Light Brings Salt
Volume 2, Issue 41
Iron Range Bible
Church
Dedicated to the
Systematic Exposition of the Word of God
Christianity-The Culture-The
National Election
by
Ron Merryman
Historically, Christianity has always confronted some aspect of
cultural norms and standards. Picture Jesus cleansing the Jewish Temple (John 2):
or Peter confronting the Sanhedrin (Acts 4): or Paul
challenging the city fathers and pagan philosophers of
Romanticizing Ancient
We have inherited a romanticized view of Greco-Roman culture
from secular historians who extol its resurrection during the Renaissance (many
of whom would wish the Reformation had never taken place!). Recent worldwide
coverage of the Olympic Games in
The Today Show even had an historian comment on the nature and
magnificence of this ancient architectural structure. Much to the delight of
native Grecians, the glories of their ancient past were extolled.
I hate to be a skunk at a garden party, but ancient Greek
culture had much that needed challenging... and Christianity initially
expressed in
Hill: And
Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said,
"Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all
respects. For while I was passing through and
examining the objects of your worship, I
also found an altar with this inscription, 'TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.' What
therefore you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. "
(Acts 17:22-23)
Paul and the Athenian Culture
Paul cut to the heart of the matter: the religious nature of the
people and the nature of the gods they invented and then worshipped. It was not
that they were non-religious. They were in fact scrupulously religious! Since
men invented these deities, they modeled all the evils, corruption, and
calamities of the human race: they lied, schemed,
raped, committed incest, warred against one another, just as do men.
And lest the Athenians offend a god of whom they were ignorant,
they erected a statue "To the unknown god." They religiously sought
to cover all the bases! Sounds like something you would see or hear at
Paul's rational challenge runs like this (v.23): -"I
OBSERVED the objects (idols) of your worship..."
-"I SAW the altar dedicated `To the Unknown God'... in
worship, you acknowledge your ignorance..."
-"I AM ANNOUNCING to you who this unknown God is: He is
knowable."
ATHENIANS HAD ABSOLUTELY NO CONCEPT OF AN INFINITELY RIGHTEOUS
GOD, MUCH LESS A SAVIOUR WHOSE SELF-SACRIFICE MET ALL THE DEMANDS OF THAT
RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Keeping
Keep
Athenians were ignorant of the one true God and His absolute
holiness. In a snowballing effect, the culture mimicked its gods and the gods
the culture. The Parthenon was the
The Apostle Paul well knew the evils of that culture, but his
message focused on the nature and actions of the one true God and His Son,
Jesus Christ. Paul's Athenian experience
illustrates that: -culture is not the answer; -philosophy is not the answer;
-human-viewpoint education is not the answer; -rhetoric is not the answer.
ONLY THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST BRINGS MEN TO THE ONE
TRUE GOD, AND GOD'S CULTURAL NORMS ARE TRANSFORMING!
Christianity has always challenged some aspect of the culture.
The real issue: How does Jesus Christ fit the cultural scene? What are HEALTHY
cultural norms and standards from Christ's point of view? We are not talking
Theocracy Here Biblically
informed people are not looking for a theocratic government: they know that
that waits solely on the Second Coming of Christ. It is not ours to
convert the culture. It is ours to express and reinforce Divine viewpoint at
every opportunity... in the workplace, in the marketplace, in the schools, in
the public forum, in the political arena, in debates on world-view. We must
clarify Divine viewpoint to the culture. And historically Christianity has
always influenced the culture in which it found expression. Picture
Colonial America or
The influences of the Gospel were profound. Neo-paganism in
21" Century America must be met with incisive and accurate biblical
challenges. Our moral and ethical free fall must be confronted with truth.
Those whom we choose to represent us in government need to be tested by Divine
standards.
As you go to the poles on November 2, it is right and fair to
ask, "What place does Christ and His values have with the person for whom
I vote?" In many cases, that question will be hard to answer, but in some,
it will not. Obviously this requires the biblical moxi
to correctly perceive the issues and the courage to stand-up for the truth of
God's Word. I hope you have both.
Who
Deserves Your Vote?
by Bernard Hertel,
(a Board member of Merryman
Ministries.)
