29January2021

When Tyrants are Like Rogue Lions

Written By robfaircloth

Abusive and tyrannical authority is universally decried. Problems arise when people throw out the authority with the abuse, as well as when they disagree over the definitions of “abuse” and “tyranny.”

One man’s tyranny is another man’s well-earned spoils of victory and “political mandate,” as it were.

The prophet Ezekiel was charged by God to condemn Israel’s abusive authority in religious and secular matters. Israel was pictured as a lioness, who raised a cub who “learned to catch prey and devoured men” (Ezekiel 19:1-9). Those subject to the cub’s abuse were not inclined to sit and take it. They caught him in a pit and brought him with hooks to Egypt.

The lioness did not learn from this, but was intent on achieving her goal, and raised another cub who, she thought, would succeed with more of the same, and worse. In addition to catching prey and devouring men, he seized widows and laid waste to cities.

The subjects, having honed their tyranny-busting discernment, took him down, too (Ezekiel 19:8-9).

Governing structures send out increasingly oppressive “leaders” who suppose that their success lies in oppressing people. They view their role as “catching prey” (conquering opponents and disappearing them). They consider as appropriate means such things as devouring men (the condition of individual people is unimportant), seizing widows (taking advantage of vulnerable and defenseless and voiceless people), and laying cities waste (destroying communities for the “higher good”).

It is not the average man who is to be caged and silenced, but the rogue lion cubs.

28January2021

Take it Seriously

Written By robfaircloth

What do you tend to take seriously?

Do you take seriously the total number of COVID-19 deaths? Do you take seriously the danger of unrestrained “executive orders,” whether signed by a Republican or a Democrat? Do you take seriously the gargantuan administrative state? Do you take climate change seriously? Do you take seriously that status of your retirement account, fantasy football standings, or the report of your bathroom scales every morning?

If you claim Jesus Christ, there is something you should take seriously before any of these things. You might even take it more seriously than any of these things.

The Apostle Paul says that believers should “work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12-13).

Fear and trembling does not have much cultural cachet these days, because the last thing self-respecting and intentionally-authentic awakened humans desire is to be so regressively un-bold. We are — as the world would have us believe — bold, confident, independent. Fear and trembling is so, well, weak.

But Paul wants us to remember that is not our relative strength or weakness that is important, but the strength of God. In fact, the reason we work (labor, power) is because “God is at work in you, to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

Take seriously your salvation, because it is God who has called you to it, and has begun the work (Philippians 1:6). Take it seriously, because God will complete it (Philippians 1:6). Take your sanctification (growth in holiness) by “working it out” because God is at work.

Take seriously your salvation and sanctification, then take a new look at those other “important” things.

28January2021

Love with(out) Discernment

Written By robfaircloth

In Philippians 1:9-11, the apostle Paul describes the type of love that should abound among the disciples of Jesus Christ.

It is not what current culture and politics suggests.

Paul describes a love that is defined by something. Love among disciples — and what they manifest to other disciples and to the unbelieving world — is, first, abounding. It is not static, but always growing — in scope, in depth, and zeal.

Second, this Jesus-love is defined by knowledge and discernment. But knowledge of what? Culture and politics would say that love is defined by the knowledge of what the recipient desires, such as to be affirmed in their sexual preference, or gender identity, or political stance, generally. Discernment, then, according to the world’s approach, is the ability to perceive what the recipient wants from your love, and provide it without reservation or hesitation. According to the world, you love properly when you love according to the recipient’s preference.

But the Bible has a different idea.

The third parameter of biblical love is that it is for the purpose of approving what is excellent. “Fine” — the world says — “what is excellent is a person’s sexual preference and gender identity, so, approve that in order to be loving.”

But, again, the Bible has a different idea.

The fourth parameter of biblical love is that it is for the end of being presented before Jesus, at his return, as pure and blameless. This, too, is the fruit of righteousness that comes from Jesus, and is for the glory of God.

