that I have political aspirations would be a great overstatement. (Although I used to have them.) I have always tried to maintain a grasp of the candidates and major issues. I am trying to understand more about the way things work in our country and around the world. I want to be better equipped to interact with people in semi-intelligent conversation.

This past weekend I had a great visit with my dad. He has served in two different offices over a period of about 12 years. I must say that during those days, I grew tired of small town politics. But I did see in him a passion for doing the right thing for the good of the community...and not afraid to stand up for it.

I have a preferred candidate in this year's election. But when my dad asked me what I thought, I told him that I was troubled by what I have been observing. Like most other people, I have found myself speaking with as much or more conviction about economic and strategic differences as I was about core values.

Yesterday, it smacked me right in the face. I was listening to Dave Ramsey and was confronted with the truth. Myself, like most in America, are speaking with great conviction about economic issues with little or no personal understanding of the subject. Yet, that is the focus of most conversations today. When, in reality, what I know as absolute truths from God's Word have become back burner issues.

Last night on TV, I saw a U.S. Congressman speaking from the floor of the House. He was reading Benjamin Franklin's speech to the Continental Congress. Maybe we have missed it. If we, like then, could focus on the core values of upon which we were founded...upon real convictions that can be confidently held through mutual faith in God and the Truth of His Word...we might be more apt to come to more productive solutions about the other issues over which we spend so much time waxing so passionately.

Sure, I have an opinion about economic policy. I even have them about foreign policy strategy. And I am praying that we elect leaders who know a whole lot more about economics and foreign policy than I do. But there some things about which I confidently hold covictions...issues about which I have read what God says.

I think I'll be more careful about what I speak about so passionately.

If Satan can get us to focus on our opinions rather than the Gospel and our convictions, He wins the battle by distraction. People with different core values, whether in politics or in the church, will never effectively reach consistent solutions on everyday issues, no matter how major.

Football is Back...But How's Beanie?

Gosh, was this weekend the greatest for a football fan. It started on Thurday night with a dead heat until half-time at the South Carolina game and some national spotlight for Charleston Southern (a Baptist School) at the University of Miami. (Obviously they lost.)

One of my favorite local H.S. teams, the Byrnes Rebels won in a tough game in Atlanta Friday night and our own school (Wren) pulled out a comeback win over rival Palmetto.

Saturday, my Buckeyes romped. But my favorite game was the ECU win over Virginia Tech (Sorry Pastor Phil). What an exciting way to win with a special teams punt block against the master of special teams, Coach Beamer. It hurt Saturday night to watch the Clemson Tigers get so dejected on national TV. North Greenville got to play Saturday night at Liberty. (Great exposure in an incredible environment.)

Sunday, there were games...and the NFL doesn't even start until next week. UK took it to Louisville. And then Monday, even the Rutgers game was exciting. And UCLA's new QB started so rough with 4 first half interceptions...only to win in overtime. And if that was not enough, my two sons had a 4 hour live fantasy draft on Monday morning and another one on the internet with some friends last night at 10 p.m. It seemed like ESPN's College Gameday was a perpetual program.

So what is my point? I'm not sure I have one. But after every commercial on the halftime shows and pregame shows and postgame shows promised (and never delivered) an update on Ohio State's Chris 'Beanie' Wells' foot injury...I just want to know if he is expected to play in 12 days at USC (Southern California)?

I wander if that is how people feel about Christians and our church? Is it an endless supply of 'stuff', but they still are left with the question they started with?

Below My Pay Grade

Last night, while Michelle Obama was speaking at the DNC in Denver, Sen. John McCain was on The Tonight Show. When asked why he did not run for public office, Leno said something like, "I can make more money with one show in Vegas." For most Americans, becoming President of the United States would be a pay increase. But it is certainly not the highest paying job in the land.

Leno went on to say that the working conditions of being President are very difficult, especially for the 'relatively' limited pay. He was certainly not saying that the job was not difficult or 'below his pay grade' in importance. However, it did bring back to my memory an answer given to the question asked by Rev. Rick Warren last week to Sen. Obama.

When asked the question, "When does a baby receive the right to protection under the Constitution?" He answered that on many levels this question was 'above' his pay grade. The question that then came to me was this, "Would he think that it is a question in Jay Leno's pay grade?" I know what many pastors make and it would obviously be above their pay grade in financial terms. Or at least that's what most must believe in American culture because they do not accept pastors' answers either.

That was a lot of verbage to really say something that has nothing to do with politics. The point is this: When we receive Christ Jesus as personal Lord and Savior, we are adopted into the family of the Most High God. That makes us joint heirs with Jesus...which puts us in the highest eternal pay bracket. And He has given us His Word with the answers to the most difficult questions in this life and culture. So whether you are a presidential candidate, a national celebrity, a pastor, or someone who has time enough on your hands to read this blog...if you know God personally and have His Word accessible to you...no important question in life is above or below your paygrade.

Build a Bridge or Throw Them in the River?

Last week I was blessed to spend about 30 hours with some church planters from SC and my home state of Ohio. God did some incredible things in my own heart during that time, and I wanted to share them. But everytime I would start to do that, God reminded me of the words of the Gospel writer who spoke of Mary's experience at the manger...[But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.] Luke 2:19.

