180

[1]

Monday, August 10, 2019

Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years.  He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, following the detestable practices of the pagan nations that the Lord had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites.  He rebuilt the pagan shrines his father, Hezekiah, had broken down.  He constructed altars for the images of Baal and set up Asherah poles.  He also bowed before all the powers of the heavens and worshiped them.  He built pagan altars in the Temple of the Lord, the place where the Lord had said, “My name will remain in Jerusalem forever.” He built these altars for all the powers of the heavens in both courtyards of the Lord’s Temple.  Manasseh also sacrificed his own sons in the fire in the valley of Ben-Hinnom.  He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and he consulted with mediums and psychics.  He did much that was evil in the Lord’s sight, arousing his anger.  Manasseh even took a carved idol he had made and set it up in God’s Temple, the very place where God had told David and his son Solomon:  “My name will be honored forever in this Temple and in Jerusalem—the city I have chosen from among all the tribes of Israel.  If the Israelites will be careful to obey my commands—all the laws, decrees, and regulations given through Moses—I will not send them into exile from this land that I set aside for your ancestors.”  But Manasseh led the people of Judah and Jerusalem to do even more evil than the pagan nations that the Lord had destroyed when the people of Israel entered the land.  The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they ignored all his warnings.  So the Lord sent the commanders of the Assyrian armies, and they took Manasseh prisoner.  They put a ring through his nose, bound him in bronze chains, and led him away to Babylon.  

But while in deep distress, Manasseh sought the Lord his God and sincerely humbled himself before the God of his ancestors. And when he prayed, the Lord listened to him and was moved by his request. So the Lord brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom.  Then Manasseh finally realized that the Lord alone is God!  After this Manasseh rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David, from west of the Gihon Spring in the Kidron Valley to the Fish Gate, and continuing around the hill of Ophel.  He built the wall very high.  And he stationed his military officers in all of the fortified towns of Judah.  Manasseh also removed the foreign gods and the idol from the Lord’s Temple.  He tore down all the altars he had built on the hill where the Temple stood and all the altars that were in Jerusalem, and he dumped them outside the city.  Then he restored the altar of the Lord and sacrificed peace offerings and thanksgiving offerings on it.  He also encouraged the people of Judah to worship the Lord, the God of Israel. However, the people still sacrificed at the pagan shrines, though only to the Lord their God.  2 Chronicles 33:1-17

One of the realities of being broken is the inability to see just how broken you are; another is how to fix the brokenness.  Like the New Testament Apostle to the Gentiles, Paul, the remedy for King Manasseh’s spiritual brokenness could only come by being knocked to his knees, a prisoner to the truth that he had become so irretrievably broken against his solemn trust to serve the one true living God, there was only one direction left to redemption – 180°!

For You Today

Let’s give the last word today to Paul, who understood that just and righteous solutions for citizens of any era will never come from within the corridors of the capitol; true redemption only comes from above.  Here’s what Paul says to do about brokenness in leadership:

 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.                    1 Timothy 2:1-2

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day.

Go to VIDEO

---

[1] Title Image:  Courtesy of  Pixabay.com
                          Unless otherwise noted, Scripture used from The New Living Translation©

Praying for a President

[i]

Friday, December 2, 2016

Give your love of justice to the king, O God, and righteousness to the king’s son.  Help him judge your people in the right way; let the poor always be treated fairly.  May the mountains yield prosperity for all, and may the hills be fruitful.  Help him to defend the poor, to rescue the children of the needy, and to crush their oppressors.  May they fear you as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon remains in the sky.  Yes, forever!  May the king’s rule be refreshing like spring rain on freshly cut grass, like the showers that water the earth.  May all the godly flourish during his reign.  May there be abundant prosperity until the moon is no more.

Praise the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does such wonderful things.  Praise his glorious name forever!  Let the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Amen and amen!  Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19^(NLT)

This Psalm may have been composed by David, anticipating the coronation of his son, Solomon.  It is a wonderful prayer for any ruler, because it’s hugely challenging for any ruler to live up to the high-bar goals this prayer holds forth.  It’s also exceedingly difficult for the people of any nation to choose a leader whose character matches this resume’.   

