That is an old expression basically saying we want all the good things as they are, but we also want to do whatever we choose with no restrictions. This has been at the heart of our rebellion from the Lord since the beginning. It the Christian context we want God’s blessings but we want to make our own rules and live the way we decide is right. But this is the place where our Lord abhors a mixture. We can’t have God and something else. This has great implications for our nation.
The founding of our country was based on a belief in God and His values. John Adams said “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” The Christian faith continues to have less and less influence. Some surveys even showing that the church is viewed a negative influence. This leads me to comments on this year’s national election.
Abortion has become a tremendous issue being put forth in this upcoming U.S. election. Under the label of Reproductive Freedom it was a central proclamation at the recent Democratic National Convention. Republicans are softening their wording so as not to appear totally antiabortion in order to garner a few more votes. In what I am writing here I am not saying that aborting a pregnancy is never justified. Years ago my aunt had an abortion in order to save her life. But that has nothing to do with what is being presented as Reproductive Freedom. Abortion should be the rare instances that President Clinton spoke of years ago.
What is really wanted with Reproductive Freedom is total sexual freedom. This means that contrary to God’s will presented in Holy Scripture we want total freedom for fornication and adultery. (Oh! Watch your language! We should never be that blunt.) But we should be able to have mutually desired sexual relationships with any partner. we want. A frequent TV commercial encourages adults to get the HIV vaccine. It is presented as a very reasonable thing to do for the good of their loved ones. HIV is a sexually transmitted disease. The commercial for the vaccine essentially confirms what I’ve said here. People should have their sexual freedom and we’ll provide the means to take care of any inconvenient results.
In Maryland’s senatorial election campaign one candidate is presented as bad because he has previously opposed abortion. While the other candidate declares that “we’ve got the power” to take the U.S. Senate back from that party who wants to deny our reproductive rights. If you are anywhere in or near Maryland you can fill in names but it really is not necessary. Reproductive Rights has been made a big issue across American politics. I say this much to our shame.
Our gracious Lord God Almighty created the sexual relationship as a very enjoyable bond between a man and a woman within a committed covenant marriage relationship. The married couple was blessed and called to be fruitful and multiply. This does mean bringing forth children, but fruitfulness is even more than procreation. Fruitfulness is the couple growing together as one in a very special way. Scripture tells us that the marriage bond is an image of the bond between Christ and the Church.
We have the gracious forgiveness for our own past sins as bring them before God’s throne. We are set on a new path to live in God will and to find the true joy and depth of peace He offers.
Personally I’m not in favor of either candidate. This election will bring forth a bad result in either case. But that leaves us back in the early centuries of the Christian Church. We are called to witness by our lives committed to the Lord Jesus Christ, and show the love of God through our actions to whatever hurting people the Lord brings. Let it be our personal commitment to Love our Lord Jesus with our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to Love our neighbor as our self.
Blessings dear friends,
Pastor Irv