by Brian Hobbs | Oct 6, 2014
Ten years ago, Oklahoma voters took to the polls to approve State Question 711, then known as a Marriage Protection Law. The question was approved by 75 percent of voters. Ten years later, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals struck down this law, now commonly referred to as a “ban on gay marriage.”
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the appeal of this decision, and related ones, and it is commonly thought that same-sex unions can now legally proceed apace in Oklahoma. What a difference 10 years can make!
Responses from Christians and defenders of natural marriage were immediately heard. Southern Baptist ethics aficionado, Dr. Russell D. Moore, said the decision was momentous but directed Christians toward a balanced response. He said, “The Supreme Court can do many things, but the Supreme Court cannot get Jesus back into his cemetery plot. Our model here ought to be the best aspects of the pro-life movement. Were there angry people who were anti-abortion who simply wanted the ‘wedge issue’ in order to differentiate themselves from their opponents? I’m sure there were. But the primary thrust of the movement wasn’t about culture wars but cultural persuasion.”
Oklahoma Baptist leader, Dr. Anthony L. Jordan, said this: “It is truly a shame that the Courts of the land have gone against God’s Word, thousands of years of tradition pertaining to the meaning of marriage, as well as the will of the people in this state and others. But we are confident, in the end, God’s law remains, and we will move forward in humility and prayer toward building a positive culture of marriage.”
Each of these comments express disappointment but confidence, and that is the way I feel as well. In some ways, this is a culturally pivotal moment that we all thought was coming. In other ways, only time will tell how many people will actually apply for these same-sex “marriages” and how these arrangements will affect others.
What we do know is that no ruling can rightly redefine something God originally designed and made. Marriage, by its very nature, is the sacred union between one man and one woman, primarily for the procreation of the human race and as the building block for the family.
We also know that marriage is a beautiful expression of the Gospel. Therefore, in these positive ways, we need to stop defending marriage and start promoting it. In other words, if we truly believe marriage is worth saving, we ought to start building a positive culture around Christian marriage and live by example. In the end, that will speak more loudly to our neighbors than any Court ruling and be more enduring than any political maneuver.
by Brian Hobbs | Oct 3, 2014
“There’s no time to change your mind. The Son has come. And you‘ve been left behind.”
These haunting words reappeared in 1995 (originally by Larry Norman in 1969) with a performance by DC Talk, “Wish We’d All Been Ready.” That same year, a runaway best-selling book by Tim LaHaye entitled “Left Behind” also gave new life to the pre-millennial viewpoint about the end times and the rapture.
The book, which led to fifteen others in a series, also sparked a theatrical movie starring Kirk Cameron. This weekend, the newest manifestation of the popular “Left Behind” series will find its way into movie theatres. This rendition stars Nicolas Cage and is sure to draw interest beyond the Evangelical community and reignite the entire discussion of eschatology.
A full movie review of “Left Behind” is slated to appear on WordSlingersOK.com next week, but a larger discussion about the views which the Left Behind series touts is warranted. The predominant viewpoint among rank-and-file Evangelicals is reflected in these works, albeit in less sensationalized terms than LaHaye envisions. In 2011, the Baptist Messenger published an extensive series expounding on other viewpoints about the Second Coming of Christ, the end times, and specifically the Book of Revelation.
Not the end of the world
Predictions about the end of the world have always fell flat. Whether it was doomsday predictors around the year 1000 A.D. or more recently Harold Camping or author Edgar Whisenhunt (“88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988”) every single prediction of the end has not come true.
This should not surprise us, given Our Lord’s admonition in Matt. 24:23. This should, however, shame us, to be associated with such false predictions.
When discussing end times matters, Christians must remember there is large room for disagreement. We all agree on what will happen for sure, namely the Second Coming of Christ. When that will happen is unknown to man. How will it happen? On this, there is a wide range of opinions among Bible-believing Christians (e.g. separate from “the rapture,” before it, with no rapture). Therefore, Christians should not treat end-times views as a litmus test for orthodoxy.
Fact or fiction?
