MuskogeeUSA » Religion http://muskogeeusa.net My opinion on current events and random musings from my mind Thu, 22 Mar 2012 02:41:01 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Is separation of church and state a constitutional mandate? http://muskogeeusa.net/2010/10/23/is-separation-of-church-and-state-a-constitutional-mandate/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=is-separation-of-church-and-state-a-constitutional-mandate http://muskogeeusa.net/2010/10/23/is-separation-of-church-and-state-a-constitutional-mandate/#comments Sat, 23 Oct 2010 11:00:27 +0000 admin http://muskogeeusa.net/?p=2376 I heard an interesting argument today concerning the First Amendment and separation of church and state.  The person arguing that the First Amendment does NOT mandate this separation was none other than the tea party candidate Christine O’Donnell.  While I don’t put much stock in anything she says, it did get me to wondering if the First Amendment mandates it, suggests it, or neither of those.

The First Amendment states:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

So, let’s take a look as it applies to religion.  It prohibits the government from establishing a religion and from infringing upon our rights to exercise our religion.  It does not say that the government and religion should be separate, as such, it just says to me that the government shouldn’t be in the religion game at all.

So, while the government can’t force a religion upon me, it can’t stop me from practicing my religion, or anyone else from practicing theirs.

There have been laws established saying that there can be no monument to religion on public property.  Plaques with the Ten Commandments have been removed from government buildings because of this.  But, why?  It isn’t as if the government is saying people have to worship Jesus, or even believe the Bible is true.  Many of our laws are based upon the Ten Commandments.

We can’t have Christmas trees, or menorahs, or anything else depicting any religion on government property.  Again, the presence of these icons are not a mandate that one must believe in a particular religion.  But, we must remove these lest anyone be offended.

Supreme Court decisions have help shaped the way the First Amendment is applied.

When I was in elementary school, the teacher would lead the class in prayer.  That stopped when the Supreme Court ruled that schools cannot lead students in prayer.  Some took that to mean that religion was kicked out of schools completely, but I guarantee there was plenty of prayer on the day of final exams.

Actually, what the Supreme Court was restricting was school-led religious activities.  The students can pray, read the Bible, engage in religious study, etc. on non-instructional time, but the school cannot compel students to participate in prayer or other religious activities.

I agree the First Amendment means the government cannot force a religion on the citizens, but does it mean the government cannot reference religion?

It appears to me that while the First Amendment doesn’t mandate separation, it highly encourages it.

What do you think?

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]]> http://muskogeeusa.net/2010/10/23/is-separation-of-church-and-state-a-constitutional-mandate/feed/ 0 Westboro Baptist Church and the First Amendment http://muskogeeusa.net/2010/10/07/westboro-baptist-church-and-the-first-amendment/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=westboro-baptist-church-and-the-first-amendment http://muskogeeusa.net/2010/10/07/westboro-baptist-church-and-the-first-amendment/#comments Thu, 07 Oct 2010 17:05:47 +0000 admin http://muskogeeusa.net/?p=2161 The Supreme Court is faced with a dilemma.  Albert Snyder, whose son died in Iraq in 2006, had to not only grieve his son, but put up with the haters of Westboro Baptist as they protested is son’s funeral.  He sued and won a verdict of $11 million, which was reduced to $5 million and later thrown out altogether under the church’s First Amendment rights.

The question is, is hate protected by the First Amendment?  With all the anti-hate laws in place now, it would seem not, but now the Court has to decide if a father’s pain is more important than the church’s right to free speech.  I hold the First Amendment in high regard, even though I think it is misapplied at times.  Is it misapplied here?

When does someone’s First Amendment right trump a family’s right to privacy?  When does someone’s words or actions become harassment?  Would we sit still if a group protested a gay man’s funeral with signs that said, “God hates fags”?  No, it would be considered a hate crime in most jurisdictions and legally punishable, regardless of the First Amendment.  How is it any different to protest a soldier’s funeral with signs that say, “God hates soldiers”?  To me, that is just as hateful, and just as wrong.

I’m not sure which god Westboro Baptist is serving, but it’s certainly not the one true loving God I know and love and worship.  He will judge Westboro in a manner no earthly court can.

Now, as to the question of Westboro having the right to say horrible hateful things may be guaranteed by the First Amendment, but that doesn’t make it the right thing to do (Having the right doesn’t make it right).  When we start picking and choosing which groups the First Amendment applies to and which it doesn’t, we are treading on very thin ice.

