Well, that's all folks. Thanks for following my internship. I hope you enjoyed reading about my experiences!
- Mr. Smith :)
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Press Conference with the US Commission of International Religious Freedom
Michael Cromartie addresses the media in a packed US Capitol Building room Also on Wednesday, July 28, I attended a press conference in the US Capital Building with the US Commission of International Religious Freedom, of which Michael Cromartie is chairman. The commission spoke about the up-coming Olympics in China and the human rights violations that continue, even more egregiously than before, as the Olympics draw near.
A few years ago, Dr. Cromartie spoke in the opening ceremonies at my college. After the press conference, I was able to speak with him about this. Coincidently, he told me, he flew in from Beijing (site for the 2008 Summer Olympics) to be with us that day for the opening of our school year.
A few years ago, Dr. Cromartie spoke in the opening ceremonies at my college. After the press conference, I was able to speak with him about this. Coincidently, he told me, he flew in from Beijing (site for the 2008 Summer Olympics) to be with us that day for the opening of our school year.
Commemoration of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, President of Morocco
Here is one of the Moroccan dancers. The musicians and vocalist are sitting behind him. He waved around his traditional Moroccan robe as a part of his dance. 
View of the dining hall where the event was heldOn the evening of Wednesday, July 30, I was able to attend a celebration in Washington, DC to commemorate His Majesty King Mohammed VI, president of Morocco. July, 2008, marks the 9th year of King Mohammed’s reign. The celebration was very elaborate. As we dined on Moroccan cuisine, we were serenaded with live music played by nationals. The music was driven by drums and tambourines while the vocalist chanted high notes. Though King Mohammed was not in attendance, during the course of the evening I was able to meet the U.S. Ambassador to Morocco, Aziz Mekouar. Over the years, Rev. Schenck has been able to build a good relationship with Aziz Mekouar, who has served as Ambassador since April of 2002.
Monday, August 4, 2008
The Ten Commandments Project: Representatives Broun, Shuler, and Jordan
Rep. Paul Broun. You might be wondering why there are so many animals in the background of this picture. Well, Rep. Broun is an avid hunter. Included in his Capitol Hill office collection is an Alaskan Bear and an African Lion! 
Rep. Heath Shuler
Rep. Jim JordanThroughout the year, Faith and Action, along with the National Clergy Council, presents an award called “The Ten Commandments Leadership Award” to various elected and appointed officials. An official is eligible if they show significant leadership in the sanctity of life, the sanctity of marriage, or the public acknowledgment of God. On Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, we gave these awards to Representatives Paul Broun (R-GA), Heath Shuler (D-NC), and Jim Jordan (R-OH). Each of these Representatives are co-sponsors of Resolution 284, “The National Year of the Bible.” Below is a copy of the letter we sent to each Representative:
Dear Representative,
The National Clergy Council and its lay affiliate, Faith and Action, would like to commend you for your ardent support of traditional moral values. We are so very grateful for your persistent defense of traditional marriage, the right to life, and the public acknowledgement of God. Specifically, we honor your co-sponsorship with H. CON. RES. 284 “encouraging the president to proclaim 2008 as ‘The National Year of the Bible.’” We especially applaud your concurrence with these words: “The Bible, used as a moral guide, has inspired compassion, love for our neighbor, and the preciousness of life and marriage…”
In light of this, the National Clergy Council would like to present you with an award commending your work. I am respectfully requesting to make this presentation on Tuesday, July 29, at 10:00 AM. Our Chief of Staff, Peggy Birchfield, is prepared to assist you and your staff in making all the necessary arrangements.
Please know that we are grateful to God and to you for your faithful service in congress and to the United States.
Your fellow servant,
Rev. Rob Schenck, D.D.
Paul Broun
Rep. Broun is a former medical doctor. Because of his background in the medical field, he has a unique perspective on abortion. Each new congress he plans to submit a pro-life bill that would scientifically describe human life as beginning at conception. His bill would give all the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to that tiny human life!
