In a recent letter to the Voices column of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, the writer expressed the idea that he wouldn’t vote for any politician (s) that put God first, family second, and people third. He wrote that he would only vote for those who put people first. The man is either an atheist, ignorant, or totally unlearned in the affairs of behavior, or maybe it’s all three of the foregoing. He isn’t lonely in his belief as there are many like him spouting about things of which they know little.

He doesn’t understand or refuses to understand that by putting God first then the family and then others (people) constitute the natural order. When God isn’t placed first, then family and others will suffer the consequences, whether he likes it, believes it, denies it or ignores it. Only by putting God first will a nation prosper, be vital, and secure.

The foregoing brings us to the crux of the matter for many people and that is seen in the demand that the Ten Commandments must be removed from public life or display. No matter that our system of laws are built on the commandments and other laws of God, their display is offensive to the ACLU, atheists, and other assorted ilk   that are trying to impose their will on everyone. What is the crux of the matter?

Basically, it is very simple. The effort masquerades under the banners of the separation of church and state and Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion. In truth, the problem for those people is stated in the commandment itself. The statement is found in Exodus 20:3: Thou shalt have no other gods before me. That declares that mankind shall not put anyone or anything above the God of the heavens, our creator, and eliminates all those things that humans try to claim as gods.

There are rules for behavior that fit everyone. There isn’t a separate set of rules for abortionists, homosexuals, thieves, pedophiles, murderers, and all the others who refuse to obey God’s laws. All fall under the jurisdiction of God’s authority because as Peter learned when he was told to go to the house of Cornelius, the Gentile, and preach the gospel, he said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. 36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)  To God, who you think you are, and what you may think you are, and no matter what special privileges you may believe you should have, you are a human being subject to God’s authority and his Son who as Peter said of Jesus, He is Lord of all.

It is obvious that by following the commandments (not even considering obeying the gospel for salvation), human kind would avoid a lot of the trouble that has befallen the world. The writer that wants to put people first can’t see that by putting God first that all the items on the list when followed will correct the problems mankind faces.

Now going back to the question of whose idea will be first, all those who have the human notion will try to put their agenda into play. In fact, we are seeing that now in our society. The homosexuals want special rights; the abortion supporters want their rights; and the list is endless with all manner of social do good types demanding that their ideas be placed first. Can you now not see that the writer’s notion of putting people first is spoken from plain ignorance of the reality of human behavior? It is people like that letter writer who expect the rest of us to bow to his and the others ideas about life.

In Sorting It Out, God and family in that order require that people be treated equally since following God is about treating others properly. Following God would eliminate the problems associated with whose idea will be first.

© 02-26-2007 DEC