Why? . . . Because IT Changes Lives!

"The Gospel alone is sufficient to rule the lives of Christians everywhere. . . any additional rules made to govern men's conduct added nothing to the perfection already found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

~ John Wycliffe

12:30 AM | 14 comments | Read More

Question of the Week . . . Republicans vs. Democrats. Is it becoming more and more black and white?

Question of the Week:

It flat-out scares me. . .
and I really wonder about “Christians” who voted for him [Obama]. Do they have a clue what they’ve done to this country? Morally? Economically? Are they only “Christian” in name? Do you see the line between Democrats and Republicans becoming more and more black and white?
~ Andrea

A: Yes. The line is becoming more and more black and white. Not in a racial sense. But in a day versus night -- no gray area -- completely polarized sense.

I certainly believe Andrea's questions are rhetorical. They are, nonetheless, worth addressing.

“When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily;
but with honest, sensible leaders there is stability.”
~ Proverbs 28:2

Spiritually speaking, the Grand Old Party is just as lost as is the DNC. Every human being is short of God’s perfection and needs Christ. But the Republican Party does have far more unabashed Born Again Christians among its leadership and its nationally- and state-elected offices.

And there is no doubt that the Republican Platform is more in line with Christian values and more devoted to American freedoms as set out in the U.S. Constitution.

With each national election, this dichotomy becomes more and more obvious.

The Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania presented these facts concerning the 2008 Presidential election:

► Number of States won by:
Democrats: 28
Republicans: 22

► Square miles of land won by:
Democrats: 1,483,702
Republicans: 2,310,315

► Population of counties won by:
Democrats: 183 million
Republicans: 119 million

► Murder rate per 100,000 residents in counties won by:
Democrats: 6.56
Republicans: 3.60

Has the line between Democrats and Republicans grown more black and white? You decide.

The math itself does not pinpoint the contrast -- and from the standpoint of a non-Christian, the facts say absolutely nothing. (Keep reading . . . )

"Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a disgrace to any people."
~ Proverbs 14:34

“Good leaders abhor wrongdoing of all kinds; sound leadership has a moral foundation.”
~ Proverbs 16:12

"God is a righteous judge, And a God who has indignation every day."
~ Psalm 7:11

Here's where the line between Democrats and Republicans becomes more black and white -- In aggregate, the map of the territory Republican won was mostly the land owned by the taxpaying citizens of the country. These would be the citizens who actually work for a living. Just curious: Do you think this work-ethic has anything to do with Biblical values?

"Let everyone be sure that he is doing his very best,
for then he will have the personal satisfaction of work well done,
and won't need to compare himself with someone else."
~ Galatians 6:4

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do with all your might."
~ Ecclesiastes 9:10

"He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment."
~ Proverbs 12:11

"A ruler who lacks understanding is a great oppressor,
but he who hates covetousness will prolong his days."
~ Proverbs 28:16

The fact that Democrat territory mostly encompassed those citizens living in government-owned properties and living off various forms of government welfare -- citizens who've been ingrained with an entitlement mindset -- should be very telling. Again. . . Just curious: Do you think there's a correlation here between living off the government and living a godless life?

"All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty."
~ Proverbs 14:23

"The sluggard's craving will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work."
~ Proverbs 21:25

"Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, buy hasty shortcuts lead to poverty. "
~ Proverbs 21:5

Most of us -- who understand, appreciate and accept the Judeo-Christian principles on which the United States' government was founded -- would agree that the United States is now somewhere between the "complacency and apathy" phase of democracy -- with some forty (40!) percent of the nation's population already having reached the "governmental dependency" phase.

The greater question is: What is our leadership doing about it? Does the leadership even care?

"Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?"
~ Luke 6:39

"Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble
is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint."
~ Proverbs 25:19

If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked.
~ Proverbs 29:12

“A leader of good judgment gives stability.”
~ Proverbs 29:4

“When good people run things, everyone is glad.”
~ Proverbs 29:2

Are you among the 40%? The 60%? Do you care at all?

Apathy is the greatest danger to our freedom. . .

" . . . and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek
My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven,
will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
~ II Chronicles 7:14

" . . . so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent,
children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse
generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world. . ."
~ Philippians 2:15

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.
~ Psalm 33:12

~ Esthermay Bentley-Goossen
© 2009 The Heart of a Pastor's Wife

4:06 PM | 15 comments | Read More

Can A Born-Again Christian Support President Obama?