Normally, Faith and Action plans the “Ten Commandments Leadership Award” presentation to be completed within ten minutes. However, Broun made conversation with us for at least 30 minutes after the presentation. During the conversation we all learned the heart of Paul Broun! His faith drives him – he believes that cultural reform will only begin in the pulpits of churches around America.
He specifically mentioned his role in the work of the kingdom of God. He believes that Government has been forced into certain tasks because the Church has refused to accomplish its God given responsibilities. For example, he said, the reason we have welfare is because the church refuses to take care of the poor (James 1:27; 2:15-17). The government will never be persuaded to disband welfare until the church shows itself responsible. Therefore, his job will never be fully accomplished, that is, to limit government, until the church steps up in obedience to God!
Just a little side note: I did not ask him about this topic! He just began to speak about it. Isn’t it amazing how God works? This issue (Government vs. Church) is exactly what I have been struggling with. God gave me the chance to learn at the feet of a Christian US Representative!
Heath Schuler
I really admire Representative Schuler. He was the nicest, southern gentlemen. He sauntered into his office, where his bible lays on his desk, and greeted us warmly with his noticeable southern accent. As you may know, Rep. Shuler played NFL football. He played for the Washington Redskins and the New Orleans Saints. [1]Later, in the Oakland Raiders training camp, he was injured and forced to retire.
Generally, when we give an official the “Ten commandments Leadership Award,” we read the following as a part of the presentation:
The Ten Commandments, delivered to us by Moses, are the basis for justice and all righteous law. Their timeless principles form the core and foundation of civilized culture, and are therefore indispensable to our democratic republic.
If we are to solve the manifold social problems in America, we must look to the strongest internal governors to control external behavior.
Representative, on behalf of the 5,000 Catholic, Evangelical, Orthodox, and Protestant church leaders of the National Clergy Council, and the tens of thousands of supporters of the Ten Commandments Project, as well as those present who have made this ceremony possible, it gives me great pleasure to recognize you for the incomparable role that you play in shaping our American way of life through your office and example.
Representative, these principles, when espoused by our nation’s leaders and advanced by public policy and legislation, will slow and even reverse the cultural turpitude that so often vexes our people.
We urge you to always and boldly proclaim and demonstrate these Ten Commandments as you discharge your important duties.
God bless you in your service to Him and to your country.
After Rev. Schenck read this and made a few comments, Rep. Shuler began to recount to us his recent meeting with Billy Graham. He said it was one of the most spiritually exhilarating experiences in his life! Rev. Graham, Shuler recounted, was the most humble of men. Every time Shuler tried to ask Graham a question about himself, Graham would turn the conversation right back to Shuler. Shuler said he was expecting to spend just 15 minutes with the reverend, but to his surprise, Graham told him to sit down when he stood up to leave after 10 or 12 minutes had passed! By the end of their conversation, Graham had spent an hour and fifteen minutes talking with Shuler! Stunned by Graham’s hospitality, Shuler thought it couldn’t get any better. But Graham astonished him by asking him to pray to close their time together. Shuler said that he felt like Vince Lombardi had just asked him to call the play on fourth down in the fourth quarter!
Before Rev. Schenck and the staff of Faith and Action departed, we held hands with Rep. Shuler and prayed for him. Rev. Schenck had the honor to ask God’s blessing and protection over Shuler’s family and office. He prayed that God would give him wisdom and leadership as he served his state and his country!
Jim Jordan
Our presentation to Rep. Jordan was the quickest of the three. On Wednesday, July 30, he was rushing back and forth from committee meetings. He actually removed himself from a meeting in the Judiciary Committee to receive our award. We presented the award to him in the hall way, right outside the Judiciary Committee room!
