Found here. My comments in bold.
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As is typical for Leftists, you find the author neither understands the role of government, the Christian faith, nor the obvious implications of her position as it relates to the issue at hand.
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Tucked inside the enormous House tax proposal (Since when has the Left been troubled by the size of a bill?)
is a provision that would roll back a 63-year-old ban on tax-exempt organizations — including churches — from making explicit political endorsements. In 1954, then-Sen. Lyndon Baines Johnson proposed the amendment to section 501(c)(3) of the federal tax code after a brutal campaign during which a tax-exempt group ran advertisements labeling him a communist. With its passage, Johnson hoped to quiet his opponents. (Hmm. Did the author just admit that the law was specifically designed by a liberal democrat to silence dissent?)
But in decades since, the ban has drawn a bright line between pulpits and political podiums, validating one of this country’s founding principles: the separation of church and state. (Was this really a founding principle? And is the author representing the principle correctly? We shall find out.)
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
Monday, November 27, 2017
We Need to Have a Talk About Matt Chandler - BY NEWS DIVISION
Found here. My comments in bold.
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Ever on the alert for doctrinal purity, the Doctrinal Police cannot see past their own preconceptions and discern the reality of the diversity of faith and practice.
You will note the author quotes absolutely no Scripture, supplies little documentation of his claims aside from hostile references to the very blog his article appears on, and seems unable to treat the issues at hand without disdain or personal attack.
Most grievously, the author hides behind a "news division" moniker.
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Okay, Christians. We need to have a talk about Matt Chandler.
We like Matt. Who couldn’t like Matt? He’s a great preacher. He’s entertaining as can be. He handled a nearly-terminal brain tumor like a God-glorifying champ. He gets the Gospel. So there’s that. We should applaud him for all those things. But that’s not what we need to talk about.
Let’s all admit that being really, really right on some things doesn’t make being really, really wrong on some other things okay. Neither does saying somebody is wrong about some things imply that we think they’re wrong on everything. So, we’re going to ask the legions of New Calvinist fanboys to set down their venti split-quad no foam lattes, put down their mole skin journals, and listen. Hear us out on this.
Matt Chandler – as swell of a guy as he is – has some deep theological problems. Chandler took over the troubled, Driscoll-stained Acts 29 Network at a difficult time of self-induced celebrity implosion. And, Chandler was one who – reluctantly and a day late and dollar short – finally gave Driscoll the boot. But, the charismatic commitment that forms the heart of the Acts 29 Network (it has always been charismatic, and includes on its board other charismatics, like Sam Storms) is a different kind of cancer that seems to have been slowly eating away at the doctrinal soul of Matt Chandler.
Endorsing Ann Voskamp – who writes theoerotic literature about making love to God – is not cool. (Endorsing an article about suicide is not the same as endorsing the person or everything she believes.)
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Ever on the alert for doctrinal purity, the Doctrinal Police cannot see past their own preconceptions and discern the reality of the diversity of faith and practice.
You will note the author quotes absolutely no Scripture, supplies little documentation of his claims aside from hostile references to the very blog his article appears on, and seems unable to treat the issues at hand without disdain or personal attack.
Most grievously, the author hides behind a "news division" moniker.
--------------
Okay, Christians. We need to have a talk about Matt Chandler.
We like Matt. Who couldn’t like Matt? He’s a great preacher. He’s entertaining as can be. He handled a nearly-terminal brain tumor like a God-glorifying champ. He gets the Gospel. So there’s that. We should applaud him for all those things. But that’s not what we need to talk about.
Let’s all admit that being really, really right on some things doesn’t make being really, really wrong on some other things okay. Neither does saying somebody is wrong about some things imply that we think they’re wrong on everything. So, we’re going to ask the legions of New Calvinist fanboys to set down their venti split-quad no foam lattes, put down their mole skin journals, and listen. Hear us out on this.
Matt Chandler – as swell of a guy as he is – has some deep theological problems. Chandler took over the troubled, Driscoll-stained Acts 29 Network at a difficult time of self-induced celebrity implosion. And, Chandler was one who – reluctantly and a day late and dollar short – finally gave Driscoll the boot. But, the charismatic commitment that forms the heart of the Acts 29 Network (it has always been charismatic, and includes on its board other charismatics, like Sam Storms) is a different kind of cancer that seems to have been slowly eating away at the doctrinal soul of Matt Chandler.
Endorsing Ann Voskamp – who writes theoerotic literature about making love to God – is not cool. (Endorsing an article about suicide is not the same as endorsing the person or everything she believes.)
Friday, November 24, 2017
Time to ask how we will get better election results - by Kevin Crawford
My comments in bold.
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How do we get better election outcomes than the GOP liars and miscreants (One who has behaved badly, or illegally. The author paints with a wide brush, while of course exempting his own side.)
we largely have now? I see four possibilities:
1. Get corporate money out of elections? Never happen – not with a Republican Congress; they (and even too many Democrats) (Um, most every Democrat. There is virtually no difference between the parties regarding big money contributions. Apparently the author has bought into the frequently told lie that Democrats are the party of the little guy while Republicans are the party of big corporations. It's amazing what people will believe.)
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How do we get better election outcomes than the GOP liars and miscreants (One who has behaved badly, or illegally. The author paints with a wide brush, while of course exempting his own side.)
we largely have now? I see four possibilities:
1. Get corporate money out of elections? Never happen – not with a Republican Congress; they (and even too many Democrats) (Um, most every Democrat. There is virtually no difference between the parties regarding big money contributions. Apparently the author has bought into the frequently told lie that Democrats are the party of the little guy while Republicans are the party of big corporations. It's amazing what people will believe.)
