July 4th 2014. My mind is struggling to deliver something
about a recent Supreme Court decision favoring a closely held company’s right
NOT to fund the personal reproductive decisions of it’s employees if that
decision runs contrary to its religious beliefs. The episode is so close to our
national holiday expressing freedom and cuts across so many lines of belief and
thought and politics that a blog post cannot possibly cover all of it.
It’s about the touchstone issues of our time; pro choice and
pro life, it’s about big government and less government, it’s about entitlement
and individual responsibility, it’s about the rights of the one and the rights
of many and on and on. My blog can become a rant and a point of offense. I run
the risk of being called a hypocrite by critics and cynics. My ego does not want that. So,
do I keep my head down - my pen motionless? Of course not.
The word “hypocrite” is the great silencer of many a man or
woman who harbors a virtuous thought or ideal. It’s the great equalizer in a
cynical age, the “chink in the armor”. We use it to tear down people who we
perceive to have placed themselves above and talk down at us – especially when
we don’t agree with them – or their opinions are inconvenient or convict us. All of our founding fathers were chastised, labeled hypocrites and pursued for ruin.
All who preach are hypocrites. All who extol virtue of any
sort and on any side – are hypocrites. Show me the perfect man or women who
lived or lives 100% true to their cloak and shroud. There is none – no, not one! JFK,
M.L. King, George Washington, Ronald Reagan, John Wayne, The Pope, Martin
Luther, your Pastor or Priest, my Pastor, place the name of your human hero
here: _________. All had secrets, all compromised at least once - were hypocrites
of one sort or another. Some more, some less. Even Mother Teresa, walking
mighty close to her talk – has been accused of hypocrisy. Google® it.
I am a hypocrite. I like to think I’m getting better at
walking my talk. But don’t listen to me because
of me because, though I try to walk a narrow line, I will betray any value
I state as being good and right to follow. Even a miniscule betrayal will
tarnish my testimony in a cynical world. I denounce murder but I think murder.
I denounce sloth but I indulge in slothfulness. Don’t listen to me because I am
not the man you see on the outside. I am a poser, a pretender and a fraud. And
so are you. Don’t kid yourself.
If we can all agree on our mutual destitution we can begin
to look up to truth and virtuous things and share them without reproach. We
might actually agree on something good and timeless. But as soon as any one of
us puts on his or her mask – we lose that fellowship - - - there is a hypocrite
in the room. The only true unifying bond we can have is our confession of
imperfection. And that is the start.
So is there anything virtuous or praiseworthy even though
none of us are its perfect example? Of course there is. Can we talk about it
and extol it? Why not? Hear the message but don’t judge the message by its
messenger. My actions do not invalidate my ideals. That’s why they are ideals.
I am not ideal.
But there is one who is. His name is Jesus Christ. He is no
hypocrite. He’s been put to the test and He passed as no other man has or ever
will.
This week our country celebrates the 4th of July and our
Declaration of Independence;
independence from the tyranny of taxation without representation, capricious
governance, tyranny that tramples the "unalienable" rights endowed to
us by our Creator - - - a "Declaration" thereof made "with a
firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence".
While we as a country collectively celebrate with singular
agreement what we perceive to be our unique system of government founded on
liberty and “freedom” we have, however, given birth to other forms of tyranny
to which we increasingly bow and give allegiance. The trends are disturbing to
some and welcomed by others. In the context of history, these trends are
nothing new and the book of Ecclesiastes documents the vanity of it.
They say that when things are not going well that it’s time
to get back to the fundamentals. When the exterior finish is too deteriorated
to be repaired you take it down to the bare metal or wood and begin again. Our
most fundamental of fundamentals is God. We say we are a nation under God. Our
motto is “In God We Trust”. If so, then we are UNDER GOD. We need to uncover
that and bring it into the light. If we ask for God’s blessing and say “God
bless America”
- for whom’s agenda are we asking that blessing? There are those among us who
would take all mention of God from our buildings, our currency and any other place
we have etched His mention - to remind us – of our fundamentals.
Are our prayers the mere rubbing of a genie of our own
conjuring for our own desires? Is God a mere dispenser of favors? If we think
so - how arrogant of us. Do we really believe that God, the Creator, exists to
do our bidding? Is there nothing timeless, true or absolute? Is there no rock
to stand on or is everything in continual helpless flux? Do we dare ask ourselves what God
created us for? Do we dare speak up?
I declare independence from human tyranny, relativism, fear, the common herd mentality and "going along to get along". By my faith I declare my independence from the
tyranny of sin and death. By this declaration I also declare my DEPENDENCE on
Jesus Christ and my submission to His will and agenda because it is He who
freed me from that tyranny and has seized the right to be my Lord. He is the
only one worthy of following – He is the only one who is credible and without
blemish.
If life has proven anything to me it is this; God responds
to one standard – Faith in, Dependence on and Obedience to Him.
In Ephesians 6:12 it is written; "For we do not wrestle
against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against
the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness
in the heavenly places."
The flag of the State of Rhode Island and Providence
Plantations (in which I live) boldly proclaims with it’s image of an Anchor and
the word “Hope” plainly displayed: “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul,
both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where
the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest
forever according to the order of Melchizedek. ~ Hebrews 6:19-20 NKJV”.
I cling and shackle myself to whatever chain that securely binds
me to that Anchor!
Blessings,
Bill
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