Posted on 10/31/2016 7:57:59 AM PDT by Salvation
Photo by Jacyln Lippelmann for the Catholic Standard.
During the current political period, when many leaders will be elected, we do well to recall the strong admonitions of God to those who attain to leadership, whether as politicians, community leaders, teachers, or others of significant influence.
The Book of Wisdom (6:1-25) contains a stern warning for those of authority and influence. I present it here along with a few comments (in red) of my own.
In my commentary, I deliberately do not mention specific leaders or parties. This problem is older than the current year; it is a human problem that has beset every age. But I would also argue that it is a particularly serious issue today. To be fair, though, it has been emerging in stages and growing in severity for several decades now, since the cultural revolution.
With those disclaimers in mind, consider with me this admonition from the Lord in the Book of Wisdom.
Hear, therefore, kings, and understand;
learn, you magistrates of the earth’s expanse!
Hearken, you who are in power over the multitude
and lord it over throngs of peoples!
Because authority was given you by the Lord
and sovereignty by the Most High,
who shall probe your works
and scrutinize your counsels!
We live in times when government officials often rule more than they serve. Laws are passed that are increasingly burdensome. And many of these laws are coming, not from elected officials who must answer to their voters, but from unelected judges and government bureaucrats. Some of these new policies violate religious liberty and impose obligations that violate the consciences of many. But these considerations are set aside and those in power lord it over the people they serve, forcing them to comply with unjust and immoral laws or else face fines and/or jeopardize their careers. To the degree that those leaders transgress the proper bounds for a ruler, they will answer to God for what they do.
Because, though you were ministers of his kingdom,
you judged not rightly, and did not keep the law,
nor walk according to the will of God,
Consider how many laws are proudly passed today that are direct violations of God’s moral law (e.g., legalization of abortion, same-sex “marriage,” and euthanasia/assisted suicide). Those who craft such laws, support them, and/or fund them, will answer to God.
Terribly and swiftly shall he come against you,
because judgment is stern for the exalted—
For the lowly may be pardoned out of mercy
but the mighty shall be mightily put to the test.
For the Lord of all shows no partiality,
nor does he fear greatness,
Because he himself made the great as well as the small,
and he provides for all alike;
but for those in power a rigorous scrutiny impends.
Yes, many seek power in this world without recalling the important truth proclaimed here. Judgment is indeed weightier for those who are powerful, wealthy or influential. We seek these things even though the Scriptures warn that it is hard for the rich to inherit the kingdom (Matthew 19:23), that not many of us should be teachers (James 3:1), and that to whom much is given much is expected (Luke 12:48). Those who attain to such levels must be very humble before God, seek his help and remember that they will answer to him.
To you, therefore, O princes, are my words addressed
that you may learn wisdom and that you may not sin.
For those who keep the holy precepts hallowed shall be found holy,
and those learned in them will have ready a response.
Desire therefore my words;
long for them and you shall be instructed.
Fear God, not man. Seek his wisdom, not what is merely politically advantageous. Yet sadly most of our leaders, powerful though they are, do fear man more than God. To attain to high positions, many have made serious moral compromises and been willing to dismiss divine mandates in favor of often immoral demands of sinful human beings. Rare indeed is the ruler that recalls divine judgments and refuses to compromise God’s law, or teaches his people to do the same.
If, then, you find pleasure in throne and scepter, you princes of the peoples,
honor Wisdom, that you may reign as kings forever….
A great number of wise men is the safety of the world,
and a prudent king, the stability of his people;
so take instruction from my words, to your profit.
How are we doing, America? Not so well, if you ask me. Our current leaders (political, judicial, and academic) have diverged severely from the Law and Wisdom of God. Any examination of recent legislation, legal decisions, or academic offerings will reveal this. A tyranny of relativism has been created and leaders lord it over others through law and political correctness. Punitive laws and executive fiats oppress. College campuses are beginning to resemble indoctrination camps rather than places where debate and discussion of ideas can take place.
