Buzzard Christianity

If you put a buzzard in a pen with dimensions not exceeding 8 feet on either side and entirely open at the top, the bird will remain a prisoner in spite of its ability to fly. The reason is that a buzzard always begins its flight with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but stay a captive for life in a small enclosure with no top.

Some Christians act like captured buzzards, feeding off the past and refusing to fly into the great unknown for the sake of Christ. The future to them seems aboding, for the culture they now live in is strange and indifferent to their values. They prefer their cage, which represents safety and familiarity. But Christians are called to take the gospel to their culture, not keep it a prisoner with them!

Christian, you were made to soar like an eagle, not live like a buzzard! Stretch out your wings and catch the current of the Spirit. Go and make disciples in the culture you dislike, for who are you to fear, when He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).

The Preacher

Taken from Heralds of God by James S. Stewart

"Redemptive work is always costly. There is no hope of ease for the faithful servant of the cross. It is involved in the very nature of his task that he can never be at the end of it. Not his to evade the burden and heat of the day: physical weariness, sickness of heart and bitter disappointment, the strain of the passion for souls, all the wear and tear of vicarious burden-bearing – these he will know in full measure. He may even find himself wondering sometimes why he ever accepted a commission in a warfare in which there is no discharge. He may have moods when a haunting sense of anticlimax overwhelms him. It is one thing to set out gallantly when the flags are waving and the drums summoning to a new crusade, but is it quite another thing to keep plodding on when the road is difficult and the initial impetus has spent its force and the trumpets of the dawn have ceased to blow. It is one thing to have inspirations; it is another to have tenacity. My little children, wrote Paul to the Galatians, of who I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you: a swift and startling turn of phrase giving a profoundly moving insight into the price of true Christian ambassadorship. For –It is by no breath,
Turn of eye, wave of hand, that salvation joins issue with death-

And if ever a man finds the work of the ministry becoming easily manageable and surmountable, an undemanding vocation without strain or any encumbering load of care, he is to be pitied, not congratulated: for he has so fragrantly lost touch with the One whose ministry of reconciliation could be accomplished and fulfilled only through Gethsemane and Calvary. Without shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. Unless something of the evangelist's life-blood goes into his quest for souls and into the word he brings them from the Lord, the quest remains fruitless and the word devoid of delivering power."

James Stuart Stewart (1896 - 1990) was a minister in the Church of Scotland and professor at the University of Edinburg. He grew up in Dundee and graduated from the University of St. Andrews in 1917. He served as Chaplain to the Queen in Scotland from 1952 to 1966. Author of many books, he was voted by Preaching Magazine in 1999 as the best preacher of the 20th century.

Election Blues

Some may feel that all hope for America is lost because the election results did not favor their candidate. Make no mistake—elections will not bring about the kingdom of God through political means. Jesus said to Pilot, “My kingdom is not of this world.” 

We will not “Christianize” America through political force. The state cannot and should not do that. The 200 year old hymn, “Lead On, O King Eternal says, “For not with swords loud clashing, nor roll of stirring drums; with deeds of love and mercy the heavenly kingdom comes.” The hope of the world (and America) is not political force, but the reign of Christ.

It is through our love and evangelism that we invite people into this realm. At the same time, we are called by God to seek and act for the welfare of the place where we live (Jeremiah 29:7). Let's represent the gospel by demonstrating the love of Christ to a desperate and dying world.

Christian Involvement in Politics

Romans 13:4 tells us that government authority exists for our good. But good must be defined by Scripture; otherwise it becomes subjective and will be determined by the majority will. If no one explains what God expects in governing, then government officials will have an excuse to legislate their own morality. Christians as citizens in the state within which God placed them must therefore be actively involved in politics for its own good. 1 Peter 2:14 further explains that government is to punish those who do evil and praise those who do good. Again the question of the definition of good arises. Unless magistrates receive counsel from the religious community, mayors, senators, or presidents will not understand God’s view of good and evil or right and wrong.

Throughout history God has involved His people in advising or warning secular rulers. Daniel told King Nebuchadnezzar, the most powerful ruler on earth at the time: “Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity” (Daniel 4:27 ESV). Joseph, as Egypt’s second-in-command, often advised Pharaoh. Moses confronted the Pharaoh and demanded freedom for the Israelites. Queen Esther influenced King Ahasuerus and her guardian, Mordecai, became counselor to him.

