If there is a controversial issue the Bible says nothing specifically about, it is the issue of guns and The Second Amendment, which reads, “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”

It is an issue that people long accustomed to being free cannot appreciate in the same way as those who have been oppressed by others and had to fight to achieve the very freedom we take for granted today.

The political platforms have much to say about guns.

Since guns did not exist when Jesus walked the earth, this issue resides solely in the political realm. Our Biblical look will simply state a few universal truths.

1. God values human life and deplores the taking of it because of His Image present in every man. Genesis 9: 5 And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man. 6 “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man.
2. Life is more important than property. Luke 12:22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes
3. One of the Ten Commandments reads, Exodus 20:13 “You shall not murder.”
4. Defending life and property are different. Killing for protecting property is not the same as when one perceives his life is threatened. Exodus 22: 2 “If a thief is caught breaking in and is struck so that he dies, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed; 3 but if it happens after sunrise, he is guilty of bloodshed.
5. Fighting evil happens both in the spiritual and physical realms Luke 22: 31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.” 35 Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered. 36 He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. 37 It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.” 38 The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.” “That is enough,” he replied.” Jesus wasn’t doing a weapon count to see how well they’d be able to be freedom fighters. Rather, the principle is that defending against evil takes place in both the spiritual and physical realms and preparation in both areas is the key to not being overtaken by evil.
6. God does not confuse life in Him through obedience to Him … with the world’s definition of “life.” Deuteronomy 30:15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess … 19 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
7. When Jesus went to the Cross, He entered the spiritual battlefield. He was not a doormat nor was He surrendering to the evil around Him. He was conquering it with spiritual weapons in the spiritual realm. Jesus could not shed any blood but His own or He could not have been our Savior. We are not in the same category because we are not God. So here’s the deal: On one hand we are called to first pursue the spiritual battle against evil. 2 Corinthians 10:3 “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” On the other hand, there is a physical realm in which some battles will occur. If every God-fearer never engaged in self-defense, we’d all be slaughtered and there would be none left alive for a rapture that many Christians are counting on for getting them out of an evil world.  And, if every God-fearer refused to serve in the military or in the government as God’s agent of justice (Romans 13:4 For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer), then justice wouldn’t be by God’s standard, but rather by the world’s, yes?  Christians take a stand against evil, both in the spiritual realm as well as in the physical realm.
8. And finally, weapons don’t equal death. Just because we possess a weapon that could end a life (such as a gun, a knife, a box cutter, a crowbar, or a fist) doesn’t mean that using it will automatically involve a death. Sometimes, it’s just a threat of injury to put space between our families and the criminal, enough space and time to flee. And life has been preserved all around.

Guns are a touchy subject, easily turned on emotion, and lethal force is always, rightfully questioned. In the end, any weapon (including our own bodies) can be used to kill. Evil people will do evil things. Christians seek peace but prepare for defense.

Peace is never achieved, nor is defense against evil ever gained, by treating the law-abiding as if they are the evildoers. Law breakers, by definition, will break whatever laws are designed to restrain them.

Christians, The Second Amendment, and guns aren’t inconsistent when we consider that deterrence of evil is always preferable to lethal force against evil. And God’s Word offers principles to guide the good hearted and the law-abiding toward that end.

* * *

This series contains:

• An overview of each party’s platform http://seminarygal.com/comparing-political-platforms-part-1/
• Part 2 Overarching principles of individual vs. state and rights of self-determination
• Part 3, on Freedoms of Speech, Religion, and Expression
• Part 4, Government Transparency and a Right to Privacy
• Part 5, Human Relationships, Sex, and the Law in a Divided America
• Part 6, Abortion
• Part 7, Education
• Part 8, Drugs
• Part 9, Criminal Justice
• Part 10, the Death Penalty

For those of you finding this series (Comparing the Political Platforms) longwinded even if an important corrective to focusing on personalities, today’s installment will be a refreshing wind on an old dispute: The Death Penalty. Each political platform has a concise statement on it.

The Fifth Amendment is probably best known for someone “pleading the fifth” but the whole text reads: No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

***

So, due process must happen, but deprivation of life is constitutional.

The flip side, however, is that just because it’s constitutional doesn’t mean that it’s preferable.

The Democrat Platform explicitly identifies exonerations as evidence that the death penalty should be abolished. To them, it is arbitrary, unjust, and cruel and unusual. Libertarians also point to it as a failed policy—adding to it their objection to expansion of power for government–and therefore, they reject the death penalty by adherence to their Libertarian ideal.

What does the Bible say about the death penalty?

The Bible actually commands the death penalty in the Old Testament and accepts it as a given in the New Testament.  And all God’s people said, “Ouch.”

