The Red Menace

“We Are All Socialists Now,” proclaimed the cover of Newsweek for February 16. In the featured article, the authors described how American political culture has changed to embrace a more “European” approach of governmental control of the economy. As a citizen and a Christian, I find this notion troubling.

Big Brother

As a lover of freedom, I oppose socialism for the reasons outlined by Friedrich Hayek in his 1944 classic The Road to Serfdom. Providing a defense of capitalism, Hayek demonstrated that all forms of collectivism create tyranny. Within a centrally planned economic system, a small group uses the coercive power of government to impose their vision on the whole of society. Central planning of the economy is the destruction of all individual economic and personal freedom. As the government increases its control of our lives through taxation and regulation, it transforms us from free men and women into slaves.

Socialism is also unattractive for practical reasons. Looking to the bottom line, the record of the 20^th century should be evidence enough that socialism is not effective in producing prosperity. Repeatedly, as governments move toward socialism, productivity plummets whereas free-market reforms uniformly produce economic growth.

Political Atheism

More important than economic success and even more important than civil liberty, I am opposed to socialism because it is an enemy of Christian faith. Not all atheists are socialist, and not all socialists are atheist. There is, however, a strong correlation between atheism and socialism. Abandoning the God of the Bible, atheists are prone to make a god out of the state.

The animosity between socialism and religion runs deep. From its origin in the 19^th century, socialism has often positioned itself as an opponent of Christian values. The more thoroughly socialist a nation becomes, the more it is prone to persecute religious conviction.

Christianity teaches that human nature is not perfectible. This understanding argues strongly for limited government because all people are prone to sin and may abuse power if given the chance.

The Bible consistently champions the right to own and to enjoy private property. In the book of Philemon, Paul showed the freedom we have in Christ has a social dimension as well. Christianity has been the greatest source of liberty throughout the world.

Although the Lord’s church is not called to be involved in political activism, Christians must let their faith inform our politics. We must consistently stand for the truth that God has revealed, and we must stand opposed to any political system that undercuts the message of the Bible.

Gregory Alan Tidwell – Gospel Advocate, May, 2009. P. 5.

Have You Heard About The Green Bible?

“What is The Green Bible, then? Despite its worthwhile intentions, its packaging, assumptions, and interpretive shortcuts suggest it’s not the rigorous guide to biblical creation care we need, but a hybrid of two things: an ideological fashion accessory, and a vehicle for promoting conventional progressive environmentalism.”  Read more…Meager Harvest by Telford Work.

Promoting Sin…1 Corinthians 6:9-11

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary

___________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                     June 1, 2009

LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MONTH, 2009
- – - – - – -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION

Forty years ago, patrons and supporters of the Stonewall Inn in New York City resisted police harassment that had become all too common for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Out of this resistance, the LGBT rights movement in America was born. During LGBT Pride Month, we commemorate the events of June 1969 and commit to achieving equal justice under law for LGBT Americans.

LGBT Americans have made, and continue to make, great and lasting contributions that continue to strengthen the fabric of American society. There are many well-respected LGBT leaders in all professional fields, including the arts and business communities. LGBT Americans also mobilized the Nation to respond to the domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic and have played a vital role in broadening this country’s response to the HIV pandemic.

Due in no small part to the determination and dedication of the LGBT rights movement, more LGBT Americans are living their lives openly today than ever before. I am proud to be the first President to appoint openly LGBT candidates to Senate-confirmed positions in the first 100 days of an Administration. These individuals embody the best qualities we seek in public servants, and across my Administration — in both the White House and the Federal agencies — openly LGBT employees are doing their jobs with distinction and professionalism.

The LGBT rights movement has achieved great progress, but there is more work to be done. LGBT youth should feel safe to learn without the fear of harassment, and LGBT families and seniors should be allowed to live their lives with dignity and respect.

My Administration has partnered with the LGBT community to advance a wide range of initiatives. At the international level, I have joined efforts at the United Nations to decriminalize homosexuality around the world. Here at home, I continue to support measures to bring the full spectrum of equal rights to LGBT Americans. These measures include enhancing hate crimes laws, supporting civil unions and Federal rights for LGBT couples, outlawing discrimination in the workplace, ensuring adoption rights, and ending the existing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in a way that strengthens our Armed Forces and our national security. We must also commit ourselves to fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic by both reducing the number of HIV infections and providing care and support services to people living with HIV/AIDS across the United States.

These issues affect not only the LGBT community, but also our entire Nation. As long as the promise of equality for all remains unfulfilled, all Americans are affected. If we can work together to advance the principles upon which our Nation was founded, every American will benefit. During LGBT Pride Month, I call upon the LGBT community, the Congress, and the American people to work together to promote equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2009 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to turn back discrimination and prejudice everywhere it exists.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.

BARACK OBAMA

Statesmen Versus Superstars

Henry Kissinger wrote in his memoir “Years of Renewal”: “The great statesmen of the past saw themselves as heroes who took on the burden of their societies’ painful journey from the familiar to the as yet unknown. The modern politician is less interested in being a hero than a superstar. Heroes walk alone; stars derive their status from approbation. Heroes are defined by inner values; stars by consensus. When a candidate’s views are forged in focus groups and ratified by television anchorpersons, insecurity and superficiality become congenital.”

A superstar, not a statesman, today leads our country. That may win short-term applause from foreign audiences, but do little for what should be the chief foreign policy preoccupation of any U.S. president: advancing America’s long-term interests.

Karl Rove – Wall Street Journal / http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124044156269345357.html