Mark Daniels

When’s the last time you picked up a copy of the Declaration of Independence, and considered those 18^th-century colonial grievances in the context of today? Indeed, a fair case can be made that many of the offenses committed by King George III are being visited once again upon the American people through the actions (or lack of same) of their own government. And, in the words of the Declaration itself, “when a train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a sign to reduce them under absolute despotism…it is their right, it is their duty to throw off such government.”  

The Declaration lists a history of the king’s interactions with the colonies over the years. It is an interesting exercise to replace the word “king” with the words, “the entrenched power base in Washington;” then, evaluate a number of those grievances in a contemporary light. Certainly, the “power base” has “made judges dependent upon [its] will alone for the tenure of their offices.” How many roadblocks are placed in front of judicial appointees at every federal level, purely for the sake of politics? Has our bloated and growing government “erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance?” If you said “no,” you’ve apparently never interacted with the IRS! And certainly, every time a Supreme Court justice alludes to international law as precedent for a ruling, he or she “combines with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws.”

The bottom line? When representative government is not held accountable, it ceases to be a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. We are a nation in gridlock, a virtual logjam of creative problem-solving. It’s been allowed by a passive citizenry, enabled by a legislature obsessed with obtaining and retaining power that body has no intention of using for the public good, and fueled by a legal system driven, not by a desire for justice, but instead by an insatiable hunger for personal gain. The resulting muck and mire have slowed America’s progress to a near standstill. We’re only noticing it now because our nation's economy is threatened, and it appears we citizens might not get all the “stuff” we think we deserve.

So far in this ’08 campaign, the Big Parties—and their friends in the Big Media—have been able to keep us talking about the gamesmanship of politics, instead of what’s truly at stake for our nation, and its future. And as we battle over delegate counts, pout about fairness, and point fingers of blame, the entire process gets just a little more absurd; sadly, we move not an inch closer to solving the immense problems before us. Perhaps when we once again have the courage and fortitude, we will—like our Founding Fathers before us—seek to abolish the tyranny that offends our freedom. Even if we discover that the despot in question is one of our own making.  

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Last Sunday evening, many of our listeners viewed the movie Obsession, then joined a discussion about the film (and the topic of radical Islam’s war on the West) with veteran author and talk show host Michael Medved.  As the screening took place in a church, a number of those in the audience wondered just what the Christian’s response should be to the 10 or 15% of Muslims worldwide who seek to hijack Islam as a means to achieve their own bloody ends. 

Indeed, what can and should a Christian do about this jihad? Well, we should pray…then pray, and pray again…that God’s will would be done, and that Christians would be faithful and useful in that (ultimately peaceful) purpose. Christians should, indeed, view movies like Obsession, and read books that help us understand what’s going on in the world. Certainly, Christians would then be prepared to vote for candidates that are willing to defend religious liberty and freedom. But it doesn’t stop there. 

I’m reminded how the government once trained Secret Service agents, whose primary duty was not always the protection of the president. The Service was created in 1865 to suppress counterfeit currency. Agents back then weren’t necessarily taught the endless varieties of fake dollar bills they might encounter. Instead, these “G-men” (and don’t ever call them that!) were taught how to identify GENUINE currency, so that a flawed or counterfeit bill will immediately stand out. Such perspective helps us understand why Christians should remain informed about religion, politics, and current events. If we can recognize a forgery, it’ll help us better discern the truth. Sometimes light is sharply defined by the shadows. 

Finally—and most obviously—Christians need to acquire a working understanding about Islam, Mormonism, atheism, and other belief systems that—as Scripture says—we may “always be ready  to give a reason for the hope that lies within.” “Yet,” that verse continues, “do so with gentleness and respect.”* 

Perhaps that’s the most important part of the answer to our question. Christians need to react to radical Islam…and, the peaceful Muslim next door, and the unbeliever…not with anger, judgment, or isolation, but with unmitigated love. I’ve been told the one thing that breaks through a Muslim’s years spent subject to Islam, is the outrageous notion that God might actually love him. Instead of demanding submission and obedience, the Christian God offers a free gift of salvation, and the promise of an eternal, personal relationship made possible through the atoning death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And we Christians get to be that love, wrapped in skin, for all the world to see, should He choose to tarry. What a privilege! 