In the New Testament, John the Baptist confronted officials about morals, even scolding Herod the tetrarch “for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the evil things that Herod had done” (Luke 3:19). In Acts 24, Paul addresses the Roman governor Felix “about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment.” Paul held Felix accountable for his conduct as a public officeholder and wife stealer. It is clear that Paul captured the governor’s attention, for in verse 25, Felix was disturbed and sent Paul away.

            The “God is dead” movement of the 1960’s attempted to make God irrelevant to the culture. Once God is removed from civic life, the remaining two characters - the individual and the state – will be free to determine their own morality. In other words, without Christian involvement in politics, there will be no counterbalance to the government’s declaration of what is best for the people. And what will and has occurred is the redefining of moral conduct. What was the old immorality is now the new politically correct morality. Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe to those who call good evil and evil good.”

The Christian religion has always been the basis for judging this nation’s beliefs and values. The founding fathers understood a moral government is based in the Judeo-Christian ethic. When values are debated in government, religion is at the core - whether it be Judeo-Christian or Secular Humanism. When the Christian religion is banished from the public sector, then the vacuum created will be filled by paganism and religious secularism.

            Christians are citizens of two kingdoms – the kingdom of God and the kingdom of the state or nation that God has placed them. They have a duty to be involved for the betterment of man and the preaching of the gospel. Ephesians 5:11 exhorts us not to participate in evil, but to expose it. How can evil be exposed if Christians run from involvement in the society in which they live? We are called to be in the world, but not of it; and being in it is to influence it for Christ. In America one of the influences we are given is the vote; and therefore we are to exercise it for righteousness sake. 

Voting According to the Cultural Mandate

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth." (Gen. 1:27-28)

God created man in His image for His glory to accomplish His purposes upon the earth. If God is involved in His creation, which Scripture affirms, then it is reasonable to think that God is concerned with the politics of man. Arguably, a Christian who is elected to office is to serve according to God's will and purposes as directed by His Word. Christian citizens are to vote in accordance with what resembles the most good, the most right, and the most godly. The problem that arises for Christians is one of discerning God's will in the matter of politics. Christians are citizens of 2 kingdoms - the kingdom of God eternally and the kingdom of God on earth. Wherever God has placed us on earth as a member of a nation's citizenship is not to be taken likely. We have a responsibility to represent our Lord and Savior as best we can within the structure of a nation's polity. Governments are run by people and will answer to the Lord whether they recognize Him as Sovereign or not!

Americans have more freedom than citizens of other nations and therefore have a greater responsibility to participate in the operations of a nation that was inspired by the concept of "government of the people, by the people, and for the people." The Cultural Mandate presented in Genesis 1:28 has political implications for Christians in the United States. That mandate, given to human creation, involved expansion, conservation, and administration, which has implications to the citizenry of this nation.

As to Expansion

God, blessing man, said to "be fruitful and multiply" in order to fill the earth. Fruitfulness, which modifies the word "multiplication," implies purposeful growth, which in the context of verse 27 means to mature in the image of God. Being fruitful is having children for the purpose of nurturing and equipping them for the work of God in subduing the earth according to His will. In fact, God made husbands and wives to be one in flesh and spirit in order to produce godly offspring (Mal. 2:15). When Jesus commanded His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19), He was commissioning them and us to fulfill part of the cultural mandate by being fruitful and multiply. 

Concerning politics - we are to vote for the candidate whose policies make it easier to have godly offspring. When neither candidate seems to fit the premise, Christians still have a duty to mitigate, i.e. to vote for the  candidate that makes it easier to be fruitful for Christ.

As to Conservation

The extent or result of expansion is to execute the second part of the mandate, which is to subdue the earth by conserving and protecting the resources of it for the sake and glory of God. Subduing the earth connotes dominating the environment for good. The word for "subdue" in the Hebrew is kabash, which implies subjection or bringing something under bondage or the application of force. Growing up, I heard my dad say on a number of occasions that he needed to put the kabash on it. What he meant was taking control and stopping whatever was occurring or putting a lid on undesirable conversation. 