God’s Word does not give us the detailed outline of when it ought to occur today, on our side of the Cross. But the fact is, if someone is dead, the opportunity to commit further crimes has just been eliminated in the death of the criminal. But the fact also remains that the death penalty is the taking of a human life.

In Exodus 21:12, we read, “Anyone who strikes a man and kills him shall surely be put to death.” In fact, so much of Exodus 21 deals with who must be put to death that it seems like no man would be left standing. Same thing with Leviticus 20. It’s really pretty frightening, if the Christian is honest.

But the point of these commands was deterrence.

It was designed to set consequences.  This was not for budgeting purposes to see how far one was willing to go rogue.  Rather, its goal was deterrence in order to alert and convince people to honor God in all things so that these consequences could be avoided.

Is the death penalty still a deterrent?

The Democrat and Libertarian Platforms would argue that it’s insufficient to merit its practice ever again. The Republican Platform argues its constitutionality and to leave it up to the states, which is the limited government view as a Republican core principle.  Remove any and all possibility of deterrence by abolishing part of the Constitution and it opens up a whole can of worms best left alone.

The Christian in me sees a priority of life over death, truth over lies, deterrence over punishment, and reality over wishful thinking. Disobedience to the law is a given. People will die, even be murdered. Suffering does happen. So what do we do as Christians in the real world?

In Hebrews 11, the Bible talks of the great cloud of witnesses who were put to death in various gruesome ways for no crime greater than obeying God.  Or these days, preaching Christ. In 2 Timothy 2:7-9 Paul talks about being in chains for the Gospel. In Revelation 2:10 Jesus says, “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

For the Christian, a prison is not a prison, but a place to be a witness for Christ. And the Christian—by virtue of faith in our Savior—knows that death does not have the final say. There will be a resurrection at the end of it.

Whether or not a death penalty remains a possibility for punishment… reserved only for the most heinous of crimes…people DO respect death, especially their own.  For most of us, it’s a deterrent.  It’s why no one wants to be captured by ISIS.

People will continue to die in horrific ways, some at the hands of criminals, some in wartime activity, and others as a consequence of their own actions. Each of us must consider deterrence as the best of all options since it preserves life the best. And to hold the punishment called the death penalty in the sober awareness that—before God as our witness– it is a human life we’re talking about taking which is every bit made in the image of God as the fetus a pro-lifer protects, the child we shield from abuse, the girl we rescue from sex trafficking, the woman we harbor far away from domestic assault, and the aged man for whom we stand and proclaim he has value to this world so long as he lives.

* * *

This series contains:

• An overview of each party’s platform http://seminarygal.com/comparing-political-platforms-part-1/
• Part 2 Overarching principles of individual vs. state and rights of self-determination
• Part 3, on Freedoms of Speech, Religion, and Expression
• Part 4, Government Transparency and a Right to Privacy
• Part 5, Human Relationships, Sex, and the Law in a Divided America
• Part 6, Abortion
• Part 7, Education
• Part 8, Drugs
• Part 9, Criminal Justice

Yesterday’s headline read “702 shootings by city’s cops, not one federal prosecution.” It’s a typical day in Chicagoland with the FBI investigating the cops. Our whole criminal justice system is a mess. “Community activists and family members of those shot by police have urged federal officials to take a more active role in investigation the incidents, hoping they will be more aggressive than local authorities” (Chicago Tribune August 9, 2016).

It’s no wonder that law and order (i.e. criminal justice) is a hot topic for the 2016 elections and that justice means different things to different people.  Again, using the Libertarian Platform as our organizing structure for our series–Comparing Political Platforms–the various parties have much to say about criminal justice.

Criminal Justice is justice achieved …  for the victims of crime … by way of punishment of / consequences for … the perpetrators of crime.

What is justice, anyway? Well, it depends on who you ask.

There is a legal definition and a biblical definition.

Legal: “The proper administration of the law; the fair and equitable treatment of all individuals under the law. Aside from the fairness issue, it also means ‘a scheme or system of law in which every person receives his/her/its due from the system, including all rights, both natural and legal. One problem is that attorneys, judges, and legislatures often get caught up more in procedure than in achieving justice for all.’” (source Legal Dictionary)

In other words, our legal system has developed several flaws:

• First, it is set up to reward people who achieve a conviction whether or not it’s merited…and equally rewards those who get people off the hook for the crimes they have, in fact, committed. The legal fees one can charge is grounded less in truth-seeking and is tied more to the effective achievement of your side’s goals.
• We have juries of our peers irrespective of education level, who can be swayed by all kinds of emotion, political, and racial motivations
• And we have judges whose political aspirations may flavor their judgments in a calculated career move.

We have a process and a criminal justice system but actual justice runs through on stilts.

Why?

Because they’ve forgotten (or maybe they never knew in today’s secular litigious climate) the origin of justice.

It’s supposed to be grounded in Truth.

