15 February 2008
I Finally Understand
Posted by Joy Bischoff under: Constitution in Peril; General; Judaeo-Christian Values Under Attack; Presidential Election 2008; Rejecting Herd Mentality .
In the coming days we will be watching those close to us and even some on this site chose to support Senator McCain. We need to be okay with that and try and understand where they are coming from. It is a frightening feeling to be disenfranchised from your political home. It will take tremendous courage to remain strong for any who decide that a vote for McCain moves the party left. The perception the press and party leaders will support is that we have moved right when in actuality, we will be the ones remaining firm. One good thing has happened for me while watching this all unfold. A lifelong question has been answered for me. I hate it when I realize I am being judgmental toward anyone and I have been guilty of that sentiment every time I watch people jump on a bandwagon simply because everyone else is doing it. I never understood how people could be so easily persuaded, especially when there was no substance behind the decision. I finally understand. It is fear of being left out that forces us off the road less traveled.
As they watch the crowd press down the wide road, people feel lonely and lost if they are left behind. When they turn and see how bleak the narrow path looks, it is easy to understand the rejection of that path.
People need a strong center or they panic. Sometimes people panic even if the center is strong, if they can’t see it with their own eyes. They want something visible, not words, not an invisible God. Ancient Israel saw the kings the other nations had and wanted one for themselves even though Samuel warned them against giving away their rights. Israel saw the idols the nations worshiped and at times went whoring after other gods. They wondered why they couldn’t have an idol in their temple to worship. Adherents to most other religions of their day had personal idols that they would leave in the temple chapels so they would not have to personally attend services. Their statues would sit idly before the god idle and the people would go on with their worldly affairs. This was easy, took no thought but sadly, brought about no personal growth or true worship.
At times Israel would turn to idols and place them in their temple. The temptation to do this was strong. Why didn’t God give them an idol in the image of God to make it easier for them to hold fast? Among other reasons, the Lord doesn’t want us satisfied to stay spiritually in the world, He wants to lift us above it. Samuel, Moses, Solomon and other prophets never stood in the place of God, but rather stood as witnesses, pointing upward to where He wants our focus to be. So we can think of the center hub as being like Elijah’s chariot that rises upward, lifting us to Heaven as it goes.
It is hard to hold to a God that is not right before our eye so we can grab on tight when the storms blow. What was in the tabernacle that Moses and Aaron built? What was later in the temple in Jerusalem? It was the Ark of the Covenant which held the symbol of God’s authority, the staff. It also held a representation of the bread of life, manna. Most important of all it held the earthly representation of God’s word, the Ten Commandments. It was around this center that Israel gathered. And what was the central inspiration behind our Constitution according to the writings of Madison and Jefferson? The Ten Commandments, God’s ancient word. Paul reiterated these in his writings in the New Testament. They fit nicely in the two great commandments to love God and our neighbor.
Now this brings us back full circle to the hub of the wheel. What do we hold to? In our personal lives we hold to God and His word. In our political lives we hold to the values embodied in the Constitution that stem from God’s word. Words on paper that reflect invisible principles are much harder to hold to than a man whom we can see and touch. This will test what we are made of.
Last night Roy said to me that he believes most of the people that come regularly to this site are leaders. We talked about this and agree that only a leader would take the time and effort to swim against the tide, educate themselves and hold fast against fierce opposition. Even those of you who only read, (and I have heard from many that fall under that category and our counters reflect that) are leaders. Just because some don’t feel comfortable commenting doesn’t mean they aren’t studying and making a difference in their own circles. The truth is, there are smaller circles within the big circle. We can hold up a firm standard to those around us in our families and communities so people who do not know where to go will flock to the standard that you hold based upon proven principles of freedom. You can connect your smaller circles and bring them into the dance of the bigger one where together we can hold in place the Constitution.
Remember the story of the flag that Francis Scott Key watched through the night in Fort McHenry? At dawn’s early light, he saw the flag was still there; tattered and tilting heavily, but it had withstood the constant and overwhelming enemy barrage through the long, dark night. At the base of that flag were the bodies of the men who knew that sacrifice was needed to keep the standard flying. Without the standard, and without the standard bearer, us, there is nothing to bind this nation to the only hope we have for our future to remain the land of the free and the home of the brave.
We will not be moved.
I believe this flag will still be flying over this nation at the coming of the only king I will ever follow.
16 Comments so far...
T. Fan Says:
15 February 2008 at 1:51 pm.
Got a lump in my throat guys and I’m sitting straighter.
Matt Says:
15 February 2008 at 2:00 pm.
It’s kind of cool how the second flag seems like the resurrection of the wounded first flag. It almost looks like the sun is making the image of Christ coming in the clouds of glory. Needed this today.
