The current talking points from the series of convention
days (August 17-20, 2020) promoting the Democratic ‘platform’ includes the notion
they must ‘restore the soul of the nation’.
Since the Democratic National Convention is a secular
organization lets first look at the secular definition of ‘soul’
From dictionary.com
The principle of life,
feeling, thought, and action in humans, regarded as a distinct entity separate
from the body, and commonly held to be separable in existence from the body;
the spiritual part of humans as distinct from the physical part.
The spiritual part of humans
regarded in its moral aspect, or as believed to survive death and be subject to
happiness or misery in a life to come:arguing the immortality of the
soul.
The disembodied spirit of a
deceased person:He feared the soul of the
deceased would haunt him.
The emotional part of human
nature; the seat of the feelings or sentiments.
a human being; person.
Did you see America
or Nation in the definition?
Merriam/Webster online Definition of soul
1: the immaterial essence,
animating principle, or actuating cause of an individual life
2a: the spiritual principle
embodied in human beings, all rational and spiritual beings, or the universe
bcapitalized, Christian Science : GOD sense 1b
3: a person's total self
4a: an active or essential part
b: a moving spirit : LEADER
5a: the moral and emotional nature
of human beings
b: the quality that arouses
emotion and sentiment
c: spiritual or moral force : FERVOR
6: PERSONnot a soul in sight
7: PERSONIFICATIONshe is the soul of integrity
8a: a strong positive feeling (as
of intense sensitivity and emotional fervor) conveyed especially by African
American performers
b: cultural consciousness and
pride among people of African heritage
Did you see America
or Nation in the definition?
Why do you think the emphasis would be put to restore the Soul of
a nation of people? And how would you restore that soul? How does government,
in particular the American government, either create a soul or have a soul to restore?
America, the nation known as the United States of America, was
initially a body of ideas brought together, discussed, debated, worked out and
finally compiled, voted on, published and enacted. Thereafter, the body of the
ideas was called a ‘nation’, in particular, the United States of America,
deriving their powers from the consent of the governed. It is still only an
entity with no breath, with no independent thought, with no independent belief/faith/religion/life
nor capacity to create or maintain a ‘soul’. It is a concept outlined on paper
and for the most part, a compilation of laws, based primarily on the laws
carved in stone Jews and Christians recognize as the Ten Commandments. Thus, this
entity was based on Judeo-Christian principles. Also included in the founding
paperwork was specific set of responsibilities for the 3 individual branches
[notice not collective branches] who each operate within the set of
responsibilities of the respective branch. If you wish to make them a
collection you can say altogether, they comprise the American Government. It
exists as a form of government identified as a federalist-based Republic with
the motto ‘E Pluribus Unum’ meaning from ‘out of many, one’. [This motto was
replaced in 1956, when then President Eisenhower signing a bill that changed
the motto to ‘In God We Trust’.] America is still not a living breathing being.
So, one must ask, how does one restore a soul to an inanimate thing
like a form of government? It may logically be tendered the restoration of the
soul of America is merely a turn of phrase, but words matter. When you borrow an
idea that is intrinsically related to humans – other animated beings – some defining
part of which speaks to a level of morality thence based primarily in/on GOD --
could or does it fit with being something a nation/America can possibly possess
to restore? Now, if you wanted to say you wished to restore the individual souls
of the people of the nation and then showed how you would proceed that would be
a pretty incredible feat. Why? Because then you infer there has been a loss of
souls within the individual citizens, a judgment none are allowed to make of
another. So, if the Nation/America derives its power from the governed by
inference you believe you can ‘restore’ the souls of the governed, then again,
that is a judgment that does not fit well with most people because we each have
and are responsible for our own soul. And can you really restore someone else’s
soul? There is Biblical precedence restoration of your own soul by the Lord. [See Psalm 23:3a]
Doctors, EMS, sometimes the Holy Spirit can revive/restore the soul of a person
who has expired and brought back to life. If a person feels impaired in their
faith they can seek out their religious leaders for prayer over them for a
healing. Individual intercession is an uninvited way you may be able to help restore
the soul of someone for whom you are concerned . Again, to say their soul needs
restoration is a judgment on and over that person. Your judgment may be lacking
details in the person’s life. Back to the nation’s so-called soul.
