If God Were King # 6... We Would Treat Creation His Way

           I want to preface what I am about to say by telling you that my father was a political conservative. He was the son of an East Texas sharecropper. He came up the hard way, anI think he assumed that if he could do it, anybody could.

            Back in 1964, my dad voted for Barry Goldwater. In fact, of one my earliest memories is of my dad helping to establish the headquarters for Barry Goldwater in my hometown. That year Lyndon Johnson, a Texan, won the presidential election in a landslide, so my dad was in the political minority.

            All of that to say, when my dad and I would go fishing at White Oak Creek, (in Northeast Texas), he would always lament the fact that there were not as many fish as when he was growing up.

            My dad was a small businessman. He did not believe in government regulation of the economy. He was against the excessive taxing of the 1970s against the major oil companies. As a result, he grabbed my attention one day when he told me, “I cannot prove this, but I think oil companies are either pouring or spilling chemicals up the creek… and that is why there are fewer fish.”

            I have thought about that through the years as we have seen places where indeed, companies were discovered spilling or dumping chemicals in places containing natural water.

            Now, fast forward to the early 1990s. My mother still owned our property on White Oak Creek. She had been leasing the land to some friends, but she wanted me to visit and see if I thought we should sell it.

            We had approximately 53 acres of property on and around the creek. Our property and the surrounding area contained many trees. However, on that visit, I was stunned to see that all of the land surrounding our property had most of the trees cut down. It looked like a fire had swept through the area.

            What happened was the surrounding owners had contracted with individual companies to have the trees cleared out and hauled out for various purposes including, ultimately, converting the wood into lumber.

            I am a believer in the free enterprise system. Not only does it hold people accountable, but also it is the only economic system I have ever seen that actually channels the inherent selfish desire within fallen man–i.e. greed–and actually converts that into products beneficial to society.

            Certain people gained economically from that decision to cut down those trees; jobs were created. However, I also know what it is to have once owned property surrounded by beautiful trees and wildlife to see it diminished to a barren land. Most of the animals left because there was no place to hide—or live. There was no need, no reason, continue to hold our land.

            For these reasons I have read with interest some of the things the Bible has to say about creation. Deuteronomy says this about the land, 19 When you lay siege to a city for a long time, fighting against it to capture it, do not destroy its trees by putting an ax to them, because you can eat their fruit. Do not cut them down. Are the trees of the field people, that you should besiege them? 20 However, you may cut down trees that you know are not fruit trees and use them to build siege works until the city at war with you falls (Deut. 20:19-20.)

            To watch out for trees after destroying the city seems comical. However, God provided the Israelites trees for sustenance and trees for conquest. This tells us that we should take deal with our natural resources with careful reflection. Defeating the enemy was important for Israel, but so was preserving and conserving natural resources.

            Mark Biddle has written that a common tactic used by invading armies in the ancient Middle East was to cut off and destroy the enemy sources of supply: crops, cisterns, wells… and vineyards and orchards.

            Think of General Sherman’s march to the sea in the Civil War. His scorched earth policy spelled disaster for the South. It had a long-term impact on the regional economy for years into the future. Orchard and vineyards require years to mature to the point of yielding. What this passage in Deuteronomy did was prohibit such scorched earth tactics. Scorched earth policies promised to continue to harm life, even to kill by starvation, for years to come. God showed a concern for preserving ecological balance.

            In this context, there was a fourfold objection to cutting down trees that showed God’s concern for people, the trees, the land, and the future. (I am sure these are not original with me.)

            1. The trees were innocent. They should not have suffered because men were at war. He made trees and wanted to preserve them.

            2. The Lord is Lord of the universe; he maintained concern for the land. Land typically needed trees. To cut them down indiscriminately was to rob the countryside of necessary resources.

            3. The Lord was concerned for the people of the nations. Both the Israel’s army and the citizens who survived needed trees so people could eat the fruit.

            4. Finally, the Lord was concerned for the future. The children and grandchildren of those who lived in the city would need the fruit, which trees provided. We likewise should always think about the future as well as the present.

            As far as I know, the men who cut down the trees at White Oak Creek never planted the more trees in their place. We need trees. They beautify the landscape, they provide fruit, they shelter birds and animals, and they help secure the stability of the soil.

            When trees are indiscriminately cut down on a large national scale, it incurs calamity. In the last half of the 20th century, the soil erosion in China increased a disastrous 32%. This was because they cut down to many trees.

            Our revolutionary fathers founded this nation on the concept of liberty. This is good. Yet, in our desire for liberty, we must take care lest hurt ourselves. The environment is one of the areas where true discernment is needed.

            Let’s go back to the Garden of Eden for a moment: 24 And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 
 26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” 
 29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so. 
 31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day (Gen. 1:24-31.)

            Ellen Burstein wrote that God made a covenant with his people. He made a contract. He gave discrete boundaries for behavior. One scorecard for the people was the land. God rewarded and punished the Israelites by controlling the rain, in essential component of an agriculturally based society. “If you follow my commandments, you will receive rain in its season” (Deuteronomy 11:13–14.)

            Whenever Israel engaged in murder, sexual misconduct, and idolatry, the land was defiled. When the pollution reached a certain point, God considered it spiritual pollution. The people were vomited out to the land: 26 But you must keep my decrees and my laws. The native-born and the aliens living among you must not do any of these detestable things, 27 for all these things were done by the people who lived in the land before you, and the land became defiled. 28 And if you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it vomited out the nations that were before you (Lev. 18:26–28.)

            This first happened in Genesis 3. God sent Adam and Eve out of the garden. Here and in numerous other examples, the land collects pollution. The land is a victim of Israel's bad behavior. The land told Israel how Israel was doing.

            So what Genesis chapter one, Lev. 18:26ff, and other passages tell us is that God acts in reaction to people. Since people are free moral agents, they have a powerful force to add to creation. God has not abandoned creation. He lives and moves within it, and the land reflects all. Like marriage shows the world our relationship with Jesus, so too does the way we treat creation. It is a reflection of where we are and how we stand with Almighty.

Animals and Creation

      A fascinating verse is found in Deuteronomy chapter 22:6 If you come across a bird’s nest beside the road, either in a tree or on the ground, and the mother is sitting on the young or on the eggs, do not take the mother with the young. 7 You may take the young, but be sure to let the mother go, so that it may go well with you and you may have a long life (Deut. 22:6-7.)

            One has written that the principle here is very practical. To prevent the depletion of the bird population one must not take mother and young at the same time. To take the mother only before the young reach maturity would doom the young and be the same as taking both together. The young may be taken in, leaving the mother to bring other offspring into the world in the future. This was a very practical principle of wildlife management.

            Certainly, in scripture, animals are not the equivalents of human beings. However, we do read that there is a respect for the balance of life in God's creation, which insures humanity a long life that all is well with the land.

            Commenting on Deuteronomy 22:6–7, one Rabbi wrote that the intention was to encourage creation to exist as fully as possible and to not have untimely destruction. The mother bird continued God's creation. That is what it meant to fare well have a good life. This commitment was not for the animal world but for the human world. When creation continues so that one in the future will be able to participate in it, then the future has been blessed. Moreover, we have demonstrated a willingness to rely upon God rather than our own means.

            What you think when I say these words–Chernobyl? Or the Exxon Valdez? If you are of my generation or older, you think of environmental disasters, death, and destruction to creation.

Of all people, former Secretary of the Interior in the Reagan administration, James Watt, while testifying before congress, told them that there is a “delicate balance the Secretary of the Interior must have, to be a steward for the natural resources for this generation as well as future generations. I do not know how many future generations we can count on before the Lord returns, whatever it is we have to manage with a skill to leave the resources needed for future generations.”

Consumption and Creation

            16 The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the LORD has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.” 17 He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.

 (Deut. 17:16-17.)

            Leaders were to model restraint. They were not to be guilty excessive consumption. That could have led to moral corruption, greed, and  financial burdens on the people.

            God warned against utilitarianism, which meant viewing things as to what they could provide a person. Moses is telling the people, “Do not become so greedy that you fail to appreciate the nature purpose of prosperity.” Consider   Deuteronomy 8:16–18: 16 He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you. 17 You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” 18 But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.

Sewage

            12 Designate a place outside the camp where you can go to relieve yourself. 13 As part of your equipment have something to dig with, and when you relieve yourself, dig a hole and cover up your excrement. 14 For the LORD your God moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy, so that he will not see among you anything indecent and turn away from you (Deut. 23:12-14.)

            With God, you see a concern for environmental ethics, sensibilities, and, for lack of better word, laws, and structures. Even in the great urgency of war, the small details of maintaining the proper environment remained crucial. Why? Is this good for the land? I suppose so. But it is good for people.

            What is the lack of fecal control called? Pollution.

