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The birth certificate

I'm sure by now you've seen it. It would be almost impossible not to; it's all over the news. President Barack Obama has released his Hawaii birth certificate hoping to satisfy critics once and for all that he's a U.S. citizen. A man's origin came into question, and some official proof was needed to settle the argument.

That got me thinking, something very similar happens to Jesus in the Gospel of John. The Jews accuse Jesus of being a fake, a fraud, an impostor. They seriously doubt whether He is the Son of God. After all, there is no certified paper with these words:

Name: Jesus Christ
Heavenly Father: God
Biological Mother: Mary
Conceived By: Holy Spirit
Birth Date: Existed Before the Foundation of the World
Physical Place of Birth: Bethlehem in Judea

So, how can God prove to mankind that Jesus is truly His Son? He does it at the very outset of Jesus' public ministry, when Jesus is baptized. And John the Baptist is standing by to report the event for us:

“I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God." (Jn. 1:32-34)

When no birth certificate is available to verify His Son, God does something even better. He speaks audibly from heaven, He sends down His Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, and He puts John on the scene to witness and report the events for us. 

If there was ever a question about Obama's origin, today's release of the birth certificate would seem to settle the case. And if there was ever a question about Jesus' origin, John chapter 1 provides all the proof we need to believe that Jesus is truly the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing, we would have life in His name (Jn. 20:30-31).

Book review: Politics According to the Bible

The Bible and politics. Do these two words even belong in the same sentence? For Wayne Grudem, the answer is an unequivocal 'yes.' And I agree. If we believe the Bible speaks to every matter of life, then surely it has something to say about politics. In fact, it might surprise us to see just how MUCH God's Word has to say about this subject.

If you're looking for a handbook that introduces you to the U.S. Government and contemporary political issues from a Christian perspective, then a great place to start might be Politics According to the Bible.

In part one, Grudem lays down some basic principles of government and society, dealing with issues like Christian involvement, influence, rule of law, worldview, and the role of the courts. In part two, Grudem applies these principles and turns to specific issues like the sanctity of life, marriage, family, economics, environment, national defense, and first amendment rights.

This is not a comprehensive political theology, but I do appreciate Grudem's ability to take a complicated subject and break it down into bite-size pieces. For each political topic, he offers pertinent Scriptures, a historical perspective, very contemporary examples, and interacts with case law. At times, he also provides suggested resources for further study.

Grudem is at his best when he put politics in an eternal perspective: God is sovereign. Christ will one day reign. Salvation is a work of God. And true change involves spiritual revival. On p. 601 he says the basic role of the Christian in politics is to work to protect the freedoms necessary to bring about revival, creating the legal ‘space’ in which others can act to bring true transformation. This seems consistent with 1 Tim. 2:2. But even then, our deceitful hearts can easily have our priorities mixed up. Revival must never become a means to an end (political utopia), but rather be an end in itself (forgiveness and reconciliation with God), which may bring with it certain benefits to society and government.

A unique revolution

"Our Declaration of Independence has been copied by emerging nations around the globe, its themes adopted in places many of us have never heard of. Here in this land, for the first time, it was decided that man is born with certain God-given rights. We the people declared that government is created by the people for their own convenience. Government has no power except those voluntarily granted it by the people. There have been revolutions before and since ours, revolutions that simply exchanged one set of rulers for another. Ours was a philosophical revolution that changed the very concept of government" -- Ronald Reagan

Happy Independence Day!

Need help with the California primary?

If you're like me, you've pretty much blocked out the sound of the phone ringing at dinner time due to all the automated political ads. That being said, we've got a very important primary election next Tuesday, June 8, and I believe it is our duty to research the candidates and participate in the political process. Where should we start?

After sorting through all the political mail I've collected over the past few weeks, I visited the California Family Council website. They have not produced an actual voter guide this year. However, they do summarize each state proposition and link to two helpful websites: IVoteValues.com and Robyn Nordell's California Election Website.

IVoteValues is a ministry of the Southern Baptist Convention Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. You can find your own local election guide by clicking here. It is still quite vague since the ERLC cannot endorse any political candidates, and it does not give much information regarding local elections.

The California Election Website particularly caught my eye. Robyn Nordell describes herself as "a woman with a passion for encouraging people to be intelligently involved in the political process, to stand up for traditional-family values, and to protect our precious constitutional freedoms. She values those candidates and legislators who operate from a pro-life, traditional values, and limited government perspective."

