Advancing Christian Faith and Values,
Defending Religious Liberty for All,
Supporting Civility and the Common Good
through Preaching, Teaching, Writing, Activism and Reasoned Conversations

www.donaldshoemakerministries.com

“The American Dream means giving it your all,
trying your hardest, accomplishing something and giving something back. No definition of a successful life can do anything but include serving others.”

– President George H. W. Bush (June 2, 1995)

Message of the Month

The Creed, the President, and how the Secular Press suddenly got concerned about Religion

The Apostle’s Creed *

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell. **
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic *** church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

“Holy Horror” flowed from pens and voices of many of Donald Trump’s perennial critics. What did he do—or fail to do?

Well, pictures from the funeral of George H.W. Bush showed a front row of presidents and their wives at Washington National Cathedral, standing and reciting “The Apostles’ Creed” –all but Donald and Melania Trump.

Criticism samplers: “This is your ‘Christian’ evangelical president.” – Tweet to the Washington Post. “This is shameful for a Christian who refuses to say The Apostles Creed.” – USA TODAY response.

Now wait a minute! Perhaps the President and First Lady should have recited the Creed—after all, so far as I know, it is in accord with their religious confession. (In fact, Melania once introduced the president after having everyone pray “The Lord’s Prayer,” so she’s not hesitant to express her faith.)

Reciting creeds can be meaningful if spoken from the heart. Else, they are the “empty repetitions” Jesus warned about (Matthew 6:7). Such creeds, part of Christian orthodoxy for centuries, reaffirm and solidify Christian confession. Personally, I believe “The Apostles’ Creed” and I benefit from reciting it.

But most Evangelical Protestant churches don’t recite creeds in their church services. Some even teach against it. The “Anabaptist” movement (from which my own denomination sprang) intentionally avoided creeds as “man-made” substitutes to the words of the Bible. An unnecessary conviction.

Quakers are another Christian body that avoids creeds. Here is a word from Patrick Nugent, a church historian, Quaker evangelical Christian and liberal Democrat, writing in The Washington Post (December 6, 2018):

“The president participated in a public ceremony in his capacity as head of state, not as a Presbyterian (which is how he has identified himself). As such, he has no obligation to declare those theological truths, or any others, aloud in public. In fact, I’d suggest, he has an obligation not to do so if he disagrees with any of them, or all of them, or doesn’t especially care, or isn’t sure, or doesn’t understand — or just thinks the president should be theologically neutral in public.”

I wholeheartedly agree.

* The Apostle’s Creed (of course, never seen by any of the original apostles) is a declaration of faith widely used throughout Christianity. Elements of the Creed can be found as early as the late 2nd Century. Some Christian churches recite the Nicene Creed (4th Century), which is similar but expands the doctrine of Christ. All statements of both creeds have a basis in the New Testament.
** “He descended to hell” is simply a reference to the grave (1 Corinthians 15:4), not necessarily to a spirit realm. In my opinion, it’s just as well to leave the phrase out when reciting the Creed.
*** “catholic” means “universal” and there is no need for evangelicals to choke on the word or change it to “Christian”, which is not the thought of the Creed at this point. So say “catholic”!

First Amendment Vigilance –
Religious Freedom Day (January 16, 2019)

“I consider the government of the United States as interdicted by the Constitution from intermeddling with religious institutions, their doctrines, discipline, or exercises.” – Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Miller, 1808

“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must…undergo the fatigue of supporting it.” – Thomas Paine

In January I will speak on Religious Freedom before a city council. Please use my thoughts and principles below any way you can.

2019 Religious Freedom Day Proclamation

WHEREAS the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom, our country’s first legal safeguard for religious liberty, was adopted on January 16, 1786; and

WHEREAS since 1993 the President of the United States has issued a Proclamation on the importance of religious liberty, which designates January 16 as Religious Freedom Day; and

WHEREAS our nation’s founders recognized the importance of religious freedom and secured this liberty in the words of the First Amendment, declaring that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”; and

WHEREAS the free exercise of religion has undergirded the social efforts of many Americans, notably Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose birthday on January 15 we commemorate each year; and
WHEREAS the United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 18) declares, “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion” including the right “to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance” and, in spite of this, religious freedom continues to face challenges, persecution and coercion, violent and non-violent, around the world; and

WHEREAS our country has embraced a unique tradition of religious liberty that has prevented religious domination, conflict and persecution and nurtured an environment where religion has flourished and where people have been left free to choose which faith they shall follow or none at all;

NOW, THEREFORE the City Council of [City], [State] hereby declares January 16, 2019 to be “Religious Freedom Day” in our community.

