What's That Manger?

What is That Manger?

37) On that last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38) He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. 39) But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, who those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:37-39 (NKJV)

This morning, while looking at one of the creches my wife displays this time of year, I considered the babe in the manger. Let me tell you what I think I know.

The accommodation for Mary and Joseph was a stable, as in a cave or protected overhang of rock. In it, cattle were fed and watered because there wasn’t a field for them to pasture with a stream running through it. Think downtown Bethlehem.

The manger we’ve come to know now, wasn't a wooden structure then, but rather a carved out stone object. Think about what that scene looked like. Hay strewed about. Cattle standing and chewing their cud while others lie content in their surroundings. But where was their water supply?

Consider what it would mean if an impervious-to-water stone manager was used to water the cattle, rather than to feed them.

Jesus, the Living Water, gets displayed to all who visit by the most fundamental visual of Christ. From shepherds to Wise Men, poor to rich, all who see Him learn from His very first parable. Come to me and drink.

This brings new revelation to me of how John 7:37-39 brings into focus the ministry of Jesus Christ from His birth.

Vigilante, or Not?

 Today I saw a meme depicting the 376 motionless members of the police department at Uvalde during the active shooter casualty event. It also showed the one young man who stood up more recently to an active shooter. 

It's a rather clear picture, even by words, isn't it?

Then I considered what some people may say or think concerning the one individual who took action. I have not read, nor seen video of any of the original documents or videos from either event. I have seen some internet comments and, of course, the noted meme. The following is personal opinion and should not be construed as if I were speaking legally.

Two words came immediately to mind, Militia and Vigilante. Do not get the two confused.

According to the South Carolina state constitution:

ARTICLE XIII.

MILITIA

SECTION 1. Militia.

"The militia of this State shall consist of all able-bodied male citizens of the State between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years, except such persons as are now or may be exempted by the laws of the United States or this State, or who from religious scruples may be adverse to bearing arms, and shall be organized, officered, armed, equipped and disciplined as the General Assembly may by law direct."

Emphasis on shall is by me. The consideration is, under law, Shall is not optional as in May. In other words, if you live in South Carolina and are able bodied between the ages of 18 and 45, you ARE the militia, unless ruled exempt.

Vigilante is a group of a different bent. They are defined as a member of a self-appointed group of citizens who undertake law enforcement in their community without legal authority, typically because the legal agencies are thought to be inadequate. (Note: they operate without legal authority. Most notably, they take justice into their own hands by trying, convicting, and executing.)

The legal authority of militia stems from centuries of law before the constitutions of the various colonies came into existence. Once those colonies became states under the US Constitution, they retained all rights of militia organization and regulation because those rights were never part of the national constitution. The only mention of the militia within the body of the US Constitution refers to the right of the President to call up such a force to deal with treason, insurrection, and anarchy. The 2nd Amendment leaves the militia to the people.

Another initial intent of the founders little known to Americans today, requires the legal system of the Grand Jury to request the militia to arrest based upon fact and evidence, sorely lacking in the instance of vigilantes. And the militia has no authority to convict under civil law. That belongs to the courts.

To bring this back to full circle, the one lone gunman acting to preserve life guaranteed by the constitutions of the various states' laws (see right to use deadly force) wasn't acting as a vigilante. His state gave him the right to act to preserve life, as I understand it, through the castle doctrine.

There will likely be more discussion, evidence, legal opinions, and such during the next few months concerning Uvalde and other instances of US Citizens, militia members, and police interacting with aberrant shooters.

The Mistake About White Privilege in America

 

The Mistake About White Privilege in America

 

When someone throws out the white privilege concern, especially those in the United States, they forget our founders’ tenets when they established our new nation. We live in one of the latest structures of government in the world. The grand experiment of the Constitution outlives any other country’s government, especially those of a republic. But the Constitution’s foundation does not depend upon the Federal government. It depends upon the morality and character of a Christian people.

Our founding fathers’ quotes suggest humanity reverts to base behavior without scripture’s aid. It’s also why, even under the Articles of Confederation, the third article of the Northwest Territory Act in 1787 established a method for ensuring there were funds for public schools. Religion, morality and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged. The religion referred to is Protestant Reformation Christianity, which the entire group of English colonies understood. You may also consider the foundation of our university system started in its earliest form as seminaries. Yale, Harvard, William and Mary, and Princeton fall under this program.

The mistake is thinking any one group receives more than another. The majority of world cultures included slavery. There is no question concerning who held slaves. Africans, Hebrews, Mexicans, and native North Americans used slavery to bolster their economies. Many other groups did as well and still do. History shows mankind is anything but kind. Americans today are no different. But does that mean we are incapable of doing good, helping neighbors, supporting storm-tossed communities? No, and the reason is that we have a foundation of Christianity to support our governance.

Christian scripture, known as the Holy Bible, teaches God recognizes no person. The inference is God created all humans in His image. Each one of us reflects the image of God. The problem, of course, revolves around our heart issues. God made us, so He knows the issues. He sent His Son, Jesus, to give us one more opportunity to reestablish a relationship with God. Most of our problems, well all of them, concern our lack of seeking God, and when we find Him, remembering it’s Him who gives us light.

