When It is Wrong to Point Out Harm

So Franklin Graham was disinvited to the Pentagon for the national day of prayer. I guess I'm not surprised but certainly disappointed.

Read the article at: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/04/21/army-weighs-rescinding-invitation-evangelist/#

His crime or disqualification was to have pointed out that Islam is a religion that has promoted violence and harmful teachings. It seems we have reached a place in our history where it is punishable to point out error or something harmful.

There are consequences to what you believe.

The philosophies and principles that guide a movement or nation determine its success. It is the same for companies. One of my truisms is that the higher your standards are the greater your potential will be. If you found a nation or movement on excellent, proven standards your chances of success will be astronomically higher than starting with poor or nonexistent standards.

Having said that, let me point out the contrast of two very prominent examples. The principles and beliefs that inspired the American Revolution and founding of the U.S., were distinctly Christian. In the very document that began the conflict, we find the principles stated that all men were created equal, and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These are distinctly Christian in origin and were absolutely novel as principles of self government in world history at the time they were written. (See also Celebrate Liberty and Original Intent chapter 11- Barton.)

The principles and truths that under gird a nation or movement determine its destiny. Christianity provided our Founders with the wisdom to construct this great nation that has met with unrivaled success. The two core principles of Christianity being:

Mat 22:36-40 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets." (ESV)



Now consider Nazi Germany for contrast. The principles that inspired Adolf Hitler and his national socialist movement were predominantly from the atheist German philosopher Frederick Nietzsche. He essentially believed that only the strongest deserved to live. The strong had the right to do with the weaker whatever they wished and were obligated to destroy the weakest. Let the most ferocious of nations devour the rest. When you understand this it is no surprise what Adolf Hitler did to Europe in the nineteen thirties and forties. Consider further, Mao Tse Tung, Stalin and Pol Pot. Their under girding, guiding philosophies led to holocausts of political purging. The consequences to what you believe can be severe.

The principles that under gird our nation are vital to its survival too. Christianity has provided us with the means to determine good from evil; good being what is wholesome, evil being what is harmful. This is invaluable (see earlier post dated Oct 2, 2009.) Knowing what is harmful alone is vital to survival. I should add that our guiding Christian principles were vital to the survival and freedom of the nations of Europe and many countries in Asia. We saw evil for what it was and fought against it under the guidance of Good. Millions are alive and free because we did.

It is not wrong or inappropriate to favor the teachings of Christianity over all other philosophies and principles. They have lead us well and are historically the basis for our Founding. Despite popular belief it is not unconstitutional to have a Christian Prayer Service at the seat of our military power, indeed it is necessary. Islam's teachings did not make us great, inspire us to fight Nazism or Imperialistic Japan. Hindu principles do not teach life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness for all or that all men are created equal. Christian principles are what under girded our founding and guided us to greatness.

I implore my fellow countrymen to search the Bible and consider its wisdom and worth for yourselves first hand.