Sometimes I think we are too hard on the people in the Bible. I have read and heard some of the stories and wondered "why couldn't they believe?" or "how could they be so blind/stupid?" One such story that has always amazed me is the disciples' reactions to Jesus' arrest, crucifixion, and death. All through the Gospels Jesus keeps dropping hints. He tells them He is going to be killed. He tells them He will rise on the third day, but the whole series of events surprises the daylights out of them.
I can't imagine how they felt. They would have felt sorrow at the death of their friend and Lord. They would have felt despair, confusion, depression, anger..... and probably even betrayal. They had such high hopes for this Messiah. They all thought He was going to set up His kingdom here, kick some Roman butt, and set Israel free from their oppressors..... and He had let Himself be captured and killed. This Man who had done so many miracles, had simply stepped forward and allowed Himself to be taken by the men who hated Him and wanted Him dead. And even worse, He had stopped them from defending Him and attacking those men.
And now their friend and Lord lay very dead in a borrowed tomb. The horror of watching Him crucified was bad, but I can't imagine afterwards. I doubt many of them slept much that night, if at all. And then morning came. If they had gotten any sleep, it would have all come rushing back. The arrest, the flogging, the mocking crowd, their cowardice and desertion, the crucifixion, and His last breath. I imagine they felt lower than low.
I have had some pretty low times in my life. There have been times I wondered what on earth God was trying to prove... or where on earth God even was. I doubted Him, I have been angry at Him. I've cried that it isn't fair. I've looked at my hopes and dreams lying shattered and dead in front of me, and wondered "why me? Does God hate me that much?"
But I don't think all of my troubles, my doubts and fears, my crushed dreams and hopes could compare to what the disciples were feeling.
And can I really fault them for their doubts and fears, for ignoring or forgetting what Jesus told them was going to happen? I do the same thing. God has promised He'd take care of me, and I panic at the next crisis and wonder if He'll come through......forgetting He always has. I've sat with the ashes of my dreams and wondered if He could possibly have a plan for my life after all that I'd done and all that had happened, totally forgetting the promises in His Word. I am as guilty of doubting Him, forgetting what He promised, not trusting Him, and whatever else they were guilty of, as they were.
But Sunday came for them. Jesus wasn't very dead in a hole in the rock anymore..... in fact, He wasn't dead at all. As someone has said, the stone wasn't rolled away so Jesus could get out - He didn't need it moved - it was rolled away to give hope and show Jesus' followers that He had risen as He had promised.
I have been in the place where hope was made new, rose out of the ashes, felt God's assurance that He has my back and He still has a plan for my life. But it can't compare to the hope that burst forth on that first Easter morning when that group of sad and depressed disciples found out that Jesus was now alive.
Any Christian can grasp that fact for ourselves, that we serve a risen Savior who took on our sins, died for our sins, and then rose again. We can never experience it like the disciples did, but we can get a glimpse of that every once in a while.. and not just at Easter.
As we enter this Easter season, I can honestly say I am closer to God than I have ever been. My mask is gone, I know I serve a Savior who loves me far more than I can ever grasp. I am daily amazed at His unending patience, mercy, and grace for me. He has been showing me things, helping me grow, letting me know I need to improve in this area or that, and forgiving me when I fail again at improving in an area...... and He is more real to me than ever. I have finally moved beyond head knowledge and truly gotten it in my heart.
So I am looking forward to Easter more this year than I usually do. No, I can't have much candy due to this diabetes diagnoses, but that isn't what it is all about. It is about a cross on a hill, a Savior who loved me enough to take my place on that cross, and it is about an empty hole in a rock that tried to hold this Jesus who loves me so much, but failed miserably and was emptied as that same Jesus rose again and walked out of that tomb.
There is no hope equal to the hope that comes from an empty tomb.
The slogan of one of the presidential candidates is "Let's make America great again!" What exactly does that mean? What will it take to make America great again?
Alexis de Tocqueville said that America is great because America is good, and that if America ever ceases to be good, it will cease to be great. I have always liked that quote, and I think that idea holds merit. I believe America has for the most part ceased to be good, and that we can attempt to make it great again; but it cannot be great again without it being good.
As I have thought about what would make America good again, some things came to my mind that I feel has helped in the decline of the goodness of America. I am no genius, so others may come up with different ones, but these are what I have been considering:
1) The legalized murder of innocents
We have legalized the "right" for women to murder their babies in the womb. And that has become one of the very platforms of the Democratic party. Think about that for a minute: It is a requirement to be OK with babies being murdered in the womb for you to gain any traction in the Democratic party. And not only must they be OK with it, they must defend it, cheer it on, and go after anyone who disagrees with a vengeance. Try getting an office in any level of government in the Democratic party as a pro-life person, and you'll never get a vote.
