This is part one of three part series inspired by the message I shared on Father's Day weekend at our Newport News Campus. The focus of that message was directed toward men but the challenge these three temptations present are true for both men and women. If you are struggling with any of these three temptations, I hope these words encourage and motivate you to lean into the wisdom and Scripture and the insights of some authors I will recommend.
Sal or Tessio is one of my favorite characters from The Godfather because of the insight his role provides for understanding temptation. Sal was an underboss for the Corleone crime family but when it appeared they had lost power, he betrayed them and conspired with a rival family. This is what temptation is in our lives..it's opportunistic, crafty, devious, and always scheming for a way to take advantage of us!
Check out Proverbs 14:11-12 and discover something about temptation. Temptation never comes to us and says "Hey, let me help you ruin your life and destroy your family!" No. On the outset, temptation appears to be pleasing. The lure of something promising gratification but ultimately only bringing brokenness and destruction.
SAL has put out a hit on the character of men and women and their names are stress, anger, and lust! I first heard these three temptations shared together at a men's breakfast sponsored by our church, City Life Church. One of the men who shared talked openly about his struggle with each of them. I felt the Holy Spirit whisper to me that Saturday, "Talk about these on Father's Day weekend." I felt that same whisper last weekend..."Keep talking about these!"
Stress. Some of you are so stressed out you are finding it difficult to sit still to focus on this blog. Don't relent to the temptation to stop reading! The temptation of stress doesn't want you to be free from it's treacherous grip!
A Stanford neuroscientist, Robert Sapolsky writes,
"Stess hormones are brilliant, adapted to help you survive an unexpected threat. You mobilize energy in your thigh muscles, you increase your blood pressure and turn off everything that's not essential to surviving, such as digestion, growth, and reproduction systems in your body. You think more clearly, and certain aspects of learning and memory are enhanced. But non-life-threatening stressors, such as constantly worrying about money or pleasing your boss, also trigger the release of adrenalin and other stress hormones, which, over time, can have devastating consequences to your health. If you turn on the stress response chronically for purely psychological reasons, you increase your risk of adult onset diabetes, high blood pressure, and a host of other health risks."
First, consider picking up a copy of John Ortberg's book "Soul Keeping" as it is a wonderful resource that not only talks about dealing with stress but also how important it is for each of us to be good stewards of our own well-being. So often people are so consumed with caring for others, they neglect themselves.
What about Scripture? Does the Bible have anything to say about stress? Yes! Here are three ways I defend against the temptation of stress in my own life: prayer, power, and people.
Prayer. Philippians 4:6-7 must be a mainstay in every Christian's battle against stress. The temptation of stress lures us into a place of worry over things we cannot control. The simple difference between praying and worrying is talking to God instead of yourself when facing something beyond your control. We have all been in those places where we are obsessing over a situation. Thoughts are flooding our minds at times seemingly uncontrollably. A situation just keeps replaying in our heads, an unrelenting hounding. Prayer is how we are supposed to deal with situations like this. We turn that worry into prayer by converting obsessing into praying! Direct your thoughts to God. Talk to Him out loud if that helps you. Ask someone to spend some time in prayer with you. Prayer reminds us that God is sovereign and in control of our lives and every situation affecting us. We may not see an immediate change in our situation but there will be a change in our outlook and emotions. The peace that we read about in Philippians 4 begins to displace stress and worry because we are connecting our sense to peace to God and not to our circumstance.
Power. Colossians 3:15 is a powerful verse challenging us to take control of ourselves. The temptation of stress lures us into a place of believing we can't control the impact of our emotions. This is one of the devil's most insidious strategies. He wants us to obsess over things we can't control and ignore the areas of our lives that we can control. In Colossians 3 note two words, "let" and "rule" are keys to this verse. First, we must "let" or choose to resist stress. We can't avoid the onset of emotions. That is part of the human experience. But we must control their impact and our actions in response to those emotions. If the peace of Christ is going to "rule" in our heats as commanded in Colossians 3 then we must believe that we have power to control how our emotions direct us. God gave us emotions to serve us and enrich our lives. We are not supposed to be a slave to our emotions. They are to serve us! Some people have diagnosable chemical imbalances in there lives. Others may be dealing with conditions like PTSD...those situations need professional help and oftentimes life long assistance. But if our situation does not fall into one of those exceptions or something similar, we must find a place of power over our emotional life if we are going to resist the temptation of stress!
People. Proverbs 12:25 reminds us we need the encouragement of others. The temptation of stress lures us into a place of false loyalty to relationships that are unhealthy. People tend to hold onto relationships longer than they should because they are more concerned about their image than they are their character. Sometimes you need to change your crowd if you are going to change your outlook on life. Surround yourself with people who are hopeful about the future because of what they believe about the goodness of God! Now all you evangelists out there might cringe at this advice because you feel this will undermine people's efforts to reach others with the love of God. On the contrary. I am not suggesting isolation from everyone except those who can encourage us. I am saying that we must be wise in regards to who is in which circle of relationship. I should have an inner circle of people who I can trust and can lean into when I am struggling with the temptation of stress. These people need to be mature Christians who can offer the word of encouragement referenced in Proverbs 12. I still need to have people I am trying reach with the love of God, being careful in those circles to be the one doing the influencing!
My prayer today is that you find the peace of Christ and not be overcome any longer by the temptation of stress! Stop giving stress permission to wreak havoc in your life! Prayer, power, and people are an impenetrable defense!
Pastor Fred
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Failing
Jesus' conversation with Peter in Luke 22:31-34 fascinates me. I can't help but wonder why God would give Satan an audience with Himself. And based on the events that follow, it appears that God grants Satan his request! Imagine there is a knock at your front door and you discover that the individual standing there is someone you know with certainty is trying to destroy your children. You invite them inside as your wife is coming around the corner. She exclaims, "What are you doing!" And you say, "I think we should at least hear what he has to say." Now I don't know about your house but at that point, I am now outside knocking on the door!
The act of sifting was an agricultural process of separating at harvest the useful, consumable portion from the parts that would be discarded. Satan's implication is that some of the disciples were not worthy and the only reason they had been faithful to date was because God was an overly protective parent. Satan is challenging their character. He wants to be given access to them to prove their "faith will fail." The Expositor's Bible Commentary points out that "you" in verse 31 is plural in the Greek (hymas) which reveals Jesus' warning to Peter is for all the disciples. But then in verse 32 "you" is singular in the Greek (sou) so Jesus' focus has now shifted to Peter directly. Does this mean God only granted Satan access to Peter? Does this mean Jesus did not pray for the other disciples? Does this mean I should take a morning break and drive to Krispy Kreme to see if the hot sign is on (sorry I was momentarily distracted)? Because Luke is the only Gospel writer that gives us the details of this conversation, we are left with several questions because Luke does not offer any further explanation.
