The Christian Faith Does Not Need the Endorsement of Government

 

 

image from churchvisuals.com

 

During all of my life, every Sunday, as well other days of the week, churches have held services in which confession and repentance has been offered, praise has been lifted, a return to God has been observed; In houses of worship which open with a literal or implied Invocation of the Presence of God.

In fact, the predominant religion in the Untied States is, and always has been, Christian.

I have read credible statistics indicating that between 62% and 66% of adults in the United States are Christians.

The idea that this nation has ever drifted away from this religion is inaccurate.

It is true that churches have suffered a decline in attendance over a number of decades but that does not indicate a decline in Christian devotion or sentiment.

It is likely that the 20^th century form of church, with large buildings, structured Sunday/Wednesday meeting times and scripted liturgical conduct, is giving way to in-person and Zoom smaller gatherings of sincere Christinas who Pray, study, and care for each other in much the same way as is described in Acts 2: 42-47.

These new “gathering “structures will not be countable and reportable for number and attendance.

Denominational structures with set and unflexible worship times, which formally gather and report attendance figures, may be transitioning to informal structures which have the flexibility to arrange meeting times for the availability of the participants.

This does not mean that the Christian faith is in decline. It is taking on new expressions.

Yes, from a cultural, rather than legally imposed, point of view, the United States is, has always been, and will for the future, be Christian as to religious identity, not by call, force, proclaimation, or prompt of government, but by the movement of the Holy Spirit. 

Encouraging Split Figure by Stephanie Lynn Miller

 

Split Figure is a psychological thriller that compels the reader to turn the page to discover yet another hint or clue as to where the characters may be advancing.

The words, sentences, and paragraphs move lyrically such that the reader can almost hear a sound track accompanying the suspense, developing the plot, and punctuating the resolution.

This book is indeed an edge of the seat, turn the page suspense story sure to keep your interests.

The early pages begin to introduce you to the characters. Before long, around page six, the roller coaster of emotional thrill sets in and takes you for a literary amusement ride.

Split Figure by Stephanie Lynn Miller is available for purchase at amazon.com.

The paperback is $12.99

The Kindle digital download is $5.99

Granger Good Shepher United Methodist Church will be hosting a book-signing on Sunday, May 31^st following the 11:00AM worship service. The book signing will take place about 12:15PM.

Also that day, during the worship service, we will enjoy the incomparable voacal talent of Robert Michael Havard.

So, come on over, hear some great music, meet Stephanie Lynn Miller, author of Split Figure.

My video invitation can be viewed here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0S7A9iFchvE

Granger Good Shepherd United Methodist Church

 11:00 AM Eastern is our regular worship time on Sundays

51521 Elm Rd, Granger, IN 46530

Political Rights are Established by Governments

 

image from nbcnewyork,com

Recent ballot, legislative, and judicial activity among various States disproves the cliché, as some elected and appointed officials have put forward, that “Our rights come from God, not government.”

For sure, I acknowledge that basic human rights, or “unalienable” such as the natural desire to live, the wish for liberty from oppression, and a want to be content or happy are implanted by a Creator.

But political rights, such as free speech, gun ownership, freedom from being compelled to incriminate oneself in court, are not found in the Bible. Nor is the political right to vote.

These political rights are provided by government. This political right to vote is governed and regulated as to who can vote, where we can vote, what age we must attain, and sundry other State determined regulations.

There are many other rights that accrue from government, such as the right to drive, regulated by traffic rules and car insurance requirements.

I find it humorous to irritating that many of our elected and appointed lawmakers and judicial officers claim adherence to God and Bible yet are uninformed as to what that Bible actually does and does not say, particularly about “rights”.

I find it yet more revealing that they obviously are unaware that by holding a lawmaking or judicial position they do in fact provide, regulate, and dictate our various political rights and their parameters by their bill proposals for which they vote and decide.

God has not established these Congressional districts in which voters cast ballots. Governments have.

All of our political rights have been established, not by God, but by the officials we have elected to administer.

Let’s not be giving God a bad reputation by blaming him for our Gerrymandering.

Extraterrestrials, Government Revelation, and Abrahamic Faiths

 

Recent social media memes have alluded to a secret meeting between government officials and “some” pastors warning of a forthcoming release of files regarding aliens.

The story, which I read from a news publication which I shall not present here because I think the whole matter to be exaggerated if not fabricated, warns how the Christian public might respond to the revelatory files.

First, and minimally, I think, if true, these government officials and “some” pastors, in a condescending manner, underestimate the intelligence and faith of well-informed followers of the Abrahamic faiths.

Second, and a bit more weighted in importance, having studied the Bible for decades, I don’t find anything in either New Testament or what we Christians call the Old Testament (much respect to my Jewish friends) to suggest, deny, inform, verify, refute or otherwise address the notion of extraterrestrials or their habitats.

Thirdly, to make a somewhat trinitarian (lower case t) argument, I believe these three Abrahamic faiths accept God (or as I sometimes describe as “the initial cosmic impulse”) as creator of all that is in existence.

It is a shame that my friend Dean is no longer with us. He and I, both enthusiasts of extraterrestrials, time travel, and all things unearthly, would have had great discussions while out at the golf course swinging at aerodynamically designed, usually white, objects to chase if ever we made contact of first, second, or third kind.

 

Inviolable Conscience and King Charles III

 

Recently, King Charles III, speaking before Congress, spoke the following words…

“I am mindful that we are still in the season of Easter, the season that most strengthens my hope. It is why I believe, with all my heart, that the essence of our two Nations is a generosity of spirit and a duty to foster compassion, to promote peace, to deepen mutual understanding and to value all people, of all faiths, and of none.”

This King of England referred to Congress as “this citadel of democracy created to represent the voice of all American people to advance sacred rights and freedoms.”

This British fellow seems to understand what many leaders, elected, podcasted, or substackted in the United States seem to have forgotten or never understood to begin with; that these “sacred rights and freedoms” are for all people, of all faiths, and of none.”

I again invoke a preeminent right embedded in the Constitution before even the Bill of Rights amended that Constitution…

Article VI clause 3....

but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.

As a Christian, as a preacher, as a pursuer of Jesus teaching in action, I believe that we should always foster compassion, promote peace, deepen mutual understanding and  value all people whatever religion to which they subscribe or none. I am convinced that the most basic notion of the Unted States as envisioned by the framers is that each person is entitled to their inviolable conscience.