THE GREAT DIVIDE

July 22, 2014

 

A friend of mine recently related an incident that illustrates beautifully the Great Divide increasingly evident in our culture. Kenny was on a fishing trip with his brother and his brother’s  friend.  This friend and Kenny found themselves sharing a boat.  As they visited, it became quite obvious to Kenny that the friend’s political and social views tended toward the far left of the political spectrum.  Among other things, he made known his disdain for Christians and their opposition to gay marriage.  He also made clear his own “enlightened” atheism.  After their discussion became more and more heated with neither Kenny nor his brother’s friend willing to give ground, Kenny finally brought the discussion to an end.  What he told his fishing companion sums up the intellectual chasm now dividing us:

“There’s no sense in continuing this conversation.  You’re not going to change my mind.  I’m obviously not going to change yours.  We have no basis upon which to reach agreement.  I believe in God and the Bible as His inspired word.  You don’t.  I believe God’s word should guide and direct our lives and our moral decisions.  You don’t.  Therefore, we are never going to agree because you completely reject the authority I accept. Let’s talk sports or fishing or whatever, but if we’re going to stay in the same boat, politics and morals are off the table for discussion.”

This is a great illustration of how deep and real the Great Divide is. While the Divide is nothing new, its ramifications are being seen and felt more and more.  Therefore, I believe it is important to understand the forces underlying this split we see in our culture. 

One of the roots of this Great Divide is what Scripture will call “strongholds.”  In 2 Corinthians 10:4 Paul speaks of the existence of these “strongholds” of evil. I believe these strongholds consist, at least in part, of evil that has taken hold in individual’s lives (there may well be collective “strongholds” such as organizations or governments controlled by evil).  These individual strongholds are made up of everything from addictions to pride to stubborn disbelief (see the New Testament sin lists). They are called strongholds because they are sources of evil within our souls which can, and do, dominate our lives. While Paul says we have divine weapons which can destroy these strongholds, and I believe we do, these weapons (which Scripture elsewhere will identify as the gospel message, agape, faith, forgiveness, grace, mercy, hope, etc.) are only as effective as the person being taught will allow.  Free will clearly plays a critical role here.

Permit me to share a couple of Biblical illustrations of the existence and power of these individual strongholds.  Judas was exposed for over three years to absolute perfection in the life and teaching of Jesus.  He was able to live in the presence of a perfect demonstration of agape. Despite that, neither the agape shown, nor the moral perfection lived, by Jesus was able to destroy the stronghold(s) of evil in Judas’ life.  He would betray our Savior for thirty pieces of silver.  Another example is provided by the unbelieving Jews of Antioch and Iconium who, exposed to the miracles performed by Paul and Barnabas in support of their teaching of the gospel (see Acts 14:3, 8-10), will not only reject that teaching, but will follow Paul to Lystra and stone him (Acts 14:19).  Again, neither the gospel message nor the miracles accompanying its preaching would be able to shatter the strongholds of evil in the hearts of those unbelievers. 

In 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 Paul will make reference to his beautiful ministry of reconciliation.  As he will go on to explicate in Ephesians 2, it is a ministry designed by God to reconcile men to God and to each other.  But in order for this to occur, Satanic strongholds in the minds and hearts of men must be shattered.  Until that happens, no reconciliation can occur.

Examples of the power and damage done by these strongholds of evil are all around us.  We are all distressed and frustrated at the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.  It seems as if the violence and hatred between them will never stop.  I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I don’t believe it will.  Oh, there may be another cease fire or piece of paper signed, but that’s not going to end the conflict.  Here’s why.  Neither side in this mess is willing to acknowledge the Prince of Peace.  Neither side is willing to make His rule theirs.  The strongholds of unbelief, of pride and revenge and hatred on both sides are never going to be torn down in hearts which stubbornly hold on to them.  They can only be permanently removed by Jesus Christ, and neither side will allow Him to do that.  Thus, the conflict will continue.

This same principle holds true in the Great Divide we now see continuing to develop in this country.  Many hearts have been, and are, reconciled to God through Jesus Christ by their acceptance of the gospel.  They have seen the strongholds of evil in their lives shattered and found true freedom in Christ.  But many refuse to accept the message of reconciliation and peace in Christ.  They want no part of the gospel message.  The strongholds of evil in their lives remain powerful and resistant.  They are that “hard soil” of Matthew 13:1-23.  It is important to remember the seed cannot penetrate soil which refuses to receive it.

How does this play out in the Great Divide? 

