June 30, 2010

"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people." Proverbs 14:34

By now you should know what righteousness is and where it comes from.

If you understand those simple truths then you should certainly appreciate its benefits!

According to King Solomon it is crucial for a nation to be committed to righteousness. We have seen that the Founding Fathers understood how fundamental it was to the future success of the nation they sought to establish. History records the exalted status America has achieved through its two and one-third centuries of existence.

So who is responsible to keep our nation in its exalted and righteous status? How does that happen?

Jesus proclaimed, "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:13-16

Jesus makes it clear that God expects His people to used their righteous influence to positively impact the moral climate of their culture. He equates our moral influence to salt, giving a good flavor to the society in which we live and also purifying it and preserving it. Clearly, you and I as Christians should life the moral environment of where we live, where we work and even the places where we play. One simple truth confronts us, either we improve the morality of our world or it brings us down. If we don't make it better it will certainly make us worse. There is no neutral impact.

If living out the righteousness of God acts like salt in a culture, then practicing and proclaiming His truth acts like a light! Righteousness is the inner force that must be expressed through living out the truth of God's Word. The Bible refers to truth as light and anything less than truth as darkness. Nature proves that darkness and light do not coexist. Light dispells darkness and darkness only exists in the absence of light.

Are you concerned about the present condition of your beloved nation as you prepare to celebrate America's Independence for the 234th time? You should be. We are a disgraced nation.

You can despair or you can begin the repair! The solution is not in Washington DC or in Richmond or in any other capitol in our nation. To exalt your nation, commit to righteousness! To commit to righteousness connect with the Righteous One and then live in relationship with Him and His truth will shine through your life. Exalting our nation is the responsibility of God's people - The Church, The Body of Christ! That is you! That is me!

Do you consider yourself a patriot? Patriots are prayerful, purified, and principled people through whom the power of God can work! God exalts a nation through people like that!

June 29, 2010

"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people." Proverbs 14:34

This verse should be blazoned on the consciousness of every legislator, civic leader and elected official in America.

Why is that?

Because it "exalts a nation".

How does it do that?

I mentioned that righteousness is a commitment to do the right thing. That is true and it is important to do the right thing.

However, there is something even more important about righteousness. Righteousness is not just a commitment - it is a connection to the righteousness of God. Righteousness enables you to do right by making you right so you can connect with the Righteous God. Righteousness gets God involved in the life of the nation. So, when you say "righteousness" exalts a nation you are saying that God and godly living lifts up a nation. There can be little doubt of that.

Let's put faith aside for a moment and just approach this from a common sense point of view. Doesn't it sound better to have God active in the life of a nation? If God is not involved and if His power and influence are not active, what will be? When goodness and rightness are removed, what remains? What is the antithesis of rightness? What is the alternative to goodness?

If you have respect for the Founding Fathers, then I assume you would respect their views on the role of righteousness in the formation and survival of a nation. Consider this!

Did you know that 52 of the 55 signers of "The Declaration of Independence" were orthodox, deeply committed, Christians? The other three all believed in the Bible as the divine truth, the God of scripture, and His personal intervention.

"While the people are virtuous they cannot be subdued; but when once they lose their virtue they will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal invader . . . If virtue and knowledge are diffused among the people, they will never be enslaved. This will be their great security." - Samuel Adams

"We shall not fight alone. God presides over the destinies of nations, and will raise up friends for us. The battle is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave . . . Is life so dear, or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" - Patrick Henry, in a speech March 23, 1775.

"The religion which has introduced civil liberty is the religion of Christ and His Apostles.... This is genuine Christianity and to this we owe our free constitutions of government." - Noah Webster

"The only foundation for a useful education in a republic is to be laid in religion. Without this there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty- - -" - Benjamin Rush, Letters of Benjamin Rush, L.H. Butterfield, editor, Princeton: The American Philosophical Society, 1951, Vol. I p. 414, "To the citizens of Philadelphia: A Plan for Free Schools", March 28, 1787

A modicum of research will make it abundantly clear why America became a great nation with an exalted position in the world. Our Founders established this country upon righteousness because of their individual and collective connections with God!

How is your connection?

June 28, 2010

"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people." Proverbs 14:34

Leading up to this week-end's 234th celebration of America's freedom, I am going to explore some of the things that has made the USA an exceptional place. And it IS an exceptional place!

In just a dozen words, Solomon, who knew about greatness, captures its essence. "Rigtheousness" is the key word.

I contend it is impossible to understand the greatness of America without comprehending the vital role righteousness plays.

So, what about righteousness? What it is you need to understand?

The first aspect of righteousness that is significant is justice. Notice, I said "justice" and not "fairness". God has no real interest in fairness but He is extremely interested in justice. Why?

Justice presumes a moral standard. Justice acknowledges that there is a right and there is a wrong according to an absolute standard. For the Founding Fathers that absolute moral standard was the Ten Commandments. Don't take my word for it:

"We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We’ve staked the future of all our political institutions upon our capacity…to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.” - James Madison, 1778 to the General Assembly of the State of Virginia

“ The Law given from Sinai [The Ten Commandments] was a civil and municipal as well as a moral and religious code.” - John Quincy Adams. Letters to his son. p. 61

“All the miseries and evils which men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible.” - Noah Webster. History. p. 339

When you begin to grasp the thinking of these great men, when you get your mind around the concept of justice then you gain a better understanding of the importance of righteousness. Righteousness at its elementary level is "rightness". You can paraphrase this verse to say, "Rightness exalts a nation....."

