XLIII: Open Letter to Fred Thompson

14 September 2007 Common Era

Mr Thompson also trumpeted how he had learned his values from the "good Church of Christ" and took his "strength and wisdom" to tell "the truth" from God ("Republicans in danger of losing US 'God vote'")

Is there, however, a huge cash value in the role for which he is auditioning -- darling of religious conservatives? Perhaps. But their aspiring darling recently said in South Carolina, "I attend church when I'm in Tennessee. I'm in McLean right now. I don't attend regularly when I'm up there."

"Right now"? He has been living "up there" in that upscale inside-the-Beltway Washington suburb, honing his "Aw, shucks, I'm just an ol' Washington outsider" act, for years. Long enough to have noticed that McLean is planted thick with churches. Going to church is, of course, optional -- unless you are aiming to fill some supposed piety void in the Republican field (George Will, "A Rocky Rollout For Thompson").

Sen. Fred Thompson,

Greetings.

We are exceedingly glad that you feel that you received good training in godliness from a church of Christ. We would be even happier, however, if you assembled according to the will of God with a sound congregation of God's people now on a regular basis (Hebrews 10:24-25).

You have said that you live in McLean, Virginia. According to Google Maps, the Annandale church of Christ assembles only 15 minutes away from you (and don't let the map fool you; you will probably not have traffic problems on Sunday morning. Even if you did, add 10 more minutes). Surely that is not too far to go on a Sunday morning, since it would seem that it would take you longer to get to work during the week anyway.

If you desire to promote yourself as a godly person, and desire to refer to your previous years when assembling with a church of Christ, well and good; please just recognize that God is not mocked, and it does little good to use His name to please men while incurring condemnation for one's continued sinfulness (Galatians 6:7-8).

Thank you for your consideration.

ELDV

XLII: Insecurity

11 September 2007 Common Era

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will make mention of the name of the LORD our God (Psalms 20:7).

The voice of one saying, "Cry."
And one said, "What shall I cry?"
"All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; because the breath of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever" (Isaiah 40:6-8).

Today represents the sixth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on America. The minds of most Americans return every year on this day to the terrible events that transpired in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington DC, and there is renewed determination and vigor to do whatever is necessary to protect American citizens from any such future attack.

It is interesting to see how many consider 9/11 as a loss of American innocence: many Americans, near and far from the events, all of a sudden felt insecure and prone. The world, it seemed, just became a more dangerous place overnight.

In reality, the world was just as dangerous on 9/10 or 9/12 as it was on 9/11. Terrorism, violence, oppression, and all kinds of suffering existed in many locations in the world before 9/11 and even afterward. The difference, however, is that all such things happened over there. 9/11 happened here. 9/11 destroyed the image of security so dear to many.

Ever since, great effort has been exerted to alleviate this fear, to assure people that they are indeed safe. After six years, few have maintained the same levels of fear and concern as was prevalent in the immediate aftermath of the events. For better or worse, most do not think about the prospect of another such attack, or in some way feel that it is always someone else who suffers from dire circumstances.

All of us need some form of security in order to live our lives properly. The difficulty, however, is that too many trust in human endeavors-- the U.S. Army, the police force, or some other human form of protection. This is false security, and deep inside, we all know it. In reality, there is no reason why we won't be the next ones robbed or otherwise violated. We also recognize that any number of natural disasters or illnesses or other such things could lead to our demise. It is always easier, however, to just project such things on the future or on other people.

Nevertheless, God calls out to us to recognize our state: there is no true security in human endeavor. No amount of guns or metal detectors can truly make us completely safe. Security is not to be found in things of this world, but in God.

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust doth consume, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also" (Matthew 6:19-21).

It has been over eight years since the school shooting in Columbine, six years since 9/11, two years since Hurricane Katrina, and months since the Virginia Tech shootings. Time and time again, our true insecurity as humans is exposed to us. Time and time again, we see that natural disasters or human animosity could be our end. Such things should turn us to God, realizing that we are but grass that is here today and gone tomorrow, and everything we see, taste, handle, and touch are reserved for destruction (Colossians 2:21-23, 2 Peter 3:9-12). God, and God alone, represents our true security. Let us establish or maintain association with Him today (1 John 1:1-6)!

ELDV