We live in a "postmodern" society. Not only does our society deny that Christianity is the only source of truth, our society denies the entire concept of truth. Let's call it "the Clintonization of ethics." The postmodern generation is corrupting the legal system established by the Founding Fathers.
As a Christian, I am old-fashioned. I strive to exemplify the character and moral ideals of the Founding Fathers. I strive to become a Patriarch, a son of Abraham (Galatians 3:29).
And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Galatians 3:29
The Patriarch Abraham pursued the City of God, not the city of man (Hebrews 11:10). To get to the City of God, you must follow the path that leads there. The path Abraham chose was obedience to God (James 2:22-23). God blessed Abraham with great wealth (Genesis 13:2), and protected him from his enemies, just as He had promised . . .
Because that Abraham obeyed My Voice, and kept My Charge, My Commandments, My Statutes, and My Laws.
Genesis 26:5
In his journey to the City of God, Abraham did not leave the poor and marginalized behind, as conservatives are often accused of doing. Nor did Abraham ask the State to bring justice to the afflicted, as liberals often do. In obedience to God's Law, he brought them into his household, and put them under the care of the Covenant (Genesis 12:5; 17:12-13). He brought in dozens of dozens of people into his household, and taught them the ways of the LORD.
Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him. For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of him.
Genesis 18:18-19
Abraham's life is remarkable, but it is also a model of what we should be.
Abraham, our father in the faith, did not pursue the tinsel and glitter of Hollywood, the power of the Pentagon, or the wealth of the Fortune 500 CEO. The ability to resist the agenda of the city of man requires great internal strength. This faith comes as we meditate on God's Law.
As a Christian, I am continually putting to death the "old man," and putting on the "new man," made after the image of Christ. I am dedicated to becoming a disciplined son of Abraham. God's Law is a blueprint of Godly character traits, which I am learning day by day.
God's Law is a picture of Christ, Who obeyed His Father's will perfectly. As I study God's Law, I see Christ, and I see who God created me to be: truly human. My goal is to be like Christ:
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, {12} for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, {13} till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man,
to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; {14} that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, {15} but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head; Christ;
Ephesians 4:11-15
The Apostle John, writing in his first letter, says,
My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous.
The Greek word for "advocate" is a legal term. In this context, "advocates in the strict legal sense are those who speak before rulers on behalf of the accused."[1] The image here is of God as Judge, Christ as Attorney, and ourselves as the accused. A Christian attorney, therefore, will seek to be more like Christ in his legal practice, or legal ministry.
The Christian Attorney studies not just the laws of men, but studies — meditates on — the Law of God. The Law of God is the absolute standard of Godly character, setting before us a model of a Godly man, now just a shadowy figure in the memory of a postmodern generation.
God has promised that if we meditate on His Law, we will be effective in our calling. An attorney is more effective in representing his clients if he meditates on God's Law:
Joshua 1:8 This book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth: but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
The Christian Attorney is able to successfully defend the oppressed against powerful, long-established, sophisticated law firms if he meditates on God's Law.
Psalm 119:97-100 Oh, how love I Thy Law! it is my meditation all the day. Thou through Thy Commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies; for They are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for Thy Testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Your Precepts.
Over and over again, God commands us to meditate on His Law. Few Christians do. Few know how. Few are patriarchs like Abraham. And civilization is collapsing. The Christian Attorney must take the lead in developing these character traits. We must become like Abraham. Therefore, we must meditate on God's Law.
Psalm 1:2 His delight is in the Law of the LORD; and in His Law he meditates day and night.
Psalm 119:97 O how love I Thy Law! it is my meditation all the day.
Psalm 119:15 I will meditate in Thy Precepts, and have respect unto Thy Ways. I will delight myself in Thy Statutes: I will not forget Thy Word.
Psalm 119:55 I have remembered Thy Name, O LORD, in the night, and have kept Thy Law.