Consider the Biblical definition:

Biblical:  “Biblical justice involves making individuals, communities, and the cosmos whole, by upholding both goodness and impartiality… As true and good, God seeks to make the object of his holy love whole. This is what motivates God throughout the Old and New Testaments in his judgments on sin and injustice. These judgments are both individual and corporate in scope. “

God’s justice is always truth-seeking and redemptive…or we’d all fry in the fires of hell.  That’s the truth and why redemption is so important.

God’s criminal justice punishes for several purposes:

• First, for restoring that goodness which was lost in the crime,
•  in order to awaken the soul of the criminal to experience remorse,
• to redeem the repentant sinner,
• and in whatever way possible, to repay what was taken from the one wronged, the one trusting in God’s fairness.
• And it’s all for the purpose of wholeness (integrity) and holiness (inward and outward manifestation of truth).

What does the Bible say about God’s brand of criminal justice?  It must be stated that crime against God is called sin.  The criminal is called a sinner.  And justice was done in the body of Jesus Christ on the Cross so our sins would not count against us.

It’s all about reconciliation:  2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

It’s all about truth.  Revelation 19:1 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, 2 for true and just are his judgments”

Of course, God has a significant advantage in knowing everything, being all powerful, and having unerring judgment. He’s always right.  And we’re not.

There you go, our problem defined: How do we achieve criminal justice in a legal sense when we reject the Truth and are prone to err ourselves?

We aim for perfect justice and accept that we will always fall short of that goal. The Bible says,

On hearings and appeals, Moses said, Deuteronomy 1: 16 And I charged your judges at that time: Hear the disputes between your brothers and judge fairly, whether the case is between brother Israelites or between one of them and an alien. 17 Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of any man, for judgment belongs to God. Bring me any case too hard for you, and I will hear it.

In the reign of Jehoshaphat, 2 Chronicles 19:5 He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah. 6 He told them, “Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for man but for the LORD, who is with you whenever you give a verdict. 7 Now let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Judge carefully, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.”

Maybe the reason people feel like they have no justice in our criminal justice system is that they feel there has been partiality, bribery, and that judgments are lacking truth.  Truth resident in a healthy fear of God. As our judiciary increasingly becomes the home of secular thought, it’s no wonder that we find judging done … by man … for man … a problematic idea.

There is no fear of God upon our judges.  How can we possibly get justice?

• Some people want law enforcement convicted and criminals to go free.
• Some people want law enforcement that’s gone bad to escape justice and just give the victims’ families a big pay out as restitution for their 15 minutes of fame on social media and their lifetime of sorrow.
• Some people think there should be racial quotas that match demographic makeup.
• Some people think that victimless crimes are not crimes at all because they only harm themselves.
• And some people think money should be the determining factor (the rich should use their money to get off even as the poor get convicted OR the retribution idea that the rich should be punished and the poor should get a pass, irrespective of crime).

This is not justice.

They’ve deluded themselves into believing the same lie that everyone else in government has. There is no God and they will never be held accountable for their judgments by a Higher Power.

To that lie, God says to us through revelation to the Apostle John, Revelation 16:1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go, pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.”…5 Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say: “You are just in these judgments, you who are and who were, the Holy One, because you have so judged; 6 for they have shed the blood of your saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.” 7 And I heard the altar respond: “Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are your judgments.”

The bottom line is that God wants all of us to fear Him, and

Zechariah 8:16 These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; 17 do not plot evil against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,” declares the LORD.

Do you want true justice in our criminal justice system?  Here’s the Bible’s instruction: Romans 13: 3b Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4 For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. 8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”

We need fear of God upon our judges and upon our people.  Without the Truth, how can our criminal justice system possibly administer true justice? 

Any reform measures must address the real problem. 

There is no fear of God.

* * *

This series contains:

• An overview of each party’s platform http://seminarygal.com/comparing-political-platforms-part-1/
• Part 2 Overarching principles of individual vs. state and rights of self-determination
• Part 3, on Freedoms of Speech, Religion, and Expression
• Part 4, Government Transparency and a Right to Privacy
• Part 5, Human Relationships, Sex, and the Law in a Divided America
• Part 6, Abortion
• Part 7, Education
• Part 8, Drugs

What does the Bible say about recreational drug use? Absolutely nothing…explicitly. But if there’s one reason the Libertarian party is on the map, it’s because of their position on legalization of drugs. So, let’s pluck recreational drug use and “victimless crimes” out of the Libertarian Platform’s discussion of Crime and Justice and address it first. Separate treatment is merited because it doesn’t quite fit with the rest of Crime and Justice which will be covered next. Crime, Justice, and law enforcement are of great concern to many Americans and that topic deserves to be a standalone. So let’s continue comparing party platforms regarding their positions on drugs in America. (The full series of topics, including links to the documents, are included below.)