We encourage city government, community groups, schools and places of worship to reaffirm their devotion to the principles of religious freedom and educate and reflect on the importance of religious liberty so it may continue secure as part of our nation’s fabric.

We encourage citizens and government to be mindful of the principles of religious liberty in their decisions, attitudes and actions.

On this day let us give thanks for this precious right that has so profoundly shaped and sustained our Nation, and let us strengthen our efforts to share its blessings with oppressed peoples everywhere.

“City of Seal Beach Civility Policy”

1. Treat everyone courteously;
2. Listen to others respectfully;
3. Exercise self-control;
4. Give open-minded consideration to all viewpoints;
5. Focus on the issues and avoid personalizing debate; and,
6. Embrace respectful disagreement and dissent as democratic rights, inherent components of an inclusive public process, and tools for forging sound decisions.

Bible Insight: New Ruler, New Taxes?

Anxiety is high as California prepares for a new governor who won’t be as frugal as outgoing Jerry Brown (who himself wasn’t as frugal as his reputation led us to expect). Already a tax on texting has been floated. More to come.

Here is a very timely biblical story. What happened when people oppressed by high taxes under the “old administration” (King Solomon) came to ask for relief from the new ruler Rehoboam?? The story is in 1 Kings 12:1-15.

All the assembly of Israel came and said to Rehoboam, “Your father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke on us, and we will serve you.” He said to them, “Go away for three days, then come again to me.” So the people went away.

Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, “How do you advise me to answer this people?” And they said to him, “If you will be a servant to this people today and serve them, and speak good words to them when you answer them, then they will be your servants forever.”

But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him. And he said to them, “What do you advise that we answer this people who have said to me, ‘Lighten the yoke that your father put on us’?” And the young men who had grown up with him said to him, “Thus shall you speak to this people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you lighten it for us,’ thus shall you say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s thighs. And now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’”
So…all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king said, “Come to me again the third day.” And the king answered the people harshly, and forsaking the counsel that the old men had given him, he spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke…” [Way to go, Rehoboam! Is his ghost still with us?]

As We Enter Another New Year – A Word on God’s Faithful Presence no matter how the Sands of Life shift beneath us

Lord, you have been our dwelling place
in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
You return man to dust
and say, “Return, O children of man!”
For a thousand years in your sight
are but as yesterday when it is past,
or as a watch in the night.
So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.
(Psalm 90:1-4, 12 New International Version)

Isaac Watts, 18th Century English clergyman, theologian, logician and hymn writer, is known as “The Father of English Hymnody.” In 1719 he wrote the classic, “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” based on Psalm 90.

O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home.

Under the shadow of thy throne, still may we dwell secure;
sufficient is thine arm alone, and our defense is sure.

Before the hills in order stood, or earth received her frame,
from everlasting, thou art God, to endless years the same.

A thousand ages, in thy sight, are like an evening gone;
short as the watch that ends the night, before the rising sun.

The busy tribes of flesh and blood, With all their lives and cares,
Are carried downwards by the flood, And lost in foll’wing years.

Time, like an ever rolling stream, bears all who breathe away;
they fly forgotten, as a dream dies at the opening day.

O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come;
be thou our guide while life shall last, and our eternal home.

Don’s Upcoming Ministries

January 5, 2019 – Speak on the value of Bible reading at the Men’s Fellowship of Grace Community Church of Seal Beach.

February 28, 2019 – Speak on “Evangelicalism” as part of the “Religion 101” series sponsored by the South Coast Interfaith Council (7:00 p.m. at the LDS Institute of Religion, 6360 E. State University Drive in Long Beach).

April 14, 2019 – Speak in morning worship services at Grace Community Church of Seal Beach.

My Website: www.donaldshoemakerministries.com
Contact me at: donaldshoemakerministries@verizon.net