So, apparently Stephen Colbert went to speak before a Congressional hearing on farm workers and jobs, having been invited by one of the Democrats on the committee panel… and testify he did, with his shtick. Funny, right?

You know, it’s one thing to be a celebrity and to use your fame to bring attention to a particular cause. Fine; I get that and don’t necessarily have a problem with it. It’s another thing entirely to do so “in character”, specifically before a governing body. Granted, Congress doesn’t need anyone to make a fool or mockery of themselves – they do it enough on their own and don’t need any extra help – but there is an expected level of decorum, of respect, desired and expected.

I’m not even going to go into the details of what exactly Mr. Colbert said and did; feel free to do that on your own, and considering that this occurred in the news today, I suspect it’ll continue to make the weekend news and Monday news circuit. Good going Mr. Colbert, you’re getting plenty of coverage, but is it good?

Satire is a fine art. It takes skill and few are truly good at it. It’s a fine line between satire and insult. Satire is svelte mocking. To be sure, often times, one man’s humor is another man’s boredom or inferred slander. Certainly too, Mr. Colbert mocks conservatives and conservatism by pretending to be an over-the-top boorish blowhard. Republicans in the committee and room were not amused, while a number of Democrats and their staffers found some of Mr. Colbert’s antics amusing. Yet, Mr. Colbert found himself removed and escorted from the Capitol. Clearly he had gone too far.

This is not the first time that Mr. Colbert has crossed the line from satire into outright insult, sticking his foot in his mouth at the wrong time, in the wrong place, with the wrong crowd. Several years ago Mr. Colbert spoke at a press dinner with then president Bush. You can imagine how that went down.

And if you haven’t figured out by now, I’ve no use nor respect for Mr. Colbert. I have disliked his antics long before I knew what his ideologies were. You see, Mr. Colbert got his start on The Daily Show, in a regular routine where he interviewed people. The sole purpose of these interviews was to make the people interviewed look like complete idiots and fools. Clever choice of questions and no doubt clever editing.

Don’t forget that he and Mr. Stewart have jumped on the rally bandwagon – all in the name of serious satire of course. It’s one thing to be a fool for Christ, or thought a fool having done something good, but another thing entirely to be thought a fool for being a fool.

I doubt many of Mr. Colbert’s admirers will think ill of him for his antics, instead applauding him. I doubt it will lose him many viewers, however, I suspect that he is instead harming his chances of increasing viewership. Mockery is a sword that can cut both ways and Mr. Colbert is proved a feeble swordsman, even if he has a rapier wit.

As others have noted, Mr. Colbert’s shtick could come back to haunt Democrats. I wonder if that was part of his character, or due to his own hubris. Nice job Mr. Colbert, go pat yourself on the back, you earned it well.

Crossposted at: www.wadingacross.wordpress.com

Yesterday I had a long discussion with a very good friend of mine (one of the trio outside my wife). It naturally and largely focused on politics – given the opportunity we’d both be at a table from dusk till dawn discussing, debating and hammering out our thoughts on various issues – and I was reminded yet again of my effort and struggle that I’ve endeavored to relate in postings on this site; our relationship and life as Christians vis-a-vis the world, specifically the “political” arena.

I am an admitted conservative; depending upon the topic, perhaps fundamentalist. That said, I do vacilate, because I know that quite often, peace, harmony and reality are somewhere in the middle. Equilibrium. Balance.

Over the last year, and especially over this past summer, I’ve grown uneasy in my views of the Tea Party and various other conservative groups and general movement in our nation. My concern is that the pendulum is swinging wildly or too far in one direction, furthermore that “mission creep” could set in. Sure, the old establishment might change, but the new establishment might not be any better. Change for change’s sake is just as bad as staying put with tyranny. I have misgivings that the evident pushing of purely or primarily fiscal conservatism is going to get this nation truly back on its feet, more so in a direction of “Restoring Honor”.

It is clear that many within the conservative movement are religiously inclined, and that’s wonderful, but what I see is a compartmentalization of it.

I am not advocating a theocracy nor a “Christian America” per se. But if we’re going back to our foundational roots, we need to acknowledge that faith and religion had a place in politics – something certainly sorely missing now, and something being treated still with kid gloves apparently by those in the “grass-roots movement”. Glenn Beck’s “Restoring Honor” rally touched on trying to re-assert faith into the public discourse, but I have my concerns about that, as I’ve noted previously (and I’m not going to bother linking them, just peruse the tag cloud and archives).

So what am I to do, and what are we to do? Disengage? Certainly not. We need to engage, but balance is the key. And just like standing on a fulcrum, it’s difficult.

