So many questions

 Ever wonder what it would be like to not have any preconceived ideas about certain things in life? There are things that are so ingrained in us that it is difficult to know sometimes exactly what we believe about some things. Whether we truly believe it for ourselves, or we have been taught and absorbed the opinions and ideals of others.

And it doesn't help that so many of our beliefs and ideals have been Americanized. I love our country and am thankful I was born, raised, and live in America. I am patriotic. I love patriotic songs. The flag gives me a sense of pride and belonging. I decorate for patriotic holidays, and don't get why people can be so anti-patriotic.

But I have questions. I have seen a lot, read a lot, and have had some questions that conflict with how things have always been. I think it started with my convictions and belief that I could not and should not vote for and support Donald Trump. Man... I have been hurt badly for that stance, and it has caused me to doubt everything, even God and His existence. I still struggle daily as to why and how Christians - especially from my ultra conservative church - can be so over the top supportive of him, never speak out against him, and how they act when he is criticized. My faith has been about destroyed. 

I have slowly come to the realization that I shouldn't be angry at God or losing faith him. Jesus was not and is not political. He doesn't insist I vote Republican. He doesn't insist I vote for someone I feel I should not. He doesn't even insist I vote. He does not treat me any differently for voting third party. Elementary, yes.....but it took me a while to get there.

Author and pastor David Platt who said we desperately need to explore how much of our understanding of the Gospel is American and how much is Biblical. I fear too many of us measure our ideals and beliefs about certain issues against the Constitution instead of the Bible. I am sure these questions will get me labeled liberal, unpatriotic, un-Christian, etc....because one does not dare question a sitting president that claims to be Republican, or question the conservative/Republican stance on anything.

Onto my questions:

1) How much can Christianity and patriotism be mixed? There are people who are proudly un-patriotic. I was in a group for a while that had a mix of people in. The guy running it was conservative and Christian, but there were some people in there with unique ideas. Some were very anti-patriotic. One guy related he and his family were late to a sports game, and entered while the national anthem was played, and he was happy they didn't have to stand there with their hands on their hearts as they found their seats. I found his attitude pathetic.

But I have seen some statements by people, and have had little nigglings in my mind about the mixing of patriotism, church, and Christianity.

Something happened Sunday that bothered me. Let me preface this by saying I love our song leader at church - yes, we have a song leader, not a worship leader and worship team. It is amazing how he picks just the right songs most of the time. As we stood yesterday morning to sing the first song in the morning worship service, he said he debated about what to sing, but there were people who would be disappointed if we didn't sing the National Anthem. So he led the congregation in the first and third verses of that song.

And it bothered me. We were starting our worship service by singing a song about our flag. We have done it before. We have sung other patriotic songs. We have pledged for the American and Christian flags.....but should we?

(And should we be so gung ho about pledging to the flag? Our country is not a Christian nation....a Christian nation would not kill millions of babies. A Christian nation would not elect and practically worship men like Obama, Biden, and felon 47.)

I am not saying it is wrong, but I am questioning if we should do it in the house of God. We have so intermingled Christianity and patriotism that I am sure it seems almost heresy or un-American to question it.

I have seen people say we shouldn't have an American flag on the church platform.....are they right?

We are there to worship God. Should we do anything patriotic when we are there to worship God?

We have always done these things, but does that make it right?

And does anyone care at this point?

2) What should a Christian do about immigration? What is Biblical, and what is American/Constitutional?

I'll admit, I have always taken the Republican/conservative approach to illegal immigration. Send them all home. They are here illegally, so they are criminals.

I got a message from someone recently that made me feel good. This person told me  that they had been pushed into voting for DT, but have come to see him a different light. And one big reason is how he is handling the immigration issue. I have been disgusted and even a bit horrified at what I am seeing and hearing.

I am for legal immigration, and have been disgusted at how Obama and other liberals try to use the Bible to make a case for open borders and illegal immigration....yet ignore that same Bible on other issues. I have long believed the main reason Democrats cheer on and support open borders and illegal immigration is because they view them all as potential Democrat voters. If it is out of compassion, where is that compassion when it comes to babies in the womb?

But just what should a Christian do with the issue? Again, I fear we are measuring our reactions and beliefs against the Constitution instead of the Bible. I see Christians cheering on ICE as they bust down doors and grab people with no warning. The jokes about the "Alligator Alcatraz" and jokes about illegals being eaten by them....is that truly the Biblical and Christian response? Jesus died for and loves the illegal immigrants just as much as legal Americans. I honestly don't know what the Christian response should be, but it isn't what too many American Christians are having. Should  there be an in between position between open borders/allowing illegal immigration, and bordering on KJB tactics?

Just this week, Homeland Security used Isaiah 6:8 — “Here am I. Send me.” — to glorify ICE raids in a recruitment video. Screen shot above, link to the video on X here: Video. 

I started following a young guy on Facebook that has his head on straight, and he shared it and said this: Isaiah wasn’t signing up for border patrol. He was trembling before a holy God, called to preach to a nation gone deaf to justice.

"This isn’t patriotism. It’s Scripture twisted into state propaganda.

Christian, if this doesn’t shake you, your faith already has rot in it.

Blasphemy.

Blasphemy.

Blasphemy."

And he is correct. But I am sure the MAGA crowd will have no issue with it because they view illegal immigrants as the enemy. But are they? Yes, there are some wicked gang members and outright criminals who need to be caught and dealt with....but I am afraid that the MAGA response to illegal immigration is just as wrong as the Democrats. 