In the winds of current political debate and discussion, I have
decided to share my presuppositions and assumptions upon which I expect to
select candidates this fall. I believe that we must defend against tyranny. To give an inch,
we would lose a mile. A weak nation invites assault and is a target for terrorism. Military
strength by its very existence and presence can preclude the need to use force.
Tranquility is promoted by strength.
A strong military secures our society. No weak nation is
respected, nor tolerated. Strong nations can defend themselves or their allies.
Strong nations can thwart the terrorist or defuse trouble before it escalates.
We need to decide to make military strength a priority. Military strength is
the precursor to liberty, progress and prosperity.
The freedoms of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness begin
with life. We must defend life at all costs,
or the liberty and pursuit of happiness are meaningless. It would be myopic to
think that we don't need to defend the freedoms that we have. Some in the world
hate that we have the freedoms we enjoy. Many have sacrificed everything to get
to
Family life is the centerpiece of society. As the family is
being attacked on all sides, our society suffers. The family engenders values
and core beliefs that become the fabric of our culture. Without core values and
absolutes, anarchy emerges and prevails. Strong families are the underpinning
and foundation of strong nations.
Civil government must be strong and respected. Its rightful
mission and goal is to encourage good and punish evil. The authority that civil
government has comes from God. Without order, anarchy precludes freedom. We must remember
our true historical roots. A revisionist teaching of history will only force us
to repeat the mistakes of our ignorance.
In this era of "tolerance" our constitution still
guarantees the freedom of speech to all. We should not assume that
"tolerance" excludes this freedom for some. In an age of
"Political Correctness" government
still must encourage good and punish evil or it is no government at all, but
simply a precursor to totalitarianism.
Tax reductions and tax relief must be made permanent. The
individual can spend his own money better than the government can do it for him. This develops
responsibility for what we have and encourages a committed work force. We must
not ask the government to do for us what we should do for ourselves.
The "Entitlement Mentality" is a parasite that siphons
off enthusiasm, depletes pride, stifles creativity and drains public coffers,
while burdening the taxpayer. Accountability provides the springboard to
success. Set your personal goal, strive to achieve it and reap the blessings of
hard work, a job well done and goal accomplished. Government should not hinder
you with regulation and
loop holes, but should get out to the way of those willing to chart the course,
set sail and arrive at an unambiguous port.
A Free Market economy will sort out winners and losers because
successful entrepreneurs will be providing the best solutions and products as
selected by the consumer. The best ideas win. "Those serving the
needs of the consumer make a just and fair profit. Competition is good for
business and good for the consumer. Tariffs will diminish what free markets
promote. Isolationism will hurt competition in the long run and is short
sighted.
Legislation is to be made by Congress, signed or vetoed by the
Executive and interpreted by the Judiciary. Disrupting these assigned roles
derails contractual order, interferes with the balance of powers and makes the
masses subject to the will of the few. We are still a democratic republic, a
government of the people, by the people, and for the people.
The fabric of society is made up of many diversely talented
people who contribute to the general welfare in many ways. Our diversity is our
strength to build upon but we must have our sight on a common vision of unity
for the common good or our diversity will divide us. We all have a debt to pay
to society. As we enjoy the American experience we should also contribute. No
man is an island.
Religious freedom is central to
Ours is a society that promotes the common good, the most good
for the greatest number of people. Above all, our government allows us to carry
on our business, lead our families and worship our God knowing that if order
prevails, good will triumph, and evil will be punished. For all the faults our
system of government exhibits, it has stood the test of time and provides
stability for our lives.
You have every right to disagree with me as I might with you.
This is a society of the free exchange of ideas. Social dialog is the right of
all. Although no one can force another to follow their paradigm, they have the
right to think, believe and express their views and ideas. I will defend to the
utmost your right to disagree with me. The totalitarian alternative is
untenable. Our right to vote is a
great privilege we enjoy. We have a say in selecting those who will represent
and serve us in government. If we don't vote for the best candidate, an
oligarchy will govern in our stead. Our freedom has been bought with a price.
Freedom is really not free, but energy and effort must be exerted to maintain
it. Voting for the candidate whom you believe is best able to rule righteously,
make the difficult decisions and will stand on principle to achieve our common
good, is vital to the future of our nation.