I have called for revival and believe that is the only thing which will save this nation. Yes, certainly it would be glorious to see every person saved, and this nation be 100% for Christ, but I cannot assume that will happen – certainly not until or after the Lord returns. However, such a spiritual movement I believe will affect what would really change this nation. The home, the family, and the mores and values of this nation.

The breakdown of the family is a primary factor in the breakdown of this nation. If a majority of this nation were to turn their hearts back to God, like 2 Chron. 7:14, I truly believe we’d see a real restoration of this nation from the bottom up, not top down.

That’s the problem. The Tea Party bills itself as true grass-roots organizing, and that’s great; and they’re focusing on affecting change in our political leadership, and that’s great too, but, I believe it’s lopsided in its approach, as evidenced by its appeal, membership and planks. You cannot legislate or deregulate a nation into real restoration.

It also cannot be done by holding hands across religous aisles. The god of Mohammed and the gods of Hindi are not the God of the Jew nor the Christian. And that is a major flaw in the actions of individuals such as Glenn Beck who seem to believe they’re some sort of modern prophet. Mr. Beck says and does many good things, but he’s also selling snake oil of which he’s sadly ignorant of the fact.

Richard Land – of whom lately I’ve lost a great deal of respect for his ecumenical dealings with Beck – notes that Biblically we have three realms as Christians in which we operate: Family, Church and Government. We are to find and have a balance in that operation and life.

Lastly, we who call ourselves Christians must not forget that Christ comes first and foremost, always. He is preemminent and we cannot just compartmentalize nor shelve Him and our faith when we enter into the political arena, whether merely voting or as an elected official. Our faith and our beliefs; He must be the lens thru which we view our life and our politics and season our analysis and applications. The person who places the Constitution before the Bible has made a scripture and even an idol of a man-made law. Contrary to Mr. Beck’s assertion, The Declaration and The Constitution are not Divinely inspired nor Scripture. And the citizen, statesman or politician that does not balance their faith and Bible with our laws doesn’t know how our founding fathers operated either (And frankly I need to learn myself!). For this reason, the Tea Party focusing purely on fiscal issues (as they give lip service to socially conservative ideas), while certainly important, give me serious pause as to blindly and blithely following them. I follow no man but Christ.

It is for each of us to walk steadily, for each of us to find our own balance, and as always, be cautious and glorify and magnify Christ in all that you do. In the end, no doubt we’ll have to recognize too that we’re all still not going to be on the same page as Christians. We are not robots; we are not the Borg. Some very ardent Christians make compelling arguments for being “Republican”, and others, “Tea Party Patriots”, but for me, for now, I’ll continue to focus more on my personal walk and working on my family and church life. Maybe we all need to as well?

Here are two other views on the role/relationship of Christians and government:

John MacArthur BINGO, he nails it!

LeaderU

– Cross posted at www.wadingacross.wordpress.com

If you hadn’t heard, Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert are having “dueling” events in Washington D.C.

My first response was, “But of course,” as I rolled my eyes.

I’ll admit, I don’t think highly of Stewart or Colbert. The few snippets I’ve watched of their shows, maybe only once or twice did they get me to crack a grin. I like some good satire and humor, but theirs is quit unfunny, contrived (in my opinion) and in general just mean-spirited. Years ago – when I had cable – I tried to watch their shows, but I couldn’t stomach them or their methods. The Daily Show used to actually be fun to watch, when Craig Kilborn was on it, but even then, I recall Colbert on that show, and his segments were detestable.

I find it a sad indicator of our society that so many young people look to the Daily Show and Colbert’s show as good news sources, much less news mediums at all. And this goes for many Christians too, who think it no problem to watch a channel that demeans Christ and Christianity – while cowing to Islam – and later to watch some comedy mixed with “news”. We are to be in the world but not of it people. This isn’t to say you cannot watch secular media or comedy, but what is happening to your heart and your soul as you watch? Is this glorifying God? Is it edifying?

This rally is truly nothing more than a stunt. Comedy Central and these shows in question have a history of covering the election cycles, and it’s clearly evident that they are playing off of Glenn Beck’s recent event on Sept. 28th. Satire is one thing, but to go to such lengths… the mockery says more about those putting it together than those they wish to mock. Pitiful.

The event is legitimate. Money has been spent(?), a date is set, but I wonder how many people will show up? Furthermore, what do they expect to do with it, and get out of it? A little bump in viewership?

The fact is that liberals, progressives and Democrats have their backs against the wall, and are in quite a depressed slump – rightly and gladly so – and I doubt such an event is going to rally their base. It has been pointed out to me that many people who watch Glenn Beck, Bill O’Reilly and other conservatives also watch these shows on Comedy Central, and to that all I can say is, “What a further, sad commentary.” More so if people who had attended the 8/28 event attended this event. Frankly, I don’t see it happening. As well, I’m going to speculate that many of the people who watch both shows are doing so with some well-grounded thinking. I suspect that the majority of people who watch both shows are fairly set in their particular ideological mindset.

