ENOUGH ALREADY WITH THE FOUNDING FATHERS
I do not need to reiterate the pluralistic foundations of America. I do not need to reiterate how many slaves were owned by those “founding fathers”. I do not need to reiterate that the name of Jesus appears nowhere in the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution. I do not need to reiterate that inalienable rights and the pursuit of man’s happiness is the core of what the “founding fathers” considered independence. I do not need to reiterate how unchristian it is to go to war over taxes. I hope I need not reiterate those and other issues.
But even in the face of those unchristian facts there remains a sizeable number of Christian leaders and bloggers and writers who still pay homage to a collection of believers, agnostics, heretics, philanderers, and a mixed group of patriots. Enough, already. It is completely at odds with all we say we believe, and it is at odds with New Testament teaching. The Apostle Paul made it clear that neither he nor God was impressed with man or his earthly credentials.
Gal.2: 6 But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:
And yet here we as professing believers hanging pictures of these men, and referencing them as if they were gods from Mount Olympus. It is time the true church rejects that form of humanism and returns to a broken and surrendered obedience to the Lordship of Jesus Christ - EXCLUSIVELY! And let us be painfully honest here. None of us, NONE OF US, can truthfully claim that Jesus is Lord over our entire lives without any deviation. Even when we strive as we should, we still fall short. And in the light of that, how can we genuflect to any group of men? If we were inclined to follow the example of any man perhaps Paul would be a prime candidate, but even he refers to himself as chief of all sinners! And all his achievements scholastically and spiritually? DUNG, he says!
Away with all this nonsense that openly defies the direction of Scripture and makes little gods of men just because they began a pluralistic nation bought with human blood. I am baffled as to how normally intelligent men cannot see how their view of America is so inaccurate simply by the original documents. There are many nations whose legal system is built upon Judeo-Christian principles. Are they all “Christian nations”? There is only one Christian nation and Peter calls it a “holy nation”. It refers to the living body of Christ comprised of true believers from every earthly nations.
Is Jesus not enough? Must we cling to some fables about men who have long since died? Just look at what is happening here and around the world. Muslims kill people to protect the honor of Mohammed while Christians go to war to protect the honor of the “founding fathers”. And with all the violence and all the rhetoric and all the hatred the gospel of Jesus Christ has shrunk to little more than a doctrinal aside. Sweet smelling savor? We have become just a small part of the pandering crowd which is entertained by taking the news of the day and re-enacting the storming of the Bastille. Believers watch too much secular news and not enough gospel news. The entire landscape of talk shows have succeeded in altering our Biblical sense of reality and like a strong undertow has pulled us into the merry-go-round of yak-yak-yak and more yak.
But amidst all this bluster about nothing, where is the remarkable and observable devotion to Christ? Please do not try and suggest that moral standards are what constitutes being surrendered to the Lord Jesus. Capitalism? Democracy? Please, open your eyes and your heart. Being devoted to Jesus cannot be achieved without being like Him. And in order to be like Him we must read the gospels and see what He was like. How did He live; how did He speak; who did He love; how did he feel about money and power. Our example comes from that life and not from earthly lives enhanced by historical accounts.
Eph.4: 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Let us return to the shadow of our Father’s great wings and therein abide. For all eternity we have but one Father who is above all and in those who believe in His Son. Let your minds be captured by the eternal and release the attraction of the temporal. There is a city which awaits us whose brilliance will shame us all for ever having been fond of anything else. And in the center of that city, sitting upon a throne, is the Brilliant One. Our Creator, our Redeemer, and our Lord. Let us all bow now before Him and repent of our carnal ways. The way of Jesus is not of this world, but it can be found through Gods Word and the illumination of the Spirit.
Prov.3: 5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
It's hard not to love you, man! Another flawless post!!! Keep it up! God bless.
ReplyDeleteEvangelicals have re-created the founding fathers as patriarchs of a false religion. God will not be mocked, and He loves us too much to just let us fall away. Hang on because the road is about top get very bumpy!
ReplyDeleteYou must have read some of the same books I did, "Lies My Teacher Told Me" and a whole host of others.
ReplyDeleteAs I said in another comment: the climate of the country today (particularly among conservative segments of our population) resembles pre-Nazi Germany, and all the racial anxieties, economic insecurities, heated nationalistic rhetoric which propelled Adolf Hitler into power are echoed today.
ReplyDeleteAmen, Rick, and Amen Terry ! The founding fathers and their teachings have become the basis of a false religion, and must be opposed as such.
ReplyDeleteIn Jesus, Steve
Here's a picture & verse I thought I'd share: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=414492518610899
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