Its God’s Principles—Stupid!

Please pardon my pun. I know stupid is not a nice word. Keep reading and I think you will understand my attempt to communicate truth with witticism.

After a couple weeks of Republican primaries, there is still no frontrunner for the nomination in their party. It has become obvious that the Republican Party is divided into three camps which include social conservatives, fiscal conservatives, and those who want a strong national defense (war and immigration). With America engaged in a war in the Middle East and its economy slipping into a possible recession because of the housing market, many talk show hosts are speculating over what issue is most important in this race.

Even the evangelical vote, which usually rallies around one candidate, is split between the social, war and fiscal issues. This dilemma has caused me to have a great concern about what evangelicals are being taught in church today. My goal in this blog is to remind evangelicals what should be the most important issue in this race.

What is the most important issue? Is it the war and immigration? Is it social values such as abortion and the sanctity of marriage? Or, according to Bill Clinton, is it the economy—stupid? As evangelicals, we should know the answer! For the sake of this blog, peace will represent the issue of war, prosperity will represent the issue of the economy, and principles will represent social values.

It is true that each one of these issues is important in America. However, if we had to pick the most important one, it should be easy for evangelicals. Evangelicals believe the Bible is the infallible word of God. Therefore, we believe the nations that obey the Lord will be blessed. Psalm 33:12 says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.”

A nation’s peace and prosperity is dependent upon its adherence to God’s principles.

Deuteronomy 28:7-10 says, “The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven. (8) The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you. (9) The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the Lord your God and walk in his ways. (10) Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they will fear you. (11) The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity.”

So, it is clear in Scripture that the most important issue to God is our obedience to His principles. When nations disobey these principles, they bring on themselves the punishment of God. Throughout history, God’s chastisement for his wayward people has always been by sword (war), famine (suffering economy) and plague (chronic illness). Jeremiah 14:12 says, “Although they fast, I will not listen to their cry; though they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will destroy them with sword, famine and plague.”

Unfortunately, America is a nation that has used its freedom to indulge in the sinful nature (Galatians 5:13). For example, abortion is legal while many of its citizens engage in sexually immoral behavior. Greed has caused many to live in debt, and divorce is destroying the divine institution of marriage. How can God be pleased with our nation’s demeanor? Is it a coincidence that we are now engaged in a war, entering a recession and desperately trying to medicate the multitudes in a strained health care system?

How can we expect God to bless us when we live in defiance to His principles? When we fail to trust in God, we have to put our confidence in man. No man or woman can deliver this country from all of its problems. Psalm 33:16, 18-19 says, “No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. (18) But the eyes of the Lord are on those who hope is in his unfailing love, (19) to deliver them from death and keep them alive in the famine.” Evangelicals should know this truth.

God has given Americans the blessing of liberty and the privilege to vote. With this privilege comes a great responsibility. As evangelical Americans we should never let current negative circumstances (war and economy) determine the priority of our votes. Our votes reflect our hearts, and our hearts should always reveal a desire to obey God. Until we get our principles in order, we will never enjoy the kind of peace and prosperity God desires for us as a nation.

No president can provide what only God can grant.

Psalm 33:10-11 says, “The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. (11) But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.”

I pray the evangelical vote for America’s next president will personify God’s heart for our nation.

Its God’s principles—evangelicals!

Pass Me the Kleenex Box!

As an old jock and a former strength coach, I never dreamed I would ever blog on crying. Wow, how life changes!

In the New Hampshire primary, Hilary Clinton came back from a double digit deficit in the polls to beat Barack Obama in one of the greatest upsets in primary election history. Many pundits attributed her victory to a moment when she showed her humanity and vulnerability by getting teary eyed at a luncheon the day before the ballots were cast.

I am not writing to comment on whether or not her tears were induced by personal pity because of her position in the polls, or by a sincere concern for the future of our country. I am writing this blog because I am disturbed at how people respond so negatively to crying. Talk show host after talk show host made fun of Hilary for crying. They seemed to correlate crying with weakness.

From the first day of parenthood, we become consumed with the thought—“stop crying”. I have three young boys who shed tears daily. My wife and I are constantly telling them to stop wailing. I wonder if this conditions us to view crying in a negative manner.

Why do we despise crying? The main reason we despise crying is because it makes us uncomfortable. We don’t like to see people, hurt, sad or frustrated, and rightfully so. However, just because crying makes us feel uncomfortable doesn’t mean we should view it with disdain.

I personally think more people in our society need to cry. In fact, a lack a crying can indicate that a person is shut down, closed off, hard-hearted, and has let their love grow cold. Crying shows that we are human, and it displays that we care. It can be very therapeutic and deeply healing to our soul. Crying can also demonstrate that we are people with passion.

Jesus was the strongest and most secure person to ever walk on planet earth. He had a profound love for people and a burning zeal to accomplish His Father’s will. Jesus was a man who revealed his heart to people through tears.

Luke 19:41 says, “As he (Jesus) approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it.” Jesus knew that Jerusalem would eventually be destroyed by their enemies because they did not recognize the time of God’s visitation. He responded to this predicament with lament.

He also sympathetically wept with Martha and Mary over the death of their brother Lazarus. John 11:33-35 says, “When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. (34) “Where have you laid him?” “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. (35) Jesus wept.”

My most memorable moments in life are stained with the salt of my tears.

I cried when I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I cried as I danced with my wife on my wedding day. I cried during the birth of each one of my three boys. I cried facilitating the weddings of my close friends. I cried conducting the funerals for parents who lost their babies. I cried when my boys scored a touchdown in football, hit a homerun in baseball, kicked a goal in soccer, and played a song on the piano at their recitals.

My tears represent my ardency, my convictions, my love, and my compassion.

As I approach forty, I find myself crying more than I have ever cried in my life. The tears I shed are not because I am sad, frustrated or hurt. No, I am not getting soft in my old age. My tears are a sign that I am alive.

I cried on my last date night with my wife at AMC theatres when Wiley College beat Harvard in the movie “The Great Debaters” (sorry if I ruined it for you). While watching the South Carolina Republican debates, I cried when former Governor Mike Huckabee perfectly answered a question on marriage in an age when this vital institution is under attack.

While ironing my shirt for Sunday service, I even cried watching a re-run of “Footloose” on television when Reverend Moore gave Ren and his senior class his blessing to conduct a high school dance. I cry when I think about the love of God and what it cost Jesus to save my life. I often cry during worship in church. I cry when I think about how much I love my family.

I’m full of life and full of tears, and I am not ashamed to say, “Pass me the Kleenex box please.”