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]]> http://muskogeeusa.net/2010/10/07/westboro-baptist-church-and-the-first-amendment/feed/ 0 God, I want it NOW! God’s answer is always timed perfectly http://muskogeeusa.net/2010/09/14/god-i-want-it-now-gods-answer-is-always-timed-perfectly/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=god-i-want-it-now-gods-answer-is-always-timed-perfectly http://muskogeeusa.net/2010/09/14/god-i-want-it-now-gods-answer-is-always-timed-perfectly/#comments Wed, 15 Sep 2010 04:01:19 +0000 admin http://muskogeeusa.net/?p=2036 As a Christian, I pray… a lot.  I know that my prayer is heard, not only because of my belief that it is, but also because of the way I feel.  It’s almost the same as if I’m talking to a person I know is really listening to me as opposed to one who isn’t.  I know because I know.

That is a hard concept for a non-Christian to grasp – knowing because you know.  It is something you really have to experience for yourself to know what it is, but once you do, it is really a beautiful part of your relationship with God.

I, like most (if not all) Christians, have asked for God for different things and waited for God to fill the order.  A young Christian is someone new to their relationship with God, not necessarily someone who is young in years.  Young Christians tend to pray only to be discouraged that the prayer is not immediately answered.  More mature Christians better understand the nature of the way God answers prayers.

My personal experience has taught me plenty.  Even though sometimes I am still like a child stomping my foot and saying “God, I want it NOW!”, I have learned to be patient.  God knows exactly what I need and exactly when I need it.  God can answer prayer immediately as he is all powerful.  I have experienced immediate answers to prayer as well as not so immediate answers.

We also need to align our prayers to God’s will, not our own.  Like the wise Father he is, he knows when his children are ready for certain things and when we need to wait.  Like earthly parents, we don’t feed our children meat until they can chew, otherwise all sorts of health problems can arise.  God won’t give us a gift we aren’t ready for lest all sorts of problems with our spiritual health arise.

I have learned when God doesn’t answer a prayer right away, He has a good and perfect reason for waiting.  There have been times I’ve been expecting a large check (well, large for me).  I do quite a bit of freelance programming and it may be a bit between the time I bill and the time I receive payment.  I may have some wants I want to spend that check on, but God knows there are some needs coming up I don’t know about.  Always, always, always I’ve received that check in the perfect time to take care of the needs.

Yes, I believe God wants us to have nice things and prosper, but He also knows we need to take care of the needs first.  God always supplies my needs.  Always.  It may not be my timeline, but it is always perfect timing.

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him” (1 John 5:14-15).

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]]> http://muskogeeusa.net/2010/09/14/god-i-want-it-now-gods-answer-is-always-timed-perfectly/feed/ 0 Having the right doesn’t make it right http://muskogeeusa.net/2010/09/08/having-the-right-doesnt-make-it-right/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=having-the-right-doesnt-make-it-right http://muskogeeusa.net/2010/09/08/having-the-right-doesnt-make-it-right/#comments Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:52:39 +0000 admin http://muskogeeusa.net/?p=2015 From the proposed mosque and Islamic cultural center at ground zero to the Koran-burning pastor in Florida, America is questioning rights versus what’s right.

The ground-zero mosque supporters say they have the right to build their mosque anywhere that’s legal.  That is true.  If it is legal for American citizens to build a mosque at that location, then they have the right to do just that.  But, is it right? I know Islamic extremist make up a small percentage of Muslims and most do not condone what their more extreme counterparts are doing, but they should be sensitive to the pain America is still feeling.

To build this center so close to the site terrorists crashed jets full of passengers into the World Trade Center is a slap in the face to America.  To me, it seems to say, “Hey, look, we brought down your two tallest buildings and now we’ve got a mosque there.”  That is most likely not what is on the mind of those who want to build this mosque and cultural center, but it is certainly what it says to me and, I’m sure, millions of other Americans who watched as the planes hit the buildings.  Do they have the right?  Yes.  Is it right?  No.

On the other hand, we have a Christian extremist, pastor Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida, who wants to burn the Koran on 9/11.  That doesn’t sound much like world outreach to me.  I don’t know enough about the Koran to either support or condemn it, but burning it does seem to me to be extreme.  What’s the difference between Christian extremism and Islamic extremism?  Remember the crusades?