It’s been His nature for eternity past, and it will be so forever: God’s love conquers all.

*1 Peter 3:15-16

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Republican Senator Charles Grassley's current inquiry into the spending habits of six prominent televangelists, coupled with recent revelations about financial misdeeds at Oral Roberts University, is causing legitimate concern at every level of faith ministry. Professional fundraisers worry about the impact such stories may have on giving, which is--by some estimates--already on the decline, since peaking in 2006.

What a tragedy it would be, should thousands of ministries suffer for the indiscretions of a mere half-dozen. We here in Philadelphia still shudder from the chilling effect on ministry fundraising caused by the Foundation for New Era Philanthropy scandal in 1995. And the echoes of the devastating 1980s “TV preacher” embarrassments ring anew in the halls of Oral Roberts University. But the reality for most ministry organizations—as confirmed by the work of the Pew Foundation, the University of PA, and others back at the turn of the century—is that faith-based ministries are the top social problem-solvers in the communities they serve. Moreover—in Philadelphia alone—a thousand congregations in the city provide a conservatively-estimated quarter-billion dollars’ worth of “hidden” social services per year.

Non-profit church organizations are remarkably accountable, great stewards of their resources, and invaluable in terms of the work they accomplish. The bottom line: if the work of the Christian church was to be suddenly pulled out of the community, our cities would—very quickly—implode. Even if the government was able to somehow come up with a plan to replace the services rendered by the Christian church, the effort would soon bankrupt every taxpayer in America.

So, please…as frustrating as the news may sometimes be…don’t give up on supporting your favorite ministry. The vast majority of Christian charities that ask for your support are legitimate, caring, and irreplaceable members of our community. If you suspect the reliability of a ministry asking for money, there are two great places to look: charitynavigator.org, and ecfa.org—that’s the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. Between the two, you should be able to find the information you need to give with confidence.

For a clear, Biblical understanding of a believer’s privilege in giving, check 2 Corinthians, chapters 8 and 9. You’ll find that such generosity will result in a “harvest of righteousness,”* not necessarily worldly wealth.  

If you’re a Christian and feel no desire to give…you might just want to check your pulse, instead.  

*2 Corinthians 9:10 (ESV)

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Dr. Gary Cass, President and CEO of the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission, says that 2007 was a high-watermark year for “Christian Bashing,” which (by the way) is the title of his new book. As a partial means of proof, Gary offers seven significant offenses, including the deliberate execution of 4 believers in Colorado, the attacks on Jerry Falwell literally hours after his passing, CNN’s “God’s Warriors,” and others.

More subtle perhaps, as mentioned in my most recent blog, was the use of the word “evangelical” in TV caucus and primary election coverage, invoked to minimize “Preacher” Mike Huckabee’s success in Iowa, and to lump every person of faith into one group, for the singular purpose of dismissing their beliefs and influence with a single, broad brushstroke.

There is little doubt that attacks on Christians and their faith are on the rise, and will only increase over time. Such invective is to be expected, of course; Jesus makes it quite clear throughout the gospels that his followers will suffer such, and much more, for His Name’s sake. The Truth we hold dear is a source of outrage for those who do not, or will not, believe. What’s in question is how believers should respond.

Of course, 1 Peter 3:15-16 offers a good foundation. We should always be ready to give a reason for the hope within us. But we are to do so with gentleness and respect, that those who persecute us would be put to shame. This is of great importance, as a new generation of young people often cites the inconsistent behavior of Christians as a stumbling block to their belief.

Some might be tempted to do nothing about Christian bashing. After all: isn’t it praiseworthy to silently and passively endure persecution? I might be tempted to agree, if not for the response of Jesus Himself to such attacks. In Matthew 12, as He cast out a demon, the local religious leaders claimed that Jesus was doing so “by (the authority of) Beelzebub.” In John 8, it was a racial slur—“Samaritan.” In Luke 7, our Lord was called a “glutton and drunkard, the friend of tax collectors and sinners!” In each circumstance, Jesus offered a response…not a threat of physical violence, not a smarmy or heated retort, but instead…a firm but gentle rendering of the truth, no matter how difficult it was for the hearer to receive.

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