Which of the candidates or political figures calling for
restoration of the soul of the nation do you believe has the ‘moral’ principles
you would accept as a healing source? The Christian’s responsibilities include
such controversial stands as being pro-life, abortion not an option for birth
control. Are pro-life, no abortion stands allowed in their party leadership? Is
the act of taking the life of a defenseless human in the womb or even out of the
womb if the parent so desires restoring the soul?
Which among them have the authority from the ONE who actually made
the soul to restore it? The school down the street is a building. Does the
school have a soul? The WH and Capital Building representing America as
buildings. Does the WH have a soul? The Capital Building? No. They only represent
the government that derives its powers from the governed. The governed, every
citizen definitely has a soul. But only GOD has the power and authority to
restore the soul of a nation of people if HE is so inclined. In the past HE
was. The nation of Israel was in fact a nation governed by GOD, replete with
all the laws and regulations needed to ensure the individual members lived
within the body of laws and regulations. Israel was representative of GOD as a
nation; the whole nation was condemned from time to time but within the condemnation
there was always a remnant of people preserved from and through the condemnation.
The buildings key to the nation [the Temple] were considered Holy by GOD and
thus HIS people. The building could be defiled but never was it considered to
have a soul.
So where does the sense to ‘restore the soul of the nation’
come from? It appears from the long-held belief of certain members of our
citizenry in the philosophy of ‘collectivism’. It is a philosophical assertion
which has been taught in certain segments of our culture via education,
entertainment, politics and even certain mass casualty procedures for decades.
In education it is taught in many fields of interest to the student, certainly
in philosophy and political science to name two. In entertainment, perhaps the
most famous link that truly does what no other industry can do, it wrapped the
love a fictional character and his demise to the love of a crew of people who
we became familiar with in the early 1960’s on television then later in movies.
Testament to collectivism is the now infamous saying ‘…the needs of the many
outweigh the needs of the few’. – Wrath of
Khan. It crawled up and took residence in our minds and prepared us for the
concept of collectivism. Where does the idea of collectivism come from?
From Marxists.org/glossary/terms/i/n.htm
Individualism is the ethos which emphasises
the autonomy of the individual as against the community or social group. The
word was first used in a translation of de Tocqueville's Democracy in
America in 1835.
Collectivism is the ethos which emphasises
the priority of the community as a whole or the group as against the
individual. The word came into the language in the 1880s as a direct result of
the work of the First
International, originally as a synonym for common ownership of the means of
production.
Collectivism is the dominant ethos in communities
where private property is not dominant, and this includes poor working class
communities in modern capitalist societies; powerful social
movements also tend to overshadow individualism and trade unions, national
liberation and other struggles are generally characterised by a strong
collectivist ethos.
Socialism entails a collectivism which does
not suppress the individualism of bourgeois society, and in contrast
to the ‘crude’ collectivism of very poor working class communities, is a
collectivism which transcends (or sublates)
individualism.
So, in essence, if you are okay with collectivism
then you are okay with giving up whatever ‘wealth’ you have earned as an individual
to some group, not a choice but the expectation, generally imposed by some
authority—currently being forced through mob action and social shaming. If as
an individual, you wish to give, bequeath, or donate any portion of your
personal things it is called charity. You CHOOSE to do so. But what if you have
2 loaves of bread to feed your family for a period of time and that is all you
have? The collectivist takes the 2 loaves, gives you some slices and the rest goes
to another or group without your permission. That is collectivism. You may wish
to share your 2 loaves on your own if it becomes known to you the need of others,
but again, that is charity. Charity is a
commendable act of giving from the cheerful heart. If you have a large home and
it is only the two of you would you be okay with the collective telling you
strangers will be occupying the home with you? People who may have nothing in
common and no desire to show respect or sensitivity to your personal code of ethics,
personal integrity, faith, respect for the home they had nothing to do with acquiring,
etc.? Of course, if you read the ideology of Socialism ‘property’ is not ‘owner’
based.
Abortion
For all the clamoring to restoring the soul of
America there is an entire group of humans who have had no chance to live in this
world outside the womb! The folks who want to restore the soul of America might
wish to take a clue from the growing negative response to abortion. Granted, in
some groups of women the idea of abortion has been taught in school as part of family
planning as early as early 1970’s but has since permeated all of the culture. Some
are pro abortion with no regulations while the degree of approval also tightens
by a majority to only when the mother’s life is in danger. But among Christians,
those who are Bible believing, stand unitedly and absolutely against abortion PERIOD.
There is more but for quick review here is a
reason many Christians oppose abortion.
“Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all
such as are appointed to destruction.
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the
cause of the poor and needy.” – Pro 31:8-9
In verse 9, because of the last sentence in vs 8,
Lemuel’s Mom directs his character and conscience to the need to speak up but
with righteous judgment. And when no one else is doing so, to plead the
cause/or case, of the poor and needy. In Strong’s H6041, the poor is defined
as: “poor, afflicted, humble, wretched” and the needy [Strong’s H34] : in
want, needy, chiefly poor, needy person; subject to oppression and abuse;
needing help, deliverance from trouble, especially as delivered by God and
general reference to lowest class.”
Would you not agree that an unborn baby is the
lowest class?
https://www.lightwritingmattersactivist.com/2020/02/your-mouth-for-speechless-in-cause-of_21.html
How is denying the life of a conceived child
restorative?
Do you know what other countries do with regard to
family planning? Collectivism in China has denied the multiple births of
children in their country. For 4 decades one child policy was enforced in
China. It recently changes to limit of 2. Don’t think with the population
control folks looking forward to net zero population control the collective prone
form of government won’t impose their own child policy on families. That is
where socialism and communism [collectivism] takes a country.
Let’s look at the soul discussion from the perspective
on ‘individual choice’ which the current American Constitution promotes based
on the Judeo-Christian principles of its founding.
The Biblical Definition of Soul in Hebrew
Hebrew from Strong’s number H5315
I.
Soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite,
mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion
A.
That which breathes, the breathing substance or
being, soul, the inner being of man
B.
Living being
C.
Living being (with life in the blood)
D.
The man himself, self, person or individual
E.
Seat of the appetites
F.
Seat of emotions and passions
G.
Activity of mind
i.
dubious
H. Activity
of the will
i.
dubious
I..Activity of the character
i.
dubious
נֶפֶשׁ nephesh, neh'-fesh;
from H5314; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal
of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or
figurative sense (bodily or mental):—any, appetite, beast, body, breath,
creature, × dead(-ly), desire, × (dis-) contented, × fish,
ghost, greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, × jeopardy of) life (× in
jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-,
him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, slay, soul, tablet, they, thing, (× she)
will, × would have it.
“The soul who sins shall die. The
son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for
the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon
himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.”—Eze 18:20
Definition in Greek via Strong’s number G5590
breath
the breath of life
the vital force which animates the body and shows
itself in breathing
of animals
of men
life
that in which there is life
a living being, a living soul
the soul
the seat of the feelings, desires, affections,
aversions (our heart, soul etc.)
the (human) soul in so far as it is constituted
that by the right use of the aids offered it by God it can attain its highest
end and secure eternal blessedness, the soul regarded as a moral being designed
for everlasting life
the soul as an essence which differs from the body
and is not dissolved by death (distinguished from other parts of the body)
ψυχή psychḗ, psoo-khay';
from G5594; breath, i.e. (by implication) spirit,
abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus
distinguished on the one hand from G4151, which is the rational and immortal soul; and
on the other from G2222, which is mere vitality, even of plants: these
terms thus exactly correspond respectively to the Hebrew H5315, H7307 and H2416):—heart (+ -ily), life, mind, soul, + us, + you.
