Why Do They Hide Adultery?

The eye of the adulterer watches for dusk; he thinks, 'No eye will see me,' and he keeps his face concealed. Job 24:15 (NIV)

If adultery wasn't so bad, then why do men (and women) hide what they are doing? Why is it such a big secret? Could it be because they feel guilty?

President Clinton led a grand jury on a wild goose chase as he dodged questions about his sinful act of infidelity by quibbling over the definition of "is". An asinine way to keep things in the "dark".

Adulterers meet in the dusk because the dusk is the most difficult time of day to see. Why? Because our eyes are making the adjustment to the dark. The adulterer does it mainly because they think that they will not get caught.

The question is, does adultery make a person ineffective to lead?

But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself. Prov 6:32 (NIV)

Adultery is a brainless act, soul-destroying, self-destructive; 33 Expect a bloody nose, a black eye, and a reputation ruined for good. Prov 6:32-33 (MSG)

Notice how adultery is characterized in both versions. Adultery is self-destructive. How capable are people who are indulging in their sexual desires with someone other than their spouse? Do you wonder if they may be distracted trying to find out how to make the next "night visit"? Of course they are.

And then there is the fear of being caught thing. Black eyes and bloody noses are the least to be expected. If we lived in biblical times, then we would know adultery as a capital offense, which deserved none other than death.

The NIV version says that a person who commits adultery lacks judgment. How stable is a person who spends most of their time cheating on their spouse or chasing after some other person's spouse? If they have standards for relationship set that low then how much lower are their standards for leadership?

Adultery ruins reputations forever. People spend lifetimes trying to rebuild their lives when they are caught in an adulterous relationship.

But President Clinton stayed on as president.

Yes, unfortunately he did but look how ineffective he became afterward. His reputation is still impugned, and he is rarely seen with his wife.

This isn't a pick on Mr. Clinton post though. He unfortunately fit the topic. I pray that he was really sincere in his repentance and that he has changed his ways. Jesus forgives and so should we.

An adulterous woman consumes a man, then wipes her mouth and says, “What’s wrong with that?” Prov 30:20 (NLT)

For a leader to be effective, they cannot be consumed by sinful immoral acts. They will continually act as if it doesn't matter or that it is just a personal matter. I am sorry but you cannot separate the personal life from the public life unless you have multiple personalities. Your ethics will show in both areas of your life. If you lack moral ethics in your personal life you will act without moral ethics in your public life.

If we as Christians do not hold our leaders up to higher moral standards, then they will continue to live in dark corners spending more time making new liaisons instead of acting on behalf of those they serve.

Help them out. Vote for a person who holds marriage in the highest regard. You will see a big difference in the ethics of that person as compared to the lack of moral ethics of the one who commits adultery. Plus, a moral person is a lot easier to trust.

Blessings accrue on a good and honest life, but the mouth of the wicked is a dark cave of abuse. A good and honest life is a blessed memorial; a wicked life leaves a rotten stench. Prov 10:6-7 (MSG)

The truth is in the lifestyle. Choose leaders wisely. Remove the stench from government.

Identifying the Political Knave

I used Charles Finney quotes the other day to help steer a short series of posts I am beginning. If you haven't read it: A Nation Falls Without Leadership

"There's trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests—look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular." Luke 6:26 (MSG)

According to the dictionary, a knave is "an unprincipled, untrustworthy, or dishonest person." This person can be crafty or skilled in their manipulation of others. Know anyone like that? As Jesus says in the verse from Luke, trouble emerges from living only for the approval of others (hence the "woe to you" in other versions).

I am amazed at how many of today's politicians seem to have become "flattery" driven individuals who look to indulge the whims of the people instead of providing leadership. Many are very skilled at indulgence, feeding people a little agenda at a time hoping to addict them to their subversion or weaken their resolve. How many times have you heard, lately, that we are in dire straits and heading towards an impending disaster? Didn't God say He would always watch over us, when we do the right things?

These politicians flow with popular opinion and are at times frozen or afraid to take a stance even when the popular view is blatantly wrong. They are quick to blame others and remain sly when providing answers.

But what can we do about it?

Knaves cannot be trusted so don't trust them. I mean it. They say trust me and do completely opposite things behind our backs (some in front of us). Look for someone you can support or demand accountability from your representative but beware of their skills and deflection tactics.

Elect honest people. Integrity follows an honest person. For example, honest people pay their taxes and don't answer questions with questions.

Good leaders "cultivate honest speech". They are not intimidated by opposing views and consider the truth.

Good leaders cultivate honest speech; they love advisors who tell them the truth. Prov 16:13 (MSG)

The best way to identify a knave is found in Proverbs 21:29:

Unscrupulous people fake it a lot; honest people are sure of their steps. Prov 21:29 (MSG)

Who do you know that is sure of their footsteps and would make an honest representative in government?

The Indecency of FOX Programming

As popular as FOX News has become, their network programming has become completely immoral and outright disgusting.

For example, recently the cartoon aimed at adults but rated for ninth graders, Family Guy, aired an episode about the injection of the "gay gene" into the primary father character. I don't watch the show. Supposedly it gets very crude and disgusting from that point on. I am surprised many homosexuals don't take offense to the crude display of immorality in this one.