Psalm 119:48 My hands also will I lift up unto Thy Commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in Thy Statutes. (cf. Ps. 138:2)
Psalm 119:78 Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in Thy Precepts.
Psalm 119:148 Mine eyes are awake through the night watches, that I might meditate in Thy Word.
I Timothy 4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
Psalm 119:11 Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
In his seminars on Basic Life Principles, Bill Gothard underscores the importance of meditation and "engrafting" Scripture into our hearts. Over the years I have compiled lists of the Statutes of God and categorized them according to the character traits they command.
Each day I can meditate on these character traits, and I find that when I do, I become more like Christ. When I don't, I find myself on the road to the city of man.
Jesus our Advocate was completely, fully, truly human. I am more truly human and a more effective advocate as I develop Christ-like character traits. I am more fully human as I obey God's Law. A Christian Attorney exemplifies these law-traits in his life and practice:
| Accomplishment | Accuracy | Alert |
| Amiable | Analytical | Aspiring |
| Availability | Bold | Calm collected, cool, steady, poised, balanced, serene, Edenic, encouraging |
| Cautious | Charitable compassionate, pitying, concerned, caring, solicitous, sorrowful, heartbroken, comforting, supportive, moved, big-hearted, consoling, loving, fond, humane, kind, charitable, thoughtful, generous, liberal, unselfish, bountiful, free, giving, ungrudging, unsparing, lenient, tolerant, agape |
Chaste modest, virtuous, self-controlled, sober husband, father, provider fidelity, commitment,self-sacrifice honor |
| Cheerful | Composed even-tempered, composed, calm, collected, unruffled, untroubled, self-controlled, balanced, teachable, meek, secure |
Concentration absorption, engrossment, fixed regard, intentness, close attention, application, rumination, diligence, devotion, pondering, meditation, deep thought, deliberation, consideration, study, scrutiny, examination |
| Confident security, trust, faith, positiveness, sureness, reliance, assuredness, fortitude, reassurance, conviction |
Contentment grateful, happy, at peace, satisfied, thankful, appreciative |
Cooperative |
| Courage intrepid, unflinching, undaunted, unalarmed, bold, firm, resolute, unconquerable, staunch, steadfast, unshrinking, plucky, spunky |
Courteous polite, respectful, deferential, cordial, genial, affable, attentive, caring, gentlemanly, gracious, kind, elegant, tactful, helpful, accommodating, available, cooperative |
Creativity inventive, imaginative, visionary, inspired, talented, formative, original, ingenious, skilled, crafty, resourceful, clever, enterprising, industrious discoverer, coiner, generator, initiator, institutor, architect, inventor, devisor, organizer |
| Decisiveness unhesitating, determined, resolute, confirmed, earnest, sober, purposeful, thoughtful, deliberate, tenacious, committed, resolved |
Dependability | Diligence |
| Discernment | Discretion | Earnest |
| Endurance | Efficiency efficacious, effective, productive, generative, dynamic, competent, fitted, prepared, well-grounded, ready, capable, crack, proficient, adept, experienced, au fait, skillful, dexterous, expeditious, business-like, dominion-oriented, successful, results, hard-headed, fruitful, constructive |
Emotions
(in the appropriate context) 1. sensitive, feeling, compassionate, warm, tender, affectionate, loving, sympathetic, sensuous 2. angry, wroth, outraged, indignant, pained, hurt, grieved, appalled, fervent; Deploring what God deplores 3. sorrowful, mournful, sad, agonizing, lamenting, heartfelt, tearful; Crying when God cries. Mourning with those who mourn 4. rejoicing, merry, delighted, blessed, jubilant, exultant, exhilarated, enthused, elated, mirthful; Rejoicing with those who rejoice 5. loving, amorous, passionate, ravished, thirsty, captivated, satisfied |