Rep. Jordan was so delighted to receive our award. Recently he was involved in an effort to protect the public display of the Ten Commandments! Below is the press release:
[2]Jordan Announces Online Petition DriveSupporting Judge DeWeese Against ACLU
Washington, DC -- Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Urbana) offered his strong public support for an Ohio judge’s display that has drawn fire from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
Last week, the ACLU filed a district court motion against Richland County Common Pleas Judge James DeWeese for posting a document that details the importance of the Ten Commandments to our nation’s legal system.
“The Ten Commandments, a cornerstone of Western law, are appropriate for a judge to display in his courtroom, where he is expected to enforce the law, promote equal justice under the law, and educate citizens about the rule of law,” Jordan said.
Earlier today, Jordan launched an online petition effort so that the community could demonstrate its support of DeWeese’s courtroom display. Jordan was the first to sign the petition, which is available at www.petitiononline.com/deweese/petition.html.
The petition reads:
We, the undersigned, support the right of Judge James DeWeese to display language found in the Ten Commandments. Ideas have consequences, and we understand that this display contrasts unchanging moral absolutes like the Ten Commandments with moral relativist precepts that allow individuals or societies to continually redefine for themselves right and wrong.
America’s founders understood the deep significance of the Ten Commandments to our legal system and the fixed duties it imposes. Throughout our history, representations of the Ten Commandments have consequently been placed in legislative chambers and courtrooms, including that of the U.S. Supreme Court.
We reject the American Civil Liberties Union’s (ACLU) chosen role as censor and thought police seeking to silence the moral absolute side of this debate with which it disagrees. We believe the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects all Americans’ freedom to express their opinions.
We call on the court to rebuff the ACLU’s censorship efforts and to protect freedom of expression.
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heath_Shuler
[2] http://jordan.house.gov/list/press/oh04_jordan/3JUNE08DEWEESE.shtml
Dear Representative,
The National Clergy Council and its lay affiliate, Faith and Action, would like to commend you for your ardent support of traditional moral values. We are so very grateful for your persistent defense of traditional marriage, the right to life, and the public acknowledgement of God. Specifically, we honor your co-sponsorship with H. CON. RES. 284 “encouraging the president to proclaim 2008 as ‘The National Year of the Bible.’” We especially applaud your concurrence with these words: “The Bible, used as a moral guide, has inspired compassion, love for our neighbor, and the preciousness of life and marriage…”
In light of this, the National Clergy Council would like to present you with an award commending your work. I am respectfully requesting to make this presentation on Tuesday, July 29, at 10:00 AM. Our Chief of Staff, Peggy Birchfield, is prepared to assist you and your staff in making all the necessary arrangements.
Please know that we are grateful to God and to you for your faithful service in congress and to the United States.
Your fellow servant,
Rev. Rob Schenck, D.D.
Paul Broun
Rep. Broun is a former medical doctor. Because of his background in the medical field, he has a unique perspective on abortion. Each new congress he plans to submit a pro-life bill that would scientifically describe human life as beginning at conception. His bill would give all the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to that tiny human life!
Normally, Faith and Action plans the “Ten Commandments Leadership Award” presentation to be completed within ten minutes. However, Broun made conversation with us for at least 30 minutes after the presentation. During the conversation we all learned the heart of Paul Broun! His faith drives him – he believes that cultural reform will only begin in the pulpits of churches around America.
He specifically mentioned his role in the work of the kingdom of God. He believes that Government has been forced into certain tasks because the Church has refused to accomplish its God given responsibilities. For example, he said, the reason we have welfare is because the church refuses to take care of the poor (James 1:27; 2:15-17). The government will never be persuaded to disband welfare until the church shows itself responsible. Therefore, his job will never be fully accomplished, that is, to limit government, until the church steps up in obedience to God!
Just a little side note: I did not ask him about this topic! He just began to speak about it. Isn’t it amazing how God works? This issue (Government vs. Church) is exactly what I have been struggling with. God gave me the chance to learn at the feet of a Christian US Representative!
