Let principles guide you, not partisan politics

We are soon coming to a day when politics will be devoid of any conflict over moral principles. In our postmodern culture Christianity is being marginalized in our educational institutions, in the commercial and business sectors of our society, in the mainstream media, and most certainly in the political arena.

“Blackstone’s Commentary on the Laws” served as the benchmark for our judicial and political system for more than two centuries. It gave Bible verse references to the law. It was introduced in 1758 and became the textbook for lawyers for almost 200 years. The Supreme Court quoted from it to settle cases.

Referring to the books of law in the Old Testament, Blackstone wrote, “These laws laid down by God are the eternal, immutable laws of good and evil …. This law … dictated by God Himself, is, of course, superior in obligation to any other. It is binding over all the globe, in all countries, and at all times; no human laws are of any validity if contrary to this …. The doctrines thus delivered … are to be found only in the Holy Scriptures …. No human laws should be suffered to contradict these.”

However, in recent years Blackstone’s comments have paled into insignificance as a new ideology has become predominant. In today’s society there is no hierarchy of truth. The prevailing doctrine of tolerance insists that all opinions are equal, should be respected, and there is no rational way to discern between them.

In his book “Primer to Postmodernism” Stanley J. Grenz states, “Since there are multiple descriptions of reality, no one view can be true in an ultimate sense … since truth is described by language, and all language is created by humans, all truth is created by humans.”

Josh McDowell, commenting on Grenz’s book says, “If all truth is created by humans, and all humans are created equal (as the American Declaration of Independence says), then what is the logical next step? It is this: All ‘truth is equal.’”

That means that the truth of Mohammad and Confucius is just as valid as the truth of Jesus; and the truth of Charles Darwin is just as valid as the truth of Williams Jennings Bryan; and the truth of Bill Maher’s movie, “Religulous,” is just as valid as the truth of Michael Catt’s movie, “Fireproof.”

To give you an idea about Maher’s irreverent and profane view of Christianity Religion News Service suggests that Maher believes that religion is “detrimental to the progress of humanity” and in the film he portrays believers – especially Christians – as irrational and perhaps even psychotic.

According to RNS Maher, a professed atheist, says, “People, otherwise so rational about everything else, [on] Sunday [drink] the blood of a 2,000-year-old god.”

Yet our society of religious pluralism insists that Maher’s views of God and Christianity should be given the same measure of validity as the views of Charles Stanley or Jerry Vines.

Similarly, according to the postmodernists, the stand of John McCain on pro-life issues should be no more or less virtuous than Barak Obama’s stand on pro-choice issues. Furthermore, the Republican’s platform in support of heterosexual marriage should be considered no more righteous than the Democrat’s stated position of opposing the Defense of Marriage Act, which is one way of advocating same sex unions.

This new ideology is marked by a shifting moral compass and it calls for nothing to be ethically wrong except for

intolerance. Therefore, those who stand for old-fashioned biblical morality are archaic, out-of-touch dinosaurs no more relevant than corsets and spats.

I don’t know how much our nation will change before the presidential election in 2012, but I expect it to morph into something much different than what we have experienced in our history. The prevailing ideology that seems to be gaining new adherents each day will very likely become full-blown by then.

If the present (Oct. 20) Rasmussen and Zogby polls are any indication of who will be our next president, I expect the Fairness Doctrine will be passed next year. The passing of that “Doctrine” will not only significantly impact talk radio, but will also impose unwelcome restrictions on what churches can and cannot do as well as what preachers can and cannot preach.

I can see the day on the near horizon when sermons will be censored, when church services will be randomly monitored, when churches and religious organizations will lose their tax-exempt status, and Christians severely ridiculed for their faith, if not outright persecuted.

Perhaps, the church will be sifted through persecution so that we will know who the genuine, authentic Christians really are. That may be a blessing in disguise, because Christianity has always flourished better in times of adversity than in times of prosperity.

In the meantime, even though secularists are using their influence to blur the lines between what is right and wrong, we must hold on to our convictions. The Democrats believe they are right; and the Republicans believe they are right.

I don’t know how much the Democrats or the Republicans embrace principles or values anymore. It seems that politics has become a seedbed for compromise, self-aggrandizement, greed, graft, and the exploitation of the taxpayer, but there are still some values that have been articulated in this presidential race.

Check out the platforms of the two parties if you need more information. Get informed. Cast partisan politics to the wind. Ask God to illuminate your mind and heart.

Pray for God’s wisdom, and as much as possible, be a values voter. It may be your last chance to vote in a presidential election that will not be devoid of any conflict over moral principles. Your vote could very well determine the destiny of the nation for generations to come.