There is a constant drumbeat for “compromise” in Washington.  Democrats and Republicans are told they need to move off their respective high centers and come to the middle so that the nation’s business can be accomplished. I suppose when that comes to funding for road projects that’s true.  Unfortunately, when it comes to legislation which has an inherently moral component, such as in matters relating to abortion or homosexuality, such is not the case.  Those who believe an unborn child has a “right to life” are not going to compromise that.  There is no compromise when death is the only alternative.  Conversely, those who literally spit on God’s word and despise the Christian God see no reason to move from their position that sexual hedonism is an inherent right of all.  They are not going to compromise in their fight to have the  right to fornicate with whomever they wish.  Why would they?  They hold to their immorality as tightly as we hold to our morality.  There is a “great gulf” betwixt the two.  It exists because of strongholds of evil in men’s hearts.

As Paul so wisely and tellingly observes in Ephesians 6, our battle is not against flesh and blood.  We are involved in a spiritual warfare for the hearts and souls of mankind.  We must, lovingly and kindly, but forcefully and courageously, continue to fight this battle with the weapons of war which God has provided.  We will see many victories.  But we should not be alarmed or discouraged when “strongholds” are revealed.  They are part and parcel of the Great Divide which exists between believers and unbelievers.               

 

Our Debt to the Self-Destroyed

July 9, 2014

 

A few months ago I was standing in the checkout line at our local grocery store.  As I waited, I couldn’t help but notice the couple in front of me had all the characteristics of meth users.  They were probably thirty five, but looked like they were going on eighty.  Their bodies were emaciated.  Deep lines scored their faces, which were pocked with scabs. Their movements were awkward and jerky.  As the woman put her groceries on the counter, the young clerk quickly scanned and bagged them.  The woman then pulled out a checkbook and attempted to write a check for the groceries.  I say “attempted” deliberately, because what I witnessed next was fascinating and heartbreaking.

The little blonde clerk said, “That will be forty two dollars and thirty eight cents.”  The woman, checkbook open and pen in hand, began to write, then almost immediately stopped.  She looked at the clerk.  “What did you say?”  The girl repeated the amount due.  Once again the woman started to write, then stopped yet again.  “Did you say forty two dollars?”  “Yes, Ma’am.  Forty two dollars.”  The woman mumbled under her breath and looked again at the girl.  “Forty two dollars?  “Yes.”  “Okay.  You said forty two dollars and how much?”  “Forty two dollars and thirty eight cents.”  By now the young clerk was glancing at me helplessly, as if she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.  But it still wasn’t over.  The clerk continued to repeat the amount twice more before the check was finally written.  The customer clearly had no short term memory.  She had destroyed it with drugs.

As the couple headed out the door pushing their cart, I shook my head at the now laughing clerk and said, “I just hope they can find the way to their car.”  She responded, “You know, at the high school we have assemblies periodically where people come in and talk to us about the dangers of drugs.  How they can destroy your mind.  They just need to have that couple stand up there and tell everyone ‘This is your mind on drugs’!”  
This incident caused me to consider a question which I’m sure is on the minds of more and more people as we find ourselves inundated with folks in similar condition to what I just described.  The question is: What do I owe someone who has systematically destroyed his/her mind and/or physical health by years of ingesting or shooting up everything from meth to alcohol to oxycodone?  Why is it my responsibility to pay their rent and utilities, provide food stamps and medical care, give them a voucher for clothing, and see to it they have a cell phone?  They have deliberately partied their way to abysmal dysfunction, and now I’m supposed to smile and pick up the bill?  What is fair about that?  What is even remotely just?  It certainly strikes me as neither.

For years those of us who have played by the rules have been increasingly punished for it.  And I don’t use that word lightly.  We behave ourselves and pay our bills and our taxes.  We tithe to the Lord and help out friends and family in need.  We scrimp and save and sacrifice and get by.  We don’t ask for handouts but try to give a hand up.  Then, the government, in its largesse with the money they’re taxing from us says, “Oh, by the way, we’re going to use a significant portion of your taxes to support a whole element of society that has chosen to live illegally and irresponsibly.  They are so mentally and physically disabled by self-abuse that they can no longer provide for themselves, so we’re going to provide for them.  And since the confiscatory taxes you’re already paying are insufficient to the task, we’re also going to borrow trillions of dollars to cover the difference.  We may be putting your children and grandchildren in guaranteed penury so we can pay the bills, but it is all in a noble cause.”

I’m sorry.  I don’t buy it.  Well, I guess I am buying it in the sense of what’s happening with my tax money, but I don’t buy the argument at all.  It is feel good nonsense that is bankrupting our country morally and financially.  I would argue it is unbiblical and unwise.

