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Truth in Conviction offers insights related to politics, religion and social happenings in the US and worldwide. The columns' philosophical base is conservative. Regarding
religion, it is evangelical. Concerning social matters, it is grounded in biblical ethics.
Swank has BA and MDiv degrees with graduate work at Harvard Divinity School. Married for 49 years with 3 adult children. Author of several books and thousands of articles in various Protestant and Catholic magazines, journals, web sites, and newspapers. Writer of weekly religion column for PORTLAND PRESS HERALD newspaper, Portland ME. |
Thu Dec 31, 2009
WHY DOES GOD APPEAR SO MEAN?
J. Grant Swank, Jr.
A comment received to my article, AMERICA BELIEVES CHRIST IS GOD, reads as follows on ConservativeVoice Forum http://www.theconservativevoice.com/forum/read.html?id=732:
“Grant, I wonder if you are a football fan? Just because, if so, I hope you’re demanding to the team ownership that the whole team should be put to death immediately. After all, a literal reading of the Bible does tell us that anyone who works on Sunday should be killed, right? And you’ve apparently linked belief in Christ with blindly following everything in the Bible.”
Here is the answer to that comment:
In the Old Testament, God commanded the death penalty in twenty-some cases. This was not because God was barbaric, but because God was civil. The Israeli twelve tribes had no law enforcement agencies. Further, they were surrounded by barbarisms of strange magnitudes exhibited by neighboring pagan nations.
Consequently, for God to establish an Israeli civil community, He set forth stringent punishments--some being the death penalty. He Himself became, in other words, the Law Enforcement Agency for the new nation of Israel. That chosen community thereby was to model morality / civility to the surrounding nations.
Extremely severe penalties then were commanded by God in order to bring in line an Israeli community which tended to be unruly like its neighbors. If God had been lax in penalties, human nature, being what it is, would have tested gladly the boundaries. But when penalties were severe, human nature thought twice before testing the boundaries, hence the death penalty prescribed by God in some instances.
However, once Israel lost its nationhood by “going a-whoring after other loves”, Israel’s civil structure disappeared. Israel as a nation lost its temple, its government--that is, its two primary components of culture--religion and politics. Pagan nations then ruled over the heretofore nation of God. In this loss was the disappearance of death penalties previously prescribed by God. The death penalty period as dictated by divine revelation, in other words, ended near the close of the Old Testament era.
That is why when Jesus appeared as flesh-and-bones divine revelation, He pronounced, “You used to say, ‘An eye for an eye’, but now I say to you: Love your enemies.” Jesus pronounced a civility of love toward one’s enemies. “Love your foes, pray for your foes.” This was the New Testament for it was now a new way of dealing with others--all others.
Government was now established primarily within the believer rather than under Israeli kings. “The Kingdom of God is within you.” Law was now primarily of the heart. “My law will be written on your hearts.” That was the new politic. Further, the tabernacle was now primarily the human frame: “Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.” That was the new religion.
Therefore, for the New Testament Church Age, it is the law of love toward all--friends and foes. Jesus provided a simply stated ethic. He refused to garble it with amendments. But, one may ask: “What about these atrocious crimes and the death penalty?”
The biblical answer is still the same: love your friends and foes in Jesus. What kind of Christian love then can be shown to a multiple-murderer / rapist / arsonist / child molester? What kind of Christian love can be meted out to a Hitler?
It is a Christian tough love. Tough love keeps the exceptional criminal alive but consigns that one to supervised environs without parole. Hopefully, even that exceptional criminal then may come upon redemption through Christ, yet never be placed in tempting circumstances whereby he again may do others and Himself harm.
Keeping the individual alive also allows the possibility that, realizing human justice systems to be flawed, that person in truth may be found innocent though originally pronounced guilty. Indeed, the future may prove this to be fact if new evidence is forthcoming. History has case files on those in the aforementioned category.
Reason this moral / ethical situation from God’s perspective: Adam and Eve slew God’s love when they played loose with Eden’s snake. However, God did not slay them. Instead, God banished them to their own solitary isles of remorse, hoping at least for their eternal redemption.
You once slew God’s love by going your own stubborn way. In reality, you pronounced yourself Lord of your life. It is a hurtful truth to you now that you are a believer; nevertheless, living once in sin and for sin, you were once that callused toward your own loving Creator. However, did God obliterate you? No, instead God searched you out, loved you even while you were enemy, in hopes of redeeming what was left of your destiny.
