Guest editorial: You have been blessed; now bless others

Thanks for this inspiring, challenging post, Sarah. I read a lot, and it’s the best thing I’ve read all day.

Amen.

And you usually don’t have to travel much further than your immediate neighborhood to find someone to bless.

There are those rare moments in life when one experiences something, and they appreciate the extraordinary specialness of the moment. The suns first rays breaking through the clouds after days of rain. The first snowfall. The emergence of the butterfly from its crysalis. Likewise witrh people. No matter how dark and oppressive, you glance over your shoulder, and see that there is hope that resides amongst the next generation. Sarah,your post shows considerable depth and maturity. No doubt you have are destined to have a positive impact on the world. You may be aware of this web site, but it gives one a pretty fast reason to thank God for where we live. Plug in the numbers and see the sobering facts, as you have so eloquently illustrated.

http://www.globalrichlist.com

The most striking thing about this editorial, is the fact that a thirteen year old is promoting individual actions. Not making a case for expanded government or taxes, or the creation of another government program. My most sincere compliments to her parents.

Realist, that is an astute observation, and one certainly worthy of mentioning. Despite the erroneous notion that some how, or in some way, God expects government to fulfill this function, that support can not be found in the Bible. Far from it. Lets consider those taxes we all know so well, and look to the Bible for guidance.

The Capital Gains Tax, which is a tax on profits, actually penalizes a person for success the more profit you make the more you have to pay (i.e., the more profit a person makes the higher tax rate they pay on that profit/windfall from an investment). However, In the Bible, the more profit you make the more you are rewarded. Both the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) and the parable of the minas (Luke 19:12-27) conflict with the notion of a tax on capital gains. “For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.” In other words, the Bible implies that those who do well (invest) with what they have will be given more.

Employee wages are a hot topic, especially with church groups such as IMPACT, demanding from U. Va, the concept of “A Living Wage.”The parable of the landowner and laborers (Matthew 20:1-16) is applicable to the employer/employee relationship and the issue of wages. The landowner hires workers at different times of the day and yet pays each worker the same amount at the end of the day. When the workers hired first complain, the landowner replies, “Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things?” (“things” is translated as “money” in some versions) There is an implication that the landowner had a right to determine the wages his workers received, as well as an implication that the workers could accept or reject the landowner’s offer of work. James 5:4 provides a balance in that the Lord hears the cries of the laborers who are cheated out of wages they are due. In other words, the agreed upon wage at the time of hire has through legal trickery, or deception, has been unlawfully withheld from the employee.

Certainly the most debated, the Federal Income Tax. The current income tax structure in the United States mandates a higher tax rate or percentage the more a person makes. This tax system is contradicted by scripture, especially Exodus 30:11-15, which provided a “half a shekel” tax for everyone numbered. Verse 15 states: “The rich shall not give more and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel.” In addition, the Biblical Tithe is not applied progressively, rather it is applied equally to everyone (“And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord. . . .And concerning the tithe of the herd or the flock, of whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the Lord.” Leviticus 27:30,32).

Inheritance taxes or as we know them, the “Death Tax”
The Bible speaks to the issue of inheritance numerous times. Proverbs 13:22 states “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children” (something that is not likely with the current Estate Tax which can take up to 55% of an estate, leaving 45% to the children; when the children pass it on to the grandchildren, up to 55% of the remaining 45% can be taken, leaving only 27% of the original that would be passed on to the “children’s children”). Ezekiel 46:18 states that “the prince shall not take any of the people’s inheritance by evicting them from their property; he shall provide an inheritance for his sons from his own property, so that none of My people may be scattered from his property.” Other scriptures that deal with inheritance are Proverbs 19:14, I Chronicles 28:8, and Ezra 9:12.

So indeed, more young minds like Sarah’s, will be the ones that bring the light of hope to a dark situation.

“For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.”

“Will” does not mean “should.”

James 5:4 provides a balance in that the Lord hears the cries of the laborers who are cheated out of wages they are due. In other words, the agreed upon wage at the time of hire has through legal trickery, or deception, has been unlawfully withheld from the employee.

And what does the Bible say about employers who take advantage of needy people by paying wages so low that the people can’t get by on them? If you can’t figure out God’s attitude toward emplyers like that and need chapter and verse, look at Genesis 31:7.

Verse 15 states: “The rich shall not give more and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel.”

Where does it say this is law for all nations at all times, not just for ancient Israel?

You think you’re being faithful to the scriptures, but you ignore many scriptures. I think you’re proof texting to make excuses for your politics.