Monday, November 20, 2017
Sermon Notes 11/19/17 Rom 5:1-5 - How to walk out your faith
S1 How to walk out your faith.
I don’t know if we’ve ever actually said it, but the elders have been embracing a general theme over the past several weeks, “how to walk out your faith.” We have been trying to flesh out some of the spiritual and practical ways to have a real and relevant faith.
For example, the spiritual disciplines of prayer and fasting. The ministry of the body, one to another. The honor we give as we recognize what Father has place in others. The matters of structure and authority and gifting and course corrections. All of this you have heard from this stage.
Father has been preparing us, even as we didn’t know what was coming. He’s been laying the groundwork, not only to equip us to overcome difficulty, but also to draw us together in love and prepare us for what He wants us to do.
He knows our need. He knows what’s coming. He’s always faithful, always loving, and always lifegiving. Knowing this really builds faith in me.
So, “how to walk out your faith” has indeed become real. I stood up here a few weeks ago and said there was an earthquake coming. I didn’t know what that meant, other than the fact that we need to plant our feet firmly on the Rock, believe God in obedience, and to love one another.
My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
His oath, His covenant, His blood Support me in the whelming flood; When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.
When the storms come, when the earth shakes, when what we thought was trustworthy turns out to be unstable, we will either depend wholly on Jesus and stand firm in faith, or we will walk away, injured and jaded and mistrustful.
We get to choose. Choose wisely.
One of my favorite preachers, TD Jakes once said, S2 “You will never know you have faith until you’re in a good fight.” And that’s where we are, we are in a good fight. Not good as in pleasant, but good as in real. Paul tells Timothy in S3 1Tim. 6:12: Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
It is a good fight. But we aren’t fighting for a man, an ideology, or an organization. Our fight is not fleshly. We are fighting for what Father has promised. We are fighting for our lives, including our lives together as a people of God. We are fighting for the sake of what has been set before us.
We do this together. This is what we must do. Together: Commit to discern and then stand firm in what Holy Spirit is saying to the church. Commit to hold on tight to the Scriptures. Commit to rely on each other as the body of Christ. Commit to trust Father for his faithfulness.
And let me tell you, you are up to the challenge of this fight. You can overcome. You can persevere. You have what it takes. And, you have the people of God right there with you. You are not alone.
Say this with me: I wasn’t ready before… but now I’m ready for this fight.
What can you do? You can love. You can pray. You can build faith in others as well as guard your own faith.
And may I say, you shouldn’t speculate. You shouldn’t take sides. You shouldn’t be so sure that you know enough to render judgment. S4 1Ti. 5:22 …do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
That word “share,” koinoneo, is also translated “participate,” or “partake.” The definition is, “come into communion or fellowship with, to become a sharer, be made a partner.”
That means, don’t come on board with someone’s sin. Do be a part of it. Don’t think you have all the information to necessary to take up a cause. Don’t carry someone else’s offense.
The enemy wants to mess things up. He’s putting in a lot of overtime. Apparently something is happening here in the spirit that worries him. So I hope you’re ready to fight in the Spirit. But even more, I hope that you’re desire is to be positioned for what Father is doing next. He has big plans.
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That’s my introduction. Now let’s look at today’s passage.
S5 How to walk out your faith.
S6 Ro. 5:1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
S7 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
I usually like to study my Bible in a topical way. I like to take an idea or a word and explore everything the Bible has to say about it.
But today I want to focus on the elements of this particular passage to see if we can dig out something meaningful.
So we come to the first word… S8 Ro. 5:1 Therefore…
Whenever we see the word “therefore,” we need to see what it’s there for. We need to look back to what was written before. In the previous chapter, chapter four, we find that Paul is discussing Abraham’s faith.
Paul tells us that God had promised that Abraham would be the father of many nations. And Abraham believed God, even though his wife Sarah was too old to get pregnant.
Paul writes that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. Paul is using Abraham’s faith to set up a premise -- to make a point. Paul says he’s not just talking about Abraham. He writes: S9 Ro. 4:23-24 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness — for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
The phrase “it was credited to him” is more traditionally the word “imputed.” S10 ascribe to someone a quality, by virtue of that quality in another.
What does this mean? Let’s say you know someone who is a soldier, and he always acts with respect and honor, he has a noble bearing and is highly trained and disciplined. This is what you think a soldier is like. So whenever you see a soldier, it would be quite natural for you to think in those terms, even though it’s quite possible this particular soldier doesn’t possess those qualities at all.
What you have done is imputed qualities to him based on the qualities someone else possesses. You regard him through that lens.
That’s what Father does with us. He regards us as righteous. But He takes this further. When Father imputes something to someone, that quality actually becomes present in that person.
So Father deemed Abraham as righteous by faith. Abraham wasn’t righteous, but when he believed God he was righteous. Imputed.
So Paul asserts that this same principle is in operation today, S11 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us. And Paul says it’s the same way for us. Righteousness by faith is as true for us as it was true for Abraham. It’s like Father makes a cash deposit in your account and then honors you for being rich. It isn’t your money, but it is. It isn’t your righteousness, but it is. It isn’t your faith, but it is. It’s imputed to us. It’s to our credit.
Say this with me: I am righteous… because Father says so.
So that’s the groundwork Paul lays for us, bringing us to “therefore.”
***
S12 How to walk out your faith.
S13 Ro. 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith
Paul now runs with the concept he just established. He tells us we are justified through faith.
Our contemporary understanding of justified is different than the biblical usage. We think of it in terms of, “Oh, she was justified in getting angry.” “His divorce was justified.” “The police were justified in arresting Jeff Kitto.” Basically, understandable under the circumstances.