From what I've seen so far on her site, I am quite pleased. Be sure to check out Robyn's One Stop Election Page with all her endorsements as you continue to research each candidate and proposition.

And don't forget to keep next Tuesday's election in prayer. Very significant decisions are being made that will affect the future livelihood of California residents and even the freedom we have as Christians to share the gospel (cf. 1 Timothy 2:1-4).

Photo credit: ladybugbkt

National day of prayer

This Thursday, May 6, is designated as the National Day of Prayer.

To honor this event, the pastors of the Morongo Basin invite you to a time of prayer with local community leaders at 7 am this Thursday at Remembrance Park. Our service includes singing, Scripture reading, and prayer, and usually concludes by 7:45 am. Remembrance Park is located at the corner of Yucca Trail and the US-62 east of Pioneertown Road. Just look for the white saber tooth tiger!

In future years, this event is in serious jeopardy of becoming unconstitutional. I would encourage you to take a moment to visit and sign your name to the official Petition form to keep this day on our national calendar.

Religion on trial

Andy Pugno has been giving regular updates on the Perry vs. Schwarzenneger trial in San Francisco. I found his summary from last Wednesday to be quite interesting and to have some important implications for the future of religious freedom in our country. Note the mention of Southern Baptists within the plaintiff's evidence...

Today, the legal challenge to Prop 8 took an ugly turn as religion itself was put on trial. Plaintiffs’ witness Gary Segura, a Stanford University political science professor with expertise in the area of the political power of minorities including homosexuals, summed it up when he said “religion is the chief obstacle for gays’ and lesbians’ political progress.”

In trying to make the case that homosexuals are a vulnerable minority with no ability to achieve and secure success in the political system for their interests, Professor Segura blamed hostility, political opposition and even violence towards gays and lesbians on the teachings of major religious denominations. He further testified that there is no more powerful organization in the United States – save the government – than the church. Particular scrutiny was given to the official religious doctrines of the Catholic Church and Southern Baptists about marriage, family and sexual relationships. Therefore, according to his logic, gays and lesbians must be given special legal protection by the U.S. Constitution against religion itself.

If it weren’t such a serious and troubling matter, their line of attack against people of faith would be laughable. To suggest that the people of California cannot consider their own political, moral and religious views when casting their vote on Prop 8 is preposterous. Every election, many issues are presented to voters that involve moral issues, including stem-cell research, the treatment of animals, assisted suicide, the death penalty, health care reform and so on.

In any event, religion has taken the stage, front and center, in the battle over the constitutionality of Prop 8, and is being portrayed as an illegitimate basis for supporting traditional marriage. Religious bigotry surely found expression in today’s presentation by the plaintiffs.

The trial testimony also swerved way into “irrelevant” territory today when plaintiffs called to the stand a young man who was, as a child, forced by his Christian parents to undergo conversion therapy by a therapist because of his sexual attraction to men. No matter that this witness has never resided in California, was wholly unfamiliar with the Prop 8 campaign, was not a willing participant in his conversion therapy, and emancipated himself from his parents as a minor. What the personal experience of a person from Colorado who experienced a deeply troubled family life has to do with the constitutionality of Prop 8 is beyond me. What is clear is that today, however, the plaintiffs put the role of religion clearly in their sights and are likely to fire away at the legitimacy of religious and moral views, as well as the votes and voices of those who hold them.

It is true that Southern Baptists firmly believe in the traditional, biblical definition of marriage between one man and one woman. We took a stand (despite great criticism) in 2000 by declaring in our Baptist Faith & Message,

Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God's unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race.

This may be construed as discrimination, but it is in fact a statement of loving obedience to Christ and to our neighbors, both homosexual and heterosexual (Matt. 19:4-6). It would be deeply wrong for us to ever show hostility or violence toward a homosexual (cf. Luke 6:27-36), but it certainly would not be wrong for us to speak the truth to them in love, vote our conscience before God, and exercise our first amendment rights. It will be interesting to see if Judge Vaughn Walker comes to the same conclusion.


Related post:

• Historic trial begins today
  

Moral tailspin

Al Mohler writes an alarming piece today on the "Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act" that President Obama signed into law yesterday.

The bill, named for two men killed in vicious attacks, extends the definition of federal hates crimes to include attacks “based on a person’s race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or mental or physical disability."

