Bonnie Alba
God's political favorites?
By Bonnie Alba
This season's election campaigns have offended most Americans with mudslinging and shameful commercialization. One Democrat, Harold Ford Jr. of Tennessee, claims that God is on the side of the Democratic Party because they "fear and love the Lord" while those in the Republican Party only "fear the Lord." The man is making presumptions of God.
This coincides with an October interactive-online Harris poll, telling in its results. The 2010 adults were surveyed on: Belief in God — 79 percent; Absolutely certain there is a God: 66 percent. Of 2010 adults who claimed to be Catholic-Protestant, Jewish or Born Again Christians, 44 percent were not certain of God's existence.
Non-belief in God's existence would not have even arisen during the 1700s. At the 1787 Constitutional Convention when the debate grew heated, it was that old deist Benjamin Franklin who spoke in an attempt to bring calmness and reason back to the forefront of the states' debate.
Part of Franklin's speech when agreement seemed impossible:
"...In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understanding?
To that kind Providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful Friend? or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance. I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth — that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?..."
He appealed to these men, regardless of political beliefs, to look up, to realize their wisdom fell short of the Creator's. Franklin ended with, "...I therefore beg leave to move — that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessing on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the (Christian) clergy of this city be requested to officiate in that service."
Of one accord, all present recognized God as the Supreme Governor and acknowledged his power, providence and blessings on this fledging nation. America has moved far from its august beginnings, politically and otherwise.
Government leaders are a reflection of the society as a whole; divisive in its extremes, leftist, non-God-fearing liberals continue to make inroads, unraveling the once godly fabric of America. Sadly our nation is in a state of religious disintegration as cultural idols and materialistic gods continue to influence the people, replacing God and His Word. Our leaders may privately worship God, but are rebuffed and ridiculed if they publicly proclaim God.
America's departure from her fundamental identity as a Christian nation and today's lack of fear (reverence) and love of God is not remarkable in any way. We are not any different from God's chosen people, the Israelites, whom God called a "stiff-necked people," quick to break any covenant He made with them.
This is the same God who brought plagues upon Egypt in defense of His chosen people, yet allowed surrounding tribal nations to attack the Israelites to discipline them. This is the same merciful God who brings blessings and restrains evil. This is the same God whose wrath is continually being seen, but rationalized by man as accidents or natural events. This is the same God who will shake the Earth and completely withdraw His Hand of restraint and allow mankind's self-destruction, turning water to blood, darkening the sun and the moon.
He is the same, patient God who, from the beginning, created the plan to reconcile fallen mankind to His Holiness and Righteousness so that they could live eternally with Him. He patiently waits for those who would believe in His Son, Jesus Christ.
To claim God's favor on any one political party dishonors God. God owns both parties, all of us. He "...knows the number of our days" on earth.
Individually and nationally, we should be like Isaiah when he saw the Lord God on Heaven's throne surrounded by angels: "Woe is me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."(Isaiah 6:5)
Our cry should be, "Woe is us!"
© Bonnie Alba
This season's election campaigns have offended most Americans with mudslinging and shameful commercialization. One Democrat, Harold Ford Jr. of Tennessee, claims that God is on the side of the Democratic Party because they "fear and love the Lord" while those in the Republican Party only "fear the Lord." The man is making presumptions of God.
This coincides with an October interactive-online Harris poll, telling in its results. The 2010 adults were surveyed on: Belief in God — 79 percent; Absolutely certain there is a God: 66 percent. Of 2010 adults who claimed to be Catholic-Protestant, Jewish or Born Again Christians, 44 percent were not certain of God's existence.
Non-belief in God's existence would not have even arisen during the 1700s. At the 1787 Constitutional Convention when the debate grew heated, it was that old deist Benjamin Franklin who spoke in an attempt to bring calmness and reason back to the forefront of the states' debate.
Part of Franklin's speech when agreement seemed impossible:
"...In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understanding?
To that kind Providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful Friend? or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance. I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth — that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?..."
He appealed to these men, regardless of political beliefs, to look up, to realize their wisdom fell short of the Creator's. Franklin ended with, "...I therefore beg leave to move — that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessing on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the (Christian) clergy of this city be requested to officiate in that service."
Of one accord, all present recognized God as the Supreme Governor and acknowledged his power, providence and blessings on this fledging nation. America has moved far from its august beginnings, politically and otherwise.
Government leaders are a reflection of the society as a whole; divisive in its extremes, leftist, non-God-fearing liberals continue to make inroads, unraveling the once godly fabric of America. Sadly our nation is in a state of religious disintegration as cultural idols and materialistic gods continue to influence the people, replacing God and His Word. Our leaders may privately worship God, but are rebuffed and ridiculed if they publicly proclaim God.
America's departure from her fundamental identity as a Christian nation and today's lack of fear (reverence) and love of God is not remarkable in any way. We are not any different from God's chosen people, the Israelites, whom God called a "stiff-necked people," quick to break any covenant He made with them.
This is the same God who brought plagues upon Egypt in defense of His chosen people, yet allowed surrounding tribal nations to attack the Israelites to discipline them. This is the same merciful God who brings blessings and restrains evil. This is the same God whose wrath is continually being seen, but rationalized by man as accidents or natural events. This is the same God who will shake the Earth and completely withdraw His Hand of restraint and allow mankind's self-destruction, turning water to blood, darkening the sun and the moon.
He is the same, patient God who, from the beginning, created the plan to reconcile fallen mankind to His Holiness and Righteousness so that they could live eternally with Him. He patiently waits for those who would believe in His Son, Jesus Christ.
To claim God's favor on any one political party dishonors God. God owns both parties, all of us. He "...knows the number of our days" on earth.
Individually and nationally, we should be like Isaiah when he saw the Lord God on Heaven's throne surrounded by angels: "Woe is me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."(Isaiah 6:5)
Our cry should be, "Woe is us!"
© Bonnie Alba
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