by Brian Hobbs | Nov 8, 2016
All eyes will be on the U.S. Presidential race tonight. From Florida to Nevada, New Hampshire to Arizona, Americans will be fixated on what states went for Trump and what states went for Hillary.
Amid the media and social media chatter about ballot counts and presidential election chaos, other significant votes are happening that have major implications for Christians and the very soul of this nation. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Marijuana makes its move
Five states–California, Massachusetts, Maine, Arizona and Nevada—will consider legalizing recreational use of marijuana, while four other states will vote on other rules related to marijuana, such as so-called “medical marijuana.” What this means is that “82 million residents live in states that could loosen rules on marijuana,” according to sources. I’ve written on why this is a bad idea for America before and how it could have disastrous consequences for families, especially children. If all or even some of these measures get approved, proponents of marijuana will have taken their biggest leap forward—or backwards, rather—yet.
2. Rocky Mountain Low: Euthanasia Watch
Our neighbors in Colorado are set to take one giant leap toward a culture of death. To be specific, Colorado voters will consider a state proposition that would legalize assisted suicide, also known as euthanasia. The measure has major backers, including Colorado’s Gov. John Hickenlooper. While proponents claim the law will make suicide legal for only certain people, we know from experience that these laws tend to be ever-expanding. Moreover, as Christians, we know that God alone holds the keys to life and death. We need to maximize care for those facing terminal illness, not help them take their own life under false notions of “death with dignity.” I applaud those who have spoken against this measure, such as Catholic Archdiocese of Denver, and I pray Coloradans don’t go through with this madness.
3. Religious Liberty in the Sooner State
This November, Oklahoma voters will consider a number of state questions on topics including the death penalty, alcohol laws, a sales tax hike for education, as well as one state question that has major religious liberty implications. State Question 790 would remove the Blaine Amendment from Oklahoma’s State Constitution. The Blaine Amendment was the basis for the Oklahoma State Supreme Court’s order to remove the privately-funded Ten Commandments Monument from State Capitol grounds last year. To put it as succinctly as possible, if you thought the Ten Commandments Monument should have been allowed to stay, vote “yes” on SQ 790. The Baptist Messenger has published several articles, including this editorial and this column about what positive things a “Yes” vote would mean for the state. The vote could be razor close and is definitely one to watch.
4. Senators, Congressman and scares, oh my!
The Founders of our country wisely distributed power between the three branches of government: the Legislative, the Executive and the Judicial. No matter how overwhelming the next President wins on Election Day, he or she still must work with Congress to enact laws. It’s distinctly possible the U.S. Senate will be split at 50-50, with half Republican and half Democratic control. That means the running mate, the Vice President, as president of the Senate, may have a bigger influence than times past. In addition to watching the presidential race, voters need to pay attention to which party will control the Senate and House, because that will have a big impact on what the next two-to-four years look like, legislatively and in other respects.
These are four things I will be watching on Election Day besides Trump vs. Hillary. What about you?
by Brian Hobbs | Oct 13, 2016
The 2016 Election cycle makes me feel like we’re all trapped on a nauseating, horrific roller coaster ride that just keeps getting worse. From scandals to insults, the bar keeps getting lower in the 2016 presidential race. This makes me wish it were already over.
At the same time, I have this latent concern that while people are ready to cast their vote for president, relatively few have any idea how they’ll vote on other candidate races, state questions and judicial retention ballots.
In Oklahoma, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Committee of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma has an excellent new resource called “2016 Election Explainer” that helps voters know what’s all on the ballot. Click here to download the free resource.
As Election Day (Nov. 8) draws near, I would encourage everyone who plans to vote to consider all that’s on the ballot, not just Trump vs. Clinton. As Nov. 9 draws near, I would encourage Christians to work toward unity among believers, even those who may be voting differently than you.
Is it over yet? Not yet, but mercifully, we are getting closer to the end. For Christians, let’s pray and vote and conduct ourselves in a way we can be proud of after the Election is over and beyond.
by Brian Hobbs | Sep 27, 2016
While the pundits and people on social media are talking about the first U.S. Presidential debate—analyzing who won and lost—I want to add five questions to the mix.
- Why were there no opening and closing statements? In nearly every debate I can think of, candidates are presented with an opportunity to begin with an opening statement. This allows the nation to hear, in a brief segment, what the candidates are all about. Without opening and closing statements, we were just left to deal with what issues and questions were raised or happen to come up.
- What’s up with the audience? There are two possible options for an audience in debate like this. You can have the audience free to react, with applause, gasps and more, creating a football like atmosphere. Or you can have them stone silent, which makes one wonder why the audience is even there. In this debate, the audience was allowed to react here and there, which created a scenario of the worst of both worlds.
- What about the open Supreme Court seat? One of the most significant actions the next president will take is to nominate a justice to the U.S. Supreme Court, after the sad passing of Justice Antonin Scalia. This is the “elephant in the room,” and the debate should have had at least one question about this. Not only would the question have practical implications, it also would tell us a great deal about their respective disagreements about the U.S. Constitution, about the role of the Judiciary and more. This was a huge missing ingredient.