Jesus said if you hurt a small child, it is better to have a millstone hung around your neck and be thrown into the sea....so what does that say about abortion, those who do it, those who support it, and those who support candidates who support it?
2) Marriage a) Sex before marriage
We have made a mockery of the sacred institution of marriage. No one blinks an eye at couples shacking up anymore without being married. Virginity is mocked, and instead of wondering whether to kiss on the first date; the question is whether to commit fornication on the first date. What was meant for marriage, has become part of the dating process and something we just do to feel good with whoever we want.
b) Divorce
Instead of being rare and used in cases of infidelity or abuse, divorce has become as common as sneezing. People get tired of each other and want someone else, or they just don't want to work on problems. It has become almost as common among Christians, and God's idea of marriage has been trampled and mocked even by those who serve Him. Yes, there are cases where divorce is necessary, but it is way too common, especially among Christians
c) Gay marriage
Gay marriage was just part of the slippery slope. Can Christians really say gay marriage is making a mockery out of God's ideal for marriage when we so easily have accepted sex before marriage, abortion, and easy divorce and remarriage?
3) Entertainment
America is addicted to entertainment and even Christians watch pretty much anything put out by Hollywood. Movies, sports games, TV shows, and music have become so important to us that we Christians gorge on stuff that would have made a sailor blush with shame not that many years ago. We are obsessed with the latest reality shows, the newest music, what celebrity is hooking up with who, what Kim Kardasian is wearing, and have given Hollywood and entertainment a place in our lives that rival God's.
4) School and government
We have kicked God out of our schools and government. Christians should never have stood idly by and let it happen, but they did..... and now our schools are full of liberal empty headed people whose agenda is more important than protecting and educating kids. God isn't welcome, and we are seeing the results in school shootings, teen suicides, and more.
We help elect godless men and women to run our country, then sit back and wonder why we are losing our freedoms and why the country is getting so far from God.
5) The Sabbath
We have taken the day God set aside for us to rest and worship Him and made it into just another day. Even most Christians have a hard time giving Him the whole day, and Sunday evening church has been cut out so people can watch TV and have fun. Church and God has ceased to be a big part of America. Our churches are full of shallow Christians just doing enough to get by, and who have decided we know what is right and wrong for us. The church has become more like the world than like Jesus.
6) Gangs and drugs
Gangs and drugs are prevalent, and it seems no one wants to get rid of the problem bad enough. People fight for the legalization of more drugs, not caring what the consequences are for our youth and country.
7) Division
Our country is divided by race, politics, and religion; and it keeps getting worse. Politicians and would be ministers fan the flames and encourage hatred, violence, and looting and capitalize on the division and hate.
8) Other gods
Sports, entertainment, and sex have become our gods, and too many of us do put them before God.
9) Leaders who mock God and His Word
Our Supreme Court is lined with self important people who think they know better than God and who have no time for Him or His Word. We have a president who mocks and fights Christianity, and a man running for president who says he doesn't need to ask God's forgiveness.
Our country has grown so wicked that other countries are now sending missionaries here. So much for being a Christian nation.
10) Our front-runners for the 2016 presidential race:
One has been corrupt to the core all of her life, has lied, broken laws, possibly been guilty of having people killed, has endangered our country by her actions, she is for everything wrong, and is being investigated by the FBI.....and people don't care. She will most likely be the next president of our country, and there will be thousands of Christians who will vote for her. The Christians voting for her will never pray about it, take out their Bibles, and see how she and her policies line up with God's Word..... she is a Democrat, and they must always vote for their party's candidate, no matter who it is or what they are like.
And the other candidate isn't much better. He has supported Planned Parenthood and abortion all of his life...even partial birth abortion. He is supposedly pro-life now that he is running as a Republican; yet still defends the largest abortion provider in the country and says "they do a lot of good". He promised to further gay rights, is very vulgar, owns strip clubs, has committed adultery on at least 2 wives and bragged about it, says he doesn't need to ask God's forgiveness, and has supported liberal policies, politicians, and ideology for years. And Christians are rallying around him as if he were the Messiah. Christians across the country have decided we need a godless strip club owner/businessman more than we need a "pastor", or Christian leader..... and we are being told we must vote for him if he wins the GOP nomination.
This is not an exhaustive list, but can any honest person look at what I have come up with and say America is good? We may still have some good, but we have drifted so far from good that we can't even see the shoreline.
