The Truth Manifesto

The Truth Manifesto proudly presents a new podcast series dubbed The Hard Truth. It is a fifteen minute reflection on the news of the day from a conservative, Christian, and ultimately, biblical perspective. From politics to religion and culture, The Hard Truth presents all of these things in lay men’s terms, rooted in the Truth.

In this episode: Part two of the Act of Betrayal and a look at the proclamation by a federal judge that the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional. Click and listen.

Can You Handle the Truth?

Back in the beginning of November, Glenn Beck had a cadre of black conservatives on his program called Time To Be Heard which you can find here at the Truth Manifesto. One of the panelists, Charles Payne, made an interesting comment as he was explaining to Glenn why he voted for Obama. His reasoning was, and I quote:

“I was torn…I did it mostly out of a sense of obligation to Rosa Parks, Medgar Evers, Martin Luther King, people of my family who came up through Alabama.”

The comparisons that have been made between Obama and Martin Luther King Jr. has been myriad. Invoking his name in the American black community is akin to the Jews invoking Moses as the lawgiver. Extremely sacred and serious.

The people that Payne mentioned were influential in advancing the cause of American black men and women. Their work and sacrifice should not be downplayed in any sense. I applaud their sentiments and effort. Their cause was just.

That being said, I say this which as much candor and respect as I can without compromising my conscience: I owe them nothing.

I am in no way obligated to them. I do not owe them my fidelity nor allegiance. I am not driven to uphold their cause as something that’s central to my existence.

I Pledge Allegiance…

Everyone will choose what are the most important things in their lives and who and what they are obligated to. Some people pledge allegiance to their country to a fault. Some, as has been alluded to above, to their race. For those who are called by the name of Christ, our allegiance should be to Him and Him alone. This is proclaimed in the scriptures themselves:

And he that doth not take his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10:38)

If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will the Father honor. (John 12:26)

We are to hold on to those things which the word of God says is good (1 Thessolonians 5:21) and resist all that is evil (James 4:7). That includes laws that are against the word of God, actions and attitudes that man calls good but God calls evil, irrespective of race. We are the light of the world (Mathhew 5:14) and darkness can’t stand us. We bring the heat and they can’t stand in the kitchen because they love their evil and don’t want it exposed. (John 3:19)

In closing, Mr. Payne felt obligated to other black people. I’m obligated to God and God alone. My allegiance and fidelity is to Him and Him alone. I’m driven to uphold His cause because it is central to my existence.

Three out of four Americans say they believe in God with the vast majority identifying themselves as Christian. However, the country is highly divided, the 2008 presidential election resulting in a near 50/50 split. Tempers have flared amidst a plethora of T.E.A. parties, town hall meetings, and media wrangling that’s unprecedented.

One of the main and least repeated facts concerning the ideological war between conservatism and liberalism is God’s influence in shaping each worldview.

According to Barna Research:

• Six out of ten conservatives say their faith is becoming an increasingly important moral guide compared to just three out of ten for liberals.

• Liberalism has almost six times as many atheists, agnostics, and general unbelievers than conservatives.

• 63% of conservatives believe the Bible to be accurate in the tenets it teaches to just 27% of liberals.

• 63% of conservatives were categorized as “born again” versus 32% of liberals.

• Conservatives are seven times more likely than liberals to identify themselves as evangelical Christians.

Politics is a smokescreen in the battle between conservatism and liberalism. It’s not about politics. It’s about God.

As one of those conservative Christians, this doesn’t come as a surprise since the Bible speaks specifically about this coming down the pike:

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

When we look at the ideology of liberalism which supports such positions as abortion, euthanasia, and homosexuality, only two things can happen. You have to redefine and reinterpret the Bible so that it supports your position and therefore creating God in the image you want Him to be, or get rid of the Bible and God altogether, therefore strengthening the evil positions the philosophy is steeped in. Liberals have tried to do both and continue to do so with more of the latter.

