Rights

Here’s something about “rights” that will run counter to today’s way of thinking! It comes from the footnotes of Aristotle’s “Nichomachean Ethics”, translated with notes by C.D.C. Reeve

“Other people’s rights for example, may set absolute limits to our pursuit of happiness and so be limiting ends. But it is not obvious that respecting the rights of others is the best good.”

Are other people’s rights the best good? This is the thought that comes to my mind. If other people’s rights are a subgroup of the whole, then these are special and unique rights afforded this subgroup for some special reason. These rights are now special and additional rights that the majority do not have. If in this case, these unique, special and additional rights of this subgroup interfere with or run counter to the “best good” of the majority, then yes, these minority rights should not be permitted.

The purpose of law and justice is to achieve the best good for all who are governed. Giving special rights or creating a unique law for a particular group within the whole would by definition be unjust, for the minority and the majority would be served differently, causing an imbalance, making it impossible for one or the other to achieve the best good.

Here’s the tricky part. What is the “best good”? This is where we as a country have been failing. We can’t define the best good in particular for an individual. The best good will always change. What we can do as a country is insure and secure everyone’s opportunity to achieve their best good. So, “best good” becomes defined by the individual and not the state. The one caveat being that in your pursuit of the best good, you can’t interfere with your neighbor’s pursuit of his best good. That’s where the country makes sure that no domestic or foreign power oversteps its boundaries and interferes.

Since the state does not define the particulars, but rather concerns itself with the universals, it creates a hands-off environment and approach to governance.

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness have been established as the “best good” here in the United States. This country was established to universally govern that way. The problem that has arisen is that the government has gotten into the individual rights business. This serves one while hampers or halts the majority. We are now a nation brimming over with individual rights and laws. The government is now offering a solution of a hands-on approach. We have gone from Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, to individual rights, privileges and laws to insure some best good for that particular group, to finally the government having to step in to control the mess they created by giving those special rights and privileges to so many different and unique particular groups. The state now will determine the best good for everyone and it will be the state that enforces this policy. No more individual rights. No more particulars. No more life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as defined by the individual. The one universal law and purpose is not only defined by the state, it is the state.

With that said, what do you think of the initial footnote from Aristotle's Nichomachean Ethics, minus my thought? And what do you think of it with my comments added?

Bill Hitchcock

The Will Of My Father

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21)

How many times have you heard, “I think…” or “I feel…” when someone was explaining what the Bible says or means? The most dangerous little word that could ever cross our lips is “I”.

Our thoughts and feelings take a backseat to God’s will, and God’s will is clearly expressed in His word. God says what He means and means what He says. His word will accomplish what it sets out to do and will never return to Him void.

We can’t improve upon God’s word.

God told Saul, the first king of Israel, to “go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass”. (1 Samuel 15:3)

But Saul thought he could improve upon what God told him to do. He spared the king of Amalek and kept the best of everything.

“But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.” (1 Samuel 15:9)

When Saul returned, he told Samuel the prophet of Israel, “I have performed the commandment of the Lord.” (1 Samuel 15:13).

But Saul hadn’t. Saul did what Saul thought best, not what God told him to do. And why did he do this? Saul said he brought the best of everything back so they could, “sacrifice unto the Lord thy God”. (1 Samuel 15:15)

Saul try to justify his actions by saying he did it for God. But he really didn’t do it for our Lord. Saul went against what God told him to do and kept the best of everything for the people, so he could stay in the good graces of the people.

Samuel responded to Saul, “Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.” (1 Samuel 15:22-23)

To obey God is better than anything else we can do. We don’t think for God. We can’t improve upon anything God does or says. God is perfect, we are not. Not to obey God strictly and completely is rebellion against God.

“And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice. Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord.” (1 Samuel 15:24-25).

It was too late. Saul reject God, so God rejected Saul, the King of Israel.

