http://jlwilliams.org/journal/JL en mike@topsailmarketing.com Copyright 2012 2012-05-12T11:45:39+00:00 http://www.jlwilliams.org/site/sisters_of_sarah http://www.jlwilliams.org/site/sisters_of_sarah#When:11:45:39Z “SISTERS OF SARAH” A Mother’s Day Meditation “Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.  Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.  Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.  For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master.  You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear”  (I Pet. 3:1-6). We are living in a time when femininity and womanhood are being redefined by educators, social scientists, political pundits and entertainers.  Increasingly, the traditional understandings of what it means to be an authentic woman, wife and mother are being challenged and redefined.  And while we continue to celebrate “Mother’s Day” in America, there is increasing confusion – even hostility – about traditional motherhood. Just this week, President Obama has sanctioned “same-sex marriages.”  Like millions in America, he said his position on marriage has been “evolving.”  That means that it has been moving further and further away from the Biblical revelation of marriage.  And as he “came out of the closet” on this issue, he justified his position by applauding the same-sex relationships of some of his staff.  Obama said that his White House staffers “…are in incredibly committed monogamous same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together.”  And Vice President Biden echoed the President’s sentiment by saying that he was “…completely comfortable with gays marrying.” This is yet the latest assault against the revelation of natural law and Biblical law.  To give legal sanction to “same-sex marriage” is to further diffuse the traditional understanding of sexuality and redefine both motherhood and fatherhood.  For millennia, masculinity was inseparably associated with femininity.  One defined the other.  Masculinity could not be fully expressed without femininity and vice versa.  It was seen as a perversion of the natural order – to say nothing of the rebellion against Biblical revelation – for fatherhood to be associated with a male homosexual and motherhood with a lesbian.  This was a biological impossibility because there could be no “sexual union” between same-sex partners that would produce children. According to the Bible, one of the primary purposes for marriage was to “…be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.”  Marriage was a spiritual-emotional-sexual union whereby the two people – a male and female, “…become one flesh” (Gen. 1:28; 2:25).   It is a biological and sexual impossibility for two homosexuals to “…become one flesh.”  They can participate in various kinds of sexual stimulation and activities – but they cannot have authentic “sexual union.”  Their sexual exploits are nothing more than passions that play around on the surface of their sexuality.  In the process, their masculinity or femininity is stifled and stunted.  While they may adopt children and call themselves “fathers” or “mothers,” it is a misnomer and a sham!  And it is a brazen assault against “Mother’s Day” this month and “Father’s Day” next month! In previous generations, the word “mother” evoked much clearer understanding of roles and responsibilities.  She was a woman and wife who was solidly anchored in her home as her primary place of identity, fulfillment and ministry.  Today that is not the case.  Through extreme movements like the ERA, radical feminism and Gay Pride, there has been a growing hostility toward this traditional view of womanhood.  Women have been seduced, cajoled and intimidated out of the home to the degree that a “stay-at-home-mom” is the exception rather than the norm.  She is a feminine oddity.  The “modern woman” has largely given up being a “Home Engineer” in order to become a “working mom” or “Corporate CEO” in the secular world. Sadly, materialism has become the greatest enemy of motherhood.  More and better “stuff” has become the illusive carrot-on-the-stick to seduce husbands and wives to buy into this “upward mobility” life-style that necessitates two paychecks.  And in this insatiable pursuit of more things, riches have replaced relationships as the greatest good in life.  Money and materialism have become the driving and defining forces of marriage and motherhood. In making this move from the home, millions of mothers have traded in the highest, hardest and holiest calling on earth for one with far less spiritual, familial and social impact – not to mention emotional fulfillment.  As is so often the case, the “good” has become the enemy of the “best.” I am certainly not saying that all wives and mothers should stay in their home all of their lives.  That is a simplistic reduction that the Bible does not support – as a study of the “Virtuous Woman” of Proverbs 31 reveals.  She was a multi-tasking woman of excellence inside and outside of the home – all with the blessing of God, her husband and her children.  But even in the case of this remarkable “super woman,” her home was still the center of all of her fruitful activity.  Love for her husband and children were her highest motivation.  She was not driven by some feminine frustration causing her to seek fulfillment and self-actualization outside her home.  Marriage and motherhood were the modus operandi for all she did. So in our day and age when there is increasing confusion, division and apostasy about authentic womanhood and motherhood, Patt and I find the short little letter of First Peter especially timely.  I believe it is a much overlooked and underappreciated word from the Lord.  Because Peter used words like “submit…purity…reverence…holy…gentle…quiet spirit,” we largely reject this passage as archaic and irrelevant.  It is blown off as both out-of-date and out-of-step with our modern world that has “come of age” in these areas of feminine fulfillment.  The words that Peter used to describe the “Sisterhood of Sarah” are not words that we now positively associate with motherhood any longer.  We see them as weak, demeaning and anti-feminine.  They stifle and stunt feminine creativity.  They are characterized as bringing frustration rather than fulfillment to a woman. Peter’s emphasis on an “inner beauty” that is not based upon “…gold jewelry and fine clothes” is also not in vogue with today’s woman that must be always “dressed to the nines!”  Outer beauty and “body beautiful” are portrayed in all the media as the feminine ideal – by anorexic models and movie stars who have been airbrushed of all wrinkles, blemishes, stretch marks or imperfections!  Thin and sexy have become the feminine models that few women can ever achieve and retain – not even the super models! Unlike Abraham’s or Peter’s day, our day has become a time of artificial beauty based upon cosmetic surgery…breast implants…tummy tucking…and hip enhancement!  This form of “Botox beauty” cannot stave off the aging process.  Nor can the tsunami of cosmetics, creams, lotions & potions that women are awash in – keep them from getting old and looking old!  Regardless of the handfuls of drugs, pills, supplements and vitamins that women consume daily, they keep aging!  Wrinkles and aging spots appear at will.  And contrary to what the multi-billion dollar cosmetic industry promises, there is no fountain of youth this side of heaven!  We left that inside the Garden of Eden when we turned away from the “tree of life.” For me to even suggest that these verses in First Peter are relevant for Mother’s Day will seem ludicrous to the majority of women, wives and mothers.  To call someone a “Sister of Sarah” today would not be deemed as a very high compliment!  Regardless, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Peter exalts Sarah as a model of femininity for all time – whether in Abraham’s day, the First Century or the Twenty-First Century.  But only when she is portrayed and understood holistically. It is also timely to remember that First Peter was written to encourage Christians – both men and women, who were facing various kinds of persecution because of their faith in Christ.  This short letter was written around 64 A.D. during the time of Nero’s vicious persecution against Christians.  And modern day Neros are increasingly harassing and persecuting Christians in America and worldwide.  Hostility and persecution toward Christians and Biblical values is the politically correct agenda of the day. So I believe that Peter’s message is increasingly relevant in a time when “political correctness” is seeking to turn the tides of popular opinion against the Biblical view of masculinity, femininity and marriage.  And President Obama has just added his affirmative voice to the assault against marriage and motherhood! Therefore, there is much in First Peter to comfort and instruct Christians in any age…in any country…in any culture who are experiencing persecution for their faith in Christ.  But I want to specifically focus on Peter’s words of instruction to women and wives.  For Father’s Day next month, I will focus on men and husbands. By inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Peter gives us a number of spiritual qualities of the woman who wants to be a “Sister of Sarah.”  In the Bible, Abraham is called the “man of faith” because he put his faith in God in the midst of a confused, pagan and hostile society (Gen. 15:6; Gal. 3:6-9).  And if Abraham is known as the “man of faith” then Sarah should be known and respected as the “woman of faith!”   I say that because of at least 10 characteristics I see in her life from this passage.  I hope you will find them a timely “Mother’s Day Card” as I briefly (!) highlight them below… 10 Characteristics SALVATION After introducing himself, Peter addressed his hearers as “…God’s elect, strangers in the world…chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood…”  (I Pet. 1:1-2). We can clearly see, then, that this was a message from the Triune God of Father, Son and Holy Spirit to Christians.  Each member of the Godhead had played a part in their salvation because they are… …Chosen by God …Sanctified by the Spirit …Redeemed by the blood of Christ Peter also addressed them as “God’s elect” who are “strangers in the world.”  And because they had become strangers and aliens to this world’s system (2:11), they were also “…scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia.”  So they were saints who were saved by God…strangers to the world…and scattered because of persecution.  Those same words will increasingly describe Christians in America in the months and years to come – if we live as “strangers and aliens” in our society.  The saints that Peter was addressing were probably from a non-Jewish, pagan background since he briefly reminded them of the “…empty way of life handed down to them from their forefathers” (1:18).  He further reminded them that had “…spent enough time in the past doing what pagans chose to do – living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry” (I Pet. 4:3).  That would not have been the way he would have described Jewish converts to Christianity who had been privy to the “Laws and Prophets” of God. This was a message to Christians, not to non-Christians.  As such, it would only make sense to those who were spiritual through the New Birth.  That’s why the Apostle wrote: “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned” (I Cor. 2:14). So if these words do not make sense to you and offend you, perhaps you are reading someone else’s mail! In Chapter 3, Peter moved from a general address to the persecuted church, to a specific message for Christian wives wherever they were dispersed:  “Wives,” Peter wrote, “in the same way be submissive to your husbands…” Therefore, he was now speaking to saved wives, not to non-believing wives.  And it is obvious that some of these wives were living in non-Christian marital relationships where they were being abused and persecuted because of their faith in Christ. So the very first and most important characteristic of a “Sister of Sarah” was that she was saved.  If she had been, then she was chosen by God, redeemed by Christ, and was being sanctified by the Holy Spirit! Principle: “It is only through salvation that a woman begins to discover her true femininity.” Remember then, salvation is the door through which you discover your true femininity!  No female can ever be fully woman outside of Christ.  Every woman is incomplete without Christ.  She’s half a woman.  It is only through salvation that she begins to discover her true identity.  That’s why Paul said: “…in Him you have been made complete” (Col. 2:10).  That journey to complete femininity is the journey of all true “Sisters of Sarah.” SUFFERING As I mentioned above, Peter used a telling phrase when he said to wives: “…in the same way,” or “Likewise, you wives…”  That phrase brings us to the obvious question, “What was Peter referring to?”  To answer that, we must go back to the preceding verses where he was talking about those who suffered unjustly. First of all, Peter addressed those who suffered as citizens because they lived under unjust political rulers, like the paranoid Nero. (I Pet. 2:13-17) Secondly, Peter addressed those who suffered as slaves, or as employees, because they worked for unjust bosses, or employers who were not believers. (I Pet. 2:18-20) Then Peter points to the greatest example in human history of unjust punishment and suffering – Jesus Christ. (I Pet. 2:21-25)  Listen to what Peter said about Christ’s suffering – and ours: “…if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.  To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps”  (I Pet. 2:20-21). So Peter said to wives:  “Just as Jesus suffered unjustly, you may have to suffer unjustly!”  But as you do suffer, look down and see the footprints of Jesus who walked that path before you.  So do not lose heart but “…follow in His steps.” Principle: “The most difficult thing in life is to face unjust suffering.  But Christ is our model and example of grace in the face of suffering.” How are we to respond when we face unjust suffering?  Just like Jesus responded!  Listen to Peter’s challenging words: “When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats.  Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly”  (I Pet. 2:23). Then Peter said, “Wives, in the same way…” (I Pet. 3:1).  But why were some of these wives suffering?  Because they had become Christians and their husbands had not.  What is the Christian wife’s response supposed to be to a non-Christian husband?  This points out our next spiritual characteristic of a “Sister of Sarah”… SUBMISSIVE “Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands…”  (I Pet. 3:1a).  The very mention of the word “submission” is a complete turn-off in our society today!  It is an odious word that is filled with a lot of negative association – much of which is deserved as a result of unbiblical and unbalanced interpretation and application.  But the abuse of the word through carnality and immaturity does not justify hitting the “delete” key and eliminating the word from the Bible.  Nor do we have the freedom to adjust our theology of marriage by replacing the principle with an egalitarian position that freely interchanges the role of masculinity and femininity. As I stated in my introduction, the Bible teaches the absolute equality of the sexes.  One is not superior to the other.  But the moment the word “submissive” is used in the same sentence with “wife” – it denotes inferiority.  It is twisted to mean subservient…slave…doormat!  That is not the Biblical position at all.  That is an unscriptural characterization.  This word does not mean that the woman is inferior – or that she is a slave with no rights!  It just means that she is to submit to the role and responsibility that God has assigned for her as a woman and wife. In the very same way the Bible teaches that the husband and wife are to “…submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Eph. 5:21).  In addition, the Bible teaches that the husband is to submit to Christ as his spiritual Head (I Cor. 11:3).  As such, the husband is to love his wife like Christ loves His bride the church – which was to suffer and die for her (Eph. 5:25)!  So submission is not just an attitude that women and wives are to live by.  Submission is the life-style of every believer – married or not! Principle: “Submission is not just the role of women and wives; it is the life-style of every authentic follower of Christ.” Therefore, God has sovereignly assigned certain roles and responsibilities to both the man and woman…husband and wife…fathers and mothers.  The role of the husband is to be the servant-leader and spiritual head of the family.  The role of the wife is to be submissive to his headship and authority in the areas God has assigned to him.  Obviously, most wives do not have a lot of problem with submission if her husband is loving…kind…sensitive…thoughtful…helpful – and a good strong spiritual leader! But what if he is not?!  What then?  How is she to respond?  Is she to rebel?  Should she be filled with anger and bitterness?  Should she fight back?  Should she dig in her heels?  Should she manipulate?  Should she nag?  Should she take on a life-style of passive-aggression? NO!!!  Peter says that she is to submit – even if it means suffering!  How can a wife do that?  Only through the grace and power of Jesus Christ! The Lord Jesus experienced the very same unjust suffering when He was here – and He was perfect…sinless… guiltless…innocent!  None of us can ever claim that!  As Peter says:   “For you were like sheep going astray…”  (I Pet. 2:25).  So we have to admit that much of our suffering is self-induced.  It is the direct result of our sin!  By contrast, Jesus “…committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth” (I Pet. 2:22).  And in spite of His perfect innocence, He suffered unspeakably! So what did Jesus do when He suffered unjustly?  “…He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly”  (I Pet. 2:23). He did not focus on the situation – He focused on God!  He did not entrust Himself to the situation – He entrusted Himself to God!  He did not entrust Himself to man’s judgment – He entrusted Himself to God’s judgment!  Christian wives must do the same thing.  Jesus looked past the suffering to His Father. Therefore, He submitted to the suffering through His submission to His Father!  Christian wives can do the same thing – but only through His strength as she “…follows in His steps”  (I Pet. 2:21).  That’s the path that “Sisters of Sarah” are seeking to walk. SELF-CONTROLED Peter went on to say to Christian wives who were facing unjust suffering: “…be submissive to your husbands SO THAT, if any of them (unbelieving husbands) do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives.”  (I Pet. 3:1b) Note that causal phrase: “…so that.”  Peter reminded them that there was a purpose…a goal…an end game for their submission to God through submitting to their husbands.  Rather than argue…quarrel…fight…or become passive aggressive – be self-controlled rather than being “out of control.”  Don’t yell or rant and rave at him – live your faith out quietly before him!  Let the Holy Spirit do the talking to his heart as he watches your Christ-like response to him.  Wives can never convict their husbands.  She cannot be his conscience.  That is a role that only the Holy Spirit can play. (Jn. 16:8) Peter encouraged the wife to submit and suffer in silence “…so that…they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives.”  Peter reminded these wives that if their husband was “disobedient to the word’ through his attitudes and actions, she should not be “disobedient to the word” through her attitudes and actions!  He exhorted the wives to let their beliefs be seen through their behavior – starting with submission! Principle: “The only way a woman can be truly self-controlled is by being Spirit-controlled.” Obviously, the only way a wife in the First Century or Twenty-First Century can do that and be that is by being self-controlled through being spirit-controlled!  In her sinful, selfish nature she has neither the desire nor will to submit to either God or her husband.  Likewise, her sinful, self-serving pagan husband has no desire or will to submit to Christ. The call to face unjust suffering in life – whether as a Christian citizen, slave or wife – requires a supernatural response rather than a natural response!  The only way she can keep from being “out of control” during times of unjust suffering is by being “under Spirit control!” But I do not think that this admonition to suffering can be pushed to the extreme of a tolerance for wife abuse or child abuse.  Whether it is physical abuse or sexual abuse, the wider context of this passage and the rest of the New Testament would not support such an unbalanced interpretation.  After all, Peter immediately turns from the wife’s role to that of the husband when he says: “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are joint heirs with you of the grace of life, SO THAT your prayers may not be hindered” (I Pet. 3:7; ESV). No husband is “…living with his wife according to understanding” while abusing her.  He’s living in masculine and macho ignorance!  It is impossible to “…honor your wife” and abuse her in any way at the same time.  During the time when this was written, women were often seen as little more than chattel…beasts of burden…and sex objects that could be used and abused at will.  That’s still the plight of women today in many countries, cultures and religions.  Not so in Christianity!  The wife is an equal …joint heir” with the husband in every way.  And for a husband to live in ignorance and disobedience to that nullifies his prayers!  God will not answer the prayers of an abusive husband! One of the reasons that God established governments was to punish evil.  That’s why Peter begins this whole section by saying that God ordained governmental authority “…to punish those who do wrong…” (I Pet. 2:14)  And Paul further emphasized the role of the government in wielding the sword “…to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.” (Rom. 13:1-5) So a woman who is in a chronically abusive situation may have to look to her government for legal intervention.  But a Christian woman first turns to her church for intervention and discipline by the elders.  While divorce should not be her first option, she may have to separate from an abusive husband for a time for her own protection and that of her children.  All of this requires great wisdom through the Word of God and Spirit of God for the woman of God. So a “Sister of Sarah” is a woman who is self-controlled through being Spirit-controlled. SENSITIVE We can further see that a “Sister of Sarah” must also be sensitive.  She must be sensitive to her husband…his nature…his needs. As a man himself, Peter writes:  “…your husband…may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and respect of your lives”  (I Pet. 3:2). One of the single greatest needs of every man is to receive respect – especially from his wife!  It is a wise woman and wife who understands this deep emotional insecurity and need in a man – and knows how to respond to it! Women and wives need to remember this basic principle about masculinity:  A man is vulnerable to a woman who will show him true respect!  Understanding that, Peter exhorts the Christian wives who are married to unbelieving husbands to show him respect – even if she has to do so by faith!  If she does so, God will use her Christ-like attitude to draw him spiritually closer to her – and eventually to Christ. Principle: “A man is vulnerable to any woman who will show him respect.” Once again, this means that a wife is to respect the office or position of a husband – even when she cannot respect the man occupying that marital office.  That’s why Peter started this whole discussion by dealing with Christians who were living under non-Christian government leaders.  “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake,” Peter says, “to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by Him…” (I Pet. 2:13-14) Christian citizens often have to walk the delicate balance between respecting and submitting to various offices of government when they do not respect the person holding that office – which is my challenge right now with President Obama!  I totally disagree with his recent stance on “same-sex marriage.”  But I still have to respect the office when I do not respect the man carrying the title of President!  While I can and will disagree with his position, I cannot and will not defame the Office of President. In marriage, wives have to often do the same thing when married to husbands who are not walking worthy of the marital title they are carrying as men.  And that requires a lot of spiritual sensitivity for every “Sister of Sarah!” SATISFIED Next Peter exhorts wives to learn to be satisfied with themselves.  In essence, Peter is encouraging women and wives to learn to accept themselves and love themselves. Any female who is dissatisfied with herself and insecure with who she is as a woman, wife and mother will always tend to put too much emphasis on externals.  Her insecurity on the inside will cause her to overly emphasize the outside.  If she is not happy and content with the “inner woman,” it will be manifest through her preoccupation with the “outer woman.”  Insecure women and wives always try to “cover up” their sense of insecurity and inferiority by excessive make-up, costly coiffeurs, fancy clothes and expensive jewelry.  They constantly try to make a “fashion statement” through how they dress.  This is not a new phenomena.  It was just as true in Peter’s day as in our day.  So Peter exhorts these new Christian wives with these wise words: “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.”  (I Pet. 3:3) Certainly God wants a woman and wife to do all she can with what He has given her to be as attractive as possible.  After all, the Bible speaks of the true and living God as the perfection of beauty (Ps. 27:4; 90:17; Isa. 33:17, etc).  And the Song of Solomon overflows with words of praise for the beauty of his lover!   Because men are created in the image of God, we all love beauty and are attracted to it!  We want our wives to look as beautiful as possible. However, too much emphasis on external beauty is a sign of feminine insecurity.  It is a superficial “cover up” for deeper things – and magazines and TV and advertisers know this and appeal to those feminine insecurities in all of their ads! Principle: “True lasting beauty is spiritual by nature and radiates from the inside out.” So don’t fall into the trap of putting too much emphasis on the external woman to the neglect of the internal woman.  True beauty is from the inside out.  Authentic beauty is more than just skin-deep.  It is spiritual by nature and radiates from a quiet and content spirit.  It is the distinguishing beauty mark of the “Sisters of Sarah.” SPIRITUAL Peter continued this thought as he went on to say that every true “Sister of Sarah” must learn to put her emphasis on the development of “inner beauty” rather than on trying to develop and maintain “outer beauty.” “Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight”  (I Pet. 3:4). The Bible teaches that the “…outer man/outer woman is wasting away.”  (II Cor. 4:16 NASB) Personal experience teaches us the same thing!  At 70, I am more aware of the truth of those words every day.  Every reflection of myself in the mirror reveals the unstoppable aging process! Therefore, when we place our emphasis on maintaining outer beauty, we are ultimately fighting a losing battle!  As I have already written, there are not enough cosmetics to keep us from aging…growing old…getting wrinkled!  And there are no man-made cosmetics that can make the “inner woman” beautiful in the sight of God!  Only the cleansing blood of Jesus and the indwelling Holy Spirit can make a woman “beautiful in God’s sight!” The Bible tells us that Sarah was physically a very beautiful woman.  Other men besides Abraham desired her because of her physical beauty – which almost cost Abraham his life! (Gen. 12:10-20; 20:1-18)  However, God was more interested in developing an “inner beauty” in Sarah, than sustaining an “outer beauty.”  That’s because ”outer beauty” is only for a few short years at best – but “inner beauty” is for eternity! Principle: “Outer beauty lasts only for a few years while spiritual beauty lasts forever.” This poses an important question for every Mother’s Day: “Which beauty are you trying to develop?”  Where is your priority and emphasis?  Who are you trying to look beautiful for – people or God?  Are you more concerned with developing beauty in the eyes of man, or beauty in the eyes of God?  While true “Sisters of Sarah” want to do all they can to be attractive and appealing to their husbands, they want most of all to be beautiful in “God’s sight.” SCRIPTURAL In order for the physical not to overshadow the spiritual, Peter reminded the “Sisters of Sarah” that they must increasingly be Scriptural in their perspective and outlook on life.  They must not let the world around them script them and their femininity.  Their hope must not be in external beauty which not everyone can achieve, but in internal beauty – which is available to every woman through the Spirit.  Peter’s words are a timely reminder that every woman either has a worldly hope or a Biblical hope: “For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful…” (I Pet. 3:5) It is important to note here that the Biblical word for hope means “confident expectation.”  When we put our hope in the cosmetics of the world to produce an external beauty, we will eventually be disappointed.  It ultimately leads to hopelessness.  That external beauty will fade with age.  In time, no amount of cosmetics can make you look young and sexy.  But inner beauty never fades.  It only grows more beautiful over time.  This kind of beauty doesn’t grow old, it only grows deeper!  It radiates from the inside out.  It is rooted in the spirit rather than in the flesh.  That’s why Patt is more beautiful to me than ever!  Her spiritual beauty makes her external beauty even more radiant! So when a woman puts her emphasis and hope on the “outer woman,” she puts her hope in man.  She hopes to impress…allure…attract…seduce him!   As she ages, she will ultimately lose hope in her femininity and desirability – because men will disappoint her.  But when she puts her emphasis on the “inner woman,” then she puts her hope in God and becomes more beautiful every day. Principle: “Putting hope in outer beauty results in a diminishing femininity.  To hope in God results in an ageless femininity.” Notice that Peter said that the “…holy women of the past…made themselves beautiful.”  Most women put on their own make-up each day…style their hair…pick the clothing to wear that enhances their femininity.  It takes effort – but we husbands really appreciate the effort!  In the same way, a Christian woman and wife need to put forth effort to “…make herself beautiful” spiritually.  Through prayer, Bible Study, worship, fellowship – she can do her part in “…making herself beautiful.”  Those are the “Christian cosmetics” for the spirit.  They are some of the “means of grace” that she can employ daily to enhance her spiritual beauty.  As she “puts on her make-up” and clothing each day, she should also “…put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Eph. 4:22-25) A worldly woman puts back on her “old self” every day because she has nothing else in her spiritual wardrobe!  Her most expensive “designer clothes” cannot cover up her spiritual death.  So she continues to put her hope in man…in externals…the latest fashions…in “outer beauty.” But a holy woman puts her hope in God.  She is far more concerned with the development of her  “inner beauty.”  She is increasingly focused on the internal and eternal rather than the external and temporal. Here is an important Mother’s Day question:  “Where is your hope focused?  Do you have a man-centered hope, or a God-centered hope?” Sarah and other godly women of the Bible, “…put their hope in God.”  I challenge you to put your hope in God also – not in man-made beauty aids, styles or jewelry.  Instead, join Sarah’s Sorority by putting your hope in God! SEXUAL When you study the Old Testament background of what Peter wrote about, you can clearly see the sexual implications for marriage: “They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master…”  (I Pet. 3:5-6). The situation Peter referred to goes back to Genesis 18.  The Angel of the Lord had visited Abraham to announce that Sarah would conceive and bear a child – even in her old age.  This was humanly impossible and totally inconceivable to Sarah since she was 90 years old!  You don’t see any ninety-year-old mothers then or now! So when Sarah overhead this angelic prophecy from her place inside the tent, the Bible says that she “…laughed to herself as she thought, ‘After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?’”  (Gen. 18:12) The word here for pleasure means:  “delicate, delight, enjoyment, pleasure.”  Here is one of the many places in the Bible here we can see God’s very beautiful and positive perspective on sexual relationships within marriage between a male and female…man and woman…husband and wife.  Same-sex relationships can experience passion – but not authentic pleasure!  That’s because it is a spiritual experience that is manifest in the physical and sexual. Sarah spoke of her sexual relationship with Abraham in terms of “pleasure” – not shame or pain!  Sexual relationships within marriage are sanctified and purified – and therefore holy!  According to the Bible, sex is spiritual by nature.  It is far more than just a physical act – which animals can do as well as humans!  But since “God is Spirit” and the author of sexuality, it has His nature – spirit.  Sexuality was never supposed to be divorced from spirituality. That tragic perversion and inversion took place as a result of sin.  Selfishness took over and redefined the nature of sex.  It became “self-centered” rather than “God-centered” and “spouse-centered.”  The spiritual dimension was taken out of the sexual relationship between men and women.  As a result, the greatest pleasure and fulfillment were lost.  And they can only be restored when there is a new union between the spiritual and the sexual. Principle: “Sex is by nature spiritual rather than just physical.  It is intensified when it is sanctified and purified.” We can see in the Bible a very positive picture of sexual love between a man and wife – even in old age!  Our society has relegated passionate sexuality and sensuality to the young and virile.  As a result, it is perceived that sexual pleasure is something we age out of.  But that’s a fantasy.  While frequency of sexual expression may be less frequent, it need not be less passionate or pleasureful.  That’s one of the beauties of being an authentic “Sister of Sarah” who never ceases to enjoy pleasure.  She has come to realize that her femininity is greater than her sexual capacity.   Her sexuality is more than her sensuality because of her spirituality. Finally, “Sisters of Sarah” are women who are… STRONG Peter’s final words of exhortation and encouragement to these wives he was addressing was that they be spiritually strong.  He reminded these Gentile women: “You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.”  (I Pet. 3:6b) This is a timely reminder that fear is every woman’s greatest enemy!  It is the first negative emotion recorded in the Bible.  And fear always causes us to hide from God…hide from ourselves…hide from our spouses (Gen. 3:10).  As such, fear is both man and woman’s most persistent, lifelong enemy!  Fear constantly attacks our faith! Principle: “Fear is every woman’s greatest and most persistent enemy.” You see, it takes great spiritual strength to continue to “…do what is right” when others around you – especially your husband – is “doing what is wrong!” Peter reminded them that as Christian woman and wives, they must be committed to “…do what is right” regardless if everyone around them was making wrong choices.  That takes strength.  And not just physical strength – but spiritual strength that comes from the power of the Holy Spirit. What wives usually do when they are in these kinds of stressful situations is to “…give in to fear.”  They tend to let their faith falter and let their fears take control.  They fear that things will never change.  So they take things into their own hands.  If their husbands are “disobedient to the word,” then they will do the same.  They follow his lead further down the path of marital disobedience.  This soon leads to a “double drowning.” Peter reminded these wives not to focus on the circumstances around them…the disobedience of their unbelieving husband…their own ability to make things happen…their own physical beauty as their hope to seduce and change him.  To do so was a sure feminine receipt for failure because they would ultimately be overcome by fear!  So Peter encouraged them to look beyond their husbands and look to God as their Divine Husband and Lover of their soul. The Bible reminds us that there is only one cure for fear – and that is FAITH!  You must have faith in God’s unconditional love and unremitting concern for you.  You must rest in the assurance that regardless of what you have to face or go through, His love will never leave you or let you down! The key verse here to stake your life and marriage upon is:  “There is no fear in love.  But perfect love drives out fear…” (I John 4:18).  So Peter encourages them by saying: “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened” (I Pet. 3:14). Faith makes you strong – while fear makes you weak.  Fear causes a woman to “hit the panic button” or fall into the deep, dark hole of despondency and depression! If you focus on your husband…on yourself…on your circumstances – I can assure you that fear will overcome you!  And when fear overcomes you, your circumstances will also overcome you!  But as John said: “This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” (I Jn. 5:4) So, “Sisters of Sarah,” focus on faith this Mother’s Day!  Focus on God and His unconditional and eternal love for you – and fully accept it by faith.  If you do, you will be a true “Sister of Sarah” who is “…strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.”  (Eph. 6:10) CONCLUSIONS Women and wives, if you will allow these promises and principles to control your thinking and acting, God will truly mature you into a “Sister of Sarah!”  You can join her eternal sorority by faith.  Those are  the only dues that are required.  And membership is not just for time – it is for eternity! Peter reminds us that our homes…our churches…our world, need to see more “Sisters of Sarah” and less “Sisters of Society!”  We need to see more “women of God” rather than “women of the world.” We need to see women who place their greater emphasis on “internal beauty” rather than “external beauty.”  We need more “Sisters of Sarah!”  As Peter wrote, to become a “daughter of Sarah” is a Mother’s Day gift to your husband and children that will last forever!  Happy & Holy Mother’s Day! JL PS:  Please feel free to pass this “Mother’s Day Card” from Peter on to other women, wives and mothers you know.  Also, we have just received a couple of urgent needs that I hope you will be able to help us with through a special “Mother’s Day Gift.” Sister Sarita Pradhan, who is the mother to our 20 children at the Bethany Children’s Home for Bhutanese and Indian children has been hospitalized.  She has been transported from the Bhutan border to the Holy Palace Hospital in West Bengal, India.  Any gift to help us with her medical expenses will be deeply appreciated. Stakwell Yurenimo just wrote me to say there has been a storm, heavy rains and floods that have completely washed away a Turkana village we had been ministering to for several years.  The pictures below are from some of our happier visits. These pictures show the village completely gone, the 400 people homeless, the children naked.  Their animals were also washed away.  The only food was a donkey head they were roasting!  Think about that as you enjoy a sumptous Mother’s Day dinner!  Stakwell is asking for $3,000 - $5,000 to buy blankets, food, cooking utensils and to build shelters for these people.  So any gift to these destitute mothers and children will be so timely and appreciated.  And you can give on line to speed your gift to us so we can immediately send funds to Stakwell. The washed away village; Stakwell visiting the camp; Naked women and children; A donkey head being roasted for food The Field Report, 2012-05-12T11:45:39+00:00 http://www.jlwilliams.org/site/bethany_childrens_home_update http://www.jlwilliams.org/site/bethany_childrens_home_update#When:21:46:13Z Patt and the children dedicating the new 'Dinning Hall' beside the Kitchen on our last trip to India Dear Ministry Partners, I am sending you this email to update you on an important project for the "Bethany Children's Home" (BCH).  It is on the India/Bhutan border in a city called Jaigaon.  As you know from my recent emails, Patt and I were there in March for a visit.  At that time we had the joy of dedicating a new "Dinning Hall" for the children.  It adjoins the new "Kitchen" that was built and dedicated last year.  Unfortunately we found that the wooden roof joists were eaten up by termites -- that attack any and all wood in that part of the world.  So we had to make a faith decision on the spot to replace the roof with a poured cement one.  By faith, our ministry sent the $1,700 to start the project.  Now those funds have been fully used in the preparation for the final phase of pouring the cement -- as you can see from these pictures.  The cost to complete the new cement roof is $2,000. So we are praying for a church, Sunday School Class, Bible Study Group, businessman or entrepreneur to give those funds so we can complete this project ASAP.  All it would take is 20 of our partners to give $100 each to complete the job for God's glory and for the good of the children.  Would you please pray about being one of those 20 people?  Together we can complete this work before the monsoon season comes this summer.  And you can give by Credit Card on line more quickly so we can deploy the funds more quickly.  Thanks for the privilege of sharing this timely mission opportunity with you. In His Faithful Love, JL PS:  A report will soon follow this one on the regular ministry into Bhutan that takes place from the BCH.  Be watching for that report. Markus, CFO for the BCH stands beside the new 'Solar Hot Water System' beside the old wood and metal kitchen roof; The Kitchen after the wood & metal roof were removed due to termites; Framing for the new cement roof for the Kitchen; Rebar is put in place for the new cement roof. Rebar is tied and prepared for the pouring of the cement; Plastic is put in place as a moisture barrier; The new cement roof and overhand for the Kitchen – which will last for decades; All of the cement for the roof will be mixed like this by hand and carried up ladders to pour into the frame. The traditional way of mixing cement in most underdeveloped countries that do not have concrete plants; In India it is the women who do most of the carrying of the pans of cement on their heads to pour a floor or roof; Then men are the masons who work the cement as it is poured pan-by-pan; While this is somewhat labor intensive, it does provide daily wages for the workers   The strong cement roof is now poured and completed – followed by 21 days of curing! The Field Report, 2012-05-07T21:46:13+00:00 http://www.jlwilliams.org/site/marriage_admendment_1 http://www.jlwilliams.org/site/marriage_admendment_1#When:01:00:22Z For North Carolinians, there is a strategic vote on Tuesday, May 8th, about the nature of marriage.  This is what the Amendment says: “Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this state.”  Simple and clear enough.  Should be a slam-dunk vote!  Right?  Not necessarily.  Even though that is how most societies have understood and defined marriage since the beginning of time, that definition is increasingly being challenged morally and legally.  The necessity of Marriage Amendment One is the legal response to this battle to redefine traditional marriage. The key legal issue is whether the traditional definition of marriage, as an exclusive relationship between a man and a woman, will stand.  Or whether it will be amended to legally validate and protect other “domestic relationships” – specifically between people of the same sex.  In other words, will the definition of marriage be widened to include homosexual relationships rather than just heterosexual relationships?  Will two homosexuals or two lesbians be granted all of the social and legal marital status of a man and woman? Sadly, there has been growing confusion and ambiguity on this issue for several decades.  And while we should not be at all surprised about this confusion or acquiescence in society, we should be deeply concerned when that same confusion and blind acceptance is in the church – even in the pulpits! I agree with Billy Graham who recently said: “At 93, I never thought we would have to debate the definition of marriage.  The Bible is clear – God’s definition of marriage is between a man and a woman.”  Then Graham said: “I want to urge my fellow North Carolinians to vote for the marriage amendment.”  At 70, I totally agree with Dr. Graham and urge my fellow citizens – especially Christians – to vote FOR this crucial amendment! The cardinal question here is this: “Is the Biblical definition of marriage authoritative or not?”   Look again at the Biblically clear and succinct account of the first marriage in Genesis 2:24: “For this reason (marriage), a man (masculine) will leave his father and mother (his monogamous parents) and be united to his wife (another monogamous relationship with a female), and they will become one flesh” (a sexual union and relationship only possible for a male and female). There is no ambiguity at all in this description of marriage.  It was Adam and Eve…a male and a female…one man and one woman.  It wasn’t “Adam & Aaron” or “Eve & Evelyn!”  The original traditional marriage was between one man and one woman for one life.  Period.  No additions, no amendments! Tragically, sin and rebellion soon brought in new “Marriage Amendments” that originated in the selfish heart of man rather than in the wise heart of God.  And fallen man has been voting and re-voting on these amendments ever since he was expelled from the Garden. Sadly, the battle against Marriage Amendment One is being championed by many as a “Civil Rights” issue.  As such, it is being propagated as a parallel issue to Civil Rights for racial minorities – like the Blacks sought and received during the Civil Rights Movement in the last half of the Twentieth Century.  “Gay Rights” are being championed as the last area of social injustice in our American society.  That “homosexual rights” are the last bastion of prejudice and discrimination that demand legal intervention by the Federal and State Governments. This sexual stigma has become the cause célèbre of the social and political left.  Any who dare speak out against this politically correct position are accused of bigotry and “bedroom politics.”  Translated into the vernacular, this simply means: It is right for the Federal or State Government to over-extend their legal arm into the front room, school room and bedroom of Christians and mandate that we fully accept homosexual unions as equally valid in every way with a monogamous marriage.  But Christians, Jews and others who are committed to the propagation and defense of traditional heterosexual union are portrayed as “narrow minded bigots” who are guilty of imposing our “bedroom politics” on everyone else in society.  There is obviously a moral and legal impasse. However, no Biblically informed Christian ever tries to impose his or her moral values on secular society.  Those are the free moral choices that individuals must make for themselves.    But we do want the Federal and State Governments to legally protect the traditional definition of marriage that has existed since the Garden of Eden. As I have already implied, this is not a new moral or marital battle.  Sinful, fallen man has been trying to redefine marriage ever since he was expelled from the Garden of Eden as a result of his rebellion against God.  The primary reason Adam and Eve lost the Garden was because they allowed Satan to redefine the guidelines God had clearly put forth.   Satan knew if he could successfully redefine the primary roles and responsibilities of men and women in marriage, other social norms would fall like dominos.  And they did. But by virtue of creation and design, God had ordained that our sexuality was for at least three purposes: pleasure, prevention and procreation – each very purposeful and positive.  Within marriage, sexual intercourse was first and foremost for the pleasure of the husband and wife.  Secondly, it was for the prevention of fornication with other people of the opposite sex.  Thirdly, it was for the propagation of the species.  So God created us all as sexual creatures so that we could “…be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth” (Gen. 1:26).  It is obvious that same-sex unions cannot produce children – which is why homosexuals are now pushing for equal adoption rights with heterosexuals.  While refusing to produce offspring in the traditional way with someone of the opposite sex, gay men and lesbians want to be seen as equally valid “parents” to adoptive children.  This is hybrid parenting.  The very words “father” and “mother” clearly mean a progenitor who has produced progeny – or parents who have produced children. But through the serpent, Satan sought to add an amendment to what God said about the nature of marriage.  As the Author of creation – including sexuality and marriage, God was to be the final Authority on the nature of our maleness and femaleness.  God ordained that our sexuality be expressed most completely within the exclusive bounds of a monogamous relationship between one man and one woman for one life.  Also, for that marital relationship to work best, there were clear God-ordained roles and responsibilities for the man and woman.  They were absolutely equal because they both equally bore the “…image and likeness of God” (tzelem elohim in Hebrew; Imago Dei in Latin).  So while the man and woman were equal spiritually, they were different sexually and functionally.  Their physiology clearly reflected those differences as male and female.  On the sexual level, there could be no interchange of roles.  A man could not be a woman and a woman could not be a man when it came to sexuality and reproduction.  He was to be the head and she was to be the heart of the home.  He was the protector and provider and she was the life-giver and nurturer.  As such, each had clear roles and responsibilities that were not to be abdicated or confused. But Satan offered an amendment.  He suggested an alternative plan for their respective God-ordained roles and responsibilities.  He questioned the wisdom and exclusivity of God’s design for their relationship.  So the serpent posed a subtle question that was the satanic reasoning behind his amendment: “Has God said?  Is that REALLY what He meant?!  You don’t need divine ‘bedroom politics’ in your relationship!  You don’t need God dictating how you relate to each other as male and female!  In fact, you do not really need a God at all in your life and relationship.  You know what is best for you.  You can be your own god!  You don’t need to always eat from the ‘Tree of Life.’  You need to enjoy the fruit of the ‘Tree of knowledge’ because there is other truth apart from what God has been telling you.  And when you know that ‘truth’ by experience, you will be like God!” Sound familiar?  The arguments have not changed.  Neither have the amendments to God’s revelation.  And once you try to amend God’s ordained guidelines for marriage, other changes soon follow.  It happened outside the Garden and continues to this day. After Adam and Eve chose/voted for amendment #1 – to accept another authority on the true nature of sexuality and marriage other than God’s – more amendments soon followed… It wasn’t long in the social devolution of man until amendment #2 was put on the ballot by Lamech, a son of Cain and grandson of Adam.  He lobbied and voted for polygamy over monogamy.   He is the first man recorded in the Bible who “…married two women” (Gen. 4:19).   Soon polygamous marriages became the norm rather than the exception.   This alien sociology even became so widely accepted that many of God’s people embraced it.  Polygamy became the norm – even among most of the Biblical patriarchs like Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, etc.  Harems and concubines became the norm for the kings – even Jewish kings.  And marriage amendment #2 became legalized and normalized.  And many societies still practice polygamy today. Amendment #3 was soon put on the ballot allowing divorce.  The original marriage contract was for life – or “…until death us do part”   (Ex. 20:14; Lev. 18:20; Rom. 7:1-3; I Cor. 7:39).  But why be bound to a difficult mate?  Why live in the misery of “unhappiness” and “incompatibility”?  Divorce your difficult or barren spouse for one younger and more desirable!  And if you are not going to divorce him or her, at least enjoy the “sexual freedom” of fornication and adultery through an “open marriage!” Thus, the “Divorce Amendment” – or “Adultery Amendment,” passed with an overwhelming majority vote.  Democracy won out again.  The sinful majority ruled.  Soon, serial divorce and adultery became the norm rather than the exception!  But since adultery and divorce were in direct rebellion against God’s order for marriage, He judged it with the death penalty (Lev. 20:10).  Apparently He is dead serious about His truth! Once adultery was codified as normal and acceptable, it soon didn’t matter whether the fornication was heterosexual or homosexual.  As a result, amendment #4 was soon put on the ballot condoning homosexuality.  If adultery is permissible for a man and a woman, then fornication between a man and another man or between a woman and another woman should be equally accepted.  But again, there was a “Divine Veto” of this sexual amendment that was codified with absolute clarity to the degree that it carried the death penalty – to say nothing of the “living death” that people live with emotionally who chose this so-called “gay life-style” (Lev. 18:22; 20:13; Deut. 23:18; Rom. 1:27; I Cor. 6:9, etc).   Statistics show that life-style to be anything but “gay!” Another amendment to God’s original plan for marriage was incest – so amendment #5 was put on the ballot for vote.  Fallen man wanted the freedom to marry and have incestuous sexual relationships between siblings, close relatives and various marital partners.  So in spite of the fact that God vetoed that amendment (Lev. 18:6-18), it is still widely practiced in some societies and religious groups.  Paul even had to decisively deal with it in the early Gentile church and labeled it a sin and perversion that is not even tolerated among pagans!  He wisely knew that this kind of sexual perversion was a deadly leaven that would soon cause rottenness in the physical family and spiritual family (I Cor. 5:1-6). As a result of all of this sexual and social rebellion, the children of these perverted and confused relationships suffered irreparable pain, confusion and identity crisis. So it wasn’t long until there was the resulting societal problem of “unwanted children” who were the product of these many illicit sexual relationships.  How was society to deal with them?  When marital fidelity is minimized and individual rights exalted, children always suffer.  They lose their rights as the parents and adults exert theirs.  After all, it is not what is best for the children – but what is most convenient for the parent.  Expediency takes over. So amendment #6 was quickly voted on and widely practiced – known in the Bible as child sacrifice.  In the Old Testament period, this was nothing but the spiritual and social version of our modern “population control” and “abortion.”   Soon it became accepted – even expected – to sacrifice your children to the gods to appease them.  Innocent babies and children were murdered in untold numbers – and sanctioned by both society and religion!  Amendment #6 allowed for the murder of children to go on year after year…decade after decade…generation after generation – just like Roe v. Wade! But because God hates with a holy hatred anything that defaces his “Imago Dei” in every human being – especially children – He severely judged and condemned any and every form of child sacrifice as an “abomination” (Lev. 18:21).  How long before His final judgment falls on America for the same sin?! Biblical and secular history shows that once man starts down this social and sexual slippery slope, there is no stopping or turning around.  Soon any and every form of perversion will be justified as someone’s “rights.”  So it was not long until even bestiality was also put on the ballot for consideration.  But this one was so non-traditional and “perverted” that it carried the death penalty by stoning (Ex. 22:19; Lev. 18:23).  Thus far amendment #7 has been consistently voted down worldwide.  But give it time, and it too will be accepted as a valid “alternative life-style” that adults should be allowed to practice – in the bedroom or barnyard!  And extreme “animal rights” is another step in the direction of the deification of nature. While some of what I have written is hyperbole, satirical and tongue-in-cheek – the parallels are unmistakable to anyone but the spiritually blind.  Ironically, almost all of these deviations and perversions are propagated through “education” and “enlightenment” through our schools and universities.    And this educational brain-washing and social engineering process now begins in kindergarten. The religion of biological and social evolution is anything but true science.  Unlike authentic science, it is a passionate ideology that needs no objective empirical evidence.   It is not based upon hard objective facts but upon biased prejudices and presuppositions.   And they are championed by people with Masters Degrees and PHD degrees in sociology and sexuality!  They are pontificated and propagated by social anthropologists who see all of these morals and mores as equally valid in man’s evolutionary process – all except the Biblical ones, that is.  Those are seen with a jaundiced eye and portrayed with a jaded bias as “unenlightened religious relics” that society should cast off in favor of an inclusiveness that embraces everything as egalitarian. Again, these are not new arguments or amendments to God’s revelation.  It’s been going on since the dawn of human history.  That’s why the Bible warns: “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter” (Isa. 5:20).   Jesus underscored the dangers of this kind of spiritual darkness masquerading as light when He warned: “If the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”  (Matt. 6:23).  Likewise, Paul wrote to alert young Christians about the fact that “…evil men and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (II Tim. 3:13). Sadly, this left-handed over-reach by the government from the courtroom to the bedroom does not stop there.  It has now become such an accepted part of our national mentality, that it has become an amendment to our Foreign Policy.  Our Secretary of State has attached this amendment to our Foreign Aid.  Our Government is now telling underdeveloped countries of the world that unless they insure full homosexual rights as civil rights, they will receive no funding from USAID.  That has already happened through wide-spread condom distribution as our primary tool for the AIDS pandemic. The same reasoning won out for abortion and women’s rights.  As a result, abortion has become our primary tool to manage global “population control.”  Because we legalized abortion as “reproductive rights”, untold millions of babies – not impersonal fetuses – lost all of their “human rights!”    So valid “Women’s Suffrage” issues were hijacked and taken to the extreme by new radical “feminist amendments!” In the same way, the valid Civil Rights issues for Blacks has been co-opted by homosexuals to the degree that “Gay Rights” are equated with racial rights.  But one is a moral issue; the other is an immoral issue.  Sadly, our society increasingly does not recognize the difference between the two.  Through education and “enlightenment,” both issues have been made equal and parallel “Civil Rights.”  And we are being told that we cannot embrace one without embracing the other!  Many African Americans have been duped into believing that it is a denial of the Civil Rights Movement if they do not fully embrace “Gay Rights.”  Fortunately, many are now seeing the folly of this false equation. So my fellow North Carolinians, “don’t vote your conscience” – unless it has been made alive by the Spirit of God and educated by the Word of God!  If you “let your conscience be your guide,” you will buy the “party line” and vote for man’s amendments every time over God’s Revelation! God made it clear that His severe judgment fell on other ancient societies and people because they rebelled against His natural revelation and written revelation.   They voted in their social and sexual convenient amendments to His divine revelation.  Listen afresh to His warnings to ancient Israel about all of these social and sexual perversions: “You must not do as they do in Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you.  Do not follow their practices.  You must obey my laws and be careful to follow my decrees.  I am the Lord your God…for the man who obeys them will live by them…Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled.  Even the land was defiled; so I punished it for its sin, and the land vomited out its inhabitants…And if you defile the land, it will vomit you out, as it vomited out the nations that were before you…Keep my requirements and do not follow any of the detestable customs that were practiced before you came and do not defile yourselves with them.  I am the Lord your God” (Lev. 18:3-5; 24-30). We either blow these verses off as old, archaic and irrelevant to our society; or we embrace them as Godly and good.  The so-called “political right” tends to vote for them; the “political left” tends to vote against them.  Perhaps we need to reflect afresh on the succinct wisdom of Ecclesiastes 10:2:  “The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left.”  If that’s offensive to your politics, sociology or religion, that’s not my problem.  God said it – not me! It’s your vote!  But Patt and I are voting FOR Marriage Amendment One.  Not because it is perfect in every way.  But it at least comes closest to affirming and guarding the traditional Biblical definition of marriage that we have lived by…raised our children by…taught around the world as God’s inerrant final word on marriage that cannot be improved upon! For Traditional Marriage in all its fullness and joy, JL & Patt PS:  If most of this makes sense and resonates with your spirit, please forward it to your family, friends, fellow church members and business associates. Devotion/Bible Study, Current Events, 2012-05-07T01:00:22+00:00 http://www.jlwilliams.org/site/haiti_trip_ministry_update http://www.jlwilliams.org/site/haiti_trip_ministry_update#When:11:03:28Z "…Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through His own blood." (Heb. 13:12) Dear Ministry Partners, As you know, I have just returned from a long weekend of ministry in Haiti over Easter.  When I landed in Port-au-Prince on Maundy Thursday, I received a text message from Patt saying that our 9 year old twin grandson, Luke, had been flown by Life-Flight to UNC Children’s Hospital in Chapel Hill.  By now, I hope you have read the update that Patt and I sent out.  Needless to say, this family crisis brought the Easter message home to me in a very personal way!  But God was faithful and sustained me.  More importantly, He graciously spared Luke's life – who is still in recovery. EASTER ON THE EDGE While my days in Haiti were brief, they were diverse and intense.  Through the years, I have almost always been away from home for Easter – on some strategic spiritual battlefront.  In the early days of the New Directions, we usually 'hit the beaches' to share the Easter Message with thousands of college students – who were soaking up sun, sand, suds and sex!  In later years, I was either in India, Nepal, or Africa celebrating Easter with one of our strategic national partners.  This year, I was in Haiti to celebrate with the earthquake victims.  While I have ministered in Haiti over Easter a number of times in the past, it was especially timely because of the killer earthquake of January 12, 2010.  As the verse above reminds us: "…Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through His own blood."  In a similar manner, there are now over 500,000 people who are still suffering and languishing "…outside the city gate" of Port-au-Prince.  It is a sprawling, baron hillside with almost no running water, electricity, sewage or infrastructure.  It is called 'Onaville.'  TENT CITY But the Lord is building His church there.  I told the story in an earlier email after my first visits there and preaching in the 'tent church.'  So it was a joy to return and see that the church had quickly overgrown its capacity to the degree that a larger tent was erected – which is also already overflowing!  So we praise God for this partnership ministry with Pastor Esperandieu Pierre and his Nehemiah Vision Ministry (NVM) that is making such a practical difference among these earthquake victims.  And with your prayers and financial support, we will see a large 'containerized church' shipped down and built before the end of this year to replace the tent church.  This latest church-building project will be a BIG step of faith since the total cost will be around $100,000 (building cost, shipping, airline tickets, food, lodging, etc).  Once again, this project will be led by Coy Tillett, who is also Board Chairman for JLPF.  He will be recruiting the "Manteo Miracle Men" to build the entire church in just one week – as they have done 5 times before in Haiti, the Bahamas and Nicaragua.  So be watching for more details in future emails. MALI CRISIS When I flew to Haiti, I was also closely monitoring the political crisis in the West African country of Mali where radical Islam has taken over much of the country.  I made you aware of the plight of our partners there, Professor Mohamed-Ibrahim Yattara and Pastor Nouh Yattara.  Since my return, we have sent out several updates on these dear brothers and sisters in Christ who have become political and spiritual refugees in their own country.  Keep praying for them. ISLAM & THE UNITED NATIONS However, while I am keenly attuned to the advances of Islam in Africa, Asia, Europe and America – I was totally unprepared for it in Haiti!  As I was being driven to the airport to depart Haiti on Easter Monday, I heard the traditional Muslim call to prayer.  I couldn't believe my ears!  I asked my driver to stop the car so I could find out the source of that all-too-familiar sound.  It was coming from one of the many UN compounds in Port-au-Prince.  So I quickly saw happening in Haiti what I had seen in other countries of the world where UN soldiers are.  You see, Muslim countries are very astute in getting their soldiers enlisted in UN service around the world.  And wherever those soldiers are, they require the UN to provide them time and space to practice their faith.  So by the time they leave a country, they leave a mosque in place and some local people whom they have converted – all paid for by our tax dollars!  Already you can regularly hear the Muslim call to prayer in Les Cayes in the south, Cap Haitian in the north and the capital city of Port-au-Prince!  So there is no country – regardless of how rich or poor – that is not on their radar screen!  Haiti has become just one more Muslim beachhead to further infiltrate America and the West. However, the church in Haiti is far too strong for Islam to ever take deep root.  But the Islamic faith will become another destabilizing factor in a country that is already racked by political corruption, bureaucracy, ineptness, lack of infrastructure, voodoo, unspeakable poverty – and a devastating earthquake!  But God is also mightily at work and you are a vital part of it through your prayers and partnership with us! In His Resurrection love & power, J.L. PS:  Take a moment to view the slideshow pictures (top of page) and the video below from this latest deployment in Haiti.  I think you will be blessed and encouraged. The Field Report, 2012-04-17T11:03:28+00:00 http://www.jlwilliams.org/site/the_fellowship_of_his_suffering http://www.jlwilliams.org/site/the_fellowship_of_his_suffering#When:02:52:59Z Dear JLPF Partners…In America and all over the world people are suffering.  Here at home thousands are suffering from wild tornados that are coming in unprecedented numbers.  In addition to the suffering from natural disasters, there is also the ever-present physical suffering through sickness and disease.  Many of you are already aware of the suffering we have been facing as an extended family through the meningitis that my grandson, Luke, has come down with -- which we deeply appreciate your prayers for. As you know from my recent emails, in Mali, West Africa, our Christian brothers and sisters are suffering at the hands of Radical Islamic groups.  They have been forced to flee from their homes, lands, churches, Bible Colleges and towns and become refugees in their own country.  In Haiti where I just was for Easter, hundreds of thousands of earthquake victims are still suffering from homelessness and lack of basic essentials.  In parts of India,  Christians are suffering at the hands of Hindu militants who are destroying their homes and churches.  In Sri Lanka, Believers are being persecuted by Buddhist militants -- who were previously tolerant and non-violent.  The list of suffering goes on and on... To help put this into a wider Biblical perspective, I am sharing this timely study entitled "The Fellowship of His Suffering."   I believe you will find it helpful.  After you read it, please feel free to forward it to other family and friends who might also be facing a particular time of suffering -- whether physically, spiritually, mentally, emotionally or financially.  If they are not suffering now, it is only a matter of time!  None of us get through this life without some level of suffering.  So arm yourself with these timeless Biblical truths!  Then share them with others. In His Sustaining Love, JL Click here for the full study Devotion/Bible Study, 2012-04-17T02:52:59+00:00 http://www.jlwilliams.org/site/luke_report http://www.jlwilliams.org/site/luke_report#When:02:33:42Z Pictured:  J.L. with Luke in the hospital upon his return home from Haiti; Luke with his stuffed animals; Joy Yael, Owen, Patt and Luke; Luke with ‘Easter candy’ that the Haitian children sent him Dear Friends & Partners, As most of you know, when I landed in Haiti last week on Maundy Thursday for a series of Easter Services, I received a text from Patt that made my heart stop – even with my pace maker!  She texted me that our grandson, Luke, had been life-flighted to the Chapel Hill Hospital with life-threatening meningitis.  As a father and grandfather, that's the kind of dreaded news you never want to receive!  When I read her one line text, I wanted to get on the next flight home!  But since it was Easter Weekend, all flights were over-booked – making that virtually impossible. So I agonized over what to do...  Like so many others before me, I was caught in the conflict between the two callings of a parent and a preacher.  Down through the centuries, scores of other Christian parents, pastors, missionaries and military personnel before me have been caught up in this same conflict of conscience and calling.  But after multiple phone calls to Patt and my son, Jonathan, it was determined that I should stay in Haiti on a day-to-day-and-hour-by-hour basis since Luke was being stabilized medically. So by raw faith, I gutted it out and stayed to complete my preaching for Good Friday through Easter Sunday.  God was so faithful in spite of my divided heart!  I am so thankful that His Spirit and His Word still have their power and authority even when the human vessel is so weak and incapable!  So this Easter, I tasted just a small drop of the 'Cup of Sorrow' that Jesus didn't want to drink in Gethsemane the night before His crucifixion.  I also cried out in my tears "My God, My God WHY?!"  The heavens did not part and give easy answers for Jesus when He cried that out from the cross, and they did not for me either.  But the Abba Father's presence was more than sufficient! As I preached over Easter, many of the faces I looked into were also grieved by loved ones hurt or lost during the killer earthquake of January 12, 2010.  In a mysterious way, we shared a common inexpressible pain.  We also shared some 'Whys' that will never be fully answered this side of heaven.  But when I took communion "in remembrance of Him" with those Haitian Christians on Easter Sunday Morning after I preached, there was a fresh sense of the Lord's presence and peace!  And as I ate the bread and drank the wine, I did so on behalf of Luke for His healing.  These words of Scripture kept resonating in my spirit: "By His stripes we are healed" (I Pet. 2:24).  I believe God is answering that prayer for Luke! While I was in Haiti, Patt was bearing the brunt of the burden of this family crisis – as she so often does, as she stepped in to fulfill her role and mine as well.  Because she was closely involved 24/7, I asked her to write a more detailed 'medical account' of Luke's trauma.  Please take a moment more to read it below.  And as you do, know HOW MUCH we deeply appreciate your past and continued prayers for us as a family! In His Sovereign Love, J.L. The special ‘Get Well’ card to Luke from the Bethany Children’s Home in India Owen and Luke holding the ‘Get Well’ card from BCH; Luke with his new bunny rabbit; Owen, Patt and Luke spending time together Dear Family & Friends, We are deeply grateful to so many of you who have been standing with us in prayer for our grandson, Luke. Some of you have asked for more details, so here they are.  He had been playing and running as usual on Wednesday afternoon, April 4th.  About 6 p.m., he said he didn't feel good and had a headache.  Throughout the night he began vomiting, running a fever with chills, but early Thursday morning some rigidity set in.  So Jonathan and Julie loaded up all three kids and headed to the ER.  After dropping off his identical twin brother, Owen, and little sister, Joy Yael, with the Atkins family, a lumbar puncture and other tests confirmed streptococcus pneumococcal meningitis.  Everyone had to don masks and at one point gowns and gloves.  Luke was taken by Life-Flight to UNC Children's Hospital.  Days and nights melted together, becoming one long nightmare, and a long battle ensued to determine the hows, whys, and what nows. Finally, on Sunday/Monday it was determined that the problem started about 3 years ago.  Luke (almost 6 years old at the time) had been riding his scooter around the edges of a tennis court.  He lost his balance a little bit and hit the handle on the pole for the net.  The impact blew out part of the left orbital bone just below the eyebrow and nose side of his left eye.  No surgery was done, but he was monitored for some time afterward, his eye and vision made a complete recovery, praise God!  But a piece of the bone was missing – about the size of a dime.  Fast forward to last Wednesday.  For reasons still unknown, a small part of his brain pushed through that hole, kind of like a small hernia (called an encephalocele).  It came to rest in the sinus cavity (Luke had a sinus infection).  The infection spread to the encephalocele and into the brain, hence the meningitis.  Fortunately, it was finally determined that it was not the contagious form of meningitis so we didn't have to wear masks, etc.  Luke was released to come home late Tuesday evening (the 10th). What now?  He will receive antibiotics by IV three times a day at home for the next two weeks.  During his hospital stay, his heart rate dropped significantly and his blood pressure became erratic. We are praying for both of these things to return to normal before surgery.  On April 24th, he will be readmitted to UNC to repair the hole in the bone.  The surgeon will go in through his nose and make a flap from the septum and cover the hole.  Luke will be in intensive care (PICU) for a day and then will be in the hospital for 4-5 more days with a catheter coming from his left nostril. Fortunately, he won't have to come home with it. After this procedure, most patients permanently lose their sense of smell and taste on the side affected.  It will take about 3 more weeks to recover with strict rules to not sneeze, blow his nose, wrestle, run, etc. We ask prayer for Luke, that he will see God's hand at work in this traumatic event, that he will make a complete recovery and be able to make up his school work in these last couple of months of the school year.  For his Dad and Mom as they travel the labyrinth of emotions, details and understandings of the procedures.  For Owen and Joy Yael, who will be staying with lots of extended family who love them, but who once again won't have much time with a dearly loved brother and their parents.  We know that God spared Luke's life, for which we are profoundly grateful!  We also know that only through suffering do we understand how much God can comfort, and how our suffering sensitizes us to the needs of others.  We are confidently trusting the Lord for His perfect will to be done. With love, Patt P.S. We were so grateful that you included J.L. in your prayers while he remained in Haiti.  It was horrible for him not to be here and I missed his stabilizing presence.  But God was faithful as always and J.L.’s safe return was good medicine for all of us! Current Events, 2012-04-16T02:33:42+00:00 http://www.jlwilliams.org/site/good_friday http://www.jlwilliams.org/site/good_friday#When:10:43:23Z Dear Friends & Partners, Loving greetings from Haiti.  I had a joyous Good Friday service at this tent on a hillside outside Port-au-Prince.  It is called Onaville.  Before the earthquake, this hillside was barren of trees and people.  Now over 500,000 people live here in a make-shift shanty town.  My friend and partner, Esperandiru Pierre started a ministry here with a small tent doing medical and social work.  A church was also started -- which I had the privilege of preaching at on my last visit for their first official service.  They quickly over-flowed the first tent --which was replaced by this larger one -- which is also overflowing.  We hope to build a large permanent church for them before year's end.  I will preach here again on Easter Sunday morning to another packed tent!  Thanks for your prayers. When I landed in Haiti I received a text from Patt saying that our twin grandson, Luke had been life flighted to Chapel Hill with menengittis.  Obviously my heart sunk!  I wanted to get on the next flight home.  But due to the holidays that was impossible.  However  after talking to Patt on the phone -- and my son Jonathan, they felt I should stay unless Luke got worse.  Right now he is stable and on antibiotics.  My heart continues to be torn between being back home and being here with these earthquake victims -- who have also been through unimaginable trauma and tragedy.   And Jonathan understands this well as a father and doctor since he came to Haiti with me after the earthquake to do medical work.  So we all covet your prayers as we walk though This family crisis by faith. In His resurrection love and power, JL The Field Report, 2012-04-07T10:43:23+00:00 http://www.jlwilliams.org/site/donkeys_for_jesus http://www.jlwilliams.org/site/donkeys_for_jesus#When:01:07:16Z “Go into the village…find a donkey and a colt… bring them to Me…the Lord has need of them.” Matt. 21:2-3) Dear Friends & Partners, This past week Christians around the world celebrated Palm Sunday.  It’s the beginning of Holy Week when we commemorate Jesus riding into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey amidst shouts of “Hosannas.”  It was Jesus’ last day of public popularity.  In just a few days the fickled crowds would become hostile and cry out for His blood!  The donkey would be traded for a cross.  By Friday, the burden-bearer would be Jesus.  The donkey would not be carrying Christ – Christ would be carrying the cross.  He would not be on a donkey’s back – but a cross would be on His back!  But on this day there was much rejoicing because of Jesus’ humble Kingly presence.  And at the end of the day, the donkey had done its job. In the prelude to this story, we are told that Jesus sent two of His disciples to bring the donkey.  We don’t know which of the disciples were on “donkey duty” that day!  Perhaps some even grumbled: “Lord, I don’t do donkeys!  Fishing is my background – not donkeys!  I didn’t follow you to manage donkeys!  Donkey discipleship is not my calling!”  But in spite of possible protest, two disciples were ultimately dispatched for this unglamorous “donkey duty”!  Anticipating their concerns about absconding a donkey from a total stranger’s house, Jesus gave them very specific instructions: “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her.  Untie them and bring them to Me.  If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”   (Matt.21:2-3) So by faith, those two disciples did what Jesus told them to do.  Theirs was not to understand but to obey.  Once again we see the “principle of partnership” at work in this event.  On Palm Sunday, Jesus engaged two of His unnamed disciples and He involved an unknown donkey owner to accomplish His purposes.  If there was any question on the part of the owner as to why his donkey and colt were being taken, they were to simply to say: “The Lord needs them.”   That declaration rendered any further discussion or disagreement a moot issue. Jesus assured them that if they made that declaration to the owner of the donkey “…he would send them right away.”  There would be no further hesitation.  The donkey and colt would be immediately released for Jesus’ use.  And so it was. Again, neither the two disciples nor the donkey owner understood why Jesus needed the donkey?   They were clueless.  Like them, we are often in the dark when Jesus asks us to do something by faith – especially when it does not seem to make sense!  What could a donkey possibly have to do with the will of God?!  However, Jesus was crystal clear in why He needed that donkey and colt.  He needed them to fulfill the ancient prophecy about that day which said: “See, your King comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zech. 9:9; Matt. 21:5). For Jesus to walk into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday like the disciples did would have been a violation of prophecy.  It would have proven the Scriptures to be untrue and untrustworthy.  A donkey was required that day – and a very specific one at that.  It had to be “…a donkey and its colt.”  Thus, two disciples, a donkey owner, a lowly donkey and her colt converged to fulfill prophecy that first Palm Sunday!  How amazing are the mysteries of God’s Will and Word! Do you see a parallel here to your situation?  What is it in your sphere of ownership – or stewardship – that Jesus wants to use to fulfill His foreordained purposes?  Are you holding tightly to your resources as your security?  Just like the donkey was “tied up” in this story, are your assets so “tied up” by debt, fear, selfishness, greed – that you are unable or unwilling to release them to the Lord Jesus? This donkey owner had a different spirit.  He released his donkey and colt and sent them to Jesus “…right away.”  He was immediate in his obedience.  Dare we do any less? Through the years when new acquaintances ask me what I do, I often respond: “I’m a donkey for Jesus!”  Most look puzzled – waiting for a further explanation.  So I summarize the Palm Sunday story.  I tell them that my calling is that of the donkey on Palm Sunday.  I explain that in the Bible the donkey is a beast of burden and symbol of humility.  As a result, my calling in life is to simply take Jesus and His resources wherever He wants to go.  And in the process, I am to always remember that it is not about the donkey – it’s all about Jesus!  On that first Palm Sunday, all of the cloaks strewn on the road…the waving of palm branches…the shouts of “Hosanna” were not for the donkey!   They were for Jesus.  People were not admiring the donkey.  How foolish it would have been for the donkey to think, “Wow, look how important I am!  Listen to how these people are praising me!”  No.  He wasn’t the focal point of people’s attention and admiration.  He was simply an instrument that Jesus needed to accomplish His goal.  That’s to be our highest purpose in life also.  Nothing more, nothing less. Palm Sunday reminds us afresh that life is not about us – it’s about Him!  Christian ministry is not about the minister – it’s about Jesus!  Church is not about the members – it’s about the Master!          It’s not about the saints – it’s about the Savior!  Christian leadership is not about our glory – it’s about the good of others.  The Christian life is never about the donkey – it’s always…always…all about Jesus! No doubt there were hundreds ofother donkeys in Jerusalem that Sunday.  They were the trucks and taxis of the day carrying people and cargo all over the city.   Obviously then, the only thing that distinguished that particular donkey on Palm Sunday from the hundreds of others in the city was Who he was carrying.  Without Jesus on His back, he was just another donkey.  But with Jesus on his back, that donkey had direction and distinction. So it has been my joy for over 4 decades to be a simple “donkey for Jesus.”    To be sensitive to His voice.  To be available to His bidding.  To be obedient when He says to me: “J.L., I need you to take My love and compassion to some of My needy children.” And like the two disciples in the story, I have to be willing to step out on faith.  I have to sometimes do things I do not fully understand.  I have to go on missions that have not been clearly defined yet.  I have to boldly ask people to release their resources for the Master’s use.  I have to lovingly challenge them to “untie” and release some of their assets because “…the Lord needs them.” And then, as they give by faith, I have the joy of transporting those resources to meet the physical and spiritual needs of others – just like Patt and I had the privilege of doing recently in Nepal and India. When Jesus and His resources come – whether on a donkey or airplane – there are always shouts of praise!  There is always thanksgiving!  That’s why Paul encouraged the saints who gave through him with these words of assurance: “The service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.  Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the Gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else” (II Cor. 9:12-13). So thanks for “loading our donkey” with needed supplies that we were able to deploy on this past trip to Asia.  Be blessed by the slideshow pictures.  And know that you have brought glory to God and praise and thanksgiving to His people! But right now, our donkey depot is almost totally empty!  So we pray that many of you reading this email will make a special “Easter Offering” to replenish our dwindling financial supplies so we can continue to share His practical love and compassion to others in need – wherever He deploys us. Just a donkey for Jesus! JL PS:  I will be leaving for an “Easter Crusade” in Haiti this weekend – so I do covet your prayers.  And as always, I will go in with my donkey loaded – or overloaded (according to the airlines!) – with supplies to meet needs in His Name! Click here to make a donation to JLPF. The Field Report, 2012-04-04T01:07:16+00:00 http://www.jlwilliams.org/site/politics_and_religion http://www.jlwilliams.org/site/politics_and_religion#When:01:15:06Z Dear JLPF Partner,   Let me make a confession: I’m a news junkie!”  Much to Patt’s chagrin, all I want to do when I am home and have any TV time is to watch news reports and political talk shows.  These are only occasionally interrupted by something non-political on NatGeo or Animal Planet.  But these days even nature and animals have been politicized by the right and left! So now you know my TV viewing weaknesses!  Patt hopes you will pray for my deliverance from this “political addiction” before it becomes fatal! PERCEPTIONS OF AMERICA But I must confess that I am especially addicted to politics during election years – like 2012.   And when I am overseas, I am always fascinated by the opportunity to view America through the lenses of other countries and cultures – most of which view us very differently than we view ourselves.  Depending upon what country I am in, America is variously portrayed as a Christian nation…a city set on a hill…the land of opportunity…the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow…a military bully…a capitalist exploiter…a colonialist country…the Great Satan. So every American traveling abroad is seen through different eyes than they see themselves.  That’s why “political conflict” and “culture shock” are very real issues that American tourists, military personal, businessmen or missionaries need to be sensitized to.  Sadly, most are not.  As a result, the concept of the “ugly American” is unnecessarily perpetrated.  Obviously, presidential election years in America are increasingly watched closely – especially in this media age of cell phones, computers, iPods and TVs.  While most envy our freedoms and democratic process, most only have a superficial understanding of our political process. FAITH & THE PUBLIC FORUM This political year is especially significant because it is supercharged by the “faith factor.”  In addition to the economy, jobs, education, energy, foreign affairs – especially the potential of a “nuclear Iran” – religion’s impact on the “social agenda” has become a dominant issue.  There is constant debate over how a politician’s personal faith impacts things like traditional marriage…contraceptives…abortion…divorce…gay rights…the environment, etc. In the past, our concept of “Separation of Church and State” has built a fire wall of separation between private belief and public performance – a concept that is completely abhorred in Islam.  But in this current election process, the issue of faith is being constantly brought to the forefront.  How does private character impact public conduct? REPUBLICAN RELIGION A popular maxim says: "Politics and religion make strange bed-bellows!"  One thing’s for sure, they are in bed together during this election year as never before – especially in the Republican caucuses and primaries.  The on-going Republican presidential debates have now surpassed the 19 mark and counting.  While it is an opportunity for the candidates to be “vetted”, or thoroughly examined down to the moral, marital and monetary minutia, there is a lot of mud-slinging in the process.  To date it has been a very negative campaign fueled by millions of dollars of Super Pac money.  Sadly, all of these negative ads have dirtied all of the candidates involved since it is impossible to sling mud without getting morally muddy in the process!  As is usually the case, these on-going campaign debates are generating a bit more heat than light.  This vetting process has become something of a political demolition derby with each candidate fighting to lead the pack and cross the finish line with their party nomination in hand by winning the necessary 1,144 delegates.  THE FINAL FOUR Already the Republican candidates have been cut in half from an original pack of 8 major contenders.  The first four political fatalities were: Herman Cain, Michele Bachmann, Jon Huntsman and Rick Perry.  Like the NCAA, the Final Four who are still battling it out are Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul.  While Romney is the presumed front-runner, he has not yet galvanized and energized the political and religious conservatives.  This is seen by the fact that there is a majority of the voters who are still in the “undecided” category. EVANGELICALS, MORMONS & CATHOLICS Regardless of their past political records, present financial status or future campaign stumping, conservative groups like the Tea Party and Evangelical Christians will play a deciding role in who wins first place on the Republican ticket.  So like it or not – and liberals don't like it – Christians and politicians are in bed together! Republicans in general, and evangelical Christians in particular, have to decide between: •               Mitt Romney: a proud and professing Mormon elder •               Newt Gingrich: a recently convert to Catholicism •               Rich Santorum: a life long Catholic of deep conviction •               Ron Paul: a libertarian who plays his religious cards close to his chest Since Mormons are the 4th largest denomination in America, they represent one of the largest conservative voting blocks.  They are generally very pro-family, pro-life, pro-free enterprise, pro-military, pro-America.  Politically, then, a good Mormon can be a good governor or president.  Certainly a potential government official should not be totally judged by his faith, or lack thereof. But, on the other hand, neither can a political candidate be totally separated from their religious beliefs.  These elections remind us again that we are voting for a president, not a preacher, priest or prophet to occupy the White House. MY POLITICAL CUP OF TEA However, both political conservatives and evangelical Christians have to decide which candidate best deserves to claim and carry the mantles of "conservative" and "Christian."  Right now, Mitt, Newt and Rick are vying for both of those titles – with Ron claiming to be the only “true conservative.” The political wars continue.  So do the cultural wars.  And beneath both of them, the religious wars fuel the other battles.  Questions like these continue to be catalytic in people's thinking and voting: •               Are we a Judeo-Christian nation? •               Are we a Islamic-Christian nation? •               Do the Bible and 10 Commandments have no historical connect with our Constitution and Bill of Rights? •               What does separation of church and state really mean? •               Are we now a secular nation void of a religious foundation? •               Does a politician's faith matter in governance? •               Is private morality irrelevant to public performance? •               Can a Catholic, Mormon, atheist or born-again Christian make an equally good President?   While most of Europe has answered these questions with a resounding "NO," they keep being recycled in America during election years.  And this year, Romney's Mormon Faith, Santorum and Gingrich's Catholic Faith and Paul's Libertarian "faith" continue to be a factor at the polling booth and ballot box.  And many, if not most, evangelical Christians, have a great concern about the strong Mormon faith of Mitt Romney.  The question persists:  Does Mormonism represent mainline Christianity?”  Or, "Is Mormonism a cult?"  Either answer is offensive to one side or the other. PRO OR PROTEST VOTE? To date, most political pundants keep saying that Romney has not really captured the minds and hearts of the political conservatives and evangelical Christians.  As a result, we have seen the so-called “Santorum surge” and “Gingrich gain” in recent weeks.  The nagging question is whether their persistent presence and popularity is really a “positive vote” for them – or a “protest vote” against Romney?  Only time will tell.  And Governor Romney’s Mormon faith will be a deciding factor in that debate. Therefore, to help you make that decision so that you can vote more intelligently, I have updated and reprinted my book on Mormonism.  I first wrote it back in the early 1970s. For those of you who want to dig more deeply into this subject as you decide how the doctrines of Mormonism should impact your voting, click here for a free copy of my book in pdf format. DEMOCRAT DEMOGRAPHICS However, this issue of religion and politics is not just a Republican issue.  Democrats face their own version of this politico-religious dynamic.  There is still an uncertain religious aura hanging over President Obama.  While he has tried, he still has never been able to fully distance himself from Rev. Jeremiah Wright and his fiery spiritual-political-racial-cultural rhetoric that often had strong anti-American overtones.  Couple this liberal leftist "Christian" influence with president Obama's early up-bringing under a Muslim father and subsequent education in Koranic schools – and there is a lingering dark cloud of spiritual suspicion about the reality or sincerity of his professed Christian faith.  At this year's annual National Prayer Breakfast on February 2nd (which I have attended many times), President Obama again spoke openly of "My Christian Faith…" and how it has impacted his political positions. But formal and informal polls continue to show that many Americans still fear that he is really a “closet Muslim” who has not fully come clean about his Islamic sympathies.  He has made many statements and speeches negating our American and Judeo-Christian heritage.  He has also made many statements extolling the virtues of Islam.  I will share and document many of those in a subsequent email. Suffice it to say at this point, President Obama has made some very positive statements about Islam.  In many of his speeches, he praises Islam and enumerates its virtues and the debt civilization owes that religion.  He speaks of Islam as a “revealed religion” from God.  He reveres Mohammed as an authentic prophet from God.  He always refers to the "Holy Koran" when he speaks of the writings of Mohammed.  He calls the morning Muslim call to prayer one of the most beautiful sounds in the world – and can recite it in perfect Arabic. But does this make him a secret Muslim?  Not necessarily.  Only God knows his heart.  However, we do need to carefully look at the “religious fruit” of his life – which we will do in a later email. CONCLUSIONS I began this political op ed with the popular maxim: "Politics and Religion make strange bed-fellows."  Let me end this brief excursion for now through the current political mine-field with another Maxim: "Let your conscience be your guide."   In the final analysis, each of us as Americans and Christians must "vote our conscience."  However, if our conscience is going to be a trustworthy guide in the voting booth, it must not be driven by blind passion to any person or party.  Our conscience can only be a trustworthy guide when it is historically educated and politically informed.  But most of all, it needs to have been educated by the Word of God and sensitized by the Spirit of God.  To that end, I trust that this attachment on Mormonism will be a helpful resource in your voting. For God & Country, JL Current Events, 2012-03-13T01:15:06+00:00 http://www.jlwilliams.org/site/pauls_passion_for_the_church http://www.jlwilliams.org/site/pauls_passion_for_the_church#When:20:04:52Z PowerPoints, 2012-03-11T20:04:52+00:00