But the Bible uses the term differently. S14 Justify: to render righteous, or to declare, to pronounce, someone to be righteous.
S15 Therefore.
S16 Therefore, through faith
S17 Therefore, we are justified by faith.
S18 Therefore, we are made righteous.
Father makes a thunderous pronouncement. Justified. Righteous. This declaration from heaven resounded through the cosmos: S19 This is my beloved daughter, this is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased. You. This is you.
He justified us and proclaimed it as truth. He opened his mouth with a trustworthy saying, that we are righteous through faith in Jesus.
And He spoke this right to our innermost being. You are my beloved daughter, you are my beloved son.
He called forth your identity, destiny, and purpose. It wasn’t there until he spoke. He made something out of nothing. He formed something in you that brings you life. He regards you according to what He says about you, not what you think about yourself or what you are or what you did or how you failed . Nope, you’re
S20 justified through faith
There was some moment when I started to believe. Do you remember your moment? In a particular combination of circumstances of your life, maybe dissatisfaction or hopelessness or questioning or finally hitting bottom in your sin, or even thinking, “there must be something more,” revelation came to you. Father revealed himself.
Say this: Everything I know about Father… He revealed to me.
He cracked open my darkness with the light of His word. Barely visible at first, way off in the distance. A flicker of hope. A tiny shred of faith.
I didn’t even know it was there before. Could it be true? What was that? Did I hear something? Wait, what did He just say? Did he whisper or shout?
S21 You are my beloved.
We were loved before we were lovable. He spoke and said we belong to Him. Suddenly we’re a child of the King. He imputes to us righteousness. Forgiveness. Sonship.
He calls us something we’re not. Imputed. We didn’t deserve it before, but… But… now we do deserve it as co-heirs in Christ. Did you hear that? Now we deserve the promises He has spoken. We never earned them. We didn’t do anything. They were imputed. Credited to our account.
That might be controversial to you. “Who is this guy to tell us that we deserve God’s blessing?” Let me say this: It isn’t arrogant to agree with Father. This is what He has done for us!
Does that mean we have some sort of inside track or secret understanding? No. Are we superior or special compared to others? No. Should we stop being concerned about avoiding sin? Shall we stop being humble? No.
But should we live our lives according to the truth? Yes! Father has imputed righteousness.
Say this with me: I didn’t know… how big my inheritance is.
S22 Yes
And this you can be sure of, He makes promises that never fail. He speaks a big fat “yes” over us. Promises. Every promise of God is trustworthy. It’s a sure thing. Bank on it. S23 2Cor. 1:20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ.
Father says “yes.” Yes in Christ. In Christ. You are in Christ. S24 1Co. 1:30 It is because of him [God] that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God — that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
Father says S25 “yes.” Yes you are delivered. Yes you are saved. Yes you are forgiven. Yes you are freed from bondage.
Father says “yes.” Yes you are His. Yes you are justified. Yes you are worthy. YES!
Because we are S26 justified. Our status changed. Our position is elevated. Our identity has changed. Once I was dead, now I’m alive. Once I was destined for hell, now I’m a citizen in heaven. Once I was an orphan, now I am found in Christ. Once I had no future, now I know where I’m going. Once I had no future, now I have a living hope. Once I was nothing, but Father made me something. Something precious. Something valuable.
S27 You. S28 Are. S29 My. S30 Beloved.
Does this make you a little uncomfortable? Don’t let it. Instead, let it change how you might walk out your faith.
***
Let me pause a moment and ask, what is your status? Are you S31 justified? S32 Righteous? S33 Beloved?
It’s time for your S34 faith to arise Let me call it forth. It’s time to believe. Jesus, the Son of God, victor over death and the grave, offers life to you right at this moment.
Your life may be a disaster. Jesus is the answer. You have many worries and troubles. Jesus is the answer. You’ve become aware of your sin and how it separates you from how your life should be. Jesus is the answer.
Or maybe your life is not particularly troubled. God doesn’t bother you and you don’t bother God. But you know deep down that there is something better. Jesus is the answer.
Or maybe you’re simply a skeptic. Is there really a God out there? How can I know for sure? Jesus is the answer.
So I call forth faith. Hear the word of the Lord! S35 Ro. 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
If you’re not saved, S36 let faith arise. If you’re saved but you feel without hope, let faith arise. If you know deep down there must be more, let faith arise. Come to the Father, who loves you.
Any questions?
****
S37 Ro. 5:1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith
S38 we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ
Justification comes through faith, and from that we have peace with God. When He imputed righteousness to us, we received peace with God.
We were all enemies of God. It wasn’t a case of agree to disagree. It wasn’t ambivalence. It wasn’t let bygones be bygones. We were actively, in your face, over the top, hostile, enemies of God. It isn’t so much that He was angry with us, it was actually that we were haters of God.
Father took care of that through Jesus. Father’s justification brought peace. Through Jesus the score is settled, the war is over. Through Jesus there is a cessation of hostilities. But notice, peace is not just the absence of war; the term implies a reconnection between the former opposing factions.
S39 Ep. 2:17-19 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow-citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household…
Holy Spirit provides the avenue that connects us to Father. S40 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. That is, both those who are near and those who are far can enter this relationship. No matter how evil you’ve been, there is a way.
Because of this, we’re no longer foreigners, we are citizens. We are no longer fatherless, we are family. There is no longer emnity, there is now peace through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Say this with me: Jesus has done much more for me… than I first thought.
***
S41 How to walk out your faith
S42 Ro. 5:1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith
S43 we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ
S44 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.
Access by faith. That’s us. We have access.
