Government, Faith, and Elected Officials

I had other writing plans this week, but the current situation in Kentucky has prompted me to change my plans.  It seemed a small matter back in the year 2000, not even worthy of mention, but now in light of current headlines, it seems quite pertinent.

The headlines of Kim Davis's incarceration indicate the fact that we need to realize, rendering unto Caesar may have been costing the silent victims more than we realize.  While those currently with a voice, crying victim seem to actually be quite bullying in their tactics.  The SCOTUS is not to make laws, but rather interpret them, on the federal level.  Congress makes laws, but according the First Amendment, Congress is to make no laws regarding religion.  States still have their own ability or should have, to make their own laws.  The comments about what Kim Davis should have done, of course cover the continuum, but in some cases sound frighteningly similar to the general attitude toward Hitler's rising power in Germany.  We need to realize Messiah separated G-d and Caesar in the example of a coin, where as we just print G-d on something or "sprinkle a little Jesus mantra" over it and then claim "it's all good."  Well, we are wrong and have been wrong, for some time.

As some folks say, she should do what the government now insists, I recommend you reread the book of Daniel.  The Kentucky law still has not changed and she did not single out same sex couples, she simply stopped issuing marriage licenses all together until the state changed the law.  As for resigning over it, she still hasn't broken a law, she simply refused to issue any license until a state decision was rendered.   Her refusal and her marital history then brought an onslaught of judgment from the "tolerant progressives" as well as some Bible thumpers.  She has been married more than once as well as divorced more than once, and that is a problem amidst Christianity, but she's not been divorced since she became a believer.  Even Paul said in I Corinthians 7, married or single, remain as you are, when you become a believer.  So, as always, mudslinging is the best defense.  Through all of this, folks were completely free to go to adjacent counties.

While the gays are all sniveling and crying victim, I have another scenario of county government that took place in my home state some time back and believe me, I do know the situation from behind the scenes. This involves a county official who was first elected as Public Administrator in 1996 was re-elected in 2000.  She had a politically familiar name, as her husband was a state rep and the area was very much of "the good ol' boy" mentality.  I'm not sure of any other candidate in 96, but I do know in 2000, there was a candidate of the Libertarian party and no Republican candidate.  The Libertarian candidate was a minister who had actually been ministering to many of the "clients" or wards of the Public Administrator's office.  To make this long story as short as possible, The Libertarian candidate spoke of G-d, and of helping those who could not help themselves, which of course are the wards of the Public Administrator.  The Libertarian candidate didn't win and didn't even "drag" a conservative precinct . . . but there's more to the story.

A federal investigation was launched.  Between 2003 to 2006, this elected official had embezzled over $100,000.00 from accounts of people who were entrusted into her care and could not take care of themselves.  She stole from the helpless.  In all of this, she never even acknowledged her guilt, but simply stated she felt she'd done a pretty good job and plea bargained.  Her sentence was no longer than the proven years of embezzlement.    https://www.fbi.gov/kansascity/press-releases/2009/former-buchanan-county-official-sentenced-for-stealing-119-000  This case had true victims, true helpless victims!!!  The very person who was elected to watch for their best interests was the one who preyed upon them.  

The couples in that particular county in Kentucky could simply drive a few extra miles to obtain their license and still be married anywhere in the state.  The wards of the Public Administrator lived primarily in state institutions and long term care facilities.  They had no access to their own accounts much less the freedom or ability to obtain an advocate of their own choosing or have her books audited.  Many of those victims possibly died before her resignation, much less receive any restitution.  They were true victims.  The couples in Kentucky are not victims.  I would even hazard a guess that the heterosexual couples simply went to an adjacent county to obtain a marriage license.  As our nation moves farther from the truth, we'll find, just as in Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon; not bowing down to the image will be deemed criminal, and the true victims with no voice will continue to be victimized.

If it be so, our EL whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.  Prophet of Holy Scripture

  

The Ultimate Conundrum

To be completely honest, I've never really known where I stand on the adoption/abortion issue.  I don't believe in doctors, so I wouldn't consider an abortion, but from what I've seen, heard, and read on the subject of adoption, I have issues with that too.  I've known of too many young women who were virtually forced to give their child up for adoption, then had to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps under the judgment of the religiously inept, move forward and start a life; only to be "found" years later by that birth child.

Naturally the adopted child is only concerned with their own issues around the adoption, and appear to give very little thought to the parent that made a most heart wrenching decision at their birth, or the parents that did everything within their power to give that child a life, a home, and a family.  The child seems to have an insatiable void that must be filled, regardless of the fallout, so I'm not so sure adoption as we know it, is the answer.  A personal pet peeve of mine is to listen to some old lady give the church family rundown and hear about some college graduate and qualify the information with "he was adopted as a baby."     As life in the US continues to devolve, I think we are about to be faced with the rock and hard place of all times, religiously and politically speaking.

This is not about race, but there are facts that simply exist.  For years now, it's been a very difficult journey for a Middle Class white couple to adopt a white newborn.  It seems by the time a couple, any couple, realize they are having fertility issues, they have exhausted a great many funds and spent a number of years trying to conceive and trying to discover the problem.  Last I researched the situation, a couple could qualify for in vitro fertilization procedures at an older age than they could remain on an adoption waiting list.  Wealthy couples opted for surrogacy, but now families have worked some of those details out for themselves.

Scripture has laws about inheritance and a man dying childless.  Esther was what we would term "adopted" but that was by a family member, so we really don't have a great deal to go on, Scripturally, in regard to adoption.  What I do see coming though is the political/religious civil war of all times in America.  The same people who are against abortion are also against gay marriage.  Every time another state and the Supreme Court recognizes gay marriage, the reality that gay couples are biologically unable procreate, comes to mind.  As things have gone in this country, I don't think it takes incredible insight to see that adoption laws will follow these new laws of the land very soon.

It's truly time to stop making noise about what we are against, and offer a bonafide solution.  One of my thoughts is to return to "private adoptions" and get the government out of the adoption business, entirely.  Let the expectant mother make the home study.  Let the adoptive couple use their funds toward actually enhancing life, rather than lining legal pockets.  We can blame planned parenthood, but abortion would have never become the huge industry it has, without those "abusive religious whack jobs" that used to run homes for unwed mothers.  I'm not saying they were all bad, but the reputation of the bad ones were horrible, and they bragged about it!  Unwed mothers often felt like they had no choice, which is where the abortion industry ran away with the PR calling it pro-choice!

From the time in the Garden of Eden, blame did not solve the problem or resolve the guilt.  We are about to be faced with actually needing to provide a solution, rather than just a protest.
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:  Torah of Holy Scripture