Being pure and blameless, as the fruit of righteousness, for the glory of God, is defined by the Bible, by God, himself, not by sinful humans.

To love, then, in a way that pleases God, is to love people away from lies and falsehood and wickedness, toward truth and righteousness and grace.

29October2020

How to Vote According to Scripture

Written By robfaircloth

We saw last Sunday from Acts 17 that the early church and individual disciples did not need political means to “turn the world upside down.” They needed neither representative democracy, nor a constitutional republic, nor participatory government, nor a Bill of Rights, in order to effect great change on their neighbor and their nation. What they did have was a priority on the glory of God and to see that everyone turned from false gods to worship the one true God, through his Son, Jesus Christ.

            Disciples today need such a priority no less than they, but for us, in the American West, we do have something the early church did not: participatory government. In other words, we get to vote on things. Our priority for the glory of God can be manifested not only as our hearts are provoked because “the city is full of idols” and our mouths are fueled to proclaim God’s glory, but also in how we steward the rights and privileges and responsibilities afforded citizens of the United States.

            In order to vote responsibly for 1) policies, such as in referenda, and for 2) candidates, and for 3) parties, we start with an understanding of what the LORD says that government is for. We look primarily at a couple of Bible passages that describe the right operation of good government.

General Principles

Romans 13:1-7. Governments are from God, and exercise their authority by God’s design and will. We are told:

For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

From this we see several things about government. It is to punish the bad and reward the good. This necessarily requires us to sort out what is “good” and what is “bad.” In punishing the bad, the government has the power of enforcement, through the death of the wrongdoer if necessary (the “sword” is a reference to an executioner’s sword). Taxation and collection of revenues are legitimate activities of government. And, Christian citizens are also expected to give respect and honor to officer-holders, personally, not merely to the “office” itself.

1 Timothy 2:1-4

First of all, I urge that supplications, prayers, and intercessions be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.

Christians are to pray for governing officials, and not merely democratically-elected ones (pray for kings, whom you can’t elect, and for those you didn’t elect…). The content of our prayer is that they would govern in such a way that life for their citizens would not be characterized by chaos, anarchy, and war (whether economic, societal, or international). The purpose of such prayer – and hence, the purpose of good government – is not for personal wealth- and security-building, but for Christians, at least, to promote the mission of converting the lost. That is, so that believers are free to live their faith publicly.

Here, then, are quite a few guidelines or principles by which the Christian can assess policies, parties, and candidates:

  • If a policy has the effect of calling good “evil” and calling evil “good,” the Christian should oppose it.
  • If a party rewards evil and punishes good, the Christian should oppose it.
  • If a candidate pushes an agenda contrary to “peaceful and quiet life,” in which the Christian is free to go about the mission of Christ unmolested and all citizens enjoy a stable society, the Christian should not support him.

Specific Issues

There are also sometimes political policies and agendas that are directly contrary to God’s revealed will. Some refer to this sort of policies as “straight-line issues,” because a line can be drawn more or less straight from Scripture to the Christian’s political position on it. Others are referred to as “jagged-line issues” because the path from Scripture to a Christian’s position is not so direct.

Straight-line issues that are of great consequence in today’s political climate include the following:

  • Abortion. God commands not to take innocent life, and to protect the voiceless and oppressed.
  • Marriage. God defines marriage as one man, and one woman, for life, bearing biological children.
  • Gender. God created male and female.

Christians should not support policies or parties that compromise on these, or on any other “straight-line” issues. (At the same time, we must be careful not to confuse “straight line” and “jagged line” issues.)

What about “character”? I’ll talk about this more in Sunday’s message, but for now, keep in mind how the LORD instructed the people in biblical times. In the Old Testament, for one example, Israel was told specifically to submit to Nebuchadnezzar, who was not a “good man.” Paul’s admonition regarding submission to government (with respect and honor!) in Romans and in 1 Timothy were given at a time when the Caesars ruled Rome. Caesars considered themselves gods, and took all the political, financial, and sexual liberties such a status afforded them.