"This is my Father's World.

O let me ne'er forget

that though the wrong seems oft so strong,

God is the ruler yet.

This is my Father's World:

Why should my heart be sad?

The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!

God reigns: let the earth be glad!"

~ Verse 3 of the Hymn, This Is My Father's World"

by Maltbie D. Babcock

We know from Romans Chapter 13 that it is God who ultimately selects our leaders. As Christians we are to trust God's sovereignty and goodness and remember this.

"The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble."

~ Proverbs 1:4

♫ This is my Father's World . . .

Believing what I do about Obama and -- more importantly -- believing God's Word to be the absolute final authority on all things, I cannot support his presidency. The question in the title is not rhetorical. I can PRAY for him. But as for supporting the man. . .

The answer is NO.

See, a true Born-Again Christian is a child of God who has accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior of their life. As such, the Born-Again Christian has agreed to replace their will with that of God. This person will have their eyes opened up to Truth that there is good and evil and anything that violates God's will is evil.

♫ let me ne'er forget . . .

A true Born-Again Christian does not tolerate evil (Amos 5:15)! The Bible holds several very specific passages whereby God expects us to condemn sin and He scorns us when we don't.

♦ Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19 are two examples early in Biblical history.

♦ God condemned Eli for tolerating his sons' sinful behavior in I Samuel 3:12-13.

♦ The so-called prophets of Jerusalem "strengthened the hand of evildoers" and were an abomination in God's eyes (Jeremiah 23:14).

♦ Isaiah 5:20 warns those who "call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!"

♫ . . . that though the wrong seems oft so strong,

The point is this: God expects those who call themselves by His name to be absolutely INTOLERANT of evil. Period. And He certainly does not want us to enable it!

If you believe that God's Word is inerrant and True, then the following statements are FACTS:

♦ Abortion is evil. President Obama abets abortion.

♦ Infanticide is evil. President Obama enables and defends infanticide.

♦ The Lord hates hands that shed innocent blood. President Obama's hands are bloodied.

♦ Same-sex marriage is evil. President Obama supports same-sex marriage.

♦ Sodomy is evil. President Obama upholds sodomy.

♦ Homosexuality is evil. President Obama embraces homosexuality.

♦ The Lord hates a lying tongue. President Obama lies without remorse.

♦ The Lord hates a false witness. President Obama is unrepentant and proud.

♦ These are demonstrable facts.

"I’m rooted in the Christian tradition,” said Obama, who has declared himself a Christian. But then he adds something that will not sit well (at all!) with real Born-Again Christians: “I believe there are many paths to the same place, and that is a belief that there is a higher power, a belief that we are connected as a people.” (The man is clearly -- not only a friend, but -- a disciple of Oprah Winfrey!)

. . . And when confronted by a reporter with the words of John 14:6 where Jesus says of Himself, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me,” Obama played the interpretation game telling the reporter that it depends on how this verse is "heard." (Whaaaaat??)

Obama apparently thinks that “all people of faith — Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, animists, everyone — know the same God.” He goes on to say: " . . . There’s the belief, certainly in some quarters, that if people haven’t embraced Jesus Christ as their personal savior, they’re going to hell. I don't believe I -- or anyone -- will go to hell.” (See the full transcript of Cathleen Falsani interview with Barack Obama here.)

♫ God is the ruler yet.

Obama can call himself anything he likes, but there is a clear requirement for one to qualify as a Christian and Obama doesn’t meet that requirement. Only God can judge a person's heart, but one cannot deny central tenets of the Christian faith -- including the deity of Christ as the sole mediator between God and Man -- and call himself a Christian.

Such people do have a label applied to them in Scripture. They are called “False Prophets.” And the level of idolatry that has followed Barack Obama for the last twelve months -- while unreal and unprecedented -- should not surprise us. See II Timothy 4:3 and I John 4: 1-2.

♫ Why should my heart be sad?

Over the last months since Mr. Obama's election victory, I've heard many Christians profess these words: "He is my president. I will support him. I want him to succeed."

You may call me anti-American. I do not want President Obama to succeed. This does not go against nor contradict my responsibility as a Christian to be subject to God-ordained authority. But . . .

