Thursday, July 29, 2010

Where Does America Garner Its Morals and Ethics

“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion . . . Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
John Adams – 1798


Once again this week, a story developed that should cause Americans to ask the question of this blog title.


“A federal judge has ruled in favor of a public university that removed a Christian student from its graduate program in school counseling over her belief that homosexuality is morally wrong.” Todd Starnes Published July 28, 2010  FoxNews.com


What is telling about this story is the reason Julea Ward is given for her removal. The university contended she violated school policy and the American Counseling Association code of ethics. Another student, Jennifer Keeton, 24, has been pursuing a master's degree in school counseling at Augusta State University since 2009, but school officials have informed her that she'll be dismissed from the program unless she alters her "central religious beliefs on human nature and conduct. Not because of poor academic showing or demonstrated deficiencies in clinical performance, but simply because she has communicated both inside and outside the classroom that she holds to Christian ethical convictions on matters of human sexuality and gender identity.

So the question becomes, where does the American Counseling Association get its code of ethics? Certainly not solely from the America John Adams presumed or for that matter, than most all the signers of our Declaration of Independence. Julea and Jennifer are only reflecting morals our nation was found upon. The issue of gay life style is controversial but for a Christian is clear, given the scripture. It all boils down to where this country will receive direction related moral issues. Should we accept and allow the results of a kleptomaniac as an alternate lifestyle because they can’t help it; they were born that way? If not, then why the gay lifestyle? Both are from the same moral compass. Take it a step further, why not accept and protect the serial killer because he can’t help himself; he was born that way?

You may get a sense of where I stand. But let me quote myself from another work I’m working on. The character Leland explains his stand on a gay lifestyle.

"Time has proved this 'alternate' life style hasn't saved people in any way. Rather it's caused multitudes of havoc. They have a right to believe as they wish. Never should they be mistreated or abused simply for having an opposing opinion on sexual preference. They need the help and support of society the same as everyone else. The thing I struggle with is how we Christians should react to that. We don't have laws protecting an employee from being fired if he's drunk or high on the job. Nor is a compulsive gamblers' job protected if he decides to be absent from work for weeks to go on a gambling binge. I say that because the Bible tells us these things are wrong.

"These acts erode and undermine the basis of a good working society and it is the Bible that teaches this. Yes, gays have rights but not anything reaching beyond that which will counteract the worldview this country was founded on. This means no special or equal family status, military standing or any other special privileges they're now striving to achieve, because the Bible says it’s wrong.

"I know the Lord teaches us to love one another and we should, but we need to show that love in the context of His word. Sometimes love is very tough, just as Jesus was with people at times. You notice when the Pharisees brought the women to Him to be stoned He directed those who had no sin to throw the first stone. They all walked away because they had to, but remember He told the women to sin no more. Jesus gave her a chance to understand her plight, but expected her to break the cycle she was in."
Search - Richard Coller


This issue will be with us for years to come. All I can say to Julea, Jennifer and all who want a degree in any counseling program is this. They had better understand where that institution derives its moral base and attend a school that will allow biblical counseling. They will be a better counselors for it.


"While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian."
George Washington







Monday, July 19, 2010

Protection from Ourselves

It’s been awhile since I have published anything on my blog. Sorry about that, but another project has kept me very busy until now. So, to kind of catch up let us look at the general idea about why the Tea Party movement has been so active while the Obama administration has been in office. If you read Federalist paper #63 you will find James Madison considered the people could easily undermine their own republic. For that reason he suggested a Senate appointed for a six year term. I’ll let him explain.

“Thus far I have considered the circumstances which point out the necessity of a well-constructed Senate only as they relate to the representatives of the people. To a people as little blinded by prejudice or corrupted by flattery as those whom I address, I shall not scruple to add, that such an institution may be sometimes necessary as a defense to the people against their own temporary errors and delusions. As the cool and deliberate sense of the community ought, in all governments, and actually will, in all free governments, ultimately prevail over the views of its rulers; so there are particular moments in public affairs when the people, stimulated by some irregular passion, or some illicit advantage, or misled by the artful misrepresentations of interested men, may call for measures which they themselves will afterwards be the most ready to lament and condemn.” (emphasis added)
James Madison – Federalist Paper #63 Independent Journal, Saturday, March 1, 1788


The large numbers of Tea Party supporters (and others with similar concerns) are probably those who “they themselves will afterwards be the most ready to lament and condemn.” The founders of our republic understood that “the people” could be misled under certain circumstances. We could fail to patiently garner visions that propel the republic America was founded on. That the people might be compelled by men of anti-republic sediments using ideologies conflicting founding principals and easily misunderstand the corroding effects: et, “too big to fail”, “redistribution of wealth”, “social justice”, etc. This is not ideology attributed to one party but found throughout liberals and conservatives, but has high jacked the liberal philosophy more effectively.

Our republic is founded on individual freedoms, individual rights, individual accountability, individual salvation, and individual numerous other responsibilities that keep a republic working as it should. Any type of socialism that requests collective or group responsibilities directed by a government acting as “big brother” or “director of the majority” against the majorities’ will is anything but a republic our founders envisioned. As “we the people” of the American Republic wake up and realize our individual accountability to our neighbors and nation, there will be more of the Tea Party and similar movements working against progressive, social government actions.

As James Madison indicates, people with republic ideals will discover they are driving off the road and want to steer back on course. Obviously, it is easy to drive back to the road from a shoulder or parking lot, rather than a muddy field. Hence, the reason he argued for a system that would react slower and thoughtfully in times of reactionary or misinformed people. Americans realize we are headed for a muddy field even though the “map” directs otherwise. We know it is time to turn this country back on course because the GPS is falsely programmed.