So, if the Bible really doesn’t have anything to say explicitly about recreational drug use, why even cover this?

There are actually several good reasons:

First, drug use in America remains controversial. It’s a thorny issue because it’s not mentioned in the Constitution and not explicitly in the Bible, but there are some who would argue that medicinal uses are legitimate, while others who see it only as a pathway to outright legalization.

I don’t believe we should avoid discussing controversial things.

So a second reason is that a robust, fact-filled debate gets us beyond the emotion and helps us to see that the party platforms couldn’t be farther apart than on this issue, though for different reasons.

* * *

Drug use can be argued (as the Libertarians do)…to be a victimless crime.

There is ample evidence that marijuana can help in certain medical situations.  I’m not a doctor so I don’t know if there are other prescriptions to do the same thing.  Beyond that, to people buying cannabis in Colorado, for example, and smoking it in Nebraska in their own home and bothering no one, it can be argued as a victimless crime and clogging up our court systems with unnecessary cases. They have a point.

But there is plenty of evidence to the contrary as well.  Drugs may have hidden victims that a casual observer or a short-range consumer of news might not notice.

For those considering it a crime with plenty of victims, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency, an “emerging drug trend being encountered throughout the state is the mixture of tobacco or marijuana cigarettes and “blunts” that have been soaked in embalming fluid, then dried. The main users appear to be teenagers and adolescents in their 20s… According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, it is common for marijuana to be laced with PCP and/or embalming fluid, both of which produce a hallucinogenic effect. Cigarettes soaked with embalming fluid trend to burn slower, thereby increasing the chance for a prolonged high.”  For a description of “wet,” “fry,” and “illy” read this summary article by BBC news.

Some of the crimes being committed which we’ve seen in high profile news stories include the theft of cigarillos to make the blunts on the front end of use… as well as aggressive and erratic behavior we’ve seen in news stories regarding tragic arrests. Police cannot predict the behavior of someone who has smoked such a blunt, nor is the offender sometimes even aware of the behavior he’s exhibiting. It’s dangerous for both the police and the user, especially in domestic violence situations since laced marijuana has been clearly implicated in an increase of these crimes, according to recent studies.

Is the victim of murder by someone unaware of his behavior due to clouded thinking from drugs any less a victim of murder than cases in which the offender was mentally ill… or like with ISIS, completely calculating? Is the victim of theft any different because the offender’s purpose was drug use than if the theft was long-planned for personal acquisition of property that belonged to the victim? There are principles at stake if we only will separate out the drug from the crime.

If the Bible says nothing explicitly about drugs, are there any principles for us to follow? Sure!

• The Bible tells us to be clear thinking. 1 Peter 4:7 “The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.”
• The Bible denounces drunkenness as a problem, not simply the consumption of wine. Ephesians 5:18 “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” To Timothy, Paul writes, 1 Timothy 5:23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.
• The Bible tells us that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and we should treat our bodies as if God Himself is living there because He does. 1 Corinthians 6:19 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?”
• And the Bible tells us that authorities are there for a purpose: Romans 13:1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established…4 For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.”

Many arguments and justifications are simply an excuse to do what we want, whether or not it comes at anyone else’s expense.

To that, the Bible says to love our neighbor, a Golden Rule: Matthew 7:12 “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

So at the end of it all, we have a conscience. And the reason we have laws is that some people don’t use theirs for social good. Where does yours stand on this issue?

* * *

This series contains:

• An overview of each party’s platform http://seminarygal.com/comparing-political-platforms-part-1/
• Part 2 Overarching principles of individual vs. state and rights of self-determination
• Part 3, on Freedoms of Speech, Religion, and Expression
• Part 4, Government Transparency and a Right to Privacy
• Part 5, Human Relationships, Sex, and the Law in a Divided America
• Part 6, Abortion
• Part 7, Education

Choices, choices. Jump ahead or skip and go back? No, this is not the latest dance craze. I’m going to jump ahead and group a couple of the Libertarian Platform planks under a single heading so that I can actually do a comparison with the Democrat and Republican Platforms. Thinking of parental rights and education, these platforms are actually talking about choices in education–their focus, their range, their limits, their authority, and their content–and how best to serve the public good and serve the public well.

As you read, kindly think about the roles of government, parents, and the relationship of both authorities to the children being educated. The DNC and RNC Platforms are highly detailed in their views which I have tried to summarize to their core beliefs (in their own words). The DNC Platform spends considerable time discussing free college and universal preschool (pages 30-32) and the RNC Platform uses its document to emphasize local control and parental choice (pp.33-36). Please consult these linked pages for those details I cannot include for the sake of space.

The federal government’s influence over education that we accept as commonplace today began in the 1960s.

