From Crazy to Bizarre

Politicians often say crazy things, but last week New Mexico Governor Lujan Grisham crossed the line—from crazy to bizarre! She brazenly kicked the Constitution to the curb. She wasn’t the first and she won’t be the last, but she was the most brash.

After issuing a ban on carrying guns in the Albuquerque area, she said, “No constitutional right in my view, including my oath [of office], is intended to be absolute.”

Does she really believe the 13th Amendment to the Constitution abolishing slavery in the United States is not absolute? Does she really suppose the 15th Amendment granting blacks the right to vote is not absolute? Does she really mean the 5th Amendment—which guarantees that a person charged with a capital crime cannot be deprived of life without the due process of law—is not absolute?

Does she really think her oath of office is not absolute? That is unmistakably what she said. She presumes that she may disregard her oath of office (to defend and protect the Constitution), since, in her opinion, “no Constitutional right…is absolute.” That is terrifying—especially if you are black.

Apparently, Lujan Grisham thinks that as governor, she may, at her own discretion, usurp the authority of the Constitution. Folks, this is the very definition of insurrection. Websters Dictionary defines insurrection as: “an act or instance of revolting against civil authority or an established government.” We gave King George the boot 247 years ago replacing him with the U.S. Constitution. Apparently, we now have a modern tyrant-in-training who wants to supplant the Constitution.

However, the problem sinks much deeper than just insurrection. Her statement unmistakably mirrors how our society views absolutes in general.

Modern culture values “what works” over all else. If it stopped there, we might call it pragmatism. However, it mutates further. What our culture really means is “what works for Me.” That descends from pragmatism into the mire of narcissism. You often hear young people refer to it as “My truth.” But then it spirals even lower into primal narcissism: “what works for me—today.” In other words, “I want, what I want, when I want it.”

Our culture fixates on such short-term outcomes. Even in the Church we often hear the feel-good statement, “God just wants me to be happy,” which is frequently used to justify primal narcissism. We foolishly imagine that a well-intentioned end necessarily justifies the means. Therefore, you may shove virtually anything aside (including the Constitution) if you are pursuing the “correct outcome.” Stalin believed that. Pol Pot believed that. Castro believed that. Mao believed that. Hitler believed that. They all believed the end justified the means. Apparently, that is also what Governor Lujan Grisham believes. Absolutes be damned!

Sadly, the disease pierces even deeper—down to our very souls. If I don’t believe God exists, why would I suppose moral absolutes exist? If I don’t judge God as relevant, why would I consider moral absolutes relevant? Without God, absolutes wither to virtual fairytales. All that remains is “survival of the fittest.” And now we have arrived at the unsolvable riddle: how do you start with “survival of the fittest,” where the fit survive and the weak die, and then conclude you must “Love your neighbor,” or even “Be kind?” How do you deduce that violence (including gun violence) is morally wrong?

Our twisted view of God is our core problem—both in Western culture and as individuals. It is Governor Lujan Grisham’s bent notion of God, not her miserable view of the Constitution, that is the fundamental malady.

I applaud the governor’s instinctive empathy for those families whose children were murdered. I assume her intentions are good. But good intentions often pave the road to a land few of us wish to ever visit. She is profoundly confused. She thinks guns are killing children. In truth, it is people who believe God is irrelevant—the God who said, “Thou shalt not murder.” Deeming God irrelevant removes any moral obligation to respect the lives of others—obligation being the operative word.

Is it mere coincidence that as our belief in God as a culture continues to devolve that gun violence conversely soars? The upsurge in violence is largely the consequence of our muddled view of God.

If we continue to teach schoolchildren that God is irrelevant, we will never rid ourselves of the dark specter of ever encroaching violence. Until we place God back at the center of the cultural conversation the attacks on our children and the Constitution will most assuredly escalate.

What’s the solution? YOU are the solution. Only You can bring God back into the conversation:

in your home, your neighborhood, and your community. The choice is simple. The choice is yours.

God is the issue—in every issue.

© Brad Bright 2023, All rights reserved.

One Upon A Time

Once upon a time, our President, Congressmen, CEO’s, teachers and preachers were children. During the first 13 years of their lives the foundation upon which every decision they make today was laid. Their moral compass was established and their view of the world and of God was formed. Research confirms that the decisions they make, for good or for ill, are a direct result of the training and teaching they received before their 14th birthday.

My generation was among the first to be indoctrinated with the idea that there are no moral absolutes—that God is irrelevant and should be kept out of the public debate. We were brainwashed into believing that we can’t control our desires. So, guess what? Our desires ended up controlling us. This is the foundation many of our leaders now draw upon as they seek to shape my children’s future.

I know it’s not very encouraging, but there is hope!

You see, once upon a time, leaders like George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King were children. The decisions they made came from a foundation that was laid before their 14thbirthday—a foundation built on the understanding and belief in who God is and why it matters.

If politicians really want to save our children’s future, they’ll fight to save our freedom to talk about God, pray to God, and bring our God-given moral compasses into ALL aspects of the public debate. Once upon a time we called that freedom of speech.

As you and I fight the escalating debt and give our life’s blood to reign in the moral depravity that darkens our great country, let’s also be diligent to lay a foundation for our children that will not fail them, no matter what the debt is. Their view of God influences every decision they make. As Jesus said, “Apart from me you can do nothing.”

Brad and I did a podcast this week discussing “The Two Things Your Kids Need This Fall”. They need you to teach them who God really is and why it matters. It’s your most important job. Secondly, they need you to have at least 3-5 family meals each week. Listen to the podcast to find out why. It will blow your mind!

I know there are lots of reasons why those two action points are challenging. I must tell you, however, I have yet to hear a challenge that can’t be overcome with a little creativity and commitment. And your kids are worth the effort.

We are here to help you! BrightMedia.org has a section devoted to helping you teach the kids you love who God is and why it matters. Click on the DG4Kids tab. We have family Bible Times covering 13 of God’s attributes, family activities, and much more! If you sign up for our weekly eNewsletter at BrightMedia.org we will send you Table Talk Questions each week you can use to have conversations around the table that weave God into everyday life.

Finally, Brad and I wrote a fun family devotion, Because God is Awesome!, to use with the kids you love to help teach them who God is and why it matters. It’s simple, engaging and your kids will love it!

I hope you’ll use these resources with the kids you love. But whether you do or not, I implore you, teach them who God really is and why it matters before their 14th birthday. Their “Once upon a Time” is today.

Kathy Bright

©2023 Kathy Bright, All Rights Reserved.

When Should Christians "Get Political"?

Our country is tearing itself apart. Even within the Church there are deeply conflicting views about what we should and should not do.

Because my dad was Bill Bright you might assume I would say we need to focus primarily on the Great Commission. Others who have read my book, GOD is the Issue, might think I would say we need to engage on the social issues. My answer might surprise both groups. In fact, my dad’s actions might surprise both groups.

I recently read a quote by Billy Graham with which I fully agree. However, I suspect some Christians might take it out of context in order to justify their position, one way or another. This is what he said:

“I do not believe that we should spend our time cursing the darkness. I do not believe we should spend our time in useless controversy, trying to root the tares out while harming the wheat. I do not believe that we should give in to the forces of evil and violence and indifference.

Instead, let us light a fire. Let us light a fire that will banish moral and spiritual blight wherever we go. Let us light a fire that will guide men and women into tomorrow — and eternity.”

Dr. Graham was right. We should not waste our time cursing the darkness. We should not waste our time pulling up tares. We should not give in to the forces of evil. And we should light a fire that will guide men and women into eternity.

The question is, what does that look like? Some people think this means focusing exclusively on preaching the gospel, but never getting “political.” Others think it means pushing back against the forces of evil, especially in the political arena.

However, Jesus gave us three primary commands:

• “Love the Lord your God will all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.”

• “Love your neighbor as yourself.” He illustrated what He meant in the parable of the Good Samaritan.

• The Great Commission, to preach the gospel of salvation to the entire world.