Do you look at yourself and think there is no way you qualify for this access? Do you think you don’t measure up? Yes, on one hand we know we have this sin nature, and that of course disqualified. Past tense. That’s what we were.
But I hope you haven’t forgotten that righteousness has been imputed to us. We are new creations in Christ, by faith. You are no longer who you were.
But too many of us have lived in the faulty understanding that the old man is still alive. But he’s dead. We are new creations.
Too many of us are enamored with the dead man. That’s where condemnation comes from. May I say that you need to stop slow dancing with your corpse?
So, we see a way has been opened. Access has been gained. S45 …through whom we have gained access by faith... Faith has brought justification, which gains us peace with God by way of Jesus, and now we see that this faith gives us access to grace.
This is a door I want each of us to walk through. It’s a new way, based not on our perception of our merit, but on righteousness by faith. S46 He. 10:19-20 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body…
Confidence to enter the very presence of Father. Righteousness grants us this access. I’m not advocating that you fire up your bravado and pretend you’re something you’re not. You don’t need some sort of hyper faith. It’s not psyching yourself up. No, this is already you. I’m just telling you who you are.
S47 …into this grace in which we now stand. So we’re at grace yet again. This is the third time I’ve stood before you and the third time I’ve talked about grace.
S48 GRACE
The word grace appears 147 times in the NT, and 95 of those are Paul’s. So I hope you forgive me if I talk about if a few times. I think it’s that important. S49 Grace: God’s empowering presence to do what we are called to do and be what we’re called to be.
S50 Grace is the power to stand.
S51 Grace is the power to stand firm.
S52 Grace is the power to stand firm in faith.
S53 Grace is the power to stand firm in faith and identity.
S54 Grace is the power to stand firm in faith and identity and do the will of Father.
S55 …into this grace in which we now stand. My feet are firmly planted in Father’s grace. How did I get here? Faith was counted to me as righteousness, which ushered me into the presence of Father. Now I am unshakable. Confident. I know who I am. Father said so, and I believed.
…into this grace in which we now stand. There’s power there. It’s a solid rock position where we can stand and not be shaken by the earthquakes. Even when everything seems unstable.
There have been some things happening lately that make it feel a bit shaky. But grace is the safe place. Let me tell you, don’t look to man for this safety. Father’s grace is where you must stand.
***
S56 How to walk out your faith
S57 Ro. 5:1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ
through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.
S58 And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
S59 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
***
A main prayer focus of mine has been that we would see the glory of God in this place. It consumes me that God would find us as people completely surrendered to Him, and He would be pleased to move among us with salvations, healings, deliverances, and impartation.
A move of God. That’s my hope. I have hope in me because I know whom I have believed. It’s hope that enlivens us. Hope builds faith. My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness…
Verse 5: S60 hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
This is the money quote for me today. S61 hope does not disappoint us. His Holy Spirit lives in us, and He is the reason we have the hope of God’s glory. It’s a confidence not based on our circumstances or our difficulties or our successes or what we thought we knew about God.
If we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, we will not be disappointed! The reason? S62 because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Oh how He loves us! I still can’t get my mind around this even as I’ve studied it.
And I think it’s for us right now. Why? Because we have his Holy Spirit NOW. It’s not just the great by and by. Some people believe that the promises of Father are for the afterlife. If that were true, then it would be like someone giving you the keys to a Ferrari, but telling you that you can’t drive it until your bicycle wears out. Nope. It’s for now.
Say this with me: I think it’s time… for me to take a road trip.
I think this ought to change our thinking. It ought to change the way we live. It ought to change the way we pray. It ought to change how we love.
We should start hoping. We should be rejoicing. We should be celebrating. How good Father is to pour His love into us by the Holy Spirit! This was Jeff’s point a couple of weeks ago. If all this is true, we should be worshiping like crazy!
Hope does not disappoint. Ever been disappointed? Father will not disappoint! S63 He. 6:19-20 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.
The inner sanctuary is the place of God’s presence. The Holy of Holies. The place where the high priest only could enter, and then only once a year. The same Holy of Holies where the curtain was torn in two. Our anchor, the place where our boat is secured, is in the presence of the Creator of the universe!
But sandwiched in between verse 2 and verse 5 are verses 3 and 4. S64 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Here Paul acknowledges a sober reality, and he sticks it right in the middle of our party. Sometimes things don’t go our way. We struggle. We fail. We suffer. It doesn’t always work out.
I quoted TD Jakes: S65 You will never know you have faith until you’re in a good fight. I’d take it further and say, you will never have perseverance unless you have struggles. And you will never gain character if you never have to persevere. And you will never have hope if you never gain character.
And you will be forever powerless without hope.
Rejoice in our sufferings. Nothing can intervene in our worship. We must worship right on through our difficulties and pain and hardship. That’s how we get to the place of hope as Father develops Christ-likeness in us. The reward is great: The glory of God.
(Worship team)
Our word for this year is harvest. My idea of harvest has expanded. Let’s reap souls, but let’s also reap a harvest of righteousness.
But let me give you a new word. Hope. Michael blitzed you with Scriptures at then end of his sermon last week, and I’m going to follow his lead to hammer my point: We need to fire up our hope.
S66 Scripture Blitz
S67 Ro. 15:4-6 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
S68 1Co. 13:6-7 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
S69 Ep. 1:17-19 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
S70 Ep. 4:4-6 There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to one hope when you were called — 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
S71 Col. 1:3-6 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints — 5 the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel 6 that has come to you.
S72 Col. 1:23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven…
S73 Tit. 2:11-13 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ…
S74 He. 10:23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
S75 He. 11:1-2 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.
S76 1Pe. 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…
I’m not saying all this to make you feel better about yourself. This is not a motivational speech. This is a call to righteousness that comes by faith.