The truth I draw from this exchange is that we must remember there is difference between failing in a moment and failing in our faith. I am writing this morning because I believe that someone reading this has failed in some moment in their past and has been held captive by their mistake. You have believed a lie from Satan that because you failed in a moment, overcome by some temptation, became weak resulting in some indiscretion...you feel as though you have failed in faith. Watch the transition from the beginning of verse 32 to the second half. Jesus says that he has prayed for Peter that his faith should not fail. And then Jesus goes on to say, "So when you have repented and turn to me again..." So if Jesus prays for Peter, shouldn't that be enough? If Jesus prays for Peter to not fail in his faith, why would Peter need to repent? Not failing in his faith does not equate to resisting the temptation. Not failing in our faith means that we don't abandon our pursuit of being a disciple of Jesus when we fail in resisting temptation! Faith does not keep us perfect in moments of temptation! Faith moves us to repent when we fail. And we will all fail! Sometimes those failings are when we do the bad things we shouldn't do and sometimes those failings are when we don't do the good things we ought to do. Failing in our faith means we don't repent. We don't accept responsibility for failing. We don't ask for God's forgiveness or the forgiveness of others if our failing involved people. We don't work to build personal accountability into our lives to be better prepared for temptation next time. We don't...and the list continues...that is failing in our faith. Failing in a moment is inevitable. What we do in the aftermath of those moments determines if we fail in our faith. That was Jesus' prayer and if we read Acts chapter 2 then we know Jesus' prayer from Luke 22 was effectual...because there we find Peter giving the very first sermon of the Christian Church!
I love that Jesus tells Peter that after he repents and returns to his pursuit of being a disciple of Jesus, his priority should be the strengthen his brothers, the other disciples. If you disengage for the being in community from other disciples, this too is failing in your faith. Discipleship isn't just about my relationship with Jesus! It is also about my relationship with other disciples! If I isolate myself from Jesus, resist Him, run from Him...I am failing in my faith. If I repent and turn to Him but isolate myself from other disciples of Jesus, resist them, rum from them...I am still failing in my faith. Failing in moments are not failing in faith unless I allow them to rob me of being reconciled to Jesus and being restored to community!
Satan wants to sift each of us. Jesus is continually praying for each of us. Satan is great at temptation...Jesus is even better at prayer. We are all going to fail in moments...but we never have to fail in our faith!
Pastor Fred
The act of sifting was an agricultural process of separating at harvest the useful, consumable portion from the parts that would be discarded. Satan's implication is that some of the disciples were not worthy and the only reason they had been faithful to date was because God was an overly protective parent. Satan is challenging their character. He wants to be given access to them to prove their "faith will fail." The Expositor's Bible Commentary points out that "you" in verse 31 is plural in the Greek (hymas) which reveals Jesus' warning to Peter is for all the disciples. But then in verse 32 "you" is singular in the Greek (sou) so Jesus' focus has now shifted to Peter directly. Does this mean God only granted Satan access to Peter? Does this mean Jesus did not pray for the other disciples? Does this mean I should take a morning break and drive to Krispy Kreme to see if the hot sign is on (sorry I was momentarily distracted)? Because Luke is the only Gospel writer that gives us the details of this conversation, we are left with several questions because Luke does not offer any further explanation.
The truth I draw from this exchange is that we must remember there is difference between failing in a moment and failing in our faith. I am writing this morning because I believe that someone reading this has failed in some moment in their past and has been held captive by their mistake. You have believed a lie from Satan that because you failed in a moment, overcome by some temptation, became weak resulting in some indiscretion...you feel as though you have failed in faith. Watch the transition from the beginning of verse 32 to the second half. Jesus says that he has prayed for Peter that his faith should not fail. And then Jesus goes on to say, "So when you have repented and turn to me again..." So if Jesus prays for Peter, shouldn't that be enough? If Jesus prays for Peter to not fail in his faith, why would Peter need to repent? Not failing in his faith does not equate to resisting the temptation. Not failing in our faith means that we don't abandon our pursuit of being a disciple of Jesus when we fail in resisting temptation! Faith does not keep us perfect in moments of temptation! Faith moves us to repent when we fail. And we will all fail! Sometimes those failings are when we do the bad things we shouldn't do and sometimes those failings are when we don't do the good things we ought to do. Failing in our faith means we don't repent. We don't accept responsibility for failing. We don't ask for God's forgiveness or the forgiveness of others if our failing involved people. We don't work to build personal accountability into our lives to be better prepared for temptation next time. We don't...and the list continues...that is failing in our faith. Failing in a moment is inevitable. What we do in the aftermath of those moments determines if we fail in our faith. That was Jesus' prayer and if we read Acts chapter 2 then we know Jesus' prayer from Luke 22 was effectual...because there we find Peter giving the very first sermon of the Christian Church!
I love that Jesus tells Peter that after he repents and returns to his pursuit of being a disciple of Jesus, his priority should be the strengthen his brothers, the other disciples. If you disengage for the being in community from other disciples, this too is failing in your faith. Discipleship isn't just about my relationship with Jesus! It is also about my relationship with other disciples! If I isolate myself from Jesus, resist Him, run from Him...I am failing in my faith. If I repent and turn to Him but isolate myself from other disciples of Jesus, resist them, rum from them...I am still failing in my faith. Failing in moments are not failing in faith unless I allow them to rob me of being reconciled to Jesus and being restored to community!
Satan wants to sift each of us. Jesus is continually praying for each of us. Satan is great at temptation...Jesus is even better at prayer. We are all going to fail in moments...but we never have to fail in our faith!
Pastor Fred
Friday, January 27, 2017
I Hate Catholics
Some should be executed, others imprisoned, most punished in some fashion and Catholicism as a religious practice should be abolished. And if you do not share this sentiment then through your ignorance or indifference, you are propagating hate and injustice!