Three things: First, how many are going to show up? I seriously doubt that the organizers are going to get anywhere near the half-million turn-out that Mr. Beck got. My guess is that it’ll be somewhere between Al Sharpton’s turn-out and 100k. Nothing to sneeze at, but will certainly exemplify the dichotomy in this nation and whatever “rational” thought Stewart and Colbert are trying to exhort.

Secondly, I have a feeling that the “mood” of this event will be much more “base” than that which occurred on 8/28. I foresee signs, costumes, epithets, pink shirts and plenty of “reasonable” behavior of a more secular, moderate (liberal) slant. All in the name of satire marketed as something “sane”.

Thirdly, I wonder what the aftermath is going to look like. Conservative events make a concerted effort to keep things clean. After the 9/12 events of this year and last year, as well as the 8/28 event, great care was taken to make sure that the Mall was spotless. Contrast that to Mr. Obama’s inauguration or any time a large crowd of liberals and Democrats get together. It’s always interesting to note that Democrats and liberals laud themselves as friends of the environment, yet they seem to have no problem being trashy people, whereas Republicans and conservatives, “foes” of the environment, try very hard to respect monuments, the land and the environment.

All in all, after hearing about this upcoming Comedy Central event, I’m ambivalent, and do not believe it’ll amount to much of anything, though to be sure, Mr. Stewart and Mr. Colbert – and no doubt many on msnbc – will find a way to spin it positively.

You can be sure that many on the right will be scrutinizing this event and will make sure to evaluate it.

And lastly, here’s a different take. Rightly so, if Stewart and Co. can pull out a larger crowd – in a shorter period of time – than Mr. Beck, it most certainly would send a message to the nation. But, I just don’t see that happening, even if apparently 125k people on Facebook say they’re going.

– This article will be crossposted at www.wadingacross.wordpress.com

The struggle I am having right now – and no doubt many of you who think my half-pence worth a nickel – is finding the right balance, where and if compromise is acceptable and necessary. If you hadn’t figured it out, I’m talking about faith and politics; specifically, Christianity and involvement in our government and political system at any and all levels. Actually it’s a struggle and internal debate I’ve had since I could vote; and, then began voting. To be honest as well, there’ve been times I’ve “held my nose” and compromised, voting for a candidate/party I wasn’t pleased with, and there’ve been times I’ve voted strictly along principles, knowing full well that my candidate/issue of choice had zero chance of winning.

The last two years, and moreso the last six months have heightened that internal debate for me as our nation seems to be taken with a swell of conservatism, anti-incumbency, smaller government, etc. It’s a “movement”, it’s a “revival”. Right? It’s “Restoration”! And yet, while initially I was excited by what I saw happening, as this “movement” begins to coalesce – to grow in power and influence and establish itself – I find myself stepping back and eyeing the whole thing with trepidation.

Let me point out that I’d love to see a smaller government, a more conservative government, fiscally and socially; and I hope the Tea Party and other such groups succeed in their efforts to remove Progressives and liberals from power and authority over this nation. But, all power corrupts, and it’s pure naïveté if the Tea Party and 9/12ers think that they’re going to be able to maintain “purity”. All it takes is one person and mission creep can set in, or a take-over can occur unbeknownst.

We laud our founding fathers, and great men they were, but, while they were awesome statesmen quite often they were horrible politicians. Within short order of this nation’s re-founding (from Confederation to Constitution), things began to shift. Some point to Andrew Jackson, but truth be told, we can see it beginning much earlier, with Adams and Jefferson and even in the Supreme Court. Adams and Jefferson helped found this nation, yet they would eventually accept ideas that previously they’d felt weren’t good. Adams, the Alien and Sedition Acts. Jefferson, the Louisiana Purchase.

The truth is, a great percentage of this nation has not and will not ever pay much attention to or see the importance of our government and politics until it directly impacts them and it’s time to vote – and even then many people don’t care or don’t see themselves as worthwhile in the grand scheme. Perhaps it is because I have had an interest in political things for over a decade that I’m more attuned, and thus the internal struggle is there.

As a Christian who takes his faith and walk seriously, Christ/God must come first. And that creates the debate because what I see occurring politically – specifically amongst conservatives (and more so those that call themselves Christians) – is a placement of politics and this nation first. “Oh, faith and God has his place, but let’s focus on American Exceptionalism” and on “Making this nation great again!” by whatever means are on the table at the moment. I see this time and again on conservative political sites, and it seems that most of these individuals are glibly unaware of what they’re espousing. If you go against their grain, you’re liable to be called a ‘moby’ (fake, troll, plant), ignorant, liberal, or just not thinking things thru, don’t have all of the facts, etc. Frankly many of the same charges can be put right back in their laps. I believe most people on those sites are reactionary; not really thinking things thru. Not really thinking about what is most important.

