The Ten Cannots.

I don’t know if you’re like me, but if you are then you are tired of hearing about the upcoming election for President.  It just seems like every news broadcast, whether on radio or TV is devoted to news about who said “this” and who said “that,” who’s leading the latest poll, ad nauseam.  I say this every election cycle, but I get this wrong every time too.  That this one has to be the worst ever for all the mud-slinging and vitriol expressed by the various candidates, but then the next one comes along and, sure enough, it’s worse.

Now, prior to opining about politics and using them for a lead-in to an editorial, I’ll say right up front that I do not promote one candidate over another as I’m sure that everyone has their favorite and they’re certainly entitled to that choice.  I simply urge the readers of this missive to vote for the one who espouses Christian values.  The one that will govern this country by Bible principles, at least as closely as a human being is capable of doing.

However, based upon much of the rhetoric that I’ve seen and heard spewed forth by some of the candidates, I do have some thoughts that I feel can be used to bring us a “spiritual” lesson today.  About 15 years ago I used a piece in this forum, written by an unknown “minister” a hundred years ago in 1916.  What he wrote back then is so applicable to our political situation today that it’s scary and yet it’s also something that doesn’t hurt us to revisit.  The title of our unknown “minister’s” article was entitled:   “The Ten Cannots.”

    You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.

    You cannot help small men by tearing down big men.

    You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.

    You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.

    You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich.

    You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.

    You cannot establish security on borrowed money.

    You cannot build character and courage by taking away men’s

    initiative and independence.

    You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they

    could and should do for themselves.

Now let’s open our Bibles and see if there aren’t some passages found therein that, based on the word “cannot” will teach us a lesson far more valuable to us than any “worldly” endeavor.  Why it’s of more value is because it’s consequences extend far beyond a four-year term of office.  They are “timeless” or “eternal.”

When we consider “Cannot #7,” the one about “class hatred” and anyone inciting it, I’m reminded of something spoken by Jesus in reference to Satan.  In Mark 3:23-25 He said: “How can Satan cast out Satan?  If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom CANNOT stand.  And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.”

My application here: if someone, by their rhetoric, is promoting “class hatred,” how can they be expected to be any different?  How can they be expected to go against themselves?  If their speech incites it, then we can expect their behavior to do likewise.

There are a couple of other “cannots” from the Bible that I see fitting to the previous thought of a “divided house.”  First I’ll cite Matt. 6:24 where Christ says, “Ye CANNOT serve God and mammon.”  Then He says “And whosoever doth not bear his cross and come after me, CANNOT be my disciple.”  (Luke 14:27)   We are required to make a choice as to who we’re going to “serve.”  Either its going to be Christ or Satan.  Can’t be both because it would then be “divided.”

If we do not make that choice and try to “serve two masters” then, simply stated, we “cannot be His disciple.”  To employ a “computer” term, if we’re not a disciple of Christ, then by “default” we’re a disciple of Satan. 

And, before I leave this thought, by “bearing our cross and following after Christ” involves obedience to His Gospel.  In John 3:5 Jesus explains to Nicodemus what being “born again” (vs. 3) means: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he CANNOT enter the kingdom of God.” Yes, baptism is required.  It’s not a suggestion.  It’s a must.

This brings me to another simple equation.  If we “cannot enter the kingdom of God” then we “cannot abide in Him” therefore we are of no benefit, either to Him or ourselves.  He describes Himself as being the “true vine” and His disciples are the “branches.”  Any “branch” that doesn’t produce fruit “cannot” remain attached to the “true vine” and its future, shall we say, is not good.  Christ says that it is to be “thrown into the fire and burned.” (Read John 15:1-6)

As used in the aforementioned passage in John, the word “vine,” as used by Jesus in describing Himself, is what’s known as a “metaphor.”  With writer’s prerogative I’d like you to consider another “metaphor” for Christ and that would be a “ship.”  Then, with the use of that metaphor, let’s look at something said by the Apostle Paul in Acts. 27:31.  “Except these abide in the ship, ye CANNOT be saved.”

Well, in closing, let me just reiterate and say that I don’t care what political party you identify with in you earthly affiliations.  But, when it comes to the eternal persuasion, I believe that it’s far better to be affiliated with “God’s Party” than with “Satan’s.”  If we’re members of “God’s Party” then we can know that our “calling and election” is “sure” and that our “party” will “never fail.”  (1Pet. 1:10)

Respectfully submitted,

Ron Covey