The Massacre of St. Bartholomew's Day on August 24/25 of 1572 inspired the murder of thousands of French Huguenots not just in France but throughout all of Europe. For the next two hundred years, my family suffered at the hands of hatred...torture, rape, imprisonment, murder...a conspiracy to dehumanize all Protestants perpetrated by Catholics with the aid and support of the French government and The Vatican. The situation was in such despair that Abraham Michaux, born in 1672 of Sedan France, fled to Amsterdam Holland in 1690 with his father Jacob Michaux. King Louis XIV of France continued the godless destruction of the Protestant church, causing thousands of refugees to seek asylum elsewhere in Europe. Abraham Michaux appears on a the Dutch Reformed Church roster of January 28, 1691. A the age of 20, Abraham married Susanna Rochet at this same church. They met while working at a gauze and lace factory. Susanna had her own harrowing tale of fleeing France years earlier. Her family hid her in a barrel aboard a ship in order to smuggle her out of France and into Holland. (facts taken from an historical genealogy blog)
My family, by the grace of God, was able to flee such horrific persecution and through a land grant from England, arrive in the New World to help settle the frontier. Our family received 574 acres in what is today Powhatan County. (I'm still a littler bitter all that James River water front property didn't make its way to me!) We lived in Stafford County for a period of time after arriving here until 1705 when we settled in what was then known as Manakin Towne where our 574 acre land grant was located. (facts taken from same blog referenced above)
There are still the remains of an Episcopal chapel there in what eventually became known as Michaux, Virginia. A family cemetery plot is just down the road from the chapel overlooking the James River. I have visited there many times, even taken my family to stand on this ground that is sacred to me still today because that is the beginning of my heritage in America. My children are the tenth generation of Michauxs to live in this beloved Country. There is a family Bible beautifully preserved in the archival collection at Union Theological Seminary. I was allowed to spend time with this family Bible several years ago. The feeling of gently turning its pages created in me a profound appreciation for the legacy that has come to me through centuries to cherish God's Word and worship Him fully. Many names were written in its margins as this Bible not only served as a source of spiritual nourishment but also a proud family genealogy.
Here is another wonderful piece of Michaux history in Virginia...taken from a plaque placed at that little Episcopal Church. The plaque was erected in 1937 and states, "This tablet is dedicated to the memory of Abraham Michaux and Susanne Rochet Michaux...their heroic spirit, their loyalty to truth, their fidelity to Christ we treasure as our richest heritage." France was robbed of the contribution these citizens could have made because of hate and prejudice. But thank God for Romans 8:28 and His promise of ultimate goodness in every circumstance!
By now I trust you have realized that I don't hate Catholics, that I have no ill will toward Catholics individually or Catholicism as a Christian religion. Those opening sentiments were what could have been my emotional heritage. I wonder if Jacob Michaux could have said that? I wonder if Abraham Michaux or his wife Susanna could have said that? Possibly their Christian character was strong enough to withstand such sentiments I shared in the opening of this blog? But my suspicion is their humanity would have prevailed given the atrocities they most certainly witnessed first hand of the brutality of Catholics in France in the 16th, 17th, and early 18th centuries. But which generation was the first generation to choose to forgive? Which generation was the first generation to not make this hatred part of the emotional heritage given to their children? If I were able to step back in time and observe the attitude of my ancestors, who would be the turning point?
So here comes the irony. My family left France because of barbarous acts. I wonder how may of my ancestors became guilty of such acts against Native Americans...against Blacks. I find it terribly sobering and highly probable that persons in my family became the "Catholics" they abhorred. Meaning, there are families here in Virginia and elsewhere whose heritage of hatred doesn't trace itself back to a religion or a political entity...but to my family name. They suffered at the hands of Michauxs.
I'm inspired to share this blog today because few people in this life don't have a heritage of hate working through their family. The question becomes whether or not I am willing to be the person in history who decides that a different heritage is going to be gifted to the next generation. For some, this challenge is much more difficult because their persecution, their suffered injustice is not historical, on the contrary, it is devastatingly present. I know for me, not only am I committed to teaching my children the sacred virtue of being forgiving, I am also praying, talking, asking, studying, reading, and striving to determine how God is asking me to help route out injustices that are taking place today, here in my city and beyond.
Who were the people in France who sat idly by while thousand of Huguenots were killed? Citizenship means that I not only fight to preserve equality that serves me but equality that serves all.
Pastor Fred
(www.letspraxis.com)
The Massacre of St. Bartholomew's Day on August 24/25 of 1572 inspired the murder of thousands of French Huguenots not just in France but throughout all of Europe. For the next two hundred years, my family suffered at the hands of hatred...torture, rape, imprisonment, murder...a conspiracy to dehumanize all Protestants perpetrated by Catholics with the aid and support of the French government and The Vatican. The situation was in such despair that Abraham Michaux, born in 1672 of Sedan France, fled to Amsterdam Holland in 1690 with his father Jacob Michaux. King Louis XIV of France continued the godless destruction of the Protestant church, causing thousands of refugees to seek asylum elsewhere in Europe. Abraham Michaux appears on a the Dutch Reformed Church roster of January 28, 1691. A the age of 20, Abraham married Susanna Rochet at this same church. They met while working at a gauze and lace factory. Susanna had her own harrowing tale of fleeing France years earlier. Her family hid her in a barrel aboard a ship in order to smuggle her out of France and into Holland. (facts taken from an historical genealogy blog)
My family, by the grace of God, was able to flee such horrific persecution and through a land grant from England, arrive in the New World to help settle the frontier. Our family received 574 acres in what is today Powhatan County. (I'm still a littler bitter all that James River water front property didn't make its way to me!) We lived in Stafford County for a period of time after arriving here until 1705 when we settled in what was then known as Manakin Towne where our 574 acre land grant was located. (facts taken from same blog referenced above)
There are still the remains of an Episcopal chapel there in what eventually became known as Michaux, Virginia. A family cemetery plot is just down the road from the chapel overlooking the James River. I have visited there many times, even taken my family to stand on this ground that is sacred to me still today because that is the beginning of my heritage in America. My children are the tenth generation of Michauxs to live in this beloved Country. There is a family Bible beautifully preserved in the archival collection at Union Theological Seminary. I was allowed to spend time with this family Bible several years ago. The feeling of gently turning its pages created in me a profound appreciation for the legacy that has come to me through centuries to cherish God's Word and worship Him fully. Many names were written in its margins as this Bible not only served as a source of spiritual nourishment but also a proud family genealogy.
Here is another wonderful piece of Michaux history in Virginia...taken from a plaque placed at that little Episcopal Church. The plaque was erected in 1937 and states, "This tablet is dedicated to the memory of Abraham Michaux and Susanne Rochet Michaux...their heroic spirit, their loyalty to truth, their fidelity to Christ we treasure as our richest heritage." France was robbed of the contribution these citizens could have made because of hate and prejudice. But thank God for Romans 8:28 and His promise of ultimate goodness in every circumstance!