To the contrary, I am simply pointing out that there resides, in one volume of work, the Bible, all that man needs to live in this world, and this life. Our founers understood this. There veiw of freedom, taxes, societal obligations, etc, were taken from this book of instructions given to us by God himself. All we need is to adhere to them. Remember, until relatively recently, mankind knew how to define marriage.

Remember, until relatively recently, mankind knew how to define marriage.

Yes, as a state in which the husband owned the wife.

To the contrary, I am simply pointing out that there resides, in one volume of work, the Bible, all that man needs to live in this world, and this life.

Like how to defend a country against terrorist attacks while still respecting civil rights? You’re talking nonsense, and self-serving nonsense at that, as I demonstrated in my last post. What about a Jubilee year? Didn’t the Bible mandate a Jubilee year? I never hear I’ve-earned-everything-I-own fundamentalists talking about that command.

Remember, until relatively recently, mankind knew how to define marriage.

Women first experienced the greatest freedom and recognition, at the advent of Christs ministry, and subsequent teachings. Correct me if I am mistaken, but the description of women as property is a characteristic of that false religion known as Islam. A state in which women are still beaten, and mutilated and murdered, by this “peaceful” religion.

Like how to defend a country against terrorist attacks while still respecting civil rights? You’re talking nonsense, and self-serving nonsense at that, as I demonstrated in my last post. What about a Jubilee year? Didn’t the Bible mandate a Jubilee year? I never hear I’ve-earned-everything-I-own fundamentalists talking about that command.

Again, wehen we worshipped the Creator, and not the created; when we laid our problems at the altar of God, instead of legislating HIM from the public square, we were a blessed and protected country. Now, we are attempting to be and provide our own Aefis, and it is not humanly possible. Regarding the yrear of Jubilee, I agree, and have stated so in a previous editoiral.

I wish everyone a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving, and in that spirit, offer the chance for history to speak for itself.

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Thomas Paine Criticizes the Current Public School Science Curriculum 4th of July Article Advancing the Sanctity of the Unborn Life in the Ft. Hood Massacre Affidavit in Support of the Ten Commandments African American History Resources America’s Religious Heritage As Demonstrated in Presidential Inaugurations The American Revolution: Was it an Act of Biblical Rebellion? American Voters and the Abortion Issue Analyzing Legislation Benjamin Rush Dream about John Adams and Thomas Jefferson The Bible and Taxes The Bible, Slavery, and America’s Founders A Black Patriot: Wentworth Cheswell Calling Muslims to the Capitol? Celebrating Thanksgiving In America A Christian Voter Intimidation Letter from Americans United for Separation of Church and State Christmas With the Presidents Church in the U.S. Capitol Churches And Elections – What Is The Law? Confronting Civil War Revisionism: Why The South Went To War Congress, the Culture, and Christian Voting A Constitutional Amendment Restoring Religious Freedom David Barton on President’s Day Declaration of American Values Echoes of 1860: Is “Life” a Question of State’s Rights? Election 2004: A Moral Mandate? Election Resources and Information Electoral College: Preserve or Abolish? Ensuring Judicial Accountability For State Judges Evolution and the Law: “A Death Struggle Between Two Civilizations” Five Judicial Myths The Founders And Public Religious Expressions The Founding Fathers on Creation and Evolution The Founding Fathers on Jesus, Christianity and the Bible The Founding Fathers and Slavery Franklin’s Appeal for Prayer at the Constitutional Convention Futile Intimidation Attempts George Washington, Thomas Jefferson & Slavery in Virginia God: Missing in Action from American History A Godless Constitution?: A Response to Kramnick and Moore H.RES. 888 Health Care and the Constitution Homosexuals in the Military Houses of Worship Free Speech Restoration Act How You Can Be Involved Impeachment of Federal Judges In Hoc Anno Domini Is President Obama Correct: Is America No Longer a Christian Nation? James Madison and Religion in Public John Locke: Deist or Theologian? Judges: Should they be Elected or Appointed? Limiting an Overreaching Federal Government: Is State Nullification the Solution? Meet The ACLU MexicoPolicyLetter Political Parties and Morality Potential Constitutional Problems With H.R. 3590 Private Property Rights Resolution Recommended Reading List Religious Acknowledgments in the Capitol Visitor Center Republic v. Democracy A Review of A&E’s “The Crossing” Revisionism: How to Identify It In Your Children’s Textbooks Sample Letters to the Editor The Separation of Church and State Solving the Pledge of Allegiance Controversy Steps for Viewing Candidates Scorecards The Story of the Star Spangled Banner Taking On The Critics A Tale of Two Constitutions Ten Commandments Displays Ten Steps To Change America Tea Parties- Same Song, Second Verse Testimony of David Barton on Global Warming Testimony on Global Warming Thanksgiving in America Thomas Jefferson and Religion at the University of Virginia Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: The Search for Truth Treaty of Tripoli Unconfirmed Quotations Voters Guide War on God in America Was George Washington a Christian? The White House Attack on Religion Continues: Repealing Conscience Protection Why Christians Must Vote in This Election Your Vote Counts Video Black History Issue 1998 Black History Issue 2001 Black History Issue 2002 Black History Issue 2003 Black History Issue 2004 Black History Issue 2005 Black History Issue 2006 Fall 1996 Fall 1998 Fall 1999 Fall 2002 January 2002 Late Summer 1998 SPECIAL EDITION September 11, 2001 Spring 1996 Spring 1997 Spring 1998 Spring 1999 Spring 2000 Spring 2001 Spring 2002 Spring 2003 Spring 2006 Spring 2007 Newsletter Summer 1996 Summer 1997 Summer 1998 Summer 1999 Summer 2000 Summer 2005 Summer 2006 Winter 1996 Winter 1997 Winter 1999 Winter 2000 Winter 2001 Winter 2003 Winter 2004 Winter 2005 Winter 2006 BLACK HISTORY
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Celebrating Thanksgiving In America
David Barton – 11/2008

Celebrating Thanksgiving in America

The tradition introduced by European Americans of Thanksgiving as a time to focus on God and His blessings dates back well over four centuries in America. For example, such thanksgivings occurred in 1541 at Palo Duro Canyon, Texas with Coronado and 1,500 of his men; 1 in 1564 at St. Augustine, Florida with French Huguenot (Protestant) colonists; 2 in 1598 at El Paso, Texas with Juan de Oñate and his expedition; 3 in 1607 at Cape Henry, Virginia with the landing of the Jamestown settlers; 4 in 1619 at Berkeley Plantation, Virginia; 5 (and many other such celebrations). But it is primarily from the Pilgrim’s Thanksgiving celebration of 1621 that we derive the current tradition of Thanksgiving Day.

The Pilgrims set sail for America on September 6, 1620, and for two months braved the harsh elements of a storm-tossed sea. Upon disembarking at Plymouth Rock, they held a prayer service and then hastily began building shelters; however, unprepared for such a harsh New England winter, nearly half of them died before spring. 6 Emerging from that grueling winter, the Pilgrims were surprised when an Indian named Samoset approached them and greeted them in their own language, explaining to them that he had learned English from fishermen and traders. A week later, Samoset returned with a friend named Squanto, who lived with the Pilgrims and accepted their Christian faith. Squanto taught the Pilgrims much about how to live in the New World, and he and Samoset helped forge a long-lasting peace treaty between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians. Pilgrim Governor William Bradford described Squanto as “a special instrument sent of God for [our] good . . . and never left [us] till he died.” 7

That summer, the Pilgrims, still persevering in prayer and assisted by helpful Indians, 8 reaped a bountiful harvest. 9 As Pilgrim Edward Winslow (later to become the Governor) affirmed, “God be praised, we had a good increase of corn”; “by the goodness of God, we are far from want.” 10 The grateful Pilgrims therefore declared a three-day feast in December 1621 to thank God and to celebrate with their Indian friends 11 – America’s first Thanksgiving Festival. Ninety Wampanoag Indians joined the fifty Pilgrims for three days of feasting (which included shellfish, lobsters, turkey, corn bread, berries, deer, and other foods), of play (the young Pilgrim and Wampanoag men engaged in races, wrestling matches, and athletic events), and of prayer. This celebration and its accompanying activities were the origin of the holiday that Americans now celebrate each November.

However, while the Pilgrims enjoyed times of prosperity for which they thanked God, they also suffered extreme hardships. In fact, in 1623 they experienced an extended and prolonged drought. Knowing that without a change in the weather there would be no harvest and the winter would be filled with death and starvation, Governor Bradford called the Pilgrims to a time of prayer and fasting to seek God’s direct intervention. Significantly, shortly after that time of prayer – and to the great amazement of the Indian who witnessed the scene – clouds appeared in the sky and a gentle and steady rain began to fall. As Governor Bradford explained:

It came without either wind or thunder or any violence, and by degrees in abundance, as that ye earth was thoroughly wet and soaked therewith, which did so apparently revive and quicken ye decayed corn and other fruits as was wonderful to see, and made ye Indians astonished to behold; and afterwards the Lord sent them such seasonable showers, with interchange of fair warm weather as, through His blessing, caused a fruitful and liberal harvest, to their no small comfort and rejoicing. 12
The drought had been broken; the fall therefore produced an abundant harvest; there was cause for another thanksgiving. The Pilgrim practice of designating an official time of Thanksgiving spread into neighboring colonies and became an annual tradition. 13 And just as those neighboring colonies followed the Pilgrims’ example of calling for days of thanksgiving, so, too, did they adopt their practice of calling for a time of prayer and fasting. The New England Colonies therefore developed a practice of calling for a day of prayer and fasting in the spring, and a day of prayer and thanksgiving in the fall.

