By: Rodney Jones

Rodney Jones — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:58:40 +0000

So many things came to mind as I read your post. I remember that with few exceptions all public office holders are given and must acknowledge(?) allegiance to a set of governing loyalties (Constitution) that were at some time founded upon ultimate judgment. No judgment of mankind has any hope of accident free decision, so we swear by that which is greater than we are. Had the court in Alabama defaced the first three commands to revere God, perhaps the admonitions against stealing, murder, and other criminal mindsets would have been acceptable in a venue which made decisions daily upon whether or not someone had victimized another by breaking those “commands.” What the Judeo-Christian understands is that the main understanding of judgment is true ultimate righteousness. That is something our 550 some odd national leaders continually fail to accept or acknowledge.
You mentioned that private funding had placed the monument. I see another disparity. When a corporation, either local, regional, national, or international wants to place their name in prominence, they have no difficulty in “purchasing” that right as they buy our public buildings and other such venues for money and their advertising dollar. Yet, although receipt of that private money is acceptable, the historical significance of the beliefs of our founding fathers, and most of our greatest leaders within this country are no longer acceptable.
I do not remember much of the two books by George Orwell, (Animal Farm, 1984) but it seems more and more prophetic that the original intent of the founders of a nation who chose to establish religious freedom rather than a national religion continues to be undermined daily, as each of certain rights become faded. Will they finally be replaced by a “big brother is always right” type of standard?
Is it not a sad situation that the same faith statement, which welcomed the pluralistic cultures and beliefs of the huddled masses who had suffered prejudice and ethical abuse in foreign countries (perhaps due to their religious and cultural ideas back home), has now become an intolerable faith statement? Without a doubt we, as a nation, have many sins to answer for: slavery, sins in international politics, and sins in international marketplaces.
The sins we must answer for bring us to the sin committed now by the church. I recently read the book God’s Politics by Jim Wallis. I did not find much that I could agree with, but several of his observations were on target. The faithful are failing to provide acknowledgment of their personal faith in public places because someone, somewhere has convinced them that religion or personal faith statements are, “private.” Wallis is right on as he states that everything a Christian believes is a personal choice. If a person truly believes something, all of his/her activities and choices are made as a result of that personal faith. It is not something that government can mandate to a closet, it is personal, but cannot and must not be private. I hear many stories of hostile work environments where co-workers and even supervisors openly discuss their sexual perversions, their alcoholic endeavors, their new vocabulary and such other “accepted” communication. Personal faith can/must never be a private faith. Wallis’s book speaks of the necessity of a prophetic presence needed in politics. I believe a prophetic presence is needed in every venue of life. Yes, some of our friends, and even our family may get tired of hearing our comments. Make sure they are not the only ones who hear your comments. Why should your friends and family have to endure something that your enemies do not?
By all means, teach your children. At the same time, learn from your children. Several generations of our children have not listened to their parents, why? You may not be able to teach one thing when you appear to be living another.
P.S. Not only is He still on the throne, He is still in charge.

Comments on: PERSPECTIVE: Foundational law

By: Rodney Jones