So, though is much in my heart there is little to say...except one very encouraging thing. This was the first time I have met with a group of pastors that large of any sort where the #1 concern was the Kingdom of God, #2 was the health of the pastor and his family, #3 was strategies for advancing the Kingdom of God while maintaining the priority of our families, and #4 was bashing others [just kidding...because I cannot even remember any person bashing anyone.]

It reminded me of the words of one of our great pastors, Adrian Rogers, who described why we have conflict in the church. It is because we are not locked arm in arm, headed the same direction, and fighting the same enemy. We fight when we think the battles are won and we are in the barracks looking at each other.

I learned that lesson yesterday on a more personal note at home. Yesterday, we had some people over at our neighborhood pool. The kids were throwing each other in the pool, wrestling...sometime rough...especially my kids. But when someone suggested a relay race (Olympic Style), they did not fight for almost an hour.

When my kids are working together on something, they don't fight. My problem is that I do not intentionally engage them in common purposes or tasks. That takes thought and effort. I have got to do a better job at putting intentional thought into my home...so we will spend more time building bridges instead of throwing each other into the river.

A Generation of Builders

This week has been so interesting, moving, confusing, and inspiring. Sometime you get what you plan for...and other times [as learned in my study of 'life interruptions'] you get more or less. In this case, I got more.

Sunday afternoon, I watched my family engage in helping a missionary move into their home. I am learning that I have a few leaders [builders] among the children. It was interesting to watch them.

That day, we met a few young 'builders' who are not satisfied to just rest in the comforts of their father's tents. And they were willing to get out from under the comfort and security of that umbrella to build what God had called them to build. It was so moving to hear them.

Tuesday, I heard two young men speak about building some more in a city where they had not historical roots. [or did they?] How could someone speak so passionately about something with which they were relatively unfamiliar? They had not really started building anything yet. [or had they?] I was a little confused.

But as I met with them again on Wednesday morning privately, I realized that they were talking about starting to build something physically noticeable...but the truth is that they had already started building something. God was building in them and they were already building for God, though others may not have realized it yet. That was so inspiring.

Certainly, we all build on the work of others before us and we should never think we had begun something from scratch. I read this morning how King David [Israel] wanted to build a physical house for God. But God told David something incredible. God said that His presence and His Kingdom were not dependent on David building a physical house for God. Rather, it was about being a useable builder in the hand of God for building His Kingdom on earth in the hearts of people.

We have a generation of builders coming...and some have arrived...who seem to get it. They are not concerned about building a physical house for God. They are concerned about building places where God can dwell in the hearts of people.

Would Jesus Discriminate?

Last night I was watching C-Span. No, it is not my typical bedtime ritual. But last night I was captured by the words of an author who wrote a book entitled, "Would Jesus Discriminate?" A few years ago, I would have my stomach turned by what I heard. But last night, I just felt sad.

To the average church goer, it may have sounded like a good explanation of a Biblical text. To a non-church goer, I'm sure that it sounded like a logical interpretation. However, this leader of an international denomination that caters to the gay and lesbian community took the Word of God totally out of context to make it sound like the sexual preferences of non-heterosexuals was not only allowed, but encouraged. (Galatians 3:28) This text has nothing to do with sexual preference, but with a religious system that tried to restrict people from coming to God through faith in Christ.

I have heard this and other arguments before...but not on national television...and certainly not as a promotional piece for that line of thinking. Unfortunately, this is only one area where we are bombarded with un-biblical truth and thought. I think that it made me more aware of the fact that culture in not just trying to get Bible believers to be more tolerant, but are trying to invade the church with unbiblical thinking. They are intentionally storming the church to destroy it.

No, I am not surprised at any of this. But it makes me more convinced than ever that we must be diligent at teaching the Word of God...and teaching people to read, study, and know the Word of God themselves. Secondly, instead of being mad at the people who were speaking...I have become increasingly angry at the one who has blinded their eyes to actually believe this stuff.

Finally, to answer the question..."Would Jesus Discriminate?" Well, with the understanding that He is God, "Would God Discriminate?" Yes! All the time! From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is full of discrimination. The difference is that God does not discriminate on the basis of petty things like people have...for centuries. God's discrimination takes place based on the our acceptance of Him as Sovereign and our trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior.

Life Interruptions

Last night, we began a journey group study in our home entitled, "Life Interruptions". We had such a good time with our new summer Bible study group and were moved by the message from Louie Giglio about the way our plans get interrupted...sometimes by God and other times by the normal course of life. Our response in those times really does show what we believe about God, even in the minor distractions. Just when we think we have life all under control, BAM! God reminds us that we really control nothing.

It really prepared me for this morning. I came into the office early and planned out my day...and my week. But within an hour...BAM! I ended up spending the majority of my day at the hospital with a dear saint of God and her family as she is facing what appears to be her home going. Here I am near the end of the work day (like there really is one in ministry) and I am looking at my list...my plan. Well, it's about half completed. But it really doesn't matter that much.

So, I think I'll turn the computer off and run back to the hospital and check on my dear sister in Christ. What a privilege to have your day interrupted with something so important...so eternal...to remind us that the stuff I planned to do today was not as important as I thought.