America has been exalted as a nation because it has always valued "rightness" and has sought to reconcile unjust situations based on this absolute standard of "rightness".

America is great because America seeks to be right!

June 27, 2010

"If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, "Do not commit adultery" also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!" James 2:8-13

Remember when you were in school and your teacher tried to challenge by reminding you that the grade you earned for this class would go on your "permanent record"?

Sometimes that motivated you and sometimes it didn't. Your permanent record only mattered if you were concerned about your long-term success. The contents of your permanent record could help open or close some doors for you in the future.

If you weren't concerned about your future, your "permanent record" didn't matter to you. Maybe at that point in your life you were more concerned about spending time with your friends or watching TV or playing video games or anything more pleasurable than studying!

In this portion of Scripture James reminds you that you have a "permanent record" and how you treat others goes on your "permanent record". When it comes time to determine your eternal destination God will look at your "permanent record" and reward you accordingly.

If you believe your "permanent record" matters, make sure you show love and respect to others. Always be sure you treat others as you like to be treated. Don't prejudge others and don't let your prejudices prevent you from helping connect people with God. Your purpose must always be more important than your personal preferences.

Make sure your "permanent record" is pleasing to God. If it is, you'll become permanent!

June 26, 2010

"Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!" James 2: 12-13

How do you respond under pressure?

It has been suggested that who you are under pressure is revealing of who you really are. I tend to believe that.

You must keep in mind as you read and study James that these are Christians under pressure. Pressure most of us have never known, the pressure of persecution.

As James describes what faith should look like and how people of faith should live, it is being lived out under pressure. Faith is giving your best when life deals the worst! Do you return mercy for malice?

In these verses he reminds you that you will be judged and your faith will be judged based on how well your actions and attitudes match those of the Savior. If you say you have faith but do not demonstrate love your faith will be judged as insincere.

The context for faith in this instance is within the meeting of believers. How do you show love to a guests who comes into you meeting? Do you size them up or do you serve them? Do you act differently to a wealthy looking person than to a shabbily dressed one? Faith looks for what it can give rather than what it can gain. Here's an example:

In his autobiography, Mahatma Gandhi wrote that during his student days he read the Gospels seriously and considered converting to Christianity. He believed that in the teachings of Jesus he could find the solution to the caste system that was dividing the people of India. So one Sunday he decided to attend services at a nearby church and talk to the minister about becoming a Christian. When he entered the sanctuary, however, the usher refused to give him a seat and suggested that he ought to worship with his own people. Gandhi left the church and never returned, “If Christians have caste differences also, “ he said, “I might as well remain a Hindu.” That usher’s prejudice not only betrayed Jesus but also turned a person away from trusting Him as Savior.

Bad judgment.

Your faith is being continually judged by how you treat others. You will be ultimately judged by how you treat others. If you want to be judged mercifully, give mercy. Show kindness and love to whoever comes into your fellowship. Start tomorrow at church!

June 25, 2010

"If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?" James 2:3-4

How do you determine the value of something?

In this consumer-driven, value-oriented world, how do you decide what is a good price to pay for an item.

Generally, there are several factors.

First is the brand name. Over the years, certain companies have distiguished themselves as being an industry leader in their product. The quality and reliability of their product has earned them trust with consumers. So, when shopping for that item, one of the first considerations of value is the name brand. Some are willing to even pay a higher price to purchase that item made by that company.

Second is the need of the consumer at the time. If an important appliance goes out and needs to be replaced in a hurry, the urgency of the situation may require you to pay more for the first available unit. Urgency sometime dictates the price.

Third, there is the more subjective issue of personal preference. You may pay more for an item just because it strikes your fancy or touches you emotionally. It has greater value because of the happiness it brings you. Because you like it better you are willing to pay more for it.

So, when it comes to value, there are market forces that come into play, and there are some economic forces that factor in and there are subjective issues, as well.

In James 2, he deals with how you determine the value of a person who comes into your fellowship. There should be one determining factor - God created them, God loves them and Jesus died for them. That makes them valuable to God and you are to ascribe that value to them. If you judge their value based on outward factors or selfish subjective factors - you are sinning and will answer to God.

Everyone is valuable to God! Everyone who enters your church or your LIFE groups or simple crosses your path during the day is a person of great worth to God and should be treated as such by you.

Failure to do so will cost you - big time!

June 24, 2010

"If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers." James 2:8-9

What's love got to do with it?

Everything!

What's faith got to do with it?

It's the deal!

Faith enables you to be loving toward those you don't favor. Actually, that's the point of this exhortation!

Again, I call your attention to the fact that James says you should not "show" favoritism. It does not say you shouldn't feel favoritism or have favorites.

In our 21st Century culture there is WAY too much emphasis on how you feel or what you think. Faith is about what you actually DO! That is one of the main truths James is communicating in his Book of James - "faith is demonstrated by works". It doesn't say anything about how you feel or what you think!

Faith is a commitment to live out the Law of Love toward those who you may not even like on an emotional level!

Anyone can embrace someone they have "warm fuzzies" for - but it takes a person of faith to be loving toward another they may not feel favorable toward.

Faith is fleshing out love and truth and Christian character!

Faith is not limited to how you feel or what you favor! Faith acts on what is true and what glorifies God.

How is your faith?