The Thanksgiving celebrations so common throughout New England did not begin to spread southward until the American Revolution, when Congress issued eight separate national Thanksgiving Proclamations. (Congress also issued seven separate proclamations for times of fasting and prayer, for a total of 15 official prayer proclamations during the American Revolution. 14)

America’s first national Thanksgiving occurred in 1789 with the commencement of the federal government. According to the Congressional Record for September 25 of that year, the first act after the Framers completed the framing of the Bill of Rights was that:

Mr. [Elias] Boudinot said he could not think of letting the session pass without offering an opportunity to all the citizens of the United States of joining with one voice in returning to Almighty God their sincere thanks for the many blessings He had poured down upon them. With this view, therefore, he would move the following resolution:
Resolved, That a joint committee of both Houses be directed to wait upon the President of the United States to request that he would recommend to the people of the United States a Day of Public Thanksgiving and Prayer. . . .
Mr. Roger Sherman justified the practice of thanksgiving on any single event not only as a laudable one in itself but also as warranted by a number of precedents in Holy Writ. . . . This example he thought worthy of a Christian imitation on the present occasion. 15
That congressional resolution was delivered to President George Washington, who heartily concurred with the request and issued the first federal Thanksgiving proclamation, declaring in part:

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor. . . . Now, therefore, I do appoint Thursday, the 26th day of November 1789 . . . that we may all unite to render unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection. 16
That same year, the Protestant Episcopal Church (of which President Washington was a member) announced that the first Thursday in November would become its regular day for giving thanks, “unless another day be appointed by the civil authorities.” 17 Following President Washington’s initial proclamation, national Thanksgiving Proclamations occurred only sporadically (another by President Washington in 1795, one by John Adams in 1799, one by James Madison in 1814 and again in 1815, etc.); 18 most official Thanksgiving observances occurred at the state level. In fact, by 1815, the various state governments had issued at least 1,400 official prayer proclamations, almost half for times of thanksgiving and prayer and the other half for times of fasting and prayer. 19

Over the seventy-five years following Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation, presidents faithfully followed Lincoln’s precedent, annually declaring a national Thanksgiving Day (but the date of the celebrations varied widely from proclamation to proclamation). In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt began celebrating Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of each November, and in 1941, Congress permanently established that day as the national Thanksgiving holiday. 23

As you celebrate Thanksgiving this year, remember to retain the original gratefulness to God that has always been the spirit of this – the oldest of all American holidays. (Below are representative examples of the scores of Thanksgiving proclamations penned by various Founding Fathers.)

[Congress] recommended [a day of] . . . thanksgiving and praise [so] that “the good people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts and join . . . their supplication that it may please God, through the merits of Jesus Christ, to forgive [our sins] and . . . to enlarge [His] kingdom which consisteth in righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.” 24 Continental Congress, 1777 – written by SIGNERS OF THE DECLARATION SAMUEL ADAMS AND RICHARD HENRY LEE

[I] appoint . . . a day of public Thanksgiving to Almighty God . . . to [ask] Him that He would . . . pour out His Holy Spirit on all ministers of the Gospel; that He would . . . spread the light of Christian knowledge through the remotest corners of the earth; . . . and that He would establish these United States upon the basis of religion and virtue. 25 GOVERNOR THOMAS JEFFERSON, 1779

[I] appoint . . . a day of public thanksgiving and praise . . . to render to God the tribute of praise for His unmerited goodness towards us . . . [by giving to] us . . . the Holy Scriptures which are able to enlighten and make us wise to eternal salvation. And [to] present our supplications…that He would forgive our manifold sins and . . . cause the benign religion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to be known, understood, and practiced among all the inhabitants of the earth. 26 GOVERNOR JOHN HANCOCK, 1790

Another grand resource to utilize, exists right here in Charlottesville. I reccommend the Providence Foundation and its historicaly researched and accurate resources for the truth about America’s Christian History:

http://www.providencefoundation.com/

Happy Thanksgiving!

