Retirement as Entitlement
Where does it say in the Bible we’re supposed to retire at age 65?
Or any age for that matter?
Some work isn’t safe for us to do when we’re older—granted. But does that mean we’re to stop ministering in other capacities?
This idea of sitting back, enjoying “life” is so promoted in our culture—Christian and otherwise—it’s become an “entitlement” we expect as a “given” for a life of hard work!
Yet we’ve all known people who stop working and don’t engage in challenging activity—and it’s devastating for their health, physically and mentally!
Rest is good—and necessary. The Lord rested from His work of creating the universe, but retirement from meaningful activity to the glory of God. Not so much!
And then there’s the issue of who takes care of you?
That’s for another day. But there’s more for this day. . . Well Versed: Biblical Answers to Today’s Tough Issues by Jim Garlow
Our Sovereign King
If you’re inclined to step back from anything that might sound political—hear me out!
The same Word of God—the Bible—that speaks to our individual lives, our family life, our church life, also speaks to our schools, workplaces, our communities, local, state and federal government.
There’s no major issue that God’s Word does not provide basic and transcendent truth.
It was God who first thought of it and even described government in Isaiah 9:6 as being on the shoulder of the incarnated Son!
When ‘government’ is mentioned, don’t start running.
It creates great delight in the Evil one who desires any areas we want to surrender to him.
Our sovereign King does not yield to the Evil one. And He never intended for us to do so either!
This is not a call to be more political—it’s a plea to be more biblical!
There’s more . . . Well Versed: Biblical Answers to Today’s Tough Issues by Jim Garlow
Principles of Our Founding Fathers
What were the principles of our Founding Fathers—and why should we care? Good question!
Were all of the 204 men who signed the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence Christians? No, but there was an overarching faith perspective that shaped the values, ideals and principles of the men who wrote our founding documents—and led our first Congress.
John Adams, author of the Declaration wrote:
“The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were . . . the general principles of Christianity.”
America was founded as a nation rooted in higher law, not in man’s law.
When you encounter those who would deny any religious roots in this country—you can be confident, it was well understood by our founding fathers that the unalienable rights they wrote of and spoke to, were part of a higher law established by God—not by man!
Be well-versed in these issues . . . Well Versed: Biblical Answers to Today’s Tough Issues by Jim Garlow
Supreme Court Abuses
Some of the greatest abuses in recent America have been at the hands of Supreme Court Justices!
Because Supreme Court Justices have life-long tenure, it becomes easier to disregard the intent of the words of the Constitution.
I say that in light of their more recent obsession with consulting European governments and legal documents for precedence—rather than respecting the intent of our own Constitution.
There are brilliant minds on the Court who do respect and revere the Constitution—but the death of Justice Antonin Scalia was an enormous loss to Constitutional integrity.
We’re mistaken when we say, “Well, that’s the law of the land.” The Constitution is the law of the land. And the Supreme Court has gotten it wrong numerous times—legalized abortion and same-sex marriage, just to name two!
No human, flawed court is “supreme.”
God is!
Be well-versed on this issue . . . Well Versed: Biblical Answers to Today’s Tough Issues by Jim Garlow
From Hope Into Hatred
Political correctness too often twists an offer of hope into hatred!
Preaching God’s Word includes calling evil for what it is, and warning people of the consequences of sin for their own good.
Bu in recent years, the politically correct form of hate speech is defined as anything that goes against libertine sexual practices or other so-called self-destructive decisions.
In European nations, preaching the Word of God has been attacked legally when God’s Truth runs counter to cultural correctness.
A Swedish pastor was sentenced to prison for preaching a sermon on biblical sexual behavior. His case went to the Swedish Supreme Court. He was acquitted but the prosecutor told him to “get a new Bible”—one that didn’t reference homosexual behavior in a negative light.
Equal justice for all is the standard that God has given for the benefit of us all!
There’s more . . .
Well Versed: Biblical Answers to Today’s Tough Issues by Jim Garlow
Political Correctness Obscures Reality
Political correctness is so ingrained in our culture that objectivity or reason is inconsequential!
Be careful not to use language or behavior that may offend someone!
So the destruction of a child in the womb is a woman “exercising her right to choose”; marriage is a “love” relationship between any combination of men and women; a “thug” is behaviorally-challenged.
One group forcing another to use concocted terms obscures reality and purposely creates confusion. Terminology becomes the issue. Forget any objective dealing with real issues.
And typically the users of PC tactics typically hate biblical truth, traditional morality, sexual restraint, personal responsibility—or any other concept based on unchanging truth revealed by an almighty God for our individual and society’s good.
Tolerance in today’s culture is not a two-way street!
We can’t allow ourselves to be coerced into doing nothing and saying nothing!
Instead, be well-versed . . . Well Versed: Biblical Answers to Today’s Tough Issues by Jim Garlow