The two great pillars of character are justice and righteousness.  Justice is the rule of law, and that is a matter of the mind.  Righteousness is a condition of fairness and mercy tempering the harshness of rules, and that is only possible as compassion and love spring from the fountain of the heart.  It’s a thin line for any human to walk.

I have prayed for many presidents, from the 1950’s when Dwight “Ike” Eisenhower sat in the Oval Office, to the present day.  It is wisely said that, if you voted, but don’t pray for whomever sits in that seat, you have neglected the more important part of a citizen’s right and duty!

And this is the urgency I feel for the people of our divided country today.  We have just come through what is, in my lifetime, the most perplexing presidential election campaign…ever!  We are now facing uncharted waters in terms of the personality and volatility of the one who will become the 45^th President of the United States in January.  Many are already praying, indeed some, as the apostle Paul, never ceased praying.  Some are planning to leave the country; others are glad to see them go.

While there have always been differences between people (sharp differences) when it comes to political rubber and road, I do not believe I have ever seen a more shameful time when hatred and vitriol rule the day, as we now have from both sides of the aisles of both Washington and Wal-Mart.

Now, I don’t have time here for a sermon, but let me ask Methodist founder John Wesley to give us all a sermon-like reminder.  In Wesley’s day there was a brouhaha boiling over such things as baptism, church membership and how to administer the Lord’s Supper.  In Wesley’s rather well-known sermon A Catholic Spirit, after recounting the many differences held, he called for action that befits people of character:

Let all these smaller points stand aside. Let them never come into sight. "If your heart is as my heart," if you love God and all mankind, I ask no more: "give me your hand."[ii]

That’s the rub today – can those of you on the “right” side of the aisle take the hand of those on the “left” side?  Can we put aside the petty, and join together in prayer for the one who will occupy the hot seat in Washington?  Can we do this for the sake of our country and its leadership and duty around the world in a very troubled time?

There is a vast difference between loyal opposition and dividing dissenter among those who didn’t get their way in the election.  And there is also quite a difference between winning the White House as a prize, and rubbing it in the face of honest people who would hold the winner to a higher standard.  There is a nobler way that awaits us.

For You Today

Democrat, Republican, Green Party, Tea Party, or no party, I want us all to pray for the outgoing president, and the incoming president; will you give me your hand?

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road…have a blessed day!

Go to VIDEO

NOTES

---

[i] Title image: By Projectprayerflag07 - Own work, via Wikimedia Commons

[ii] John Wesley, A Catholic Spirit, , The Voice

Just War

Scatter the nations that delight in war.     Psalms 68:30b (NLT)

If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.  Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.”  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:18-21  (NLT)

When President Bush addressed the nation a few weeks after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon and also a plane which crashed in Pennsylvania before it could complete its mission, he ended with these words:

Freedom and fear, justice and cruelty, have always been at war, and we know that God is not neutral between them.[1] 

We are now a dozen years (and two wars) on the other side of those words.  And now we face yet another crisis – this one is Syria and the unfathomable Sarin (nerve) gassing of men, women and children by action of the president of Syria.  Syrians killing Syrians.

For the last few weeks the news has been filled with what response, if any, the United States should make.  Typically the President, Republicans and Democrats are at each other’s throats politically. 

Russia, Syria’s closest and strongest ally wants to get everybody to the peace talk tables.  On Tuesday of this week President Obama addressed the nation, ensuring us that if the Russian initiative fails, military strikes by American bombs would deter President Assad (and other so-called rogue nations) from further use of these weapons of mass destruction.  The President said he would do this if Congress will agree, “…because this cause is so finely just”[2].

Several questions are begged with that thinking:

¨              What is a just (or righteous, justified) cause sanctioning war?

¨              Does our contemplation of engaging in war over the recent terrorist-tragedy in Syria constitute a just war?  Is this something worth sending our sons and daughters to die for?

¨              If so, how should this war be conducted?

¨              What if we lose? 

(Even more perplexing, what if we win?)