3) Just how political can Christians be, and still live by the Bible? OK, similar to my first question, but going a different direction. 

I have changed a lot since 2016. Being a Christian and conservative against felon 47 has not been easy. I have had my Christianity and conservatism questioned because I voted third party and didn't just fall in line and vote like everyone wanted me to....it has been rough.

One of the things that hurt the most was when a popular post was shared by at least one guy from my church "True Christians will vote for Trump" during his second time running for president. No MAGA Christian spoke up against such an un-Biblical and untrue statement. 

Here is the thing: Donald Trump is not a nice man. He isn't kind, compassionate, loving...none of the things Christians should be. Yet Christians about worship the guy, never criticize him or hold him accountable, and want everyone else to do the same. The over the top adulation has been nauseating and concerning.

My faith has been shaken so much by the MAGA response and blind following by so many Christians. A young guy from my church messaged me a few years ago and said his faith has been shaken by how so pro-Trump the people in our ultra conservative church (and church circle), and how they act when he is criticized. Me too. And I have come to realize even Christians in my own church don't want me to vote my conscience and how I believe God wants me to vote. They want me to vote like them. They don't just want to be silent and not criticize their president, they want to silence everyone else also. 

This happened a while back:
A retired preacher from my church ran onto me in Walmart a few years ago, and he tried to convince me that DT is a Christian. Just "not in our way." 
Then about a week before the last election, he cornered me in the church vestibule and again tried to convince me that DT is a Christian, and that I should vote for him. I pointed out that just a week or so before Franklin Graham had asked DT to cut down on his cursing, and DT said he could not.
This ultra conservative retired holiness pastor defended DT and said habits like that are hard to break.
And then the big kicker: After chatting a bit more, I asked him "So if a person has prayed and believes they should not vote for DT, should they still vote for him?" The answer this guy whose faith has been shaken so much in my church, Christianity, and God needed was "You should vote how you believe God wants you to vote. "But no...he pulled a huge copout and said he always tries to vote the best way to protect his family. 

I didn't say it, but that is not what the Christians did down through the ages. They did what they believed to be right and often suffered for it. 

The Bible commands us to love, have compassion, be tender, merciful, love our enemies. Blessed are the peacemakers, etc. How political can we be...how anti-Dem, anti-Trump, how MAGA, etc can we be and be like Jesus? How political can we be and be salt and light?

If Jesus was not political, how political should we be?

4) Is God any happier with the Republican Party than He is with the Democratic Party?

Obviously God cannot be pleased with the Democrats with their push to make murdering babies in the womb completely undeterred. They push everything gay, everything trans, and seem to have no interest in protecting women and children as they push their Satanic agenda.

But is God any more pleased with the Republican Party as they push their agenda, not caring who is hurt in their desire to win and be in power?

Did you know that last year, the Republican Party officially removed opposition to abortion and gay marriage? 

 "Eric Trump summarized the shift in a revealing exchange on NBC. The host noted, “The Republican platform no longer calls for a federal abortion ban and no longer defines marriage between one man and one woman. Is this a sign your father is moving to the center?” His reply: “My father has always been there on those issues. That’s reflective of my father and what he believes in. … and my wife, Lara, who runs the RNC, and what she believes in. At the end of the day, this country has holes in the roof, and you’ve got to fix those holes and stop worrying about the spot on the wall in the basement.”

Gay marriage and abortion are spots on the basement wall to the Trumps. Link to the whole article is here. 

Just how long before the Republican Party starts pushing support for abortion?

And what is sad....no one in the MAGA seemed to care. They should have been incensed, and at least speaking out....but one does not criticize this administration, his family, or anything Republican. 

I was going to make it a separate question, but I'll ask it here: Just how pro-life are MAGA Christians? Let me preface this next statement by saying I don't believe you have to "like" everything on Facebook you agree with....but this alarms me: I post a lot of pro-life memes, and am lucky to get 2 or 3 likes. Just how pro-life is the Republican party? DT stated that Planned Parenthood does a lot of good, and they didn't care.

As I watch the tactics this president does that Christians keep supporting no matter what he does, no matter how he skirts the Constitution, I am concerned and bothered about the future of Christianity in the conservative movement. While we guard the front door from socialism, facism, communism, authoritarianism, etc..I fear felon 47 is sneaking it in the back door. What the MAGA crowd seems to forget is he and his family were long time Democrats who supported Democrats long before his conversion to being a Republican.

Christians should have some concerns about him and the way he is taking this country. Is God any happier with all this than with the Democrats and their Satanic agenda? Trump rules with division, hatred, and even bordering on cruelty. 

5) How pro-Israel should we be?
OK, if I haven't been condemned to hell by now, this may cause people to wish for it. I believe we should support Israel, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem as Jesus commanded...but....

I have seen a few posts where people question this, and point out that the Israel of today is far from what the Israel of the Bible was. We should be their ally. But should we support EVERYTHING they do? Should we have bombed Iran's nuclear facilities? What if someone decides we shouldn't have them and go after ours?

Again, I am not saying we should step back and let them on their own....but just how pro-Israel should we be?

And that is it for now. I may ask more questions in the future. 

**Disclaimer: I used some quotes from preacher Benjamin Cremer. I do not agree with him on everything. He has some great things to say, but goes too far the other way on some issues. 

***Disclaimer #2: I am conservative, and though I lost my faith and my way for several years following the 2016 election, I am getting my relationship with God back on track. He has never let me down, and it is wrong I lost my faith in him because of political Christians. I would rather be Biblically correct than right politically.