I think we have to get a better handle on who we are in Christ before we can live a life of fullness in the Holy Spirit. If you cannot accept who Father says you are, you make Him out to be a liar. You will be forever buffeted by the storms. You will be rudderless and powerless.
We look to the promises of Father, to His unvarying faithfulness, to the glory set before us, to live and move and have our being in the currents of Holy Spirit, by the blood of Jesus.
If that happens, we are in a good place.
I don’t know if we’ve ever actually said it, but the elders have been embracing a general theme over the past several weeks, “how to walk out your faith.” We have been trying to flesh out some of the spiritual and practical ways to have a real and relevant faith.
For example, the spiritual disciplines of prayer and fasting. The ministry of the body, one to another. The honor we give as we recognize what Father has place in others. The matters of structure and authority and gifting and course corrections. All of this you have heard from this stage.
Father has been preparing us, even as we didn’t know what was coming. He’s been laying the groundwork, not only to equip us to overcome difficulty, but also to draw us together in love and prepare us for what He wants us to do.
He knows our need. He knows what’s coming. He’s always faithful, always loving, and always lifegiving. Knowing this really builds faith in me.
So, “how to walk out your faith” has indeed become real. I stood up here a few weeks ago and said there was an earthquake coming. I didn’t know what that meant, other than the fact that we need to plant our feet firmly on the Rock, believe God in obedience, and to love one another.
My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
His oath, His covenant, His blood Support me in the whelming flood; When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.
When the storms come, when the earth shakes, when what we thought was trustworthy turns out to be unstable, we will either depend wholly on Jesus and stand firm in faith, or we will walk away, injured and jaded and mistrustful.
We get to choose. Choose wisely.
One of my favorite preachers, TD Jakes once said, S2 “You will never know you have faith until you’re in a good fight.” And that’s where we are, we are in a good fight. Not good as in pleasant, but good as in real. Paul tells Timothy in S3 1Tim. 6:12: Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
It is a good fight. But we aren’t fighting for a man, an ideology, or an organization. Our fight is not fleshly. We are fighting for what Father has promised. We are fighting for our lives, including our lives together as a people of God. We are fighting for the sake of what has been set before us.
We do this together. This is what we must do. Together: Commit to discern and then stand firm in what Holy Spirit is saying to the church. Commit to hold on tight to the Scriptures. Commit to rely on each other as the body of Christ. Commit to trust Father for his faithfulness.
And let me tell you, you are up to the challenge of this fight. You can overcome. You can persevere. You have what it takes. And, you have the people of God right there with you. You are not alone.
Say this with me: I wasn’t ready before… but now I’m ready for this fight.
What can you do? You can love. You can pray. You can build faith in others as well as guard your own faith.
And may I say, you shouldn’t speculate. You shouldn’t take sides. You shouldn’t be so sure that you know enough to render judgment. S4 1Ti. 5:22 …do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
That word “share,” koinoneo, is also translated “participate,” or “partake.” The definition is, “come into communion or fellowship with, to become a sharer, be made a partner.”
That means, don’t come on board with someone’s sin. Do be a part of it. Don’t think you have all the information to necessary to take up a cause. Don’t carry someone else’s offense.
The enemy wants to mess things up. He’s putting in a lot of overtime. Apparently something is happening here in the spirit that worries him. So I hope you’re ready to fight in the Spirit. But even more, I hope that you’re desire is to be positioned for what Father is doing next. He has big plans.
*********
That’s my introduction. Now let’s look at today’s passage.
S5 How to walk out your faith.
S6 Ro. 5:1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
S7 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
I usually like to study my Bible in a topical way. I like to take an idea or a word and explore everything the Bible has to say about it.
But today I want to focus on the elements of this particular passage to see if we can dig out something meaningful.
So we come to the first word… S8 Ro. 5:1 Therefore…
Whenever we see the word “therefore,” we need to see what it’s there for. We need to look back to what was written before. In the previous chapter, chapter four, we find that Paul is discussing Abraham’s faith.
Paul tells us that God had promised that Abraham would be the father of many nations. And Abraham believed God, even though his wife Sarah was too old to get pregnant.
Paul writes that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. Paul is using Abraham’s faith to set up a premise -- to make a point. Paul says he’s not just talking about Abraham. He writes: S9 Ro. 4:23-24 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness — for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
The phrase “it was credited to him” is more traditionally the word “imputed.” S10 ascribe to someone a quality, by virtue of that quality in another.
What does this mean? Let’s say you know someone who is a soldier, and he always acts with respect and honor, he has a noble bearing and is highly trained and disciplined. This is what you think a soldier is like. So whenever you see a soldier, it would be quite natural for you to think in those terms, even though it’s quite possible this particular soldier doesn’t possess those qualities at all.
What you have done is imputed qualities to him based on the qualities someone else possesses. You regard him through that lens.
That’s what Father does with us. He regards us as righteous. But He takes this further. When Father imputes something to someone, that quality actually becomes present in that person.
So Father deemed Abraham as righteous by faith. Abraham wasn’t righteous, but when he believed God he was righteous. Imputed.
So Paul asserts that this same principle is in operation today, S11 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us. And Paul says it’s the same way for us. Righteousness by faith is as true for us as it was true for Abraham. It’s like Father makes a cash deposit in your account and then honors you for being rich. It isn’t your money, but it is. It isn’t your righteousness, but it is. It isn’t your faith, but it is. It’s imputed to us. It’s to our credit.
Say this with me: I am righteous… because Father says so.
So that’s the groundwork Paul lays for us, bringing us to “therefore.”
***
S12 How to walk out your faith.
