Accountability, duty, ethics, and personal authority are themes for our blog presentation this Labor Day, 2015. As a former Federal employee in my position for many years through the Library of Congress, I was very surprised when the entire staff was required to attend sessions instructing us with regard to the importance of ethics when performing our duties for Congress and the Nation. To me, OJT (on the job training) orientations on honor, integrity, respect and trust seemed part of what should have been provided before our first full day of employment had finished. We were being granted an opportunity to serve that should be held as a full-time commitment, not merely an eight-hour day or “9 to 5 grind.” To use government computers, copy machines, manpower, paper, time in the workplace, and other resources for personal goals was to be understood as pilfering and theft. Every government employee’s attitudes, behavior, and conduct continue to be thought of as representative of their constituents and the employer, even, long after the workday is over. The employer should be free to expect those hired to be in a covenant agreement for mutual benefit; yet, cooperation, permission, and restrictions will be in place for planned operations to be completed without duplication and waste. Without direct confirmation of ones supervisor, personnel were to informally adopt or assume no added advantages, benefits, perks or privileges beyond those to fulfill their job description and work agreement. One of the fighters at “Yahoo! Answers” who uses the ID “Anonymous” (no profile information shared) posted the following:
Why can't I as an atheist do the same thing as Kim Davis?
"I'm sorry, I can't authorize your christian marriage because they violate my atheist beliefs." This is why Kim will not see the light of day for a while.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. (Romans 13: 1-12, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: A Price for Religious Liberty? (06/30/2015); Different Strokes, For Different Folks? (06/22/2015); Those Having the True Secrets? (04/14/2015); It Comes With the Job? (01/11/2015); Law in Christian Belief? (09/03/2013); A Need to Know? (09/04/2013)
“Anonymous”, here are a few thoughts I would like to share on the issues of civil disobedience, marriage, and the misuse of sacred knowledge in America, today. The right to religious liberty with freedom to maintain ones conscience and practice ones own beliefs is not also the right to religious authority over those who disbelieve. Liberty allows one to participate in a community of like-minded believers wherein there may be a division of labor and hierarchy to accomplish shared goals. Such a broad liberty may be granted to all, however, the peculiar privileges of membership for those within a sanctified body (i.e., a collective set apart for service to divinity) will be restricted exclusively to those who are contributing participants of their own assembly, congregation, or community of faith. Where we are granted secular authority in settings to provide civil and human services, it is both presumptuous and unethical to assume and exercise judicial or police authority.
Where an elected official or government worker feels their job description, and the demands of their position are in conflict with the mandates and policies of the agencies wherein they serve, resignation and separation without prejudice are the most appropriate actions to spare those who lack job satisfaction, and to resolve the apparent conflicts. For an employee to insist upon refusing to carry out lawful orders, their insubordination may be seen as an attack upon the agency as well as acts that are criminal, disloyal, and seditious.
For those claiming to be Christian believers, it is to be recognized as pride and spiritual confusion when any person (particularly clergy) assumes they are above divine law; that they themselves are the primary advocate, and source of life and power for sacred law; and that their own righteousness permits them to wear a mantel of divine judgment. There is ungodly arrogance in seeking to punish another individual, an ethnic group, a family, or a nation on the basis of finite and imperfect law (i.e., public opinion) that entails multiple levels of subtlety (i.e., barely visible differences; hidden shifts in meaning and value).
Thus, for example, those daring to call themselves righteous as terrorists are not true partakers of the fullness of GOD. While wrath against sin come does correctly come into view, the eternal purposes of judgment are not to be dismissed, ignored or overlooked. Foremost among the exalted aspects of divine intent are correction; divine order; continuing righteousness; gratitude; humility; sealing the beloved with the mark of GOD; completing the full revelation of being, existence and life that is divine priority; and preparing mankind for the harvesting of the earth, the end of mortality, and the permanent transformation of humanity at the coming of Jesus Christ.
There are many other points that should be carefully considered, correctly understood, and made a permanent aspect of ones new life in Christ. (For example: This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away (2nd Timothy 3: 1-5, King James Version, KJV). Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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