Allow me to cite a Biblical principle…

“Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life” (Gal 6:7,8).   “They sow to the wind and reap the whirlwind” (Hosea 8:7).  Scripture clearly teaches that choices have consequences.  A wise parent will use consequences to teach their children responsibility.  A child who blows his allowance and doesn’t have the money to go to the movie with his friends has learned an important lesson.  On the other hand, a child who blows his allowance and then is handed movie money by Mama hasn’t learned a thing – except that the consequences of poor choices will be mitigated by others.  That is not a healthy lesson.  But that is exactly what is happening today.  A person can sow to the wind all they wish, and when the whirlwind inevitably comes the government will be there to pay the bills and clean up the mess.  One of the strongest incentives to cease misbehavior, facing the consequences of that misbehavior, has been removed.  How can that possibly be a healthy thing? 

As with beggars on street corners, I struggle with what my response, as a Christian, should be to their dilemma.  On the one hand, there is no question that their self-abuse has resulted in their condition being such that they must have help in order to survive.  It would be both cruel and inhumane to refuse to see to it they receive such help.  On the other hand, is it selfish to argue such care should be rendered at minimal cost to the taxpayer?  If I’m going to have to foot the bill, shouldn’t I have some say in how the money is spent?

I strongly disagree with how our government is responding to caring for the self-destroyed. It is catastrophically inefficient and rewards bad behavior.  What if our model was changed to one that was humane, financially responsible, and dare I say, fair?

I would suggest the following for consideration:

Section 8 (free housing paid for by the government) is a disaster.  It is costly and nasty and often dangerous.  Instead, we should construct housing similar to the military barracks in which we house our soldiers.  If it’s good enough for those who risk their lives to defend this country, it should be good enough for those on the public dole.  As with soldiers living in those barracks, who are required to keep their beds made and their rooms ready for inspection at any time, so it would be with those living in the provided housing.  Such a requirement is neither unreasonable nor unfair.  

Food stamps disappear.  Meals would be provided in a communal dining area.  Such meals would be similar, again, to those fed to our soldiers.  If you don’t like it, you don’t eat.

Entertainment would be provided in a recreational area.  The government doesn’t pay to have cable wired to each room.  No boom boxes or stereos.  If you want the music loud, plug in your earphones and turn the volume up as high as you want.

No personal cell phones.  Those are a boondoggle of the highest order.  Companies make tens of millions off of taxpayers providing free phone service.  There is no way I should have to pay my cell phone bill and turn around and pay someone else’s if there’s a more efficient way to see they have phone access.  There is.  Provide a bank of phones available in the common area for residents to use. 

Conduct random, mandatory drug testing.  If you’re caught using, you’re out in the snow.  Period.  Yes.  That’s harsh.  Consequences often are – and need to be.  It’s only if the pain is greater than the pleasure that bad behavior will be modified.  Those being cared for on the public dime have already physically and/or mentally wrecked themselves.  Why should we, in any sense, allow or further that damage?  We have a responsibility to see they are cared for, not to, in any way, subsidize or condone behavior which has made that care necessary.

Medical care would be provided by doctors and nurses in clinics specifically designated for the care of those on the public dole.  No incredibly expensive visits to hospital emergency rooms.  Once again, a level of care would be offered similar to what we provide our soldiers and veterans.  If that is somehow deemed unloving or harsh, perhaps it would dictate a re-examination of how we treat our military.

If their health allows, those who are being provided for in this way should have mandatory responsibilities.  From pushing a broom to helping in a garden to picking up the trash that litters our highways, there are tasks that need doing and they could, and should, do them.  Sitting around all day is not healthy physically, mentally, spiritually, or morally.  Giving them basic responsibilities to carry out is a blessing.  

Please understand I am not advocating punishing these folks.  I am very much in favor of providing for their basic needs.  However, gifting them these needs with no responsibility or effort required on their part is morally and spiritually wrong.     

I realize I have painted a picture with very broad strokes.  However, I am absolutely convicted that our present mode of dealing with the millions of self-destroyed is bankrupt both morally and financially.  Continuing government programs which operate in a kind of co-dependent fashion to deal with an increasing number of people who have destroyed their ability to provide even basic necessities for themselves is self-defeating.  It wastes incredible amounts of money even as it unwittingly and amorally encourages self-destructive behaviors.  It is neither loving nor kind to perpetuate such a system.  If we don’t wisely care for those who have destroyed themselves, in the end, we will destroy ourselves as well.