WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE

At last the 2016 election is over and America has spoken. With policy issues so extremely diverse and citizens so divided, commenting on the outcome and especially documenting opinions for public view may mark the writer forever. My views are conservative with no apology, and I attribute the base of my convictions to my religion. Of course, I wish for economic improvement and peace in the world, but as government affects me, personally, religion is at the core.

I’m committed and actively practice strong biblical beliefs, and as a Christian, I, of course, wish to encourage all individuals within my influence to agree with what I believe to be the truth of the Bible. However, God created mankind with freedom of choice, and America is a free society where others may believe as they choose. As a Christian, I am commanded by God to love all people, even my enemies, and to seek the best for all mankind. For this reason, sharing the earth with people of all ideologies is my Christian calling. My greatest fear in our present world is that so many have determined that my ideology is unacceptable and must be changed. WHAT HAPPENED TO RELIGIOUS FREEDOM?

A few ambitious liberal activists are at work trying to discredit Christianity as the cause of all problems. When religious leaders speak out quoting their biblical reasons for their decisions, they are immediately labeled as bigoted, racist, and all those other adjectives that we hear used to segregate Bible believers. Lack of Bible knowledge, and especially how to study the book, contributes greatly to the controversies that surround its teachings. Reading the Bible without basic knowledge of the time lines, the general divisions of history, and basic faith in the God of the Bible will leave the casual reader without proper understanding of its truth. The Bible comments on this subject in 2 Timothy 2:15 admonishing the Bible student to “rightly divide” the scriptures.

This past week media sources have been energized to debate this subject, and it has amazed and depressed this writer to see so many biased opinions – all of them in opposition to what they refer to as “fundamentalist evangelicals.” A secondary issue is the “absolute, dogged” insistence that the media opinion is “right” condemning the Christian and advocating action to “make Christianity change.”

One of my favorite television programs is under such scrutiny at the present time. I’m sure you are aware of this controversy. The hosts, Chip and Joanna Gaines, of FIXER UPPER, HGTV, are being criticized for attending a church that adheres to biblical concepts of morality. The point is this witch hunt has been perpetrated by a liberal activist media with the only agenda being to persecute Christian behavior. The TV show is about renovating homes and makes no reference to religion. If this TV show is cancelled because the actors attend a particular church, WHERE DOES THIS END?

I’m writing this blog taking a stand for religious freedom. Most of you who read this know me and my views on religion. Christians are in danger of losing precious freedoms that our founding fathers framed for America. And they do this in the name of freedom for all people. Our Constitution protects us from this behavior, and unless we stand strong and speak out, those who would interpret freedom to be fluid and subject to the changing times will continue eroding our religious freedom to worship as we choose.

Let me challenge fundamentalists who practice immersion (baptism) to research social media groups who suggest that baptism is “waterboarding” and should be outlawed. Never in America! Are you sure about that? Christians if we don’t wake up, stand up, and speak up, we will find our church doors locked by law, or our buildings empty because people are afraid to continue worshiping in public. These are dangerous times, and Christians are challenged to PROVE their commitment to God.  We must pray for our country, stay informed of leader’s actions, and be vigilant, knowing God is in control, and He expects us to defend and obey His Word. Will we be “weighed in the balances and found wanting?” Daniel 5:27.