By now I trust you have realized that I don't hate Catholics, that I have no ill will toward Catholics individually or Catholicism as a Christian religion. Those opening sentiments were what could have been my emotional heritage. I wonder if Jacob Michaux could have said that? I wonder if Abraham Michaux or his wife Susanna could have said that? Possibly their Christian character was strong enough to withstand such sentiments I shared in the opening of this blog? But my suspicion is their humanity would have prevailed given the atrocities they most certainly witnessed first hand of the brutality of Catholics in France in the 16th, 17th, and early 18th centuries. But which generation was the first generation to choose to forgive? Which generation was the first generation to not make this hatred part of the emotional heritage given to their children? If I were able to step back in time and observe the attitude of my ancestors, who would be the turning point?
So here comes the irony. My family left France because of barbarous acts. I wonder how may of my ancestors became guilty of such acts against Native Americans...against Blacks. I find it terribly sobering and highly probable that persons in my family became the "Catholics" they abhorred. Meaning, there are families here in Virginia and elsewhere whose heritage of hatred doesn't trace itself back to a religion or a political entity...but to my family name. They suffered at the hands of Michauxs.
I'm inspired to share this blog today because few people in this life don't have a heritage of hate working through their family. The question becomes whether or not I am willing to be the person in history who decides that a different heritage is going to be gifted to the next generation. For some, this challenge is much more difficult because their persecution, their suffered injustice is not historical, on the contrary, it is devastatingly present. I know for me, not only am I committed to teaching my children the sacred virtue of being forgiving, I am also praying, talking, asking, studying, reading, and striving to determine how God is asking me to help route out injustices that are taking place today, here in my city and beyond.
Who were the people in France who sat idly by while thousand of Huguenots were killed? Citizenship means that I not only fight to preserve equality that serves me but equality that serves all.
Pastor Fred
(www.letspraxis.com)
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
"All of this..."
As I was reading yesterday, I was struck by the the phrase "All of this..." we find in verse 22 of Matthew 1. I have read that verse many times in my life and have never stopped to consider their implication. Of course we know the first chapter of Matthew 1 chronicles for us the genealogy of Christ through Joseph and also gives us details about how Joseph learned she was pregnant with the Messiah. The Holy Spirit inspired Matthew to write those words in verse 22 because He wanted the world to know everything that is about to follow in the story of Jesus in this gospel (and all the gospels) is a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. Matthew1:22-23 is a grand declaration of the sovereignty of God at work to save the world!
But yesterday when I was reading, I realized "All of this..." wasn't just referring to the details regarding Mary. "All of this..." is inclusive of all the details which means even the details regarding Joseph. For Mary, she had no knowledge of being pregnant until after her angelic visitation (Luke 1:29-31). Not so with Joseph. Matthew 1 is very clear. Joseph already had knowledge of Mary's pregnancy prior to his angelic visitation. In fact, based on his intentions given to us in Matthew 1:19 he assumed that Mary had disgraced herself and their engagement by betraying her vow to Joseph by becoming sexually involved with another man. Why is this important? Because God intentionally allowed Joseph to feel betrayed before He intervened. God could have easily said to Gabriel, "While you are there telling Mary she will become pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit make sure you tell Joseph too. We don't want him to feel betrayed...he should know." Did Gabriel forget? Not likely! Matthew 1 says "All of this..." meaning the timing of Joseph's notification was by God's design.
Why would God do this? I believe God was preparing Joseph to be the kind of father to Jesus and husband to Mary that would be demanded of a man who had been given such a grand destiny. Can you imagine the kind of character required of a man to take on such a responsibility? Our character is not formed in the ease of life. Our character is formed when tested, when tried. The stress of life accelerates the growth of virtues in us. God wanted Joseph to face the appearance of betrayal, the sting of public humiliation, and the weight of shame. God was preparing Joseph for his purpose in life, to be the earthly father of Jesus and the husband of our Savior's blessed mother. God had Joseph in a season of virtue growing pains.
Are you in an "All of this..." season as you start this new year? Are you facing hardship that feels overwhelming? Do you feel as though you are suffering in innocence, meaning your hardship is not the consequence of your own foolishness? My encouragement to you is find patience. Psalm 27:13-14 might be your verses for this season! Trust in God's goodness and His timing to reveal that goodness to you! He is making you ready! You have a divine destiny! You are chosen! You are special! I guarantee that your pain now is far less than what it could be if He allowed your purpose to approach you only to find you unprepared. God knows what you need to be victorious in this life. He shapes us so that we can serve Him... "All of this..."
Pastor Fred
But yesterday when I was reading, I realized "All of this..." wasn't just referring to the details regarding Mary. "All of this..." is inclusive of all the details which means even the details regarding Joseph. For Mary, she had no knowledge of being pregnant until after her angelic visitation (Luke 1:29-31). Not so with Joseph. Matthew 1 is very clear. Joseph already had knowledge of Mary's pregnancy prior to his angelic visitation. In fact, based on his intentions given to us in Matthew 1:19 he assumed that Mary had disgraced herself and their engagement by betraying her vow to Joseph by becoming sexually involved with another man. Why is this important? Because God intentionally allowed Joseph to feel betrayed before He intervened. God could have easily said to Gabriel, "While you are there telling Mary she will become pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit make sure you tell Joseph too. We don't want him to feel betrayed...he should know." Did Gabriel forget? Not likely! Matthew 1 says "All of this..." meaning the timing of Joseph's notification was by God's design.
Why would God do this? I believe God was preparing Joseph to be the kind of father to Jesus and husband to Mary that would be demanded of a man who had been given such a grand destiny. Can you imagine the kind of character required of a man to take on such a responsibility? Our character is not formed in the ease of life. Our character is formed when tested, when tried. The stress of life accelerates the growth of virtues in us. God wanted Joseph to face the appearance of betrayal, the sting of public humiliation, and the weight of shame. God was preparing Joseph for his purpose in life, to be the earthly father of Jesus and the husband of our Savior's blessed mother. God had Joseph in a season of virtue growing pains.
Are you in an "All of this..." season as you start this new year? Are you facing hardship that feels overwhelming? Do you feel as though you are suffering in innocence, meaning your hardship is not the consequence of your own foolishness? My encouragement to you is find patience. Psalm 27:13-14 might be your verses for this season! Trust in God's goodness and His timing to reveal that goodness to you! He is making you ready! You have a divine destiny! You are chosen! You are special! I guarantee that your pain now is far less than what it could be if He allowed your purpose to approach you only to find you unprepared. God knows what you need to be victorious in this life. He shapes us so that we can serve Him... "All of this..."
