( MATTHEW 23:1-6 )

THEN SPAKE JESUS TO THE MULTITUDE, AND TO HIS DISCIPLES,( 2 ) SAYING, THE SCRIBES AND THE PHARISEES SIT IN MOSES’ SEAT: ( 3 ) ALL THEREFORE WHATSOEVER THEY BID YOU OBSERVE, THAT OBSERVE AND DO; BUT DO NOT YE AFTER THEIR WORKS: FOR THEY SAY AND DO NOT. ( 4 ) FOR THEY BIND HEAVY BURDENS AND GRIEVIOUS TO BE BORNE, AND LAY THEM ON MEN’S SHOULDERS; BUT THEY THEMSELVES WILL NOT MOVE THEM WITH ONE OF THEIR FINGERS. ( 5 ) BUT ALL OF THEIR WORKS THEY DO FOR TO BE SEEN OF MEN: THEY MAKE BROAD THEIR PHYLACTERIES, AND ENLARGE THE BOARDERS OF THEIR GARMENTS, ( 6 ) AND LOVE THE UPPERMOST ROOMS AT FEASTS, AND THE CHIEF SEATS IN THE SYNAGOGUES,

( MATTHEW 23:23 )

WOE UNTO YOU, SCRIBES AND PHARISEES, HYPOCRITES! FOR YE PAY TITHE OF MINT AND ANISE AND CUMMIN, AND HAVE OMITTED THE WEIGHTIER MATTERS OF THE LAW, JUDGMENT, MERCY, AND FAITH: THESE THINGS OUGHT YE HAVE DONE, AND NOT TO LEAVE THE OTHER UNDONE.

As I begin to write this lesson, I wonder; can we agree on the fact that, according to these verses that Jesus Christ was contrary to the Scribes and Pharisees? If we notice the very first part of the first verse, he says; ( whatsoever they bid, you observe ) why? Because they sit in Moses’ seat. However, ( don’t do after their works ). Why? Because they bind heavy burdens and greivious to be borne. They lay them on men’s shoulders but, they themselves will not move a finger to do what they demand of you.Also, everything they do, they do to be seen of men.

However, Jesus Christ was not contrary to the law and the reason for that law. The Bible says this:

( John 1:17 )

FOR THE LAW WAS GIVEN BY MOSES, BUT GRACE AND TRUTH CAME BY JESUS CHRIST.

It’s very strange how the very same people that were so desirious to demand that people keep the law; despised the very man that was able to do just that. Isn’t it the very same way today? There are those that will call foul if you mention the name of Jesus Christ, yet they will be the very first one to point out the fact that you don’t keep their law. You see; Jesus Christ was perfectly able to keep the very law that God handed down to Moses but, the Pharisees were upset that he didn’t keep their law.The problem was; they didn’t keep it either, they just didn’t let the people know that fact.

I am an electrician by trade, retired now. In the last few years of my employment I worked in a factory where I had worked doing electrical work many times. The factory had devised what they called a ( zero tolerance policy ). They had set certain saftey guidelines that if any person broke one of those guidelines one time, they were fired and could never work there again. One day as I worked there, the man that was my contact at that factory explained that to me. As we talked, I told him that there was no such thing as a ( zero tolerance policy ). He argued that I was. I replied, no it’s not! You’re not telling me that you don’t have a friend that you have seen do something that you would absolutely dismiss me for but, you turned a blind eye to what they did. Every other person in this factory has that very same mindset. It’s just simple human nature! At that,, he simply looked at me and didn’t say a word. I replied, Yep! Just as I figured!

That concept has a Biblical verse:

( Romans 2:15-16 )

WHICH SHEW THE WORK OF THE LAW WRITTEN IN THEIR HEARTS, THEIR CONSCIENCE ALSO BEARING WITNESS, AND THEIR THOUGHTS THE MEAN WHILE ACCUSING OR ELSE EXCUSING ONE ANOTHER. ( 16 ) IN THE DAY WHEN GOD SHALL JUDGE THE SECRETS OF MEN BY JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO MY GOSPEL.

In essence, it doesn’t matter whether it’s God’s law or, just some laws made by man, we as people use that law and we either accuse people or excuse depending on how we like that person. However, make no mistake, God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ because he knows what the truth is. ( the law ) always condemns but, ( grace and truth ) came by Jesus Christ. The truth, we’re all guilty! When we begin to point fingers at someone else; we become Pharisees and Hypocrites!

When it comes to this country; ( the United States of Ameria ), the people that basically goveren us have denounced the ( grace and truth ) of Jesus Christ. That reach goes far beyond the Senate and congress, It reaches into every governing body of everything that has any authority over people with the power to decide the wellbeing of other people. It’s in the leaders of the news media, it’s in sports, it’s in the common work place, it’s in our judical system, it’s even in our Churches. We have done away with the very concept of ( Jesus Christ ) and ( grace and truth ).

At the very same time that ( the powers that be ) have turned their back on the God of this universe, the Father of Jesus Christ, the one that gave his life for our inability to keep his law, they have become ( a religion ) within their own ranks, setting their own laws that goveren those that might oppose them. They, like the Pharisees and Hypocrites mentioned in these verses cannot even live to the very laws they expect others to abide by.

Let’s make a distinction here. If you are as I am ( born again ) ( washed in the blood of Jesus Christ ) then we are governed by a totally different set of guidelines than those of either this country or, this world.Again, we still have to make another distinction; that between what we call ( the Church ) and those that are actually ( born again ). Why would that be? We see in scripture that even the high priest of those days we against Jesus Christ and, often sided with the ( powers to be ) Wonder why that would be? The greatest fear they all had was losing the powers or priviledges they possessed. And, that to a man called Jesus Christ. If they recognized him for what and who he said he was then all their power was gone.

In the United States of America, just as in any other country in the world; those in power don’t like to see themselves as being controlled by any religion., however they are all wrong, they just can’t see it for the blindness that has happened within their own ( sin cursed minds and hearts ). There’s a problem that even many believers can’t see. That problem is that their is only two that we can serve. I know, even the Bible speaks of ( gods ) however, any god that you might choose to serve other that ( God the Father ) and that through the blood of his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ is all basically pleasing to the ( god of this world ).

Do you remember in ( Genesis 3:1 ) when the Serpent questioned Eve about eating of the ( thee of the knowledge of good and evil )? (YEA,HATH GOD SAID, YE SHALL NOT EAT OF EVERY TREE OF THE GARDEN? And also. in ( Genesis 3:4 ) when he made this statement: ( YE SHALL NOT SURELY DIE )? How many voices were there to be heard at that time? Only two, the voice of God the Father and, the voice of the Serpent. Even in all we see and hear today, those are the only two voices to be heard. In Satan’s deceitful way he make it appear that he is more than one but, that’s not the case. Not today,; nor has it ever been.

I wonder; if we asked every Senator, and every house member what Church , denomination or religion they are a member of, how many different names would we get? Or. are they even members of such? It doesn’t matter. Even if they do not join themselves with any group, they are still led a a power beyond themselves, like it or not!

You might argue that the things I just said is simply ( my Opinion ). At that, you have a right to think that however, my desire is to allow God’s Spirit to speak, revealing ( truth ). We must be able to distinguish the voice of that spirit against every opinion and other voices we might hear. I cannot enable you to do that! However, I truly believe that God’s Spirit will always reveal that which is truth to any person that is willing to hear ( his truth ). I often say to people. it’s not about your ability to hear me or, about simply what I might write. It’s about your ability to hear him as he speaks truth to your heart and, your ability to yield to the truth you hear from him.

In the verses we began with we see where Jesus Christ called the, shall we say, lawmakers of that day, hypocrites. He said that they made laws that were imposible for the people to keep and, that even they didn’t keep the very laws they made. I say that in our nation we are looking at the same things today however, that’s actually not the point I’d like to make. My point in writing this is to shed light on the types of laws and the things we are asked to except as right in our land today.

Herein is the problem! I don’t believe that the vast majority of the people in the United States of America actually look at the things we are charged to except as being exceptable. The majority of the people would disagree with the laws that are made.So, how and why do they come about. I’ll use an example of what happens in a Church ofter to make my point. As a former pastor; we use to have deacon’s meetings and discuss different issues we might be faced with. We, as a group would come up with; what we considered as a solution to the circumatances. When we would then meet with the whole body of the Church, it would be a dicussion. However, as the pastor made the motion to bring to solution to pass, one deacon would make the motion, another deacon would second the motion basically forcing the member of the Church to bring it to a vote. Therefore, did we actually know how the whole Church felt concerning the matter or, were they simply intimidated into a ( yes ) vote?

Isn’t that exactly what happens in Washington? ( WE THE PEOPLE ) vote. We send our Senators and congress people to Washington. Once they get their they are then forced into a coalition of the same mindset of the specific party leaders and, the rest is history. The actual voice of the people is never heard.

Consider this also; is anything in Washington D.C. real? Or is it all bought and paid for by someone else? For instance, l live in a part of the country where the average income is between twenty five thousand and sixty thousand dollars a year. So, we have two totally different mindsets of politicians run for the same office. However, the establishment floods money into our area to help one party over the other to win. Therefore, whose voice is actually heard? Couldn’t we argue that the ideals are bought and paid for?

( In my opinion ) when you consider it’s 435 members in the congress and 100 Senators; one of the toughtest things in this country should be to get any bill passed. Getting all those different mindsets on the same page should almost an impossibility. Let’s just say that 705% of the people in this country are very conservative and, 30% very liberal. However, the basic leadership is liberal and they pressure the new people in any way they can to join a coalition; forcing them to vote like they do. Can’t we argue that only the mindsets of one or two states are actually heard? If men and women don’t have the courage and constitution to stand on their principles and the principles of those they serve, what good is it to have any election?

As I say all these things; my intent is to make spiritual points about the country we now live in. So, let’s look at a few things to consider.

I understand that on all the points I make, you don’t have to agree with me. However, as I often say; it’s the Spirit of God that I seek to allow to be heard and not just the words I write or, things I say. Let’d just asked this question. When this nation was formed and, men laid their left hand on a Bible to swear and oathe, what was the Bible thary used and, was it any significants to that book?

The original 1611 King James Bible had a section in it that was called ( The books called Apocrypha ). So I’m going to assume that, that Bible was the English Bible used by the first Congress. We know now that ( that book ) at some point dropped that section of what we call the KIng James Bible. My question is; under whose authority was that done? Did the Holy Spirit lead the men that made that Choice? Not only that but now, in the day we live we have multiple choices we can choose from and still it is called God’s word. Now, I can’t speak as for other languages but, in the english language ( the Bible ) has been somewhat changed many times. The point, is that something that was lead by the Spirit of God?

If we as a nation doubt that it was not inspired by God then, why did we, as a nation except it? Even all the new Bibles we see today, did Gos inspire those thanslations or it that something that men, people just readily excepted in their lack of spiritual wisdom? ( I believe ) that from the very onset of this nation, a nation that had a mindset for God the Father, Satan has been busy seeking ways to destroy our relationship with Jesus Christ by weakening us in multiple ways. So, let’s not choose a particular version of scripture. Let’s allow you, to choose the version you use and say it is correct. Can you see how the very fact that any other version came into exsistance brought about confusion to some degree? It brought about division between them that trust in God’s word.

To me, that’s just one example of who we have become. What about the ( death penality ) and the way we handle all criminal behavior now? ( I believe ) it’s a true picture of the God we actually serve. We have become a ( nation that loves flesh ) and that far above ( the nation that loved the law of God the Father )! Our flesh has taken over our desire to be pleasing to God the Father. Let’s just consider back in the early days of our nation. If a man was found guilty of raping a woman, what would have happen to him? If a man stole a horse, what would have been done to him? If one man killed another for no just cause, what would have happened to him?

These things are clearly defined in scripture. We see in ( Joshua ) where God told Joshua to kill a man, his wife and all his children, and destroyed all that he had because he stole a garment and some silver. You can read that in ( Joshua 7 ). I’ll show you this one verse:

( Joushua 7:17 )

THEREFORE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL COULD NOT STAND BEFORE THEIR ENEMIES, BUT TURN THEIR BACKS BEFORE THEIR ENEMIES, BECAUSE THEY WERE ACCURSED: NEITHER WILL I BE WITH YOU ANY MORE, EXCEPT YE DESTROY THE ACCURSED FROM AMONG YOU.

What we fail to understand is that God’s grace that came by Jesus Christ didn’t do away with the law. The law of God is still very much in effect. Even I, as a born again believer, if I rape, steal, murder or commit any other unlawful deed, in my flesh, I’m still judged by God’s law. That doesn’t mean that I don’t know Jesus Christ as my savior and, that my salvation is still secure but rather I must pay for the sin or law that was broken, being judged by God’s law.

For example: Achan, his wife and his children ( becaused they believed God ) are in God’s presence now, but their sin had to be paid for. Have you ever heard the phrase ( May God have mercy on your soul )? A good judge understands that he cannot determine the destiny of any person’s soul but, that ( his Judgment ) must be carried out under the leadership of God’s Spirit.

Therefore, what has happened in our nation? The leaders of our nation has allows ( another god ) rather than the God we were founded under to begin to dictate how we establish our laws. As time has moved foward we see where the lawless slowly begin to take complete control of all things. The laws that are established are set up to protect those that are lawless and not to carry out God’s will in any way.

Let’s look at this. How about adultery and fornication? In our nation, does anyone even care about those two aspects of life anymore? How about divoce? Is there any thought about how God the Father feels about these three things concerning marriage in our country anymore? Do you think that the way we handle these things as individuals or, even on a national level has any resemblance to what God might think or the things he teaches?

I want to take the time here to stop and show you something that really brings all our national problems into spiritual focus. This concerning young women and what those young women will allow themseles to become today!

To start this; we need to focus on what ( a Church ) truly is, that is; as Jesus Christ sees it. The true Church is a group of people that have realized that fact that they live in a body of sinful flesh. They have gained that knowledge by the convicting power of the Holy Spirit of God. Those same people have denounced who they are in the flesh and, determined by the power of God to completely yield themselves to the will Of God. Another way of putting it is that they refuse, to the best of their ability to yield to the temptations of the flesh.

( The Church ) being people that are ( born again ); from that second birth have committed themselves to keep themselves pure until the day that they actually ( marry ) Jesus Christ.Look at this verse:

( 2 Corinthians 11:2 )

FOR I AM JEALOUS OVER YOU WITH GODLY JEALOUSY: FOR I HAVE ESPOUSED YOU TO ONE HUSBAND, THAT I MAY PERSENT YOU AS A CHASTE VIRGIN TO CHRIST.

The Apostle Paul, being in the sense ( the elder ) was teaching younger members of the Church all that God the Father was expecting of them. The Church is supposed to be just that way; the older teaching to younger ( how to ) keep themselves.

Every young woman is a type of that very picture. She is supposed to be taught and, to understand the importance of her ( keeping herself for on man; that her father might present her a ( chasted virgin ) to the one man she will one day marry. Back in the early days of America, many young women would not even allow themselves to be kissed untill they were at least engaged to the man they would soon marry. These things were taught however, it was completely up to the young women to make the choice to keep themselves. Even the young men, being a type of Jesus Christ, truly sought to find a young woman that purposed in her heart to keep herself just for him.

When we compare the way we see the ( Church ) and the average ( young man and woman ) in our country today; what do we see? Do we see anything like that picture today? With that question being asked, what those the Spirit of God reveal to you? Since these things are the things that are expected from the God of the universe, the Father of Jesus Christ; the God the we say we serve then, tell me, exactly what god are we walking with? Exactly what are we teaching in our Churches?

The next thing I’d like to point out is abortion. I’d like to make an observation here. I realize that the act of abortion has been around for a long time. However, in our country it really came to the forefront on about 1973. Before then; if it was done, it was done in secret because it was seen as ( against the law ). Well, when did birth control actually come into being? I mean, the ability for a woman to take a pill to prevent her from becoming pregnant? ( The Pill) came into being in ( June 1960 ). That means in less than fifteen years; we now have abortion. I say those things are part of a trend in our country.

So, let’s stop here and see what God has to say about abortion. I will just use one verse and you can read more if you like.

( Eoodus 21:22 )

IF MEN STRIVE, AND HURT A WOMAN WITH CHILD, SO THAT HER FRUIT DEPART FROM HER, AND THAT NO MISCHIEF FOLLOW: HE SHALL SURELY BE PUNISHED, ACCORDING AS THE WOMAN’S HUSBAND WILL LAY UPON HIM, AND HE SHALL PAY AS THE JUDGES DETERMINE.

I want you to notice something here. Look at the phrase ( THE WOMANN’S HUSBAND ). Is he not speaking to married people? I wonder; if we check over the years, just how many ( married women ) actually sought to get abortions? I don’t doubt it isn’t some but, the majority of abortions are done on women that are not married. In that case, where is the man? Can you see how that ( child birth ) was extremely importanT to both men and women at one tine? It was also seen as something that took place between a man and his wife.

Therefore, the act of bringing children into this world today has nothing to do with child birth does it? It has to do with our own personal pleasure and, our own personal will. First and foremost; when God wrote the law we read here it was the man that was upset about abortion; not just or, only the woman. The man decides what the punishment would be because he cared for the child that was to be born! In most cases today, we don’t even hear from the father of the child do we? The ( battle cry ) of most people that support abortion today is this: ( IT’S MY BODY )! With that being said; my question to you is. ( IS IT )? Is it still you body?

When we truly consider ( what god ) is leading us a a nation; this is a very powerful point and, I truly believe we can also tie our Churches into the down fall of a nation all concerning these things. The problem is, we’re so spiritually blind we can’t see it.

So, let’s unfold this in a spiritual sense. First of all, if you are a young unmarried woman, as far as this world is concerned; you are in control of your own body. And, as a nation, the United States of America, what we teach as that nation truly speaks volumes about what god we serve. When we condone sex before marriage and, abortion then the god we are serving is not the Father of our Lord And Savior, Jesus Christ. I often say this: a child is born a girl, she has nothing to do with that act. Then, one day she becomes a young woman, she has no control of that fact. However, whether she is a lady or not is completely up to her. It’s actually the same way with any boy.

Young men and women have complete control of their bodies. That is, unless you have been born again. Once you are born again, asking Jesus Christ to be your Savior, you’re no longer your own, you’ve been bought with a price.

( 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 )

WHAT? KNOW YE NOT THAT YOUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY GHOST WHICH IS IN YOU, WHICH YE HAVE OF GOD AND YE ARE NOT YOUR OWN? ( 20 ) FOR YE HAVE BEEN BOUGHT WITH A PRICE: THEREFORE GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY, AND IN YOUR SPIRIT, WHICH ARE GOD’S.

I point this out and continue to make the point, ( what god are we serving )? God, the Father of Jesus Christ, the family we are born into when we are born again makes it plain that if we are going to be pleasing to him; we must yield ourselves to the contol of his Holy Spirit. When young women speak and proclaim ( it’s my body ) to do with as I please. Aren’t they ( by definition ) denoumcing the ( born again experience )? When young men seek to satisify themselves, not considering the concept of marriage, aren’t they denounncing the ( born again experience ).

This; in itself is a weakness in our nation! When we as people have this kind of mindset then we seek to find leaders that will be a voice for our flesh and, not the God of the Universe. In most cases, the weakness we see in our young people; male and female is only a picture of the weakness of the parents that raised them and a great lack of spiritual education that should be the very foundation of every family and Church. There’s a verse of scripture that says this: ( THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK AND; ROSE UP TO PLAY ).

( 1 Corinthians 10:7 ) ( Exodus 32:6 )

NEITHER BE YE IDOLATERS, AS WERE SOME OF THEM; AS IT IS WRITTEN, THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND ROSE UP TO PLAY.

As we consider this; I’d like to share another verse with you to continue the point.

( Matthew 5:13 )

YE ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH: BUT IF THE SALT HAVE LOST HIS SAVOUR, WHEREWITH SHALL IT BE SALTED? IT IS THENCEFORTH GOOD FOR NOTHING, BUT TO BE CAST OUT, AND TO BE TRODDEN UNDER FOOT OF MEN.

In the United States of America, our salt has lost its savour! That, all the way through, our families, our Churches, our schools and our government. What happens when you pour salt in an open wound? ( IT STINGS, IT BURNS, IT CLEANSES )! Do you realize that what we now call ( abuse ) use to be considered as ( authority ) and that; a husband over his wife, a mother over her children, a pastor over his Church, a government over its people?

We, as a people didn’t like the authority that God the Father, by his Holy Spirit granted to the heads of every institution. The word of God is a solid rock, The Holy Spirit is a guiding force. When we; as individuals, one at a time make a choice to ( have things our way ) we slowly weaken a nation. The very foundation that we use to base our strength on becomes null and void.

Now, let’s go back and look at a word in a scripture that we referenced. The word is ( PLAY ). It says ( the sat down to eat and drink and rose top play ). How would you say that God defines the word ( play )? God defines it just as we do. Playing is always doing what you choose to do. If,, when I was a boy, my dad told me to paint the barn on a certain day while he was away but, I choose rather to mow the grass; then in my dad’s mind ( I was playing ). It’s not that mowing grass can’t be considered work but, it’s not what I was told to do.

If men, husbands refuse to yield to God’s Spirit then, why should they expect their wives to yield to their leadership? If women, wives refuse to submit to their husbands then, why would they expect their children to submit to them? That same concept goes all the the way to the top of local, state and federal governments. The sting, the cleansing power of our words are completely diminished! Our salt has lost its savour! the very foundation we stand on is one of rebelion!

When we, as a people desire to have things ( our way ), don’t we, by default reject the idea of other people having their own way? Within this very concept, we see the dimise of the very concept of policing any community. Why is that statement true? Because we refuse to allow the policeperson to do what they desire to do, even if what they do is by law. Again, that concept goes all the way to the top. Let’s take it a step farther. Let’s say you believe that every person has a right to be or, to choose their own personal sexual orientation, male or female, you believe that any person sould be able to marry the person of their choice, male or female. However, I disagree with your way of thinking. Doesn’t that make me, in your mind, wrong by default? And, at the same time, can’t I call you wrong according to the concept that you set?

When we, as a nation destroy the building blocks, the very foundation we were founded on then, as a nation, there is no right and wrong unless it is; as defined by the individual. Why did Jesus Christ call the Pharisees hypocrites? Because they expected people to live up to a standard they set that, they themselves could not live up to. And, the pharisees set that standard. They set that standard knowing that they could not live up to it but, sought to hide their own short comings from everyone else.

So, what is the blessedness of the rightousness of Jesus Christ? As we consider him, we all know we are sinners and deserve any punishment God would give us. At the same time, we are not condenmed by him! Have you ever considered the difference in ( the law of Christ ) and ( the law of God )? Or, is there a difference? Yes it is and, the constitution of the United States was established on the ( law of Christ ).

So, let look at the difference: I like using these verses to make this point.

( John 15: 9-14 )

AS THE FATHER HATH LOVED ME, SO HAVE I LOVED YOU: CONTINUE YE IN MY LOVE. ( 10 ) IF YE KEEP MY COMMANDMENTSS, YE SHALL ABIDE IN MY LOVE; EVEN AS I HAVE KEPT MY FATHER’S COMMANDMENTS, AND ABIDE IN HIS LOVE. ( 11 ) THESE THINGS HAVE I SPOKEN UNTO YOU, THAT MY JOY MIGHT REMAIN IN YOU, AND THAT YOUR JOY MIGHT BE FULL. ( 12 ) THIS IS MY COMMANDMENT, THAT YE LOVE ONE ANOTHER, AS I HAVE LOVED YOU. ( 13 ) GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS. ( 14 ) YE ARE MY FRIENDS, IF YE DO WHATSOEVER I COMMAND YOU.

He is telling us there that ( he ) kept the commandments of ( God the Father ). He says; just as he kept the commandments of the Father, he desires for us to keep ( his commandment ). His commandment is that ( ye love one another ) just as ( he loved us ). Are we able to love one another? No, we are not; not to perfection at any rate. However, if I love you; what commandment can I break and say that at the same time? Can I steal from you and, love you? Cand I lie to you and say I love you? Although we aren’t perfect, we can seek to live that way, loving one another in Christ.

Now, if I steal or lie. If I do break any of the commandments then I am still accountable for my actions, but not bebore God the Father. When we are ( in Christ ) God see us through the righteousness of Jesus Christ. However, as far as this world is concerned, we are still guilty.

I believe the Constitution of the United States is based on the same concept. It affords every person the same liberty to live with on another in love, treating each other with all due respect and, at the same time seeking all of our heart felt desires. As nation, we have never been perfect! However, as time moved foward we have sought to correct our wrongs and, move toward righteousness as a nation.

In the last fifty years haven’t we turned our backs on the simple concept? As I make that statement ( I believe ) it’s our leadership that has turned from that concept more so than the people of our nation. Have you ever heard the phrase ( a lying politician )? Well, how can a politician lie to you and say he loves you at the same time? Can you see how that they, like the Pharisees hold you to a completely different standard than the have to abide by? Our politicians live by the code ( you do as I say, not as I do ). That my friend is hypocritical!

Let’s say that your congress person is your next door neighbor. As neighbors, you both attend the same Church. He or she is a leader in the Church you both attend. On a regular basis he or she stands and both teaches and prays in open assembly. He or she regularly speaks in open assembly about Jesus Christ. However, once that same person gets to Washington, there is no prayers, no mention of Jesus Christ. Is that not hypocritical? Is he or she truly representing you? Are they even being real?

I feel compelled to mention one more aspect of our nation and, what I see today. In doing this I’d like to share something about myself by confessing. While I don’t consider myself to be a racist in any way, I’m a long way from being perfect. Over the years I’ve made racist statements and used slang words to discribe people of other nationalities or ethic backgrounds. In other words, I’m not perfect as concerning that aspect of my life just as I’m not perfect in any other part of my life.

As I honestly confess that, how could I honestly hold anyone else to a higher standard than I myself can live up to? Do you think it would be possible to find one citizen of our nation, one politician, one pastor, deacon, Sunday School teacher, any person that has never had a racist thought enter their mind, even come out of their mouth? Jesus Christ himself made this statement ( ye that are without sin, cas the first stone ). ( John 8:7 ). Yet; we seemingly have no problem casting stones never even considering our own sinful lives. That mindset is destroying the country that use to be guided by that very principle that Jesus Christ was speaking of.

As a former pastor of a Church, I once stood in my pulpit and made this statement; realizing that a young woman had gotten pregnant out of wedlock. I told the ladies of our Church this: ( some of you women look down your long pious noses at this young lady ), not realizing that the only difference in you and her is ( she got caught and you didn’t ).

From every person in our lives, starting with our President, our politicians, our pastors, our Sunday School teachers, governers all the way down to the very least of us we need to reset the very guidelines we live by. We should neve condone sin but, rather reach out the the sinner, realizing we all are under the same condemnation. It’s only by the grace of God that we are not all condemned.

My desire as a born again believer is to lift a standard of righteousness in Jesus Christ, to allow sinners to see Jesus Christ in me, confessing that I, myself am a sinner but, I have asked Jesus Christ to live within me and help me to live above my sinful self, through him. I except the fact that I am a sinner, no better than any other sinner in our nation. When we begin to see ourselves as eguals, each person with a detemination to help the other person to lift themselves up above the level they now live then, once again we will begin to live up to the Constitutional values of the United States of Americal. ( One Nation under God )!

When we, once again begin to stand on the solid rock of Jesus Christ and his righteousnes and not our own then, it will not be any mud to sling. Why? Because you can’t find any mud on a righteous foundation? Then and only then can we lift a standard of righteousness in Christ Jesus, expecting every person to live by his standard and not our own.

My prayer is that we will return to the place where God can bless ( The United States of America )!

Marshall Clayton

2 Timothy 1:7