Praying for Brazil

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Yesterday I suddenly, and very strongly, got the feeling that I should pray for Brazil.

It was completely out-of-the-blue.  It had absolutely nothing to do with anything I'd heard, read, or been at all thinking about.

So it seemed it could be an impulse from God, and I went to pray.

I think I'm pretty knowledgeable on a great many things, and on current events.  But I probably know as little about Brazil as about anything.  I have no idea what is happening nationally in Brazil: its societal stresses, natural disasters, or its spiritual or political character, in any but the most general sense.  And how do you pray for an entire nation anyway ?

It was exactly a situation when I was glad God gave us the opportunity to "pray in the Spirit."  I had absolutely no idea God's concern for Brazil....no idea what prayer for Brazil would be according to His will (I John 5:14-15).

I asked the Spirit to guide my prayer, make my requests accord with God's will, and I let my words flow.  I couldn't understand any of the words the Spirit gave me (though I sensed their intent of blessing), any more than I understood God's concerns for Brazil.

It was all of a piece, complete: what scripture means by "perfect."  That God let me pray His will of blessing Brazil, in words the Spirit gave me...according to His will.  "Perfect" that my ignorance...of His will, and of Brazil...could be made His instrument to bless Brazil, as it increased my faith, and my obedience.

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Confederates

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

The perennial debate about honoring Confederate heroes is on again.  And again argued primarily on present-day political sensibilities.

Argued by one "side" from our current certainty that slavery (which the Confederacy identified as central to its "cause") is flat-our wrong: and by the other "side," from the "patriotic" Americanist certainty that rebellion against tyrannical government is a sacred "right" (as is every "free" American individuals' "right" to define "tyranny" according to their personal tastes).

Both arguments are based on historically-recent moral standards.  I find the debate wrong-footed, on both sides.

As a Christian, I'm convinced the moral standards for human beings were set by God long ago (basically what Jews called "the law"), and are immutable.  So I believe the actions of people in previous centuries were subject that moral standard, as we are today.  That's why it only makes sense to operate, and judge, by those time-tested ("traditional") standards...and not by our current personal perception of right and wrong. 

My view is theistic; but those who don't believe in any kind of God-given "law" can also acknowledge a "traditional" moral-standard for human beings.  They are welcomed to believe that mankind worked out a trustworthy standard of values for human behavior, by a few millennia of real-life experience.

(If God deems some actions and mindsets "right" and beneficial, and others harmful, and "bad;" I'm satisfied He built them into operative reality just that way.  And I'm certain He gave human beings the ability to discern what real-life actions "work" to our good, and which don't: whether or not we credit Him for reality's operating as it does...or our ability to perceive it.)

But under neither "traditional" standard should any honest person honor or idolize Confederate individuals, or their "cause."

Some argue that Confederate leaders should be honored because they were honorable men.  That in their personal morality, they were upright and honest..."good" men.  And that even if the argument is about slavery, many Confederate leaders hated slavery.

All of that is true, for some or many Confederate leaders.  But their personal morality is not the basis on which they've been honored these many years.  They've been honored for their actions as public figures, as national civic "heroes" and models.  And those are the exact reasons they should never be honored.

Virtually all high-level Confederate officials and generals took an oath,  as Congressmen or U.S. military officers, to defend the United States, and uphold its Constitution.  The definitive fact of their public careers was that they broke that oath, and waged war on their own nation and people.  And it is specifically on that fact...on their "Confederate" identity and deeds...that they are idolized.

Honoring oath-breakers and traitors is a perversion of any traditional moral code.  Those of our day who do so for self-serving political ends unmistakably show what they most deeply value...and who they most deeply are. 

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Cooking Lobsters

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Scientists say it's actually a myth that cooking a lobster by placing them in cold water, then very s-l-o-w-l-y increasing the temperature to boiling, kills them without them becoming aware of what is happening to them.

But it works very well for human beings, as to moral temperature.

