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Camel
Swallowers and Speck Pickers
By
Jon W. Quinn
As
I write this, the U.S. Senate is going through the process
of confirming the newly elected president's nominees for his
cabinet. Most have sailed through pretty well. John Ashcroft's
confirmation is the one causing the most problems presently,
though he, too, is expected to be confirmed. His big problem
is that he professes belief in the Bible. Some detractors
have expressed concerns that a believer in the Bible who practices
his faith can not possibly serve in a fair way on the president's
cabinet. He would have far too many scruples, principles and
too much integrity. One senator, known well for his drunkeness,
marital infidelity, and misbehavior which, on one occasion,
resulted in the death of a young woman, expressed his outrage
that Ashcroft would even be considered for such an important
position. Another man, a preacher/social reformer (probably
it should be social reformer/preacher given the emphasis and
priorities this man has chosen) also questions Ashcroft's
nomination. This same man had prayed with President Clinton
during the turmoil resulting from some of his sexual escapades
(depending on what the definition of "is" is). Now
we find out that as he was counseling and praying with the
president, he was engaging in his own extramarital affair.
One political cartoonist pictured the two praying together
saying, "Please do not let our wives find out."
Jesus said,
"And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's
eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or
how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out
of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye? You
hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then
you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's
eye." (Matthew 7:3-5). Both the senator and the reverend
need to take Jesus seriously about this. These two who have
broken their vows before God attempt to sit in judgment on
one who has taken his vows seriously.
Jesus also
said, "You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow
a camel! (Matthew 23:24).
There has been much camel swallowing of late. A brief reading
of the seriousness in God's eyes of the offense of breaking
one's vow ought to give anyone pause before they would ever
suggest that doing so
is just a minor error. Consider the following Scriptures:
Numbers 30:2 "If a man makes a vow to the Lord, or
takes an oath to bind himself with a binding obligation,
he shall not violate his word; he shall do according to
all that proceeds out of his mouth."
Ecclesiastes 5:5 "It is better that you should not
vow than that you should vow and not pay."
Exodus 20:7 "You shall not take the name of the Lord
your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished
who takes His name in vain."
At any rate,
the real reason behind the objections is that Ashcroft's faith
means he believes that abortion is murder. The Bible plainly
shows he is right about that, and the opposition is really
against the Bible playing a role in the lives of government
officials. There are many who do not want it to. How different
it is from the sentiment expressed by our country's first
president, George Washington, who said, "It is impossible
to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible."
From Expository Files 8.2; February 2001
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