A Time To Flee?

Despite the resounding political wins in last week's off-year election---and there were a number of them---the far Left continues its long march through the institutions of America.

Friday night 13 Republicans joined the Democrats in passing one of the most bizarre, misleading pieces of legislation I have seen in my life ---and as a pastor, I have been carefully observing what our "public servants" are up to for my entire adult life. 

And I'm over 40.

Even Ocasio-Cortez is accusing the president of lying to the American public.

While some are dropping out of West Point, disappointed and disillusioned, others are dropping out of public service---while others are fleeing---simply checking out.

Some pastors are promising silence, promising not to "get involved in politics"---meaning not to take a position because it's just too risky.  

But is this a time to flee, or a time to stand?

Be informed, not misled.

"Keep screaming like a baby."

This weekend Associated Press reported, with considerable satisfaction, that "The House passed the measure 228-206 late Friday, prompting prolonged cheers from the relieved Democratic side of the chamber. Thirteen Republicans, mostly moderates, supported the legislation with six Democrats ...including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Cori Bush ...opposing it."

AOC opposed the bill because it was "dishonest" and "not far enough to the left."

The cost to replace every lead pipe in the United States is $45-60 billion.

BIF only gives $15b. Without BBB, many communities historically denied clean water will continue to be denied.

Build Back Better has lead $ for disadvantaged communities. We must keep pushing for BBB.

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 7, 2021

I want to protect our party from the disappointment and collapse in turnout from communities like mine that occurs when we tell them we did things we didn’t do.

We shouldn’t promise all lead pipes will be fixed if that is not the case. Some will, most won’t. We must push for BBB

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 7, 2021

A quick look at a dissected pumpkin pie makes her point. The trillion-dollar deal is hardly about "infrastructure."

It's about a lot of things, but not so much about "infrastructure." 

AP says, "Simply freeing up the infrastructure measure for final congressional approval was like a burst of adrenaline for Democrats."

This is a link to the names of the Republicans that voted for the measure. 

It was such a big deal that President Biden and Jill delayed---not canceled, but delayed plans to travel Friday evening to their house in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-WA., leader of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said Biden even called her mother in India, apparently, about the matter.

Jayapal said, "This was not to bribe me, this was when it was all done." She continued, "My mother told me to 'just keep screaming like a little girl'."

I'm sure she will. And it'll be shrill.

A more sane Republican took a different approach---even though he is very upset.

"President Biden embarrassed Americans."

Republican Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso said yesterday that President Joe Biden embarrassed  Americans at the recent climate change conference in Glasglow by 'pledging allegiance to the flag of the United Nations,' not the United States."

"He basically apologized for America. He begged---groveled-- OPEC and [Valadmir] Putin to create more energy," he said. And he said, "He promised to raise energy prices in America."

Sen. Barrasso said Biden waved the "white flag of surrender over energy independence," fell asleep during one of the sessions, and succeeded in getting unanimous agreement from the G20 countries to establish a global minimum corporate tax rate of 15%.

And he proposed that "climate change activists be considered for refugee status."

He promises to continue to try to get the president to answer questions he and other Republican senators have.

Former West Point Cadet, "I quit." Here's why...

Appearing on Fox News's "Hannity," a former West Point cadet---Hanna MacDonald---blasted the school saying she was "expected not to lay down her life for her brothers and sisters, but for a political agenda."

MacDonald and two other former cadets discussed with Hannity why they left the military academy earlier this year after vaccine mandates and what they called political indoctrination.

New Navy ship will be named for homosexual activist Harvey Milk.

Saturday in San Diego Bay, the US Navy formally christened and launched the replenishment oiler, USNS Harvey Milk after a bottle of champagne was smashed on the bow by former Navy officer Paula M. Neira, now clinical program director at Johns Hopkins Center for Transgender Health.

US Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro attended and told the crowd, "The secretary of the Navy needed to be here today, not just to amend the wrongs of the past, but to give inspiration to all our LGBTQ community leaders who have served in the Navy, in uniform today and in the civilian workforce as well too, and tell them we are committed to them in the future."

Harvey Milk's nephew, Stuart, also spoke about his uncle Harvey's "less than honorable discharge," saying he was forced to resign because he was gay. "We have to teach our history to prevent ourselves from going backward and repeating it."

Harvey, you may recall, was shot and killed by a fellow worker in San Francisco City Hall.

I condemn that action in the strongest possible terms. It is wrong before man and God.

Although God condemns homosexual behavior, He loves the homosexual. Christ died for all of us because all of us have sinned and come short of God's glory.

However, God did not die to "confirm" sin, rather to forgive, deliver and restore us from our sin, including the sin of homosexual behavior.

If the foundations of our society are destroyed, are we to flee? Or stand?

In Psalm 11:3 the writer says, "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?"

Certainly, our cultural foundations are under a destructive attack. Our public schools have become essentially government-run mandated indoctrination centers, whether it's social or moral issues, a far-left radical agenda is taught, at taxpayers' expense, to our kids on a daily diet.

God---His Word, His name, and nearly all references to Him have been stripped from public life, public education, and the public square in our lifetime. 

Too many church pulpits have become silent on critical issues, because "the church should not be involved in politics," they say. 

In fact, there is a move to punish outspoken Christians and conservatives. We've seen that---and the push back recently in school board meetings, resulting in upsets in a number of elections.

Yet, sharing your personal testimony of faith in Christ is now called proselytizing and is illegal in some places.

We must become engaged in the culture if we are not, and if we are---remain vigilant and informed. And not grow weary in well-doing.

But first things first. Psalm 11 begins with this: "In the Lord put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?"

Verse 2 continues with a pretty good case for fleeing. "For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart."

So, (verse 3) if these foundations are destroyed, what can and should the righteous do?

Verse 4 reminds us that God is in control. "The Lord is in His Holy Temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold"---God knows what is happening---He is in control of all things. He has called us not to flee, but to be salt and light in the world that is terribly out of control.

The church must not become silent---it must speak more clearly, more directly to the issues. The great preacher and theologian Charles Finney said, "The church must take right ground in regard to politics...Politics are part of a religion in a nation such as this, and Christians must do their duty to the country as part of their duty to God...God will bless or curse this nation, according to the course Christians take in politics."

And he said this at another time and place: 

"The time has come that Christians must vote for honest men and take consistent ground in politics or the Lord will curse them...Christians have been exceedingly guilty in this matter. But the time has come when they must act differently...Christians seem to act as if they thought God did not see what they do in politics. But I tell you He does see it--and He will bless or curse this nation according to the course they Christians take in politics."

This is not a time to flee. It's a time to stand.

Be Informed. Be Engaged. Be Discerning. Be Vigilant. Be Prayerful.