Pastor Fred
Thursday, November 10, 2016
Fear
Fear. This is one of the most prevalent words in conversations
leading up to and following Tuesday’s Presidential election. My hope is
that people who do not share the same fears will not belittle or disparage the
fears of others. Fear is one of God’s great gifts to humanity. And
that idea may be foreign to too many Christians.
Some of you are already quoting 2 Timothy1:7. That’s not prophetic…just
predictable! Let’s talk about this wonderful verse. I like to start
with the last word in the verse, a wonderful Greek word, “sophronismos.”
I like this word because there is only one appearance in all of Scripture and
this is the solo performance in 2 Timothy! Some translations choose sound
mind, others use discipline, while another is sound judgment. The best
would be to combine them all. My spirit when renewed by the Holy Spirit
should transform my mind in a way that is Biblically sound leading to
self-discipline and good judgment. I should be characterized by this
description as a devoted follower of Jesus. Now, let’s read the verse.
Paul says to Timothy “spirit” not “emotion.” Too many people misuse this
verse to demean an emotion that should be present in us all. While I
should not be characterized as a fearful person, fear as an emotion must be
present in an emotionally healthy Christian at proper times. When “sophronismos”
is a word that best describes me, I am able to experience the emotion of fear
without emotions taking control of my life and becoming the shaping force and
influence on my spirit.
So if someone talks about their fears related to this election, spend
time listening before you bludgeon them with a verse that was given to us to
inspire…not wound. Especially if you are the one needing some correction,
in regards to how we should cherish fear.
Might I share some examples? We readily acknowledge the importance
of the fear of the Lord (Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 15:33, Revelation 15:4). My capacity for fear
was created by God and is vital; take for example Jesus admonition in Luke 12:4-5. People like to restate “fear”
in these texts as “respect” but that is not what the Holy Spirit chose.
Don’t edit the Holy Spirit! Is respect a component of healthy fear?
Most certainly, but that does not change the essence of fear…it is to be
afraid! And as long as that feeling of being afraid remains a healthy
emotion, it will not displace the virtues of courage and faith. My
capacity for diverse emotions is evidence of emotional health. And my
strength of character (that “sophronismos life”) becomes the boundary that
keeps those emotions from becoming spiritual traits.
So if fear is necessary in my relationship with God, are there other applications
where fear should be embraced? Yes! Fear saves lives. When I
am unsafe, the emotion of fear is an alarm that prompts protective action.
I would like to suggest to you that fear is also an indispensable facet of
choosing political leaders. If you suppress healthy fear in others, you
are a dealer in shame. And if you are devoted follower of Christ, you
should be ashamed of your shaming!
This is a time for people to talk about their fears. Last night I
met with a new friend to talk about our fears. His fears are different
than my fears. And my fears are not more important than his fears,
neither his relative to mine. I must seek to understand the fears of
others if I expect others to value mine. If you can’t accept that
Christians were legitimately divided at the polls on Tuesday, then you are part
of the problem that divides this nation. You are a person that is
belittling the fears of others. You are a person that is a shame dealer.
My fears are always going to be more present in my life than your fears.
That is the nature of fear. We are not able to manufacture emotion.
But, as you have heard me say many times, right feelings follow right actions (Matthew 6:21). If you don’t understand
the fears of others, put in the time to talk with them, hear their story, ask
questions, reflect, ponder, contemplate their feelings!
The progress we need in this nation should start with The Church.
And that progress will begin when people who have divergent fears begin to feel
the fears of others because their right actions led to shared feelings.
So do me a favor, don’t reach for 2 Timothy 1:7 prematurely. Let Romans12:15 reach you. I believe this
verse in not just limited to the emotions of joy and sorrow. I believe
this is a fill in the blank text. I believe this verse is about emotions.
In fact, when I look back to the beginning of this chapter, I find a command
that my mind should be renewed! That sounds like a “sophronismos life” to
me! Paul, in one of the most celebrated doctrinal books of the New
Testament, is making a demand of all Christians that emotional empathy is the
minimum! Emotional empathy expects me to have an appropriate, gracious,
understanding response to the feelings of others. Romans 12 tells us we
should actually share in their emotion, regardless of whether or not we share
in their circumstance.
So this is my question to you…if you voted for Donald Trump, have you
found some people who did not that you can sit with and ask them about the
fears that helped to motivate their decision? If you voted for Hillary
Clinton, have you found some people who did not that you can sit with and ask
them about the fears that helped to motivate their decision? If you don’t
know anyone who voted differently than yourself, you are intellectually and
emotionally isolated! Next, here comes your prayer. Ask God to help
you experience Romans 12:15. We need to feel one another’s fears.
Be all about that “sophronismos life!”
Pastor Fred
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Stranger Things
Well if you are tracking with our most recent sermon series at all three campuses, you know we are all about some Netflix binging!
Here is a portion of the plot description that you can find on one of my favorite websites and most used phone apps...IMDB, "In a small town where everyone knows everyone, a peculiar incident starts a chain of events that leads to the disappearance of a child - which begins to tear at the fabric of an otherwise peaceful community. Dark government agencies and seemingly malevolent supernatural forces converge on the town, while a few locals begin to understand that there's more going on than meets the eye." At the time I pulled that quote, there were over 165k user reviews for this show and the average rating was 9.1 out to 10...which is historically high! Now be warned, the show can be creepy, evil, and disturbing. So if you are prone to nightmares, you may be living with EVERY light on in your house for a while...especially all the new Christmas lights!
I love this show because I believe it reminds us that just because something is strange doesn't mean it can't be real. In the series at the Newport News Campus, we are exploring some strange things in the Bible that I believe God wants to be our reality! They may belong in an "upside down world" but God's hope is that we will grow to both expect them and embrace them!
We started our study in 1 Corinthians 12. If you are interested in listening to those two opening messages, then you can use this link: City Life Podcast. Last week I was not able to finish our look into this amazing chapter and wanted to share my final thoughts to complete the teaching on this text.
In the first two weeks, we talked about how God wants us to expect and embrace a "strange voice" in our lives. That is the opening of 1 Corinthians 12. Paul is exhorting them and now us that we need people in our lives who love us enough to challenge and even when necessary bring correction. That feels strange if you aren't used to it but it is most certainly a vital part of any healthy spiritual family. I build trusting relationships at church so God can use me to help others and so I can have people I trust to help me. We also talked about a "strange expectation." This is where we worked through the list of nine results of grace that manifest God's reality in a supernatural way. I like the phrase results of grace because that is the true meaning of the word "gift" that appears in the text. But for simplicity sake, we call them: three gifts that reveal, three gifts that declare, and three gifts that command. Being a candidate for God to use to reveal Himself in a supernatural way feels strange, especially the first time we experience something otherworldly like the working of a miracle or a word of knowledge. We talked about a "strange reliance" that took us through verses 12 to 27. All ministry begins by learning how to serve one another as part of the same body. Mutual dependence is not easy for us; it feels strange. We like to champion this idea of rugged independence! You will never be fully complete until you connect your life to others in a covenantal community called the local church and there is a local church out there somewhere that will be forever incomplete until you show up!