Prior to that, schools were “public” even as early as 1635 when the Boston Latin School opened as a public “exam school” for the purpose of educating the sons from Boston’s elite. Latin was one of the subjects most desired in formal education because it opened the world of history and religion. The Puritans emphasized education for their children, beginning in the home, primarily for the purpose of reading the Bible. Why? They believed that spiritual and moral instruction was foundational to the intellectual and moral development of children.

In the earliest years, however, public schools were not funded by tax dollars, but rather by donations, parent-funded teacher salaries, and land rentals.

Dedham, MA is home to the first tax supported public school and was run by Reverend Ralph Wheelock. This school was supported by town taxes (i.e. local control). In 1647, recognizing the value of education, the General Court established that every town of 50 or more families should build a school supported by town taxes.

All this is interesting history on education you might say, but what does the Bible say about teaching children?

• Education teaches culture and instills values, such as this, regarding the Passover, Exodus 12: 25 When you enter the land that the LORD will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony. 26 And when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ 27 then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.'”
• To keep the Israelites from forgetting the Lord, God commanded education, Deuteronomy 6:1 These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 2 so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. 3 Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you. 4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up…10 When the LORD your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you– a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, 11 houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant– then when you eat and are satisfied, 12 be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
• Remembering history was considered a very important function of education. Joshua 4:1 When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, 2 “Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, 3 and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan from right where the priests stood and to carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.” 4 So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, 5 and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, 6 to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 7 tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.” 8 So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them.
• Early education establishes a pattern for the child’s whole life Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
• Other verses about education’s content include Deuteronomy 4:9–10; Deuteronomy 11:18–20; Proverbs 1:7-8;  Proverbs 19:27; Ezekiel 44:23; Matthew 5:19; 1 Timothy 6:3–5.
• Hinting or directly identifying the authority conducting education includes verses such as those above as well as Deuteronomy 32:46; Psalm 34:11; Psalm 78:1–7; Isaiah 38:19; Joel 1:3; Luke 6:39–40; Ephesians 6:4.
• The bottom line is that parents and the religious community (e.g the Church, for Christians) teach the ways of God and have the responsibility for transmitting culture and knowledge from one generation to the next.

There is a fine line between education and indoctrination.

Between inculcation and indoctrination.

That fine line divides along authority: who is doing it.

The word indoctrinate used to mean to teach a doctrine, knowledge, and/or a set of principles which would guide future actions. These days, it takes on a political overtone whereas in the original meaning, it was more like our word inculcate (to educate, stress by persistence and repetition the cultural values and attitudes of virtue from parents to children) but was broadened to include literacy and science.

Why does indoctrination in the modern meaning present such a problem?

Indoctrination is what created Nazi youth. It is what presently trains young jihadists and convinces Chinese children that communism is their best way to economic and personal prosperity. It is indoctrination (e.g. brainwashing, propagandizing) that alters the civilization with a goal of control. Indoctrination makes independent, critical, and rational thought undesirable—with varying degrees of consequence/ punishment for noncompliance to the regime’s desired pattern.

Indoctrination is well known to be one of the most effective ways of strengthening a government’s control which explains why it is widely used in totalitarian regimes. Independent, critical thought is less valued. Each person becoming a conditioned part of community becomes the goal and in the process, individual expression, free speech, and dissent are pushed down in favor of an exalted group thought, a politically correct (or incorrect) way of living and thinking.

Consider all the ways biblical thought is chastised by our culture and Christians are bullied into silence, especially in our public schools. It’s easy to see how far we’ve headed down the road of indoctrination.   The Church, remaining largely silent as this has happened, bears a huge responsibility for the current amoral and immoral attitudes of the United States.

All that said, allow me to state–unequivocally–that educators I know want no part of indoctrination. (Please read it again so you do not misunderstand what I say.)

Educators I know are good people who carry a heavy burden, made heavier

• by the abnegation of parental responsibility,
• the absence of partnership with the home,
• the attitude of resenting authority by today’s youth,
• the abrogation of local control of schools to the federal government’s heavy hand of unfunded mandates, testing requirements, curriculum control, and the ongoing threat of losing funding,
• and a union which represents their interests in contract negotiations but extracts a high price of union dues so that money can fund candidates whose values may be antithetical to the consciences of their own membership.

As you ponder the political platforms, consider how America has slowly transferred authority from parents.  We are now forcing… increasingly nationalized educators… and an increasingly nationalized and militarized police force… to do the job that parents and the Church once did. There are cultural ramifications to placing our babies, our children, our youths, our college students into a national system of learning and thinking.  Each of us whether parents or educators who consider ourselves Christian need to take a step back and gain wisdom on this issue,

For the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world” (William Ross Wallace).

You gotta hand it to those Libertarians, they don’t hide behind language, even if their platform is kind of a cop-out. Of course you’ve probably guessed: today’s topic in our series is abortion.