S13 Ro. 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith
Paul now runs with the concept he just established. He tells us we are justified through faith.
Our contemporary understanding of justified is different than the biblical usage. We think of it in terms of, “Oh, she was justified in getting angry.” “His divorce was justified.” “The police were justified in arresting Jeff Kitto.” Basically, understandable under the circumstances.
But the Bible uses the term differently. S14 Justify: to render righteous, or to declare, to pronounce, someone to be righteous.
S15 Therefore.
S16 Therefore, through faith
S17 Therefore, we are justified by faith.
S18 Therefore, we are made righteous.
Father makes a thunderous pronouncement. Justified. Righteous. This declaration from heaven resounded through the cosmos: S19 This is my beloved daughter, this is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased. You. This is you.
He justified us and proclaimed it as truth. He opened his mouth with a trustworthy saying, that we are righteous through faith in Jesus.
And He spoke this right to our innermost being. You are my beloved daughter, you are my beloved son.
He called forth your identity, destiny, and purpose. It wasn’t there until he spoke. He made something out of nothing. He formed something in you that brings you life. He regards you according to what He says about you, not what you think about yourself or what you are or what you did or how you failed . Nope, you’re
S20 justified through faith
There was some moment when I started to believe. Do you remember your moment? In a particular combination of circumstances of your life, maybe dissatisfaction or hopelessness or questioning or finally hitting bottom in your sin, or even thinking, “there must be something more,” revelation came to you. Father revealed himself.
Say this: Everything I know about Father… He revealed to me.
He cracked open my darkness with the light of His word. Barely visible at first, way off in the distance. A flicker of hope. A tiny shred of faith.
I didn’t even know it was there before. Could it be true? What was that? Did I hear something? Wait, what did He just say? Did he whisper or shout?
S21 You are my beloved.
We were loved before we were lovable. He spoke and said we belong to Him. Suddenly we’re a child of the King. He imputes to us righteousness. Forgiveness. Sonship.
He calls us something we’re not. Imputed. We didn’t deserve it before, but… But… now we do deserve it as co-heirs in Christ. Did you hear that? Now we deserve the promises He has spoken. We never earned them. We didn’t do anything. They were imputed. Credited to our account.
That might be controversial to you. “Who is this guy to tell us that we deserve God’s blessing?” Let me say this: It isn’t arrogant to agree with Father. This is what He has done for us!
Does that mean we have some sort of inside track or secret understanding? No. Are we superior or special compared to others? No. Should we stop being concerned about avoiding sin? Shall we stop being humble? No.
But should we live our lives according to the truth? Yes! Father has imputed righteousness.
Say this with me: I didn’t know… how big my inheritance is.
S22 Yes
And this you can be sure of, He makes promises that never fail. He speaks a big fat “yes” over us. Promises. Every promise of God is trustworthy. It’s a sure thing. Bank on it. S23 2Cor. 1:20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ.
Father says “yes.” Yes in Christ. In Christ. You are in Christ. S24 1Co. 1:30 It is because of him [God] that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God — that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
Father says S25 “yes.” Yes you are delivered. Yes you are saved. Yes you are forgiven. Yes you are freed from bondage.
Father says “yes.” Yes you are His. Yes you are justified. Yes you are worthy. YES!
Because we are S26 justified. Our status changed. Our position is elevated. Our identity has changed. Once I was dead, now I’m alive. Once I was destined for hell, now I’m a citizen in heaven. Once I was an orphan, now I am found in Christ. Once I had no future, now I know where I’m going. Once I had no future, now I have a living hope. Once I was nothing, but Father made me something. Something precious. Something valuable.
S27 You. S28 Are. S29 My. S30 Beloved.
Does this make you a little uncomfortable? Don’t let it. Instead, let it change how you might walk out your faith.
***
Let me pause a moment and ask, what is your status? Are you S31 justified? S32 Righteous? S33 Beloved?
It’s time for your S34 faith to arise Let me call it forth. It’s time to believe. Jesus, the Son of God, victor over death and the grave, offers life to you right at this moment.
Your life may be a disaster. Jesus is the answer. You have many worries and troubles. Jesus is the answer. You’ve become aware of your sin and how it separates you from how your life should be. Jesus is the answer.
Or maybe your life is not particularly troubled. God doesn’t bother you and you don’t bother God. But you know deep down that there is something better. Jesus is the answer.
Or maybe you’re simply a skeptic. Is there really a God out there? How can I know for sure? Jesus is the answer.
So I call forth faith. Hear the word of the Lord! S35 Ro. 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
If you’re not saved, S36 let faith arise. If you’re saved but you feel without hope, let faith arise. If you know deep down there must be more, let faith arise. Come to the Father, who loves you.
Any questions?
****
S37 Ro. 5:1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith
S38 we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ
Justification comes through faith, and from that we have peace with God. When He imputed righteousness to us, we received peace with God.
We were all enemies of God. It wasn’t a case of agree to disagree. It wasn’t ambivalence. It wasn’t let bygones be bygones. We were actively, in your face, over the top, hostile, enemies of God. It isn’t so much that He was angry with us, it was actually that we were haters of God.
Father took care of that through Jesus. Father’s justification brought peace. Through Jesus the score is settled, the war is over. Through Jesus there is a cessation of hostilities. But notice, peace is not just the absence of war; the term implies a reconnection between the former opposing factions.
S39 Ep. 2:17-19 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow-citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household…
Holy Spirit provides the avenue that connects us to Father. S40 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. That is, both those who are near and those who are far can enter this relationship. No matter how evil you’ve been, there is a way.