The federal government has apparently gotten in on this action, but they can’t do anything about it as it is a First Amendment issue.  The military are concerned about the fallout and increased risk to Americans who are still in the Middle East if this Koran-burning occurs, a valid concern to be sure.  This church has the First Amendment right to burn the Koran, but should they do it?  They have the right, but it is not right.

Americans enjoy certain rights (for now) and the most revered is the first one:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Maybe we need to not only enjoy our rights, but focus more on what is right.

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]]> http://muskogeeusa.net/2010/09/08/having-the-right-doesnt-make-it-right/feed/ 2 Getting back to basics as a Christian http://muskogeeusa.net/2010/08/28/getting-back-to-basics-as-a-christian/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=getting-back-to-basics-as-a-christian http://muskogeeusa.net/2010/08/28/getting-back-to-basics-as-a-christian/#comments Sat, 28 Aug 2010 16:49:38 +0000 admin http://muskogeeusa.net/?p=1971 I read an article on cquaredsworld.com that has some good thoughts on the basics of Christian life.  Sometimes, as Christians, we tend to place ourselves above others and forget to minister to them.  Yes, we are to set ourselves apart from the world, but not above it.  Sometimes, we tend to depend on our own abilities and not lean on God.

Ephesians 2:10 says that we are God’s workmanship, and that he has created us to do great things, which He has planned out for us. Jeremiah 29:11 says He knows the plans He has for us, and that those plans will prosper, not harm, us, and give us a bright and glorious future. It’s time to get back to basics and put my definition of what my life has in store for me into God’s hands and let Him tell me what He says I should do. I’m not going to turn my life into a crusade to run around and proclaim I’m better than everyone, because that’s not what it’s about. I’m a child of God, and I will follow the plan He has for me. This will take time, but as long as He guides me and shows me what I’m supposed to do, I know I’ll prevail.

Read the entire article here.

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]]> http://muskogeeusa.net/2010/08/28/getting-back-to-basics-as-a-christian/feed/ 0 Easter obituary http://muskogeeusa.net/2010/04/02/easter-obituary/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=easter-obituary http://muskogeeusa.net/2010/04/02/easter-obituary/#comments Sat, 03 Apr 2010 03:25:29 +0000 admin http://muskogeeusa.net/?p=1306 What would Jesus’ obituary look like?  What would it contain? I received this via email and thought others may enjoy it.

Calvary – Jesus Christ, 33, of Nazareth died Friday on Mount Calvary, also known as Golgotha, the place of the skull.  Betrayed by the apostle Judas, Jesus was crucified by the Romans, by order of the ruler Pontius Pilate.  The causes of death were crucifixion, extreme exhaustion, severe torture, and loss of blood.

Jesus Christ, a descendant of Abraham, was a member of the house of David.  he was the Son of the late Joseph, a carpenter of Nazareth, and Mary, His devoted mother.  Jesus was born in a stable in the city of Bethlehem, Judea.  He is survived by by His mother Mary, His faithful apostles, numerous disciples and many other followers.

Jesus was self-educated and spent most of his adult life working as a teacher.  Jesus also occasionally worked as a medical doctor and it is reported that he healed many patients.  Up until the time of His death, Jesus was teaching and sharing the Good News, healing the sick, touching the lonely, feeding the hungry, and helping the poor.

Jesus was most noted for telling parables about His Father’s Kingdom and performing miracles such as feeding over 5,000 people with only five loaves of bread and two fish, and healing a man who was born blind.  On the day before His death, He held a Last Supper celebrating the Passover Feast at which He foretold His death.

The body was quickly buried in a stone grave which was donated by Joseph of Arimathea, a loyal friend of the family.  By order of Pontius Pilate, a boulder was rolled in front of the tomb.  Roman soldiers were put on guard.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that everyone try to live as Jesus did.  Donations may be sent to anyone in need.

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]]> http://muskogeeusa.net/2010/04/02/easter-obituary/feed/ 1 Responsibilities of the Christian husband http://muskogeeusa.net/2010/03/29/responsibilities-of-the-christian-husband/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=responsibilities-of-the-christian-husband http://muskogeeusa.net/2010/03/29/responsibilities-of-the-christian-husband/#comments Tue, 30 Mar 2010 03:29:23 +0000 admin http://muskogeeusa.net/?p=1276 Husbands have a responsibility to their wives.  I was talking to a friend of mine who loves to quote the Bible about the husband being head of the wife and her responsibilities to the husband.  My argument back to him is that the husband should first fulfill his responsibilities to his wife.

