What was in times past the bastion of conservatism, the Republican party has seemed to denigrate into a moderate-to-right system of espoused beliefs and adherences, but without any true conviction. Many will say the right thing at the right time to appease the conservative block of people, albeit Catholic, Evangelicals, Moralists, etc. All the while, without any conviction or moral compass of their own, they will concede and compromise when the heat is turned on from the left.

Democrats, on the other hand, taking the cue from the ilk of Saul Alinsky, stir up angst and feelings of disenfranchisement among their constituents and voters, thereby assuring the votes from the non-thinking left. They play to the whole “why is your lot in life keeping you back – don’t you know the ‘MAN’ is out to get you?”

“Theology” in it’s simple definition (as I see it) is the “Study of God”. (I know it’s a conglomeration of two Greek words “Theo” – God, and “logos” – word, but bear with me.) The “theology” of these Republicrats is more of a “system” or “religion” of sorts. Their “god” in this sense is a Utopian society. This Utopia is different depending on who you talk to.

To Democrats, it’s a place where magic fairies visit children and give them $20 for each tooth lost, (which never goes up due to inflation which should never happen). It’s a place where everyone owns their own home, everyone earns 6 figures, everyone has this, that, and the other. It’s a place where there’s no “mean old Wall Street men” and no “cursed Capitalists”, but a safe place where all is happy and rosy. There’s this big, benevolent government in the sky that pours money onto it’s citizenry like rain, with no thought of where this money comes from. When one looks at this, one has to indeed look for the man behind the curtain.

To today’s Republicans, it’s a place where all people become “moralists” and will have the same definition of “goodness” and “badness”, regardless of religious or social background. A good Mormon, Catholic, Baptist, or Jew will have the same Deistic view of God and/or religion, and will view society through the same lens. There’s a broadbrush of sorts onto “spirituality”, and with a nod and a wink at election time to the right people, they usher into office their own sense of foolish views.

The issue here is that these views are a house of cards, once examined with an open mind and a critical eye. The democrats’ view of utopia is just one of a socialist state. IF all people were the “haves” in an equal and moral society, it would be just a pipe dream, because the biggest thing “worshiped” in that society is the government itself. Necessarily then, you will have “haves” and “have nots”. Those in government (haves), those not in government (have nots). You can keep this version of Utopia, I don’t want it. Jesus said, “the poor you will always have with you”. Does this excuse us from lending a hand to the poor? No, but He said something very interesting. There will ALWAYS be “have nots” in whatever society man creates for himself. That’s the truth, no matter what is done.

Today’s republicans are not far better. This “wink and nod” business to the different conservative voting blocks is very bad indeed. For example, how does a “moderate” (really a democrat who is registered as a republican in name only) all the sudden become “conservative” at election time? This is what we had in the last presidential election. Even with the nomination of Bush in 2000 the RNC set up a moderate as a conservative. Bush had pluralistic views of God (in that Christians and Muslims worship the same God – see Nightline interview, Dec 2008), strange fiscal ideas (bailouts, etc), and militarily was incompetent at best.

This republican “wink and nod”, and broad-brushed, pluralistic religious view is very telling. Jesus said that there is a “narrow way that leads to eternal life”. Are these words hard to hear for many? Yes, they are. That’s why He also said, “but there is a broad way that leads to destruction”. It is interesting to note when Republicans identify themselves as Christian, they seem to not want to take the “exclusive” role that Jesus espoused and taught. At least many of them today are like that. I was shocked (but shouldn’t have been), when Cynthia McFadden from Nightline asked George W. Bush, “Do you pray to the same god as the peaceful Muslims?” to which he replied, “Of course, God is a god of Love”. Upon further questioning, she asked Bush, “Does bin Laden pray to the same god?” Bush replied, “Oh no…he prays to something else, because our god is a god of peace.” And there you have it. This view of “God is Love and Peace” is this moralist “high ground” of sorts that is the Utopian view of Republicans. God help us. The road is indeed narrow, not broad as the “Utopian Republicans” would have you believe.

I believe there’s a proverbial “rolling in the grave” by our founding fathers. This country is denigrating rapidly into a socialist, secular, pluralistic, God-hating state. It all is caused in my opinion, but the theology of Republicrats. I guess voting “the less of two evils” is truly what one has to do.

31 For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?—

(Here David is describing the Covenental God of Israel, the chosen people of God.)

40 You made my enemies turn their backs to me,
and those who hated me I destroyed.
41 They cried for help, but there was none to save;
they cried to the Lord, but he did not answer them.

What? There was no God to save them? Why not? Did they not call to Him? How does this square with New Testament doctrinal distinctives of certain churches / denominations? Some would perhaps say that their “cry for help” was not sincere? That they didn’t truly mean it? How does this work itself out in the context of today’s church? Is God not the same yesterday as He is today, and forevermore?

