Big Government

With the passage and signing of the Health Care Reform Act the idea of "states rights", and the doctrine of federalism are basically dead. The Founding Fathers and the vast majority of people in this country at that time were adamantly opposed to a strong central government. They had seen the abuses of people by monarchies in Europe and wanted no part of it in their republic. The main idea of the "establishment" clause in the first amendment is to prevent the Federal government from dictating religious preferences to the states. If the Federal government can dictate your health care, and whether you carry insurance, are there any limits to its power anymore?

Read the words of a George Washington University law professor in USA Today:

"With this legislation, Congress has effectively defined an uninsured 18-year-old man in Richmond as an interstate problem like a polluting factory. It is an assertion of federal power that is inherently at odds with the original vision of the Framers. If a citizen who fails to get health insurance is an interstate problem, it is difficult to see the limiting principle as Congress seeks to impose other requirements on citizens. The ultimate question may not be how Congress can prevail, but how much of states' rights would be left if it prevailed.

There's an old saying -  Government big enough to give us anything we want is a Government big enough to take everything we have.

It's time that we, as Americans, decide to serve a sovereign God, not a sovereign government. Otherwise we will soon find ourselves in the same condition that the people who built this nation were escaping when they came here. 

Tower of Babble

Lost in all the analysis and political babble coming from Washington over the passage of the Health Care Reform Act are two simple facts - it is unconstitutional and it is un-biblical. The Constitution defines and limits the role of the Federal government to impose its will on the states. Just as the 1st amendment denies the Federal government the power to impose a religion, or restrict a religion, so the 10th amendment denies the Federal government any power not granted in the Constitution. The imposition of federally-mandated health care violates that restriction and will be challenged by several states, including Florida.

The reason the Founding Fathers sought to restrict Federal government is that they understood that God is sovereign, not government. Listen to the words of Benjamin Franklin at the Constitutional convention:

"If a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice (Matt 10:29), is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured in the sacred writings that "except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it' (Ps 127:1). I firmly believe this, and I also believe that without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel (Gen 11).

The builders of the tower of Babel wanted to "make a name for themselves" and build a world without recognizing God. God confused their language and scattered them. America is on the same path, seeking to build a government that is sovereign in every area of life from cradle to grave. By turning our back on the Constitution we have also turned our back on the concept of a sovereign God and replaced it with a sovereign government. We have no reason to expect that God will judge us any differently than the builders of Babel. 

Democracy Inaction

One of the basic tenets of a democratic society is the individual's right to vote, and the importance of that vote in the political process. Now we must confront the fact that in Gainesville, and in our Congress, people just don't want to vote. What does it tell you about the courage of our legislators in Congress when they seek to impose an unpopular and potentially disastrous health care plan on America without voting on it? What does it tell you about the apathy of voters in Gainesville when fewer than 15% go to the polls on a beautiful spring day to vote for a new mayor, the highest elected office in the city? 

Compare this to the more than 60% of Iraqis who braved suicide bombers, death threats, and sporadic gunfire to vote in their national election last week. Maybe if Americans had to live in Iraq for a while they'd take more interest in their democracy and appreciate their freedom. Ultimately we will get the government we deserve. The current situation in Washington looks like our just reward.

On the local scene the good news is that Don Marsh is in the mayoral runoff. Conventional political wisdom is that anyone who didn't vote for Craig Lowe should vote for Marsh in the runoff. Hopefully that will happen, but the turnout for the runoff will be even smaller and small turnouts lead to skewed results. 

The larger issue for Gainesville is the cost, both politically and financially, of having city elections in the spring, separate from other elections. I think we can safely say that the argument that city elections will get lost on the state/national election ballot is trumped by the fact that city elections are being ignored anyway - at great expense to city government. Unless, of course, you don't really want to know what the majority of city residents think. 

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."    Edmund Burke

Local Politics

Former House Speaker Tip O'Neil once said "all politics are local politics".  The truth of this saying is recognition of the fact that everything our government does affects us, whether we realize it or not. The Florida Legislature is in session and Gainesville city elections are coming March 16. Our Congress seems bent on passing a health care bill that most American's don't want. There's plenty for Christians to be concerned about. Not that we should believe that government will solve all the world's problems - only Jesus Christ can do that. What we do want is a government that will keep the peace and provide an environment where the gospel can be advanced. We don't want government that passes laws that contradict our beliefs and promote sinful behavior. 

Charles Van Zant, a former member of Westside, is now a state representative from Keystone Heights. He is planning to introduce legislation that will severely restrict the availability of abortion in Florida. This is a clear example of an attempt to correct a law that violates our Christian beliefs, and he deserves our support. His website is - www.charlesvanzant.com.   Go there, offer your encouragement to him, and see what you can do to support this cause.

Gainesville's city elections are just around the corner and the office of mayor is on the ballot, along with the District 4 commission seat. If politics as usual prevails, 2 term commissioner Craig Lowe will be elected mayor. He was the driving force behind the Gender Identity Ordinance in 2009, which protects those with an "inner sense" of being a different gender, by allowing them to use whichever public restroom they feel more comfortable in. 

