Election Year Religion (2)

Election Year Religion (2)

Tim Haile, for the Parkway church of Christ

As I mentioned last week, many politicians attempt to quote or interpret Bible passages in an effort to impress Bible believers. Interestingly, some politicians do this while supporting practices such as abortion (even partial-birth abortion) and gay marriage!
Needless to say, there is a movement under way in this country to abandon what is known as the Judeo-Christian ethic. This is a Bible-based ethic – a biblical worldview. This approach accepts biblical principles as its standard of ethics. Political liberals and modernists despise Bible-based ethics, for the Bible condemns many of the practices that these politicians and their constituents support. Barach Obama has been critical of the notion that America should exclusively adhere to a biblical ethic.

Mr. Obama said, “Which passages of Scripture should guide our public policy? Should we go with Leviticus, which suggests that slavery is okay and that eating shellfish is an abomination? Or we could go with Deuteronomy, which suggests stoning your child if he strays from the faith? Or should we just stick to the Sermon on the Mount, a passage that is so radical that it is doubtful that our own defense department would survive its application.” There are several problems with Barach Obama’s attempt at biblical exegesis:

1. As a U.S. citizen, Obama has the freedom to criticize the biblical worldview. However, when he perverts Scripture in his effort to make his point, he opens himself up to legitimate criticism. Those who wish to speak on subjects about which, God has spoken, are obligated to “speak as the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11). They may not twist God’s Scriptures with impunity!

2. Obama pits Bible passage against Bible passage, thus suggesting contradiction in the Bible. The Bible contains no contradictions (John 10:35). It is infallible, being divinely inspired in all of its parts (2 Timothy 3:16). The Law of Moses was fulfilled (fully filled) by Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:17, 18). We are “under law to Christ” (the New Testament, 1 Cor. 9:21).

3. Obama cites Old Testament cleanliness laws in an effort to dismiss Bible legitimacy. Some of his audience laughed when he spoke about eating “shellfish.” The cleanliness and ceremonial laws under the Old Testament were given under a theocracy. God gave these laws, and He had His reasons for every one of them! Of course, we are not under those laws today (Colossians 2:14, 15). More to come…

View past articles at http://parkwayarticles.blogspot.com. Please join us for worship and Bible study at our building located at 125 Hilltopper Ave, Bowling Green, KY 42101. We meet each Sunday at 10:00AM and 6:00PM for worship, and Sundays at 9:00AM and Wednesdays at 7:00PM for Bible study. Our radio program is aired each Sunday morning at 8:00AM on the WKCT 930AM band. Phone: (270) 842-2049 – Email: timhaile@mac.com.