Your Majesty

      From Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Majesty

1:   sovereign power, authority, or dignity

2:   used in addressing or referring to reigning sovereigns and their consorts

3:   a-royal bearing or aspect, grandeur

 b-greatness or splendor of quality or character

 

A coronation ascribes kingship, or queenship, to an individual. The terms of royal sovereignty and reign are imposed by a nation, a representation of humanity, and bestowed with severe regality upon a greater representative of human rulership. The act is most fervently regarded as the will of God. And it is, according to scripture, for all rulers of the human story are appointed by God. The populace, historically, with fearful reverence, utter the title, Your Majesty. Not every page in the human story finds a people group bowing before a king or queen. The title may be less regal, as in Mr. President. The authority may be less royal, but no less appointed by God. We are all under authority.

 

Respectfully, I admit it and accept it. Yet, as I see The Day approaching, my vision of the earthly order of rule blurs. Does my respect wane? I will remember my commitment to scripture, but I’m not perfect. I grumble as my esteemed leaders alter the lives of my family and friends, but I’m grateful that we’re still free. I balk as I toss items into my shopping cart, but I’m glad the shelves are still stocked. I hurt over the the border crisis, both for the well-being of my country and for the multitude desperately seeking refuge. It only proves life is much worse in other parts of the world. I consider the protesters chanting about things they don’t understand, and I wonder how people can be so easily deceived, but I’m aware of the power of deceit in these last days. I shake my head as our double-minded leadership both spouts support and disavows Israel. That, of all things, will not end well for us.

Did I expect things to go smoothly at this time in history? No. Do I understand from studying the scriptures that things will only get worse? Yes. I'll still pray for my leaders, whomever they may be. I will still vote in November, God willing. But the next election will not change the course of prophecy. God has a plan, and He will accomplish it. 

While I care about my country, and other places, I’m not worried. I’m living in Biblical times, and I’ll watch with wonderment as the plan unfolds. I’ll do my best to respect and support my earthly leaders, as long as God commands it. But I have another leader, a ruler all-together supreme. He was not appointed, nor born into a monarchy. He was not elected. He was and is and is to come. I will forever ascribe the true title of Your Majesty to no one else.

 

To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. 

                                                                 Jude vs 24-25

 

Do We Still Need the Ten Commandments?

 First published January 2019

An article I read last week told how prominent pastor Andy Stanley declared that churches should no longer erect monuments of the Ten Commandments because the old covenant does not apply to Christians. After reading the article, and many of the heated comments that followed, I considered my own feelings when the Ten Commandments were removed from the sanctuary at the church I attend.

The lovely banners—five commandments on one and five on another—were handsewn by some of the older ladies in the congregation. The monuments were erected over the side doors near the front of our large sanctuary. They hung there for years. Then one day they were gone, replaced by modern wall décor reading on one side: LOVE GOD You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind. Matthew 22:37. On the other side: LOVE OTHERS Love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:39.

I smiled at the change, considering it good to remove the old banners and replace them with the simple, two-part New Testament command of Christ. Afterall, we are a church built on the gospel, not the law. We know we can’t keep the law, that our only hope is in the One who came to fulfill the law. We know that living by this new covenant command will guide us to keep the Big Ten: (Yes, I’m paraphrasing.) Don’t accept any gods other than God, don’t establish idols, don’t use God’s name in vain, set aside a day for rest and worship (Yes, I go to church on Sunday.), honor your parents, don’t murder, don’t cheat on your spouse, don’t steal, don’t tell lies about people, don’t yearn for other people’s stuff, privileges, talents, or blessings.

But if we’re no longer obligated to keep the Ten as our code of conduct, does that mean we can forget our history? Are we to denounce the validity and lasting measure of the entire work of the Holy Scripture? The words newly poised in our sanctuary were all we needed to obey the ten laws that used to hang above us. But should those old laws be forgotten, stowed away like an out-of-fashion historical document?