Heath Schuler
I really admire Representative Schuler. He was the nicest, southern gentlemen. He sauntered into his office, where his bible lays on his desk, and greeted us warmly with his noticeable southern accent. As you may know, Rep. Shuler played NFL football. He played for the Washington Redskins and the New Orleans Saints. [1]Later, in the Oakland Raiders training camp, he was injured and forced to retire.
Generally, when we give an official the “Ten commandments Leadership Award,” we read the following as a part of the presentation:
The Ten Commandments, delivered to us by Moses, are the basis for justice and all righteous law. Their timeless principles form the core and foundation of civilized culture, and are therefore indispensable to our democratic republic.
If we are to solve the manifold social problems in America, we must look to the strongest internal governors to control external behavior.
Representative, on behalf of the 5,000 Catholic, Evangelical, Orthodox, and Protestant church leaders of the National Clergy Council, and the tens of thousands of supporters of the Ten Commandments Project, as well as those present who have made this ceremony possible, it gives me great pleasure to recognize you for the incomparable role that you play in shaping our American way of life through your office and example.
Representative, these principles, when espoused by our nation’s leaders and advanced by public policy and legislation, will slow and even reverse the cultural turpitude that so often vexes our people.
We urge you to always and boldly proclaim and demonstrate these Ten Commandments as you discharge your important duties.
God bless you in your service to Him and to your country.
After Rev. Schenck read this and made a few comments, Rep. Shuler began to recount to us his recent meeting with Billy Graham. He said it was one of the most spiritually exhilarating experiences in his life! Rev. Graham, Shuler recounted, was the most humble of men. Every time Shuler tried to ask Graham a question about himself, Graham would turn the conversation right back to Shuler. Shuler said he was expecting to spend just 15 minutes with the reverend, but to his surprise, Graham told him to sit down when he stood up to leave after 10 or 12 minutes had passed! By the end of their conversation, Graham had spent an hour and fifteen minutes talking with Shuler! Stunned by Graham’s hospitality, Shuler thought it couldn’t get any better. But Graham astonished him by asking him to pray to close their time together. Shuler said that he felt like Vince Lombardi had just asked him to call the play on fourth down in the fourth quarter!
Before Rev. Schenck and the staff of Faith and Action departed, we held hands with Rep. Shuler and prayed for him. Rev. Schenck had the honor to ask God’s blessing and protection over Shuler’s family and office. He prayed that God would give him wisdom and leadership as he served his state and his country!
Jim Jordan
Our presentation to Rep. Jordan was the quickest of the three. On Wednesday, July 30, he was rushing back and forth from committee meetings. He actually removed himself from a meeting in the Judiciary Committee to receive our award. We presented the award to him in the hall way, right outside the Judiciary Committee room!
Rep. Jordan was so delighted to receive our award. Recently he was involved in an effort to protect the public display of the Ten Commandments! Below is the press release:
[2]Jordan Announces Online Petition DriveSupporting Judge DeWeese Against ACLU
Washington, DC -- Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Urbana) offered his strong public support for an Ohio judge’s display that has drawn fire from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
Last week, the ACLU filed a district court motion against Richland County Common Pleas Judge James DeWeese for posting a document that details the importance of the Ten Commandments to our nation’s legal system.
“The Ten Commandments, a cornerstone of Western law, are appropriate for a judge to display in his courtroom, where he is expected to enforce the law, promote equal justice under the law, and educate citizens about the rule of law,” Jordan said.
Earlier today, Jordan launched an online petition effort so that the community could demonstrate its support of DeWeese’s courtroom display. Jordan was the first to sign the petition, which is available at www.petitiononline.com/deweese/petition.html.
The petition reads:
We, the undersigned, support the right of Judge James DeWeese to display language found in the Ten Commandments. Ideas have consequences, and we understand that this display contrasts unchanging moral absolutes like the Ten Commandments with moral relativist precepts that allow individuals or societies to continually redefine for themselves right and wrong.
America’s founders understood the deep significance of the Ten Commandments to our legal system and the fixed duties it imposes. Throughout our history, representations of the Ten Commandments have consequently been placed in legislative chambers and courtrooms, including that of the U.S. Supreme Court.
