I’m really interested in how things work and why they work. If I understand that, I know how best to handle things ‘cause I know the limits. When I was a kid I think my parents foresaw an engineer in the making, but now I’m a media guy with a still-insatiable desire for detail. And when I start thinking about things, the thoughts go around and around until I give it my full attention and find answers…or another ‘thing’ distracts my thinking! Here’s what’s currently doing the rounds:
So I’m catching up on US politics and the presidential inauguration. Barak is being sworn in and he has to place his hand on the Bible. Why? In court you’re called to do the same. Why? Has it EVER been an oath that has been taken totally seriously? Anyway, the Bible is just a book. It’s the words on the pages that can possibly change us through the Power and Grace of God. But we need to read it first, believe that it’s true and only that faith is credited to us as righteousness. People who are not in a personal relationship with God don’t take Him or His Word seriously so why would a ‘so help me God’ suddenly change behaviour? As if a hand-on-the-Bible moment could drive people to unquestionable honesty! We’re all falling short of God’s standards since the first book of the Old Testament and now somehow an official moment will drive us all to the straight and narrow? I think not.
So then, it’s probably nothing more than tradition right? If open prayer has been removed from US schools, gay marriage is legal in many states and abortion is protected by the US Constitution it’s clear to me that God’s will has been scrapped for a more liberal approach to doing life anyway. Clearly few court witnesses, or Western Presidents for that matter, are going to bow a knee to the King just because of an oath they were made to take with their hand on a book!I think we need to take God a lot more seriously. I read this in the Bible this morning and I think it’s applicable here. Hebrews Chapter 12 verse 28 says:
‘Let us be thankful, then, because (through Jesus) we receive a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Let us be grateful and worship God in a way that will please him, with reverence and awe; because our God is indeed a destroying fire.’
What do you think?