There was another mass-shooting yesterday.  In our recent history, America has a mass-shooting every few weeks.  So far most Americans still perceive mass-shootings as wrong...though a great many Americans have adapted the political belief that it's a constitutional "right" that virtually everyone can have almost any kind of military firearm they want.

The N.R.A. and its followers go so far as to say everyone should...to protect themselves from mass-shooters.  "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun," you know.  Never mind that "good guys" with a gun...and grudges (personal or political), mental problems, anger-issues, or personal problems...are most often the ones who become mass-shooters.

But my point isn't the gun-debate.  The point is that Americans are increasingly coming to accept that a mass-shooting every few weeks is normative.

When Charles Whitman went on a killing-rampage in 1966 (including some military-grade weapons in his arsenal), everyone in America was horrified at the outrage of his murders.   Even when children and teachers at Sandy Hook were massacred (again with military-grade firearms), not quite 5 years ago, most of us could still feel outrage at the evil of their murder.  Today, not really so much: every successive mass-shooting is lamentable...but isn't our attitude that that's just the way it is in our present-day society ?

Nothing better illustrates that political heat increases moral insensibility than the fact that Texas legislators put in place a law making it legal for almost everyone in Texas to own military-assault weapons on August 1st, 2016: the 50th anniversary of Charles Whitman's murderous rampage.  "Conservative" legislators wanted to "strengthen" Texans' "Second Amendment rights."

Under that strong "Second-Amendment rights" law, the most-recent Texas shooter seems to have legally possessed his murder-weapons.

Will the next mass-shooting (and I'm certain there will be one again, soon) shock us as much as the one yesterday ?  Will it be the one after that, or the next, or the one after the next, before it all comes to seem rather boring...or only notable as proof that our constitutional "rights" are secure and strong  ?


                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Finger-pointing

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

The Trump faction's knee-jerk response when they are caught doing wrong is to point their finger at someone else: usually Hilary, Obama, or Democrats.  They seem to miss a couple important things about using that childish tactic:

that "defending" yourself by claiming someone else did just as bad, or worse, makes a tacit admission you did wrong;

and moral law does NOT absolve us of our wrong-doing because other people did it too.


                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

New Prayer

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Father, you know everyone I want to bring before you in prayer.  You know their names, and my concern for them.  You know better than I do their needs.

Thank you for perfectly remembering each one, even when I momentarily forget a name or need.  Thank you for Your concern for them, Your desire even greater than mine that they be safe, whole, and in peace.  Thank you for your Presence with each of them, blessing.

Thank you for Your limitless power poured out for the abundant life and joy You unceasingly desire for them.

Father, Your will be done.

In Jesus' name.

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Centenary of the Balfour Declaration

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

On November 2nd, 1917, the Foreign Secretary of the British Empire, Arthur Balfour, addressed a letter to Lord Lionel Rothschild, a leader of the Jewish community in Great Britain.

"Dear Lord Rothschild:

I have much pleasure in conveying to you, on behalf of His Majesty's Government, the following declaration of sympathy with Jewish Zionist aspirations which has been submitted to, and approved by, the Cabinet:

'His Majesty's government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.'

I should be grateful if you would bring this declaration to the knowledge of the Zionist Association."

The Balfour Declaration later formed a basis for British policy in the Palestine Mandate, eventuating in British withdrawal from Palestine the day after the proclamation of the state of Israel on May 14th, 1948.

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Terrorists

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

The greatest danger to America today isn't enemy armies in foreign countries.  Our greatest danger is “self-radicalized” enemies in America: those among us who believe to the lies of online propagandists, and act on them to do us harm.

The greatest danger to our country is people who WANT to believe llies that harm America.

Some want to believe the lie that God is pleased when they kill people. Many more want to believe the lie that God (haven't their "faith-leaders" assured them it's so ?) is pleased when a nation embraces lawlessness and pride; that following unrighteousness and lies will “Make America Great Again.”

Some enemies openly hate America.  The greater danger is the many more who pretend they destroy America from "patriotism."

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

What's Up With The Reformation ?