The earth, which is the Lord's, has been given to man for the purpose of bringing it under man's control. This is a major responsibility, which means that mankind is to subject the earth, the environment, and nature to the rule and purposes of God. So, conserving the environment and protecting the interests of God's creation to include man, must be in balance. Christians are to care for God's creation because it actually belongs to the Lord. In other words, we possess the earth as God's trustees and have a fiduciary responsibility for preserving what is the Lord's.

Does this mean we must be green? In a sense – yes! But not to the extent of hoarding or not using the resources God has provided. Why is there oil or coal, for instance? For the use of man who can mine and drill, but with common sense and protection of the environment as best he can. Use of green energy is also okay, but not to the detriment of other resources provided by God – because the earth is the Lord’s and all there is in it! If subdue has the idea of force, then governments must be involved for regulation purposes. Yet, governments still answer to God.  They are subservient to God whether they realize it or not. And regulation of the earth’s resources must be for the betterment of all the people, not the privileged few.

Of course, politicians usually mess things up. As part of government, God’s citizens have a duty to be involved and vote for the candidate that would best represent God’s purposes for the earth whether they realize it or not. We are not to vote for what the candidate will do for us, but for the candidate whose programs are more in line with subduing the earth according to God’s purposes.The eighteenth-century Scottish historian Alexander Tytler allegedly commented: “A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until a majority of voters discover that they can vote themselves largess out of the public treasury.” We are not to vote for the candidate that will give us the most benefits, but for the candidate most in line with helping the common good according to the purposes of God.

Our nations was founded as a republic – rule by law (God’s Law) – not a democracy – rule by man; hence, the majority. In God’s eyes there is no democracy, for he rules as benign dictator.  Christ died to set us free to do God’s will, not our own. What happens when the candidates clash – say one is for “life” and the other “for conservation.” Life always triumphs, for God is the Giver and Taker of Life – not man. Besides, “the right of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness” found in the Declaration of Independence was a phrase used to exemplify the "inalienable rights" with which all human beings are endowed by their Creator. “Life” was first and foremost, for without this right there is no liberty and no pursuit of happiness.

When life takes a back seat to conservation, then animals and earth will become more important than human life. If no candidate is for “life,” then choose the one that best represents “Liberty” and freedom, for without freedom (that perfectly comes in Christ), there will be no happiness. God mandates our expansion over the earth in order to provide conservation of His possession for the purpose of having administration of the earth.

As to Administration
We care for the earth (and the United States) in order to rule it in God’s name. God said in Gen. 1:28 to have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth. A consequence of man being created in the image of God is dominion over the lower creatures of the earth; and having dominion is to rule  responsibility. We are to govern the inferior creatures of the earth as God's viceroy. Since the animals are not capable of fearing and serving the Lord, God has appointed them to serve under the administration of man. This tells us that man is more important than animals. Then what about the animal rights people?  We do have a responsibility of caring for animals, but not of preservation over the rights of man. Having dominion is delegated supremacy over all the creatures of the earth, but it is man who is created in God’s image to represent Him as governor over these creatures.

In 2007, federal judge Oliver Wanger imposed limits on the amount of water pumped from the San Joachin-Sacramento River delta to farms in California's Central Valley in order to protect a two-inch endangered fish called the Delta Smelt. As a result, several hundred thousand acres of farmland on the west side of the Central Valley now lie desolate, and many thousands of jobs have been lost. In the city of Mendota the unemployment rate exceeds 40%. If God’s cultural mandate was applied, then men and their livelihood would trump a fish. Yet in the Environmental Protection Agency are people who seek to promote animals and plants to equal standing among the human race. God who created all things – human and otherwise –was perfect in wisdom when he crafted existence and fashioned man as the highest order of life to rule over the fish and animals.

What is laughable is that most of the animal rights people as well as the green earth promoters are Darwinists! Yet, Darwin believed in the survival of the fittest. Well, man is the fittest. When animal rights people place animals above the dignity of man, they are contradicting their own belief in evolutionary survival by the fittest.

Concerning politics – we, as Christians, have a biblical responsibility to know the issues. We should not vote for those who place animal life above human life or human rights. Yes, we are to care for the creatures of the earth, but in proper priority. When we say a smelt has more rights than an unborn baby, something is drastically wrong with our culture of politics. Christ and His righteousness is the standard by which to cast votes.