Because of this, we’re no longer foreigners, we are citizens. We are no longer fatherless, we are family. There is no longer emnity, there is now peace through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Say this with me: Jesus has done much more for me… than I first thought.
***
S41 How to walk out your faith
S42 Ro. 5:1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith
S43 we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ
S44 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.
Access by faith. That’s us. We have access.
Do you look at yourself and think there is no way you qualify for this access? Do you think you don’t measure up? Yes, on one hand we know we have this sin nature, and that of course disqualified. Past tense. That’s what we were.
But I hope you haven’t forgotten that righteousness has been imputed to us. We are new creations in Christ, by faith. You are no longer who you were.
But too many of us have lived in the faulty understanding that the old man is still alive. But he’s dead. We are new creations.
Too many of us are enamored with the dead man. That’s where condemnation comes from. May I say that you need to stop slow dancing with your corpse?
So, we see a way has been opened. Access has been gained. S45 …through whom we have gained access by faith... Faith has brought justification, which gains us peace with God by way of Jesus, and now we see that this faith gives us access to grace.
This is a door I want each of us to walk through. It’s a new way, based not on our perception of our merit, but on righteousness by faith. S46 He. 10:19-20 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body…
Confidence to enter the very presence of Father. Righteousness grants us this access. I’m not advocating that you fire up your bravado and pretend you’re something you’re not. You don’t need some sort of hyper faith. It’s not psyching yourself up. No, this is already you. I’m just telling you who you are.
S47 …into this grace in which we now stand. So we’re at grace yet again. This is the third time I’ve stood before you and the third time I’ve talked about grace.
S48 GRACE
The word grace appears 147 times in the NT, and 95 of those are Paul’s. So I hope you forgive me if I talk about if a few times. I think it’s that important. S49 Grace: God’s empowering presence to do what we are called to do and be what we’re called to be.
S50 Grace is the power to stand.
S51 Grace is the power to stand firm.
S52 Grace is the power to stand firm in faith.
S53 Grace is the power to stand firm in faith and identity.
S54 Grace is the power to stand firm in faith and identity and do the will of Father.
S55 …into this grace in which we now stand. My feet are firmly planted in Father’s grace. How did I get here? Faith was counted to me as righteousness, which ushered me into the presence of Father. Now I am unshakable. Confident. I know who I am. Father said so, and I believed.
…into this grace in which we now stand. There’s power there. It’s a solid rock position where we can stand and not be shaken by the earthquakes. Even when everything seems unstable.
There have been some things happening lately that make it feel a bit shaky. But grace is the safe place. Let me tell you, don’t look to man for this safety. Father’s grace is where you must stand.
***
S56 How to walk out your faith
S57 Ro. 5:1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ
through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.
S58 And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
S59 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
***
A main prayer focus of mine has been that we would see the glory of God in this place. It consumes me that God would find us as people completely surrendered to Him, and He would be pleased to move among us with salvations, healings, deliverances, and impartation.
A move of God. That’s my hope. I have hope in me because I know whom I have believed. It’s hope that enlivens us. Hope builds faith. My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness…
Verse 5: S60 hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
This is the money quote for me today. S61 hope does not disappoint us. His Holy Spirit lives in us, and He is the reason we have the hope of God’s glory. It’s a confidence not based on our circumstances or our difficulties or our successes or what we thought we knew about God.
If we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, we will not be disappointed! The reason? S62 because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Oh how He loves us! I still can’t get my mind around this even as I’ve studied it.
And I think it’s for us right now. Why? Because we have his Holy Spirit NOW. It’s not just the great by and by. Some people believe that the promises of Father are for the afterlife. If that were true, then it would be like someone giving you the keys to a Ferrari, but telling you that you can’t drive it until your bicycle wears out. Nope. It’s for now.
Say this with me: I think it’s time… for me to take a road trip.
I think this ought to change our thinking. It ought to change the way we live. It ought to change the way we pray. It ought to change how we love.
We should start hoping. We should be rejoicing. We should be celebrating. How good Father is to pour His love into us by the Holy Spirit! This was Jeff’s point a couple of weeks ago. If all this is true, we should be worshiping like crazy!
Hope does not disappoint. Ever been disappointed? Father will not disappoint! S63 He. 6:19-20 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.
The inner sanctuary is the place of God’s presence. The Holy of Holies. The place where the high priest only could enter, and then only once a year. The same Holy of Holies where the curtain was torn in two. Our anchor, the place where our boat is secured, is in the presence of the Creator of the universe!
But sandwiched in between verse 2 and verse 5 are verses 3 and 4. S64 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Here Paul acknowledges a sober reality, and he sticks it right in the middle of our party. Sometimes things don’t go our way. We struggle. We fail. We suffer. It doesn’t always work out.
I quoted TD Jakes: S65 You will never know you have faith until you’re in a good fight. I’d take it further and say, you will never have perseverance unless you have struggles. And you will never gain character if you never have to persevere. And you will never have hope if you never gain character.
And you will be forever powerless without hope.
Rejoice in our sufferings. Nothing can intervene in our worship. We must worship right on through our difficulties and pain and hardship. That’s how we get to the place of hope as Father develops Christ-likeness in us. The reward is great: The glory of God.
(Worship team)
Our word for this year is harvest. My idea of harvest has expanded. Let’s reap souls, but let’s also reap a harvest of righteousness.
But let me give you a new word. Hope. Michael blitzed you with Scriptures at then end of his sermon last week, and I’m going to follow his lead to hammer my point: We need to fire up our hope.
S66 Scripture Blitz
S67 Ro. 15:4-6 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
S68 1Co. 13:6-7 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
S69 Ep. 1:17-19 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
S70 Ep. 4:4-6 There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to one hope when you were called — 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
S71 Col. 1:3-6 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints — 5 the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel 6 that has come to you.