If you are a Gainesville voter who would like to see a change in city leadership please attend a Candidate Forum at Parkview Baptist Church on Sunday, March 7 at 5pm.  Parkview is located at 3403 NW 13th St.  See and hear the candidates for yourself.

Don Marsh, candidate for mayor: www.donaldmarsh.com,  and Mason Alley in District 4:  www.masonalley.com,  have been recommended by Gainesville Watchman as professing Christians who are pro-business and socially conservative. Gainesville Watchman is a conservative Christian group that emerged in the aftermath of the attempt to overturn the Gender Identity Ordinance. Gainesville's reputation as an ultra-liberal city is based on historically low voter turnout during the spring election cycle, which allows the commission to remain in the grip of a minority of voters. If we, as Christians, don't get out and vote in support of good candidates, we have only ourselves to blame for the consequences. 

 

Support the Haiti missionaries

Any tragedy seems to bring out the best and worst in people. The Haiti earthquake is no exception. There has been a great outpouring of aid - food, medicine and money - over the past weeks. Rescuing children from dire circumstances has been a priority for many. I'm sure you are aware of the 10 Baptist missionaries who were arrested for trying to take a group of Haitian children into the Dominican Republic. I have no doubt that this was done with the best of intentions. I also do not debate the right of Haiti to control the removal of children from their country. It's time for our government to support the missionaries, and resolve this without further punishment, so the focus can return to helping the children. 

Please email your congressman and Senators and ask them to push for a resolution. The easiest way is to work through the Ethics and Religious Liberty commission website set up for this purpose - http://capwiz.com/ethics/issues/alert/?alertid=14667836&type=ML.

Free Speech?

Isn't it amazing that the same groups that champion free speech and rail against censorship on issues like sexually explicit literature and "adult" themed entertainment suddenly want to pull the plug when the message contradicts their point of view. I'm talking, of course, about the uproar over the prospect that Focus on the Family will show a pro-life ad during the Super Bowl featuring Tim Tebow and his mother.

Feminists and pro-abortion groups are outraged that CBS would allow such a controversial ad to be shown during the biggest TV event of the year. How dare they interrupt our comfortable enjoyment of a football game with an issue of eternal consequence. 

I believe God is using this to wake up the pro-life movement in this country, which has been asleep too long. Of all the "wicked ways" that the US must turn from before God will heal our land, abortion is at the top of the list. 

Please take the time to let CBS know that you support their decision to air the Tebow ad. You can leave a message at -  http://www.cbs.com/info/user_services/fb_global_form.php

"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".  2 Chronicles 7:14

Thanksgiving

A few years ago, the Independent Florida Alligator (UF's student newspaper) published an editorial/commentary before Thanksgiving, praising it as "our favorite non-religious holiday".  I wrote a letter to the editor, which was not published, asking whom they were thanking at Thanksgiving, and what indication from the historical beginnings of the holiday led them to the conclusion that it was "non-religious".

If you have any doubts that we have lost contact with our Christian heritage in America just consider what has happened to Thanksgiving. Now it's just a bump on the retail-driven speedway that begins at Halloween and ends at Christmas. There's too much food, too much football and very little thankfulness. 

Today's most quoted online reference source - Wikipedia - gives this definition of the holiday:

Thanksgiving Day is a harvest festival. Traditionally, it is a time to give thanks for the harvest and express gratitude in general. It is a holiday celebrated primarily in Canada and the United States. While perhaps religious in origin, Thanksgiving is now primarily identified as a secular holiday. 

Was it "gratitude in general" being expressed by the Pilgrims at Plymouth in 1621 at the first recorded Thanksgiving feast, or by the members of our first Congress who issued this proclamation in 1777?

IN CONGRESS
November 1, 1777 

FORASMUCH as it is the indispensable Duty of all Men to adore the superintending Providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with Gratitude their Obligation to him for Benefits received, and to implore such farther Blessings as they stand in Need of….

 

Can you imagine our current Congress issuing such a statement? Here is the beginning of the first Thanksgiving proclamation issued by President George Washington:

THANKSGIVING DAY 1789
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - A PROCLAMATION


Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor - and Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness."
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be…

 

Does that sound like a President or a nation confused about the meaning of Thanksgiving?

It was President Abraham Lincoln who began the yearly celebration of Thanksgiving in 1863. Here is an excerpt of his proclamation:

 

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.

 

I highly recommend reading the full text of these and other Thanksgiving proclamations issued by Congress and the Presidents over the years. They can be found at - http://www.pilgrimhall.org/ThanxProc.htm

 

I'd also encourage you to start a new Thanksgiving tradition at your house. Read an excerpt of one of these early Presidential proclamations as part of the prayer time before the meal. I'm sure your children will be surprised that the government that now seems intent on removing all traces of religion from public life once felt the need to thank God for our blessings. I can assure you they won't learn it in their history class.

 

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.  Psalm 33:12