There was a time when most Americans respected the Bible and quoted it with authority. In 1963, according to Gallup, 65% believed the Bible literally; today the number is only 32%. There was a time when most Americans accepted absolute standards. They might disagree on what those absolutes were, but they knew that some things were really right or really wrong. Today 70% reject moral absolutes and promote their own ideas of self-autonomy.

There is a Culture War and it is primarily over who influences the definition of reality. Defining the distinctiveness of our world-view is at stake, and it is part of the political war that is raging today in America. Christians must take serious the cultural mandate, part of which is participating in government in order to rule over the creatures of the earth.  We participate by our vote, which may hopefully tame wild and foolish politicians! The principles by which we cast votes are as follows:

(1) Vote for person who makes it easier for the gospel to spread (for God said be fruitful and multiply);

(2) Vote for the person who promotes proper conservation of all resources (for God said to subdue the earth);

(3) Vote for the person who puts human rights above animal rights (for God said to have dominion over the animals).

When principles collide, remember:

(1) Life trumps conservation (for God is the Giver and Taker of life);

(2) Rights of humans trump those of animals (for God gave man dominion of the creatures of earth);

(2) Liberty trumps stifling regulations (for God is the Author of freedom and without freedom, there is no pursuit of happiness).

Intolerant Theological Liberals

Dr. Jamal-Dominique Hopkins, a Fuller Seminary graduate, who earned a PhD in Biblical Studies from the University of Manchester (United Kingdom) and who has distinguished himself in his research, writing and lecturing on the Dead Sea Scrolls, was summarily fired from his faculty position at the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta. The administrative action came after he filed a grievance according to school policy upon learning that some of his students’ grades were changed by the administration. He had discovered that eight students with low grades were specifically chosen and interviewed by the administration about his teaching methods and style. They then changed Ds and Fs to Cs, with one F student receiving an A-.  Dr. Hopkins was the target of Rev. Margaret Aymer, ITC’s chair of the Bible Department and a high profile Presbyterian Church (USA) leader known for bellicose orations touting “justice,” “human rights,” “inclusivism,” and “academic freedom.” 

Aymer succeeded in having her colleague fired because she disliked his evangelical positions and more specifically because he was in a room where a student was given a book of which she did not approve. The controversial book was one of a number of books brought into a Bible study gathering of Dr. Hopkins by his guest speaker, Dr. Alice Brown-Collins, a regional director of the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship’s Black Campus Ministries. She encouraged the students to take, free of charge, any of the materials that they might find useful to them. The book that Aymer particularly detested was The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Texts and Hermeneutics by scholar Robert A.J. Gagnon, Associate Professor of New Testament at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. She charged that the book is “homophobic literature” and that her colleague, Associate Professor Hopkins, tacitly approved of the book by being present when another person in the room shared it with one of his students.

Aymer, the darling of the PCUSA establishment was the keynote speaker at the national convention of the liberal Covenant Network of Presbyterians. In her speech she claimed with vigorous rhetoric that the New Testament had little to say on the subject of sex and sexuality. Interestingly enough and contrary to Aymer’s polemic, Gagnon’s book demonstrates that the New Testaments does speak to these issues. Aymer was also a member of the PCUSA General Assembly’s special committee on marriage that recommended to the 2011 Assembly to redefine marriage to encompass more inclusive pairing.

Aymer objected not only to Gagnon’s book, but to the presence of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship on ITC’s campus. She disagrees with evangelicals and has no fondness for Intervarsity, a campus group she has detested since she was a student because the organization takes stands contrary to her principles, which are now evidently the ethics of ITC. Aymer’s theological liberalism and intolerance to conservative theology is indicative of the drift of the PCUSA denomination. No longer does the Bible play a preeminent part in their teaching, counseling, and exhortation. Rather, cultural issues and personal rhetoric are more important than the question, “What does God say?” Polemical diatribe is now more important that proclamation of truth. This is what happens when men exchange truth for a lie (Romans 1:25) and redefine the old immorality as the new morality. Woe to those who call evil good and good evil,  who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Isa. 5:20 ESV