From the movie trailer, it is clear the new Left Behind movie is action packed. But is it Scripture packed? Too often works like LaHaye’s rely less on Scripture and more on the imagination of the author or movie maker. While it is true these works are presented as fiction, they clearly speak to a worldview embodied in the premillennial, dispensationalist view of the end times. I will let the theologians duke it out as to whose viewpoint of the end times is correct. I simply wish to point out that what LaHaye and these movie makers are promoting is not merely fictional; it is meant to convey drama toward a real worldview or understanding of the Scriptures. And so doing, it is important to counterbalance movies and books like this with a steady diet of Scripture. After all, we want Christians basing their viewpoints not on pop culture works, but on the unchanging Word of God.
Go tell about Jesus
Whether you like the Left Behind series or can’t stand it, we can all agree in the urgency to take the Gospel to every man, woman and child on planet earth. A movie like this, which may very well be based on a false premise and misunderstanding of the Scriptures, should nevertheless serve as a reminder that our days are numbered, and God calls us to righteous living. Likely, it stands as a reminder that Christ is indeed coming again.
Regardless of your viewpoint of the end times, all Christians agree that Christ is coming again to judge the living and the dead, granting resurrection life to His people and separation from God for those who rejected Him. Thinking toward that glorious day, we say “Come, Lord Jesus!”
by Brian Hobbs | Sep 25, 2014
Robert F. Kennedy, Ed Meese, Janet Reno and John Ashcroft. These are a few prominent Attorneys General of the United States of America who preceded current AG, Eric H. Holder, Jr., who announced his resignation on September 25, 2014.
Since he was sworn into office on February 3, 2009, Holder’s tenure has been marked by criticism and controversy. Accusations resulting from the “Fast and Furious” program, for example, have hounded Holder throughout his time of service.
He did make history in one positive way, becoming the first African-American AG to have served. Beyond these controversial issues and historic moments, it’s important to hone in on the job of AG, which is to ensure justice in this country.
I will allow political pundits, other politicians—and history itself—to assess Holder’s ultimate legacy. I would rather focus on the most important aim of this office: justice.
Recall that the U.S. Constitution states in the preamble: “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.”
The office of Attorney General is key toward this aim of establishing justice. The office itself was established in 1789 “to prosecute and conduct all suits in the Supreme Court in which the United States shall be concerned, and to give his advice and opinion upon questions of law when required by the president of the United States, or when requested by the heads of any of the departments.” This office today also oversees the Department of Justice, a vast bureaucracy.
The very calling of the Attorney General, then, is inherently tied to the concept of justice. Founding Father James Madison, the framer of our Constitution, said it best when he said, “Justice is the end of government. It is the end of civil society.”
In a biblical worldview, we understand that injustice is sure to occur until Christ returns and puts all wrongs to right. At the same time, the Bible recognizes that working toward justice is the key calling of government leaders. The Old Testament has much to say on this.
The prophet Isaiah gives us the revelation: “For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them.”
Even in a fallen world, effort toward justice is expected from rules. Proverbs 21:15 says, “When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.”
Whether the AG or U.S. President, whether the local District Attorney or a Judge, all government leaders have an obligation—a duty—to ensure justice.
Thomas Aquinas defined justice as “a habit whereby a man renders to each one his due with constant and perpetual will.” The concept is closely tied to the Golden Rule, taught by Christ Himself.
Isn’t it a blessing that our Founding Fathers established a role specific to this charge? Let’s pray whoever follows Holder will take this charge seriously, biblically and justly. Our citizens deserve no less. God expects no less.
by Brian Hobbs | Sep 18, 2014
A professional football player is found out for domestic abuse against his wife. A politician is caught sending lewd pictures to a staff member. Headlines hit us every week, every day about public people getting caught in so-called private sins.
The Apostle Paul said, “Some people’s sins are obvious, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others surface later” (1 Tim. 5:24). In other words, each of us have sins that will come to light eventually, but some are known today.
In many cases of powerful politicians or popular athletes, people want to separate their private lives from their public ones. Throughout history, powerful leaders frequently have thought of themselves as immune to the moral rules that apply to ordinary people like you and me.
Caesar, Napoleon, Mussolini and the evil Hitler to name a few—these men believed themselves to be so great that they were above the law. That idea, which is taking root in many segments of society today—dates back to philosophers like Machiavelli and Georg Hegel, the latter of whom said, “A World-Historical individual is devoted to the One Aim, regardless of all else. It is even possible that such men may treat other great, even sacred interests inconsiderately; conduct which is indeed obnoxious to moral reprehension. But so mighty a form must trample down many an innocent flower or crush to pieces many an object in its path.”
