Nov 1, 2004
Soviet-Style Is Back In Fashion
Russia's parliament has given the first nod to President Vladimir Putin's
plan to scrap elections for governors. After two more formality votes, the
leaders of 89 Russian regions will be appointed by Moscow rather than
elected. Gubernatorial elections were part of a series of reforms that took
place under the Boris Yeltsin administration.
Putin also plans to shut independent candidates and small opposition parties
out of parliament. The media has already been cleansed of any dissent. Most
independent journalists have been fired or forced out.
Despite loud protests from liberal and socialist opposition groups, Putin's
so-called reforms are rapidly moving Russia away from what the West would
identify as being true democracy.
The changes are seen as a must after a string of terrorist attacks by
Chechen separatists on civilian targets in Russia, which killed nearly 500
people.
Putin's drive for power is not a necessity that started with the Chechen
problem. For the past couple of years, there has been a great deal of concern
over Putin's practice of jailing powerful business leaders that oppose him.
From the very beginning, the Russian economy has been based on corrupt
deals. This basic truth gives Putin the option of using the legal system to
silence anyone he views as a rebel.
If it wasn't already clear that Mr. Putin's political restructuring was
following on an unconstitutional path, the Kremlin is proposing legislation to
abolish Constitution Day, which is celebrated on December 12.
I'm rather surprised at how silent our leaders have been over the fate of
democracy in Russia. It seems like Putin would need to rebuild the iron curtain
before the folks in Washington would take notice. At some point the decision was
made to treat Russia like we do most Arab nations - as long as they're with
us in the war on terrorism, we don't care what they do at home.
I have little doubt were Mr. Putin's power-grabbing ways are headed. Like
the saying goes, "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely." I
guess the next step would be for the Duma to elect him president for life.
Because Putin is starting to strongly resemble the leader of the Gog army,
prophecy watchers need to keep a close watch on his activity. At this
point, the slightest indication that Moscow would be willing to commit
troops to the Middle East to counterbalance Israel in some way would be
major news.
Because the pre-tribulation rapture is a signless event, it is hard to
imagine the events of Ezekiel 38 and 39 occurring ahead of the removal of the
church. If Putin is to be the primary political leader behind the Russian-led
invasion of Israel, the sands of time would have to be rapidly running out.
-- Todd
The Election and the Israel-Effect
Tomorrow, November 2, we go to the polls to elect not only the most powerful leader for America, but the most powerful leader for the world.
If you are a Christian, the duty to vote is an awesome matter that has at its core God's blessing or His curse. The Christian -all born-again believers who claim Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord-quite possibly put the nation at risk or within a degree of safety, depending upon the wisdom of their choice at the ballot box. The right decision could well mean this nation will enjoy protection from the very God who dealt wonderfully throughout history with His chosen people, the house of Israel, when they were in His will. An unwise decision at the ballot box could mean disaster for the country God has blessed above all others in many ways.
Understand that I'm aware that Israel didn't vote for a leader in those ancient times in the way prescribed by the American political process. God, alone, ultimately decided who would lead that special, but often extremely obstinate, rebellious people. Also, I recognize that there aren't enough true Christians to totally decide the election this or any other time. And, it is true that God, in the final analysis, sets up and takes down kings and presidents.
But make no mistake: The ancient Israelites DID decide leadership with their vote. They voted with their obedience, or lack thereof, to the Lord God.
They got the leader they deserved in direct proportion to the degree of their following God's direction for their national life. And, make no mistake, the way Christians vote at the ballot box this time -choosing, or not, to honor God's will, as stated in His Word the Bible, will almost certainly determine America's course for good or ill during the coming four years.
Many who have studied the Bible's account of the break-up of the nation Israel in ancient times years before both Israel (the northern kingdom) and Judah (the southern kingdom) were conquered and sent into Babylonian captivity will recall that both nations had a series of "good" kings followed by "evil" kings to rule over them. They received the type of king they earned, based upon the degree of their turning to God in repentance and obedience. Finally, God's patience ran out, and He sent them for correction in diaspora (scattering) from the Promised Land. Ezekiel, Daniel, and other prophets wrote prophecies during these diasporas. After their time of exile, the children of Israel were allowed to rebuild another temple, the city walls of Jerusalem, and return to the land. There was, of course, a later diaspora. It was the one Jesus prophesied in the Olivet Discourse.
Roman general Titus, under orders from his father the Roman Emperor Vespasian, destroyed the Temple and Jerusalem in 70 A.D., just as Jesus had foretold. The Jewish people were again scattered into the whole world until their regathering in the 1800s, and Israel's modern re-birth in 1948.
