Sunday, April 26, 2015

In The Mines Of Moriah

        Frodo Baggins:

 I wish the ring had never come to me.  I wish none of this had happened.

Gandalf, the Wizard:

 So do all who live to see such times.  But, that is not for them to decide.  All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.  There are other forces at work in this world, Frodo, besides the will of evil.

Taken From: The Lord of the Rings:
The Fellowship of the Ring
by: J.R.R. Tolkein

 Like Frodo Baggins and the ring of power, I have often found myself wishing I had never learned the truth about 9/11 and our government’s efforts to not only withhold the truth from its own citizens, but to also propagate a lie that has taken hundreds of thousands of lives in two illegal wars. 

One cannot choose the times one lives in.  We can only choose what we will do with the time and the truth we have been given.  We can choose to ignore the facts and live in the matrix of illusion, spun by the agents or our government to distract us and keep us in blissful (and pliable) ignorance.  Or, we can throw off the veil that blinds us, face the awful darkness and speak the light of truth against it.

But, what exactly do I mean by that?  What truth can we speak against the machine and machinations of a government as powerful and all-encompassing as that which appears to control our world?

There is a truth, which holds within it the power of life over death...resurrection power.  Yes, I am speaking of the saving Truth of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

It is written, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” 

It is also written that “They who seek to worship God must worship in Spirit and Truth”

I believe there is more to these passages than just the need to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and free men from the sin and death.  I believe that as followers of The Christ, we must take care to live in truth, in every aspect of our lives. 

The way we live our lives can either validate our claim of truth or invalidate it; it can make it plain, or shroud it.  We must choose to reveal darkness and lies, in whatever shape and form they come, to clear the way for the truth of Jesus Christ to be seen and heard in our lives.  We must not only make straight the path that leads to salvation in Jesus, we must take care to illuminate that path as well, with lives free from darkness and lies.

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world.”

Let us never confuse Faith and patriotism.  They have never been, nor were they ever meant to be seen as the same thing.  At least not until the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord. 

But, that is not to say that a Christian can never be a patriot.  For at the heart of patriotism is the courage to face the truth and to reveal a lie for what it is.  Many a Christian patriot has had to endure the shame of the moniker “traitor” when their faith in Christ had brought them to question the motives and intent of their government.  Many followers of Jesus have had to suffer hardship when rising up against their government to protect the weak and innocent from tyranny and evil.

Christians, living the truth of Jesus, have often shown themselves to be the truest of patriots, though their valor and honor have often gone unappreciated and without reward until many years later.

Questioning the integrity of our government, or calling it to account is in no way unpatriotic, nor is it unchristian.  In fact, calling a government or leader to account has often been the calling of many a prophet of God (e.g., the prophet, Nathan, calling out David the King for his adultery, lies, deception and murder).

But, it takes great love to find the courage to stand against the powers of the day.  For love is the root of courage: love of truth and justice; love for the weak and those unable to defend themselves; love for God and His Word.

It is written, “These three abide: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love.”

Our faith, our hope and our love are not of or for king and country; these are mere shadows of our heavenly kingdom to come.  Often, they bear little resemblance to the kingdom we serve. All too often, they are at odds and at war with the truth and love of Christ and His faithful followers.

Our faith, hope and love are rooted in and serve something other, greater, higher and more lasting than a flag or Constitution.  They are rooted and grounded in that which gives flags and Constitutions their power and meaning.

Faith:

Our faith is in a finished work...the work of Jesus Christ on the cross.  That finished work which has removed the need for all works.  It is that finished work of Christ that gives us the rest man has longed for since he was caste from the garden; the rest only alluded to in the Sabbath.  For it is THE rest of the righteous -- the peace that comes from being made right before God and saved from His wrath -- the rest that only those with a saving faith in Jesus can ever know.

Hope: 

Our hope is in nothing less than the promise of eternal life.  Its seal is the Holy Spirit, sent to us by a risen and living Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.  As he defeated death and rose on the third day, to be seated at the right hand of God; so too, shall we overcome the pain and death handed out by our persecutors, to be raised into eternal life, to be seated with Jesus in heavenly places in the City of God -- the New Jerusalem -- our true home and country, forever and ever.

Love:

The root and foundation of all we do is the Love of God in Christ.  For it is by this love that God created in the first place...out of a desire to share that love with His creation.  It was His great love that sent His Son as the sacrifice for that creation.  That same love agreed to the plan of salvation before the first foundation stone of creation was laid.  It was Christ’s love for His Father that gave him the strength and courage to endure the shame, the pain, the rejection and utter loneliness of the Cross and it’s death.  That same love gave Him power over that death.  God is love.  Love is God.

It is HIS enduring faith, hope and love, generously poured out into us through His Holy Spirit, which gives us the courage to face tyrants, evil and lies...to speak truth to our fellow countrymen, even when they would choose not to listen or receive it.  We speak the truth in love, even when they would reject it and us; even when their rejection comes in the form of violence against our person.

It is this faith, hope and love which motivates me to share what truth I know about 9/11 with you.  To raise your concerns and hopefully, to raise enough voices that we might stay the hand of evil that is attempting to control this country and this world.  And it is also my hope that by sharing this truth, by revealing the lies, our testimony of Jesus will be validated and opening avenues and opportunities to share the greater truth of Jesus and our true hope for peace in this world.  It is this truth...His truth and hope that are so desperately needed in this world at this hour. 

But, if we withhold or ignore the truth...whether out of fear of persecution, fear of ridicule, or a misplaced sense of patriotism...we invalidate our testimony.  How can both truth and lies proceed from the mouths of God’s children?  Do not be deceived, brethren...silence in the face of lies does nothing but strengthen the deception.  Silence is, in fact, quiet approval. 

So, my brethren, I pray you will seek the truth...speak the truth...and not let your eye or your mind be darkened by the deceptions of this world.  I pray for your insight and wisdom; for a word of knowledge and prophesy; for all the gifts God has to help guide, build and strengthen our Church.  I pray also, for the courage and boldness in the Holy Spirit, to share that truth with all who have ears to hear; that your lives will reflect truth in all things and that the light of God will shine forth from your eyes...eyes made clear by truth…that your testimony will be validated and, thus, validate your claims about Christ.

As Gandalf encouraged Frodo, so I encourage you, not to falter or grow weary in your well-doing.   There are, indeed, other forces at work in this world, besides the will if evil.  God in His Holy Spirit continues to work in the hearts and lives of men, convincing them of the truth, not just of Jesus Christ, but in all things touched by Christians in this world.

Take heart, dear friend.  God is Truth and He will not allow men to be kept in the dark forever.