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restoring our biblical and constitutional foundations
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DBO’s 2006 Person of the Year
Today in America we are spending an enormous amount of time treating our national symptoms instead of the illness. Our warring, our hubris, our infidelity to the Constitution are but symptoms pointing to a far greater malady. A headache may be relieved with an aspirin while covering up a far more serious problem. By alleviating the pain we can easily overlook the more grievous ailment.
We need leaders in America who will address the symptoms in order to avert the greater danger. Indeed, because we have refused to face the symptoms in time, our trouble has already become a malignancy. Centuries ago the church got the mistaken notion that the City of God could be constructed in this fallen world. Through globalization, education, sanitation, and all the other “ations” it was to become heaven on earth.
Alas, Americans have fared badly with their man-made Gardens of Eden. This springs from a light regard for God. The Almighty has become a benevolent butler who winks at our pride and arrogance. Standing against the evils of the godless New World Order has given way to a spirit of compromise, and both the Biblicist and the constitutionalist are the butt of ridicule for the get-alongers. A Jeremiah weeping over the sins of the people is a laughingstock to the false prophets who cry “Peace” when there is no peace.
It is easy to talk religion today. The television and internet are full of it. Churches are prospering, and touting one’s religion is in. How old-fashioned it sounds today when someone challenges our Vanity Fair mentality. We Christians ought to set this world on fire with the life-changing Gospel instead of compromising with wily politics and worldly pleasure. These produce popularity and cheap satisfaction but not the sunshine of His face.
There are but a few souls today who refuse to major on the minors. They are calling Americans back to their biblical and constitutional roots. They could care less about being on good terms with the age or in league with Caesar. One of them is a pastor of a Baptist church in Florida. Although only the Holy Spirit can properly fire us up for these days, this humble man has provided a true stimulant for His people. I believe he is one of the few sober saints who have understanding of the times to know what they ought to do and who are enabled by the Spirit to do it.
It is therefore with gratitude to God that DBO announces its person of the year, Chuck Baldwin. When I reflect on Chuck’s teaching ministry, I think of Paul’s words to his co-worker Timothy (2 Tim. 4:2-4): “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” Chuck’s essays are not stoic products written in the seclusion of a scholar’s study. They are vital, living, torrents of words poured out straight from the heart to the heart of the American people.
Like the men of 1776 who defied a king to found a
nation, Chuck has the courage to stand up for his convictions about
limited government and individual liberty, even at great personal cost.
His valor reminds me of Thomas Nelson, Jr. As Nelson was returning
from Philadelphia to become Governor of V
irginia,
he found Washington’s army encamped outside of Yorktown. Noticing that the
artillery was firing all over the town but carefully avoiding the area
where his own beautiful home was located, Nelson asked why they were not
firing in that direction. “Out of respect to you, Sir,” came the reply.
Nelson approached the nearest cannon, aimed it at his house, and fired.
The other guns joined in and his home was destroyed.
Thank you, Chuck, for paying the price, for fighting the good fight, for speaking the truth in love, and for being faithful to your high calling. May God bless you as you help the rest of us to own up to our personal responsibility and to hear God’s voice more clearly and follow Him in faith and obedience.
December 7, 2006
David Alan Black is the editor of www.daveblackonline.com.