The point we never reached is a "strange deference." Take a minute to read 1 Corinthians 12:28-30. Remember, Paul has already given us an outline for this chapter in verses four through six. Here he is shifting gears into part three of this chapter in talking about a "varieties of activities" that he connects to God. (If you recall, he connected a "varieties of gifts" to the Holy Spirit and a "varieties of ministries" to Jesus). I believe what Paul is trying to communicate to us here is that if the activity of church is not directed by the activity of leaders who ensure order then chaos will soon be present which is why Paul is having to write this letter to Corinth...they are a chaotic church! Paul is assuming that you have read the preceding verses. His use of "first, second, and third" are to say all of these three are examples of directive leaders in a church. We know this from connecting this text to Ephesians 4, which Paul also wrote. Paul believes in the principle of directive leaders (which I also call nucleus leaders or senior leaders). And these numbers are not to be interpreted as an order of importance. It is simply three offices in a church whose primary activity is to bring healthy authority. The emphasis should not be placed on the unique role that apostles, prophets, or teachers carry out. That is more related to the "varieties of ministries." The emphasis should be placed on their specific activity of being directive leaders. This is why we have this portion of the chapter connected to God because He reminds us of the need for the presence of a directive authority. Again, Paul assumes you have read the whole chapter so when the verses shift in the NKJV with the use of "after that" and "then" Paul is pulling examples from both of the two former lists. He gives us some examples of "varieties of gifts" and "varieties of ministries." He is saying that what makes a church a safe place for these former two lists of "varieties" is the activity of directive leaders. It can be strange for people to allow others to be in a place of spiritual authority in their life. Although I am a nucleus, directive leader now, that has not always been the case. Many of my years in church were benefitting from the direction of elders and other senior leaders. They created order, defined vision, created ministries, set the pace in giving, exemplified Christ, cared for people in crisis, and invested in others who might one day walk in their shoes. I can't imagine what my formative years as a Christian would have been like without them. Leaders can never demand this relationship from people. They can make demands of people and sometimes that is necessary but those demands are never fruitful unless the person being directed has already embraced that person's authority in their life.
Verse 29 is basically a synopsis verse for everything that preceded before. Every person matters. Every ministry is important. Every role is essential. The family of God is made complete when each part does it's work in love...again, the great partner text here is Ephesians 4. Remember, even though I am constantly referring to verses and chapters, this was originally a letter. It did not have verses and chapters. Verses and chapters aid our study but sometimes they break the flow of the original text. Verse 31 is supposed to flow right into chapter 13...where Paul reminds us that love must be the defining aspect of any church culture. And love is not the only standard...all of chapter 13 points to every other portion of Scripture that demands of us the character of Christ. And when we find ourselves immersed in a healthy community of people called the local church, we are able to challenge one another to that end...so let's be a little "strange" together!
Pastor Fred
Here is a portion of the plot description that you can find on one of my favorite websites and most used phone apps...IMDB, "In a small town where everyone knows everyone, a peculiar incident starts a chain of events that leads to the disappearance of a child - which begins to tear at the fabric of an otherwise peaceful community. Dark government agencies and seemingly malevolent supernatural forces converge on the town, while a few locals begin to understand that there's more going on than meets the eye." At the time I pulled that quote, there were over 165k user reviews for this show and the average rating was 9.1 out to 10...which is historically high! Now be warned, the show can be creepy, evil, and disturbing. So if you are prone to nightmares, you may be living with EVERY light on in your house for a while...especially all the new Christmas lights!
I love this show because I believe it reminds us that just because something is strange doesn't mean it can't be real. In the series at the Newport News Campus, we are exploring some strange things in the Bible that I believe God wants to be our reality! They may belong in an "upside down world" but God's hope is that we will grow to both expect them and embrace them!
We started our study in 1 Corinthians 12. If you are interested in listening to those two opening messages, then you can use this link: City Life Podcast. Last week I was not able to finish our look into this amazing chapter and wanted to share my final thoughts to complete the teaching on this text.
In the first two weeks, we talked about how God wants us to expect and embrace a "strange voice" in our lives. That is the opening of 1 Corinthians 12. Paul is exhorting them and now us that we need people in our lives who love us enough to challenge and even when necessary bring correction. That feels strange if you aren't used to it but it is most certainly a vital part of any healthy spiritual family. I build trusting relationships at church so God can use me to help others and so I can have people I trust to help me. We also talked about a "strange expectation." This is where we worked through the list of nine results of grace that manifest God's reality in a supernatural way. I like the phrase results of grace because that is the true meaning of the word "gift" that appears in the text. But for simplicity sake, we call them: three gifts that reveal, three gifts that declare, and three gifts that command. Being a candidate for God to use to reveal Himself in a supernatural way feels strange, especially the first time we experience something otherworldly like the working of a miracle or a word of knowledge. We talked about a "strange reliance" that took us through verses 12 to 27. All ministry begins by learning how to serve one another as part of the same body. Mutual dependence is not easy for us; it feels strange. We like to champion this idea of rugged independence! You will never be fully complete until you connect your life to others in a covenantal community called the local church and there is a local church out there somewhere that will be forever incomplete until you show up!