Christopher Columbus enjoyed a charter from Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand to go forth and discover new lands, claim them for the royal highnesses, and evangelize them. He started with the edict and then found gold. Humans seem to have a propensity to get tunnel vision, and Christobol did the same thing. He lost sight of God’s plan and focused on how rich he could get. Christobol failed God and didn’t repent of his sins, those of forgetting God’s plan. He died broken and penniless.

Here in America, scripture concreted our initial foundations. The Mayflower Compact strode ashore with the pilgrims in 1620 and laid the first course for a repentant people. Those foundations supported a wealth of businesses and expansion through the colonies and into the heartland of America. Contrast that with the Virginia experiment. The cavaliers who initiated Jamestown grew up as second or third-born aristocratic sons who had no inheritance. Their lifestyle dictated they were essential and others servants, be it indentured or enslaved people. When the Dutch ship landed in 1609 with the first boatload of enslaved Black people, it supplied the beginning of a vast selection of workers. Their Anglican priest had little influence. The plantation existence focused on the elite’s lavish lifestyle and the slaves bare existence.

We’re talking about European traditions and expectations. The protestant reformation happened in the late 1400s. Columbus brought the Roman Catholic version of Christianity to the New World, after which there were 250 years (1500-1750) of its expansion in the Americas. The English colonies and Protestant Reformation arrived early in the 1600s. By the end of the 18^th century, the people of the United States of America understood their roots. Their foundation supported the structure of the federal government. Protestant and secular men gathered to determine the future of the United States. Their great compromise ended in passing and ratifying the new Constitution. It declared all men were created equal, but it said nothing about achieving equal success. But again, men forgot God. Men, Christian men and secular men, saw the resources of a vast land and determined they’d get their share. All colors and ethnicities of men declared their intents. Many of them administered violence to each other.

What seemed like a good thing to Europeans, copying what the Spaniards did in South and Central America, led them on the trail to Manifest Destiny. Even their Christian background couldn’t keep them from using every advantage to advance themselves. Whether it be decimating natives, using up resources, or mandating illegal applications of Constitutional directives, Americans of all walks of life contributed to our degradation.

Still, there were remnants. The Methodist circuit riders saw significant expansion of awakening in the Christian community. Presbyterian ministers brought more revival. America as a nation started to turn back to God. Not white folks. Not black folks. Not immigrants. Americans.

And that’s the point of this post. What happened in American history includes many details obverse to our Christian heritage. But we shouldn’t forget those events, nor should we erase the account. On the contrary, we need to remember every one of the atrocities, wars, and examples of greed. Because when we do remember these things, our nature should take us back to the loving God who saw fit to keep North America sacrosanct until He had a plan for a country to grow in His grace.

America still lacks many of God’s principles. We should remember God doesn’t see persons. He sees reflections of Himself. Each of us has the same opportunities under the Constitution. As God’s children, each of us walks in a privilege of high standing with the Lord of lords. We must stay in touch with Him through His Word, prayer, and repentance to bring His kingdom into our lives.

It’s not an ethnic privilege to be an American, and it’s a mistake to consider it so.

Old, Ancient, or Aged?

 

“Let’s stop using the word “old” to describe ourselves or others. Worn out shoes are old. People age. And like with all fine things, aging brings out qualities to be admired and valued.” I found this statement on my Face Book and it sparked the following.

I believe today’s progressive movement continues its historical philosophy, “if it’s old, throw it away, change it, or don’t use it”. This was certainly the case in 1912 when the 17^th Amendment strong-armed its way into the Constitution. The system was old. It couldn’t possibly be of any value. People were smarter in 1912 than they were in the 18^th century. Look how poorly this system worked in that day. All the politicians elected by politicians were crooked. Change the document. Save the Union!

When in truth it wasn’t the document that needed fixing. The plainly written parchment worked through a great many trials in our nation’s history which included the very writing of it, the startup problems of a new country, continued attacks by Britain and Spain, the Industrial Revolution, huge national growth, and the Civil War, to name a few. It worked because of those checks and balances incorporated within this aging document. It was mankind who elected those politicians to the state legislative bodies. Those people elected the federal Senators. It wasn’t the system that broke, it was humans.

Now, one hundred and eleven years after the 17^th Amendment took effect, the Federal Government is so far out of balance there are death panels to determine who of our aged population receives healthcare, or more to the point, to determine those that will not receive healthcare. Now, federal court judges become activists and use their power to create law. Now, the Attorney General of the US resigns to elude prosecution. Now, a President can throw out the Constitution in favor of his phone and pen.

No, it wasn’t the Constitution broken in the early 1900s. Yes, it had seen some trying times. Yes, the same arguments discussed during the Constitutional Convention were still around. They still are today. But these arguments are not what the delegates ratified, unanimously. The Constitution’s existence up to 1912 performed like the opening statement here. It became more refined. It grew to be admired and respected around the world. It still is, or there wouldn’t be hordes of people crossing our borders in search of the American Dream.

And the basis of that dream stems from the Bill of Rights, otherwise known as the first ten amendments. These, too, are aging gracefully, but they are under attack by the progressives. Make no mistake about it. These Amendments have been around since 1792. That’s two hundred and thirty-four years. That’s way too long to suit progressives. The liberals would rather see you lose these rights, than protect them for the ages.

Stand up, America. Get off the couch on Election Day. Go Vote! Your Bill of Rights will disintegrate before your eyes if you do not.