Even more sadly, our leaders indicate the moral condition of our country. True leaders should lead and answer to God, but our modern leaders often cater to the whims and unseemly demands of their people. Americans are demanding many excessive and immoral things; we get the leaders we deserve because they emerge from who and what we are.
This is tragic on two counts. It is tragic for the leaders, who will answer to God for what they do; it is also tragic for us, who can only be further dragged down by poor and immoral leaders.
Consider, well, this admonition from Sacred Scripture. Consider its message to us, both as individuals and as a country.
Pray and heed!
Monsignor Pope Ping!
A warning in light of next Tuesday.
The Book of Wisdom is not Scripture.
It was Luther who removed it from the Bible?
Do you know who the probable author is?
Solomon.
So if proverbs is OK why isn’t the book of Wisdom?
We are of God: he that knows God hears us; he that is not of God does not hear us. This is how we know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. 1 John 4:6.
Who are you to judge?
We are of God: he that knows God hears us; he that is not of God does not hear us. This is how we know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. 1 John 4:6.
It is, you have no clue what you are talking about.
Is it not sad that the books of Wisdom and Sirach and others in the Catholic Bible are excluded from many Christian Bibles .
Only a minority have Bibles from which it has been removed.
Interestingly, St. Paul alludes to verses from Wisdom:
Romans 9:21---"Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for a noble purpose and another for an ignoble one?" Wisdom 15:7---"For truly the potter, laboriously working the soft earth, molds for our service each several article: both the vessels that serve for clean purposes, and their opposites, all alike; as to what shall be the use of each vessel of either class, the worker in clay is the judge."
Romans 11:24---"For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?"Wisdom 9:13---"For what man knows God's counsel, or who can conceive what the Lord intends?"
This is not a trick question I think it is actually answerable if you go to historic sources. Thanks.
Our Lord the Holy Spirit told MOST believers, over a period of more than two millennia, that the Book of Wisdom was inspired Scripture.<p
I don’t think He’s one to change His mind.
Badly, IMO, and Brother Charles lays out the case very well.
Because authority was given you by the Lord
and sovereignty by the Most High,
who shall probe your works
and scrutinize your counsels!
Jesus echoes this in His discussion with Pilate:
John 19:
9 And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? 11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.
All authority on Earth is granted by God to those who wield it. Let us all take care how we exercise it. Even if we do answer to voters, or to superiors, or whomever among Men ... we ultimately answer to God.
This doesn’t mean the book doesn’t contain some theologically correct statements.
For the sake of respecting the very large evangelical segment of Christendom, the consensus area of scripture would be wisest to refer to. That will sidestep the brouhaha about “oh, that’s not in the bible” (when often, in fact, it is a paraphrase of material that IS in the consensus area of the bible).
I very rarely refer to the seven "omitted" books when discussing religion with FReepers, precisely because I don't want to get side-tracked into a bugtussle every single time about
"That's not Scripture!"
"Yes it is!"
"No it's not!"
"Is!"
"Isn't!"
"Is!"
"Isn't, isn't, isn't! And you worship Mary!"
Perhaps the very large evangelical segment of Christendom could show some respect for the even larger Roman Catholic (as well as Eastern) segments of Christendom. Respect must go both ways, or it becomes "Political Correctness" and ideological tyranny.
Rebuilding Jerusalem vs. Babylonian Captivity
Who is the announced one for the task?
Is Donald Trump...
our Lord's modern announced Cyrus (ISAIAH 45)1 "This is what the LORD says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that the gates will not be shut:2 I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron
"common grace"
God's trumpet!!!
No, but we must pay attention to the Holy Spirit in us and in the Body of Christ. That is how we know what is the spirit of truth and the spirit of error (1 John 4:6). The Body of Christ has accepted the 66 books of the Bible for 2000 years. The Holy Spirit and the Body of Christ reject the Book of Wisdom as Scripture that has been authored by the Holy Spirit.
Good answer.
The Body of Christ has accepted the 66 books of the Bible for 2000 years.
See #12. Now ... which of you two claiming what the Body of Christ has believed for two millennia am I supposed to believe? You can both be wrong, but you can't both be right.
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