I have said this before and I will say it again: there is no way you can be a true Christian and a true liberal. Not possible. Never gonna happen. Liberalism is anathema to the Christian worldview. Always has been, always will be.

So don’t be fooled by those who profess to be a liberal and a Christian. Challenge them with the truth of the scriptures. That will always be the litmus test of where they stand in the grand scheme of things.

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (1 John 4:1a,2-3)

The American political system has been dominated with the two pronged party model for over 150 years. What we’ve found during that time is that neither party is infallible or even near it, much to each party’s chagrin. It will always be that way and there’s a reason for that.

A MARRED IMAGE

Normally, what we see when we see a politician is an image of what they think the people want to see and hear.  An image lacks substance. It can be a reflection at best. However, as much as we want to try to make it so, an image is not the real thing.

Recently, we’ve seen two images of politicians shattered.

The first is Nevada Republican front runner for president of the United States in 2012, John Ensign. Ensign recently admitted that he had an extramarital affair with a campaign aide.

The other is Monica Conyers, chairwoman of the Detroit city council and wife of House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.). She’s just accepted a plea deal concerning federal bribery charges. I think the following video of a council meeting speaks volumes.

MAJORING ON THE MAJOR

It’s sad to see this happening. Yet, this is a prime example when people get caught up in their image instead of building their character. We’re all susceptible to this. No one is exempt.

The problem today with people, not just politicians, is that they’re more concerned about their image instead of their character.  So when the rubber meets the road behind closed doors or otherwise, their true self is reveal.

Booker T. Washington is known for saying,

Character, not circumstance, is makes the person.

Baron Thomas Babington MacAuley defined character as

The measure of a man’s character is what he would do if he knew he never would be found out.

THE HEART OF THE MATTER

The one thing that no party or person on the face of the planet can escape from is summed up in one word.

Sin.

The prophet Jeremiah said:

The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)

Two points to consider:

1. This is a rhetorical question. The answer is obvious. No oine can, not even

Heart Of True Character

the person who owns the heart. It means that the person’s heart is the first one to deceive an individual into thinking that they’re more than what they are.

The societal phrase, “Follow your heart,” is dangerous. It’s suicide. Follow God.

2. It didn’t say the heart of an evil man. It said the heart of man, meaning mankind. Everyone. Man. Woman. Child. Everyone.

Jesus says it like this:

But the things which proceed out of the mouth come forth out of the heart; and they defile the man.  For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, railings: (Matthew 15:18-19)

Ye offspring of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. The good man out of his good treasure bringeth forth good things: and the evil man out of his evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. (Matthew 12:34-35)

People must come to the realization that they are useless, condemned, sinful, evil, hopeless, hell bound souls. This is the character of man without the Lord Jesus.

However, with Him, our character will begin to produce the fruit of the Spirit:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control; against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

The only way we can be what God has called us to be is in dependence on Jesus Christ. To imitate Him. That way when people see us they’ll see two things: the image and character of Christ.

Modern day America is drastically different from times past. One of the areas of change has been in the way we express ourselves in communicating. Profanity, slander, and gossip are the order of the day with many conservatives and Christians (yeah. Calling it out folks) joining right in.

WHAT’S IN A WORD?

Our culture is so inundated with verbal vulgarity and innuendos that people don’t equate certain words as being profane anymore. Many conservatives feel that they can talk however they want to talk yet espouse a belief in God as if that’s enough. May I remind them that even demons believe in God. A simple belief in God means nothing without action that reflects that belief  (James 2:18-19).

Words are powerful. It is by words that we (Christians in general) believe the universe was created and everything in it (Genesis 1). It was by words that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-45). It was because of the words he spoke and had written that Martin Luther, the reformationist, changed the way we view God. It was words that declared the that the United States would be a sovereign nation. Words are the compliment to our very souls being saved (Romans 10:9).

What’s in a word? More than we can imagine.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. (Proverbs 18:21)

A REFLECTION OF CHARACTER

There are over 170,000 words in the dictionary. Yet many people choose to use the most profane ones to express themselves. Why? Because there’s a black stain on their heart. In a word, sin.

