from Facts of the Matter

April 25: On Creating One's Own Ideology... Rewriting One's Own Values

---

Decades ago, C. S. Lewis penned this somber warning:

"The diseases that will certainly end our species… if it is not crushed, (is) the fatal superstition that men can create values; that a community can choose its 'ideology' as men choose their clothes."

We as a nation have done exactly what C. S. Lewis warned against. Reminiscent, is it not, of Israel's condition in her depravation:

"In those days there was no king in Israel; all the people did what was right in their own eyes." (Judges 17:6)

And as a result, America today is facing a crisis of values of monumental proportions. Some observers are terming it a "Civil War" of values.

Tragically, this deterioration of values has profoundly impacted your lost associates: Most of them sense that there is something terribly wrong in the Land. But because they are generally lacking in a Biblical perspective, they have scant idea how we as a People got to this point, much less how they can personally escape from it.

Let me ask you a question: "As a believer in Christ, are you also writing and embracing your own brand of "Christian" values… your own ideology, that conveniently accommodates your quest for personal freedom?"

If the answer is "yes," then your lost friends are being deprived of observing in you two important realities that a life of obedience to Christ would have revealed:

(1) The magnitude of their lostness, and

(2) The fact that there is a way out of their life of bondage.

In this age of disintegrating values, may I urge you to respond to Paul's passionate challenge:

"That you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life… " (Philippians 2:15b-16a)

—Facts of the Matter

Are we really heard?

I listen to the rant from the Politicos, they speak as though they represent you and me. I here talk of the little guy having a voice, unfortunately it is not my voice. Is it your's ? Is your government speaking for you? Or are they spouting their own agenda?
Stevens had strongly dissented in that corporate-friendly campaign finance case, saying it did nothing less than threaten "to undermine the integrity of elected institutions around the nation." And Obama all but referenced the court ruling when he said from the Rose Garden on Friday that he is poised to choose a nominee who "like Justice Stevens, knows that in a democracy, powerful interests must not be allowed to drown out the voices of ordinary citizens.
I will agree that powerful interest groups should not be the deciding factor in the political climate, but at what time will my government start speaking for me? Is it not of the people, for the people? Where exactly then, did thee peoples voice become mute, to those in power? If we elect them, we are screwed. That should be the diadem of politicians. Maybe I should just stick to preaching the gospel and leave politics to the other assholes. It does me no good to voice an opinion that falls upon deaf ears. I can say what I want, but the politicians have their own agenda. Screw you, better for me!. The new political spiel. Gotta love those that speak for you and I.

God!

Colossians 1:16 (NASB)
¹⁶ For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.

Philippians 2:5-11 (NASB)
⁵ Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
⁶ who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
⁷ but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
⁸ Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
⁹ For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,
¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

John 20:26-29 (NASB)
²⁶ After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus *came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you."
²⁷ Then He *said to Thomas, "Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing."
²⁸ Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"
²⁹ Jesus *said to him, "Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed."