Abram: The Call, The Covenant and the Cowardice
In chapter 11 we met Abram, son of Terah, a man we will hear much about in the chapters to come, and the one with whom God made His covenant. Our story begins as he and his father Terah, along with his wife Sarai and nephew Lot left Ur of the Chaldeans , They settled in Haran, where Terah died.
Abram was a wealthy prince and likely did not know God in a personal way, but shortly after Terah's death he received a call from God, calling on him to leave the land of his birth , his friends and family, and everything he knew bheing and go forth to " a land which I shall show you". Moreover he was told that God would make a great nation of him, and bless him and make him a blessing to the world. He also issued a warning that those who bless Anram would be blessed and that those who cursed him would be cursed. Imagine being told something of this out of the blue.... especially when as we shall find out, Sarai was barren, and long past childbrearing years, so it was indded an act of faith on Abram's part to accept what God had told him and act on it.
When Abram arrived in the Land of Canaan, he pitched his tent at Shechem, a place about which we will here much more and again heard from God, who honoured his faith and Made a promise that the Land of Canaan would be given to his descendants.
After this, there was famine in the land and Abram and Sarai went to Egypt, wherupon Abram, after having such great faith in leaving home and travelling to an unkniown land simply because the lord told him to commited a shameful act of cowardice that was conceived in anything but faith. Upon arriving in Egypt, he feared what might happen to him if the Egyptians took a liking to Sarai. Abram asked Sarai to tell the Egyptians that she was his sister, a half truth since she was also the saughter of terah, by a different mother, so that things would go well for Abram, as he was given livestock and riches as Sarai was taken into the household of Pharaoh himself, However, before Pharaoh had committed the conjugal act with her, his house was struck with plagues, and it came to light, though we are not told how that Sarai was actually Abram's wife . Pharaoh returned Sarai to Abram and sent them on their way out of Egypt with all he had.
One of the great things about the Bible is that the characters we read about are presented exactly as they were, with all their warts and flaws. Which one of us has not been rewarded for our faith and then turn right around and sin? Thankfully, we have a od who forgives, and teaches us, and works with us to turn us into what he created us to be.
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Wednesday, October 26, 2022
Proper Stewardship of Our One Vote
In most western countries each one of us, by the Grace of God, and by virtue of sacrifices made by those before us have the right to have a say in who governs us and under what priciples. To this end, we each have ONE vote entrusted to our stewardship, as part of our means of participating in the process that has thus far allowed us to resolve our issues by ballots instead of bullets. It is a very serious responsibility, as how we use our vote (or not usen it) sets the course for the future. The worldview of those elected to serve in high office is what will guide them in their decisions that have ramifications that can, and often do resonate through decades and even centuries to come. Christians need to detach from the media news and (mostly) opinion cycle of the secular media and social media which calls us to rally around one party or another, and cheer them on as if it was a basketball game. It is anything but. If we havent reached the conclusion that elections have consequences it's time we did, and time to get serious about the power of that one vote entrusted to us.
Street Called Straight is a Christian Conservative publication and we make no bones about that, so obviously we want to see the right kinds of people elected to office who will stop and even reverse the years of Progressive secularism which have shredded the social fabric of our countries.Financial issues are secondary to social issues, as a change in policy can correct and repair most of that, but when the social fabric of the country, the tried and true principle sthat have enabled us to live in peace and settle our differences peacefully are destroyed, it is difficult to recover from, if not impossible.
There are 65 Million people in the United States who idenitfy as Roman Catholic, and a similar number who identify as Christian in one form or another. That is over half the population of the USA. If most or all of them voted according to a well formed Christian worldview, and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we would be in a radically different place. But like the proverbial frog placed in a pot where the temperature of the water is gradually raised to boiling, like the frog, many Christians have not noticed that they are being slow-boiled in the cauldron of secular progressivism. , Now is as good a time as any to put out a voter's guide which will help Christians, especially Catholics, make a sound choice on election day. For Non-Catholic Christians these guidelines are in line with Christian teaching, and it is strongly suggested they be followed, but for Catholics, observing the Five Non Negotiables featured in the voters guide is NOT optional. In fact, any Catholic who knowingly votes for a Candidate or party that is on the wrong side of any of these issues, is guilty of aiding and abetting intrinsically evil policies.
