The election is over. To tell you the truth about a week ago I knew it would be an Obama win. So in my opinion what does an Obama win mean? It is so hard to tell. He says he wants to unify us and govern "from the center". If this is true it will be apparent within the first few months. In fact we will get some idea of his governing style as he puts together his cabinet. Here are five things that will show me he his intent in the first year.
1. The Freedom of Choice Act - Obama said he would sign this as one of his first acts. This would make abortion a federal right and do away with any restrictions on abortion. This could include parental notification laws and the ban on partial birth abortions and saving the life of a child born as a result of a botched abortion. For any of you who do not know what a partial birth abortion is let me say this is a savage and gruesome way of killing a full-term baby that only those with the darkest of hearts can support. It also denies so many of our citizens their basic rights - life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. No one governing from the center will try and shove this bill down our throats.
2. Employee Free Choice Act - pending legislation that would strip 140 million American workers of their right to secret-ballot elections. Speaking about the Employee Free Choice Act, Senator Orrin Hatch called the Democratic bill a vehicle to put American workers on the road to forced unionization. Utahan Scott Parson, president and CEO of Ogden-based Staker-Parson Companies, also spoke against the legislation. The bill would replace the secret ballot with a Card Check, which empowers unions to organize workers by getting a simple majority of employees to sign a card. It opens the door to intimidation or coercion of employees who do not want to unionize, the senator said. This bill would erode away one of our basic rights as citizens the right to vote without fear of retribution.
No one governing from the center would attempt to pull this sort of power grab.
No one governing from the center would attempt to pull this sort of power grab.
3. Fairness Doctrine -Legislation currently is before Congress that would reinstate a federal communications policy known as the "fairness doctrine." The legislation, entitled the "Fairness in Broadcasting Act of 1993," is sponsored in the Senate (S. 333) by Ernest Hollings, the South Carolina Democrat, and in the House (H.R. 1985) by Bill Hefner, the North Carolina Democrat. It would codify a 1949 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulation that once required broadcasters to "afford reasonable opportunity for the discussion of conflicting views of public importance." The fairness doctrine was overturned by the FCC in 1987. The FCC discarded the rule because, contrary to its purpose, it failed to encourage the discussion of more controversial issues. There were also concerns that it was in violation of First Amendment free speech principles. The legislation now before Congress would enshrine the fairness doctrine into law.
The reason for this bill is because in the free marketplace of ideas liberal radio talk shows have failed. There is plenty of liberal idea sharing on TV and in print but on the radio the "right rules." So this is an attempt to "correct that." The problem is that it tramples on our first amendment rights. And one day this doctrine could/will be applied to Christian radio stations on issues such as homosexuality and other moral issues, perhaps even to the point where a station that shared the gospel would have to give equal time to all religions. Once again how can you lead from the center and support this bill?
4. Legislative, far-left federal judges - From the supreme court on down the president appoints many judges who have to be confirmed by the senate (which is now extremely left leaning). This is back-door policy making the left is so famous for. Obama can say he is not for gay-marriages or strict gun-control and then just appoint far-left judges who are activist judges and will actively now start legislating from the bench and strip away rights. Everything from gay marriages, homeschooling rights, national security issues, school choice, freedom of speech , freedom to assemble peacefully and host of other issues. Look at the California courts and their weird decisions to get a picture of what I am talking about. In the end these judges slowly erode our religious freedoms as well and even mandate subtle persecution of people of faith. It could become less subtle. We will be able to tell if President Obama is governing from the center by his choices of federal judges.
5. Use and funding of our military. This one hits close to home for me with a family member in the military. Will we continue to fund our military to help them stay safe in hostile situations? Also will America keep control over our military or will our military be tools for the UN to use in fights that have little bearing on American interests? A centrist knows the importance of a strong AMERICAN military and intelligence apparatus. Watch Black Hawk Down.
Finally one of my other concerns may be silly. Actually I hope it is but here me out. Have you noticed how many people put their hope and trust in this MAN. The whole world is rejoicing. women were crying, at rallies they scream O-Bama, O-Bama (at other rallies they chant U-S-A). Obama himself has seems to have some sort of Messianic complex. People he is not a savior and we need to cut that thinking our right now.
My fear is that a man who came from such obscurity and rises so fast and then has such praise and adulation will not be able to part from power easily. I hope I am off base here, but at times I get the creeps watching all these throng almost worshipping the man (IE Grant Park). I know not everyone there falls into this category but LOTS of them do.
So what is a person to do. Here is what I am doing:
1. Pray - pray for our country, our military and our president and congress. God can change people. Obama and his family need our prayers. I do fear for him because there are people who hate him. This is not the answer. The fact that we elected our first minority president is a good thing. It is remarkable!
2. Trust - God is still sovereign. He is not surprised. He will take care of us. This life is but a moment in eternity and the picture is so much bigger than the here and now. Remember like Israel who had bad kings, God was still at work and moving in the land.
3. Share - in the end people who put their hope in a person will be disappointed at some point. We can point them to a God who is worthy of worship and can bring about the change that matters - the change our the inner person.
4. Have faith - this doesn't have to spell the end of freedom as we know it. If we stay active and engaged as citizens freedom loving people will come around. the truth always comes to the surface. the more you try to suppress the more truth shines brightly!!
5. Rejoice - you are a blessed child of God! In every circumstance you can find joy in Him!!
5 comments:
thank you pastor marty,
I actually think the Fairness Doctrine should be reinstated, despite the fact that Christians are freaking about that possibility.
The airwaves, both TV and radio, are publicly owned, with those who use them only licensing that for their use.
As such, it's to be expected that local issues of interest should be carried on those airwaves as a tradeoff for their usage. This would also mean that stations that really do NOTHING for their local communities (such as radio repeaters that just rebroadcast a national signal) would actually have to be community minded.
I don't think that's too much to ask to use the airwaves, no matter what your preference on programming is.
Agreed with Tanner.
And as for the other issues, I do think we should go back and listen to Colin Powell's endorsement of Barack Obama, where he addresses some of these concerns. Enough fear-based rumor-mongering from Christians – we have something better to stand for.
Marty, I agree it has been rather silly the way many people have responded to Obama. I hope it doesn't go to his head too much. After all, he is just another man and certainly no messiah.
I loved your view that God was not surprised by the election. He doesn't fall off his throne for any reason, nor was he biting his fingernails in the hours and days before the election. I think your 5 suggestions are right on.
Great post. We shall see. We should pray either way.
Post a Comment