O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.  A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. (Matthew 12:34-37)

The way we use words is a direct reflection of our character. It shows what’s truly in our hearts. So, if profanity spews from your mouth, it simply means your heart is full of profanity and in turn reflects you have a profane character.

THE STANDARD IS GOD’S WORD

Just because our culture embraces profane speaking doesn’t mean we need to follow suit. If the God of the Bible is truly your God, then He’s called you to raise the standard.

But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. (Colossians 3:8)

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: (Ephesians 4:31)

The ultimate call of a Christian is to be Christlike in whatever station God puts us. We can’t do this out of our own strength but through a daily refreshing in God’s word and submission to the Holy Spirit as He empowers us to be what God wants us to be. By doing this, we’ll begin to see the person we were meant to be.

The goal of the Christian is not to be the most successful, have the best reputation, or even to follow a life of piety. Our lives should be wrapped up in continuous submission to God so we can be like Christ.

The church today has missed the boat in terms of what our ultimate pursuit  should be. To take on the moniker of Christian means that we should be a reflection of who He is. The term itself literally means “little Christs”.

In the book of Ephesians, at the beginning of chapter 5, it reads:

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children.

The word followers should actually translated ‘imitators’.

We tend to imitate what we’re are around the most. When we first come into the world, that’s our parents. Later on we may imitate their then our friends. We fill ourselves with the things we seek to reflect in what we watch, read, and listen to. The more time we spend with something or someone, the more we’ll get to know them and the more likely we can accurately reflect who they are through that relationship.

Sadly, many Christians devote little time learning about the Lord and growing in His grace than they do other things. Showing up on Sunday to a church gathering for an hour and a half is a akin to eating or spending time with your spouse once a week. How long do you think you could physically hold out before you keeled over? How long do you think your marriage would last?

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: (1 Peter 2:21)

When Christ said, “Follow me,” He meant for us to be like Him. Do what He does. Act like He acts. Think like He thinks.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (Phillipians 2:5)

For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16)

This is not to say that we are going to be perfect. Sorry folks. Not in this lifetime. We won’t be sinless. But as we walk with God and grow in grace, we should be sinning less.

A.W. Tozer put it well:

Everything in the universe is good to the degree it conforms to the nature of God and evil as it fails to do so.

Being a conservative, I know that I’m going to get some upside down smiley faces on this one. Even so, the truth is that being a conservative doesn’t mean you’re a Christian. They are not synonymous and are exclusive of one another.

The philosophy of conservatism is in line with Christian doctrine on all kinds of levels which is why that is my political leaning. I cover this in my three part series What’s A Conservative Christian? However, the foundation I base that on supersedes the conservative philosophy which is the Bible itself.

Many conservatives get it twisted. They think that because the philosophy lines up with scripture and that they label themselves conservative, that somehow this qualifies them as being a Christian.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

CONFORMATION

The litmus test of being a Christian is a changed life in adherence to the word of God. It is a continual outworking of of love through the power of the Holy Spirit in response to someone laying down their life for Jesus Christ in affirmation and realization of their sinful condition.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2)

I have met many conservatives throughout the past year who live lives in direct contradiction to the word of God but have deceived themselves into thinking they’re Christians. Their mouths spew all kinds of filthiness and venom and their lifestyles do not reflect the holiness of God.

I have this saying that if you have to tell someone you’re a Christian, that’s probably a clear indication that you’re not. Jesus says it like this:

This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. (Matthew 15:8)

JUDGE NOT

The response of many to these allegations is, “You can’t judge me. The Bible says don’t judge.” My response to that is, “Yes, the Bible does say that. But what is it talking about?”

