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If you believe that, I've got
some ocean front property...
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It's definitely nice to have absolutes . . . I think. Without
absolutes everything becomes relative and the difference between
right and wrong is determined by a poll of 648 adults. When sin
becomes a subject open for debate, it is a clear sign that people
are doing "that which is right in their own eyes."
I'm not a naysayer, and am generally optimistic (or at least that
is what everyone in my 12-step group says) but the signs are so
obvious that I feel it is my duty as an oxygen inhaler to acknowledge
them. The signs point to the destruction of America. An America
not unlike "The Postman." Not the actual post apocalyptic
America portrayed in "The Postman," but the movie itself.
The days are at hand (that sounds biblical doesn't it?) when America
will crumble from the inside out due to its own moral and economic
decadence. The two termites responsible for this erosion of the
American fiber are lust and greed.
It just so happens (isn't that convenient?) that recent events
leave us with a vivid picture of the cancer that will bring about
America's demise. The recent scandal involving President Clinton
is not the cancer, but it serves as a good test to determine the
cancer's severity.
For starters, I refuse to jump on the bandwagon that declares
the president guilty (or at least not publicly) before the facts
are out. The way I see it, Clinton tells so many half-truths that
on average half the time he's telling the truth. This gives him
an even split on the allegations that he had an affair with "that"
21 year old intern, Monica Lewinsky. Of course, if you throw in
Paula Jones, Kathleen Willey and Gennifer Flowers the odds are stacked.
The most telling evidence of America's decay is not, however,
the actions of one man. It is in the fact that most of America believes
that he did have an affair (48% according to Time), and that they
don't care (?% according to Newsweek). The majority of America believes
that what one does in the private life does not affect public policy
and the ability to lead a nation (?%).
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Being that America is embracing such wishful thinking, I
believe that the time is ripe for me to openly embrace my
belief in unicorns and gummy bears (you know, the "bouncing
here and there and everywhere . . . we are the gummy bears").
And while I don't have the facts to support me, I do want
to get my beliefs in print (in case they turn out to be true),
that Donald Trump is, in fact, Uncle Scrooge and I'm Huey.
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A simple example that should show any logical person the fallacy
in the notion that the personal and public life does not mix, is
James Bond. He never mixes business with pleasure, and yet every
"girlfriend" of his is either killed by the bad guys,
or somehow caught and has to be rescued by him. Separating the personal
and public life of anyone is tantamount to dividing between peanut
butter and chocolate, fish and chips, Mickey and Minnie, or Papa
and Brainy Smurf. It just can't be done.
The way that America's false logic regarding the public and personal
Bill, is a matter of willful ignorance or simple self-deception.
For example, there is an argument today as to whether or not oral
sex is even a sin, or if it violates the marriage vow. The Bible,
not to mention state and national laws, is very clear on these points.
You have to want to make it confusing.
Why would anyone want to confuse it? Simple, lust and greed.
The economy is good, and people feel that any change will affect
their "economic prosperity" (i.e. worship of money), so
they refuse to shake the boat over such a piddly issue as sex, lies
and audiotape. This is in spite of the fact that if the same man
was teaching their children they would have his head. I Guess we
know what is more important to most Americans, don't we?
Mrs. Limbaugh observed that the reason people put up with President
Clinton's philandering is that "he makes us comfortable with
our weaknesses." It is easier to idolize Princess Diana, who
was full of failures, than to idolize Mother Teresa, who was not.
If you can be as good, if not better, than your idol or your leader,
just think of how comfortable that would make you feel. This is
the essence of her argument. And if lust is a vice that you would
rather not part with, why not become comfortable with it?
Another key to understanding the response of most Americans is
to understand how people respond to others with the same weaknesses
that they have. Guilty people either tend to excuse the failures
of another, or judge these failures too harshly. The first response
is given to friends, the second is reserved for enemies, or so it
seems.
This is where the Church, I believe, must come in. We must be
transparent with our own failings - otherwise we are hypocrites
- while still holding to the absolutes of Scripture and as Americans,
the Constitution.
While I believe that we need to pray for President Clinton (we
should all pray for Clinton and our nation), his need for prayer
does not negate the countries need for justice. There has to be
a balance between mercy (which is what most of America wants) and
justice (which is what a society must have to survive).
Interestingly enough, if Clinton had been wise, he would have
confessed to the Lewinsky affair, and the Paula Jones sexual harassment
suit (even if he hadn't committed them) and America would have already
forgiven him. Instead the cover-up is what may destroy him. Could
there be a lesson hidden in here about repentance and confession?
Go to www.philip.yahoo.luke.gov.jk and make your cyber vote count.
I am one of those Americans who would have forgiven Clinton if
he had just admitted to it. Instead, he denies everything behind
double negatives ("I didn't ask anybody not to tell the truth"),
ambiguities ("I've caused pain in my marriage) and outright
deception ("the president was never alone in the hotel with
Paula Jones" - the allegation is that they were alone in a
hotel room). At this point, the issue is not about whether you like
or dislike Bill Clinton, the issue is whether or not you love the
truth.
As Christians we must hold out mercy and forgiveness to those
who trespass, even if they don't ask for it. At the same time we
must also serve as oracles of God, and boldly proclaim that the
wages of sin is death, and that Jesus is returning to judge the
world. How do we balance the two? Aye, now there's the rub.
Speaking of judgement and the end of history (or humanities),
this is the part of the lecture that you'll need to know for the
test. Besides I think Mrs. Buckles saw you reading the paper.
Alternate ending (obviously not the ending that
was published):
First, we must know the truth of the word of God,
not what we think it says, but what it really says. There is even
some argument today as to whether or not oral sex is even a sin,
or if it violates the marriage vow. The Bible is very clear, you
have to want to make it confusing on this point. Second, we must
be honest about our own failures to God and others. Third, we must
pray and forgive. No matter what anyone does God still loves him
or her. So must we. And finally we must be the salt of the world,
declaring the truth of God's word and that sin is sin, and that
God is not mocked. Oh, and we have to live lives that are examples
to others. Live pure private lives so that our public lives are
not discounted.
I believe that nothing less the integrity of the office of
President, and ultimately the future of our nation depends upon
whether the truth is found, and justice is done. Anything less would
be uncivilized.
For in the end we all must stand at the cross and determine
whether we will repent and fall on the mercy of Christ, or deny
and fall on the judgement of the lion of Judah.
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