Monday, August 27, 2012

August 28, 2012

"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
 
Barbara and I just returned from watching the Dinesh D'souza movie "2016, Obama's America". If it is at a theater near you I recommend you see it.
 
One of the things that resonated with me is D'souza's idea why some America's dislike their country. He mentions that rather than measure America against other nations less free and less prosperous, they choose to measure America against her highest ideals. When you measure social evils such as slavery or racism against our ideals of freedom and equality then America "falls short of the glory" of Her Founders.
 
In reflecting on that thought, I could see how it has resulted in a degree of guilt and self-loathing that seems to haunt many on the liberal side of the political spectrum. And when you think that many of them have discounted the existence of God, how do they deal with the guilt from a nation that has fallen short of its ideals? When you fall short of your own high ideals, where do you go to get forgiveness?
 
Do you lower the ideals? Some have.
 
Do you work hard to give extra rights and advantages to the vicitims of injustice? Some do.
 
Do you make laws and enact policies to level the playing field and make life fair? Some do.
 
D'souza identifies this guilt and self-loathing as one of the factors contributing to an environment where a relatively unknown and inexperienced Senator from Illinois could get elected to the Presidency of the United States.
 
Contrast that to Paul's counsel to the Roman Christians. His worldview, the Christian worldview, believes God is the Creator, the Law-giver and the Judge of the universe. His standard and ideal is holiness. Since every one of us are sinners by nature, everyone of us have fallen short of that high ideal. But that is where the big advantage comes for Christians! Since God set the standards He can also provide forgiveness for those who have fallen short of the standard. That forgiveness was provided by the death of Christ on the Cross!
 
You don't have to labor under the frustration of reaching impossible standards nor do you have to live under the self-loathing that results from guilt. Another verse from Romans says, "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Romans 6:23.
 
You can love a perfect God, you can love a less than perfect you, and you can love a not so perfect America!