He now invites each Christian to live out that same kind of persevering, at-times-tough love toward all others--especially those who are Enemy. God has already walked for us the path of love-for-foes. We, of all creatures, should know this for sure. Praise be to a loving, merciful God!
He then invites us to join Him on that love path. He has walked it for us. He asks us now to walk it for others.
OBAMA’S MUSLIM RELIGION OF PEACE IN PAKISTAN AXED CHRISTIANS
J. Grant Swank, Jr.
Can I tie Muslim Barack Hussein Obama to the Pakistani Muslims attacking Christians in Sargodha?
Yes.
Marxist Muslim Obama attacks Christians in Christian heritage America. He did so publicly when telling them to slide off the list. Atheists were given equal preference in his inauguration speech.
In addition, he prostituted the Christian faith by using Christian church membership to mask his Islamic allegiance.
Further, he used the Islamic lie to convince Christians he was one of them when sponsoring gospel concerts during his presidential campaign, speaking from Christian pulpits, quoting Christian Scripture and appearing on such Christian sanctuary platforms as Saddleback Church.
Obama’s daily agenda is to wipe out the nation’s Christian heritage for Islam World Rule.
Therefore, what goes on in Pakistan with Muslims attacking Christians with axes and clubs is in concert with Obama’s slice and dice in America.
“As many as 50 Muslim villagers armed with clubs and axes recently attacked a showing of the ‘Jesus’ film near Sargodha, Pakistan, injuring three part-time evangelists and four Christians in attendance.”
The Koran that these clubbers follow is the Koran that delights Obama. By the way, it is the same Koran that Prince Charles stated serves as his daily devotions.
“Two of the evangelists were said to be seriously injured. The Muslim hardliners also damaged a movie projector, burned reels of the film and absconded with the public address system and donations from Christian viewers in Chak village, about 10 kilometers northeast of Sargodha.”
What are government officials in DC doing to curtail Obama’s overthrow of America? Nothing but agreeing with him via the Dem controlled Congress. The same in Pakistan.
“Officers at the Saddr police station refused to register a case against the Muslim assailants, sources said.
“The evangelists said a Muslim cleric instigated the Muslim villagers, who were armed with clubs, spades and axes” per The Christian Messenger dated December 29, 2009.
Same song, second verse in Pakistan as in
Obamaland.
OBAMA PAL REV RICK WARREN BOTTOMS OUT
J. Grant Swank, Jr.
Many evangelicals wondered why under heaven Pastor Rick Warren, Saddleback mega-Church, was so cordial to Barack Hussein Obama during the presidential campaign.
Countless conservatives were so taken aback that they couldn’t digest the facts when first told.
“Rick Warren is having Obama on his church platform,” I told a Christian friend in New Hampshire. She opposed me vehemently. I just had to be incorrect. Not Rick Warren. Didn’t I know who he is? Didn’t I know he’s evangelical?
I told her that Barack Hussein Obama was going to sit in Warren’s sanctuary and be given the chance to appear evangelical-friendly when I knew he was Marxist Muslim.
She was incensed at me.
Then later she found out the truth. Obama was there with Warren. It didn’t matter that Warren asked pointed questions of Obama. Obama didn’t care about the touch questions, even tougher questions. All Obama needed was one more religiously conservative clergyman and evangelical sanctuary to walk into.
That went along with Obama mounting other pulpit stairs throughout his campaign.
That went along with his quoting from the Bible, particularly referencing the Sermon on the Mount.
That went along with his staging gospel concerts throughout the South.
That went along with his testimony that he walked to the front of Trinity UCC to meet Jesus at the altar.
That went along with his smiling at one religious figure after another.
Now Warren is paying a severe price for his winging it with the foe. His church is bottoming out financially.
There are kind, loving, caring evangelicals bonding with those of like faith who will respond to this news by saying: “You deserve this fallout, Rick. You asked for it. You should have never bent over backwards to entertain a known theological liberal on your sanctuary platform.”
There were many who concluded Warren did all this for Warren’s sake, that being a forte of Warren. Warren, after all, is the popular author of “The Purpose Driven Life.” He’s known as frequenting liberal conclaves, supposedly under the motive of being charitable and perhaps even winning a few points for evangelicalism. Is it the California sun?