            What comes out of this pollution? Diseases… such as cholera. Do you want to live in a city that is not well planned environmentally? Victor Hugo wrote in Les Miserables, “The history of man is reflected in the history of sewers…. The sewer is the conscience of the city.”

            In Jewish tradition, you had an ethic of working for the good of the whole. That may not be a bad thing to remember today. Remember the golden rule.

            I've seen some who have written that creation is a promise to keep.

            A covenant with God concerning creation a promise and a threat. The promise of God's kingdom is a promise of good news, but it carries some importance for the present.

            One analogy that I heard was a young man gives a young woman engagement ring, which is the pledge of promise. It is not the wedding band. It is the promise of one. God's fullness in his kingdom is promised. And what we have now, the environment, is God's gift to us. It's not all that will be, but it is still very valuable, like an engagement ring. The girl who receives an engagement ring is not about to say, “Well forget that! What I want is a wedding ring.” No, she will treasure the engagement ring. Likewise, we treasure the creation as we await the wedding feast in heaven.

           

If God were King # 5… We Would Treat Things His Way

          I want to begin by sharing with you something I posted in another blog of mine I call “Tell Me A Story”:

        Nathan Castens writes about a legend from ancient India that he first heard retold by Henri Nouwen (in his book THE WOUNDED HEALER):

           Four royal brothers decided each to master a special ability.

Time went by, and the brothers met to reveal what they had learned.

          “I have mastered a science,” said the first, “by which I can take but a bone of some creature and create the flesh that goes with it.”

          “I,” said the second, “know how to grow that creature's skin and hair if there is flesh on its bones.”

          The third said, “I am able to create its limbs if I have flesh, the skin, and the hair.”

         “And I,” concluded the fourth, “know how to give life to that creature if its form is complete.”

         Thereupon the brothers went into the jungle to find a bone so they could demonstrate their specialties. As fate would have it, the bone they found was a lion’s. One added flesh to the bone, the second grew hide and hair, the third completed it with matching limbs, and the fourth gave the lion life.

         Shaking its mane, the ferocious beast arose and jumped on his creators. He killed them all and vanished contentedly into the jungle.

        Castens continues, “We too have the capacity to create what can devour us. Goals and dreams can consume us. Possessions and property can turn and destroy us—unless we first seek God's kingdom and righteousness…”

            Someone once said, “The only reason a great many American families don't own an elephant is that they have never been offered an elephant for a dollar down and easy weekly payments.” I don’t know about that, but in this series, we have highlighted God’s emphasis on his creating people in his image. God designed each person to regard neighbor as highly as he regards himself.

            Among many teachings, Deuteronomy emphasizes to us the spirit of God with regard to things. Rick Atchley has written that God's people “… may own things, but they don't accumulate things at the expense of other people, because they know that God made things to be used and people to be loved.” Rick's statement expresses well a sentiment of Deuteronomy. 

            Remember: If things become gods, people become things.         

            As the recipient of God's gifts, his people were to accept the responsibility of sharing them with their fellow man in like kind. God's people had the responsibility of doing unto others as God had done unto them.

            Scripture does not teach communism; scripture does make provision for the ownership of things. However, as again Rick Atchley writes, “God never gives the ‘haves’ the right to oppress the ‘have-nots.’ Any culture or economy that condones the accumulation of wealth at the expense of the others is going against the teaching of Scripture.”

            As we should teach a more godly way with regard to sex and immorality, so too should we teach a more godly way with regard to money and immorality.

            Here’s another example from Deuteronomy, this time 22:1–4:

 1 If you see your brother’s ox or sheep straying, do not ignore it but be sure to take it back to him. 2 If the brother does not live near you or if you do not know who he is, take it home with you and keep it until he comes looking for it. Then give it back to him. 3 Do the same if you find your brother’s donkey or his cloak or anything he loses. Do not ignore it. 4 If you see your brother’s donkey or his ox fallen on the road, do not ignore it. Help him get it to its feet.

            What is God saying here? God wants everyone's possessions to be secure.

            Now, let’s move on to another subject in Deuteronomy regarding things. Throughout history, nations have encouraged the rich to dominate those less fortunate through debt. Ultimately, this led to a glorification of things at the expense of people. Not so in Israel. Listen to this:  “1 At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts. 2 This is how it is to be done: Every creditor shall cancel the loan he has made to his fellow Israelite. He shall not require payment from his fellow Israelite or brother, because the LORD’s time for canceling debts has been proclaimed”(Deut. 15:1-2.)