Now, again, many Christians heavily interested in politics will point to the founding fathers, most of whom were very religious, even committed Christians. Yes, it’s true, those people found a way to mesh their beliefs with their political actions. But there is something different about then and now. Back then they were creating a new nation and were in a society that was not as large, diverse or compartmentalized as it is today. Today we are a nation well established, huge, diverse and highly compartmentalized. For good or ill. Whether we want to or not, you cannot just say, this is the way they did it in 1776, so that’s how we’ll do it today. Yes, in some respects you can, but in others not. I wonder too though, how much people on both sides of the ideological spectrums spiritually and socio-politically are cherry picking the past to see and apply what they want to the present? Perhaps many conservatives are making spiritual mountains out of molehills just as much as liberals have completely changed and marketed the definition of “separation of church and state” to fit their ends?

What is most important? How do we balance being people of faith, believing in a perfect God – that rightly demands preeminence – and a Kingdom and reward that are not Earthly, to living in a nation which allows us so many freedoms, privileges and opportunities? I wonder if many of us are forgetting and/or are not properly applying the Biblical maxim of ‘living in the world but not of it’. I believe that many Christians who follow and are involved in politics are “of” the world a bit too much. I say this because the evidence I’ve seen over the years is that many who call themselves devout believers are placing their politics loudly up front, while their faith takes a quiet back seat… even making politics and everything that comes with it their ‘mammon’.

This is most certainly not to say that Christians cannot be politicians or involved in government, and it’s certainly not to say that we cannot be effective because of our strong beliefs. I applaud Christians getting involved in the political arena and hope more get involved.

The problem is partly, strategy. The political game. Many would of course charge that it comes with the territory, that it’s necessary. Hogwash I say, and the current “movement” proves that the game doesn’t necessarily have to be followed, it can be changed.

The problem with the political game is that it has been taken over by a prior movement, progressivism, and it infects both parties to the core and has affected this nation societally for well over a century. That movement and its adherents have used the system against itself and reformulated it along the way in dribs and drabs to their own ends and goals. Conservatives and libertarians, taking the “high” road, have just kept playing along with the game, either ignorant or apathetic of what has occurred. As a similar example, Islamists in the West have been and are using our democratic laws against us within our own nations. The only difference is that they make no bones about it. They’re quite public. Of course, both they and liberals scream intolerance when you press them on it and try to stop them.

What is the political game? Winning and power. Control. The excuse and reasoning given is that if one side is in control, especially for a long period of time, laws, regulations and resultant societal/cultural shifts cannot be properly corrected unless things are massaged, compromised, done gradually.

Sometimes our laws and culture have gradually changed, and sometimes they’ve been abruptly changed, but the game is always compromise, and that to change things back takes “time”, another words, it’ll never happen or if it does, it’ll take a very long time. Excuse me… If things can shift quickly one way, they can just as easily shift another way quickly too. Too many well-meaning Christians and conservatives are all too willing to play the game, thinking that it not only the best way, but the only way, to win and to “change” things… or rather “restore/correct” them.

Perhaps it’s time to get radical, truly radical. Perhaps it’s time to stop playing the game, and more importantly stop worrying about whether you win or not. Contrary to popular belief, winning is not everything, nor is it very important in the grand scheme of life. Sure, it is important, but what is more important is perspective and priorities – specifically the state of our soul. Perhaps that’s why I’ve never been a sports person. It’s not that I’m uncompetitive or have zero athletic ability. I’m trim and like winning, but I realize that it’s not the end of the world if I don’t win something. Yet when the Cardinals or LSU loses, you’d think a person’s mother died, many get so morose. And when Obama won, for many, it was as if the world was ending and there would never be any way to recover. To be sure, there’s a lot of things Obama is doing and will do that will be virtually impossible to correct or change, and is and will make things here in the US very bad for a long time. But, is that the be all and end all?

It’s entirely possible that this nation will not survive as we know it – and in the very near future. As hard as that is for many Christians and conservatives to stomach, that is a concept that not only do you need to wrap your head around; but, you need to accept as plausible. Why? No nation has ever stayed on top of the civilizational heap forever. The mountain does not continually go up. Nations rise and nations fall. Nations, governments and people shift. There are things of greater importance than whether or not a conservative or Republican is in office. Your soul, your eternity, is more important than politics or the fate of this nation.