The point we never reached is a "strange deference." Take a minute to read 1 Corinthians 12:28-30. Remember, Paul has already given us an outline for this chapter in verses four through six. Here he is shifting gears into part three of this chapter in talking about a "varieties of activities" that he connects to God. (If you recall, he connected a "varieties of gifts" to the Holy Spirit and a "varieties of ministries" to Jesus). I believe what Paul is trying to communicate to us here is that if the activity of church is not directed by the activity of leaders who ensure order then chaos will soon be present which is why Paul is having to write this letter to Corinth...they are a chaotic church! Paul is assuming that you have read the preceding verses. His use of "first, second, and third" are to say all of these three are examples of directive leaders in a church. We know this from connecting this text to Ephesians 4, which Paul also wrote. Paul believes in the principle of directive leaders (which I also call nucleus leaders or senior leaders). And these numbers are not to be interpreted as an order of importance. It is simply three offices in a church whose primary activity is to bring healthy authority. The emphasis should not be placed on the unique role that apostles, prophets, or teachers carry out. That is more related to the "varieties of ministries." The emphasis should be placed on their specific activity of being directive leaders. This is why we have this portion of the chapter connected to God because He reminds us of the need for the presence of a directive authority. Again, Paul assumes you have read the whole chapter so when the verses shift in the NKJV with the use of "after that" and "then" Paul is pulling examples from both of the two former lists. He gives us some examples of "varieties of gifts" and "varieties of ministries." He is saying that what makes a church a safe place for these former two lists of "varieties" is the activity of directive leaders. It can be strange for people to allow others to be in a place of spiritual authority in their life. Although I am a nucleus, directive leader now, that has not always been the case. Many of my years in church were benefitting from the direction of elders and other senior leaders. They created order, defined vision, created ministries, set the pace in giving, exemplified Christ, cared for people in crisis, and invested in others who might one day walk in their shoes. I can't imagine what my formative years as a Christian would have been like without them. Leaders can never demand this relationship from people. They can make demands of people and sometimes that is necessary but those demands are never fruitful unless the person being directed has already embraced that person's authority in their life.
Verse 29 is basically a synopsis verse for everything that preceded before. Every person matters. Every ministry is important. Every role is essential. The family of God is made complete when each part does it's work in love...again, the great partner text here is Ephesians 4. Remember, even though I am constantly referring to verses and chapters, this was originally a letter. It did not have verses and chapters. Verses and chapters aid our study but sometimes they break the flow of the original text. Verse 31 is supposed to flow right into chapter 13...where Paul reminds us that love must be the defining aspect of any church culture. And love is not the only standard...all of chapter 13 points to every other portion of Scripture that demands of us the character of Christ. And when we find ourselves immersed in a healthy community of people called the local church, we are able to challenge one another to that end...so let's be a little "strange" together!
Pastor Fred
Thursday, May 12, 2016
Divergent - Politics of 2016
Frustrated, disappointed, angry, sad, and embarrassed are all words that best describe my reaction to the 2016 Presidential race. I am not speaking of any candidate in particular nor any one political party. These feelings are the result of what I believe to be the root of the dissension and frustration in the entire elective process.
In 2014, the first in a book series by Veronica Roth became a successful film at the box office -- Divergent. Her blog describes Divergent this way: "In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives..." If you have read the books or seen the movies you know that once an adolescent chooses a certain faction, they must serve that virtue for the remainder of their lives. For example, if I am Amity, I will never be allowed to work or serve in any role that is assigned to the faction or class of Erudite. What makes these fictional stories so compelling is the contrast to our society where we celebrate and cherish our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as so courageously penned in our Declaration of Independence. America is a great nation because we champion the right of self-determination...unless we are talking about politics.
One of the distinctive differences between the Republican and Democratic primary process is the presence of super-delegates in the Democratic Party. Both parties are well into their respective primaries whereby citizens in each state have the opportunity to vote for their candidate of choice. In an effort to simplify this process, think of it this way. The number of votes a candidate receives correlates into points. The Republican candidate must amass a total of 1237 and the Democratic candidate 2383. These points are called delegates because they are actual people.
At each party's convention this summer, every state will send delegates/representatives to select a candidate that will run for the office of President. And while both party's rules vary, the expectation is that these delegates will vote at the convention based on how their state voted in the primary. For example, in Virginia's primary, Hillary Clinton beat Bernie Sanders by approximately 65% to 35%. So she was assigned 62 delegates and Sanders was assigned 33 delegates from Virginia. If both candidates are still in the race by the Democratic convention, those delegates will vote for their assigned candidate. The Republican party operates in a similar fashion. However, if there were two candidates still in the Republican race at the time of the convention, the only delegates who are allowed to vote are those sent by the states. And those delegates sent by the states vote according to results determined solely by the voters. However, if there is more than one ballot, then the rules begin to change so that a candidate can ultimately be selected. But the first ballot is clear, delegates sent by states represent the will of the people as expressed through their vote in the individual state primaries.
So back to super-delegates. If you are interested in a more complete history of super-delegates you can see this article by the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. There are 712 super-delegates. These individuals are major elected officials, notable party figures, and select leaders of organizations affiliated with the Democratic National Convention (definitions by Becca Stanek). Their support is not dictated by the voters. They are allowed to choose which Democratic candidate to support. Now you have to decide which process you prefer. For me, I always want a process that has the opportunity to be determined solely by the outcome of voters.
The former Democratic Governor of North Carolina Jim Hunt said the following in November of 1981, "We must also give our convention more flexibility to respond to changing circumstances and, in cases where the voters’ mandate is less than clear, to make a reasoned choice." I'm not sure how the voters' mandate can be anything but clear. People vote and margins are based on math and a winner is declared. Really what Governor Hunt was saying is that sometimes the voter is not savvy enough to pick the right candidate and we the political elite must step in to protect the general public from themselves. Is it possible for no single candidate to gain enough delegates to be selected? It is certainly possible in the Republican Party. In that case, there are rules that guide the process forward so a candidate can be selected. But what the Democratic Party has done through the creation of super-delegates is to never give the voters of their party an opportunity to express a clear mandate.
We have factions. They are not formalized factions like Veronica Roth's novels but they exist and they are powerful influences in our society. And I believe one of those factions is the faction of the political elite. The presence of super-delegates is a clear example. 712 of the 2383 delegates that choose the Democratic candidate for the President of the United States are not bound by the vote of citizens. This concerns me. The will of the people can be thwarted. As of this morning, Hillary Clinton has earned 1,716 delegates through the voting of citizens. Bernie Sanders has earned 1,433 delegates through the voting of citizens. So when you hear news outlets continue to report that it is mathematically impossible for him to win the nomination for his party, doesn't that surprise you? The will of the people has yet to be determined. In an article by Huffington Post yesterday, Bernie Sanders has won 19 of 25 State primaries/caucuses and is only a few hundred thousand votes behind in the popular vote which is a small margin given how many votes have been cast. Both he and Hillary Clinton are tied in National polls for their party. But super-delegates swing heavily in her favor, people who are not bound by the will of voters.
