Someone elses thoughts on the election

THE 2008 ELECTION…AS I SEE IT

by Ron Merryman

November 9, 2008



A number have asked me to comment on the recent election in the U.S. Here is how I see it.



Americans Voted for more Centralized Government



First & foremost: Americans, Christians and non-Christians, voted for larger, more centralized Federal Government, i.e., for more socialism. Why? Simply put: they have gullibly put their faith in the power brokers in WASHINGTON D.C.



The predominant concern in this election was the economy. Most people voted for the candidate(s) that promised to give them the most… more benefits, more federal moneys, more health care, more and better retirement programs. In other words, less personal responsibility for one’s security in life; less need for hard work; less need to save; less personal concern to plan – all these motivated Americans to vote as they did.



Secondly: Please understand that the results of this election indicate what the majority of Americans BELIEVE: they believe that the Federal Government will take care of them better than an economic system in which they take care of themselves, the best proven system ever for fair economic opportunity. Our Founding Fathers must have rolled over in their graves!



The Economic Crisis: A Faith Tester



I find it extremely telling that the current international economic crisis hit in full force about 8 weeks before our major election. [Sarah Palin was not the cause of McCain’s defeat; if anything, she revived true conservatism in the Republican Party. Americans’ knee-jerk reaction to the economic crisis insured Barack Obama’s election.]



Crisis is often God’s way of testing and teaching believers where and in what their faith really is. This is illustrated again and again in the Bible. The candidates in this election continually (perpetually!) reminded us that we are to trust them; that is, to believe that they will straighten out the greed and corruption that got us into this mess.



Get the picture: two Senators, both part of the Congress, a major, major, source of our economic woes, promised to straighten out the source of which they are a part. Do you, did you, REALLY BELIEVE THEIR MESSAGE? Have you put your faith in that which cannot and will not deliver, the power brokers in Washington, D.C.? GOD OFTEN USES CRISES TO TEACH BELIEVERS WHERE OR ON WHAT THEIR FAITH RELIES!



If you think the Federal Government is going to take care of you, visit an Indian Reservation sometime. America’s original inhabitants were sold the same bill of goods years ago.



Government & Economics



Are you deceived about the Federal Government’s capacity to create wealth or prosperity? The Federal Government neither produces nor markets any product. The only way it can get moneys is by taking it from us. If you voted for more economic distribution from the Government, where will they get the moneys? They have only two sources: taxation and inflation (inflation is simply printing more money thus making what you save worthless, another form of stealing).



By the way: State Governments CANNOT print money. I have read little about the disastrous effects of our fiscal crisis on State Governments. Think on this: there is less and less state- sales-tax revenues because Americans have quit spending; the States will receive less and less federal funds because the Federal Government is bankrupt; the States will receive less and less income tax from residents because unemployment is skyrocketing.



So expect State officials to get in line with those already there looking for Federal funds: AIG Insurance Co., General Motors, our major banks and lending institutions, ad infinitum, ad nauseaum.



Our Federal Government is a fiscal Titanic that has already hit the iceberg. It runs on foreign funds invested in fed-funds: China is a major investor as are the oil rich Arab states. What happens if (when) the American dollar deflates and these foreign powers call for their cash?!?



THE CONGRESS OF THE USA IS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO THIS PRESENT FISCAL CRISIS: how in the world can an informed American have confidence in their handling of OUR money? Congress will not and cannot balance the national budget because they do not want to, yet they have convinced good Americans that they are economic messianic deliverers. Woe is me.



Listen closely: if your government gives you anything, it is only because they took it from someone else!



A Closing Exhortation



We in the United States enjoy more freedoms than in any other country in the world. This has prompted many of our citizens to encourage elected officials to steal from our own neighbors; that is, to redistribute wealth that belongs to someone else (as happened in Russia via the communist revolution after 1918: consider what has happened economically to Russia since!). There is such prosperity in America that a majority of our people are overweight and lazy. We have all the food we desire; ditto for energy (electricity and gasoline), yet our greed and consumption demand more and more. The United States of America is on a path of self destruction due to personal greed, envy, jealousy, and animosity- all mental attitude sins that manifest themselves in evil, pernicious, and destructive acts.



Barack Obama has led Americans to expect positive change via government. But we who are Christians know that outward institutions (governments, schools, philanthropic organizations, even churches) cannot affect quality and permanent change. True positive change can only occur through a person’s submission to God, our Creator, and by living dependently upon the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. The change needed for our day is a change of heart that can only happen through the transforming power of our Christ. There is no other way. Do understand that there is no other way. Do put your trust, your belief, in the Person of Christ for what is necessary to live successfully in this world and in the next. Faith in any other guarantees failure.



You have only a short time in this world. Use it wisely. Use your resources wisely. See that your sphere of influence directs men and women to Christ, our only Messiah and Savior. Give men the Gospel. When all is over and this stage of our life is past, all that will remain is our personal relationship with the Lord. Nourish it; grow in grace and knowledge of our wonderful Lord. And let your light shine in this dark period of American history.

Top 10 Predictions No Matter Who Wins the Election

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.

2. Prayer will still work.

3. The Holy Spirit will still move.

4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.

5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.

6. There will still be singing of praise to God.

7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.

8. There will still be room at the Cross.

9. Jesus will still love you.

10. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.