There are three ways you can affect change as far as I can tell. From the outside, the inside, or setting up a new system. I am not calling for a new Constitution, revolution, evolution or what-have-you. Perhaps we need to seriously consider a new system; starving the beast. The problem is that both of the main parties have institutionalized this nation into a two-party system. And while to be sure, both have big differences, they really are in effect two sides of the same coin. It was done in stages culturally, but the last nails on the coffin for third parties were hammered in over the last decade. Both the Republicans and Democrats came together behind closed doors and rewrote the rules in such a way that a third party will never gain national office (Presidency). So third parties or a multi-party system is not necessarily the way to go.

It’s interesting to note that both of the main parties do watch and listen to the third parties. As every national election cycle approaches, the Democrats usually take on the more liberal third party platform ideas and the Republicans do similarly with the conservative third parties. It’s about the votes after all, and what better way to remove votes from third parties than to show that you share their platform. With their rule changes and taking on of other planks, it’s evident that both major parties are certainly concerned about third parties. They don’t really care about the particular issues, but they do care about the power and voice represented.

Progressives and liberals have affected the Democrat party from the inside and the outside, while conservatives have largely tried to affect the Republican Party from the outside. While there are efforts to change the Republican Party from the inside, the Tea Party, 9/12ers and others are also trying to change the GOP from the inside. But is this the best method? I posit that the better method might be to “starve” them both. You don’t necessarily create a new party, but you effectively reboot the system, purging the infection in the process. The infections are the entrenched, progressive established leaders of both parties, though to be fair I’m focusing primarily on the Republicans. From what I can tell, and as far as I’m concerned, the Democrat Party can self-destruct under its own fractious obesity of progressive greed and relativism. I hold out hope that the Republican party can be purified, reformed and refurbished, to continue on. I suspect that at the very least, come 2012 the nation is going to see a complete revamping of the DNC with either the obliteration of the progressive wing, it going into hiding, or being booted out into the third parties, joing up with the Greens and such.

Starving the system of course means probable defeats. Horror of horrors you say; I say, “Good.” I heard a story recently of a coach who removed his whole first string of players with second string players because they wouldn’t listen to him. The team lost the game, but they took notice and realized the coach was the boss. Folks, we are the boss. We are the coach of this nation in a way. Certainly on a spiritual level, Christ is Lord of all – whether non-Christians realize it or not, or accept it or not – but politically, we determine the course of this nation. And that’s the problem; we have shirked or forgotten that. More importantly, we’ve bought into the lie that winning is everything and that a defeat cannot ever be overcome later. If that were true, the first time an athletic team loses a game, they should forfeit the season. You can learn from your mistakes. Losses can grow you.

On the face of it, that comes across as “We are the people we’ve been waiting for”, and in a sense that is true. But let’s not allow it to get to our head and change our perspectives. It is not, “I can do all things.” It is, “I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me.” If we do not put Christ first, we will always fail, even in our supposed successes.

I have stated it before, and I will continue to state it. The only way this nation will have a true restoration, a true course correction, and see improvements in our government – and the parties – are thru the power of God. Revival, real revival.

Someone said it sounded like I was waiting for a miracle from God and that I was implying we should all just sit back and do nothing in the mean time – just pray. Nope. The Bible is replete with stories of men and women and nations acting as they pray. King Hezekiah rebuilt and fortified walls and dug a tunnel for water to protect his nation and Jerusalem while he removed idol worship from the land and pleaded to the Lord in prayer for protection and a miracle. His nation was saved by the power of God. Yes, Hezekiah played his role and did what was good and necessary, but the reality is that only God saved Judah. The important thing to take away from that story is perspective and priorities. Hezekiah was a man of God. God came first and infused everything he did. He wasn’t willing to play by the pagan’s rules or Babylon’s rules. Yes, he wasn’t perfect. He was a flawed leader and individual like everyone else, but that doesn’t detract from what I’m focusing on, the actions of Hezekiah and the rescuing of the nation, at least for a time.

I look at what is going on amongst conservatives politically, and I see a lot of pride and a lot of nationalism. What I see occurring is a new religion of sorts which might be called Americana or Americanism. The roots of this ‘religion’ have been around for a long while. National pride; Nationalism. And I wonder if I haven’t seen a new phase of it rise up several weeks ago at the 8/28 rally. Yes, the United States is a wonderful nation, and I am glad that I was privileged enough to be born here, but we need to get off our high horse and stop thinking with such an arrogant view that the US is the best nation, the be all and end all, and the only proper perspective to have on the world stage.