I am equally concerned for the Republican Party. There are no super-delegates in the Republican Party. But there is a faction of political elites that should be equally disturbing to us. When former Presidents and their families publicly state they will not support the candidate chosen by the people at the polls, they are the political elite. When candidates who ran but lost publicly state they will not support the candidate chosen by the people at the polls, they are the political elite. When elected officials publicly state they will not support the candidate chosen by the people at the polls, they are the political elite. Oh they are going to say it violates their conscience or their position is because of their personal integrity...they lie. They are the political elite. They are a part of the class of people in our society who have been controlling the political process for decades. And now someone who is not part of their "faction" is trespassing. They should be ashamed of themselves. Their withholding of support has nothing to do with character. They are spoiled elites who are pouting about their loss of control or they are political candidates posturing in a way they believe better positions them for future elections...or both!
Regardless of how you may feel about any of the candidates in this year's Presidential race, champion and protect the foundation of our political system...a free elective process whereby the will of the people is expressed at the polls. Do not support the political elites who seek to control outcomes and derail the will of voters. Be wise and recognize when media outlets who are supposed to be journalists stop reporting the narrative and begin creating their own narrative. Don't be naive. Both conservative and liberal media outlets are pushing an agenda and that agenda is the profitability of their respective brands. In addition, many of them are just as much a part of this "faction" of the political elites as the candidates themselves.
I'm for a faction free world. I don't want to live in Veronica Roth's dystopian society. May we never stop being these people, which people? "We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
Pastor Fred
In 2014, the first in a book series by Veronica Roth became a successful film at the box office -- Divergent. Her blog describes Divergent this way: "In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives..." If you have read the books or seen the movies you know that once an adolescent chooses a certain faction, they must serve that virtue for the remainder of their lives. For example, if I am Amity, I will never be allowed to work or serve in any role that is assigned to the faction or class of Erudite. What makes these fictional stories so compelling is the contrast to our society where we celebrate and cherish our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as so courageously penned in our Declaration of Independence. America is a great nation because we champion the right of self-determination...unless we are talking about politics.
One of the distinctive differences between the Republican and Democratic primary process is the presence of super-delegates in the Democratic Party. Both parties are well into their respective primaries whereby citizens in each state have the opportunity to vote for their candidate of choice. In an effort to simplify this process, think of it this way. The number of votes a candidate receives correlates into points. The Republican candidate must amass a total of 1237 and the Democratic candidate 2383. These points are called delegates because they are actual people.
At each party's convention this summer, every state will send delegates/representatives to select a candidate that will run for the office of President. And while both party's rules vary, the expectation is that these delegates will vote at the convention based on how their state voted in the primary. For example, in Virginia's primary, Hillary Clinton beat Bernie Sanders by approximately 65% to 35%. So she was assigned 62 delegates and Sanders was assigned 33 delegates from Virginia. If both candidates are still in the race by the Democratic convention, those delegates will vote for their assigned candidate. The Republican party operates in a similar fashion. However, if there were two candidates still in the Republican race at the time of the convention, the only delegates who are allowed to vote are those sent by the states. And those delegates sent by the states vote according to results determined solely by the voters. However, if there is more than one ballot, then the rules begin to change so that a candidate can ultimately be selected. But the first ballot is clear, delegates sent by states represent the will of the people as expressed through their vote in the individual state primaries.
So back to super-delegates. If you are interested in a more complete history of super-delegates you can see this article by the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. There are 712 super-delegates. These individuals are major elected officials, notable party figures, and select leaders of organizations affiliated with the Democratic National Convention (definitions by Becca Stanek). Their support is not dictated by the voters. They are allowed to choose which Democratic candidate to support. Now you have to decide which process you prefer. For me, I always want a process that has the opportunity to be determined solely by the outcome of voters.
The former Democratic Governor of North Carolina Jim Hunt said the following in November of 1981, "We must also give our convention more flexibility to respond to changing circumstances and, in cases where the voters’ mandate is less than clear, to make a reasoned choice." I'm not sure how the voters' mandate can be anything but clear. People vote and margins are based on math and a winner is declared. Really what Governor Hunt was saying is that sometimes the voter is not savvy enough to pick the right candidate and we the political elite must step in to protect the general public from themselves. Is it possible for no single candidate to gain enough delegates to be selected? It is certainly possible in the Republican Party. In that case, there are rules that guide the process forward so a candidate can be selected. But what the Democratic Party has done through the creation of super-delegates is to never give the voters of their party an opportunity to express a clear mandate.
We have factions. They are not formalized factions like Veronica Roth's novels but they exist and they are powerful influences in our society. And I believe one of those factions is the faction of the political elite. The presence of super-delegates is a clear example. 712 of the 2383 delegates that choose the Democratic candidate for the President of the United States are not bound by the vote of citizens. This concerns me. The will of the people can be thwarted. As of this morning, Hillary Clinton has earned 1,716 delegates through the voting of citizens. Bernie Sanders has earned 1,433 delegates through the voting of citizens. So when you hear news outlets continue to report that it is mathematically impossible for him to win the nomination for his party, doesn't that surprise you? The will of the people has yet to be determined. In an article by Huffington Post yesterday, Bernie Sanders has won 19 of 25 State primaries/caucuses and is only a few hundred thousand votes behind in the popular vote which is a small margin given how many votes have been cast. Both he and Hillary Clinton are tied in National polls for their party. But super-delegates swing heavily in her favor, people who are not bound by the will of voters.
I am equally concerned for the Republican Party. There are no super-delegates in the Republican Party. But there is a faction of political elites that should be equally disturbing to us. When former Presidents and their families publicly state they will not support the candidate chosen by the people at the polls, they are the political elite. When candidates who ran but lost publicly state they will not support the candidate chosen by the people at the polls, they are the political elite. When elected officials publicly state they will not support the candidate chosen by the people at the polls, they are the political elite. Oh they are going to say it violates their conscience or their position is because of their personal integrity...they lie. They are the political elite. They are a part of the class of people in our society who have been controlling the political process for decades. And now someone who is not part of their "faction" is trespassing. They should be ashamed of themselves. Their withholding of support has nothing to do with character. They are spoiled elites who are pouting about their loss of control or they are political candidates posturing in a way they believe better positions them for future elections...or both!
Regardless of how you may feel about any of the candidates in this year's Presidential race, champion and protect the foundation of our political system...a free elective process whereby the will of the people is expressed at the polls. Do not support the political elites who seek to control outcomes and derail the will of voters. Be wise and recognize when media outlets who are supposed to be journalists stop reporting the narrative and begin creating their own narrative. Don't be naive. Both conservative and liberal media outlets are pushing an agenda and that agenda is the profitability of their respective brands. In addition, many of them are just as much a part of this "faction" of the political elites as the candidates themselves.
I'm for a faction free world. I don't want to live in Veronica Roth's dystopian society. May we never stop being these people, which people? "We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
Pastor Fred
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