An encumbrance will often weigh us down or prevent us from going forward.
Trinity Lutheran Church, Columbia, Missouri, should not receive taxpayer dollars for their preschool daycare playground. A few years back they requested money from the state to rubberize the surface of their daycare children’s playground. The money was denied and it has become a case appearing before the Supreme Court. A church asking the state for money sets a bad precedent especially if the Supreme Court rules in their favor. I
f churches and any of their ministries take money from the federal government then they should pay taxes from their weekly offerings and endowment funds that some churches pile up for future endeavors. Most churches couldn’t make it if they had to pay such taxes. A state-controlled church is the last thing America needs. Once this happens to the church there will be no going back.
I don’t think Christian churches want to be told they have to hire gay and lesbian leadership. Many churches already do so by their own choice but they make the choice not the government. The churches that do hire gay and lesbians don’t want to be told they can’t. Churches have demanded and fought for a few liberties, and it’s not wise for any church or religious group to give up their freedom to teach and exercise their faith free from most federal encumbrances for money.
Speaking of encumbrances, Bill O’Reilly or Fox News should never have paid a dime to anyone if the allegations of sexual harassment were false. Paying out $13 million does not speak of innocence. We understand $13 million to O’Reilly and Fox is small change. We understand wanting to settle and move on without further encumbering themselves.
Unfortunately, malignant cancers return unless met head on. The end result is a network that is now reeling and the greatest primetime cable program in history is now history.
Speaking of encumbrances, Kim Jong Un of North Korea is a pain in the neck. The world has faced aggravations and rear ends and now we are staring at one again.
The people of South Korea have to live in the realm of what if Kim Jong Un really messes up and fires a missile at Seoul? America cannot battle North Korea, Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Russia. We don’t have enough tax dollars to fund enough military nor the weapons and ships to cover all the territory.
I remember a cartoon character that ran out of breath trying to keep seven plates spinning on sticks. He was successful but only for a few seconds. Our wars and nation building go on for years while our country and people are neglected. I would rather fight any war in another country than have one come to America.
We must be defensive in our daily strategy against terrorism and threats like Kim Jong Un.
Encumbrances come to all including churches, national figures and even our nation. Avoiding or freeing ourselves from too many or the wrong encumbrances seems too difficult for most everyone.
Glenn Mollette is a syndicated columnist and author of 11 books.