Maybe the Tea Parties are the best way to go about correcting the Republican party, but I will consistently urge caution from the outside, and I will continue to argue that failure doesn’t mean utter defeat. And lastly, as I’ve said before, maybe dissolution isn’t so bad. Maybe what this nation needs is to be brought low, to come to the utter end, to collapse. Israel and Judah both dissolved as nations and went into captivity because they failed to keep things in the proper perspective – and most certainly to only worship the true God – but they didn’t disappear as a people. Their defeat grew them and strengthened them, they turned back to God. They returned to the land… and if you know your history, you know that they had to keep re-learning the lesson.

Maybe we need some reproving like ancient Israel. I pray we have revival and restoration first. Let us not lose our principles in order to play the game, thinking that the game is more important and the way to win. Just as with ecumenism, there is a time and a place for compromise. There are absolutes, but there are also gray areas in life. That said, there are times when compromise and relativistic applications to politics and faith are not good, and in fact are destructive. Is it worth a particular vote or win if you lose your soul?

For me, it is not horrible for the Tea Party or the Republican Party if Christine O’Donnell loses in November. It is not the end of the world if Roy Blunt loses. It is not the end of the world if the Republicans remain in the wilderness of minority status in Congress while the Democrats continue to destroy this nation of ours. Perhaps, and hopefully, the Republicans will wake up and realize that their establishment of Progressive warhorses is completely out of step – just like the president – and that come political starvation or forcible removal, their time is up.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord first and only. I am beholden to no man, party or organization. Yes, I/we are called to submit to the authority of those who govern over us, but our government happens to be a republic and what I argue for is not civil disobedience but a slightly different way of viewing the world and acting within it. Christ first, then my family, lastly my country.

– As an aside… For all of the diehard Republicans who think O’Donnell is sunk because of poll numbers and being a Tea Partier in a blue state, might I remind you of Chris Christie, governor of New Jersey. “Miracles” can happen. She’s already within around 10 points of her Democrat opponent. Stick with principles people, and you’ll always go to bed with an easy heart, no matter what storms and losses batter you.

Our political activism needs to start in the home, not in political action committees or political organizations, nor necessarily in the halls of Congress, lobbying, compromising and currying favors. We need to raise up a generation of people strong in the Lord, shining His light and love to each other and the world at large, hurting and needing Him.

Today is September 12th, 9-12, and after the infamous day nine years ago, many looked to the following day, this day, symbolically as a call to action – 9-11 being the wake-up call. Initially of course it wasn’t seen as that, people dwelling on the carnage and the anger as well as seeking some answers. In looking for answers, people began to see the larger perspectives and realized that we’d been living fairly insulated lives with an adolescent kind of belief that we’re invincible, blithely apathetic and ignorant to what has been occurring in our nation, let alone in the wider world. A couple of years ago, a few people began tapping into these realizations and felt that the aftermath of 9-11 should not be only reaction, but more importantly, action. “Never again!” coupled with, “Return to founding principles and core values.”

In the immediate aftermath and months after Sept. 11th, churches across America saw their pews swell with people; from absentee members to new faces. People were looking for answers; there was anger, sorrow, fear and confusion in response to the massacre. It went beyond what can happen locally after a school shooting or some other “senseless” mass murder or accident because the attacks were clearly calculated to hit the nation as a whole on an emotional level, not just the people of NYC or Washington DC. Many people are either unaware of it or ignore it, but we all have a God-shaped hole in us, needing and waiting to be filled. Is it any wonder that thru history man has looked at the stars and the world, realizing there is something greater than him, that he needs something more than what he can provide on his own? The plethora of religions and materialistic idols we have erected show that we must inherently need something else relationally other than what we can provide to ourselves or one another. Only Christ can properly fill what some have termed, a God-shaped hole, because we were created to have a relationship with God, that is our primary purpose; to worship God.

Many thought that a revival or spiritual awakening was occurring as a result of 9-11, but time proved that theory wrong. The theory and the surge in church attendance however, touches on something; what this nation needs – God.

Recently a huge rally – they called it an event – was staged at the Lincoln Memorial, highlighting the importance of honor, commemorating Martin Luther King Jr., the United States and rebuilding it. While a laudable exercise, it’s still not the answer, nor is it a good beginning. Many in the media – and I concur – said it sounded and looked like a big-tent meeting revival, a mish-mash of various kinds of things, part religious, part Tea-Party, part this and that. But the point is missed by the promoters, the media and many who were in attendance. You cannot create a revival. A true revival is thoroughly in God’s hands. It is organic, not controlled. Furthermore, things have to be in the proper perspective. Yes, we are called to work, but the truth is that only God can restore this nation, and only thru a real revival will that occur. The perspective of the majority of the people who want to see this nation restored is skewed in my estimation, and if numerical, hierarchal order is any indication, the proof is no further than the list of principles adhered to by 9/12ers and further promoted at the 8/28 event.

