This is Viewpoints for Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Endorsements for July 26 runoff

District 6 Board of Education: Bob Easter

District 5 Board of Education: Sundra Woodford

The battle within

As I look at history in America, and its continuous and relentless efforts of killing each other daily, I am surprised we haven’t self-destructed. The American Civil War claimed about 750,000 lives in its struggle to emancipate slaves between 1861 and 1865, which on paper was a victorious cause. But the lives that were loss also had loved ones who couldn’t feel victory or defeat, and many are them are still fighting.

The Native Americans are still at war. The African Americans are at war, along with Hispanic Americans, so are our political parties. We also have a major war going on in the institutions that should be the bridge to help these victims cross over these trouble waters. But this institution has loss its power and is continuously accepting Satan’s lies and teaching them and following them in words and in deeds.

Jesus said before his word would fail, heaven and Earth would end. Why have most churches given up? Is it because Jehovah is not trustworthy, or is it the war Paul spoke of in Romans 7:23:24 about his heart, his mind and flesh were at war. Most of us are at war within ourselves. The body of Christ could be that bridge for the warriors to travel to safety, if they would only believe that Jesus is the bridge over life’s troubles.

Cummings and a Chinaman

There are many Christian virtues. Exercising a “gentle spirit” is one. Another is defending the faith from enemy attack. Suppose a loyal Chinese citizen travels to America, gaining permanent residency. He surveys society, government, economy, etc. Eventually, he goes on record espousing his view on improving legal structure, national policy, education, etc. He states, “If we’re going to be Americans ...” and proposes his view how to run the republic. Is his opinion valid? Sure it is — to him. Yet dismissed by the learned American citizen. So he urges “narrow-minded” Americans to consider how his country’s name, People’s Republic of China, indicates that he, too, adheres to the governmental form of a republic. He asserts that he, too, possesses what really matters — American spirit. Besides, the Chinaman offers a fresh perspective on American history — schooled by brilliant Marxist professors from fine Chinese learning institutions. Nevertheless, though his views are tolerated (another Christian virtue), they are never put on equal footing with the historical foundations of America’s republic.

No matter how he spins it, or how he covers it over with humanist ethics of biblical higher criticism theory, Dr. Bill Cummings’ opinions do not and cannot fit the mentality and theology of thinking Christians both past and present. Our Chinaman above cannot expect to be taken seriously by any thinking American. Why? Because he is not an American, an issue much bigger than Cummings’ beloved “my opinion versus yours.” The Chinaman’s opinions stem from Chinese thought, not American. Yet, if paralleled with Cummings’ reasoning, who’s to say he is not a true American? Fortunately our citizenship laws do not agree with his escape from reality. We know better.

Christians who presuppose the infallibility of Scripture in all of its various genres (Cummings’ attack on “literalists” is yet another straw man) love sound reasoning and inquiry. Cummings’ creator reasons soundly (Isaiah 1). It is foolish rebellion to limit God to one’s own understanding, as Cummings irrationally does. His wicked desire to fashion God suiting his own preference and likeness has been around for a millennium. He offers nothing new. A crucified Christ is where both the justice and mercy of God meet. Cummings’ heinous idolatry rejects not only his gracious creator, but also one who like a good judge refuses to overlook crime.

What changed?

When I started the first grade in Bibb County, World War II had ended only a dozen years before. How promising life must have seemed to my parents who had weathered not only a global conflict but the Great Depression as well. In the mid-1950s they were buying a modest suburban home, my daddy worked at Robins Air Force Base (after serving in the CCC and as an U.S. Army infantryman in the Pacific Theater of World War II) and they had a decent vegetable garden started. When I needed clothes and school supplies, my parents went to a store and bought them. They were not wealthy people by any stretch on the imagination, but God provided for their every need.

A new school year will soon be starting, and with it comes the familiar solicitation for donated school supplies. I have inquired about this accepted practice before and was usually told that I just did not understand. You are right, I do not understand. What has changed in America in a half century? Do we have more underprivileged families? Do we not pay enough school taxes? Have we just not given enough? Is the hand of the Lord shortened (Isaiah 59:1)?

If someone wants to donate school supplies to those in need, that is fine and none of my business. However, try as I will, I still do not understand how and why this change has come about.

Assimilation

President Theodore Roosevelt’s ideas on immigrants and being an American in 1907. In the first place we should insist that if an immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated with exact equality to everyone else, but this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American. There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American , but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one language here, and that is the American language, and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people. We can have no 50-50 allegiance in this country. Either a man or woman is an American and nothing else, or he is not an American at all.

Unfortunately that is lost In subsequent years on immigrants to the U.S.A. They lack the incentive or courtesy to assimilate themselves to our language and customs. They operate businesses, but customers have problems with communication. I was taught it is disrespectful to your adopted country not to adopt it’s language as well.

This story was originally published July 25, 2016 at 9:00 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Tuesday, July 26, 2016."