Endorsement

I've just been thinking about - - -

All of us have engaged in endorsement in one form or another. If we receive a check, usually we would be required to endorse it in order to receive a cash equivalent to the amount of the check. The same is true when we sign a credit sales purchase slip or a contract of some sort - our signature becomes our endorsement.

In the world of politics, candidates seem to desire endorsement from among their peers or party affiliates in order to have a better opportunity of receiving more votes than an opponent for a particular political office. If someone of note believed in a particular candidate, that endorsement would bolster a campaign, as well as the spirit of the one receiving it. It would behoove the one extending an endorsement to clearly discern what is involved in doing so. The character and integrity of the one being endorsed should be a major concern, as well as the reason for support and commitment to a candidate.

What is at risk is ones own integrity. One should always ask - Does the one seeking my endorsement live transparently and honestly? Associations and recommendations can and do matter. Currently, one candidate has a propensity to embellish events and experiences from the past even though there is documented evidence to the contrary. To casually suggest "I made a mistake" is incredulous if one has represented bullets were whizzing past my head and we had to run for shelter, etc. Anyone can remember if a gunshot was headed in his or her direction. It is unmistakable. To represent it as an unintended mistake requires a total suspension from reality and a ridiculous conclusion that one can forget being shot at in a war zone. The Author of a recent writing on Global Warming spoke of The Inconvenient Truth. It seems as though some politicians can no longer discern truth from error - and yet - they want to be the leader of this nation. The one seeking your vote would never declare, "Vote for me! I'm the best Liar running for office! You can believe that I and truth are total strangers to one another!" Such a proclamation would result in laughter and scorn and a loss of votes.

In John 8:44, Jesus makes this comment to those who were strangers to The Truth: "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies." Regrettably, some running for political office today have succumbed to being numbered among those who represent the "father of lies" as they misrepresent their past and embellish what they promise for the future.

The politician is counting on the electorate to be gullible and naive. They want your Vote and will tell you what you want to hear so they can secure your Vote. Just as many of them are strangers to the truth, in like manner they will be strangers to you once they are elected. At the very least, we should be the champions for integrity. Anyone resorting to deceit, lies, or embellishment should be dismissed as a viable candidate by the Voter.

Ephesians 4:25 states: "Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another." In the society and culture in which we live, this must be the minimum standard and requirement.

You think about that with me...

Ambivalence

I was just thinking about - - - -

Primarily, I'm thinking about those who don't pause to think, or if they do, they simply vacillate and cannot arrive at a settled conclusion or decision of any sort. When a Governor of a State who championed integrity and who allowed no leniency for those who were violating the law, suddenly is ensnared by some of his own standards of justice - one is forced to muse how such a one could lower his personal values and behave like some he would so easily prosecute. And, the one who was so relentless in not allowing mercy or leniency now finds himself in need of both, it allows for the thought that he needs a "good dose of his own medicine."

Such accounts bring out all kinds of critique, not the least of which were the comments of a talk-show personality (we'll call her Dr. S.) on the TODAY Show (NBC), where she allowed a measure of fault is with this man's wife for not affirming him and meeting his needs as a man. There was no thought shared in terms of the hurt and shame of a loyal wife and three teenage daughters. One would think there would be some hint of Moral Outrage...some expression about Double-Standards and/or the Blatant Hypocrisy among some who promote themselves to be our Leaders.

Maybe some of this is due to the fact that the religious foundations and institutions in our culture have allowed themselves to be in the forefront of Ambivalence. Once the effort is made to be all things to all people - we have lost our way! Once we allow the religious traditions to be negated (like Prayer, Bible Reading, Christian Observance) - we are, as one author penned, Slouching Toward Gomorrah. In the Bible, The Book of Judges (21:25) closes with words that serve as a commentary about our nation at this time, "...everyone did what was right in his own eyes." Historically, that type behavior always led to chaos and collapse. Be reminded of what may appear to be trite but is also axiomatic - "those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it."

With that thought in mind, visit Revelation 2 and 3. Seven historic churches and places are referenced. The Head of the Church - Jesus Christ - walks in the midst of these seven churches and communicates His observations to them. With six of the seven, He recommends immediate remedial response to what He is stating: "you have departed from your first love...repent...hear what the Spirit is saying..." To another, you are lukewarm...better if you were hot or cold...repent...listen to what the Spirit is saying..." This is an easy and challenging read and I would encourage you to study these passages. The point is that ambivalence had been allowed to replace conviction and commitment. The urging of the chapters is that one must return to a solid commitment and be in the right relationship with The Head of the Church - Jesus Christ.

If you were subjected today to the scrutiny and observation of Jesus Christ, would He condemn you because of the laxity and ambivalence of your lifestyle and choices, or would He commend you for commitment and loyalty to Him.

Think about that with me - - -