- What about abortion? A hallmark of Hillary Clinton’s public life has been supporting the so-called “right to choose.” Her campaign is proposing the elimination of the Hyde Amendment, which prevents tax dollars going toward abortion, as well as continued funding of Planned Parenthood. Why, amid all of the debate questions was the sanctity of life not discussed? It is concerning that Donald Trump did not take the opportunity to bring these issues up, either.
- What about religious liberty? With growing religious persecution abroad and with threats to religious liberty at home, a case can be made that this issue is paramount. Linked to issues like marriage and national security, what the candidates think about religious liberty is key. Because this was not asked, a great disservice to people of faith—and the American people as a whole—was done.
For these reasons and more, it was a disappointing debate, one that seemed to be more about TV ratings and theatrics than the flourishing of justice and freedom in the American Republic and around the world.
by Brian Hobbs | Sep 22, 2016
I saw a man the other day, sitting at a meal with his family. He was ignoring the very people around them and was totally engrossed in his smartphone, looking at a social media post or some fleeting news.
I later saw that same guy glued to his smartphone during what seemed to be an important meeting. The very next day, I saw this guy miss his kid’s touchdown play at a flag football game because he was looking at his phone.
That man was me. I cannot seem to ever fully break from smartphones these days. They are everywhere we go. I once caught myself in a dentist chair, having my teeth worked on, and tempted to check my phone when I got a text message. To put it succinctly, smartphones are everywhere and an endless source of distraction.
Now society has made “no texting while driving” a key focal point of social pressure and laws, for good reason. I sometimes wonder, though, if we need apply some pressure on ourselves to find other text-free and phone-free times.
In a new article published in the Washington Post, ‘Why the church can rescue us from our smartphones’, Dr. Russell Moore discusses what’s at stake. Quoting another writer, the piece says, “’If the churches came to understand that the greatest threat to faith today is not hedonism but distraction, perhaps they might begin to appeal anew to a frazzled digital generation.’”
Dr. Moore went on to say, “We don’t just have people who are grumpy in line at the supermarket; we have to respond to anonymous critics — or even cyber-bullies — on social media. And we are always just a text message away from the words ‘I just want to give you a heads-up’ upending an entire day or night—no matter if it’s a Sabbath or a vacation or a family dinner. This can be exhausting.”
I agree. I have found that taking breaks from my smartphone, such as at the dinner table, provides a needed break. I have also found that not checking email at all hours of the day mitigates exhaustion caused by smartphones.
As Christians, we do not hate technology, of course. We just guard against it becoming an idol or replacement for the things God has called us to do. As Christian George once said, it is significant that Jesus Our Lord came as a Person, not a pixel. God could have e-mailed a plan of redemption or the Scriptures, but He chose Incarnation.
Following His example, let’s consciously find ways to live incarnational lives, to be present among the people around us. Let’s become less dependent on our phones and more dependent on Him. Because when we do, the world will take note that Christians are not distracted but are different.
by Brian Hobbs | Sep 15, 2016
Everywhere I go, I hear people talking about three things: 1) Politics 2) Pop culture; and 3) Diets/exercise. I have met more people going on more diets lately than I can possibly name. I have met more people on exercise routines than I can name.
I, for one, applaud when anyone gets fit. It is especially inspiring when someone who was very overweight becomes fit.
I must admit, though, that all of the social media posts about how far someone ran today, about how many pounds they have lost in a week, can grow somewhat wearisome. But in an age when most of us live sedentary lives; when most of us have to choose to exercise because we otherwise would not get any, I guess I should be glad.
Proportionally to how much we talk about diets and exercise, the Bible does not have as much to say on the matter. The Bible (and the book of Proverbs in particular) does, however, have a lot to say about self-control, our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit and about moderation.
Without trying to judge other people, I have tried myself to think Christianly about these issues. In the process of my own starts and failures related to diet and exercise, here are four things that have helped me that might help you.
1. Do something. It pains me to know how many people struggle with weight and overeating. While I may never have been obese, I can somewhat understand struggles. During my college years, I was a lot less active and was a lot heavier. Yet always trying to have some self-control with food and always be doing some exercise, though, I have found that not only is the end result is better, the temptations toward sloth and gluttony are less.
2. Keep it real. Some people have had short-term fitness success with diet pills or other fads. But as people made in the image of God, our lives should not be all about short cuts. By eating real food (and doing so responsibly); by attempting real exercise and disciplining ourselves, the benefits are not only long-term, but may even have an eternal effect on our souls.
3. Don’t make it an idol. So your Nike fitness tracker social media post tells me that you ran one mile in 9.4 minutes. That’s great! We “Like” that, to use a Facebook phrase. At the same time, if your personal fitness goals and current weight become an obsession, and all you can talk about is how great you look and feel, it might be time to re-evaluate priorities.
4. Redeem the diet and exercise. I once heard a pastor say our lives should be about the mission, not the mirror. His point was that everything we do is for the glory of God and fulfilling His mission for our lives. Why do we want to eat responsibly? It is just to be better looking? Or is it more about stewardship and not abusing food and the body? Why do we exercise? Is it for bragging rights, or is to be disciplined and prepared to serve in ways we are needed.
Now I don’t like watching what I eat. I loathe doing push-ups, pull-ups and running. In short, I hate the gym and love the dinner. But, by God’s grace, I will learn to love these things and to live more responsibly in these key areas, all for God’s glory.
“Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV)