VENERATION

From My Perspective - - -

Our Culture has always demonstrated an ability to have objects of special attention and to be thought of in different ways. When I was a child, part of the great competition vying for a “fan-base” in music was in terms of who the best “crooner” was – Frank Sinatra or Bing Crosby. It was said that young women would “swoon” when they heard Frankie “croon”… It was a form of “Veneration”! According to Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Veneration means: “…the highest degree of respect and reverence; respect mingled with awe; a feeling or sentimental excited by the dignity, wisdom, or superiority of a person, by sacredness of character, by consecration to sacred services, or by hallowed associations…”

How does this translate into the political scene leading up to the National Election on November 4^th? Has the Media Coverage in any way amplified “veneration” in its coverage of any candidate? Has the media displayed an approach that is objective versus one that is subjective? In other words, has the Media Coverage been fair and balanced and equal? As you answer the questions, consider the cover of news magazines that have pictured one candidate with lighting placed so it appeared his head was shrouded with a halo! Most recently in San Francisco, Votive Candles have appeared displaying one candidate as a “saint”.

Consider also that the long-time leader of the Nation of Islam addressing a large crowd behind a podium February 24th with a Nation of Islam Savior's Day 2008 sign, Louis Farrakhan proclaims: "You are the instruments that God is going to use to bring about universal change, and that is why Barack has captured the youth. And he has involved young people in a political process that they didn't care anything about. That's a sign. When the Messiah speaks, the youth will hear, and the Messiah is absolutely speaking…” Farrakhan points out that the man Nation of Islam followers refer to as "the Savior," Fard Muhammad, had a black father and a white mother, just as Obama did. A black man with a white mother became a savior to us," he said. "A black man with a white mother could turn out to be one who can lift America from her fall. Would God allow Barack to be president of a country that has been so racist, so evil in its treatment of Hispanics, Native Americans, blacks?" he asked. "Would God do something like that? Yeah. Of course he would. That's to show you that the stone that the builders rejected has become the headstone of the corner. This is a sign to you. It's the time of our rise. It's the time that we should take our place. The future is all about you."

What threshold is this approaching (or has it already crossed it)? What is the danger sign to what has been allowed to unfold before us over this past year? Where is the voice of “The Church” decrying such activity and display? Where is “The Prophet” today proclaiming the error and folly of this veneration? Why does “fear” seem to grip so many? Will it be important for the uniformed or fearful to cast their vote inappropriately? Could we be living in the description stated by the Apostle Paul in II Thessalonians 2:1 through 12?

Consider these things with me - - - and the words of Paul: “Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you…not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed…that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God… God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness…” None of us should face the future with fear. Our hope is not in our nation or in our politicians. Our hope must always be in the Lord Jesus Christ Who holds His own in the hollow of His hand where we are always cared for; always protected; always safe! Look to Him – I know you’ll love Him and be loved by Him!