Posted on 09/27/2005 12:23:26 PM PDT by DallasMike
William Meisheid at Beyond the Rim wrote an intriguing article on "how our membership in a generation of people affects how we view the world around us and interpret the events happening within the flow of history." I highly recommend it. However, the paragraph that spoke to me most was only marginally related to the theme.
"This is a difficult balancing act where we must continually fight against losing our perspective and slipping into becoming one with the world in which we live. I believe the classic example of this failure is Judas, whose emersion in the culture of the liberation movement of his day, the Zealots, prevented him from relating to Jesus on any real level except as the one who would liberate Israel from the yoke of Rome. You can argue that he betrayed Jesus to force his hand, to make Jesus declare his messianic credentials and begin the long-awaited revolution. He was sadly mistaken, for while Jesus did declare that he was Messiah, it wasn’t the deliverer Judas expected. Indeed, it is clear from the Gospels that no one around Jesus saw clearly his role as suffering servant, because they were all, including the rest of the disciples, looking for another David to return and slay the Roman Goliath."
Like most social conservatives, I'm terribly concerned about who will be President Bush's choice to fill the seat of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Will it be a stealth candidate? Will it be a reliable conservative who will push the court to overturn Roe v. Wade? Will he cave in to pressure and nominate a "moderate?" There is an abortion case coming before the Supreme Court and both sides of the political aisle have a huge stake in the case.
In one sense this is something that matters immensely and in another sense it doesn't matter at all. Many Jews in the first century were, like Judas, looking for a warrior Messiah to liberate them from Rome. Now the Roman empire is only a memory and the Jewish nation has other worries. The best way to overturn Roe v. Wade -- or to make it immaterial regardless of whether it's on the books -- is to be salt to our society and change it from within. Despite the rantings of Jesse Jackson and Charlie Rangle, America will never return to a slave-owning society because our hearts have been changed to recognize that such a thing is terribly wrong. The best way for us to stop abortions is not through the political process, but through the process of changing people's hearts -- something that only Jesus can do.
Many houses purchased 60 or 70 years in this country have something called a racial covenant which prevents the owner from selling to an African-American or a Jew. Those covenants are null and void now as a matter of law but, even if they weren't, few people would honor them because we recoil at even the thought of such a thing. If we work to change the hearts of Americans by leading them to Christ, we could look forward to the day where Roe v. Wade might still be on the books, but it would be looked at as an anachronism because nobody would think of obtaining an abortion any more than they would think of buying a slave. No one who meets Jesus comes away as the same person. Judas met him and left a disappointed man because he, unlike the other disciples, refused to see Jesus for who he really is. The other 11 disciples have changed the world more than any Roman emperor could ever have dreamed of doing.
If Christians would work half as hard in making new converts as we do in electing social conservatives, abortion and many other societal ills would fall by the wayside within 20 years. If we try to become "one with the world in whice we live," and work solely through political means, we can only expect the heartache experienced by Judas. Yes, I will be disappointed if President Bush doesn't choose a conservative to replace Justice O' Connor but my disappointment will be shortsighted and misplaced. If I look at the big picture and work to bring others to Christ, then I can expect to have joy and peace no matter how the world buffets me.
Even if O'Conners replacement is an ultra-conservative, conservatives will still be a 4 vote minority. It is important, but only important if we can flip one more in the next decade.
Yes, but without another true conservative the steps towards a new moral majority would be more. That's simple math, isn't it?
Wonderful image! Unfortunately it's not so unreal...
I agree with working hard to spread the gospel.
At the same time, in one sense the decision about who the next Scotus justice would be was made long, long ago.
They support the slave holders.
Assuming Roberts is a reliable conservative vote, which isn't a guarantee.
It does empower GWB to impact policy and philosophical direction 20 years hence....
8~)
Amen, Pastor. A comforting thought in perilous times.
But its every decision is from the LORD." -- Proverbs 16:33"The lot is cast into the lap,
Which is why casting lots to pick a replacement apostle is not gambling.
I just finished the Dylan special.
They didn't get to the part of his life that I'm interested in.
But...they wouldn't, would they?
Just started out here.
I suppose the documentary was planned to coincide with the dates covered in his autobiography. He'd better stay healthy until "Chronicles Part Deux."
The sooner the better.
LOL. What a great line.
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