We reject the American Civil Liberties Union’s (ACLU) chosen role as censor and thought police seeking to silence the moral absolute side of this debate with which it disagrees. We believe the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects all Americans’ freedom to express their opinions.
We call on the court to rebuff the ACLU’s censorship efforts and to protect freedom of expression.
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heath_Shuler
[2] http://jordan.house.gov/list/press/oh04_jordan/3JUNE08DEWEESE.shtml
Visit with prominent civil rights leader, Samuel Cornelius
Picture: Mr. Cornelius (head of table), along with FAA Staff and friends, bow their heads while Rev. Schenck thanks God for providing lunch and the time to visit with Mr. Cornelius. On Monday, July 28, I was able to meet a prominent civil rights leader, Samuel Cornelius. Mr. Cornelius has worked for five different presidents and was influential in the appointment of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court. He also was heavily involved in the campaign to make “Martin Luther King Junior Day” a national holiday. During lunch at the Faith and Action ministry center, Mr. Cornelius told us stories about his involvement in both of these efforts. Throughout his career in politics he has been a life-long republican, even when most of his friends in the civil rights movement moved to the democrat party. This brought him plenty of criticism, but he stayed true to his political convictions.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Lunch With Rev. Pat Mahoney
On Tuesday, July 22, I had lunch with Rev. Pat Mahoney, executive director of the Christian Defense Coalition. He is a long time friend and ministry partner with Rev. Schenck. I wanted to get his council concerning my calling.
Because Rev. Mahoney has been involved extensively in both the ministry and politics, he has a unique perspective on the importance of both. He wanted to frame my thinking with 1 Corinthians 12:14-21:
For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
I had begun to think that politics was actually a lower or less important calling than that of preaching the Gospel of Christ and loving people. Because I perceived it to be less effective, I had become disenchanted with it. But Rev Mahoney wanted me to understand that God calls different parts of the body of Christ to different vocations. And just because I felt a drawn toward ministry did not make politics any less valuable.
Yet, not only was I questioning the effectiveness of politics, but I was questioning whether or not current Christian involvement in politics was a good thing. For example, is our fight against homosexual marriage alienating homosexuals from the gospel? Rev. Mahoney’s answer to had two components: a gospel component and a moral component. Yes, we are supposed to love homosexuals into the kingdom of God, he said. But, we cannot condone their behavior by doing nothing in the public square. God has called us to be salt to a decaying world.
Consider the following verses as support to Rev. Mahoney’s position:
Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? (Matthew 5:11-13).
When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God, he dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth (David’s last words - 2 Samuel 23:3, 4).
The prophets were those who tried to persuade and convince the people of Israel to follow God. They were God’s voice and witness to the people. This is similar to the work of a pastor. David, however, was different. He was a king over the people. His actions as king directly influenced the prosperity of the people. When he sinned the nation suffered. When he was righteous, the nation prospered. Consider 2 Samuel 24:11-13. When David ordered a census in all of Israel, God responded this way:
The word of the Lord came to the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying, “Go and say to David, ‘Thus says the Lord, Three things I offer you. Choose one of them, that I may do it to you.’” So Gad came to David and told him, and said to him, “Shall three years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days’ pestilence in your land? Now consider, and decide what answer I shall return to him who sent me.”
We see here that there is a lot of pressure put on the leaders of a nation. God used the same principle with Solomon, David’s son. 1 Kings 6:11-13 says:
Now the word of the Lord came to Solomon, “Concerning this house that you are building, if you will walk in my statutes and obey my rules and keep all my commandments and walk in them, then I will establish my word with you, which I spoke to David your father. And I will dwell among the children of Israel and will not forsake my people Israel.”
The fate of the nation of Israel was placed squarely on the shoulders of Solomon, as it was with David! Leaders are important! However, we also see the importance of prophets in 2 Samuel 24:11-13. Gad was the one who brought the word of God to David. He was the one who placed David back on God’s path!