Voter's Guide for Serious Catholics was published by Catholic Answers based on The teachings of the Church and papal documents from Pope John Paul II
Without even reading the document, It is fair to say that NO Christian who takes the teachings of Christ seriously may vote for any candidate of any party that does not permit the excercise of conscience to vote freely on such issues of consequence. In Canada , most parties will not even permit a candidate to run who does not agree to espouse and vote consistently the secular progressive line on social issues. such as support for abortion "rights" , euthanasia and same sex "marriage" and other intrinsic evils.
As voters, it is incumbent on each of us to study the Five Non Negotiables) and learn what cannot be supported, and just as importantly why, so that we can credibly engage with others to guide them in proper stewardship of the vote. We cannot wait until election day approaces either, we must familairize orselves with what consitutes a well forrmed Christian worldview, and get involved with the political process at all levels where we may exercise our franchise.
This means doing research on candidates prior to primaries or nomination meetings and persuading as many as possible to join us in supporting the one who best represents the Christian worldview. It means discerning whether we , ourselves should seek elected office and whether we would properly represent that worldview. It means participating in and applying the same principles to all levels of elected office, from school boards, hospital boards and other local offices, in addiction to the big offices that command all the media attention. By following these principles consistently at every level we can elect people who can stand in the gap, and do what they can on a civic level to reverse the cultural decline and societal schism we see all around us. Politics can take us only so far, for this to be fully effective we as individuals need to turn to Jesus Christ as out Lord and Saviour and live by the teachings He left in the deposit of faith of His Church, and to fortify ourselves through the Sacraments He gave us.
It is not either/or. It is a both/and proposition.
Street Called Straight is a Christian Conservative publication and we make no bones about that, so obviously we want to see the right kinds of people elected to office who will stop and even reverse the years of Progressive secularism which have shredded the social fabric of our countries.Financial issues are secondary to social issues, as a change in policy can correct and repair most of that, but when the social fabric of the country, the tried and true principle sthat have enabled us to live in peace and settle our differences peacefully are destroyed, it is difficult to recover from, if not impossible.
There are 65 Million people in the United States who idenitfy as Roman Catholic, and a similar number who identify as Christian in one form or another. That is over half the population of the USA. If most or all of them voted according to a well formed Christian worldview, and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we would be in a radically different place. But like the proverbial frog placed in a pot where the temperature of the water is gradually raised to boiling, like the frog, many Christians have not noticed that they are being slow-boiled in the cauldron of secular progressivism. , Now is as good a time as any to put out a voter's guide which will help Christians, especially Catholics, make a sound choice on election day. For Non-Catholic Christians these guidelines are in line with Christian teaching, and it is strongly suggested they be followed, but for Catholics, observing the Five Non Negotiables featured in the voters guide is NOT optional. In fact, any Catholic who knowingly votes for a Candidate or party that is on the wrong side of any of these issues, is guilty of aiding and abetting intrinsically evil policies.
Voter's Guide for Serious Catholics was published by Catholic Answers based on The teachings of the Church and papal documents from Pope John Paul II
Without even reading the document, It is fair to say that NO Christian who takes the teachings of Christ seriously may vote for any candidate of any party that does not permit the excercise of conscience to vote freely on such issues of consequence. In Canada , most parties will not even permit a candidate to run who does not agree to espouse and vote consistently the secular progressive line on social issues. such as support for abortion "rights" , euthanasia and same sex "marriage" and other intrinsic evils.
As voters, it is incumbent on each of us to study the Five Non Negotiables) and learn what cannot be supported, and just as importantly why, so that we can credibly engage with others to guide them in proper stewardship of the vote. We cannot wait until election day approaces either, we must familairize orselves with what consitutes a well forrmed Christian worldview, and get involved with the political process at all levels where we may exercise our franchise.
This means doing research on candidates prior to primaries or nomination meetings and persuading as many as possible to join us in supporting the one who best represents the Christian worldview. It means discerning whether we , ourselves should seek elected office and whether we would properly represent that worldview. It means participating in and applying the same principles to all levels of elected office, from school boards, hospital boards and other local offices, in addiction to the big offices that command all the media attention. By following these principles consistently at every level we can elect people who can stand in the gap, and do what they can on a civic level to reverse the cultural decline and societal schism we see all around us. Politics can take us only so far, for this to be fully effective we as individuals need to turn to Jesus Christ as out Lord and Saviour and live by the teachings He left in the deposit of faith of His Church, and to fortify ourselves through the Sacraments He gave us.
It is not either/or. It is a both/and proposition.
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