If you ignore even one of those commands, you’ve ignored the other two as well.

Many Christians focus on Great Commission but disregard the vulnerable. That’s wrong, as illustrated by Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan. Conversely, other Christians focus on the vulnerable but give no heed to the Great Commission. Those latter folks often justify their disobedience by saying, “Evangelism is not my gift.” Well, let me respond by saying, compassion is not my gift. Does that exempt from having to show compassion? Absolutely not! Withholding compassion is sin, whether by turning your back on the poor and the vulnerable, or by refusing to share the good news with those hurrying down the path to eternal damnation.

Jesus gave all three commands. You cannot follow Jesus closely and embrace two of his commands while ignoring the third. You either do what He asked you to do, or you don’t.

Let me ask you a question. If you are faithful to preach the gospel out on the street corner every day, like St. Francis of Assisi, but completely ignore the orphans, the widows, the poor, the hungry, the helpless babies being aborted, the defenseless children being sex-trafficked or groomed in our schools, or those who are enslaved, have you done everything Jesus asked you to do?

What about if you work hard to combat racism, abortion, sex-trafficking, or poverty, but you forget about the eternal souls of the people in front of you, have you done everything Jesus asked you to do?

The answer to both questions is, “No!” Partial obedience is disobedience.

As followers of Jesus, we must love God, love our neighbor as ourselves as illustrated in the parable of the Good Samaritan, and verbally share the gospel with those around us.

Most of the leaders of the abolitionist movement in the 1800’s where devout Christians. They were outspoken about the gospel. They also read Jesus’ command to “love your neighbor,” which Jesus illustrated with the story of the Good Samaritan. Therefore, they believed they must help the vulnerable in their culture who could not help themselves. Of course, in their day, this clearly applied to those unjustly enslaved.

If there was ever an issue in our nation’s history that was highly “politicized” it was the issue of slavery. But aren’t we all glad they took Jesus seriously, rather than listening to the folks who accused them of getting “political?” Just because an issue is “political” does not mean followers of Jesus should not engage. Jesus never said, “Don’t get political!” Asking whether something is “political” is the wrong question—it’s completely irrelevant. Instead, ask:

“What did Jesus say I should do?”

That is the correct question for His true disciples.

As an individual follower of Jesus, I can’t do everything. But as the body of Christ, we can. God has given me my specific focus, which is making God the issue in every issue, both on the personal and cultural level. But I cannot follow Jesus closely, and then turn a blind eye to those in need when it is in my power to help them. This means we all have to work together to get the job done. However, as individuals we can neither ignore opportunities to tell others about the God’s love, or conversely, fail to demonstrate that love to the vulnerable when it is within our power to do so.

For example, my dad was focused on the Great Commission like a laser for 50 years, but he also fasted one day a week for years and then gave the money he saved (by fasting) to help feed the poor and the hungry. He never talked about it publicly. But he knew that the same Jesus who said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel,” also said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

I don’t think Billy Graham meant we should never “get political.” Sometimes, in order to be a Good Samaritan, to truly love our neighbor, we have to cross into those areas that our culture has labeled “political.” Political or not, we must free the slave, protect the unborn, care for widows and orphans, and stand up for the vulnerable amongst us.

Simply because God has called me to make God the issue in every issue, it doesn’t give me a pass to be like the priest or the Levite in the story of the Good Samaritan. I cannot ignore a hurting person whom I have the power to help. If I must cross into an area the culture has labeled “Political,” then so be it.

Jesus commanded us to love God, love our neighbor, and preach the gospel. End of story. Incomplete obedience is disobedience.

I don’t say this to put anyone on a guilt trip. I have failed in all three of these areas numerous times. Rather, I say this to encourage you to think about what it means to love God with your whole heart, to love you neighbor as yourself like the Good Samaritan did, and to preach the gospel.

As Billy Graham said, we need to both “light a fire” and “never give into the forces of evil.” We do this by making God’s heart our heart, both for the vulnerable and the lost.

God is the issue—in every issue.

© Brad Bright 2023, All rights reserved.