My answer? Let God be God. Let man shut his mouth.

Here’s the entire Psalm for context:

18:1 I love you, O Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.

4 The cords of death encompassed me;
the torrents of destruction assailed me;
5 the cords of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.

6 In my distress I called upon the Lord;
to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears.

7 Then the earth reeled and rocked;
the foundations also of the mountains trembled
and quaked, because he was angry.
8 Smoke went up from his nostrils,
and devouring fire from his mouth;
glowing coals flamed forth from him.
9 He bowed the heavens and came down;
thick darkness was under his feet.
10 He rode on a cherub and flew;
he came swiftly on the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him,
thick clouds dark with water.
12 Out of the brightness before him
hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds.

13 The Lord also thundered in the heavens,
and the Most High uttered his voice,
hailstones and coals of fire.
14 And he sent out his arrows and scattered them;
he flashed forth lightnings and routed them.
15 Then the channels of the sea were seen,
and the foundations of the world were laid bare
at your rebuke, O Lord,
at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.

16 He sent from on high, he took me;
he drew me out of many waters.
17 He rescued me from my strong enemy
and from those who hated me,
for they were too mighty for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
but the Lord was my support.
19 He brought me out into a broad place;
he rescued me, because he delighted in me.

20 The Lord dealt with me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.
21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord,
and have not wickedly departed from my God.
22 For all his rules were before me,
and his statutes I did not put away from me.
23 I was blameless before him,
and I kept myself from my guilt.
24 So the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.

25 With the merciful you show yourself merciful;
with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;
26 with the purified you show yourself pure;
and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.
27 For you save a humble people,
but the haughty eyes you bring down.
28 For it is you who light my lamp;
the Lord my God lightens my darkness.
29 For by you I can run against a troop,
and by my God I can leap over a wall.
30 This God—his way is perfect;
the word of the Lord proves true;
he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

31 For who is God, but the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God?—
32 the God who equipped me with strength
and made my way blameless.
33 He made my feet like the feet of a deer
and set me secure on the heights.
34 He trains my hands for war,
so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You have given me the shield of your salvation,
and your right hand supported me,
and your gentleness made me great.
36 You gave a wide place for my steps under me,
and my feet did not slip.
37 I pursued my enemies and overtook them,
and did not turn back till they were consumed.
38 I thrust them through, so that they were not able to rise;
they fell under my feet.
39 For you equipped me with strength for the battle;
you made those who rise against me sink under me.
40 You made my enemies turn their backs to me,
and those who hated me I destroyed.
41 They cried for help, but there was none to save;
they cried to the Lord, but he did not answer them.
42 I beat them fine as dust before the wind;
I cast them out like the mire of the streets.

43 You delivered me from strife with the people;
you made me the head of the nations;
people whom I had not known served me.
44 As soon as they heard of me they obeyed me;
foreigners came cringing to me.
45 Foreigners lost heart
and came trembling out of their fortresses.

46 The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock,
and exalted be the God of my salvation—
47 the God who gave me vengeance
and subdued peoples under me,
48 who delivered me from my enemies;
yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me;
you rescued me from the man of violence.

49 For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations,
and sing to your name.
50 Great salvation he brings to his king,
and shows steadfast love to his anointed,
to David and his offspring forever.

61:1 Hear my cry, O God,
listen to my prayer;
2 from the end of the earth I call to you
when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock
that is higher than I,
3 for you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the enemy.

4 Let me dwell in your tent forever!
Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah
5 For you, O God, have heard my vows;
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

My heart is indeed faint in this season.  I am so glad that even with the faintness of heart and the waning of heat spiritually, that the reality of redemption is clear.  There IS a Rock higher than I, and the psalmist knows it all too well.  I am like the psalmist in this verse – pleading with the Redeemer to take me higher….place my feet upon the Rock that does not change.

The desire to be “Home” with the Lord is mine as well – the need for a refuge, as an eaglet to its Eagle, may God bless me with this “parental protection”.

The heritage that He has given is a great Salvation that has been wrought from above.  Praise the mighty name of God this day, oh my soul.  

View Him prostrate in the garden;
On the ground your Maker lies;
On the bloody tree behold Him;
Sinner, will this not suffice?

Wow…such good theology packed in this one verse. However – the part that really “hooked” me was the phrase, “Sinner, will this not suffice?”

What a question! So many things we fill our lives up with – and yet the question is still asked, “sinner, will the Savior not suffice”? So many things lead us away from the bloody cross. I’m thankful for good, rich words that can come back with full force after over 170 years or so of being sung at countless worship services. How many times I have sung this song without REALLY hearing the words! Wow.

Here’s the song in its entirety:

1. Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,
Weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready stands to save you,
Full of pity, love and pow’r.

* Refrain:
I will arise and go to Jesus,
He will embrace me in His arms;
In the arms of my dear Savior,
Oh, there are ten thousand charms.

