Posted by
peripheral on Tuesday, April 06, 2010 6:24:59 AM
From My Perspective - - -
Two areas that can generate much debate are Politics and Religion. When
Politics intrudes into Religion, the friction it causes usually
generates more heat than light. The scope and sincerity of the speaker,
as well as what is spoken will be scrutinized. Great care should be
exercised so that one’s belief system doesn’t alienate a nation founded
upon certain values and traditions. If the speaker is somewhat
phlegmatic in his approach, more harm than good will ensue from what is
being spoken. Consider the Thesaurus presentation for phlegmatic: as an
adjective it means unemotional. Some of the primary Synonyms are: cool,
apathetic, disinterested, dispassionate, unexcitable, unfeeling,
uninvolved…
There is usually a Presidential Proclamation issued at Easter that is
focused on the traditional values of that seasonal observance in the
Judeo-Christian beliefs and practices. In his April 3rd, 2010 Weekly Address,
President Obama stated: “This is a week of faithful celebration. On
Monday and Tuesday nights, Jewish families and friends in the United
States and around the world gathered for a Seder to commemorate the
Exodus from Egypt and the triumph of hope and perseverance over
injustice and oppression. On Sunday, my family will join other
Christians all over the world in marking the resurrection of Jesus
Christ. And while we worship in different ways, we also remember the
shared spirit of humanity that inhabits us all – Jews and Christians,
Muslims and Hindus, believers and nonbelievers alike…These are
aspirations that stretch back through the ages – aspirations at the
heart of Judaism, at the heart of Christianity, at the heart of all of
the world’s great religions. The rites of Passover, and the traditions
of Easter, have been marked by people in every corner of the planet for
thousands of years. They have been marked in times of peace, in times
of upheaval, in times of war…Their only hope that this unity will
endure…Happy Easter and Happy Passover to all those celebrating, here
in America, and around the world.”
By comparison, the 2008 Easter Proclamation
issued by George W. Bush, President of the United States…stated: "I am
the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even
though he dies." John 11:25 – “Laura and I send greetings to all those
celebrating the joyful holiday of Easter. The Resurrection of Jesus
Christ reminds people around the world of the presence of a faithful
God who offers a love more powerful than death. Easter commemorates our
Savior's triumph over sin, and we take joy in spending this special
time with family and friends and reflecting on the many blessings that
fill our lives. During this season of renewal, let us come together and
give thanks to the Almighty who made us in His image and redeemed us in
His love. On this glorious day, we remember our brave men and women in
uniform who are separated from their families by great distances. We
pray for their safety and strength, and we honor those who gave their
lives to advance peace and secure liberty across the globe. Happy
Easter. May God bless you, and may God bless our great Nation.”
A Christian Nation should have some prerequisites for its Leaders – not
the least of which would be a dependence upon the Lord. In II Kings 18:13-19:
“The king of Assyria sent his supreme commander, his chief officer and
his field commander with a large army…to King Hezekiah…They came up to
Jerusalem and stopped at the aqueduct of the Upper Pool…They called for
the king; and…the field commander said to them, Tell Hezekiah: This is
what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: On what are you basing
this confidence of yours?” In II Kings 19:14-19,
we see what King Hezekiah did: “(He)…went up to the temple of the Lord
and spread the letter out before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed…"O Lord,
God of Israel…Give ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and
see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living
God…Now, O Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms
on earth may know that you alone, O Lord, are God." What has happened
to our nation? Why is it we have allowed the negatives to dominate the
positives? Why is it we have allowed cultural values to supplant
Christian values? Why do we allow ourselves to march toward the
dangerous precipice of loss, defeat and oblivion? The time to reverse
course is now! The time to seek the Lord and His help is long past due!
Consider these things with me!