The Democrat Platform substitutes other words: pro-choice, reproductive rights, women’s health care, and justice. In reading through their platform, please substitute the word abortion for any of that. It’s time to call a spade, a spade…and not try to make abortion seem to be more noble than it is.

The Republican Platform substitutes pro-life in one instance for anti-abortion which is merely looking at the pro- side of things, instead of what they oppose (abortion and physician assisted suicide). Fair is fair, so please feel free to substitute anti-abortion for the word pro-life in that occurrence.

Nice try, Libertarians. Government should be kept out of the matter?

It’s already in there.

You know it and we know it.  

Would Libertarians say that murder or theft should be a question to each person for their conscientious consideration and that good-faith views are present on all sides? Doubtful. What this boils down to is that Libertarians haven’t considered a fetus entitled to those God-given inalienable rights that are due the rest of humanity.  Rights that Libertarians often exalt as off-limits to government overreach.

Typically, I try to leave the platforms for you to assess impartially, but I ask only that you consider the following: Just because science today cannot save a fetus that is, say, 12 weeks, doesn’t mean that tomorrow’s technology won’t.

Ultimately one must decide what he believes about when life begins and therefore when the right to life…liberty and the pursuit of happiness applies.

At the time of Roe v. Wade,

“the 1973 Supreme Court decision that made unconstitutional any state laws banning abortion except to save the life of the mother, the court ruled that no restrictions could be placed on abortions before the 28th week of a pregnancy.“

A baby at 28 weeks is just a few days younger than this one (right).  This is a photo of my friend’s baby who is now a 4 year old girl, the light of her mother’s life, and a dream come true. In this photo, she appears as she was… born at 29 weeks, weighing a little more than 2 packages of butter. In 1973, she likely would have died. In 2016, ones younger than her (22 weeks) have been nurtured to maturity (click quote above for documentation link).

As you might imagine, the Republican Party Platform goes into a lengthy discourse about this topic under headings of (1) the Fifth Amendment,  (2) healthcare, and (3) in the section regarding our leadership in the world. I have limited their statements for the sake of brevity…and equality with the DNC platform’s statement length.

What does God say about the unborn? Here are but a few:

• Perhaps the 2 most famous: Psalm 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
• Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
• During the terrible testing of Job, it is written Job 1:18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” 20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.”
• God gives life to everything living. 1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time– God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen

It is for this reason that many of us who are pro-life believe that this issue is one upon which any others are built.

It’s hard to care about finding a job for someone who wasn’t allowed to be born in the first place.  It’s hard to care about education or tuition assistance for a child who was denied the basic right to live to pursue a college degree at all.  It’s hard to care about reproductive health for the baby girl whose mother’s choice was to abort her before she ever came to be of age to make those decisions for herself.

Life.  It’s really pretty basic.

In the eyes of God, is it a matter of good-faith views on all sides, to abort or not to abort?  Seems to me that God is abundantly clear on this one.  I believe that if we don’t agree with God on this most simple of theological planks, our whole theology unravels and our whole Christian witness disintegrates.  Can one claim to be a Christ follower and follow any way other than life?

One of my friends of Facebook inquired why the Democrat Platform is not pro-life (anti-abortion) when they have a reputation for defending the downtrodden.

There is an answer, but I fear many probably don’t want to hear it.  Least of which my Christian friends.

* * *

This series contains:

• An overview of each party’s platform http://seminarygal.com/comparing-political-platforms-part-1/
• Part 2 Overarching principles of individual vs. state and rights of self-determination
• Part 3, on Freedoms of Speech, Religion, and Expression
• Part 4, Government Transparency and a Right to Privacy
• Part 5, Human Relationships, Sex, and the Law in a Divided America

Here’s another section–human relationship and sex–that the Libertarian Platform addresses head-on and succinctly.  Whether you agree with the content, surely we can agree on its being to the point. It gets unpacked in different ways by the DNC Platform and the RNC Platform and these differences are well worth noting.

Leave people to their own devices and what do you get?

Usually de Vices.

So, to what degree should we have any laws to circumscribe the boundaries of socially beneficial behaviors?

Biology aligns with God’s ideal as laws of nature, but even that becomes a point of conflict when changes–cultural, political and scientific–are pursued in defiance of nature for an individual to receive (by legislation) what nature’s law excludes as helpful for advancing the species. Our main point of disagreement is in the area of one person’s insistence upon “rights” that are not God-given as if they were.  Cut to the chase and this forms the crux of disagreement.

In Christian terms, how can we be a neighbor to our fellow man while holding onto our own integrity? And how can we honor all the blessings given by God to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden? This blessing in the form of a command was given to individuals for the sake of community so that we would be fruitful and multiply, extending God’s rule over the face of the earth.  How do we love God and love neighbor simultaneously?

The whole book of Leviticus—in our Old Testament Law–is designed for that purpose.