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

A blog-post I read this morning by Peter Corak, re-blogged at "Christianity 201," seems to me the best commemoration there could be of today's 500th anniversary of the Reformation.

Whatever Luther's intent, whatever the effects of the Reformation in subsequent history...what was God's purpose ?  Is there any other "reason" threaded through world events and human history ?
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"I guess I don’t normally think of God as a seeker. Maybe that’s because I think of seekers as needing something and I don’t think of God as in need of anything. But while God has no need of anything, there are some things He desires. This morning I read of something the Father seeks. Of something that He’s actively pursuing–something, in a sense, He craves. Something, go figure, that I can provide.

'But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him.'   ~ Jesus   (John 4:23 ESV)

"God is a seeker. And He seeks true worshipers to worship Him."

(Peter's meditation can be read in full at https://mymorningmeal.com/2017/10/10/seeker-friendly-2/)

 

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Calling Out Franklin Graham

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Donald Trump gave a speech at the United Nations last month.  In part, he said,

"The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea. Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime.”

I'll admit, I've become so used to his appalling bombast that I don't even hear it anymore; or if I do, I just ignore it as meaningless, as Trump being Trump.

If I thought about his words at all, it was only about his attempted cleverness in denigrating Kim Jung Un as "Rocket Man."

Benjamin L. Corey's blog made me remember that words, even Trump's words, have real meaning.  Made me remember that Jesus said, "But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken" (Matthew 12:36, NIV).

Corey pointed out that Trump's speech (even if it was Jesus' definition of "empty words") was a threat to kill 25 million people.  That his words meant he would kill all the civilians in North Korea.  Kill all children and babies who happen to have been born in North Korea.  Incinerate all its citizens who hate the government of North Korea, as well as the brainwashed millions who love it.  Kill all North Korean truck-drivers, grandparents, Christians, housewives, foreign diplomats, nurses as well as soldiers, because of where they live.

Even for those who accept Augustine's "just war" theory, Corey pointed out, Trump's threats do violence to all Christian understanding of Jesus' teachings, and all that He calls Christians to be.

Franklin Graham evidently didn't get it, says Corey.  Graham seems to have missed what Trump's words mean, or what Jesus' words mean.  Graham's facebook comment on Trump's speech was

"Thank God we have a president who stands for truth and is not afraid to speak truth to the whole world. President Donald J. Trump's address today to the United Nations General Assembly may have been one of the best speeches ever given to that body. It made you proud to be an American. I hope you will join me in praying for this man, that God will guide and direct him. He reminded the world, 'If the righteous many do not confront the wicked few, then evil will triumph.' "

Corey's full blog-post is at http://www.patheos.com/blogs/formerlyfundie/franklin-graham-trumps-kill-speech-one-best-ever/.

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Alienated from God's Heart

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

In our discussion of a Sunday-School class, a friend referred to justice and mercy as "God's middle name."

That seemed a perfect way to put it: that immediately and inextricably following the reverence due His Personally Being I AM, is His Personal BE-ING toward human beings.  As Jesus called our reverent following Him in that "Be-ing,", the second greatest commandment (Matthew 22:36-40).

It's been quite noticeable in our time that the qualities of "mercy" and "justice," literally God's Own heart toward mankind, have been marginalized in many parts of the Church, regarded as side-issues of interest to only a fringe-element of believers.  (My perception is that, in America, that attitude had its roots in the white evangelical churches of the South, as an attempt to disassociate their doing "church" from the black churches' involvement in the Civil Rights movement)

Most recently God's commands that His people practice mercy and justice have been further marginalized; indeed, reviled; by dominant Political Christianity characterizing that "fringe-element" as "liberal" Christians.  Not "liberal" in the normative meaning of "generous," by which we say God is abundantly liberal: but in the current narrow sense of Evangelicals' chosen political faction, "liberal" meaning "enemy," and "evil."

America's current political "Evangelism" marginalizes God's command to "do justice, [and] love mercy" (Micah 6:8);  and indeed, treats those as "enemy" teachings.

Could "Evangelicals" be any more alienated from God's very heart ?