I am so disgusted by what has been reported I can't bring myself to even write out what occurred. If you are that curious, be warned you may lose your lunch: AFA Report "Family Guy"

I hope you click on the link at the bottom of that page and send an indecency report to the FCC. FOX needs to be held accountable for what they show at prime time. Parents, I would ban that station for viewing. We as Christians have to take a stand or as the song says, "It's a slow fade..."

Stand up for decency in programming.

Baby Steps To Fix the Economy

Why don't we use a page from Dave Ramsey and use Baby Steps to help the economy recover:

• Baby step 1: Set aside $500 Billion in an emergency fund - not to be touched unless all of Congress gives blood and goes back to part time

• Baby Step 2: Pay off all national debt using the debt snowball!

• Baby Step 3: Set aside 3 to 6 years minimal spending for basics in government - again not to be touched for any reason Congress can think of

• Baby Step 4: Use 15% of government income to fix Social security and move us towards individual savings accounts

• Baby Step 5: Get rid of the federal control on education and use the money to support vouchers to be used at parental discretion

• Baby Step 6: Set aside money to pay for public housing for Congress or Fix all interest rates for housing at 4% (30 years) and 5% (15 years)

• Baby Step 7: Go to a new tax system to allow Americans to build wealth for themselves! Fair tax or flat tax - just do something to take the bite out of Congressional misteps in power

A Nation Falls Without Leadership

For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure.Proverbs 11:14 (NIV)

As much as I would like to see a political party embrace only Christian views, I think that would be a disaster. Let me explain before you decide to stop reading.

• An all Christian party should reflect an all Christian society. We do not live in such a society.

• An all Christian party would push people away from the church and would seem antagonistic. One of the main problems that young people have with Christianity, according to the book unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity... and Why It Matters, is that Christians are too political. I tend to agree.

The real factor for the success of a political party should be seen in the embracing of moral values that stem from the Judeo-Christian faith. That stance is a lot different and can be more inclusive.

Does this mean that Christians should not be involved in politics and hold our nation to a standard of living that reflects our values? Absolutely not.

The surest way of gaining wise guidance or leadership for our nation is for informed Christians to actively participate in voting or even as candidates. We have too often turned politics over to dishonest and disrespectful men and women because we fear that politics is for those who are corruptible. This is such a farce.

Charles Finney said it this way:

"...the time has come that Christians must vote for honest men, and take consistent ground in politics, or the Lord will curse them." — Revival Lectures

That's a very bold statement. Finney was a huge supporter of ending slavery and extending rights to the enslaved black Americans. He once said, "It is a great national sin. It is a sin of the Church."

There have been too many people who wash their hands of sinful practices in government all because they prayed about it instead of making their voices heard or they take the shameful neutral ground because they believe everything in politics doesn't have a moral ground for argument.

This is why our nation is floundering and threatened by world economic domination. Christians haven't called for righteous men and women to stand in the gap and hold our nation to standards of moral fortitude. Here's another statement from Finney:

"They (the voters) must be honest men themselves, and instead of voting for a man because he belongs to their party, Bank or Anti-Bank, Jackson, or Anti-Jackson, they must find out whether he is honest and upright, and fit to be trusted. They must let the world see that the Church will uphold no man in office, who is known to be a knave, or an adulterer, or a Sabbath-breaker, or a gambler, or a drunkard." — Revival Lectures

What would happen to politics in America if we held our leaders to this standard? I am including Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, and whomever else. Those in all parties can be held to these standards and should be held to them. If they violate them - they lose their position!

This is not hatred nor bigotry nor anything else that demeans people, and it is not a "test of faith". We in the church can hold our leaders up to certain standards. This is why unfaithful pastors are removed from their positions. This is why pastors who cheat on their taxes or are unfaithful in stewardship are put to shame. We have standards in the church and holding our governmental leaders to such standards is not wrong nor should it be discouraged.

Notice what Finney said about the voter - "they must be honest". We ourselves should be held to the same standards and abide by those rules. Our national future will depend upon changing our view of politics and understanding what government is for.

"...the time has come when they must act differently, or God will curse the nation, and withdraw his spirit. As on the subject of slavery and temperance, so on this subject, the Church must act right or the country will be ruined. God cannot sustain this free and blessed country, which we love and pray for, unless the Church will take right ground. Politics are a part of religion in such a country as this, and Christians must do their duty to the country as a part of their duty to God. It seems sometimes as if the foundations of the nation were becoming rotten, and Christians seem to act as if they thought God did not see what they do in politics. But I tell you, he does see it, and he will bless or curse this nation, according to the course they take." — Revival Lectures

The foundations of our country have rotted. Now it is time to call in those who are honest and upright and who will start shoring up our foundations once again. We, as a nation, must return to the true original intent of the founding fathers, and we, as Christians, must return to God and His ways.

The Church must take the right ground.

Kudos to Texas Gov. Rick Perry

This week's kudos go to Texas Gov. Rick Perry. Not only is he being very positive about his state's future, he is not willing to bow down to the stimulus racket. He turned down $555 million in stimulus.

I do have to say he did take most of the $17 billion offered. At least he drew that line somewhere.

All the money being presented to states needs to be carefully looked over, and states need to turn down money that is over the top.

Maybe the Congress will get a clue that they do not know what is best for the states and maybe they will get out of stealing rights given to the states.