In Exodus, God gave us Ten Commandments which were simple enough. But the entire book of Leviticus unpacks those Commandments, teaching us the boundaries of how to live in a community, and to identify socially beneficial and godly behaviors, suitable for the Christian and the God-fearers of generations before Jesus Christ.

Oh, they’re suitable for the rest of us too, but not everyone is willing to admit that. Political priorities get in the way and result in a nation divided on human relationships and the law. 

So, Christian, which of the party platforms reflects God’s priorities in this area?

Laws in the United States don’t always reflect God’s priorities and we may very well be in a season of judgment for that reason.  It wouldn’t be the first time in human history that God judged a nation for the sins of the people and the sins of its rulers.  The Passover (selectively punishing Egypt to deliver Israel), the wilderness wandering (selectively preserving the innocent but letting the faithless die outside of the Promised Land), and the Exile (preserving a remnant) are but three examples.

Personal relationships and human sexuality are clearly laid bare in Leviticus 18 and the consequences are well defined (for both the native-born and the alien, in and out of the community of faith). Leviticus 18:24 “‘Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled.” 25 Even the land was defiled; so I punished it for its sin, and the land vomited out its inhabitants. 26 But you must keep my decrees and my laws. The native-born and the aliens living among you must not do any of these detestable things, 27 for all these things were done by the people who lived in the land before you, and the land became defiled. 28 And if you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it vomited out the nations that were before you. 29 “‘Everyone who does any of these detestable things– such persons must be cut off from their people. 30 Keep my requirements and do not follow any of the detestable customs that were practiced before you came and do not defile yourselves with them. I am the LORD your God.'”

For those of you who think that your private human relationships don’t matter to God, Leviticus would beg to differ.

* * *

This series contains:

• An overview of each party’s platform http://seminarygal.com/comparing-political-platforms-part-1/
• Part 2 Overarching principles of individual vs. state and rights of self-determination
• Part 3, on Freedoms of Speech, Religion, and Expression
• Part 4, Government Transparency and a Right to Privacy

Today’s installment is evidence that “Truth is stranger than fiction” (Mark Twain).  It’s about the Right to Privacy contained in the Fourth Amendment.  Try to read the following party platforms without shaking your head, especially you tech people who know your cyber-stuff and your cyber-hack-celebs.

There is nothing in the Bible about electronic record-keeping and cybersecurity, but it does have a great deal to say about things being done in secret and brought into the light (what we might call transparency).  Here are but a few:

• Ephesians 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient…12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.
• 1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
• John 3:20 “For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
• 2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
• 2 Thessalonians 2:9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.

The bottom line from God’s perspective is that light is good and truth is good.  But doing evil, hiding in the shadows, and establishing a legal curtain for the sole yet conjoined twin purposes of deception and denial are bad.

Therefore, transparency is good for God-loving people, even with a right to privacy.  Jesus said, “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.” (John 18:20)

There’s nothing to hide as “private” if a person speaks and lives by the truth.

Transparency is mentioned in the DNC-Democrat Platform five (5) times.  Here is the breakdown: Campaign Finance (by executive order-p.25,)/Taxation (2x ); Policing (1x ); Charter Schools (1x ); and Anti-corruption worldwide (1x).

Transparency is mentioned in the RNC-Republican Platform nine (9) times.  Here is the breakdown: Trade (2x), Federal Reserve (1x); Workforce (1x);  Education unfunded mandates/College costs (2x), Governmental/Healthcare (2x), United Nations management (1x).

Folks, elections have serious consequences.  Outside of personalities we may like or dislike, or even hate, there are real issues at stake.  Character must be transparent.  It’s time to demand it.

Sure, our elected officials have the same right to privacy as the rest of us, but that’s only in their compartmentalized personal life.  That, we do not have a right to know.  It’s different for the person who has been serving in government at whatever level.  Why?  Because what they do in the course of serving the public in a government office, paid for by you and me, needs transparency.  We need to know what’s behind the curtain that they don’t want us, their employer, to see.

Friends don’t let friends remain ignorant, get their news from comedians or Twitter, or vote based solely upon superficial things like pairs of letters:  M/F, D/R or FB.

* * *

This series contains:

• An overview of each party’s platform http://seminarygal.com/comparing-political-platforms-part-1/
• Part 2 Overarching principles of individual vs. state and rights of self-determination
• And Part 3, on Freedoms of Speech, Religion, and Expression

Why care about Political Party Platforms, especially when it comes to freedoms of speech and religion?  For the Christian looking at politics, a platform is–to a voter–what a Statement of Faith is to a church seeker.  It outlines what the organization believes enough to commit to print.  While the pastor, staff, and parishioners don’t always live up to it, the core beliefs are the standard against which we measure the church’s faithfulness.  Likewise, the political parties state in writing their beliefs.  Will they live up to it?  Probably not. In an imperfect world, both Statements of Faith and Party Platforms guide us and therefore are certainly worth reading before we assume that what leaders promise, say, and do actually reflect the beliefs that have been written.  It’s a yardstick.  Know the platforms and judge the tree by its fruit.

