President’s State of the Union speech

It’s been a while since I’ve offered you an editorial comprised of several “mini lessons.”   So, I guess that it’s about time to do another one in that style and, in no certain order, here it comes.

Like many of you probably did also, I watched the President’s State of the Union speech the other night.  As evidenced by many in attendance at that event, it was basically very boring.  At least that’s my take on the whole affair.  However, I did take notice of a portion of it devoted to a topic that’s been repeated by this President and other politicians for the past several election cycles.

Yep, I’m speaking about what is generally referred to as “income equality.”  Somewhere within the speech on that subject you hear the phrase spoken about everyone should “do their fair share.”  I know that you remember hearing that phrase being bandied about quite often.

Usually right after that is said, you hear the speaker say that “the rich ought to be paying more” in order to raise up the poor.  Hearing those phrases spoken the other night reminded me of a little story about a preacher’s sermon.  I’ll just tell you the story and let you draw your own conclusions to it.

One Sunday morning a preacher put forth what he considered to be a great and moving sermon.  His wife was sick and could not attend, so when he got back home she asked him what he had preached on and how his lesson had been received. 

He told her that he had preached on the subject of being helpful to others.  He said, “I tried to tell the congregation that it was the duty of the rich to help the poor.”   She replied, “Well, were you convincing?”  “Only half way,” the preacher answered.  “I convinced the poor.”

My next thought today stems from the entertainment area of news, specifically the new Star Wars movie to hit the big screen.  I have nothing personally against those kinds of movies, they’re just not my favorite genre of movies.  I guess that my taste in movies is still the good old shootem-up westerns or a good comedy that doesn’t resort to profanity or indecent behavior for laughs.

Anyway, what the Star Wars movies brings to my attention is a relatively new “church” now available in the “religion marketplace.”  Are you aware of the “Church of Jediism?”  As you can tell from its name, it was spawned by the Star Wars films and here is some information I found out about it.

It is a religious order that is international in scope.  It seems that most members are in England.  It’s also referred to as the “Temple of the Jedi Order.”  A church spokesperson said recently that, since the latest Star Wars movie has come out, there are 1000's of people joining this church daily.

The spokesperson also said that many of these “joiners” are people “leaving traditional religion because it doesn’t reflect their views.”  He further went on to say “We’ve no problem with homosexuals or anything like that.  We’re very accepting.”

When you look at the origin and stated beliefs of this “church” I doubt that you could find a better example of what Paul was writing about in 2 Tim. 4:3-4.  “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto fables.”

Paul is telling Timothy that, in a future time, there’s going to come “religions” that are present because a lot of people want to follow their own “doctrine” rather than God’s.  And I, for one, have no trouble relating “fables” to “movies.”

For my last little thought today I’d like to base it upon something that most of us are familiar with - subcontractors.  I thought about this topic as I drove by a building site where a friend of mine is building a house.  He’s acting as the “contractor” but is “subcontracting” out a lot of the construction.  In other words, he’s the one in charge, but relegates certain duties to other entities to perform things that he wants done in the manner that he wants them accomplished.

Here again, thinking about my friend’s situation with his house reminded me of a passage in the Bible and a connection to a lesson to that passage.  In the 19th verse of Romans the 12th chapter we find that oh so familiar phrase: “Vengeance is mine; I will repay saith the Lord.”

What Paul is saying there is that, when someone does wrong towards us, wounds us in some way, we are not to seek our own revenge.  We’re not to resort to their manner, but “rather give place unto wrath.”  That simply means for us to let God take our place in taking vengeance on those who wrong us.  It’s his “place” not ours.

However, sometimes we’re not as patient as God when it comes to vengeance.  There are times when we’d like to see it as being immediate, don’t we?  Well, just a little side-thought here in the form of a question: Do we really want God to execute His wrath immediately when a sin or wrong is committed?  Think about it.

Now what does this passage have to do with “subcontractors?”  Just this - when we read on into the 13th chapter of Romans we find out that God “subcontracts” His vengeance on evildoers.  In verses 1-6 you’ll see that the “powers” (authorities) are “ordained” of God.  That they are His “ministers” to “execute His wrath upon him that doeth evil.”  And, that His “ministers” do not “bear the sword in vain.”  There’s a reason they have a sword.

In other words, you be a good citizen and you don’t have to fear the wrath of God, but those who do evil, who are bad, should have every reason to fear because God has His “ministers” acting in His stead to take “vengeance” on those who do us harm.  Sometimes it may even be immediate, but even if not, rest assured that they will not escape.  “I will repay, saith the Lord.”   But, He also subcontracts.

Respectfully submitted,

Ron Covey