Figures 003 Eve gives the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of which she had eat to her Husband (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Many in Manassas and Prince William County work for the Federal Government. Therefore, because the Federal Government is partially shutdown, many have stayed home, temporarily laid off. Why is this going on? The answer lies in our sinful nature.
Because it is told with so few words, the story of man’s first sin seems simple. Nonetheless, that’s the prototype we still follow.
Genesis 3:1-7 Good News Translation (GNT)
3 Now the snake was the most cunning animal that the Lord God had made. The snake asked the woman, “Did God really tell you not to eat fruit from any tree in the garden?”
2 “We may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden,” the woman answered, 3 “except the tree in the middle of it. God told us not to eat the fruit of that tree or even touch it; if we do, we will die.”
4 The snake replied, “That’s not true; you will not die. 5 God said that because he knows that when you eat it, you will be like God and know what is good and what is bad.”
6 The woman saw how beautiful the tree was and how good its fruit would be to eat, and she thought how wonderful it would be to become wise. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, and he also ate it. 7 As soon as they had eaten it, they were given understanding and realized that they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and covered themselves.
In the first verse, the snake casts doubt upon the God’s Word. In the fourth, the snake denies God’s Word. In the fifth, the snake seeks to deceive Eve. Deceived, Eve bit into the forbidden fruit. Knowing exactly what God had said, instead of displeasing Eve, in the sixth verse Adam chose to disobey God.
- Doubt comes from uncertainty. When we do not take the time to learn the truth, we are in doubt.
- Denial comes from wishful thinking. Instead of examining our motives, we prefer to believe what we wish to be true.
- Deception stems from doubt and denial. Even when we should know and do know the truth, for the sake of our desires we can be willfully ignorant. We can allow ourselves to be deceived. Then the fault lies with us.
- Disobedience to God is the final step. In our pride, we elevate our own pitiful desires over the commands of our Creator.
How does the government shutdown relate to these steps?
- Doubt: Have we taken the time to learn what is going?
- Denial: Have we taken a position on the government shutdown? Why have we taken that position? Do we care about what is best for our country, or do we care more about our personal inconvenience?
- Deception: Deception is too often self-deception. Do we consider news from multiple sources? Have we genuinely tried to understand the motives on both sides of the government shutdown? Which side does simple logic suggest is more truthful? Do we care to understand how the budget process is suppose to work? What is the reason for the breakdown of that process?
- Disobedience: When our leaders accept the duties of their office, they take an oath to support and defend the Constitution. With respect to the government shutdown, which of our leaders are doing their best to uphold their oath? As citizens are we doing our best to hold our leaders accountable to our people, our Constitution, and to God?
If you have not taken the time to do so, please do a little research. Consider the following references.
- What is a Continuing Resolution? That is that bill our leaders are currently fighting over.
- How is the US Federal Budget Process suppose to work? We at least need to know that much.
- What is The Federal Debt Limit: Always a Battle? Why is it always a battle? Note that The Federal Debt Limit: Always a Battle states this as a plain fact.
If Congress refused to raise the debt limit, the U.S. would default on bonds that had been sold to people and other nations.
Yet the same people who make this argument say the 14th Amendment requires our government to pay the people it owes money what it owes them. If our government can cannot pay off the people we owe money without borrowing more money, don’t we have a bigger problem than raising the debt ceiling? And how come we will be fighting this battle right on the heels of the battle over the Continuing Resolution?
- With respect to these controversies, what does the The United States Constitution say is the role of the President, the Senate, and the House of Representatives?
- What does the Bible say? Is one or both sides in this controversy demanding from us what we owe to God alone?
Have you made government too important in your life? Doesn’t a shutdown like this show how undependable government can be? Can you imagine the universe shutting down? Fortunately, God is God, and we can depend upon Him.
Related articles
- Palin Calls for Civil Disobedience at WWII Memorial ‘Barrycades’ (breitbart.com)
- How does the government shutdown effect the topic? (hsimpact.wordpress.com)
- Who Really Shutdown the Government (caldwellteaparty.org)
- 66 questions and answers about the government shutdown (usatoday.com)
- Shutting it Down (aphilosopher.wordpress.com)
- US government shutdown ‘disappointing, devastating’ – Connie Morella (voiceofrussia.com)
Prince William-Manassas Family Alliance 