Let’s continue our look at the Political Party Platforms, a series which began with the Preambles of the DNC, Libertarian Party (LP), and RNC.  We continued in Part 2 with Overarching Principles of State vs. Individual Rights.

Today, we’ll look at Freedoms of Speech and Religion, Religious Expression, and Internet Communication.

There are distinct differences in the platforms on these issues.  Please note that I am endeavoring to best summarize ideas without splicing and cherry-picking to convey anything other than their party’s intent, in their own words.

After the chart, I will discuss the principles involved from a Christian worldview, acknowledging right up front that the Internet wasn’t around at the time the Bible was written and Jesus never used it, despite what Abraham Lincoln may have said about the Internet (as the meme goes).

Freedom of Speech, of Religious Expression, and Communication

Why were freedoms of free speech and religious expression important to our founders and where do those show up in the Bible?

First let’s acknowledge that the First Amendment has 5 basic, intertwined liberties. 

Each one worthless without the others.

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

The founders based their view in the important context of not having full freedom in these areas as colonies under the authority of the King of England.

Secondly, they had better Bible knowledge than many of us do today.

And third, the Christian worldview was not under assault then in the same way it is now.

The founders would have known:

Freedom of speech comes with an obligation to show mercy to others.  We will all be judged someday by our words and actions.  James 2:12 “Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!”

The words we use are external, but can clearly reflect what is inside of a person, both Christian and not.  Jesus said, Matthew 12:34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.”

 A Christian’s words should be edifying and our actions godly.  (1 Peter 2:1-17)  Outside of the Bible-believing world, words are different but are every bit as protected by our Constitution.  Even words of which the Christian disapproves may be freely spoken and offered in protest.  Freedom to speak, act, and worship were important contextually because–to the earliest pilgrims–freedom represented why they came to America in the first place.

Unfortunately, apart from defamation, the lie is nearly as protected a form of speech as is the truth.  Lies have been a part of human condition since the serpent first deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden.  And freedom–to eat of any, but not to eat of the tree of life–was a command from the Almighty to Adam.  This God-given freedom of will became twisted by the serpent and all the liars after it.  False prophets, destructive heresies, and shameful narratives have existed with consequences since that time (2 Peter 2:1-21 summarized in verse 21 “It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.”)

To the Christian, God says our freedom must be limited by our moral conscience.  1 Corinthians 6:12 “Everything is permissible for me”– but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”– but I will not be mastered by anything.”

So what exactly is the concern over things like a government condemning “hate speech”?

As Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black once stated,

The Framers of the Constitution knew that free speech is the friend of change and revolution. But they also knew that it is always the deadliest enemy of tyranny.”

While I applaud the DNC’s desire to rid the country of “hate speech,” I thoroughly reject anyone defining what that is by stripping anyone’s freedom to say it.  For example, to the Christian  2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”

Some of those scriptures are like this one: Leviticus 18:22 ‘You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.” Will this faithful preaching be tomorrow’s “hate speech”?  Who says so?  Who defines “hate speech”?

Or how about this one?  Romans 1: 18 “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness…24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator– who is forever praised. Amen. 26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.”

What about calling out “Allahu Akbar” or a Muslim Adhan (Islamic words broadcasting a morning call to prayer) referring to Muhammad as the messenger?  Will that be no more or less hateful to the DNC than a nativity scene at Christmas, a military chaplain’s service to Christ, or singing Silent Night in the school holiday (i.e. Christmas) pageant?

What is the DNC’s “misuse” of religion and who determines that?

Is it when Christians–to honor their own free worship of God—cannot in good conscience be part of something they believe God finds offensive?  Maybe a Supreme Court authorized gay wedding and the photographer or florist respectfully declining that business and suggesting an alternative for the prospective couple?  Is that adhering to their faith or misusing it?

To Christians and indeed all Americans, these freedoms of speech and religion are pivotal to every other freedom we have.  Take one away and they all fall.

Make no mistake, the words in these political platforms mean specific things to the people writing them.  They are passionate about it; they want to see it legislated (or protected), and enforced.  As a Christian, are these freedoms of speech and religion important to you?  Which Statement of Faith best represents your Christian view?  And when the time comes for you to use these freedoms of speech and religion, will they still be here to protect you?  Or are they here today and gone tomorrow?

* * *

Comparing Political Party Platforms (platforms are source linked in the first article) is a series which began with the Preambles of the DNC, Libertarian Party (LP), and RNC.  We continued in Part 2 with Overarching Principles of State vs. Individual Rights.