Remember when David sinned with Bathsheba and indirectly murdered her husband, Uriah? Who was the one who brought David to his senses? The prophet Nathan!
And the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, "There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him." Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, "As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity."
Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. And I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight?
These are convincing passages of scripture to show the importance of both political leaders and religious leaders. Therefore, my doubt about the effectiveness and importance of politics is somewhat quelled. However, I think it is still fair to evaluate how Christians are acting in the political arena. Are our tactics effective?
Rev. Mahoney said that we have been effective in the fight against abortion. [1]Abortions are lower than they have ever been! But, there are still [2]3,700 abortions a day in the United States. What are we doing wrong? What is the church doing wrong? As I mentioned above, in regard to homosexual marriage, Rev. Mahoney said that it is necessary to fight for good public policy. But, California, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and New York have either legalized homosexual marriage, recognized homosexual couples, or provided civil union status. What are we doing wrong? What is the church doing wrong? I think these are fair questions.
Rev. Mahoney helped me discover that I have a draw to the ministry. He asked me to think about how I could impact culture in each of the vocations – political and pastoral. Here are my current thoughts: if I were a pastor I could focus heavily on the issues that are destroying our culture. To mitigate abortion, I could start adoption and single mothers ministries. To lessen the influence of homosexuality my church could have ministries specifically geared to reach them. To diminish divorce my church could have marriage counselors, etc. In other words, I would do everything in my power to get the church back in line with God – from the grass roots level! If we are going to change the world, it’s going to take hard work. We must give our lives in service!
The church is the problem with society! Why do close to [3]80% of all abortions in the US come from women who identify themselves as protestant, catholic, or born/again evangelicals? Why are divorce rates “[4]identical among born again Christians and those who are not born again?” [5]Why is the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) debating whether or not homosexuals should be ministers? WHY? The culture is crumbling because the church is crumbling! I guess that is why I feel drawn to the church. Jesus is the only one who can change the world. And if the people that claim his name are not living lives transformed, how will the world be saved?
[1] http://www.guttmacher.org/presentations/trends.html
[2] http://www.abortionno.org/Resources/fastfacts.html
[3] ibid
[4] http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=170
[5] http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080628/pcusa-assembly-approves-deleting-gay-clergy-ban.htm
Because Rev. Mahoney has been involved extensively in both the ministry and politics, he has a unique perspective on the importance of both. He wanted to frame my thinking with 1 Corinthians 12:14-21:
For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
I had begun to think that politics was actually a lower or less important calling than that of preaching the Gospel of Christ and loving people. Because I perceived it to be less effective, I had become disenchanted with it. But Rev Mahoney wanted me to understand that God calls different parts of the body of Christ to different vocations. And just because I felt a drawn toward ministry did not make politics any less valuable.
Yet, not only was I questioning the effectiveness of politics, but I was questioning whether or not current Christian involvement in politics was a good thing. For example, is our fight against homosexual marriage alienating homosexuals from the gospel? Rev. Mahoney’s answer to had two components: a gospel component and a moral component. Yes, we are supposed to love homosexuals into the kingdom of God, he said. But, we cannot condone their behavior by doing nothing in the public square. God has called us to be salt to a decaying world.
Consider the following verses as support to Rev. Mahoney’s position:
Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? (Matthew 5:11-13).
When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God, he dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth (David’s last words - 2 Samuel 23:3, 4).
The prophets were those who tried to persuade and convince the people of Israel to follow God. They were God’s voice and witness to the people. This is similar to the work of a pastor. David, however, was different. He was a king over the people. His actions as king directly influenced the prosperity of the people. When he sinned the nation suffered. When he was righteous, the nation prospered. Consider 2 Samuel 24:11-13. When David ordered a census in all of Israel, God responded this way:
The word of the Lord came to the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying, “Go and say to David, ‘Thus says the Lord, Three things I offer you. Choose one of them, that I may do it to you.’” So Gad came to David and told him, and said to him, “Shall three years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days’ pestilence in your land? Now consider, and decide what answer I shall return to him who sent me.”