What sounds good on the surface is actually one more step toward eliminating all moral and sexual boundaries in society. If God does not send revival soon through our nation, we may be seeing only the beginning stages of moral decay. This new hate crimes law is another tumble down the slippery slope. Mohler observes,

The logic that leads to the celebration of gay, lesbian, and bisexual relationships cannot stop with those sexual categories. In an age that elevates “consent” as the only meaningful moral and legal issue, any effort to refuse similar recognition to any consensual sexual relationship, lifestyle, or practice is doomed to eventual failure. It is all just a matter of time.

Think polygamy, incest, polyamory, and bestiality, just to name a few. Who has any "right" to say any of these are wrong if parties consent? Such a hate crimes law is bound to affect what children's textbooks will teach; what lifestyles TV and advertising will present as normative; what churches and pastors can legally say, etc. We are in a moral tailspin. And this is precisely the decline and judgment promised by God in Romans 1.

For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper... (Romans 1:25-28)

How should Christians respond to people with "degrading passions" and a "depraved mind"? Certainly, the answer is not to spew anger and threaten violence. It's so sad that a "hate crimes act" is even deemed necessary. Hate will never draw a person to Christ.

We must speak the truth in a context of love (Eph. 4:15). Gays, lesbians, and bisexuals, like all other sinners, are tasting the bitterness of sin and are being held captive by its will (Acts 8:23). Through our words and actions we need to show compassion and convey the gospel -- that all of us are sinners who can be saved by grace.

We are not here to "judge" sinners, if by "judge" we mean condemning or persecuting them for their immoral thoughts and behavior. We should show others the same patience God has shown us. But God's patience should not be misunderstood as tacit approval of immoral behavior. His patience is temporary, and it is for the purpose of repentance.

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

We should be patient and loving toward those with degrading passions, calling them to repentance and forgiveness, while celebrating a biblical view of sexuality (Heb. 13:4), and avoiding laws that will endorse immorality.

While it is never right to commit a hate crime toward someone with a different gender, religion, ethnicity, or "sexual orientation," this law is built on a false premise and is a dangerous step in the wrong direction.

Many sides to health care debate

Here's an article by Fox News I found helpful in understanding the different sides of the national health care debate. It will be quite a challenge to find any true bipartisanship among such opposing views:

Liberals -- They insist that a government-run health insurance plan, or "public option," that will compete with private insurers is essential to health care reform.

Blue Dogs -- These fiscally conservative Democrats are concerned about the costs of overhauling the health care system and the potential harm it could have on small businesses.

Gang of Six -- This group of bipartisan lawmakers on the Senate Finance Committee is trying to forge a consensus deal that will appease both political parties and pass a divided Senate.

Conservatives -- All of them are opposed to a "public option," saying it will lead to a government takeover of health care because private insurers will be unable to compete.

Health care industry leaders: They want health care reform, because if the government requires everyone to get coverage, it could provide them a jackpot. (Only on this last point do I see a serious oversight. Not all health care industry leaders support Obama's plan. In fact, some reports indicate that a majority of doctors oppose it.)

We all want to see people treated with dignity and receive good medical care, but it's difficult to know precisely what role the government should play in all of this. Personally, I lean toward a much more laissez-faire "hands off" approach. History has proven that the free market works much better than any bureaucracy trying to micro-manage the system.

I believe a key problem making medical care so expensive and now inaccessible to 50 million Americans is medical malpractice insurance. Due to our litigious, rights-demanding culture, malpractice cases have soared and are driving up the medical costs that patients face today. David Wells shares this startling statistic: "Over the last three or four decades the number of personal rights has exploded...As the sense of responsibility for personal behavior has shrunk, the need for litigation has increased. America has more lawyers than the rest of the world combined." The Courage to Be Protestant, p. 159). The key to true health care reform may lie more in the courthouse than in the Senate chamber.

May God give our leaders great wisdom in this health care debate, and may He give us grace to submit to whatever decision they make.

Harvey Milk day

Baptist Press recently reported the following:

California lawmakers are discussing the possibility of setting aside May 22 each year as a "day of special significance" honoring Harvey Milk, an openly homosexual San Francisco alderman whose murder in 1978 made him an icon of the "gay rights" movement.

While the observance would not be an official holiday, the bill encourages schools to teach about Milk's legacy -- a fact that hasn't escaped California citizens concerned about the agenda homosexual activists have for California public schools. The proposal would not require parental consent for mandatory student participation.