I want to do (at least) two things this morning:

a.              I want to answer all your questions, and…

b.              I really want to run home, jump in bed, pull the covers over my head, and not think about war, so it will go away forever.

It has occurred to me that both my wishes are unrealistic. 

1.        I cannot answer all the questions.  This is way above my pay grade, and therefore I have as many questions as you do.

2.        Pulling the covers over my head doesn’t make anything go away.  It only makes the darkness much more my reality.  This thing is here, and we must deal with it!

Why?  Why grapple with the ethics, the motives or “justness” of our cause?  Because we must! 

Because grappling with our motives, God’s law, Jesus’ compassion, and the seeming endless contradictions of war and peace is what keeps us from just striking-back in blind rage.  It is what separates us from the terrorists.  It’s what keeps us from doing what they do; becoming what they are – evil! 

And so, let’s grapple with the questions:

What is a “just” war?

We look to history, and historic theological interpretation for beginning points; from the Westminster Confession of Faith[3] we find a 350 year-old reference to Christians getting involved in government, and participating in just war:

It is lawful for Christians to accept and execute the office of a magistrate, when called thereunto;  in the managing whereof, as they ought especially to maintain piety, justice, and peace, according to the wholesome laws of each commonwealth; so for that end, they may lawfully now, under the New Testament, wage war, upon just and necessary occasion.

In the 13^th century, Thomas Aquinas said, for a war to be just, three things are necessary – public authority, just cause, right motive.[4]

Just war – a phrase derived from commentary on the Scripture.  Aquinas used three terms,

Public Authority, or the favorable support of those governed.

Just Cause, when the provocation is clearly initiated of evil.

Right Motive, when the end, or aim of response is righteous.

In the current situation, it would appear, even at this early stage of investigating, that not all three conditions exist:  

While the provocation was an evil attack on the unsuspecting and innocent; which is clearly evil, and…the end, our purpose in responding, as stated by our president is to stop acts of terrorism; a righteous motive, the third leg of Aquinas’ requirements seems lagging behind!  Not all, or even a majority of the American people have the will to respond; the consent of the governed is missing here.

If our government decides to lead us into a warrior response, the conditions of just cause do not appear validated. 

Will Our Response be “Infinite Justice”?

Every thinking Christian should have a conflicted sense of heart feelings about this.  As believers we know what Jesus said, Love your enemies – overcome evil with good.  As human beings with natural feelings, we want to scream, Love ‘em?  Take ‘em out!  Get those suckers!  Make ‘em all pay!

As members of a freedom-loving, justice-seeking nation, we also understand that justice – even our imperfect system of justice – requires prudence, fairness and measured responses.  To act this way requires patience, forbearance, and resources of stamina and wealth.

We certainly must respond.  Exactly how is the agonizing part.  As much as the cause of a war-response must be just, so the conduct of the war must pass the same scrutiny.  All forms of war are not acceptable; pro’s and con’s weigh heavily:

¨  Surgical Warfare is an option, as in the Gulf War and Iraq.  We suffered minimal casualties because our technology beat-up the enemy before our ground troops met them head-on. 

But the term “surgical warfare” is misleading.  It is cleaner for us to drop laser-guided bombs – but the so-called collateral damage, the deaths of civilians – women, children – this is not surgically-clean.  It is hardly different than crashing a hi-jacked Boeing 767 into a marketplace building. 

¨  We could just close our borders to the world.  Us four and no more is never a Christian response.  It doesn’t square with how we all got here in the first place.  Without exception every one of us is the child of an immigrant from the Garden of Eden. 

     It also doesn’t square with the Great Commission, which tells us to spread the Gospel, and to welcome strangers.

Personal Conflict
what to do?

Am I conflicted over what should be done?  You bet!

Do I have an answer as to what should be done?  Yes, emphatically so!  We must pray.

We must pray that we will keep the perspective of Christian people, engaged in a just war, in a just way. 

Here are the perspectives I see we should keep:

Perspective #1. 

