Posted on 12/11/2017 10:57:38 PM PST by Oshkalaboomboom
In September 1862, a group of Chicago ministers sent a "memorial" (or long letter) to President Abraham Lincoln in which they made a theological argument for the elimination of slavery.
Lincoln had also heard from Southern clergy who used the same scriptures to justify slavery's preservation.
In response, Lincoln wrote the Chicago group with words that today's Christians might consider when it comes to matters involving sexual harassment and the setting aside of moral and biblical principles to achieve temporary political goals.
"I am approached with the most opposite opinions and advice, and that by religious men, who are equally certain that they represent the Divine will. I am sure that either the one or the other class is mistaken in the belief, and perhaps in some respects both. I hope it will not be irreverent for me to say that if it is probable that God would reveal his will to others, on a point so connected with my duty, it might be supposed he would reveal it directly to me; for, unless I am more deceived in myself than I often am, it is my earnest desire to know the will of Providence in this matter. And if I can learn what it is I will do it! These are not, however, the days of miracles, and I suppose it will be granted that I am not to expect a direct revelation. I must study the plain physical facts of the case, ascertain what is possible and learn what appears to be wise and right. The subject is difficult, and good men do not agree."
Lincoln eventually made the right decision that culminated in The Emancipation Proclamation. The divided nation shed much blood over slavery, and the fallout from that war continues today in racial conflict.
I have listened to arguments on both sides of the sexual harassment issue by "good men" (and women). There are those who believe allegations of sexual harassment of teens and young women by Alabama Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore are sufficient to deny him a seat in the Senate. Others say that maintaining a 52-seat Republican majority is critical to advancing President Trump's agenda, which includes seating more conservative judges on federal benches. This, they say, supersedes what Moore may or may not have done 40 years ago.
By cleaning house (and the Senate) of their own bad boys, many Democrats think they will gain a previously hidden moral authority to win back the House and impeach President Trump for his alleged past (and they believe more recent) misdeeds.
The Democrats' agenda might be true, but for evangelical Christians should either argument matter more than the King and Kingdom they are supposed to serve?
Some biblical wisdom might be instructive. In the Old Testament, Esau sold his birthright to his brother Jacob for a bowl of soup. He later regretted his decision, but at the time he was hungry and said his birthright meant little to him.
In the ultimate church-state moment where the crowd was forced to choose between demanding that Pilate give the order to crucify Jesus of Nazareth, or let Him go, there was this sobering exchange:
Pilate: "Shall I crucify your king?"
The chief priests: "We have no king but Caesar." (John 19:15)
As then, today's "chief priests" and church members are being asked to make a choice. One choice might give short-term satisfaction, as Esau experienced with his temporarily filled stomach, but it leads to a loss of credibility in the eyes of the world. It demonstrates that for Christians attaining earthly and temporal power is paramount.
Another verse that might help evangelicals: "Choose this day whom you will serve." (Joshua 24:15).
Bob Dylan contemporized it this way: "Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord, but you're gonna have to serve somebody."
It's time to choose.
How could you Cal? Are you losing your ability to separate truth from lies?
I’m voting for Roy Moore. The life and death moral value at stake is abortion and Doug Jones support abortion including full-term abortion.
Cal needs to retire.
I believe innocent until proven guilty is a biblical principle. And a single person claiming something happened is not proof. It takes 2 or 3 witnesses to corroborate any single event. In Moore’s case even though you’ve got multiple paid witnesses, I don’t believe any claimed incident has more than one “witness”. Thus they are all likely just made up lies. If you have multiple witnesses to the same event, they can be cross examined separately to see if their stories hold together. Nobody should be punished based solely on an unproven accusation.
Deuteronomy 19
15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
16 If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong;
17 Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the Lord, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;
18 And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;
19 Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.
20 And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you.
If Jones were in the crowd he would have been one of those who said they served no King but Caesar. Jones would have been on the side that wanted the release of Barabbas. Moore would have wanted Jesus released. The crowd which served King Caesar and urged the release of Barabbas were the Democrats of that time.
We all know.
The most disappointing article I’ve ever seen from Cal Thomas.
Doesn’t even mention the possibility of a.false.accusation hit job.
False choice
Doubting Cal forgets what happened to his brother Clarence.
Lincoln did nothing with the EP. He no longer controlled the Southern States, so the EP was worthless. He could have freed the slaves in the North, but did not. The EP was a fine example of political posturing for a war that was not going all that well at the time.
I used this line myself. I was told by a couple once that 'they had prayed about a dispute and God had informed them that the husband was right and I should apologize to them and change my ways.' I informed them that I had been praying about the situation too and God hasn't told me that but when He does, I will do His will. A mutual friend was there and he informed them that 'several people in the Bible Study have been praying about the situation and they (the couple) were way out of line.'
So where’s the justice if voters act on the allegations that are later proven false? They can’t go back and change the election. Biblically and Constitutionally, Judge Moore has a right to a fair hearing before he is assumed to be guilty. It seems to me that the appropriate response is to vote for the person who best represents your views today and let the due process proceed tomorrow.
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