            Why did God command this? Because he wanted to emphasize people over things. Remember, if things become gods, people become things.

            The Law stated that the Israelites were to leave portions of their produce in the fields, in the trees, and on the vines as food for the poor, widows, orphans, and stranger (Deut. 23:24-25)–again, people over things.

             Life in God’s nation sought to maintain a balance. God’s people were to understand that it was okay to own things… as long as they did not seek to own everything.

            How did a nation achieve these noble objectives? By remembering that God owned everything. Every tithe and offering was to reinforce this reality. Yet, this goes against human instinct.

I like the story told about Dr. George W. Truett, the preacher at First Baptist Church in Dallas during the first half of the twentieth century.

OUR DAILY BREAD related a story about him a few years ago:

          [Truett] was invited to dinner in the home of a very wealthy man in Texas. After the meal, the host led him to a place where they could get a good view of the surrounding area.

         Pointing to the oil wells punctuating the landscape, he boasted, “Twenty-five years ago I had nothing. Now, as far as you can see, it's all mine.” Looking in the opposite direction at his sprawling fields of grain, he said, “That's all mine.” 

         Turning east toward huge herds of cattle, he bragged, “They're all mine.”

         Then pointing to the west and a beautiful forest, he exclaimed, “That too is all mine.”

         He paused, expecting Dr. Truett to compliment him on his great success. Truett, however, placing one hand on the man's shoulder and pointing heavenward with the other, simply said, “How much do you have in that direction?” 

        The man hung his head and confessed, “I never thought of that?”

            What Truett’s acquaintance failed to understand was that not only did a holy God own all that was above him, he owned everything to the North, South, East, and West as well.

            A nation that looks up to a transcending God will more likely view the things here below as things—not gods. And, more importantly, that nation will look at people as precious.

If God were King # 4--We Would Treat People His Way

            [Last week I was traveling and took sabbatical from my blog. Today I resume my series seeking to cultivate a personal theology of government drawn from Deuteronomy.]

            It has been said many times that, to be great, it is not enough for a nation to have gifted leaders or even godly leaders; to be great, a nation must also have godly citizens who obey the laws—laws hopefully inspired by God.

            Even those who did not recognize Jehovah instinctively connected to this ideal. For example, Confucius said, “The strength of a nation is derived from the integrity of its homes.” But homes are made up of individuals, so it is important that individuals who make up a home behave in a righteous way.  

            In this vein, Daniel Webster once declared, “Whatever makes men Christians makes them good citizens.”

            I believe in God’s word we see the heart of God. God’s heart impacts individuals. Individuals impact families. Families impact culture. Culture impacts the nation. Nations impact the world.

            In Deuteronomy, God, through Moses, is addressing people. These people had been slaves in Egypt. Now they are citizens of God’s Kingdom, and they are a holy people.

            God called these people, once enslaved, now empowered, to recognize the special blessing and calling he has given them. Here is the way Moses uniquely phrases it, 18 And the LORD has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession as he promised, and that you are to keep all his commands. 19 He has declared that he will set you in praise, fame and honor high above all the nations he has made and that you will be a people holy to the LORD your God, as he promised (Deut. 26:18–19.)

            Implicit in God’s commands is the understanding that all people are made in God’s image. God’s people are to treat each individual as someone who is made in the image of God. That means the Creator has endowed each human being with a special dignity. God challenges his people to love others as they love themselves.

            For example, Deut. 21 contains a detailed description demonstrating how much God values life. How would living out this ideal look today?

            Consider this. In all the wars in which the United States has participated, about 1.1 million of our citizens have been killed. Since the Supreme Court handed down the decision of Roe versus Wade in 1973, more than 20 times that number have been exterminated through abortion. 95% of these abortions take place for reasons of convenience–not because of incest, rape, or the health of the mother.

            Those attitudes clearly reflect a lack of respect for life, but let’s move to the other end of the spectrum. Are you familiar with “Granny dumping”? This is the practice of abandoning elderly people in places where they're most likely to receive the notice of authorities who specialize in elderly care such as hospices or nursing homes. Typically, they leave no identification so the relatives cannot be traced. Consequently, the elderly person becomes a ward of the state.

            Studies from groups such as the American College of Emergency Physicians estimate that about 200,000 elderly people are abandoned at hospitals each year. Granted, these numbers are not as high as those aborted, but both sets of numbers clearly indicate a disregard for life at the end… and at the beginning.