AND God approves this message!

ISN'T IT GREAT TO KNOW WHO IS REALLY IN CHARGE?

Some important reading

We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their CREATOR, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate, that Governments long established, should not be changed for light and transient Causes; and accordingly all Experience hath shewn, that Mankind are more disposed to suffer, while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future Security.

and now for some less important reading. (micah's meanderings)
Ecc. says there is a time for war and a time for peace. Jesus said to give to God what is God's and to Caesar what is Caesar's. Paul spoke of Governments baring the sword for a reason. In II Kings (I believe) we learn of the crimes committed by the head of a state - taking what was not rightfully their own (actually we can see that in David as well). I was talking the other day with an acquaintance of mine about the need for Christians to me more involved in political discussion and debate, not merely voting republican. And although he agreed with the later statement, he disagreed quite strongly with the first. He believed our political problems were the result of unsaved and corrupt politicians and our responsibility was to proclaim the Gospel, not debate politics. Now I would agree that we have a very many corrupt individual 'working for us' in DC and many state capitols AND that our primary responsibility is to teach that which is of first importance, the gospel as the power of God for those who believe, through the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. However, i would say that to neglect to teach our churches and children the whole of scripture would be a disservice to our proclamation of the Gospel. How is an individual, saved and growing in God's grace, and called into public political service to act or govern? How am a I as a private citizen to give Caesar his due if i don't know what is his and what is God's? When is it the time for peace talks and when is it a time to shun peace talks and wage war? These are all important questions that the Bible answers. Let us be students of the whole counsel of God because He is involved in all the affairs of men.

Jus Ad Bellum

My mind has been racing much lately regarding the ancient Christian Doctrine (teaching) of Just War. Now, I want to reiterate my belief that not all ancient Christian Doctrine is right nor Biblical but neither is it all wrong. So with that, I will attempt to, in brief, formulate a simplified version of the history and the teaching as far as my limited understanding currently grasps.

First, the teaching was the result of Augustine of Hippo, in the late 4th and early 5th centuries wrote what we know as The City of God. (I have not read this nor do i think i could comprehend it if i did so the following comments about it are really my thoughts about other peoples thoughts about what Augustine wrote.) In this book, he explores the blame placed upon Christianity and it's pacifistic teachings upon the fall of the Roman Empire. In the work Augustine is seeking to lay out a philosophical balance between the imperialism of Rome and the pacifism of Christianity.

Thomas Aquinas, in the 1200's, also contributed much to the substance of this teaching in his writings. I believe that most modern discussions regarding Just War rest upon his writings.

It is clearly evident from any study of the Old Testament that God has used and has allowed wars to accomplish His purposes. Many may well argue that because the Old Testament is primarily about the nation of Israel war was part of the discussion but in the New Testament, there is a much clearer message of peace and peacemaking and this is directed to God's new instrument upon the Earth, no longer a nation, but the Church which consists of all peoples, nations, languages and tribes. With that being said however, there are passages within the New Testament (and passages in the Old Testament that can be argued to apply today) that paint a different picture of Justice and the role that the state should play in such. Some of these passages include Romans 13, I Kings 21, Daniel 2:21-23, Ecclesiastes 3:8, and I Peter 2:13-14.

Here is a simpleton's understanding. God is the one who grants/gives authority to kings or rulers. These rulers are His servants. They represent Him amongst the world. They exist to reward and to punish. If Joe Man has committed a crime against me, then the ruling authorities have the responsibility of justly avenging me. Now, suppose Joe Nation has wronged me, or us as a nation. It is then that our state/ruler has the responsibility of avenging the unjust nation for its wrong done to our nation. Of course as in local instances of crime, the punishment must fit the crime and of course a crime must have been committed before punishment can be inflicted. These crimes could be invasion, broken promises/treaties (lies), theft of property abroad (private or public) and/or kidnapping or jailing people unjustly (as was the case with the pirates of Tripoli back in the early 19th century).

That's all the further my thoughts have taken me although that surely is not the end of the road. Hope you enjoyed.

Presuppositions

Presuppositions are very important thing to understand in any conversation, dialog or debate. They are also, perhaps, one of the most neglected and misunderstood aspects of our relationships with others. Currently I'm reading a book titled The Dawkins Letters, Challenging Atheist Myths by David Robertson. He has written several open letters to Richard Dawkins pertaining to Dawkin's book The God Delusion. These letters, one letter in response to each chapter of the book, deal mostly with the presuppositions of atheists over and against, mainly, Christians (in the Biblical sense not in a political, ethnic nor religious sense). These letters were first posted on Mr. Robertson church web-site and then later were reposted on Dawkin's own web-site

It is interesting to note that the words fundamentalist, blind faith, intolerant, and irrational are used in this book to describe the responses of atheists to Mr. Robertson's letters. Mr. Robertson is merely trying to discuss the root of the belief system of Mr. Dawkins and has been vehemently opposed by some of Dawkin's disciples. Of course the point is noted that there are many Christians who resort and are guilty of the same thing.

One of my favorite things that David Robertson has said so far is that as Christians, we believe in the concept of absolute truth and that this truth is knowable. He then went on to say that as Christians, we believe that truth sets free and thus have nothing to fear from any of these debates and need not take up arms but openly and lovely discuss the real root of the issue, that is one's own presuppositions.