I've watched as Barack Obama's personal opinions catapulted from professing that he believed the Bible, yet rarely attends church, but basically thinks:
...that the words of Jesus mean the rich are responsible for the poor (even those who choose not to work);
...that determining life's conception "is beyond his pay-grade", but can end at the time a woman chooses to end it;
...that the government has the right to force religious institutions to supply medical procedures that compromise and are totally against their core beliefs and doctrines;
...that Romans has an "obscure passage" which is immaterial for the position he should take on homosexuals marrying people of their own sex...
...that the "Golden Rule" supercedes the entire Bible, and trumps all commands for holiness from the Author of the Bible;
...that faith has no place in government (as in supporting the observance of the National Day of Prayer)...but that government has a place in religion.
I wonder. How does this affect the average Southern Baptist? Well, let's just look at the "Golden Rule" a bit: “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." Matthew 7:21
I don't know about you, but I do not "wish that others" should commit sin in the presence of my family and friends and call it sinless and expect me to approve of it. I do not "wish that others" commit an abomination unto the Lord and lie to my grand-children and tell them it is "good". I do not "wish" that people promote sin as healthy and holy and God-approved behavior. I no more "wish that others" sanction homosexuality than I "wish others" to cuss, lie, steal, get drunk, commit adultery, murder people, take God's name in vain, and burn churches. Neither, do I "wish for others" to deny me the right to speak the truth of God's entire Word and call it "some obscure passage from Romans" that is meaningless in order to promote a political and personal agenda. [see Romans 1]
So, Mr. President, the "Golden Rule" cuts both ways. When Jesus was preaching to the people, as recorded in Matthew, He answered a question about the greatest commandments:
"Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40
The "first and greatest commandment" is to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." The first and the greatest. Loving the Lord is more than lip service. It is honoring Him and the commandments and by living a life holy and acceptable to Him. To love the Lord God with "all your mind" does not give us the freedom to rewrite commandments in the Bible, to ignore a passage because we consider it "obscure" and not validating a president's "personal opinion" or position. Jesus also said:
"Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfill." Matthew 5:17
Dr. Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Dallas, refuted Obama's personal "evolution" opinion: Jeffress said that the Lord Jesus spoke clearly on the issue of marriage in Matthew 19, and it is between a man and a woman. [Fox News 5/10/12]
The President and Vice President of the United States have weighed in that two men and two women should have the legal right to be married if they want. This is the first time in the history of our nation that the two most influential men of politics in the free world have made such an anti-Biblical proclamation. This my friends, in my opinion, is where removing the Ten Commandments from the school systems has taken us. This is where the government forced political correctness in our public school systems has brought us. As we seek to share what Jesus died to save us from (namely SIN), sin is being watered down and made null and void in the sight of man and government. Next thing we know, we shall be using the "golden rule" to approve and condone the pedophile. Why should some little "obscure passage" in Corinthians have any power over the "golden rule"? After all, did Jesus specifically say pedophilia was wrong? don't pedophiles say they are just "loving" that child? should they not have equal rights, too? For that matter, did Jesus say not to commit incest? have abortions? dance naked in the streets? No, but Jesus did say:
“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." Luke 6:43-45
And what do we hear the mouth of President of the United States speak?
""I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together, when I think about those soldiers or airmen or Marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that Don't Ask Don't Tell is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage, at a certain point I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married," President Barack Obama, Huffington Post
He talked to friends, family and acquaintances. He talked to his little girls. And Barack Obama comes to the conclusion that what the Bible says is not valid. Well, friends, I do not have to give an account for what the President of the United States says when I stand before the Most High and Holy God. No, I only have to answer for what I say. And you only have to answer for what you say. I choose this day to stand with God and what He says; and God says marriage is between a man and a woman, not between men and men and women and women. What say ye? selahV
Bruce H. commented on this post and it was, in my opinion, a powerful commentary worth considering in this conversation. Therefore I'm adding it to the post to better ensure it being read:
"Seeing who President Obama has counseled with tells the story. America has a president that seeks the counsel of the "ungodly". He sought counsel from his friends, family, neighbors and homosexuals. He never mentioned that he sought counsel from pastors, theologians or God. Under this man, here is our fate:
"Blessed [is] the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly [are] not so, But [are] like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish." Psalms 1:1-6 " Bruce H. from the www.
Seeing who President Obama has counseled with tells the story. America has a president that seeks the counsel of the "ungodly". He sought counsel from his friends, family, neighbors and homosexuals. He never mentioned that he sought counsel from pastors, theologians or God. Under this man, here is our fate:
"Blessed [is] the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly [are] not so, But [are] like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish." Psalms 1:1-6
Posted by: Bruce H. | May 11, 2012 at 06:07 AM