“And Samuel said unto him, The Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou. And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.” (1 Samuel 15:28-29)

The Strength of Israel. That phrase is only ever used here. “Strength” means endurance in time, perpetual, continual. The word “Israel” means God prevails. God and His word will always prevail, from everlasting to everlasting.

Whether we like it or not, understand it or not, or agree with it or not, we must always follow God and His word. Anything else is rejection and rebellion of God and His word, and will result in similar actions by God as was with Saul.

Bill Hitchcock

Knowledge of God

"For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings."

(Hosea 6:6)

The phrase “burnt offering” comes from the Hebrew word, “olah”. Its literal translation means, “ascent, stairway, steps”. It is the word in which holocaust (going up in smoke) is derived.

The burnt offering was the most common of all offerings. Anyone, including non-Jews could participate. It was a sacrifice of general atonement to restore the relationship between man and God. All but the skin of the animal was placed on the alter. The smoke that arose from the offering was “a soothing aroma to the Lord” (Leviticus 1:9).

Here in the Book of Hosea we learn that God prefers the knowledge of Him more than the most common and inclusive sacrifice to Him. There is nothing we can give or do that God would prefer more other than to know Him. This is important to understand for those caught up in the works and deeds mindset.

Earlier in Hosea we learned, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children” (Hosea 4:6).

This message of knowledge is repeated throughout the wisdom books of the Old Testament.

“But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.” (Job 36:12)

“He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray” (Proverbs 5:23).

“The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom” (Proverbs 10:21).

God wants us all to gain discernment, understanding, and wisdom of Him. This is a process, an ongoing process of our life and living. We never “arrive” nor are their levels of attainment or achievement, for that is causation of pride.

God also “desired mercy, and not sacrifice”. Once again, sacrifice (works and deeds) is supplanted by something else. Mercy instead of sacrifice, why?

Mercy means forgiveness. Mercy and forgiveness involve two people. One, the sinner, the other, much more divine, the mercy giver, the one who has been wronged.  

The one who offers mercy causes sin to stop. He also causes the effect of sin to never happen.

Sin and mercy are acts. They set into motion either unrighteousness or righteousness. If left unchecked the sin or righteousness will touch all that’s around them, transferring their natures to whatever and whomever they touch. This cause and effect of touch and transfer of either sin or righteous natures grows into an ever-expanding sphere of influence. If left unchecked, sin grows. If left unchecked, righteousness grows. This is where the mercy giver steps in. They stop the sin dead in its tracks with righteousness when they show mercy. Now instead of sin growing, righteousness grows and expands.

God doesn’t want your sacrifice; He wants your mercy. God’s not concerned with your burnt offerings, which can be done mindlessly, mechanically, and without thought or spirit. God wants you to know Him, because with knowledge of God comes knowledge of self and your fellow man. With knowledge of God comes tranquility of soul, peace, love, patience, and discernment. With knowledge of God comes life and eternity.

Sacrifices and burnt offerings, regardless of the actual shape or form they come in, are a one to one proposition. Both involve only you and God. Mercy and knowledge of God involves other people. This is why it’s so important to God.

Bill Hitchcock

An Observation

Did you happen to notice what happened?

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light” (Genesis 1:1-3).

The earth was nothing but confusion, obscurity and emptiness. It was a void, an abyss of darkness.

But then something happened. The Spirit of the Lord moved, and then there was light and life!

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).

The same holds true for you and I. God created us, but there’s going to be confusion, obscurity and emptiness until the Spirit of the Lord moves within us and we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior.

Bill Hitchcock

Without God I Am Nothing

Without: Not in the presence of

God: The singular and sole Divine

I am: Existence of self

Nothing: Relative to essence but not existence

If I am not in the presence of God, although I exist, I exist only as a void. Bankrupt of humanity. Only in the presence of God do I have substance, essence, and attributes. These give purpose therefore meaning to my existence.

God is light, and I am filled with His light only while in His presence.

Outside of His presence is dark. The dark is a complete void of His light and of all things. It is an infinite abyss of obscurity and unreality.

Presence has nothing to do with location or proximity, and more to do with similitude and frequency, as in being of the same wavelength. Presence is being of like kind. Presence is being an inherent part of God. Presence is being and being is existing in Him.

The dark is the result of being divided then separated from the light which is God. Without God there is nothing. Nothing is the existence outside of God.

Bill Hitchcock

Metaphysics

An observation. Physics understands the big bang theory. Physicists start with the elements and their relationship with each other, and work from there as their starting point. Physics deals with the material, the tangible, what is known, and simply put, with what “is”.

Metaphysics looks beyond the physics. It looks for the first cause, the initial mover, the instigation of creation and its form, substance, and essence. All of this starts before being, or our knowledge of being.

I reason that metaphysics leads to God. The one true God is the only explanation as to the first cause of the universe and all of known creation. Many people think that philosophy opposes God. They think that philosophy is the intellectual process of confirming secularity. But the first philosophy, Aristotle’s, “being qua being” draws a straight line to our Lord.

Am I trying to invalidate or discount physics? No, not all. But things like the big bang theory involve elements and motions that are a result of a cause. Metaphysics strives to understand the process to the first cause, which as a Christian I know to always be God.

Bill Hitchcock

No One Knows Anything, But They Have An Opinion About It!

(My opinion about opinions. Or should that be the facts about opinion?)

The Oxford Dictionary defines the word opinion as, “A view or judgement formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.”

It’s the back half of that definition that’s the kicker. In fact, it is my belief that opinion is rarely based on fact or knowledge. And that my friends, is the problem.

When Only Opinion Is Needed.

Opinions are not based on fact or truth. Opinions are based on perception and feelings. For example, if you ask someone for their opinion they will say, “I feel that…..”

This is dangerous, opinion is based off perception. What is perceived is often a projected image, a façade, something manufactured and presented in such a way as to influence someone’s thoughts, feelings, and finally, opinion. What is, is not important, but what is perceived, is. 

When opinion is all that is needed, then there is no reason, motivation, or need to get facts, gain knowledge, or get educated.

When issues are held at the opinion level and not based on fact or even truth, then all opinions are of equal worth and value.

The most popular opinion becomes the accepted standard or answer.

Opinions can be easily swayed, influenced, and changed, especially if it is perceived that a majority hold a certain opinion. Truth and fact cannot be affected by opinion.

Everyone has an opinion, but few ever have the actual facts.

Instead of asking for someone’s opinion, let’s ask them to deduce. The Cambridge dictionary defines deduce as, “to reach an answer or a decision by thinking carefully about the known facts”.

Doesn’t that sound more prudent? Wouldn’t you rather hear what someone has deduced about an issue or circumstance rather than hearing the product of a fertile mind let lose in the theater of imagination?? Wouldn’t it be great if Gallup or Rasmussen surveyed people familiar with the facts, have reasoned with those facts and drawn a logical conclusion? Or would you like to hear someone express their inner feeling about something they have no real knowledge or understanding about?

I have grown tired of opinion. I’d like to hear your deductions. I’d like to know how you came to your conclusion. I really would. I can learn through your deductive reasoning. I might, at best, be entertained by your opinions.

Bill Hitchcock

First Cause

“For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.” (Romans 14:20)

All things are pure, but not necessarily so with our acts.

Things have no premeditation, thought/forethought, or desire. Things are static and are at best the second cause, but never a first cause.

Acts are not always pure. Act is will set into motion. Will is demonstrated and revealed through act. Action is the acid test of value. We do what we value and desire.

The spirit of a man determines and moves the will of the man. The spirit has intent, purpose and desire. The spirit is the first cause, the initial mover of the will. It sets the will into motion that generates the act. The spirit of the man is eventually demonstrated in his actions. To effect change in a man there must be a change in the spirit. This change happens when the Holy Ghost mingles with our spirit and opens our eyes to Christ our Lord and Savior. The first cause, the initial mover of the Holy Ghost is God. God is the first cause and initial mover of all things.