Patriot, are you really unaware of the fact that in biblical times females were the property of their fathers until they were married, and became the property of their husbands upon marriage? When you speak of societal obligations, etc, . . . taken from this book of instructions given to us by God himself, well, holding women as property and as second class citizens is right there in that so-called instruction book, that Biblical Living for Dummies volume, as you apparently see it. And your conservative intellectual forbears resisted women’s rights using the very same appeal to supposed scriptural authority as you do. So while I agree with you on some social issues, in your scriptural literalism you stand in a simpleminded tradition that even Christian historians have not been kind to.

Correct me if I am mistaken, but the description of women as property is a characteristic of that false religion known as Islam.

That’s right, militant Islam is fundamentalist in its reading of its scriptures, just as you are in your reading of ours. In other words, while you differ on specifics like women’s rights (or at least I assume you do), in doing so you are intellectually inconsistent, and are in fact doing what you condemn in others, going along with the times. In your actual stated approach to sacred scripture, you stand with militant Islam.

Please provide a link to what you wrote about the Jubilee Year.

Schillingshow editorial Sept 8, 2009.

Grasping materialism. Avarice, greed, the sin that corrupted Judas was true of Israel. Insatiable greed of landowners accumulating land and more land and fields and more field and houses and more houses. Wealthy men ruthlessly acquiring all the property, squeezing out the poor and the helpless and making them buy things at an inflated price. This societal behavior fuels inflation. It is materialism that that drives inflation. Remember that every seventh year, they were supposed to let the land rest? Every 50th year, everything that was acquired went back to its original owner. That was called the year of jubilee, which started the economy all over again and prevented continual amassing and passing on and squeezing out everybody, and so every 50th year, everything went back to the original owner. If you knew that, you would not pay too much for something if you had to give it back in a few years.

Grasping materialism. Avarice, greed, the sin that corrupted Judas was true of Israel. Insatiable greed of landowners accumulating land and more land and fields and more field and houses and more houses. Wealthy men ruthlessly acquiring all the property, squeezing out the poor and the helpless and making them buy things at an inflated price. This societal behavior fuels inflation. It is materialism that that drives inflation. Remember that every seventh year, they were supposed to let the land rest? Every 50th year, everything that was acquired went back to its original owner. That was called the year of jubilee, which started the economy all over again and prevented continual amassing and passing on and squeezing out everybody, and so every 50th year, everything went back to the original owner.

And none of this, apparently, should have any bearing on economic policy today.

Times change,the sinfulness of the human heart does not. If we had not failed to grasp the truths shared by Christ 2,000 years ago, we would not find ourselves in this economic mess we now find ourselves in. That failure to apply the Divine Directions, has and does have tremendous bearing on todays economic policies. We did not learn from Rome’s fall, nor Germany’s. We are on the road to learn it again. Up close and personal.

That failure to apply the Divine Directions, has and does have tremendous bearing on todays economic policies.

You mean like your making excuses for why the Biblical example of a Jubilee Year has nothing to tell us about tax policy?

I am not making excuses for anything. I am simply stating that if we were to follow those mandates prescribed in the Holy Scriptures, our society would not be in the ill state that it now finds itself. As I have stated previously, the tax system as we know are forced to live it, is not Biblical. As you have stated, and I have concurred with, until the church once again gets serious regarding its role in society, then regrettably, we will forever have the poor amongst us. The lust and the greed for power and money will always play havoc with societal good. Remember, money is not the root of all evil, it is the love of money. God did not say being rich was bad, but how one chose to use their wealth. I have always pondered how much more of an impact we could have had in the world, if we were not spending so much on luxury and entertainment, but using our excess for the aid of others.

I am simply stating that if we were to follow those mandates prescribed in the Holy Scriptures, our society would not be in the ill state that it now finds itself. As I have stated previously, the tax system as we know are forced to live it, is not Biblical.

The scriptures mandated a Jubilee Year. It was law. The scripture mandated a redistribution of income, the very thing you conservatives are always railing against.

For “income” I meant to write “property.”

And take a look at Leviticus 25:23:

“Land will not be sold absolutely, for the land belongs to Me, and you are only strangers and guests of mine.”

How do you square the conservative insistence that a man owns and has a right to everything he has with Leviticus 25:23?

Sarah makes me very proud of our young people. The adults, however, trying to twist her words into political messages that I’m sure she never thought about should be ashamed of themselves.

If you actually read the debate that began after we praised her editorial, it’s clear we weren’t even discussing it.

I enjoyed reading this well-written, op-ed from this remarkable young writer. I think the Schilling Show should invite her on to be a guest on the program, if this hasn’t happened already.