| Energy peppy, energetic, vigorous, dynamic, full of vim and vigor, eager, lively, spirited, animated, vibrant, robust, industrious, driving, pressing on, sprightly, effervescent, cheerful, passionate |
Enthusiasm | Expressiveness |
| Fair-mindedness | Faithful | Flexibility |
| Foresight prudent, careful, discrete, judicious, sagacious, ready, farsighted, circumspect, anticipating, prescient, prepared, sapient, calculating, circumspect, visionary readiness, future-orientation |
Forgiveness | Frankness |
| Frugality | Generosity | Gentleness |
| Goal
Apprehension aspiring, hoping, yearning, purposeful, expectant, eager, ambitious, future-oriented, dominion-oriented, enterprising, optimistic |
Goal
Direction confirmed, resolute, single-minded, not double-minded, adamant, ceaseless, dedicated, determined, firm, immovable, inexhaustible, inexorable, inflexible, relentless, resolved, steadfast, unbendable, uncompromising, unswayable, unyielding, persistent, tenacious, fixed, intentional, set, assiduous |
Gratefulness |
| Honesty veracious, trustworthy, reliable, impartial, equitable, unprejudiced, sincere, guileless, undeceiving, unfeigned, undissembling, undissimulating, aboveboard, un-contrived, unaffected, unassumed, plain-spoken, genuine, authentic, respectable, credible, virtuous, unpretentious, uncorrupted rectitude, justice, integrity, righteousness |
Hope expectant, positive, optimistic, affirmative, cheerful, confident, encouraging, promising, sanguine, assured, secure, convinced, sure, certain, utopian, idealist, visionary, lofty, soaring, grandiose, heavenly |
Hospitality convivial, receptive, welcoming, warm, open, gracious, sharing, inviting, friendly, congenial, affable, amiable, neighborly, receptive, sympathetic, merciful, kindness, kinship, tenderness |
| Humility modest, reverential, polite, respectful, gracious, meek, contrite, gentle, lowly, unassuming, unpretentious |
Industry hard-working, energetic, inventive, laborious, dynamic, unflagging, workmanlike, enterprising, businesslike, constant, diligent, ambitious, spirited, active, vibrant, venture, drive |
Initiative |
| Interest
in People sympathetic, congenial, agreeable, pleasant, friendly, neighborly, philanthropic, supportive, considerate, empathetic, understanding, warm, kind, sociable, good-humored |
Kindness | Loyalty faithful, allegiant, true, steadfast, dependable, stable, solid, supportive, constant, permanent, conscientious, dedicated, abiding, unswerving, honorable, unfailing, trusty, true-blue |
| Manners | Maturity full-grown, adult, of age, perfect, elder, patriarch, pillar |
|
| Meekness | Memory recall, recollect, call to mind, have at my fingertips, recognize, aware, retain |
Motivation
of Others enhearten, reassure, cheer, back up, buoy, pat on the back, stimulate, animate, whet, inspire, build up, edify, boost, rally, invigorate, give a shot in the arm, prompt, exhort, spur, goad, egg on, persuade, excite, provoke, fire up, psyche up, help, assist, lend a hand, commend, reward |
| Music | Neatness | Non-violent law-abiding, peaceable, well-behaved, well-mannered, civil, courteous, polite, disciplined, obedient, self-controlled, quiet, gentle, mild, serene, tranquil, civilized, considerate, thoughtful, neighborly, yielding, peace-loving, non-combative, conciliatory, propitiatory, accommodative, mediatory, calming, tolerant, forbearing, uncomplaining, unassuming, forgiving, intercessory, harmonious, pacific |
| Objectivity | Organization well-designed, harmonious, symmetrical, methodical, structured, efficient, productive, orderly, fit, systematic, well-managed, under-control, arranged, predictable, attractive, well-proportioned, steward (eco-nomist) |
Overcomer |
| Parenting | Patience | Perfection |