When the Apostle Paul said, “But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils” (1 Corinthians 10:20).

It was not the sacrifice, (the thing) that was the sin. It was the act of sacrificing to the devils that was a sin. It was the fellowship (with the devils) that was the sin.

And again, in the next verse. It was not the thing, but the act that was the sin.

“Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.” (1 Corinthians 10:21).

Notice that anything to do with the devils (the act of drinking and partaking) is sin. It’s not so much the devils themselves, but rather our actions in relation to the devils.

But here the Apostle Paul makes a defining point about our things and our actions.

“All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.” (1 Corinthians 10:23)

As we have been saying, “all things are lawful”, because things do not sin. Things are static and do not “do” anything. But all things are not expedient (profitable) and all things do not edify because by design, the intent and purpose of certain things is meant for illicit, illegal, and immoral acts. So, by default a thing can be considered bad or sinful because there is only one act that can be done with it.

Here is something very important to understand. We’ve been stressing that it is in the act where sin resides and not in the thing. But for the act to be righteous and of the will of God, the act must have the Holy Spirit as its first cause and mover. It is important to know the cause and intent of the act. Too many people labor under the false notion that it is solely the act, the good deed that gets you into heaven. No! For the devil himself can do good deeds and acts and often times does, but the devil is never going to heaven. Why? Look at the first cause, the mover of the devils “good deeds”. The motivating factor is sin.

What’s your first cause, first mover of good deeds? Is it coming from the heart of Christ inside of you? Is it the love of Christ that is propelling and steering your acts? Or is there some other motive? Or no motive at all other than trying to score brownie points towards entering heaven?

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10).

We are the workmanship of God, created in Christ, designed and brought to life to do what God has ordained us to do. Our walk, the doing, are acts of righteousness and good will towards our fellow man.

Bill Hitchcock

The Fight Through The Gate

Sometimes popular and well known Bible verses carry either a different or a weightier and more significant message than the passage seems to present. There are many reasons for this, one being the message getting lost or watered down through the translation process. Another reason is that with Jesus we are dealing with a message on two levels. One level, the superficial level is where the passage is taken at face value. What is said is what is meant. The other level is tucked inside the words. You see, we have words that define meanings and convey ideas. It’s pretty cut and dry. But those words are also filled with spirit, which could possibly alter the entire dialogue.

God’s word is spirit filled and those spirit filled words reach out and touch our inner spirit and not necessarily the brain. Therefore, both the highly educated and the uneducated can be affected equally by God’s word, because it is the Spirit of God communicating to the spirit inside of us.

We have a good example of a superficial meaning and a deeper spiritual meaning in the adage about the strait gate. Let’s break this passage down to its bare bones and peek at some of the deeper, spiritual realities.

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew (7:13-14)

“and narrow is the way” The Greek word for narrow is “Thlibo”. It means compress or press. It can also mean trouble or afflict.

A good example of “thlibo” used to mean afflict is in 2 Corinthians 1:6.  “And whether we be afflicted (thlibo), it is for your consolation and salvation….”

So, if we re-read the passage in Matthew with the understanding that “narrow” not only means limited or restricted, but also has the element of pressure, affliction and turmoil added to it, we see a more accurate presentation of the over-all message.

“Strait and narrow is the gate, with troubles and affliction along the way. It leads unto life, but few there be that find it.”

Some may not like this more literal translation, for not only does it describe the gate spatially, but adds adversity and circumstance to it. This idea of a small gate that we have to fight to get to runs counter to the image of the great, white pearly gates of heaven. But the fact of the matter is that Jesus’s life was full of pressures, conflict, and turmoil all the way to the cross. Every Christian’s walk of faith will be also. Sin revolts when discovered. It’ll pitch a hissy fit to be left alone, pacified, and coddled. The closer to that narrow gate we get, the more the devil and sin will make its presence known.

