IT'S TIME WE LEARNED

Today in a much anticipated decision the Supreme Court of the United States sided with the Obama Administration by upholding the new health care law, known around the country simply as "Obamacare."  The pros and cons have been weighed, arguments have been mounted and a majority of nine justices robed in black have now affirmed, to their satisfaction at least, the consitutionality of Obamacare.

The Supreme Court has now voiced its opinion that it is somehow within the confines of the United States Constitution for the federal government, among other things, to mandate that its citizens purchase health insurance from private insurance companies or face a substantial fine.  One cannot help but wonder where the consenting justices found that in the Constitution.  Perhaps it is hidden away near where one also finds a woman's right to an abortion!

What is perplexing to many of us is the fact that conservative Chief Justice John Roberts, appointed by "conservative" former president George W. Bush, joined forces with the majority in this ridiculous decision.  At any rate, the Court has spoken and the law remains in effect barring a repeal from a new Congress under the direction of a new president.

As for now, as the title of this post reads, it's time we learned.  It's time Americans learned that the out-of-control federal government to which "we the people" have acquiesced cares no longer for the desires of "we the people."  It was President Obama and liberals in Congress - and apparently a majority of Supreme Court justices - who wanted Obamacare, not the American people.

It is time conservative Americans realized that a plethora of politicians who claim the mantle of conservatism have betrayed us time and time again.  They smell of conservativism, they speak of conservatism, and they promise conservatism only to compromise their conservative values (if ever they had any) upon election to office in order to gain favorable status among liberals in Congress and at the NEW YORK TIMES.

It is also time that Christian people came to terms with the truth that while it is admirable to fight the good fight of faith against the encroachments of liberalism and big government, the only thing that truly matters in life is to win as many people to Christ as possible.  "This world is not our home" - including these United  States - "we're just a 'passin through; our treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue" as the song says.

So, do not be discouraged and do not cease from the battle.  Continue to stand against error, both in the spiritual and secular realm.  But remember, God is still keeping the books and our day, Christian friend, is yet in the future.  And that is my View From the Porch for Thursday, June 28, 2012.

WHO NEEDS SCOLDING?

The President of the United States recently scolded the American people by stating that many illegal aliens (though he did not refer to them as such) living in the US had "come forward at great risks to themselves" in hopes that we, the citizens of this great land, would "live up to our values" by "doing the right thing."  I'm guessing that what the president meant by living "up to our values" and "doing the right thing" is that we should overlook the illegality of those crossing the border and welcome them here with open arms.

I don't know about the reader but I have a problem being scolded by the president for believing that illegal means just that - illegal.  I have a problem with the arrest of US citizens who violate the law, yet we look the other way when the "undocumented" do so.  I have a problem when our jails are full of fellow-citizens who've broken the law (and rightfully so), but we allow our cities to be filled with law-breakers from another country. 

I have a problem being scolded by a president over what our "values" should be when his entire administration has been about devaluing the laws and Constitution of the United States.  Granting amnesty to the children of those who disregard and disrespect our laws by coming here illegally is just such a case in point.

It is a crying shame that the president and, yes, his challenger Mitt Romney, feel that the only way to get re-elected (or elected) is to bow to the wishes and demands of those who are here in violation of our immigration laws.  It is a sad day in America, but we have long since abandoned the lofty ideal that the United States government is "by the people, and for the people."  That idea, upon which this republic was founded, has long since been laid to rest without so much as a whimper from the lawful citizenry.

Mr. President, one of the "values" that you spoke of as far as this writer is concerned is that of obeying the law.  It would be extremely nice if you and those likeminded in Congress would value the law by attempting to enforce it.  We don't deport illegal aliens; we encourage them by allowing them to demonstrate in our streets and by not requiring them to learn English.  So, I am a bit confused as to what "risks" they have faced by coming clean.

No, it is not the American people that need scolding.  In fact, we are tired of being told to go sit in the corner while our country is being snatched away from us at ever turn.  It is the blind, egotistical, self-serving leaders of this country that need scolding for allowing such a great republic to slip into the shackles of a third-world nation.  And that, my friends, is my View From the Porch for Tuesday, June 19, 2012.

POINTS TO PONDER

The following quotes are taken from a recent message by Dr. David Gibbs, Jr.  If you are like me, you always have pen and paper in hand when listening to Brother Gibbs. If only I could write faster I'd have more of his quotes!  Here are just a few.

"The greatest theft in the universe is when we want to take the glory that rightfully belongs to Christ and direct it to ourselves."

"When you crave respect you will start siphoning off God's glory."

"God never invited you to do great things; He invited you to do impossible things."

"You serve the God of the impossible."

"The Church has three great missions:  1) Exalting Christ and His Word, 2) Attacking the Devil and take his turf and capture the people he has in bondage, 3) Defending and proclaiming the truth."

"We're not going to change America until we change us."

"Don't ever underestimate a mother's prayers."

BIBLE COLLEGE BICKERING

Is it a sin to start a Bible College?  Was Dr. Bob Jones, Sr., wrong when he began Bob Jones University many decades ago?  Were Dr's. Ron Comfort, Clarence Sexton, Paul Chappell and a hosts of other good men misleading God's people when they announced that the Lord had led them to start Bible Colleges for the expressed purpose of training men and women for full-time Christian service?