            In Deut. 21:1-9, one can see an elaborate ceremony, which reveals the heart of God. It describes what a community is to do should it not know the identity of a victim of murder. Although he may be unknown to the community, he is neither unknown or forgotten by God! The victim is a human being… not just an unsolved crime.

            Understand, however, the focus of God’s concern is not solely on the victims of crime. Because people matter, God establishes in Deuteronomy (19:1-10) protection for those who are falsely accused of the crime of murder. God establishes regional cities as sanctuaries of refuge to protect people who are falsely accused of crimes from suffering unjust retribution.

            Here are some other ways in Deuteronomy you may not have thought of that exhibit God’s care for people:

            * After victory in war, Israel must show respect for the lives and feelings of those who have been vanquished. The weaker are not to be crushed under the whims of the strong (Deut. 21:10-14)

            * If a person is put to death for a capital offense, neither the authorities nor the citizens can treat the deceased criminal’s body in a demeaning way. (Deut. 21:22-23—this is the original context of the passage later quoted by Paul in Gal. 3:13.)

            * God calls people to love one another by showing respect for life and property. God desires that people act in a way that preserves the lives and properties of their neighbors. This passage sums it up well:  1 If you see your brother’s ox or sheep straying, do not ignore it but be sure to take it back to him. 2 If the brother does not live near you or if you do not know who he is, take it home with you and keep it until he comes looking for it. Then give it back to him. 3 Do the same if you find your brother’s donkey or his cloak or anything he loses. Do not ignore it.

          4 If you see your brother’s donkey or his ox fallen on the road, do not ignore it. Help him get it to its feet (Deut. 22:1-4.)

         In a community (or country) that cares, people regard the dignity of others as more important than the acquisition of wealth. That means you make allowances for the feelings of others as well as their physical or spiritual needs. You love people; you don't use them.

            This was hard enough for God's children in ancient Israel to achieve, much less for a secular nation today. Yet these ideals are worth pursuing.

            Granted, we will make mistakes. An old story (my source is Doug McIntosh in his commentary on Deuteronomy) tells about a young girl named Sally, who faced a challenging day. Her mother was sick, and Sally wanted to help. She insisted that her mom stay in bed—like Sally did when she was sick.

            Sally picked up the kitchen; she saw the tea kettle and decided to brew her mom a cup of tea, just like her mom had done for her dad when he had been sick. (This was back in the day, before microwaves!)

            Sally made the tea and, beaming with pride, took it to her mom’s bedroom. Sally’s mom bragged on her and smiled broadly. She praised Sally for her service and kind heart, saying with delight, “I didn't know you knew how to make tea.”

            Sally replied, “Yes I do mommy. I do. I boil the water and tea leaves together just like you always do.” As her mom sipped the tea, Sally further explained, “I couldn't find the little strainer thing, though, so I used the flyswatter.”

            Hearing this, her mother spewed the tea out of her mouth. “You used the flyswatter to strain this tea?”

            Little Sally could tell her mother was feeling anxious. Seeking to calm her, Sally told her, “Don't worry, mommy, I used the old flyswatter so I would not mess up the new one.”

            Sally’s mom summoned the self-control she needed to offer Sally her gratitude and praise, instead of a detailed lesson in kitchen sanitation. She saw Sally’s heart, and she was very pleased.

            I suspect God often wants to choke when he sees the ways humans mess things up trying to help people. Societies are imperfect! However, God knows people make mistakes, and I glean from the Bible that he is grateful when people try to do right.

            Granted, there is an element of the soul that Christians must address. But we live in a fallen world of time and space where people can be helped or hurt.

            People are precious to God; people are God’s prized possessions.

            Serve them as best you can.

If God were King # 3... We Would Treat Money His Way

[This series is the product of a study of Deuteronomy I did for my church earlier this year. While journeying through Deuteronomy, I came as close as I ever will to cultivating a theology of government. Some of the results I share in this blog.]

            God's laws are rooted in his love. God took the initiative.

            God delivered his people because he loved them; therefore, God called upon Israel to respond in loving obedience.

            God's laws grew out of his personal, intimate, and daily relationship with people. God gave these laws to guide people to live in a manner that was most in keeping with their personal relationship with God, which would help them be kind to individuals whom God created in his image.

            With that in mind, remember that God told his people to tithe off what he blessed them in a given year, “Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year” (Deut. 15:22.)