Ephesians 5:22-25, 28-31 in the New King James Version tells us

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.  Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.  Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her… So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.  For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.  For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.  “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”

Head of the house, head of the wife does not mean the husband is master and the wife is a slave where the wife is to blindly follow the husband and be at his beck and call.  No, the husband, if he is fulfilling all his responsibilities, is to be more of a leader.

The husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church.  This means he should love his wife above all others, more than anyone else.  Ephesians 5 teaches husbands they should cherish their wives, be tender and affectionate, demonstrate their love to their wives.  He should not only show her his love and commitment, but tell her as well.  He should not be so wrapped up in himself that he fails to acknowledge his wife or communicate with her.

Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. 1 Peter 3:7

Husbands are to give honor to their wife, as to the weaker vessel.  This does NOT mean the wife IS the weaker vessel, but should be treated as such, with tenderness and care.  I know in many ways, my wife is stronger than I am.  We are to be heirs together in the grace of life.  Each lending individual strengths to the relationship to make each stronger together than apart.

Honor means the husband should never publicly embarrass his wife or cut her down.  As Ephesians 5 says, husband and wife cleave as one flesh, which means she is to be treated as part of the husband’s body.  Honor means the husband should respect his wife, be courteous to his wife, be considerate towards his wife’s feelings and emotions, and hold her up with dignity.  He should be gentle towards her, keeping his temper in check.  The husband should not expect perfection from his wife as he, himself, is not perfect.

I tell you husbands, if you treat your wife as the Bible commands you, she will return the love and respect to you many times over.

There are many more examples of a husband’s responsibility towards his wife and family in the Bible, and I will try to go more in depth in future articles.

Please feel free to comment on this post and offer other scripture.  Have a blessed day.

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]]> http://muskogeeusa.net/2010/03/29/responsibilities-of-the-christian-husband/feed/ 2 Should zoos include Christian creationist exhibits? http://muskogeeusa.net/2009/08/12/should-zoos-include-christian-creationist-exhibits/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=should-zoos-include-christian-creationist-exhibits http://muskogeeusa.net/2009/08/12/should-zoos-include-christian-creationist-exhibits/#comments Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:19:11 +0000 admin http://muskogeeusa.net/?p=600 There has long been a debate on the separation of church and state and how, on publicly owned property, we should refrain from anything to do with any religion.  We can’t have the Ten Commandments in our courthouses or other public buildings, even though most of our laws are based on them.  The Supreme Court has upheld that public or government buildings or land should remain religion neutral.  But, what if it is called education instead of religion?  Is it okay then?

Anna Falling, candidate for mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma, has resurrected a debate over a Creationism exhibit at the Tulsa Zoo.  In fact, according to an article by News on 6, she has made it a big part of her platform.  Apparently, this debate began about four years ago when an exhibit telling the story of creation was rejected.  Falling is bringing it back to life saying the zoo has other religious icons there, including a Hindu god.  Supporters belife that if Hindu religion can be represented, then so should Christianity.

Friends of Religion and Science take the stance that the religious references at the zoo are there for education of different cultures, not for a promotion of a certain religion.  I’m all for education or religions because I believe that someone who knows more about what they believe in can believe much more strongly and be able to defend their beliefs.  If we change it from religion to theory, then the Christian belief of creationism can be taught as a theory instead of a religion.  That should fit in nicely.

If the zoo includes other religions for educational purposes, then what is the harm of including Creationism as part of the education?  A well-rounded education should include all sides of an argument so the student can then apply his or her own values and make a decision as to which is right and which they want to believe.

Related stories: Mayoral Candidate Wants Creationism Exhibit At Tulsa Zoo

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]]> http://muskogeeusa.net/2009/08/12/should-zoos-include-christian-creationist-exhibits/feed/ 1 Most Americans Oppose Same Sex Marriage http://muskogeeusa.net/2009/05/27/most-americans-oppose-same-sex-marriage/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=most-americans-oppose-same-sex-marriage http://muskogeeusa.net/2009/05/27/most-americans-oppose-same-sex-marriage/#comments Wed, 27 May 2009 16:40:07 +0000 admin http://muskogeeusa.net/blog/?p=49 According to Gallup, most Americans continue to oppose same sex marriage.  However, it also shows that most Americans believe that relations between consenting adults of the same sex should be legal.

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