S72 Col. 1:23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven…
S73 Tit. 2:11-13 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ…
S74 He. 10:23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
S75 He. 11:1-2 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.
S76 1Pe. 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…
I’m not saying all this to make you feel better about yourself. This is not a motivational speech. This is a call to righteousness that comes by faith.
I think we have to get a better handle on who we are in Christ before we can live a life of fullness in the Holy Spirit. If you cannot accept who Father says you are, you make Him out to be a liar. You will be forever buffeted by the storms. You will be rudderless and powerless.
We look to the promises of Father, to His unvarying faithfulness, to the glory set before us, to live and move and have our being in the currents of Holy Spirit, by the blood of Jesus.
If that happens, we are in a good place.
Monday, November 13, 2017
Americans Are Stressed About the Future. Here’s Why That’s Promising - BY SARAH VAN GELDER
Found here. My comments in bold.
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This is a classic example of Confirmation Bias. The author interprets the results of the poll in light of what she feels is wrong with the country. And that is the typical leftist perspective: It's the fault of Eeevil Donald Trump, inequality, racism, pollution, and greed.
But she doesn't know why people answered the way they did. A conservative might say that people are stressed by the continual ideological bombardment by the Left. White privilege, micro aggressions, how we're destroying the planet and it's America's fault, etc.. You know the litany. We could just as easily conclude that the average person has grown weary of being accused of every sort of wrong.
Second, the poll offers no historical context. There are no past polls made available. We don't know how people felt about these issues 10 or 20 or 30 years ago. The author assumes without evidence that this is a new development and has never been a problem before.
And we note that the author attributes this disquiet to fear. This is a typical leftist rhetorical technique, to impute irrational emotion to people as a way of disqualifying them.
The author then wanders off into irrelevancies about finding meaning and embracing progressive causes. It makes me wonder how this article made it past the editor's desk.
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-----------------
This is a classic example of Confirmation Bias. The author interprets the results of the poll in light of what she feels is wrong with the country. And that is the typical leftist perspective: It's the fault of Eeevil Donald Trump, inequality, racism, pollution, and greed.
But she doesn't know why people answered the way they did. A conservative might say that people are stressed by the continual ideological bombardment by the Left. White privilege, micro aggressions, how we're destroying the planet and it's America's fault, etc.. You know the litany. We could just as easily conclude that the average person has grown weary of being accused of every sort of wrong.
Second, the poll offers no historical context. There are no past polls made available. We don't know how people felt about these issues 10 or 20 or 30 years ago. The author assumes without evidence that this is a new development and has never been a problem before.
And we note that the author attributes this disquiet to fear. This is a typical leftist rhetorical technique, to impute irrational emotion to people as a way of disqualifying them.
The author then wanders off into irrelevancies about finding meaning and embracing progressive causes. It makes me wonder how this article made it past the editor's desk.
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Tuesday, November 7, 2017
The GOP Tax Plan Tells Us Everything About Who Matters In American Democracy - BY ZACH CARTER
Found here. My comments in bold.
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This post originally appeared at HuffPost.
The United States is the richest country in the history of the world. Last year, the genius and muscle of the American people generated more than $18.6 trillion in wealth. This year, our brains and brawn will combine to create well over $19 trillion. Despite all the debt theatrics of the Republican Party during the Obama presidency, we owe just $6.2 trillion to other countries — less than four months of our collective labors at their present value. (There are at least three non sequiturs in this paragraph.
This post originally appeared at HuffPost.
The United States is the richest country in the history of the world. Last year, the genius and muscle of the American people generated more than $18.6 trillion in wealth. This year, our brains and brawn will combine to create well over $19 trillion. Despite all the debt theatrics of the Republican Party during the Obama presidency, we owe just $6.2 trillion to other countries — less than four months of our collective labors at their present value. (There are at least three non sequiturs in this paragraph.
First, the Republicans have not made the debt to other countries an issue. It is always been the debt in whole.
Second, The value of America's private sector is not relevant to government debt. Government debt must be compared to government revenue.
Third, the amount of debt does not mean the debt is justified. A small debt achieved irresponsibly is still unacceptable.)
Under these circumstances, the question of what the American government can afford is functionally meaningless. (That is, under the dishonest criteria offered by the author, government apparently can afford much more. However, if we look at government revenue to debt, the story is starkly different.
Under these circumstances, the question of what the American government can afford is functionally meaningless. (That is, under the dishonest criteria offered by the author, government apparently can afford much more. However, if we look at government revenue to debt, the story is starkly different.
In addition, the author seems to think that the productivity of the private sector is a government asset. But actually, that money belongs to those who earned it.)
If any nation has ever been able to afford quality housing, education, health care, parks, museums — anything — the United States can. (The author continues to conflate government and the private sector. Also, we have quality housing, education, healthcare, parks, and museums.)
And we ("we" means government.)
And we ("we" means government.)
don’t need to tax anyone, rich or poor, in order to afford these fine things. The wealth — the fruits of our labor — already exists. (? The author seems to be suggesting that all these things can be taken care of by the private sector, so taxation is unnecessary. I kind of doubt this is what he intended to say...)
Taxes are a way of managing the bookkeeping system, of setting national priorities for the distribution of wealth created by good ideas and hard work. (Ah, so he didn't intend to say that. He wants taxation, for the purpose of "distribution of wealth," which of course means the rich have too much money and government's job is to spread it around. But actually, taxation is the method by which the constitutional functions of government are funded.
Government does not have the ability to ascertain national priorities. And it shouldn't have the ability to fund those priorities by appropriating peoples' money.)
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