Look at the warnings Jesus gives immediately after this passage. Jesus warns, “Beware of false prophets” and “ravening wolves” (Matt 7:15), and “a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit” (Matt 7:17)

Jesus continues, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 7:21) and He warns about , “the rain descended, and the floods came” (Matt 7:25) and of the “foolish man, which built his house upon the sand” (Matt 7:26)

All of the things Jesus talks about immediately after his message about the gate are warnings of the devil making his presence known.

Life as a Christian here on earth is not easy. Jesus told us this.

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).

Luke speaks of the strait gate too. What he says supports our understanding of Matthew above.

“Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” (Luke 13:24)

The word strive comes from the Greek, “agonizomai”. You can see in the Greek the word that we have derived as agonize. This is a good definition of what strive means.

Agonizomai means “to contend with adversaries, fight” (Thayer's Greek Lexicon) and “to put forth every effort, involving toil” (Vines Expository Dictionary).

From the outset Luke is making sure we know that our walk with Jesus is going to be a fight. Luke then says many people will “seek” to enter. To seek from the Greek, “Zeteo” means to desire, think, meditate, reason, and to enquire into. Does this not describe so many “Christians” of today?

“But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:20).

I meant to, I was going to, I feel, I thought, my intention was……! As the expression goes, “The road to Hell is paved with good intentions”.

And finally, when Luke says, “and shall not be able”. Able comes from the Greek, “ischyo” and means to be strong. So, the end of the passage Luke is saying that the “many” will not be strong enough.

Here’s the message of Luke, rewritten using the original Greek for meaning and context.

You’re going to have to fight and contend to enter in through the narrow gate. Most folks will think and contemplate about Jesus and salvation, but most people won’t have it in them to commit to Christ and to obey and follow Him and His word.

Both the passage from Matthew and from Luke when read on a superficial level, seem to be talking about a small gate that leads to heaven and salvation and a big ol’ easy gate that leads to Hell. The underlying message stresses that there is a fight we’re going to have to contend with, we will struggle to make it to and through the gate. Most folks will not make it. They’ll think about it, discuss and argue over it, but in the end, it’ll be little more than lip service. Few will commit to Jesus Christ and live the life of one who is saved.

How about you? Are you prepared for the struggle ahead?

Bill Hitchcock

The Voice

“The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” (Isaiah 40:6-8)

This is a proclamation. God wanted this message announced to all. Man and, “and all the goodliness thereof” will wither and fade. But the word of God, “shall stand for ever”.

We need to think about this. No matter how great the man. No matter how great a good he may do. Both he and his goodness will wither and fade. But God and His good will last forever.

So which boat do you think we should board? Where do you think we should expend our energies? The real question that needs to be asked and answered is this. Knowing that the word of God shall stand forever, why are we expending so much time and energy on the flower of the field when we know it’s going to wither and fade? Why not dedicate our time and energies to forever?

Bill Hitchcock

Purpose

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

1. Things work together for the good.

2. For those who love God.

3. For those who have been called by God.

4. According to God’s purpose.

Those are four very distinct and unique statements in Romans 8:28. Only one of the above do we have influence over. The other three are all God.

One thing we must determine for sure is that God has a purpose. He has set before us this purpose, this direction and a destination. He has called us to this purpose, this path and place. Yes, we have a will and the right to choose our own purpose, our own destination. But don’t you see the inherent problem with that statement; our own purpose as opposed to God’s purpose?

And some wonder why they have conflict with life.

Eve thought of her own purpose. Adam joined in. They both had a will to exercise and the right to exercise it. But it wasn’t God’s purpose. It wasn’t God’s will. Look what happened.

Bill Hitchcock

Universal and Particular Rights. When The Tail Wags The Dog.

I’m not quite sure where particular rights fit or if they are even legal. Universal rights apply to everyone. They apply to the entire body of the governed. Certain universal rights are applicable towards non-citizens. Rights of a country are only applicable within the boundaries and borders of that country.

When there are special rights for a particular people, then you advantage that group with privileges over the majority. Particular rights segregate that group from the whole. This runs counter to the spirit and intent of universal rights which apply to all.