The text of SB 572 states: "On Harvey Milk Day, exercises remembering the life of Harvey Milk and recognizing his accomplishments as well as the contributions he made to this state" should be conducted; specifically, "all public schools and educational institutions are encouraged to observe ... and ... conduct suitable commemorative exercises."

A Southern Baptist pastor in San Diego told Baptist Press he believes the vague wording of the bill opens the door to almost any kind of "gay pride" observance in which even kindergartners could be required to participate...

"The bill is going to amend the education code to include Harvey Milk Day on May 22. It says, 'It is the intent of the legislature that the exercises encouraged in this section be integrated into the regular school program and be conducted by the school or institution within the amount otherwise budgeted for educational programs,'" said Chris Clark, pastor of East Clairemont Southern Baptist Church. "What that means is that if there's money to do it, the school can do whatever they would like to commemorate Harvey Milk Day. The imagination can kind of run wild with that. There's really nothing that would restrict or narrowly define what they could or could not do."

SB 572 is currently in the State Assembly and is expected to pass and appear on Governor Schwarzenegger's desk for a second time (he vetoed it last year already, but is under a lot of pressure to pass it this year).

If you would like to share your concern about this bill with the governor, simply click here. I don't like the "angry, offended and motivated" opening line of the form letter, but this can be easily edited into something more respectful of our state leaders. We're blessed to live in a country that still permits freedom of speech and conscience, and should exercise this liberty on issues that concern us.

Praying for our leaders

Today is the National Day of Prayer, a special day set aside each year to gather publicly and intercede for our nation and leaders. Our local ministerial sponsored a community prayer service this morning at the local park to honor the occasion and lift up our praises and requests to God.

Not sure how to pray for the nation? Why not begin with 1 Timothy 2:2, which says to pray "for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity."

If God guides and blesses our leaders, it will result in peaceful life where the gospel can spread more freely. John MacArthur writes on this passage, "When it manifests love and goodness to all and prays passionately for the lost, including rulers, the church may experience a certain amount of religious freedom. Persecution should only be the result of righteous living, not civil disobedience" (MacArthur Study Bible, note on 1 Timothy 2:2)

Gary Bergel shares 30 ways to pray for people in authority:

1. That they be God fearing and recognize that they
are accountable to Him for each decision and act
(Prov. 9:10).
2. That they be granted wisdom, knowledge, and
understanding (Jas. 1:5).
3. That they be presented with the gospel and a loving
Christian witness (Ro. 10:14).
4. That, if unsaved, they be drawn to a saving encounter
with Christ; if born-again, they be strengthened and
encouraged in their faith (1 Tim. 2:4, Eph. 1:17-23).
5. That they recognize their own inadequacy and pray
and seek the will of God (Prov. 3:5-8, Lk. 11:9-13).
6. That they be convicted of sin, transgression, and
iniquity (Ps. 51:17, Jn. 8:9).
7. That they heed their conscience, confess their sins,
and repent (Prov. 28:13, Jas. 4:8).
8. That they read the Bible and attend prayer meetings
and Bible studies (Ps. 119:11, Col. 3:2).
9. That they value and regard the Ten Commandments
and the teachings of Christ (Ps. 19:7-11, Jn. 8:31-32).
10. That they respect and honor their own parents if
living (Eph. 6:2-3).
11. That they respect authority and practice
accountability (Ro. 13:1-7).
12. That they be given godly counsel and God-fearing
advisors (Prov. 24:6).
13. That they be honest and faithful to spouses and
children (Mal. 2:15-16).
14. That they be practicing members of local
congregations (Heb. 10:25).
15. That they desire purity and avoid debauchery,
pornography, perversion, and drunkenness
(1 Cor. 6:9-20, Titus 2:12).
16. That they be timely, reliable, and dependable
(Mt. 21:28-31).
17. That they be honest in financial, tax, and ethical
matters (1 Cor. 6:10, 1 Tim. 6:6-10).
18. That they seek pastoral care and counsel when
needed (Heb. 13:7).
19. That they seek out and nurture godly friendships
(Ps. 1:1-3).
20. That they have thankful and teachable spirits
(Ro. 1:21).
21. That they be generous and have compassionate hearts
for the poor and needy (Ps. 112:9, Lk. 10:33-37).
22. That they redeem their time and know priorities
(Eph. 5:15-17).
23. That they desire honesty, integrity, and loyalty
(Psalm 26, Prov. 11:3).
24. That they have courage to resist manipulation,
pressure, and the fear of man (Prov. 29:25, 2. Tim. 1:7).
25. That they be shielded from occultism, New Age cults,
false religions, and secret societies (Is. 1:29, 2:6).
26. That they be presented with biblical worldviews and
principles (Eph. 3:10).
27. That they endeavor to restore the sanctity of life,
families, divine order, and morality in our nation
(Eph. 5:22-6:4).
28. That they would work to reverse the trends of
humanism in our nation (1 Chron. 12:32, Is. 59:19).
29. That they desire humility and meekness and be
willing to serve and cooperate (Jn. 13:14, Titus 3:1-2).
30. That they be prepared to give account to Almighty
God (Heb. 9:27).