Keep the High Cost of War in Your Mind

War is extremely costly.  It is not only the price tag of a radio-controlled drone, or a Phantom Jet; war costs life.  Will Rogers once said, You can't say civilization isn't advancing; in every war, they kill you in a new way.[5] 

A 5^th century philosopher had it this way:  In peace sons bury fathers, but war violates the order of nature and fathers bury sons.[6]

The high cost of war is incredible.  One preacher I read said, …our casualties in Vietnam were 58,000 dead, but there have been 75,000 Vietnam-veterans' suicides since the war--more than our casualty list.[7]

Perhaps the highest cost of war is that it drives us to animal-like behavior.  Keep that high cost of war in your mind.

Perspective #2

Keep the Higher Price of Peace in Your Heart

War is not a good option.  Sometimes it is the only option.  It should never be greeted warmly.  The commander of our troops in Desert Storm 20 years ago was Norman Schwarzkopf.  The general was interviewed by Ted Koppel, and he gave his understanding and philosophy of war:  I would never want to serve under a general who enjoyed war.[8] 

Loving peace and keeping peace are vastly different in the toll it takes on a person.  Loving peace only requires wanting to live without conflict.  Keeping peace has a higher price of sacrifice.

My father hid his tears in 1967 when his son got on a plane bound for Vietnam.  A year later he soaked my shoulder with tears of joy to receive me back home.  Yet, there were those who did not make it back.  What did their fathers think?  What will I think if my son now has to go to Syria? 

There is a high price for peace and safety from terrorism.  Is it worth it?  Only if freedom and justice are more highly prized than fear and cruelty.

We would do well to listen to the voice of the prophet:

No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.                       Micah 6:8 (NLT)

Keep the high cost of war in your mind, the higher price of peace in your heart…   …and…

Perspective #3

Keep the Only Prince of Peace on His Throne

Wars begin with days of flag-waving to display love for our country and her ways of freedom and justice.  The real sacrifices take a lot longer. 

It is never easy to sacrifice, but if you are assured of the rightness – the justness of the cause – then the sacrifice must be made…or we trample under the cause in cowardly excuses. 

Spiritually, this has happened before.  Satan, the master terrorist attacked the whole of humanity in the Garden of Eden.  Sin took our spiritual freedom. 

A tower of cross beams was raised on a hill called Golgotha – and the sacrifice was made.  The terrorist thought he had brought down the tower to the shame of the heavenly host. 

But, out of Friday night’s rubble came Easter morning’s message, as clear and strong as on the day of creation – The sacrifice is complete – don’t look for the living among the dead.  The life I bring is abundant and free. 

That war had the highest cost – some souls lost for eternity.

That peace was bought with the highest price ever paid – the blood of Christ, the Lamb of God who took the sins of all man, so we might be forgiven.

That Prince of Peace now sits at the right hand of the Father – a throne like no other.

And he sits on another throne – located in the hearts of all true Christ-followers.  One may rightly say, “What can I do in such matters of international relations, world peace or war?  I’m just one person.”

That is true, but as it has often been said, Jesus would have gone to that cross for you – one person, if you had been the only person on earth.  And, therefore, what happens in your heart is of eternal significance to Jesus.  What you think and how you live cause him eternal peace or anguish.

So, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you struggle with this, and then live out your struggle.  Because your neighbor next door to where you live, who also is eternally significant to God, is in need of how you will love him; and so is your neighbor in Syria!

---

[1] President George W. Bush, Televised national address, September 20, 2001

[2] President Barak Obama, Televised speech, September 10, 2013, WH.Gov, at approximately 13:40

[3] Westminster Assembly of Divines, 23.2, 1647

[4] Bob Phillips, Book of Great Thoughts…, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1993), 326

[5] Will Rogers (1879-1935)  -Edythe Draper, Draper's Book of Quotations for the Christian World (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1992).

[6] Herodotus (C. 484-C. 425 B.C.) , Ibid

[7] Bruce Larson, When Your Enemy Prospers, Preaching Today, Tape No. 78.

[8] Earl Palmer, Weighing Others Heavy, Preaching Today, Tape No. 134