We hear, in Christian circles, every political season, and every time of national crisis today, the words of 2 Chronicles 7: 14:
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
The one True God of Heaven is the same today, yesterday, and forever. He changes not, neither is there shadow of turning in Him. He still deals with His people in the same, unswerving, unapologetic way. During this era in God 's economy of time, He deals with Christians -the ones He has given His Son, Jesus Christ (read John chapter 17), in the same way He has always dealt with His children. He blesses and He corrects, just as in ancient times with the children of Israel. He patiently endures their hard-headedness, while calling them to repentance. During this Church Age (Age of Grace) just as in that earlier time of dealing with Israel, His patience is not infinite.
There is a limit to what He will endure. He is the perfect parent, absolutely righteous in all of His ways.
Please don't write to inform me that I'm confusing the nation of Israel with America, or with the Church. I, in no way, believe that the United States, the Church of Jesus Christ, or any other nation or people, have--or will ever--replace Israel in Almighty God's plans for humanity. Every promise made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob -and all their descendants-- will be kept to the perfect letter of God's Holy Word. I'm saying that God would not be God if He dealt differently with His children called "Christians," in the matter of obedience versus disobedience to Him.
So -how should you and I vote November 2?
We have given in these columns the facts, as we see them, about local, national, and international/geopolitical issues. These are matters of personal perception, and, while we believe our perceptions are correct, based upon what God's Word tells us about what should be our world view, there is room for disagreement.
On the matter of the key moral issues involved in this election -abortion, homosexuality (gay marriage, etc.) , and the moral viewpoints of judges that will be appointed by the next president--there is no room for compromise.
Christians must vote God on these issues. We must do so unashamedly.
We, as a nation, will get the leaders we deserve, based upon how God's children respond to God's will in these clearly delineated matters that so divide the nation in this election.
--Terry
Neither Party Adequately Addresses Issue Of Moral Decline
Yet another election season is upon us, and through it, Americans hope to play a part in influencing the course of this great nation. But despite the solemnity of the decision facing the country, neither of the two main parties will do much in stemming the downward moral spiral griping the United States.
In enunciating his position on gay marriage, Vice President Dick Cheney has said people ought to be free to enter into any kind of relationship they want.
Really? Does that mean, if I can find a dozen women amicable to the arrangement, that I can form a harem that caters to my every whim, allowing me to lead a life of luxury since such a situation would allow me to sit back and send a number out to work, a number to tend house, and a number to shower affection on when in the mood.
If our base desires now constitute the basis of our connubial ethics, whose to say such an arrangement is illegitimate so long as no parties are coerced into it? After all, Cheney did say “any kind of relationship they want.” Seems polygamy makes much more sense than homosexuality from an evolutionary standpoint if we are going to descend to the level of common beasts.
But we are not common beasts. Though a part of creation, we have also been set apart and above it by being made in the image of God. As such, He is the one --- not our individual libidos --- that determines the moral parameters in which humans are suppose to live.
Both Scripture and common sense reveal that the well being of the greatest number of human beings is maximized when marriage is limited between one man and one woman rather than allowing helter skelter to take place at the marriage altar between any combination in any number. When we refuse to acknowledge these limits, we literally invite all hell to break lose.
The end result goes beyond social confusion and emotionally shattered lives. In fact, innocent people end up losing their rights and even their lives.
In addressing the issue of abortion brought up during the debates, John Kerry --- in a classic display of his famed forked tongue --- in effect said that, while he thought abortion was wrong, it would be unconscionable to impose his own views upon anyone else. But what is law but the codification of someone else’s morality we are forced to live by?
Attempting to delude Catholic and Evangelical voters, Kerry admits the unborn are alive but refuses to lift a finger on their behalf since such a belief is religious in origin. Thus, since even the safety and well being of innocent human beings are not sufficient grounds to impose your morals on someone else, on what grounds can you then bring the sanction of law against a restaurateur for refusing to serve Black customers? After all, this also comes down to a matter of belief: whether or not all men are created equal.
Besides, the customer discriminated against certainly isn’t suffering to the same extent as the hacked-apart fetus.
Abraham Lincoln did not win his place in America’s pantheon of historical greats by enunciating, “I believe slavery is wrong, but who am I to impose my conception of emancipation on those not sharing it?” It would be interesting to see if someone as vacillating as John Kerry would handle the greatest moral quandary of another era in the same manner as he does that of our own.
It would be unreasonable to expect any candidate to single handedly reverse America’s ongoing moral decline since the origins of the crisis go beyond anything the political process is able of resolving completely.
However, it does not bode well for this great nation when those seeking to serve as its foremost custodians lack the will to do the simplest things within the scope of legitimate governmental authority to stand against the tide of desolation sweeping across this great land.
Copyright 2004 by Frederick B. Meekins
