Eating your own words Churchillian style . . .

Winston Churchill once remarked that eating his own words never gave him indigestion. Smart fellow, I must say. Some things are best left unsaid. Truth is, however, that far too often things left unsaid should have been said. As the Prophet Ezekiel reminds us.

"When I [God] say to the wicked, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way that he may live, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. "Yet if you have warned the wicked and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered yourself. "Again, when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I place an obstacle before him, he will die; since you have not warned him, he shall die in his sin, and his righteous deeds which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand." (Ezekiel 3:18-20 NIV)

So, saying the right thing at the right time is pretty important as far as God is concerned.

There is, however, a world of difference between forcing the issue, and a warning. Let me explain. E.S. Williams, one of longest serving General Superintendents of the Assemblies of God denomination once wrote—or words to this effect, that God has not called us to go out at night and take down the license plate number of every one attending an illegal cock fight. That," he said, "is a policemen's job, not yours as a pastor." Kind of an archaic way of putting it, but you must remember that I grew up in pretty archaic times when dog fights and cock fights were pretty exciting events for the manly sorts. (No, I've never been to a dog fight, although as a farm boy I've certainly seen my share of dog and cat fights! (Incidentally, the cat usually wins.)

In any event, I am sure you get the point—that is, God has not called us to be policemen, but rather like a town crier. We warn the public hazards that are out there, put up signs that indicate the danger that lurks in the dark, remind them of the laws and the penalty for breaking them—something like, the old town crier or bellmen of Medieval Europe. Of course this is only one of many analogies that can be used. We can be watchmen, or witnesses. But, nowhere do I find that God has called any of us to be policemen.

Now, I know that that attitude does not set well with the self-righteous, or religious bigot, but unless we are living in a covenanted and mutual relationship with God and one another, then the best we can do is warn, or witness, or rescue.

Now, lest there be any misunderstanding, I do feel that we have a covenanted relationship that must be kept to protect the innocent and helpless. God certainly makes that clear. Pure religion is in part to do just that—that is to defend, and protect the helpless. Other than that, however, I find no room for the religious zealot in the Kingdom of God.

So, the next time you, me or anyone else feels like cramming Jesus down anyone's throat we must keep in mind that we are doing that on our own, God is not with us in that. Unfortunately, however, jihadism (or at least the nature thereof) is prevalent in every religion, and takes many forms. Sometimes it is through coercion, other times through the ballot box or an executive decision by the President; in each and every case, however, it is wrong. Thus, I find it extremely disturbing that some feel they have a God given right to force their political and moral agenda on me or anyone else. Nor do I feel that I should subsidize such immoral foolishness, either, with my hard earned tax dollars. More specifically, if someone wants to indiscriminately get an abortion which I feel is murder in the first place, I may not be able to stop that, but let them do it on their dime, not mine.

In a word, someday there will be Hell to pay for their actions, but I simply do not feel that any individual, public or private — corporation should be forced to be made a party to their crimes.

I am yours for the journey,

JimR_/