(You can order copies of this, and many other helpful prayer cards, through the Navpress website.)

Let's follow God's call to pray for our nation and leaders not only this day, but every day. He alone can bring repentance and true reform in the hearts of all who need Him.

An alternative to government bailout

Cal Thomas, with typical wisdom, offers an alternative to the government bailout of the auto industry:

Let them die a slow death, with the emphasis on slow. Tell workers (management always seems to land on its feet) that they have a fixed amount of time to look for new jobs. Government will help them with training and education, but government cannot prop up companies that no longer make products people want to buy in large enough numbers for them to remain profitable.

...Americans have benefited from capitalism. Our government should not be undermining an economic system that has produced more prosperity for its citizens than any nation on earth. It cannot forever prop up companies that make products not enough people wish to buy. If a growing number of people prefer cars not produced by GM and Chrysler, how will a government rescue plan make them more likely to buy them?

I couldn't agree more.

Breaking down the stimulus plan

As a visual learner, I'm a big fan of maps, charts, and graphs. So when I came across this illustration of the government stimulus package, it was a real "aha" moment for me. And while a picture's worth a thousand words, this chart's worth about 820 billion dollars.

I have real concerns with the government trying to control a free market economy. The beauty of capitalism is that the system naturally corrects itself if the government just stays out of it. As Will Rogers put it, "Things in our country run in spite of government, not by aid of it." Yes, some businesses will fail, but others will take their place. Just imagine if IBM had received a massive government bailout in the late 1980's. Microsoft may have never emerged as a new leader in technology and innovation.

I believe much of this recession is owed to increasing government programs, taxation, and regulation. According to Romans 13:4, the main purpose of government is to be "a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil." In other words, government should protect its citizens and punish wrongful behavior. Government was God's gift to the world to bring stability and the rule of law to human society after the Flood (Gen. 6:11-12; 9:6).

Clearly, the US government has outgrown this original plan. It's now heavily taxing and regulating everything, and driving many businesses overseas. But while I believe our government has grown much too big, I'm also reminded to render to Caesar what is Caesar's (Matt. 22:21) and to submit to the governing authorities God has placed over me (Rom. 13:1). I don't agree with how our state and federal government are handling this financial crisis, but I still need to honor God by honoring my leaders.

HT: Tim Challies

Report card on President Bush

George W. Bush is wrapping up his second term in the White House, and if I had to grade him on a report card, I would assign him a "B-".

Unfortunately, Bush's domestic policy never got very far. In his first year, he enjoyed a Republican majority in the House and an evenly divided Senate, yet he squandered this opportunity to make some serious reform. (What ever happened to "Compassionate Conservatism," anyway?). Of course, Bush's priorities radically changed after September 11, 2001, and his domestic policy never recovered.

Marvin Olasky recently interviewed co-authors Ross Douthat and Reihan Salam in World Magazine, asking where Bush went wrong in his policy. I found their answer a painful, yet accurate, assessment of the last eight years:

There was always a strain of anti-intellectualism running through the Bush administration, which undercut Bush's policy agenda. And after 9/11, he seemed to lose interest in domestic policy entirely (understandably!), and the result was drift and corruption, as a series of bad bills (especially on energy and transportation) and bad actors (from Tom DeLay to Jack Abramoff) came to define the GOP agenda, and the biggest issues facing middle America, from rising health-care costs to growing socioeconomic immobility, went unaddressed. The Bush administration's push for Social Security reform was a disaster. Their proposals weren't bad as policy, but they massively misjudged the political climate, and Bush squandered all of his second-term capital on a reform that never even came up for a vote.