We see here that there is a lot of pressure put on the leaders of a nation. God used the same principle with Solomon, David’s son. 1 Kings 6:11-13 says:
Now the word of the Lord came to Solomon, “Concerning this house that you are building, if you will walk in my statutes and obey my rules and keep all my commandments and walk in them, then I will establish my word with you, which I spoke to David your father. And I will dwell among the children of Israel and will not forsake my people Israel.”
The fate of the nation of Israel was placed squarely on the shoulders of Solomon, as it was with David! Leaders are important! However, we also see the importance of prophets in 2 Samuel 24:11-13. Gad was the one who brought the word of God to David. He was the one who placed David back on God’s path!
Remember when David sinned with Bathsheba and indirectly murdered her husband, Uriah? Who was the one who brought David to his senses? The prophet Nathan!
And the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, "There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him." Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, "As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity."
Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. And I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight?
These are convincing passages of scripture to show the importance of both political leaders and religious leaders. Therefore, my doubt about the effectiveness and importance of politics is somewhat quelled. However, I think it is still fair to evaluate how Christians are acting in the political arena. Are our tactics effective?
Rev. Mahoney said that we have been effective in the fight against abortion. [1]Abortions are lower than they have ever been! But, there are still [2]3,700 abortions a day in the United States. What are we doing wrong? What is the church doing wrong? As I mentioned above, in regard to homosexual marriage, Rev. Mahoney said that it is necessary to fight for good public policy. But, California, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and New York have either legalized homosexual marriage, recognized homosexual couples, or provided civil union status. What are we doing wrong? What is the church doing wrong? I think these are fair questions.
Rev. Mahoney helped me discover that I have a draw to the ministry. He asked me to think about how I could impact culture in each of the vocations – political and pastoral. Here are my current thoughts: if I were a pastor I could focus heavily on the issues that are destroying our culture. To mitigate abortion, I could start adoption and single mothers ministries. To lessen the influence of homosexuality my church could have ministries specifically geared to reach them. To diminish divorce my church could have marriage counselors, etc. In other words, I would do everything in my power to get the church back in line with God – from the grass roots level! If we are going to change the world, it’s going to take hard work. We must give our lives in service!
The church is the problem with society! Why do close to [3]80% of all abortions in the US come from women who identify themselves as protestant, catholic, or born/again evangelicals? Why are divorce rates “[4]identical among born again Christians and those who are not born again?” [5]Why is the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) debating whether or not homosexuals should be ministers? WHY? The culture is crumbling because the church is crumbling! I guess that is why I feel drawn to the church. Jesus is the only one who can change the world. And if the people that claim his name are not living lives transformed, how will the world be saved?
[1] http://www.guttmacher.org/presentations/trends.html
[2] http://www.abortionno.org/Resources/fastfacts.html
[3] ibid
[4] http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=170
[5] http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080628/pcusa-assembly-approves-deleting-gay-clergy-ban.htm
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Faith and Action hosts Nir Barkat
Picture Left to right – Michael Weiss (co-founder and CEO of Jerusalem.com), Nir Barkat (Jerusalem City Council Member), Rev. Canon Keith Roderick (Representative for Christian Solidarity International), William J. Murray (Chairman of the Religious Freedom Coalition), and Peggy Birchfield (Chief of Staff for Faith and Action).Yesterday, July 21, I was able to meet Jerusalem City Council Member, Nir Barkat. We served him and his crew lunch at Faith and Action’s ministry center. Mr. Barkat is poised to become the next mayor of Jerusalem. He has come to Washington D.C. to seek council for his campaign platforms. 1.) He wants to make Jerusalem an example of religious freedom to the rest of the world. 2.) His goal is to make the city capable of handling 5 times as many yearly tourists. Currently, Jerusalem attracts 2 million tourists a year.
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