Dear Trekker,
One of the many reasons I read and ponder the Scriptures is to discover little nuggets of truth and life principle seemingly buried in the narrative. The Rabbi “buried” them repeatedly.
One such favorite ever since I was a teenager is recounted by both Gospel writers, Matthew and Mark. Matthew recalls the story quite simply and candidly (Matthew 12:22): “Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see!” Whenever one “produces” (good or bad), people clamor for an explanation! “Could this be the Son of David?” Eyewitnesses could not explain away the miracle! They saw it with their own eyes. So the count down began to get at the “how” and “why” Jesus did what he did.
Things haven’t changed much. Jesus, as God, could not be accepted as God in flesh then or now. But the Majestic One didn’t back off. When the critics and skeptics of the day attributed his power to Satan, the Rabbi said something quite profound: “Every kingdom/nation divided against itself will be ruined and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.” In essence, the Rabbi said, “If I am casting out devils, I have invaded Satan’s territory. I am like a burglar, ransacking his house.” (This picture also is in the Old Testament, Isaiah 49:24-26).
Two things here are to be acknowledged: 1.) He was like no other; He was the Son of God! 2.) Unity in a household or a nation is absolutely essential for strength and sustainable life. This story and its life principle of unity gripped me when I was but a lad and it has not left me ever, in my life and leadership. Unity is essential to life, and breathes out its truth every moment of every day.
To this, let’s lay alongside another alleged truth. “Religion is the opiate of the people!” wrote Karl Marx in 1843. Such a declaration introduced a new way of looking at the world. Religion was to Marx and other sophisticated intellectuals of the 19th century, simply a crutch! Liberated people have no need of faith in a Transcendent Being, let alone poppycock such as God becoming a man and living as a mere mortal… and dying a premature death for the world.
Concerning the observation of Marx, two things are historically certain. Christianity, rightly understood, is no opiate… it is and has always been God’s healing truth to individuals, communities, and nations. Despite our stumbles through history, where faith in the Christ has been tried, it has been found difficult, but also quite successful when practiced according to the principles of the Good Book! Christianity brings and has brought freedom, not oppression, to the masses! Secondly, all religions are historically not the same, particularly even those stemming from the Divine visitation into the world.
A couple months ago (September MEN, Embedded… God and Country), I said “for a long time I have grown weary of the arguments surrounding the separation of church and state.” However, such separation, called a wall, is a reality. And this is unique in world history… the United States of America. An abiding faith was so strong in the hearts of our forefathers and mothers our government was birthed in no other manner. The first amendment to the Constitution simply was a loud underscore of a self-evident truth! Church and state do exist together, though intrinsically separate.
Now let’s fast forward… November, 2009. Despite Jesus and Abe Lincoln, could it be our country has forgotten “a house divided against itself shall not stand?” We celebrate diversity as if we were the “diverse” states of America, not the good ole’ USA. We are so pluralistic in our thinking, we easily forget that only “Citizens in Christ” could ever/have ever actually believed in the separation of church and state. So we wring our hands and wonder why a US Army major could gun down so many “in the military family right here in the United States.” Trekker, it is not rocket science! Of the 3,000 plus Muslims in American uniforms, the burden of proof is upon each one that they can believe in separation of church and state because their religion does not believe or teach it! Sharia law is the law of the land and traditionally a Muslim is first a Muslim, and “citizenship in a country” (which is strange language for a Muslim) is second.
Not so for this old soldier. I am an American and a Christian and I did serve God and country together without blinking an eye. I believe in God and I believe in my country. I am united with fellow soldiers and fellow citizens in this core belief. What happened at Fort Hood this month? We have allowed an infidel into this separate yet symbiotic union of church and state to infiltrate the ranks. I write about it this month, trekker, because of the scores of hours of TV I have viewed while recovering from “a new knee”, October 27th, I’ve heard or seen nary a word of this obvious (to me) disconnect. This American experiment is unique in history. And we don’t even recognize how fragile our freedom (and maybe our security) actually is. For good reasons, Muslims could not have founded the United States of America.
Diversity must never trump unity. We should value diversity, but we must cherish and celebrate our unity! May the price we pay for our diversity never set aside a disposition toward sound judgment in our country. Without such unity and sound judgment concerning the events of the day, our nation will not stand. United we stand, divided we fall… we must follow our heritage, still observing the wall!
Trekker, it is gut check time in America! Life without the Lifegiver, whether for an individual or a nation, is over time, a meaningless, dead-end street. But, whoever will seek the peace and acceptance and forgiveness offered by the Creator and Redeemer of the Universe, will never have their senses dulled by the opiate of their own creation, imagination and ill-conceived schemes.
The Lifegiver said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life!” (John 14:6) Jesus is not an opiate. He is a unifier, “drawing all to Himself.” He is not a false Messiah. He is the only Messiah the world will ever know! Trekker, let’s think clearly, cherish, guard and celebrate who and what we hold in common, and not be tossed to and fro by every wind of diversity or un-American doctrine.
Trekking in unity with you,
Jim Meredith
Unbelievable how well-wriettn and informative this was.
I see, I supospe that would have to be the case.