Ghost Says:
15 February 2008 at 2:12 pm.
Liberals are becoming very energized and conservatives are becoming very discouraged. The balance is lost and I hate to see what is coming. Aside from that, on a day like today with what happened to those students, it is good to not have just our heads filled, but our hearts as well. Thank you.
M.G. Says:
15 February 2008 at 2:33 pm.
I saw your comment over at Commited to Romney and I thought I’d check out this blog. I like what I’m seeing. It is lonely to feel like a week ago everybody was saying they would never give in to the republican establishment and now a lot of those same people are doing it. It made me feel lost but I didn’t want to follow the crowd. I guess the road less taken won’t be so lonely if we go together.
Pickles Says:
15 February 2008 at 2:55 pm.
Welcome to our family M.G. We hope you like it here. We do.
It is so sweet how that looks like Jesus coming down behind that flag. I love it. I’m not scared to take the lonely road. I never worried about following the crowd. I have a really strong family and great friends so if the MSM calls me names and points their finger at me I’ll just laugh in their faces.
E.E. Says:
15 February 2008 at 3:12 pm.
Pickles, what you said reminds me of a story about people trying to do the right thing and worldly people laugh at them, pointing their fingers and mocking. Some people ignore them and are happy and others are ashamed because they focus on those worldly people and so they join them. It fits in with wanting all the idols instead of the invisible God that this blog talks about. How about we let go of the political ark of the covenant and grab ahold of king McCain and see where he takes us.
Jan W. Says:
15 February 2008 at 3:58 pm.
I get why the invisible God thing was so big in the Old Testament now. The Lord doesn’t want us to be loyal to this fallen world. He wants to lift us out of it. He wants us to keep our eye single to his glory and that is heaven and not earth. We get there by holding on to his word. I love it. The Bible for religion and the constitution for politics.
Peter Says:
15 February 2008 at 4:13 pm.
Is this invisible god and ark of covenent and idol stuff what the mormons teach?
Joy Bischoff Says:
15 February 2008 at 4:29 pm.
No, Peter. This has nothing to do with Mormon doctrine. It is a clear pattern that once we see it, it fits with so many other things it just takes your breath away.
Bryon Says:
15 February 2008 at 4:35 pm.
That first flag is cool. It shows that it wont stop flying because it is frayed but that nothing will stop it from representing freedom. The second is not as cool but it does look like Jesus is behind it. I think he is behind the flag and I will always be on his side. We are not just another crowd to follow. I think we are a small group of individuals that have the same goal and will not be stopped by any sized crowd.
Joy Bischoff Says:
15 February 2008 at 6:24 pm.
The flags are cool. Terrie was responsible for the pictures. She does a great job around here.
Joy Bischoff Says:
15 February 2008 at 6:25 pm.
Oh hello there, M.G. Hope you like it here. Thanks for stopping in and come again.
Cavetrollhead Says:
15 February 2008 at 9:52 pm.
Actually Peter, I think the invisible God Idea just comes out of the Bible. I think it is a quote from St. Paul (Colossians 1:15 and it may be elsewhere in the New Testament). It was said, as Joy implies to contrast the Idols that one can lay one’s hands on, with the True God. In that sense it is Mormon doctrine since Latter Day Saints do believe in the Bible.
Mormons probably teach the same basic things about the Ark as other Christians, like Evangelicals or Catholics.
Joy is just using these Bible references to draw an analogy to politics, such as people wanting to fit in to what the world is doing and letting that desire sway them away from their principles.
I write this because you asked - I don’t want to digress into Mormon doctrine since most who view this site are probably not Mormon and specific Religions have nothing directly to do with our goals here.
Angela Rogin Says:
15 February 2008 at 10:03 pm.
This was so inspiring. What an amazing concept and a simple one. It makes the Old Testament come alive and ties it in with the New Testament with the Word. I think I will share this with my parents. I won’t tell them a Mormon wrote it but they won’t see anything here that they’ll have a problem with. It is straight from the Bible just like you said, CTH. Thank you. The pictures are great also.
Cavetrollhead Says:
16 February 2008 at 12:33 am.
Yes Joy. I have to agree with Angela. Very well done- a satisfying connection between scripture and life’s choices.
Joy Bischoff Says:
16 February 2008 at 2:21 pm.
Thank you, CTH. I appreciate you.
Isn’t it interesting how a lot of people cringe when religion is brought into the public domain? Even on the internet, unless it is specifically a religious site, we have to remind ourselves that we weren’t meant to be muzzled regarding religion and it is okay to use God and the Bible as a measuring stick for our personal feelings regarding everything in our life, including politics.
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