Sage on a Hill

We are all hypocrites in the absolute analysis.  When you read or hear someone contradict themselves or the word of God you have a decision point.  How severe is their offense.  God allows mankind the ability to glean differently.  Somethings need to be universally flat-out rejected.

Rather than a catchy hook, attention grabbing opening line, it seems necessary to offer this disclaimer: Sin is serious and should not be taking lightly.  God hates sin.  The true intention is to help you grow closer to God by possibly seeing these next sins in your own life.  Though it may seem light-hearted to have a list of sins…there are many ways to convey truth.

It is not often you can see the deployment of formal logic on a social website.  And as such, your flags of critical judgement should be set aglow.  Some who consider themselves a member of the “intellectual” community enjoy bantering about terms which indicate cerebral capacity.  These next words from Associate Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. are insightful and useful to judge such situations: “I would not give a fig for the simplicity this side of complexity, but I would give my life for the simplicity on the other side of complexity.”  Yes indeed, beyond complexity lies simplicity.

Take a moment and recall any funeral you have attended: Have you ever heard this about the dead, “They sure are miserable now?”  Why is it assumed people go to heaven after death?  A variation of this sentence is always repeated: “I know he is sitting with Uncle George watching, front row even, the Jets play football.” Or “Auntie Jane’s garden grows year round now.”  

In reality there does not appear to be any support in the Bible for two figures on your shoulders dueling it out over your next major decision.  There is not any indication of an outside voice which you should heed.  The Holy Spirit was given to believers but the Bible does not support an “audible” presence.

“And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”” (Mat 22:20-21 ESV) “What things belong to God?” and likewise “What things belong to Caesar?” and these answers tell you how to vote.

As I finished the meal’s prayer the apple pie’s aroma was still visibly available via the steam which arose out of its golden-brown crust.  I then did the unthinkable.  Dessert was consumed first.  Yes, the ham was beckoning, quite loudly, but the melting homemade ice cream confirmed my decision.  Had I committed an act against the highest code of civility?  Faux pas or not, it was yummy.

I am not fighting, battling, confronting, nor am I doing anything heroic against cancer.  It doesn’t make linguistic sense to say they fought bravely to overcome an ingrown toenail. 

What is Caesar's and what should belong to God? Matthew chapter 28 provides a great deal of clear insight into how should vote.