I’m not sure that’s what was suggested in the article I read, or that I was able to grasp Andy Stanley’s full intent in what he had to say about the Ten Commandments. I’m quite sure others who read the piece were left with a blurred perspective. To put it in biblical terms, the article sowed discord among the brethren.

The pastor’s suggestions, whether good or bad, were directed at the church. For decades, the Ten Commandment have been forcefully removed from public view in court houses, schools, and other places. I’d rather see them removed from a gospel-centered church than a courtroom. Whether Jew or Christian, citizen or foreigner, these ten laws God handed down through the ancient Hebrews formed a foundation of civility and order, rightness in community, and respect for proper governing. Our country was built on such laws, and they benefit any civilization wise enough to adopt them. Even the atheist, who may choose to omit the first four commandments for lack of acceptance, will find a better life by obeying the last six. The unbeliever must realize that to break one of these outdated commands will, even today, bring detrimental consequences.

As a New Testament Christian, I’m not required to live by the old law or even know it in its entirety. I won’t attempt to recall every rule pertaining to meat, or fabric, or what course of offering amends what type of sin. But it seems living by the Big Ten should be easy enough for a Christian. Well, maybe not. Maybe we don’t live in a polytheistic culture, but we still put other things ahead of God. Maybe we don’t erect golden idols, but we stare into the glow of our TVs and PCs and smart phones. What about the Sabbath? It’s a source of contention for some believers. Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath. Enough said.

My offenses and misperceptions are covered by the righteousness of Christ. Even so, I’ll strive to follow Him, which means some things are just wrong, no matter what covenant you’re under. I should hope that any church building void of a display of the Ten Commandments is filled with members who have etched those ancient decrees on their hearts.

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Part IV: Theophobia: America Has Turned on Religion

This is part IV of my series. To read previous posts, click on these titles:

Introduction: Another Civil War in America? 

Part I: Racism: The Church, the Media, and the New Definition of Racist 

Part II: Abortion: A Once Private Decision That Became a Celebrated National Demand

Part III: Potusphobia: Fear, Hate, and the President  

A few recent articles. Click on the titles read:

Does the Democratic Party have a God problem?

America’s Changing Religious Identity

How Religious Fear is Shaping the Culture War

Hail Satan?:How a documentary is turning people into Satanists  

Decline of Christianity in America continuing at rapid pace, poll finds

AG Barr Says America Was Founded on Christian Values,Progressive Group Calls Statement “Toxic Christian Nationalism”

Atheists sound the alarm: Decline of Christianity is seriously hurting society

Definition of theophobia: a morbid fear or hatred of God, or an irrational fear of religion.

In my last post, I used a new word, potusphobia, to describe how some citizens feel about the current president. This week's subject, theophobia, is nothing new. This particular fear is recognized, classified, and experienced by a large portion of the U.S. population. Fear of God is not so much an issue—not anymore. Few are left who fear His wrath, His judgment. Perhaps I’ve brought to your mind a cowering fear, a lightning bolt from Heaven anxiety. For those who’ve experienced God, and have been transformed by the gospel, fear of God is not like that. As one redeemed by the blood of Christ, I don’t fear His wrath. But I do fear His discipline. In other words, I have a healthy respect for His awesome power, knowing that He loves me enough to set me straight. But if you don’t believe that He is, then you can’t believe that He will. If you’ve worked Him out of your worldview then you don’t fear Him.

Hatred is another issue. The unbelieving soul hates the God it denies. On some level, this is true of all who are lost in unbelief. It’s in our nature to oppose God. In our post-Christian culture, the idea that some people still consider faith a viable life choice increases the hate and extends it. Hatred is growing against believers, laws supporting the believer’s right to believe, and public displays of belief.

This applies to the Christian Church, but also to other religions. Some believe Islam deserves our government’s protection and support, while others fear the Muslim people, considering them all terrorists. As well, anti-Semitism is on the rise in America and around the world. As fear of religion increases, so do rogue, dangerous religious activities. Satanism and witchcraft are both increasing in popularity.

