Posted by
peripheral on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 5:42:09 AM
From My Perspective - - -
The old saying “talk is cheap” has a reality to it in these times. Even
though it costs millions of dollars to place Ads and to get one’s point
of view before the public, the reality remains – rhetoric is one thing
– content/substance is another. To be able to deliver or to have a
means to deliver in terms of one’s rhetorical declarations – requires
foundational principles and a clear, precise idea how the rhetoric will
be matched by reality.
Many words have been stated to express where our nation is, or where it
is headed – terms such as – Humanistic, Marxist, Socialist, etc. Two
statements worth pondering are: (1) A tenant from Humanist Manifesto
III, “Humans are an integral part of nature, the result of unguided
evolutionary change. Humanists recognize nature as self-existing. We
accept our life as all and enough, distinguishing things as they are
from things as we might wish or imagine them to be. We welcome the
challenges of the future, and are drawn to and undaunted by the yet to
be known.” (2) A statement made in the early years of Sir Winston
Churchill, “Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of
ignorance, and the gospel of envy.” It is interesting to view the words
of President Roosevelt in 1933, “…my firm belief that the only thing we
have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror
which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance…” and to
ask, what is his foundation for such a declaration? Other than it being
swelling and inspiring rhetoric, what significant meaning does it have
for those thrown into poverty and losing all they have worked for and
owned? Is the State the savior for a nation?
In like manner, the very stirring rhetoric and commentary of Sir
Winston Churchill in 1940 during warfare and bombardment, “I have
nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat…” In terms of facing
a relentless and determined enemy, he expressed his aim as: “It is
victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory,
however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no
survival…” What is the foundation for his dramatic and dynamic
rhetoric? Is the State the savior in this instance? Is the hope in the
skill and determination of the Royal Air Force to ward off the enemy,
evoking more rhetoric, “…never has so much owed by so many to so few…”
Is it the human ingenuity and determination that is the deciding factor
for Great Britain and the United States of America?
Consider these things with me - - - and also think about these words in
Psalm 56:3 through 7, “When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God,
whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can
mortal man do to me? All day long they twist my words; they are always
plotting to harm me. They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps,
eager to take my life. On no account let them escape; in your anger, O
God, bring down the nations.” These words are in a Psalm of David after
he has been taken captive by the Philistines in Gath. As the Anointed
King, where is his hope? What is his hope? There are two truths that
stand out in these words of David: (1) There are times when one will be
genuinely afraid, and (2) There is a focus in terms of the enemy being
just ‘mortal man’ and he asks himself – ‘what can a mortal man do to
me?’ David is looking beyond an earthly army, and human determination,
and self-help theories. He unashamedly declares that his hope and trust
and confidence is in The Sovereign God; the God who created all things
and who maintains all things by the Word of His Power.
As people face uncertain economical times; as jobs, and savings, and
homes are lost; when one looks into the tunnel and all one can see is
more tunnel; when billions of dollars are being given to failed
corporations and one is at wits end – what should you do? Where can you
go? Where can you find relief and help? Why not do what David did when
he was confined and limited in terms of his human resources! When he
had reached a peak of being afraid, what did David do? His conviction
and commitment is crystal clear: “When I am afraid, I will trust in
You. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be
afraid.” Emulate David and put your faith, and trust, and confidence,
and hope in the trustworthy, Sovereign God!