Granting one group of people special rights and considerations grants special privileges that the majority does not have. Whenever one group of people are given special rights, privileges and considerations over another group, it generates and perpetuates envy, anger, descent, and hatred. Class envy is the root of class warfare.

There are no concerns of class with universal rights. All men are created equal and treated as such.

Particular rights segregate and advantage one small group, a micro-class. This micro-class self-govern and self-determine not only their rights, but their own system of justice. The micro-class sets the standard for right and wrong, determines what is just or not and what punishment/compensation is warranted. This segregated micro-class rules the majority, the universal class of people.

Becoming a protected micro-class becomes the goal because it secures their position, station, and power over the majority.

The tail now wags the dog.

Bill Hitchcock

Spirit and Body

“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63)

Aristotle, born centuries before Jesus Christ, had a very interesting perspective on the spirit. Whereas we think of the body being filled by the spirit, Aristotle thought it the other way around. Instead of a body with a spirit, he thought we were a spirit with a body. He thought the spirit had form and substance. To a large degree he was correct.

Our spirit does have effect on our physical presence, essence, and being. Without a doubt, the body is a manifestation and representation of the spirit. Now our we talking about the spirit making us tall or short, Black or Asian, male or female, etc.? No. Things like that are by will and design of God.  

So how would the spirit affect us physically? Let’s think of some extremes. Think of the grumpiest, most angry person you can think of. What did they look like? Now think of the most pleasant and positive person. What did they look like? What is inside of the person is always revealed on the outside.

A disturbed spirit can manifest physical conditions such as heart attacks, ulcers, skin problems, arched back, loss of hair and more.

So, it is evident that the spirit can manifest itself in the body. But does it manifest as the body?

Let’s examine this even closer. Jesus was in Jerusalem and saw a sick man laying by the pool named Bethesda. Once a year an angel would come and disturb the waters of this pool and whoever entered it immediately afterwards would be healed of the infirmity they had. This particular sick man had been ill for 38 years, trying to make it into the pool.

“When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?” (John 5:6)

Jesus asked this man, who had been sick for 38 years and trying to make it into the pool to be cured, Jesus asked him, “Do you want to get healed?” What kind of question was that? The man had been trying to get cured for almost 4 decades and Jesus asks, “Do you want to be healed”?!?

But you see, Jesus didn’t ask that question to the body of the man. The question was directed at the spirit of the man. Jesus circumvented the body, which was lame and went straight to the source, the spirit.

The man responded in physical terms, “Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.” (John 5:7)

Jesus stayed focused on the spirit and said, “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.” (John 5:8)

The man was immediately made whole, “and took up his bed, and walked” (John 5:9)

The physical failed this man for years. But Jesus addressed the controlling factor, the spirit.

Sin effects the spirit, which in turn effects the body. Paul wrote about this phenomenon and the problems it creates.

“But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind” (Romans 7:23). This war between body and spirit caused Paul to do what, “I allow not” and, “for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I” (Romans 7:15).

Paul understood what was going on. His mind (soul) saw the war raging between his body and spirit and new that it was all due to sin.

Body and spirit are not harmonious and are battling with each other due to sin. This is the war each of God’s children must battle today. What keeps us alive and pressing forward is the hope of the promise of Christ which produces the love and faith in Him.

Let’s take this a step further. Jesus Christ is a choice. But how do we choose? Aristotle said that deliberate choice is a result of reason and desire. But does not the spirit have influence over these things? Desire is easy to see as being influenced by the spirit. It may be a bit more difficult to understand that our reasoning capabilities are too because we associate reason with logic, which is devoid of sentiment and passions.

This is why the Holy Spirit intermingles with our spirit (Romans 8:26). The Holy Spirit opens our eyes to truth and reality, and acts as a counterbalance to sin. This is the only way we are able to make an intelligent, truthful decision about Jesus Christ. Otherwise we would be under the influence of sin which acts as a blinder to righteousness and the way of Christ.