Matthew 7:1 is the verse that people like to reference to prohibit all kinds of judgment, especially on them. But that’s not what this is talking about. Warren Wiersbe puts it nicely:

We must not pass judgment on others’ motives. We should examine their actions and attitudes, but we cannot judge their motives–for only God can see their hearts. It is possible for a person to do a good work with a bad motive. It is also possible to fail in a task and yet be very sincerely motivated.

In other words, a good work doesn’t make you good, and you may be sincere but sincerely wrong.

As Christians we are told to judge a plethora of things: whether someone is in the faith (Galatians 5:19-21, 2 Corinthians 6:14), whether a teacher is doctrinally sound (Matthew 7:15-20, 1 John 4:1), who’s qualified to lead in the church (1 Timothy 3:13), and a host of other things.

William McDonald puts it perfectly:

Jesus is not teaching that we are to be undiscerning Christians. He never intended that we abandon our critical faculty or discernment. The New Testament has many illustrations of legitimate judgment of the condition, conduct, and teaching of others. In addition, there are several areas in which the Christian is commanded to make a decision, to discriminate between good and bad or between good and best.

“I AGREE.” ISN’T ENOUGH

Conservatives (and people in general) miss the boat by thinking that agreeing with something is belief. But biblical belief goes beyond mental assent. It means doing.

Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? (James 2:18)

Of course, there’s no way we can do this by just a force of will. We must be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and willingly give ourselves over to Him. This is more easily done when we realize that there is nothing good in our hearts. We’re sinful and evil.

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)

This is what must be addressed and God is not going to judge on the basis of our political philosophy but on the conduct of our lives by relation to His Son Jesus Christ.

So, to my conservative brothers and sisters I say this: major on the Lord Jesus Christ. Minor on conservatism. That way, your conservatism is founded on something far greater that can change people’s lives.

I’ve had conversations with socialists and atheists who argue that socialism is supported by the Bible. My first reaction is, “Really? Which Bible are you reading? The Eisegesis Bible? Or more simply put, the What I Wanna See Bible because that just ain’t so.”

The texts used to support this argument from scripture are found in the Old and New Testament.

In the Old Testament we find it in the making of all of the components and vessels for the for the tabernacle in Exodus 35:5-19. In the New Testament, we find it in the early church in Acts 4:32-37.

These are the so called proof texts for biblical support for socialism that are most often referenced. The problem  is that they are no where near supporting socialism in any way, shape or form. Quite the contrary.

CLEARING THE FIELD

So we’re all on the same page here, let’s make sure we’re defining socialism for what it is.

a  system of social organization that advocates the vesting (giving up control or rights)  of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.

In practice, what happens is that people give up control to the government or, in the case of what’s happening in the United States, the system is used to take that control away from you. This is communism and it is the antithesis to freedom and liberty.

SOMETHING OLD…

In the Old Testament, the text says:

Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD; gold, and silver, and brass,…And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. (Exodus 35:5, 20)

If we stop there, it looks like everyone just gave up their possessions by edict of Moses. However, reading things in context does wonders and there’s a hint in the text itself.

They key word in that passage is willingly. Also, we have to read Exodus 35:21:

And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD’S offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.

So this was not by some governmental law. It was by choice. The inference here is that everyone didn’t give yet if we read the rest of the passage, they had more than enough.

…SOMETHING NEW

The passage most often referred to in the New Testment is in Acts 4: 34-35:

Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

Looks compelling doesn’t it? However, bible teachers and scholars have an old saying: a text taken out of context becomes a pretext.

In this text, it’s clear that it was given, not taken. No one forced them to give by edict of law but they were free to give as God moved on their hearts. That’s not socialism. That’s philanthropy.

In the very next chapter, we find a situation where a couple by the name of Ananias and Sapphira are struck dead by the Lord because they lied and said they gave something when they did not.  On discovery of this, Peter confronts them and makes this statement:

Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. (Acts 5:4)

It’s clear here that Peter was saying that they didn’t have to give anything. It was theirs to do with as they pleased. It was the lying that was the issue, not the giving.

DOES IT MATTER?

So what’s the point? Does it matter? Most certainly.