On the other hand, I believe Bush's foreign policy proved quite strong in the areas that were most needed. To see just how effective Bush's response to 9/11 was, check out this article. It catalogues all the known terrorist plots that were thwarted by the U.S. government since 9/11. Here's just a sampling:

• December 2001, Richard Reid: British citizen attempted to ignite shoe bomb on flight from Paris to Miami.

• June 2003, Virginia Jihad Network: Eleven men from Alexandria, Va., trained for jihad against American soldiers, convicted of violating the Neutrality Act, conspiracy.

• August 2005, Los Angeles homegrown terrorists plotted to attack National Guard, LAX, two synagogues and Israeli consulate.

• June 2007, JFK Plot: Four men are accused of plotting to blow up fuel arteries that run through residential neighborhoods at JFK Airport in New York.

Because of improvements in national security, these and many other terror plots were thwarted. It's too bad Bush got so little respect for the steps he took to prevent another 9/11 (or worse). Bush also deserves credit for his troop surge in early 2007 that finally turned the tide of the War in Iraq.

So, while George Bush's domestic policy was largely a failure, and probably helped evoke the pendulum swing to the far left in the 2008 election, his foreign policy has proven quite effective since 9/11. Certainly, there are many disappointments, but there are also many reasons to be thankful for the leadership Bush has given this country over the last eight years.

Photo credit: Paul Morse

Please sign the FOCA petition

During the campaign, Barack Obama promised to sign the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) as his first item of legislation. But the results of this act would be tragic for the unborn.

This would eradicate state and federal laws that the majority of Americans support, such as:

• Bans on Partial Birth Abortion
• Requirements that women be given information about the risks of getting an abortion
• Only licensed physicians can perform abortions
• Parents must be informed and give consent to their minor daughter's abortion

FOCA would erase these laws and prevent states from enacting similar protective measures in the future.

Please voice your opposition to FOCA by clicking here to sign your name to the official petition. This petition will be sent to key Members of Congress upon the re-introduction of the Freedom of Choice Act in the 111th Congress, and to President-Elect Obama.

HT: Justin Taylor

Providence and the presidency

The results are in: our nation has elected Barack Obama to be the next President of the United States. It certainly will be interesting to see where President Obama takes us in the years ahead. Will America become a socialist nation? Will abortion rights expand? Will the Supreme Court grow increasingly antagonistic toward religious liberties? Will Obama's leadership be "tested" early in his term by a major terrorist attack? Only the Lord knows what will happen, and it profits us nothing to worry (Matt. 6:34).

Thankfully, all things - including democratic elections - are guided by the provident hand of God. Wayne Grudem defines providence this way: "God is continually involved with all created things in such a way that he (1) keeps them existing and maintaining the properties with which he created them; (2) cooperates with created things in every action, directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do; and (3) directs them to fulfill his purposes." (Systematic Theology, p. 315)

Three times in the past four days, God has reminded me of His providence:

• As Abraham led his beloved Isaac up Mount Moriah to be a sacrifice, he reassured him, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son" (Gen. 22:8). I was encouraged by this on Saturday in a message by R. C. Sproul.

• As Joseph recalled the betrayal of his brothers and the years spent as a slave and prisoner in Egypt, he told his brothers "Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God...you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good" (Gen. 46:8; 50:20). I was reminded of this yesterday in a sermon by Dr. Will Varner.

• And just earlier today, I read this quote from Spuregon posted by the Sola Panel: "I believe that every particle of dust that dances in the sunbeam does not move an atom more or less than God wishes—that every particle of spray that dashes against the steamboat has its orbit as well as the sun in the heavens—that the chaff from the hand of the winnower is steered as the stars in their courses. The creeping of an aphid over the rosebud is as much fixed as the march of the devastating pestilence—the fall of sear leaves from a poplar is as fully ordained as the tumbling of an avalanche."

God is provident in all things. Even these timely reminders were due to the provident hand of God. And tonight, in the wake of this historic election, I take fresh comfort in God's providence. He is still in control of His universe, He is still building His church, and He is still directing all things to fulfill His good and wise purposes.

Ten prayer requests for election day

Al Mohler shares ten excellent prayer requests for this historic election day...