Are we a body with a spirit, or are we a spirit with a body? You know what? If I had to choose one over the other, I would say that we are a spirit with a body. The reason being is that the spirit is supernatural and perpetual. The body came from and that’s where it is returning to.

Bill Hitchcock

Illegal Immigration

There is no love or compassion with open borders. There is no country, identity, a people, a nation with open borders.

Immigration laws have a positive purpose. When enforcement fails or falters, for whatever reason, then it’s time for more proactive measures to ensure the safety, security, and the sovereignty of the nation and its people.

Walls don’t stop immigration. Let me repeat, Walls DO NOT stop immigration! Walls put control of immigration back in the hands of the nation that built them. Walls do one thing, and that’s to stop an illegal activity from occurring.

Humanitarian efforts are great. But if you don’t go to the source of the problem then the problem of illegal immigration won’t stop. Open borders do not solve the problem. In fact, it helps perpetuate the problem.

We must ask, why can’t Mexico solve the problem of their citizens leaving their homeland? What deficiency is it that is causing the indigenous population to attempt to gain entry into a foreign country illegally?

The most important question to ask Mexico is if there is even a problem at all? Can Mexico take care of its own people? If not, why not and how can we help? How can we help Mexico to retain their own people? If there is poverty, deficiencies, some lack or need that needs to be filled, then what is it? America will help Mexico.  

Are these illegals from Mexico (and other countries) seeking an opportunity to improve their life or are they seeking the chance to be taking care of at little or no cost?

What is the actual problem? Illegal immigration isn’t the cause, it is the effect of the cause. And wouldn’t we all agree that the best solution would be one that keeps Mexicans in Mexico while improving their station and lot in life?

Bill Hitchcock

Expression of the American Mind

The Declaration of Independence was, “intended to be an expression of the American mind, and to give to that expression the proper tone and spirit called for by the occasion.” - Thomas Jefferson

“When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”

The, “Laws of Nature and of Nature's God”. Since God is the God of nature, and nature has Laws, therefor these Laws are of God. And what are God’s laws being applied to? God’s laws are being applied to the powers of the earth to ensure the independence and sovereignty of each person that is inherently gifted them by God. Neither God nor nature enslaves. Only man and his laws do that. The Declaration of Independence was a reminder to Britain of that fact and that the colonies were presently exercising that unalienable and self-evident right of independence which was endowed them by the Creator Himself. “Separate and equal station”, or independence of each individual and of their mind, body, soul and spirit. This independence, among other things, afforded each person the right to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Did you notice how the political bands between colonies and Britain are reduced to “human affairs” while the breaking of those bands comes through evoking God and His Laws? It’s impossible to separate God from God’s (natural) Law. Our responsibility is to adopt, apply, and obey these Laws. God and His Law are not necessarily the same as religion and government. Those are man made devices which have the tendency to evolve into man’s vice.

The only God evoked by our founding fathers was Jehovah. These were Christian men that evoked God and His Laws to be able to first detach from Great Britain, and then found the United State of America.

Thomas Paine queried if America was not the result of the Protestant Reformation. He drew a parallel between starting a new country and Noah starting a new world. Religion, Paine thought it was the governments duty to protect it.

But here’s a very interesting aspect about religion. It was the idea that diversity of religion was exclusively in terms of within the Christian faith. It was diversity of denominations within Christianity and not diversity of religions.

“I fully and conscientiously believe, that it is the will of the Almighty that there should be a diversity of religious opinions among us. It affords a larger field for our Christian kindness: were we all of one way of thinking, our religious dispositions would want matter for probation; and on this liberal principle I look on the various denominations among us, to be like children of the same family, differing only in what is called their Christian names.”-Thomas Paine

Yes, America is a de facto Christian nation. It is not a theocracy like Islam. No Christian nation ever has been nor will be a theocracy. It can’t.

The expression of the American mind. That expression, that spirit, is of God and His will towards man, not a government’s will towards man. The Declaration divorced government from rule and instilled God’s Law as the rule.

Bill Hitchcock