Socialism is a communal form of tyranny. It promotes laziness, it doesn’t encourage industry and work, both which are anathema to biblical teaching. If we are to be a free people, we must operate on the principles and edicts of freedom.

So what does the Bible promote if it doesn’t promote socialism? Does the Bible advocate capitalism? I want you to dig into the scriptures for yourself until tomorrow when we address this from God’s word.

God bless.

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The Word of God has many calls to those who would follow the Lord. One is paramount in our calling ourselves Christians. It’s being holy.

Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. ( 1 Peter 1:16)

This call for holiness goes beyond just being a moral person. Holiness is being separated and consecrated for use by God. It means to be ‘other than’ everyone else. It has the idea that it runs contrary to the working of this world with a new way of living and thinking.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2)

This call is a serious one. Being moral might make you a better person in sight of others, but God knows your heart. A moral person is still a sinner that needs salvation that only the Lord Jesus Christ can give.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

This call of holiness is a stamp on our lives that we truly belong to the Lord. It’s not what church we gather with. It’s not whether we’ve gone to seminary of Bible college. It’s not because we may have gone to a private school. It’s whether we do what the Lord says. It’s whether our lives are changed and we become new people, something ‘other than’ we were before and that we are growing in this daily.

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (Ephesians 4:24)

This is by no means done through our own strength. It’s done through the power of the Spirit through an act of the will. That act is submission.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (James 4:7-8)

Today, if you are identifying that you’re a Christian, put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to God and walk in the holiness that He has given us.

Remember, as we are walking in this world, we will never be sinless. But as we walk with God daily, we should be sinning less.

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Congressman John Conyers

H.R. 1913, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009, sponsored by John Conyers (D-MI), was just passed in the house this past. The bill is, quite frankly, a superfluous piece of legislation that pushes a thought police agenda.

The bill seeks to punish offenders for crimes ‘motivated’ by hate because of race, religion, color, natural origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.

Here’s a slab of common sense: if someone is motivated to hurt some one physically, especially to the point of using a firearm or incendiary device to murder, it’s a safe bet that they hate them. Juuuust a little.

We have laws in place that punishes criminals who perpetrate violent crimes. To add more because of a perceived hate is just political correctness making its way into the courtroom.

BUT WAIT…THERE’S MORE!

Here’s where it gets disturbing and downright discriminatory.

In Section 6, it starts off saying:

(a) In General- Chapter 13 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

It would make sense to find out what that part of the code says:

If two or more persons conspire to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him by the Constitution or laws of the United States, or because of his having so exercised the same;

They shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and if death results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, they shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both, or may be sentenced to death.

This is what is called the Conspiracy Against Rights and it could, in effect, allow law enforcement to consider speaking against, oh…homosexuality in a church or online, as a hate crime. The key word here would be oppress. It’s an attempted end around the First Amendment.

THE COUP DE GRACE

To throw us a bone, they add this at the end:

Nothing in this Act, or the amendments made by this

Act, shall be construed to prohibit any expressive conduct protected from legal prohibition by, or any activities protected by the free speech or free exercise clauses of, the First Amendment to the Constitution.

Look closely at that. The part we need to be concerned with is protected from legal prohibition. If this bill passes and becomes a law, then it’s legal and therefore the rights you have under the First Amendment are null and void when exercising your free speech if that speech is something they deem oppressive to these groups.

TIME TO GET BUSY

As I said before, this has already passed the house and it needs to be stopped. Americans for the First Amendment need to flood the phones, emails, and mailboxes of their reps and tell them to vote against this bill. Write and call multiple times. It’s time to show them that we’re going to hold them accountable.

Remember, they are employed by us. We are their boss.

The Bible says:

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:9-10)

As Christians, we’re here to serve and we have a responsibility and duty as stewards of this nation to look to protect the welfare of others. To be able to do this is a privilege and a blessing. Take your responsibility as an American seriously. Otherwise, the freedom that we have to worship and speak the very word of God will vanish.