WHERE IS THE SPIRIT OF ELIJAH?

When Ahab led the nation of Israel into unrighteousness, Elijah stood up
to him.  In Luke 1:17, the Bible speaks of one named John the Baptist
who came "in the spirit and power of Elijah."  John the Baptist had
several things in common with Elijah, including a tenacious call for his
king's repentance.  Where is the spirit of Elijah in our pulpits today?

Our President has had a sexual relationship with a young woman who was
placed in his care and trust. A young woman who was young enough to be
his own daughter. He sexually exploited her and told her that there was
nothing wrong or sinful about it. 

No corporate executive, no military officer, no counselor, or clergyman
could dare to think that he could get away with such behavior. Yet, our
President claims that this was "a private matter." What about Bob
Packwood, was his a private affair? What about Gary Hart, was his a
private affair? What about Jim Bakker, was his a private affair? What
about Jimmy Swaggert? Were these indiscretions all private matters?
Should there be a distinction between our President's private and public
"affairs"? 

Bill Clinton said that this is a matter between him, his wife, his
daughter, and his God. This makes me wonder if that is the same God that
said, "Thou shalt not commit adultery" and "Thou shalt not bear false
witness"?  If so, what part of "THOU SHALT NOT" does our President not
understand?

Furthermore, if a man repeatedly betrays those who are in his private
trust, what's to stop him from eventually betraying those in his public
trust? 

What saddens me most about this whole scandal is the reaction of the
American people.  Some polls show that Bill Clinton's approval ratings
actually gained two points on the day that Kenneth Starr's report was
made public.  It seems that America is more interested in money than in
righteousness. 

This is not surprising in lieu of the fact that many of the people who
sit in our American churches don't want to hear a message on
righteousness and holy living. They want to hear about wealth,
prosperity, and the good life.  Enough of America's religious leaders
have pandered to such wishes for long enough to train many of America's
Christians to believe that money counts more than righteousness? Their
ears have been tickled with a message of prosperity for so long that our
nation's Christians are more concerned with the economy than with
Christian character.  I believe it is time for us to return to the Bible
and see what it has to say about which is more important.  1Tim.6:10
says "The love of money causes all kinds of evil. Some people have left
the faith, because they wanted to get more money, but they have caused
themselves much sorrow." (NCV)

I personally do not believe that Bill Clinton is fit for public office.
However, I believe that we need to distinguish the difference between
the man and the office. As a man, Mr. Clinton needs to be forgiven and
encouraged. On the other hand, as our President, he has lied to the
American people. He has blatantly broken the laws which he had sworn to
uphold. He has betrayed our trust, and he is no longer fit to run the
country. 

I am well aware of the fact that he has claimed numerous times to have
repented.  However, people who are truly repentant don't use the word
"but" when they make their confession. 

They don't say, "I have sinned, BUT I wouldn't have been caught if it
hadn't been for Kenneth Starr." 

They don't say, "I have sinned, BUT 'that woman' made me do it!"  This
is in the same class as the old comedian's line, "The devil made me do
it."

True repentance doesn't place blame on others or on circumstances.  True
repentance says, "Forgive me Lord, for *I* have sinned!" 

There are some religious leaders who have attempted to compare our
President's indiscretions with those of King David in the Bible.  I find
two problems with this comparison.  First of all, Bill Clinton is not a
King David.  He has never shown the moral integrity that David had
before he fell.  Neither has Bill Clinton shown the type of repentance
which King David expressed in Psalm 51.

Second of all, kings were not replaced by impeachment.  They were
replaced either by assassination or by military conquest.  Even if David
had deserved to be replaced, who was going to take his place at that
point, and how would it have been accomplished?  

Furthermore, in over 25 years of ministry, I have counseled numerous
couples who have gone through such personal problems as the Clinton
family is now facing. Acknowledgment of infidelity in the family is not
something which is easily dealt with. A couple doesn't just get up the
next morning, smile at everyone, and say "It's behind us now!" 

It takes months and even years for such things to be worked through. If
Bill Clinton is sincere about dealing with the wounds which he has
inflicted upon his wife and daughter, then he needs to resign and spend
the energy and time that it takes to repair the breach. I believe it is
impossible for a man to be the leader of a large business, a huge
ministry, or especially of this nation and still spend the time that it
takes to mend his family from such disloyalty and breach of trust. 

I believe our President should resign, and I believe that those who
would be modern day Elijah's should be asking for his resignation. 

Regards,

Roger Griffith
griff@...
http://www.joywell.org/