As evil becomes mainstream, the true Church is blasted as an organization no longer representing America's heritage. No longer do we reflect on our history of Christianity as positive. Christians resist progress. Christians don’t care about the environment. Christians don’t like anyone who’s different. They don’t support the rights of others. It’s the Christians who are the haters. And all the rest are filled with love. 

It’s not that I don’t see how some people, like cattle drawn into a stampede, fall in line with this mindset, with a culture shift leaving Christianity on the barren ground to be trampled upon. I’m not crying about my rights. There is no “woe is me” and I’m not opposed to viewing the Church from the eyes of an outsider. I understand why some people have built a wall against Christianity.

But I won’t ever trade my freedom for the chains of their supposed enlightenment. Christians do value God’s creation. We delight in diversity. As American Christians, we ought to uphold the rights of every religious group. If they lose theirs, we lose ours. Christians, if they truly follow Christ, love others. Those who can’t stand our presence—and I don’t mean this in a hateful way—are filled not with love, but with lies.

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Isaiah 5: 20-21

Even so, if we’re following Christ in truth, we will keep on loving others, including the ones who hate us. The stampede drags in some who don’t know better. They don’t know they’re about to run off a cliff. They don’t even know why they’re running. It’s hatred for God and fear of His Kingdom that goads them. And there is no hope for them apart from the redeeming love of Christ. If I were one of them, I’d be theophobic too.

Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. John 3: 18-19

Is it possible that theophobia will lead to civil unrest? In many ways, it already has. But all-out war? If it happens, I will stand with my brothers and sisters in Christ even to the point of detainment, even unto death. If I remain alive and free, I pray I might offer refuge to Christians, Muslims, Jews, and anyone else imperiled by a war against religion. That's what Jesus would do. Only the Light can dispel the darkness.

Post-Election Expectations

The votes have been counted, and now the most obnoxious commercials on TV once again involve blue bears and their weird relationship with toilet paper. During the pre-election media blast, the politicians began to sound like cartoon characters. Blue bears. Red bears. Working to wipe away skepticism, accused of great nastiness by the opposing bears, they left voters speculating if any of them were worthy of the vote. Nevertheless, the good citizens voted, and the cartoon bears, red and blue, have been chosen. 

Of course, they’re real men and women who've been given the daunting responsibility of leadership. The voters, whether pleased or disappointed, whether clinging to tradition or demanding change, must step back and observe the results of their choices. The new leaders of America might usher in revolution, but probably not. They might enforce tried principles, but they’ll make allowances. They might uphold the Constitution, or inch toward dissolving it. No matter theme of the show, conflict will carry the plot.

But ideological opposition has always been the meat of robust discussion. It summons indignation, demands protest, and then rests on a point well proven. At least, that’s way it should be. It’s not a matter of clinging to the old institution of respect that ought to keep the displeased citizen and the politician in check, but rather the historical decree of the Constitution. The value of an opinion is not so much its content as its right to be formed and stated. Warring over words has long been acceptable. Taking away someone’s freedom, their livelihood, or their life is not. The demanding wave of hostility flooding this nation must be curbed.

The representatives elected by the people have the power to ease the tension or encourage it. They may continue to come off as cartoon bears, waving their cottony-fresh demands like only they can. Or they may strike sensible solutions to the biggest problems this nation has faced in generations: immigration, healthcare, education, corruption, and so much more. But they may not be able to solve the bigger problem—the splintering of Americans into seething factions. Civil disagreement has been replaced by deafening hatred. The enraged, rioting citizens demanding change should beware of a society ruled by the thought police, the language patrol, and the non-elected regime. The cry for unified public opinion will not lead to unity but may end with the stripping away of the rights once held dear by all Americans.

Election day brought a few surprises, but for some voters it passed anti-climactic. For others, it offered relief. For all, it affirmed an altered political forum—one which can be readdressed the next time the votes are cast. Until then, may those who govern conduct themselves with respect, honor, and tolerance for the opposition. And may the good citizens of this great nation follow their prudent example.