            Two main uses for this “money” were:

1) to help those in need (the poor, widows and orphans) and

2) to care for the religious leaders—the Levites.

            We’ll talk more about those in need later in this series when we discuss the subject of justice, but I want to say a word about the religious leaders.

            This is not original with me. In fact, you may have heard it before.

            In Israel, the Levites, directed the spiritual life of the people. They did not work in manual or farming, nor did they serve in the military. Their job was to protect Israel from her greatest enemy—Israel. If the religious leaders failed, Israel would ultimately fail.

The nation gave a tenth of what they had to protect itself at the grass roots level.

            This is the background for Paul’s famous charge to Christians to “not muzzle an ox….” He noted that even though he surrendered his right to be a fully supported minister, it was a right.

            This principle is of the reasons why our country gives churches and ministers tax breaks. Our founding fathers understood that for our government to succeed, citizens must be virtuous. Religion was an essential component in providing for the virtue of its citizenry. To help the citizens live religiously, ministers were deemed essential. 

            Now, concerning debt.

            God says much about debt in the Bible, including in Deuteronomy, and it is never positive. In ancient Israel, borrowing was typically practiced by individuals in a worse case scenario; it was not typically a practice of the nation’s government.

            Regarding individuals, a loan might be offered when a natural disaster occurred and suspended normal income. Also, a loan might help a poor family carry on until they could repay it.

            I think I can safely say that God never intended his government in Israel to go into debt itself in order to help individual Israelites find a better life. I’m not sure all of the reasons why, but I would guess the law of cause and effect would have something to do with it.

            Surely God would have viewed ancient Israel as being immoral had she enslaved her future generations to debt for the same reasons we do today in America.

            Moreover, as I wrote last week in another blog, it is immoral for a government’s accumulating debt to lower the value of the dollar. It is stealing. As our national debt grows, the value of the dollar will inevitably be reduced.

            Cause and effect.

            This is not a problem of politicians. They will do what we demand of them.

            This is our problem.

            We the People.

If God were King # 2... We Would Treat His Blessings His Way (Deut. 1-6)

             I read a while back that in trying to build up the Roman Empire, the emperors needed soldiers. To motivate volunteers, recruits were told that if they served the required length of time, they would be granted full Roman citizenship. The catch, however, was that they were required to inhabit special cities called colonies.

            The thought was these former citizens were to create a “little Rome.” Paul wrote a letter to one such colony—Philippi. Perhaps it raised the antennas of the Christians there when Paul wrote,  “But our citizenship is in heaven.”

            Paul was calling the Philippian Christians to create a little heaven on earth.

            In Deuteronomy, you have the vision of what a nation would look like if God were King. Israel, on the verge of entering the Promise Land, is reminded by God through Moses that their citizens were to serve as representatives of Jehovah. As one commentator put it, “They could, by their spiritual behavior and devotion, appeal to the hearts of their neighbors. On the other hand, with spiritual disobedience, they could become caught up in useless and destructive pursuits.”

            Within this context, words were spoken, which you know well:           

5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your being, and all your strength. 6 These words that I am commanding you today must always be on your minds. 7 Recite them to your children. Talk about them when you are sitting around your house and when you are out and about, when you are lying down and when you are getting up. 8 Tie them on your hand as a sign. They should be on your forehead as a symbol. 9 Write them on your house’s doorframes and on your city’s gates.

             We typically teach that this passage is talking about teaching our kids spiritual lessons about loving and serving God faithfully. Certainly, it is.

             But we forget this teaching had a very practical component. For the Israelites, what did loving God look like? Among other things, it meant being a good steward of God’s gracious blessings. And before they entered the land, the Lord warned them to beware of forgetfulness after their homes were full of good things.

            Are our homes full of good things today? You bet.

            Some estimates I’ve seen state that the U.S. occupies 6% of the world’s land, contains 7% of the world population, and 67% of the world's wealth. Certainly, most of us sit at tables loaded with good food, drive wherever we want to go, send our kids to college, and, when we are sick, have access to the best health care in the world.

            Do we appreciate our good things?

            Do we by our spiritual behavior and devotion appeal to the hearts of our neighbors, or, by our spiritual disobedience, have we become caught up in useless and destructive pursuits?        

            Do we harden the hearts of our neighbors?

            Do we carve out a little bit of heaven here on Earth?

            Call me idealistic, but if we will carve out a colony of heaven here on earth, our nation will be a good place to live.