1. That God will bless America with leaders better than we deserve
2. That Americans will be motivated to fulfill the responsibilities of citizenship, yet also that we will be stripped of an unhealthy and idolatrous confidence in the power of government to save us
3. that Americans will vote by conscience, not merely on the basis of celebrity or emotion
4. That Americans will vote to defend the least among us -- and especially those who have no vote
5. That God will prick the conscience of the nation on issues of morality, righteousness, and respect for marriage as the central institution of human civilization
6. That God will protect these candidates and their families
7. That the election is conducted with honor, civility, respect, and justice
8. That Americans will be prepared to accept the results of the election with respect and kindness
9. That this election would lead to even greater opportunities to preach the Gospel, and that the freedom of the church will be respected, honored, and protected
10. That the church of the Lord Jesus Christ would be strengthened in the truth, grounded in the faith, and empowered for witness and ministry

Take time to vote today, and take some more time to pray.

Analysis of the California ballot measures

Wondering how to vote on the twelve ballot measures in the November election?

The California Family Council (an affiliate of Focus on the Family) has done us a great favor by reviewing all the initiatives and providing a thoughtful analysis of each. Here are their positions:

• Proposition 1A - No
• Proposition 2 - No
• Proposition 3 - No
• Proposition 4 - Yes
• Proposition 5 - No
• Proposition 6 - Yes
• Proposition 7 - No
• Proposition 8 - Yes
• Proposition 9 - Yes
• Proposition 10 - No
• Proposition 11 - Yes
• Proposition 12 - Yes

For further explanation and in-depth analysis, click here.

The most extreme pro-abortion candidate ever

When Rick Warren asked Barack Obama at the Saddleback Civil Forum about abortion and human rights, Obama responded that this issue was "above his pay grade." That may sound humble, but the fact is, Obama has been clear and consistent during his Senate career and Presidential campaign what he really thinks about abortion.

Princeton Professor Robert P. George observes, "Barack Obama is the most extreme pro-abortion candidate ever to seek the office of President of the United States. He is the most extreme pro-abortion member of the United States Senate. Indeed, he is the most extreme pro-abortion legislator ever to serve in either house of the United States Congress." (To see the evidence for such a bold claim, you can read the whole article here.)

We can't afford to be ignorant on this issue when we cast our votes in three weeks. Millions of lives are at stake.

HT: Danny Akin

Does male headship apply everywhere?

Last week, responding to my previous post on women holding public office, Michael asked, "do you think gender would play a role in your choice of a candidate, all other qualities being equal? Just curious."

Wow, that's a loaded question, and it's one I've been meaning to follow up on. I had to wrestle with a similar issue on a personal level before I was pastoring. When I was in seminary and employed at a secular company, my manager was a woman. I always did my best to treat her with submission and respect, but sometimes wondered if it was unbiblical for a woman to have authority over a man. I knew there wasn't much I could do about it, so I just did my best to be gracious and a good testimony in that environment. Now, with Sarah Palin on the GOP ticket, this whole issue of female headship has surfaced again.

Wayne Grudem, a board member on the Council on Biblical Manhood & Womanhood, deals with this very issue of women teaching and leading men. First, he quotes from Sarah Sumner, who accuses complementarians of being inconsistent:

"If it's wrong for a woman to teach a man on the basis of the order of creation, then it has to be wrong for a woman to teach a man piano lessons. If her teaching him per se upsets the order of creation, then her teaching him anything must also be regarded as wrong...If the order of creation is a general principle, then it ought to be applied across the board. Instead, it's applied inconsistently and selectively."

This argument by Sumner sounds convincing at first, and would seem to undermine the whole complementarian position. And by the same token, one would assume complementarians are obligated to oppose Sarah Palin's bid for VP, right? But Grudem reveals a critical weakness in this line of reasoning...

Sumner's argument is based on a classic mistake in biblical interpretation, a mistake that takes one principle found in the Bible and attempts to maximize it above other things the Bible teaches, with the result that those other things are ultimately denied. The problem is that the principle of male headship is not the only principle in the Bible. There is another principle, and that is the principle of male-female equality in the image of God...

[I]t is not up to us to decide in what ways these major principles in Scripture should be combined and applied in various situations. It is up to God, who has His own purposes and whose wisdom is infinitely greater than ours.

So how do we know which principles to apply? We are simply to obey the Bible in the specific application of these principles. What we find in the Bible is that God has given commands that establish male leadership in the home and in the church, but that other teachings in His Word give considerable freedom in other areas of life. We should not try to require either more or less than Scripture itself requires. (Evangelical Feminism and Biblical Truth, p. 392-93)

So, to finally answer Michael's question: All qualities being equal, I see no biblical reason to prefer a man over a woman in public office simply because of gender.