Facebook
RSS
![[mccookgazette.com]](http://www.mccookgazette.com/images/nameplate31.png)
|
|
A Few Clouds ~ Feels like: 17°F Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012 |
|
LukewarmPosted Wednesday, May 27, 2009, at 12:29 AM
John the Baptist was an interesting fellow. He lived out in the wilderness, ate bugs (locust) and dressed in camel hair. He shouted in the wilderness "Repent! The Kingdom of God is at hand!" Many repented, and many made fun of him, "he has a devil." When the time came to baptize Christ, John hesitated, and wondered if he was worthy of such an honor. The conditions at the time of John the Baptist are best described by the great Biblical scholar of the late 1800's, Alfred Edersheim, a Jewish man who converted to Christianity. Edersheim describes in The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, (1883) "...Absolute right did not exist. Might was right. The social relations exhibited, if possible, even deeper corruption. The sanctity of marriage had ceased. Female dissipation and the general dissoluteness led at last to an almost entire cessation of marriage. Abortion, and the exposure and murder of newly-born children, were common and tolerated, unnatural vices, which even the greatest philosophers practiced, if not advocated, attained proportions which defy description." Hummm, some of this stuff sounds mighty familiar. St. John had a ministry, it went something like this, "You brood of vipers...repent!" And, John proclaimed the coming Christ. After John baptized Christ, John's ministry took a turn for the worse, or did it? John, whose austerity commanded respect, had often spoke out against the immorality and unGodliness that was rampant at the time. King Herod had traveled to Rome, and once there, found that he wanted his brothers wife, and so he took the woman back to Judea with him. John harshly criticized the King for this, and was promptly thrown in jail for it. Christians today often face tough decisions as to how to react to our social environment. We wonder if we should speak out, or how much to speak. What are the rules for us? Are we to keep quiet? Are we to fight? Therein lies the puzzle with John the Baptist. There are some who think that John screwed up by criticizing Herod. Fr. Peter Drucker, and analyst with the Catholic Historical Alliance, is quoted as saying, "According to my research, St. John the baptist was beheaded because of the shame and scandal he brought King Herod and his family. He did not know for sure what King Herod was doing behind closed doors." While John was in jail, some of Johns' people went to talk to Christ. Afterwards, Christ said some astonishing things about his cousin John, locked up for speaking out regarding Herod. Christ said: "...what did you go out to the desert to see? A reed shaken by the wind? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet." And, "...there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist." Interesting that Jesus did not take to the streets, and demand John's release from jail, or demand that John be given his rights. In fact, you are really hard pressed to see Christ talking about politics at all. I am sure there are some of Johns friends who told him to keep quiet, and to continue to work in his ministry, for the good of the people. What good would be gained by John's imprisonment and eventual murder? Clearly Christ knew John was in jail, and why. What was John doing? The NewAdvent.org., beautifully describes. "All knew full well why John was in prison, and that in his captivity he was more than ever the undaunted champion of truth and virtue." So Christian, decide if you will. Was John the Baptist right to give all, give his life, to publicly rebuke King Herod, and stand for Godliness in a world ate up with sin? Or should he have kept his mouth shut, and continued his ministry? Also decide while your at it just how much you are willing to put on the line to stand for what is right. Was John the Baptist an good example or a fool? As far as what I have seen, the "Christian" church in the USA, has taken the "lets not take on anyone, about anything, ever, for any reason" stance. I wonder what John would say to today's' believers? What I see is a bunch of lukewarm. Comments Showing comments in chronological order [Show most recent comments first] |
Hot topics Risking My Life Is The Bravest Thing You Do(77 ~ 12:03 PM, Oct 30)
Hayseed
Paybacks and Nuttiness
I Am Ready For REFORM!
Lib Kicker
|
Email link
Read comments (6)
Blog archive
![[Feed icon]](http://www.mccookgazette.com/images/icons/feed-icon-14x14.png){kind=icon}
You were very close to making some good points here.
One, Christ really didn't spend any time talking about political and social issues. He did not come out against the evils of the time, rather he was concerned about the evil in men's hearts.
Two, Christ, in his miraculous ministry could have interceded for John, but did not. Just as he did not stop the Religious leaders and Roman government from killing Him.
Three, I am not sure which point you made. Are we to speak out? Are we to ignore social and political issues, and concentrate on the individuals relationship with Christ? Jesus called John the "greatest prophet" after he had been thrown in jail, but like you said, made no moves (that we are aware of) to help John while in jail.