*NOTE: We are grateful for references from
Strong’s Lexicon found at blueletterbible.com
“For the word of God is living and
powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the
division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a
discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”—Heb 4:12
From the whole Gospel message what is the
Christian? Individual or Collective? Here is where the logic of the Bible
answers the question ‘can you restore the ‘soul’ of the ‘nation’. Jesus gave
HIS life for the sins of all people. He resurrected and ascended to heaven
where HE presented HIS sacrifice ONCE for all time, a concept called propitiation.
So, while HIS blood was shed for all how is the benefit of that shed blood realized?
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his
only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
– John 3:16
“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but
whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in
the name of the only Son of God.” – John 3:18
Notice SALVATION or “Soteriology” is not a ‘collective’
event. While GOD gave HIS SON, salvation comes from the individual [whosoever]
believing in Jesus. You can sit in a church anywhere in the world – they may a
wonderful church but sitting there does not transfer salvation by association.
YOU, the individual, must believe in Jesus and accept the free gift of salvation.
YOU – in vs 18 either believe and live or do not believe and remain condemned. We
are talking about individual souls not one soul for the whole of the church.
So, we wrap back around to the question, what
indeed is the idea behind ‘restoring the soul of America’? Will you have the
curiosity to research – will you engage critical thinking to reason – will you
take responsibility to understand that while the words ‘feel’ good, may be an answer
to a ‘wish’ you had for a time when people seemed to be nicer and more tolerant.
Are they? More tolerant? What about the other part of America whose hearts are
not depressed, bogged down in personality issues, rushing to have their ‘feelings’
upset? Don’t they have the same right to their ‘peace’ as you do? How is that
worked out? Remember, the government derives it’s power from the governed. That
is done periodically through voting.
Christians however, while they are in the world,
they are not part of the world. Thus, if the vote cast ushers in a collective
society as the governing authority, we obey so long as it does not go against
GOD’s laws. So, in a wonderfully transcendent way we are not tethered to the vote
with our ‘feelings’ or ‘wishes’ we are tethered to our LORD with our entire being.
Sometimes the vote is good; sometimes it can be difficult but our happiness,
our soul is in no way tied to any collective outcome of a vote. We may worship
corporately in church, but we stand before GOD individually.
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.
Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”
– John 14:27
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we
have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – Romans 5:1
Can
you say, ‘all is well with my soul’? Then no other can bring you
more! No candidate, no political party, no collective, NOONE!
If not, please consider the following: If you are
feeling inclined or feeling led to want Jesus as your Savior, your leader, your
King, your source of Peace and Joy but are feeling woefully inadequate,
uninformed on how best to get to know HIM, or find yourself at wit’s end
because you believe yourself trapped and in need of GOD, please know Jesus
stands ready to welcome you with HIS Holy Spirit. Believe these words: “16 For
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. “—John
3:16
“Repent therefore and be
converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come
from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may
send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 whom
heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all
things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets
since the world began.” – Acts 3:19-20
“Jesus answered and said to him, “Most
assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born [a]again, he cannot see
the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when
he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is
born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of
God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which
is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you,
‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you
hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So
is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” – John 3:3-8
If you need help, please feel free to leave a
comment and I will respond. †
EM: contact@lightwritingmatters.com
DISCLAIMER: The thoughts published on this
blog, in total, are the opinions, thoughts and considerations of the writer/author
of every post published. It is assumed that research by the reader will lead
the reader to their own conclusions. It is not the writer’s intent to make a
judgment of anyone but to allow GOD’s Word to do what it does. “For the word of
GOD is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged
sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow;
it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all
creation is hidden from GOD’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare
before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” – Hebrews 4:12 [NIV]
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