Contrary to this idea, the Bible teaches that even the most powerful man or woman is not above the law. King David found this out the hard way, after God used the prophet Nathan to confront David’s sin with Bathsheba and pronounce the curse this would bring on Israel. In Christianity, each person is accountable to God and there is no separation of what someone does in private and what they do in public.
Society, meanwhile, wants to keep a double-standard in place. We like our star athletes and charming politicians so much we look past their sins, even ones found out. And when people, especially Christians, try to hold them accountable for their actions, society dismisses them as hypocrites or hate mongers.
Recall what happened with former President Bill Clinton was found out to be carrying on an affair in the White House and covering it up. The issue became politicized, and the country divided. Today, Clinton stands as one of the most popular figures in all the world because of his public accomplishments.
It would be one thing if society were looking beyond these sins because they have been forgiven, and we are moving on. Sadly, it seems more related to a gross double-standard that has crept into our thinking.
Whether a politician, an athlete or some other public figure, each of us will be judged by God’s unchanging standard. Even though Christians may not easily be able to change society’s casual attitudes toward sin, we can strive to live a pure life, both in public and in private. And so done, that has the potential to change the world around us in more enduring ways than any politician can.
by Brian Hobbs | Aug 22, 2014
I can admit it. I don’t really watch TV anymore (other than some sports and news). In fact, a new show to me is “Full House.” So you can imagine my surprise when I saw, while I was in a hospital waiting room, a new show called “Naked and Afraid.” As the title suggests, the participants of the reality show are not wearing any clothing.
I am told by those who regularly watch TV that there is now an outgrowth of programs based on the people being naked. At risk of being called a Puritan, I want to offer a few reflections of what I think this means about our society’s view of sexuality and entertainment.
Deadened consciences
When God made Adam and Eve, they were without sin and were naked and “unashamed.” After sinning, they became aware of their nakedness and hid from God, as they felt shame. In today’s society, we are so overly sexualized that we are now naked and do not feel shame.
Unlike the pre-fallen Adam, we do not feel shame because we are innocent. I am afraid we don’t feel shame any longer because our consciences have been deadened.
High standards are for our own good
Putting TV shows out there based on nakedness is a gateway to temptation. The Christian standard on sexuality is, admittedly, high. “Let there not even be a hint of sexual immorality,” said the Apostle Paul (Eph. 5:3), and the sexual act is only within the confines of marriage. God put this standard there for our own good, hard as that seems.
C.S. Lewis said it this way, “The Christian attitude (about sex) does not mean that there is anything wrong about sexual pleasure, any more than about the pleasure of eating. It means that you must not isolate that pleasure and try to get it by itself, any more than you ought to try to get the pleasures of taste without swallowing and digesting, by chewing things and spitting them out.”
Who among us has not transgressed this standard, if not in deed at least in thought? Yet, we cannot break God’s rules without being broken. Chasing sexual pleasure outside of marriage is like shooting yourself in the foot.
Repeal and replace
Indiscriminate TV viewing, sometimes called “channel surfing,” is a portal of temptation. Temptation, yes, to consume programming that is inappropriate, but perhaps as important, it is a temptation to waste time. A Nielsen study in 2010 showed that the “average American watched 34 hours 39 minutes of TV per week.
Consider what could be done during that time? By the age of 26, Winston Churchill was a best-selling author, Member of Parliament, a millionaire and a war hero. During a 10 year period of his early life, he wrote eleven books and more than 400 articles and also painted countless works on canvas. Churchill knew how to redeem time. As Christians, we are called to pray and serve, not merely leisure and work. So the next time you are channel surfing, simply turn the remote off, and pay attention to the other opportunities of activity around you.
What is worse, TV viewing has not become mere entertainment. It has become an escape. After a long day’s work or school, we come home to drown our sorrows in a few hours of indiscriminate TV viewing. Fill our minds, forget our woes. Meanwhile, we only defer our problems when we do not face them and forgo the joys of a full, abundant life in Christ (John 10:10).
Forward, onward
Shows will come and shows will go. God will hold each of us accountable for every moment of our lives, including each minute spent watching the tube. How sad will we be, at the end of our years, to look back on the time wasted watching shows like “Naked and Afraid” or worse. Let’s change our habits while there is time! As the Apostle Paul said, we could be “making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:16).