God's Word has clear repudiation for those who enable and support evil men:

"And just as they [fools] did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.”

~ Romans 1:28,32

In other words, those who tolerate (and even laud, worship, idolize) the wicked are just as much of an abomination (or is it "Obamination") in God’s eyes as are the wicked.

If you are a true, born-again Christian, you cannot enable and support such openly and obviously evil actions by a man who denies the Lordship of Jesus Christ. . .

. . . Even if you agree with him on the environment, economy, or anything else. God's Word unmistakably compels you to reject him. However. . .

You can and must PRAY for HIM!

"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men . . . For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."

~ I Timothy 2:1-4

Pray for President Obama's Salvation.

♫ The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!
God reigns: let the earth be glad!

~ Esthermay Bentley-Goossen

© 2009 The Heart of a Pastor's Wife

This installment of InOtherWords is hosted by Loni on her blog Writing Canvas.

12:10 AM | 38 comments | Read More

This Blogger Supports Palin!

As long as all the left-wing bloggers are in unspeakable condescension heaven over John McCain's choice of Sarah Palin for Vice President, I am going to go ahead and offer my Christian-Conservative-Biblically-Based-Right-Wing opinion in hopefully more benevolent fashion.

(Like I have one? Absolutely. I blog, don't I?) Yesterday, The Heart of a Pastor's Wife had 159 visitors. (This does not count the few stalkers visitors who pop in only to set eyes on the comments page. Odd. They know who they are.) So. . . I know my audience is out there.

U.S News & World Report published an articled this morning, Sarah Palin and John McCain's Cynical Game: It's a cheap political ploy—and any voters who fall for it deserve what they get. Here's an excerpt: "As Republicans meet in convention in St. Paul, Minn., this week, I have a simple question for America's voters watching their TV sets: Does anyone really think Sen. John McCain or Gov. Sarah Palin would have delivered such strong praise for Sen. Hillary Clinton if she had been on either end of the Democratic ticket?"

Are you kidding?! What kind of running-scared commentary is that?! I really believe that the liberal media (USNews in this specific instance) wants conservatives to answer with a "No" so as to make themselves the oh-so-martyred and disrespected victims in the (frankly, non-existent) "sexist" war.

Think again, USNews. We answer "No" because all of the democratic contenders in this presidential race (including the aforementioned Senator) represent everything that Christian conservatives despise. Both the Senator and the Democratic Nominee are radical left-wing extremest who pose a serious threat to the United States of America. Militarily, economically, and socially.

If -- as statistics tell us -- 76.5% (159 million) of Americans identify themselves as Christians, how can a godless, pro-abortion, pro-homosexuality, radical liberal, feminist, big-government-bordering on-Socialism candidate become the gold-standard for all potential leaders on either side of the political aisle? How can this woman and her policies possibly be the fulcrum on which we judge everything the opposing party does?

Good Grief! Am I the only person who is put-off by this? Okay, that's a rhetorical question.

The disdain, arrogance, and disrespect shown toward John McCain and Sarah Palin over the last six days is drawing one of the boldest political lines in the sand in recent political history. Sure the RNC and its supporters speak out against the opposition in not-always-glowing-terms. But the outright hate shown towards the Republican ticket and the supporters of that ticket should make it clear which "side" is acting more "Christlike."

Don't get me wrong. Spriritually speaking, the Grand Old Party is probably just as lost as is the DNC. Every human being is short of God’s perfection and needs Christ. There is no perfect choice for President or Vice-President. But I believe that Conservative Christians have great reason to feel good about the future if John McCain and Sarah Palin are elected in November. Both John and Sarah are unabashed Christians, devoted to family, and devoted to American freedoms as set out in the U.S. Constitution. Without doubt, this is a trying time for both John McCain and Sarah Palin -- a testing of their faith and their patriotism. The testing of their faith in these days leading up to the election can only bring greater wisdom, perseverance and discernment.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. (James 1:2-7).

Last Spring, I was asked to serve as a delegate in the Republican Party. . . I said no for various reasons not at all connected with my passion for what the Republican Party stands for. In retrospect, I would probably have still ultimately said no, but I would have had no greater honor as an American that to have supported John McCain and Sarah Palin this week in St. Paul.

... and that's my two cents.

Esthermay Bentley-Goossen

11:44 AM | 5 comments | Read More