There have always been those who set themselves above everyone else and even above God. They believe they can interpret what God has said better than even God. If God doesn’t move according to their understanding or standards, they feel free to reinterpret what must be true. They free to make a golden calf, thus redefining God’s intentions. Sometimes this is based on fear of the future, or genuine misunderstanding, but most often it is based upon hatred and rejection of God and His stated plans. There are plenty golden calf followers with us today. One of the most vocal today is Kurt Eichenwald of Newsweek magazine. In an article titled The Bible: So Misunderstood It’s a Sin he writes –

“They wave their Bibles at passersby, screaming their condemnations of homosexuals. They fall on their knees, worshipping at the base of granite monuments to the Ten Commandments while demanding prayer in school. They appeal to God to save America from their political opponents, mostly Democrats. They gather in football stadiums by the thousands to pray for the country’s salvation.

They are God’s frauds, cafeteria Christians who pick and choose which Bible verses they heed with less care than they exercise in selecting side orders for lunch. They are joined by religious rationalizers—fundamentalists who, unable to find Scripture supporting their biases and beliefs, twist phrases and modify  translations to prove they are honoring the Bible’s words.”

He is obviously over stating the facts but, he does highlight a common weakness in some Christian witnessing; the application of truth like a Pharisee rather than like Jesus Christ. Pharisees would stone a Stephen for disagreeing with them but Jesus condemned the sin of His day while holding out the hope of salvation to the sinner. One acted in hate while the other acts in love. It does not mean we accept the sin but that we remember God wants all to be saved. We must learn to apply truth to today’s culture as God does.

When truth is applied to government and politics it does not bear the label Democrat, Republican, Tea party, or Independent, it should only bear the label Jesus because He alone is the Truth. If this makes you uncomfortable, get used to it – it is the standard by which we will all be eventually judged.

Our present government is filled with Pharisee-ism where who you can impress or gain favor by is more important than the truth. Honor and justice are forgotten concepts and your word is not even as important as the paper is was written on or the mike is was spoken through. The following story of the awarding of the Medal of Honor to a living soldier, Staff Sargent Giunta, certainly illustrates this. Please watch it and pass it on.

But, we must remember, in all countries, we get the leaders God gives because of our prayers or lack of them.

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