| Perseverance steadfastness, persistence, endurance, abidingness, patience, stamina, backbone, application, zeal, devotion, diligence, pursuance, tenacity, resolve, determination, stick-to-it-iveness, sedulous, persistent, determined, resilient fortitude, backbone abide |
Persistence | Persuasiveness |
| Planning prepared, thought-out, ready, thorough, provident, lamps trimmed, wary, equipped itinerary, design, purpose, objective, end, aim, object, program, project, enterprise, proposal, vision, brainstorm, strategy, blueprint, design, schedule, provision, contingent, agenda, policy, course of action, alternative, option, backup, recourse, substitute, selection, calendar, projection, estimate, probability, plan budget, consider, contemplate, weigh, count the costs, forecast, anticipate, plan, project, budget, sketch, map, chart, design, arrange |
Punctuality | Purposefulness |
| Reading literate, knowledgeable, informed, helpful, conversant, informative, inquisitive, understanding, intelligent, aware, appreciative, wise, discerning, insightful, questioning, prudent |
Relaxation | Resoluteness |
| Resourcefulness | Respectfulness | Responsibility |
| Reverence | Security | Self-Assurance confident, steady, unwavering, single-minded, self-controlled, undoubting, unhesitating. poised, level-headed, unruffled, untroubled |
| Self-Disciplineself-control, strength of character, will power, moral fiber, fortitude, patience, endurance, presence of mind, stability, self-command, self-government, self-mastery, work ethic, diligence | Self-Education discriminating, discerning, questioning, (see Reading) educated, learned, academic, erudite, intellectual, literate, scholarly, well-read, intelligent, alert, astute, bright, advanced, brilliant, informed, abreast, knowledgeable, conversant, up on, acquainted, aware, observant |
Self-Improvement develop, work on, refine, polish, perfect, ripen, flower, reconstruct, enhance, enrich, nurture, supplement, augment, advance, promote, progress, become, expand, reinforce, multiply, cultivate |
| Self-Respect confidence, self-sufficiency, pride, respectability, character, honor, virtue, goodness, eminence, value, purpose, justification |
Self-Starting promptness, fervor, zest, liveliness, relish, gusto, verve, vigor, dispatch, willingness, readiness, as unto the LORD, psyched up, kindled, spirited, solicitous, energetic, quick, rapid, expeditious, Johnny-on-the-spot, punctual |
Sensitivity |
| Sincerity | Speech clear, lucid, plain, simple, lipid, transparent, definite, logical, expressive, direct, intelligible, logical, comprehensible, legible, audible, cogent, persuasive, well-spoken, communicative, fluent, perspicuous, articulate, graceful, pleasant, expressive, coherent |
Success prosperous, flourishing, booming, wealthy, thriving, rooted, planted, growing, fertile, productive, fecund, fruitful, winning, triumphant, victorious, well-known, fat, abundant, overflowing, abounding, well-supplied, bountiful, plentiful, abounding, abundant, bounteous, cornucopia |
| Thoroughness | Thriftiness | Tolerance |
| Touch | Truthfulness | Virtuous |
| Wisdom | Work for
Quality excellence, distinction, craftsmanship, artistry, superiority, down-deep, genuine, choice, first-rate, foremost, pure, unadulterated, honest, authentic, quality, touch skill, finesse, savvy, proficiency, ability, adroitness, caliber, command, competence, expertise, forte, knack, know-how, mastery, prowess |
These character traits are commanded in God's Law. These are the characteristics of a Godly Patriarch like Abraham. This is a picture of Christ our Advocate, and it is to be a picture of the Christian attorney, indwelled by the Holy Spirit.
The Westminster Confession of Faith (ch. 22:5,6) describes a program of daily vows to the Lord Many of the Psalms contain vows of this type. I am placing my program on the WorldWideWeb for the benefit of others.
(1) "Parakletos," 5 Theological Dictionary of the New Testament 802 (G. Kittel, ed., G. Bromiley, trans., 1967).