1. America is good.
2. I believe in God and He is the center of my life.
3. I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday.
4. The family is sacred. My spouse and I are the final authority, not the government.

Sorry, but that’s the wrong order, and that to me speaks volumes. Granted, the 9-12 organization may try to bill itself as open for anyone and everyone, but the instant you put God on the list it is no longer necessarily, secularly applicable. You move into the realm of the religious. And if you believe in God, then you believe He must be paramount – otherwise you have an imperfect god, not worthy of respect, much less worship. Yet, the 9/12 organization places America at the top of the list. Is it merely an oversight, am I making much ado about nothing and thinking too deeply, or have I hit the nail on the head? I have said it before, and I state it again, we have a new religion and it’s called Americana. Barack Obama is an autolater, but others are preaching a new, ecumenical, pluralistic form of paganistic idolatry. We have our own “scriptures” – our founding documents, our own pantheon of saints – the founding fathers. And preachers and religious leaders of all stripes have stepped forward to state that they’ll gladly promote it in every venue, forum and pulpit where they have access.

This isn’t to say that talking about and promoting liberty, honesty, integrity, etc. are wrong. They’re good and necessary things. Neither am I stating that the liberal ideological view on spirituality or the state is better; far from it. In fact, I see some dangerous overlapping going on because the ideological pendulum is swinging wildly. When you go too far in one direction, you can easily end up at the far end of the opposite position without even realizing it. In some respects, it’s like mission creep; the initial intents eventually shift to something entirely different without most participants even realizing it. Similarly our nation has shifted over the centuries. To be sure, many have been keenly aware of the shift, some purposefully pushing, others recording and discovering it. For at least much of my life (over thirty years) I’ve been hearing and felt a figurative correlation of the United States of America to the Roman Empire. Many of us have been cognizant that our nation is a shell of its former self, collapsing and crumbling as we continue to stumble on, even growing in strength in some aspects, though in reality a shadow of our former selves.

I’m not going to say that I have all of the answers, but I will say where we must begin. God. At first glance you might say I’m in agreement with many, and on the surface that’s true. But as I’ve laid out here and previously on my blog, I hope that I’ve made the differences clear. God, family, country. Yes, let’s restore this nation, let’s strive for it at least and do what we can to work toward that goal; however, let us not do it blindly or like sheep. What I saw on 8/28 was a lot of sheep, and it was highlighted by interviews. Granted, the journalist may have cherry picked, but I bet that those individuals represented a large swathe of not only those in attendance, but those across America who share the same views or gut reaction. People are going with a feeling, they’re still looking for answers, and when someone says, “I have a plan!” our ears perk up… “Maybe he’s on to something!” That is precisely when our spiritual “spidey-sense” should be tingling, because that’s when false prophets arise, and that is when antichrists have come forth and will come.

I am cynical that much will come out of the efforts of the Tea Parties, the 9-12 organization and related efforts. Part of it is because I’ve always been a recalcitrant curmudgeon, a conforming non-conformist, a pessimistic optimist. If any one will listen to me, I preach two things, repentance and caution. Turn back to God, and be wise as serpents in all of your dealings, even when and especially when it looks appealing, acceptable and best. What I continue to hear from these organizations and people is a hodge-podge of ideas that boil down to politics, exerting pressure on elected officials and gaining political office. Perhaps the reality is that we don’t need a “grand plan” to “take America back”. The real plan should be first, getting on your knees. And then you witness. You preach Christ and Him crucified and our need for salvation.

The only way this nation is going to have true restoration is by the power of the Holy Spirit, thru real revival that cannot be created, fostered or jumpstarted. It starts with the individual getting on their knees and crying out to the Lord. 1 Chron. 7:14 “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” We must put God, America and our lives in the proper perspective if we want to see this nation restored. Furthermore, we must be open to the possibility that our nation may not see the restoration it needs in our lifetime, that we may see instead destruction and dissolution of our nation. No nation in the history of the world has lasted indefinitely, and no nation has stayed at the top of the pile in the game. Nations come and go, but the Word of the Lord is true forever. 1 Pet. 1:24, 25 “For, “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.”

Too many people are frightened by the prospect of failure, of defeat. During the 2008 election, how many conservatives and Republicans boo-hooed those of us who felt maybe defeat would be a good thing? “You cannot have victory in defeat! How can you win in defeat?” were angry retorts. Yet look two years later at what is occurring to the two parties, in Congress and the White House. What’s best for this nation is putting God first and the principles that flow from Him. And if that means voting in such a way that a worse person could certainly win, perhaps that’s truly the better way in the long run.