That reminds me of Ruth Graham, Billy Graham’s wife. When Billy was sauntering up to DC frequently to have chats with Presidents, Ruth saw some awesome clouds gathering from time to time.
At one point, Ruth counseled Billy to slow down on the connections with politics in Washington. She told him to stick more with evangelism and less with politicians. He himself told the press this; he stated she was a wise wife to give such advice.
For Warren, he sent out a Christmas letter making financial appeals. So it goes. May he have learned a lesson about this cozy up mode with the theological enemy, especially when it is one as dangerous as Marxist Muslim Barack Hussein Obama.
Read more Megachurch Pastor Rick Warren Asks for Urgent Donations at http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,581572,00.html?test=latestnews
EURO-MEDS OPEN EUROPE TO ISLAMIC SWEEP
J. Grant Swank, Jr.
“According to Stop the Islamization of Europe (SIOE), in the Euro-Med plan ‘Europe is to be islamized.
“’Democracy, Christianity, European culture and Europeans are to be driven out of Europe.
“’Fifty million North Africans from Muslim countries are to be imported into the EU’” per JihadWatch’s “The EuroMed Partnership: opening the floodgates for jihad in Europe.”
The operation is to begin January 1, 2010.
Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (Europe/Mediterranean) is given little fanfare but organizers are zealous. Low-key is the mode; finalization is the goal.
“A ‘blue card’ system is to be created that will allow card holders to travel freely within the European Union and have full rights to work - as well as the full right to collect welfare benefits.”
SIOE warns that America would be wise to take heed for obvious reason.
Read more at http://www.jihadwatch.org/
MUSLIMS INSTRUCTED TO MAKE FRIENDS, THEN SLAY
J. Grant Swank, Jr.
Sheikh Mubarak Gilani tells Muslims to “act like you’re his friend. Then kill him.”
Muslim killer camps increase in America, particularly in the northeast. Muslims boast they are the largest group in the U.S.
Read WHAT WILL OBAMA DO ABOUT US MUSLIM KILLER CAMPS? at http://truthinconviction.us/weblog.php?id=P3304
These camps teach enrollees how to slit a throat. A woman is in video depicting the technique. Read “’Chilling’ new video: How to slit throats” at http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=119087
Camps also instruct on how to hold a gun to an infidel’s head, then shoot.
These Allah devotees are informing the media that they intend on taking over the Republic. That is the major step toward Islam World Rule.
Homeland Security and other governmental agencies have been shown this material with no response to the providers. That is because Barack Hussein Obama is Muslim.
Read “Obama states he is Muslim” at http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/swank/091107
Obama too works for Islam World Rule and has surrounded himself with Muslims, including his senatorial position in Illinois. Devout Muslims served on his presidential campaign and are now in his DC shadow government.
His compatriots are hiding in their camps throughout the nation until the signal if given to implode our democracy.
Political correctness and political/theological liberalism keep truth from being told to America’s grassroots. Therefore, still many conclude Obama to be Christian because he is a member of the Trinity United Church of Christ.
That denomination is like unto Unitarianism in that it does not uphold the Bible as the Word of God. Instead, UCC theology is based on relativism and situation ethics. The situation governs the ethics.
Those who know truth are aware Obama’s Chicago church is a cultic warehouse for insurrection, setting Islamics free from Jews (“monkeys” and “pigs) and “white values.” This message is spread elsewhere via Black Liberation Theology, the latter quite prevalent in black congregations across the nation.
As civil citizens go to work, prepare meals and enjoy shopping at the mall, Muslim camps are hard at work to kill us all off. Slit the throat. Put a bullet in the head. Whatever it takes to praise Allah.
Daily happenings out of the Oval Office give ample evidence that Muslim Obama himself is beheading the country with scalping our economy and turning the Christian heritage into atheism. He is working through a Dem dictatorship in Congress to twist and turn our nation into the Pit.
Therefore, it is wise for law-abiding, faith-aligned citizens to be wary of their Muslim friends.
These too are attending seminars at mosques where instruction is given to grab the country for Allah. First they are friendly to you. Then they eventually hunt you down to slaughter you.
It’s all in the plan set up years ago. Click ISLAMIC TIMELINE FOR GLOBAL RULE at http://truthinconviction.us/weblog.php?id=D20091106
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