Where is the Right? I find it interesting that the Right is to the Right. I am on the Right side with the Right word, doing the Right actions, with my Right God, Jesus, the Messiah.
Liberal minds would call that 'Hate Speech,' but, as long as I am not quiet, I remain Right.
We, on the Right, must not stop our voices from offering God's word. We should not, however scream at people, about how 'Bad' they are. We are directed to love our enemy, and our neighbor, which is impossible when screaming, and gnashing our teeth.
We, who do our best to live as directed in God's word, are right in what we do. Mike, in his blog rightly states that those who do not believe God's word as do the Conservative ilk, must answer to God, for what they think, say, and do, just as we do. Jesus only directs us to make those, outside His law, aware they are outside His law. If He is not of this world, and we are not of this world, we must act as Jesus would have us act. Remind our neighbors, in a way that shows our concern, but not in a hateful way.
Living as best one is able, in the word of God, means we will have less need for lying excuses, when we stand before the Alter, and account for our mortality. Let us behave as if we understand that we do have God's truth, and not our own ranting version.
Did anyone notice how few posts are here, addressing this Christian subject? Scary!
In Messiah, His Peace, and Soon coming. Arley
Navyblue,
A very respectful post. I appreciate the sentiment:
"Jesus only directs us to make those, outside His law, aware they are outside His law"
The imposition of Christian values/principals on the entirety of the country (through the law) is not only wrong constitutionally, but contrary to what Jesus would (likely) do.
I agree with your sentiment wholeheartedly. Christians do have the right to tell "sinners" they are breaking gods law, but they have no right, biblical or otherwise, to impose those laws on people who do not wish to follow them.
I did struggle to make my point in this blog. I am struck between the difference between Jesus ministry and John's ministry. John, very confrontational, Jesus very kind to just about everyone except Jewish Religious leaders.
I reckon one would have to consider Paul's ministry also, when deciding how a Christian should behave in a Godless society.
Paul, much like Jesus, could care less about politics, and really stayed away from such subjects, "as much as it be possible, be at peace with all men." Yet Paul had a social conscience when he stood for the lives of the men he was shipwrecked with, or when he directly rebuked the Corinthian Church for its transgressions.
Our friend Jhat, makes the point that we do not have the right to impose laws on people who do not wish to follow them. Indeed. Neither does the left has a right to impose its religious philosophy upon us, the political arena, government arena, and certainly not in our schools.
So then, you few Christians who actually care at all, which path do we take?
- do we ignore politics, ignore the culture or the government entirely? Just do as Paul said, "live quiet and peaceable lives"?
Do we have a responsibility at all to try and stop this abortion insanity that has already claimed repulsive numbers of innocent lives?
Do we say that it is Gods' business, and watch as God's blessing is removed from America, and watch as America slides further into darkness?
or - do we stand for Godly principles. Do we stand for the unborn and against immoral and abhorrent behavior. John the Baptist chose to stand as a soldier of God, and take a hideous death.
Jesus said that they hated Him, and they are going to hate us. Should we be surprised? Still, Jesus gave the example of going the extra distance for the one lost.
If we fight against abortion and saves lives, are we not fighting for the one lost?
If we fight homosexuality, and some are delivered, are we not fighting for the one lost?
The religious leaders of Judea at the time of John and Jesus, were allot like the religious leftist politicians and bureaucrats of our time. They are selling the very future of the citizens they are suppose to be helping, for power, and for arrogance. God forbid.
Guillermo - For someone who is awash in the blood of innocent lives, you sure have a big mouth.
Save your corn for the time when you'll need it, the day you are standing before a Holy God.
You and I know that the religious left will ultimately fail, I am just trying to spare as many people as possible from the death, pain and suffering you on the religious left will bring to America and the world.
I am not inciting anything, other than a political uprising, and for you to say that I am, after reading my discussions above, really does show that you are a dishonest person.
John the Baptists killed no-one.
I don't want the world you want, built on dishonesty, corruption and death, lots of death.
No Guill, you are going to need all your smartazzed answers for your eventual meting with the Creator, don't waste them on me.
Sam,
"Our friend Jhat, makes the point that we do not have the right to impose laws on people who do not wish to follow them"
Actually, I thought I was simply reiterating Navyblue's point. I thought it was a good one.
And the left aren't trying to impose 'religion' on anyone. Simply calling our political positions a religion does not actually make liberalism a religion. There is no scripture or church backing up these positions. (Just like calling evolution a religion doesn't actually make it a religion.)