2. Come, ye thirsty, come, and welcome,
God’s free bounty glorify;
True belief and true repentance,
Every grace that brings you nigh.

3. Come, ye weary, heavy-laden,
Lost and ruined by the fall;
If you tarry till you’re better,
You will never come at all.

4. View Him prostrate in the garden;
On the ground your Maker lies;
On the bloody tree behold Him;
Sinner, will this not suffice?

5. Lo! th’ incarnate God ascended,
Pleads the merit of His blood:
Venture on Him, venture wholly,
Let no other trust intrude.

6. Let not conscience make you linger,
Not of fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness He requireth
Is to feel your need of Him.

Interesting quote from Spurgeon:

And what is the heresy of Arminianism but the addition of something to the work of the Redeemer? Every heresy, if brought to the touchstone, will discover itself here. I have my own private opinion that there is no such thing as preaching Christ and Him crucified, unless we preach what nowadays is called Calvinism. It is a nickname to call it Calvinism; Calvinism is the gospel, and nothing else. I do not believe we can preach the gospel, if we do not preach justification by faith, without works; nor unless we preach the sovereignty of God in His dispensation of grace; nor unless we exalt the electing, unchangeable, eternal, immutable, conquering love of Jehovah; nor do I think we can preach the gospel, unless we base it upon the special and particular redemption of His elect and chosen people which Christ wrought out upon the cross; nor can I comprehend a gospel which lets saints fall away after they are called, and suffers the children of God to be burned in the fires of damnation after having once believed in Jesus. Such a gospel I abhor.

This is from his famous work, “A Defense of Calvinism”.

God has made a beautiful island in Bali – and folks are a lot more open for us in sharing with them the great Gospel of our God.  Many conversations by different team members have taken place, challenging locals (and foreign vacationers) in their current worldview and religions.  It has been much more receptive here than in Java.

The time has flown by – and as you can tell – we’ve had very limited internet access comparative to when we were in Surabaya.  I wish I could have posted more as the days sped along – but it just wasn’t possible.

I look forward to posting pictures, stories, and testimonies about our trip in the near future.  We will be leaving tonight at 8PM to Singapore (only a few hour flight), spending the night, then leaving in the morning at 9 AM – flying to Seoul, South Korea – then on to San Francisco on Monday night.  Because we’re crossing back over the international date line – we’ll be actually in the air 30 – 40 hours.

Pray for our health in the return – and pray for our spiritual health as we return back to our daily routines.  Many of these “mountain top” experiences lead us to know God more – and also to forget many things along the way.  Pray that we’d remember the faces, lessons, and lives that we’ve shared time with in these two weeks.

It’s the same Jesus that saves – To those who are faithful in America (and everywhere else for that matter) to preach the TRUE Gospel of Jesus Christ – that man is desperately lost and dead in sin, and that only by the mighty blood of Jesus can one be brought from death to life – to you I say “press on”.  It’s the same Jesus that saves in Indonesia that it is in America.

It’s the same sin – The sin in Indonesia is no different than America – the same lusts, the same envy, the same idolatry, the same false religions.  Praise be to God that our Jesus is Mighty To Save.

It’s the same “secularization” - Muslems here are no different than the ones who call themselves Christians back home, but are not saved.  Calls to prayers come out of the mosques – people walk by without a care.  They care not about their own religion for the most part – they are “cultural muslems” – STRANGE.  These are ones that are not fanatical for their religion - they just “go with the flow”.  I see a strange similarity with those who say they are Christians in America, but are actually unbelievers. Bizarre.

It’s the same devil – The devil is alive and well.  He is here, and his influence is great.  I felt the “oppressiveness” of this darkness when stepping into the courtyard of the largest mosque in Java and opening my Bible to John 14:6 and pointing it at the building.  There was nobody who saw me – but never-the-less, I believe in the supernatural nature of the Word of God – so I opened it to the exclusiveness of Jesus and pointed it at the darkness.

It’s the same materialism – Materialism is great here – this is why America is idolized – 80’s music is filtered through the stores, advertisements everywhere, etc.

It’s the same salvation – Jude 3 makes this clear. I am encouraged by the brethren here.  It costs much to be “fanatical” about Jesus in this place.  I’ve seen a stage 3 Cervical Cancer lady shaking and weeping with pain point to the sky and say “Yesus” (Jesus).  He is her only hope.  I’ve seen a Christian man who is faithful to His Lord being married to a Muslem wife, praying for her salvation, but also faithful to her in the marriage.  I’ve seen the Spirit of Christ in the ones who sacrificially gave to us gifts and lavished upon us the blessings of Christ Jesus.  We are saved the same way – all of us – to the person.  The road is low to the cross – you MUST be on your face in humility and repentance.  I’ve seen these qualities in the brethren, and I am SO thankful for this common salvation that we share.