Some would say so.  In fact, a FACEBOOK friend of mine rants against Bible Colleges pretty regularly.  Recently he raised the issue again, arguing that Bible Colleges had no authority to charge financially for teaching the Bible.  No less than 52 comments have been contributed to his status as of this writing, many of which are of a lengthy nature.

Folks, I will be the first to admit - as you have perhaps noticed from my brief writings - that I am no theologian or self-proclaimed Bible scholar.  I did attend Bible College for a year and learned some valuable insights, particularly in the area of Baptist History.  But, I have to say that straw men arguments like the one raised in my friend's FACEBOOK post makes me want to regurgitate, to put it nicely.

If one feels that starting (or attending) Bible Colleges is wrong my advice would then be to not start or attend one.  But to label as unbiblical or unscriptural those who attend colleges or those good men who have began institutions to train full-time Christian workers is shameful!  Is this the new low to which many in the Fundamental Baptist movement, as some have labeled it, have sunk?  Are arguments of this nature of utmost importance?  It would seem to be in some independent, Baptist circles.

God help us to get beyond such petty issues and concentrate on what is really important and that is getting souls to Jesus.  And that, my friends, is my View From the Porch for Thursday, June 14, 2012. God bless.

LET'S BE CONSISTENT

Recently the editor (who shall remain nameless) of a well-known Christian periodical (which shall also remain nameless) printed in his newspaper a short article by a well-respected evangelist that lamented the downward trend toward the use of charismatic style music in many modern-day Fundamental, Baptist churches.  At the conclusion of the article the unnamed editor wrote that he agreed "wholeheartedly and enthusiastically" with the author who penned the piece.

However, writing from the perspective of a long-time subscriber, I have not observed one word of rebuke within the above-referenced periodical regarding the increasing tendency of a large independent, Baptist church and Bible College in Southern, California, to adopt lyrics written by charismatics as well as the continuing adaptation of CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) for use in their services.  In fact, the only word of warning specific to the above ministries in California (to my knowledge) has come from the pen of David Cloud (www.wayoflife.org) whom, as a result of his timely warning, has been much maligned within some Fundamental circles.

I do not want to appear cynical or critical, but it is high time that we in Fundamental, Independent Baptist churches call a spade a spade regardless of what influential ministry may be condoning error.  It is one thing to speak out about the compromises of those leaders at Liberty University and Tennessee Temple University (as well we should), but where is our concern for the errors being received and propagated by those whom we would consider in our "camp"?

It would seem that if schools advertises in our paper, and if we get invited to speak at certain conferences, and if another ministry promotes our ministry (scratch my back, I'll scratch yours) then those schools, pastors and ministries are "off-limits" when it comes to rebuking compromise.  However, if a school or ministry does not line up within our "camp" we then make it our necessary duty to mark them as compromisers and ministries whom others should avoid.

And to this simple blogger that reeks of a double standard.  And that is my View From the Porch for Wednesday, June 6, 2012.  Thanks for reading.





 

I REMAIN INSANE

Speaking to a large gathering of teachers in 1973 Dr. C.M. Pierce of Harvard University said, "Every child in America entering school at the age of five is insane, because he comes to school with certain allegiances toward our elected officials, toward his parents, toward a belief in a supernatural being, toward the sovereignty of this nation as a separate entity..." 

I am proud today to say that the only area in which I have recovered from my "insanity" is in my allegiance to elected officials. I'd rather be an insane God-fearing, parents-honoring, America-loving patriot than an Harvard-educated idiot masquerading as an intellectual! 

Insanely Yours,
David

T.G.I.F.

Who among us has not heard someone say "TGIF" meaning, of course, Thank God It's Friday!?  I have used the expression many times myself, but there is another "TGIF" or two that I'd like to bring to the readers attention that is of far greater significance than the one mentioned above.  The first one we consider is "Thank God I'm Free!"

The great Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:2, "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."  The words of Jesus Himself are recorded in John 8:36 where the Saviour proclaimed, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."  So, I am here today to say, TGIF - Thank God I'm Free!

I am reminded of the words of a song we sometimes sing in our churches.  Here are the words to the chorus:

    "Thank God I am free, free, free
   From this world of sin
   Washed in the blood of Jesus, and then born again
   Hallelujah I'm saved, saved, saved
   By His wonderful grace
   I'm so glad that I found out He would bring me out
   And show me the way."

Not only am I free in Christ, but TGIF - Thank God I'm Forgiven!  Ephesians 4:32 states, "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."  Again in Ephesians chapter 1, verse 7 we read, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace."

In my memory I can just now hear an evangelist friend singing the song "Forever Forgiven":

   "Forever forgiven, it reaches even me,
    My sins are forgiven, casts into the deepest sea;
    Forever forgiven, salvation full and free,
    Forever forgiven, new life abundantly."

Yes, it's Friday, the end of the work week for many.  And for those included in that vast number, TGIF - Thank God it's Friday - has undoubtedly been in their minds if not on their lips.  But, for the child of God, TGIF takes on a new and grander meaning when we, from the heart, thank God for our freedom and forgiveness found only in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Yes, TGIF - Thank God I'm Free and Thank God I'm forgiven!  Is the reader able to repeat that with conviction of heart?  I trust you may.  And that is my View From The Porch for Friday, the first day of June, 2012.  God bless.