Issues facing us

by   T. C. Pinckney                                                                                                                                         Vol. XXII, No. 4, April 2009

Every era, every culture, every government, every economy, every individual, every denomination faces challenges. And here in 2009 we Southern Baptists and Americans are no different.

The January Baptist Banner had a brief article, “Future Issues”, which summarized issues in Southern Baptist life suggested by one or more contacts in every SBC state convention.* Those raised by more than one contact were:

“Strict”, 5-point Calvinism divisive between pastors and/or within local churches 6

Evangelism: to be effective in reaching, converting, training up people                 5

The “Emergent Church” movement among young pastors                                       4

Develop leaders; none of the SBC entities has this responsibility                          2

This article takes a broader view, one that extends beyond SBC circles to address issues facing all Christians and all Americans. Please don’t misunderstand. Certainly each of the following challenges does apply to Southern Baptists, but they also face every other American ... and for some, every other human being.

Issue #1: Education. Without doubt one of the most crucial challenges facing us is education. The government school system has failed and failed miserably. “Public” schools are now mere propaganda machines whose intent is NOT to awake a love of learning, to instill original thinking, to convey an understanding and appreciation for our country’s foundation and history, to motivate each student to be all he can be. Rather, government schools as a whole promote unthinking obedience to the government, the individual (not God) as the ultimate authority for decisions, compliance not originality, acceptance of all religions and all philosophies as equally valid, socialism not capitalism, sex at all ages and in all forms as normal and to be expected, academic excellence as something to be avoided (you might make a non-achiever feel bad), and the United States as an international oppressor.

Many local teachers have good intentions, but the fact is that the local school does not establish the curriculum, decide which textbooks may be used, or even what is permissible speech and action in the school. Just one example: they teach evolution but not the convincing counter evidence.

This topic could fill many books, but in condensed summary, government schools teach against Christianity but in favor of other religions; they teach against capitalism, in favor of socialism; against the traditional family, in favor of homosexuality; against the responsible fulfillment of America’s role in the world and in favor of those who attack us; in favor of illegal immigrants and against our attempts to keep them out; against individual initiative and in favor of unthinking submission to the government. And the list could go on.

God has assigned responsibility to educate children to parents, NOT to the government. Face it, if you have you child in a government school, you are rebelling against God. In other respects you may be obedient, but in this you are sinning and sinning seriously.

Issue #2: Illegal Immigration: Illegal immigrants are responsible for an amount of crime much larger than their part of the population. They fill jobs that otherwise would be available for American citizens. They are disproportionately active in drug gangs and illegal transport of guns. A question that should be asked of each proponent is, “Why are illegal immigrants more important than American citizens?”

Certainly we should help these folks as we can, in their native lands.

Issue #3: Islam. We have all probably heard the stupid assertion that “Islam is a peaceful religion!” Not so. The goal of Islamists is to conquer, to become dominant, to subject everyone else to the will and whim of Muslims. Read the review in this Banner of Stealth Jihad. Then read the book and recommend it to your friends and family.

They are experts at infiltrating non-Muslim countries and expanding their influence until they are in control. Much of Western Europe is on the verge of being taken over by Islam. Shariah law has been adopted in more than one place in Canada. It can happen here, and it will unless we insist our government take immediate and firm action.

For Christianity, for America, for our children we MUST stop the Islamic subjugation of the United States.

Issue #4: Government Control. Both major political parties demonstrate by their actions and policies that they are committed to the idea that the government can solve all problems. In essence, they act as if “The more control the government has, the better for everyone.” They wouldn’t say this publically, but they follow those policies.

This is insane. Repeatedly history has demonstrated that: “more government = less freedom = less innovation = less progress.” Also, “more government = more taxes = less prosperity = more inflation = higher unemployment = less income for the state = higher taxes, and so on ad infinitum.”

The only way to have a truly vigorous, happy, prosperous country is through more freedom, less government, more individual initiative. In such a state, lower taxes actually produce more governmental income because freedom = prosperity.

Issue #5: Homosexuality. God created Adam and Eve, NOT Adam and Steve. While we should show Christian love to homosexuals, we should never call God a liar by saying, acting as if, or even quietly accepting their demands that homosexuality is as natural as heterosexuality. Homosexuality is a cancer eating away at the heart of society. And unrepentant homosexuals face eternity in hell. You don’t cure someone with cancer by telling him he is healthy. Neither do you help a homosexual by telling him he is normal.

Minister to homosexuals, but never accept their sin as right in God’s eyes.

Action: In all five of these issues, Christians must become much more active:

First, work to make sure your local church and denomination remain faithful to God’s Word, the Bible.

Second, hold your Congressman, Senator, and state officials responsible to support biblically based policies and laws. Contact them repeatedly by phone, by fax, by email, by letter. Say clearly that you are watching and what you expect. Likewise, encourage everyone you know to do the same. In a democracy it is voters who should wield the power, not bureaucrats.

Third, NEVER send your child to a government school. There are many, many homeschooling helps that relieve parents of much of the expense and burden necessary just twenty years ago. Every community of any size has homeschool support groups. Check them out. Save your children for Jesus.

Fourth, study these issues. For example, read Stealth Jihad reviewed in this Banner. But not just Islam. Don’t be willfully ignorant on any of these issues. Think about how you will answer Jesus when you stand before Him (and you will stand before Him and have to answer for your actions or inaction)

Fifth, when an election approaches, study the actions of the candidates, not the words, the actions, the policies each candidate has supported and opposed. And encourage your family, friends, and acquaintances to do the same and then vote.

Our faith, our nation, our children are at a critical juncture. We must not be found wanting in this crucial battle for truth, for faith, for freedom, for our country, and for our children.

*If you want to review the January article, go to www.BaptistBanner.org, click “Articles from Past Issues”, click “SBC 1996 to date”, and click on “Future Issues January 2009".