Today, September 12th, 2010 happens to be the Lord’s Day. Let us rejoice and be glad, let us worship Him. Let us humbly bow and repent. Let us pray for revival in the land and our own salvation. Everything else is lagniappe.

To never let 9-11 occur again is impossible. Yes, we must learn from mistakes, apply them and move forward. Yes, harkening back to earlier days and ideas is good. Yes, seeking to properly restore this nation to something good for its citizens is laudable, but let us not rush in like fools. Yes, let us be like Hezekiah and rebuild or fortify walls and dig tunnels for water, but let us turn to the Lord first because He is our redeemer. Yes, let us be like Josiah, finding God’s Word and preaching it, but let us pray that such a revival is not a temporary or false one. And let us pray that we are not taken away into captivity, but if we are, God is still there. His Kingdom is not of this world.

Jer. 6:16 “This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”

I’ve already discussed the proposed Quran burning for this weekend by Dove Outreach in Florida.

To make matters more interesting, or worse – depending upon how you look at it – apparently the church has worked together at least once before with Fred Phelp’s Westboro Baptists (according to a radio interview given by a local talk show with Mr. Jones). On top of that, material about their own in-house ministerial training has been made known. And lastly, Pastor Jones’ prior church in Germany has come out condemning his intentions. He says that he won’t do it if Obama tells him, yet on the other hand he feels he has to do it.

I reiterate, the whole thing is unnecessary, poor taste and I believe, rather un-Christian.

On the flip side, we have Imam Rauf, of the “Victory Mosque” (or GZ Mosque) who says on one hand that had he known the kerfuffle this would cause, he’d not have gone forth; yet, on the other hand, if it isn’t done, we could well provoke another or more attacks and violence from the Islamic world.

Do you see the common thread? Damned if you do or you don’t. And that is the issue here, specifically with Islamists, those who hold to the literal application of Islam, a fairly aggressive and violent view. No matter what you say or do, whether to placate or to spite, you offend. Frankly, Islam carries a huge chip on its shoulder, and it rests on the very foundations it wishes to destroy (Christianity and Judaism). It is easily offended and slighted; diplomacy is thru strength, not mere words.

Pastor Jones has a legal right to burn the Qurans, just as Imam Rauf has a legal right to build his mosque. Both men are aiming to send a message about Islam and Christianity, about the US and Islamic nations. And both are wrong.

Concerning Mr. Jones, it’s apparent that he – and maybe the church he’s pastoring as well – is on the Christian fringe, possibly even cultic (if the ministerial booklet is true), but the effect on the Church as a whole remains, a tarnish to our witness by one who considers himself a Christian and doing things for Christ. It is looking like he’s more interested in tearing down another religion instead of building up Christ, standing on First Amendment rights first, instead of standing on Christ’s love first.

As for Imam Rauf, there’s enough known about him to see that he is a “mainstream” Muslim. Put that together with the vitriol in the Islamic world surrounding this Quran burning issue, never mind the fact that the Westboro cult has already burned Qurans (and say they’ll do it again if Dove doesn’t)… but then, we already figured it was par for their course, so it didn’t get the media coverage.

Feel free – I urge you to – do your own research on Imam Rauf.

I think the real thing we need to come away with from here is not that Islam, Muslims, the Islamists have won; rather, that we need to focus our attention and hearts differently. Up. We’ve got politicians, generals and liberals on one hand preaching weak-handed, “friendly” diplomacy, ignorant or unwilling to face reality. We’ve got Christians putting man’s laws and our nation before God and the Gospel; and we’ve got Muslims around the world who’ll claim victory no matter what, unless they’re obliterated (and still even then… 72 virgins) or converted.

I agree with one article I came across. 9-11 should be pray for Muslims day, not burn the quran day. If the politicians, leftists and generals would stop thinking they can appease Islamists by sucking up, and if Christians would stop making Americana their idol maybe we’d actually begin to see some real changes in how the Islamic world reacts to us.

They respect a strong horse. They demand a strong horse. And that goes for Christians too. We must be firm in our faith, but we are not called to offend. The Gospel is offensive. Let it alone be a stumbling block, not burning revered books as a test or a point. That isn’t being a strong horse, that’s being a weak horse, just as sure as a bully is weak. Islamists are bullies, but to beat them at their own game, you have to take the high ground, always, and with that, control the field. Our politicians, generals, liberals and many Christians as well as many Americans have failed in this aspect for decades.

Islam and the Islamists have not won, and the juxtaposed points of Rauf and Jones don’t prove it either. Christ has already won. Remember that first, and always, and everything else falls into line.

– Update, Thursday evening, well, at least someone is reasonable. Mr. Jones has backed down, er, maybe not. He’s shelving it, not canceling it. The imam, not so much.

– This diary has been previously posted on my own personal blog.