I am one who agrees with the statement about America being great. If we want America to be great again, we must first become good again. No politician can do that. No businessman can do that. A pastor might be able to with God's help, but as we keep getting told "we are not electing a pastor". We need to get America back to God for America to be good and great again.
And we have no one to blame but ourselves. American Christianity has become so shallow and self-centered. We think we are the only Christians on the earth, and everything revolves around us. We are so much a part of the world and so much like the world, if Jesus would come back today; we might struggle between staying or going. We have set up other gods before Him, and He has become part of our lives, not what our lives revolve around. To many of us, denying ourselves and carrying a cross is a foreign idea. We want our stuff, we don't want to give up anything for God... unless it is for the 40 days of Lent.....and we want to decide what is OK and not OK for us to do as Christians.
I've been guilty. I like to get what I want when I want it. I don't want to be deprived of anything. I don't want to deny myself.... and carry a cross? Ugh.
America needs a revival. Countries have had revivals in the past that rocked nations, changed rulers, changed the country.......and maybe revival will only come with tough times. We have it too easy here in America. Oh, the gay rights issue has trampled our rights some; but compared to Christians across the world we have it good.... but if Hillary or Trump becomes president and puts their picks on the Supreme Court and furthers gay rights and other things that could hurt us and our freedoms.....things could get dicey here for American Christians. And if things get tough, maybe we will have time for God and revival.
If every Christian took 11 Chronicles 7:14 to heart and did what that verse says, we might change the tide in our country. It is possible. Even if we do elect one of these corrupt politicians who will take our country even further from God; we could stem the tide and help bring our country back to God.
Want to make America great again? First we must make it good...... and that good must involve God.
We've Got to Get America Back to God
Verse 1 What ever happened to “In God We Trust?” Prayer has been banned and taken from us. When will we say, “Enough is enough!” And get our country back to God?
Chorus: We’ve got to get America back to God We’ve got to rule the world with the staff and rod. We’ve got to fight the Devil everywhere we trod We’ve got to get America back to God. Verse 2 Millions of babies we’ve lost each year What have we done to stop their tears Christians rise up let America hear we will take our country back to God. Chorus: We’ve got to get America back to God We’ve got to rule the world with the staff and rod. We’ve got to fight the Devil everywhere we trod We’ve got to get America back to God. Bridge: The silence is broken It’s time now to stand Well take this walk for Jesus If we go hand in hand Chorus: We’ve got to get America back to God We’ve got to rule the world with the staff and rod. We’ve got to fight the Devil everywhere we trod We’ve got to get America back to God.
I first posted this in November of 2014, and have had similar thoughts lately, so I am editing and updating it.
I am weary of politics and this election cycle. It seems it has been more vicious and hateful than other primaries, but maybe I blissfully forgot about the others.
We conservatives can't seem to learn from our mistakes. Time after time, we elect a nominee who is too moderate or liberal, has no backbone, and is simply the lesser of two evils... and we lose. This election we have had several decent candidates who truly seem a lot better than what we have had...and the majority of conservatives seem to be going for a candidate who makes our previous ones look like Mother Theresa. I have been frustrated, angry, concerned, and feel like I am living in an alternate universe where everything is opposite of what it should be.
I have been praying a lot about it, reading some great articles and engaged in some interesting conversations, and have come to a realization. Maybe God brought it to me, as He has been teaching me a lot lately and speaking to me about a lot of things.
Could it be I am too concerned about this election? Yes, I'd like to retain our freedoms and hope for a candidate who may help turn our country back towards God at least a little..... but as the old song goes, this world is not my home. I don't belong here.
Life has been that way for me. Ever walk into a room or some setting and feel out of place? Try feeling that for most of your life.
I didn't belong with my male cousins. I was the youngest boy, still carrying around stuffed animals while they were showing interest in sports, and I got ragged on for it.
I didn't belong at school. All of the other boys loved sports and were good at them. I hated them and stunk. They were tough and rough, and I was weak and the target of their bullying.
I didn't belong at Bible College. Everyone else knew what they were doing with their lives, and seemed to have it all together spiritually. I had no clue what I was doing with my life.......still don't - and college was when I realized what I was struggling with and became a spiritual basket case.
I don't belong at church. Normal guys my age are married and have families. I'm the odd man out. A pew warmer who slips in and out of services and often wishes I could stay home and worship God there. And all of those other people with no issues or problems.......well, at least they act like it.
I feel out of place at work. My coworkers drink, curse, party, meet at the bar, discuss movies I'd never want to watch, and of course discuss sports. And then there's me. I spend my week-ends in church, shopping, and reading, and I never curse.
I don't belong with other men. I'd rather spend time in a bookstore than watch sports or sit out in the cold to shoot a deer.....and guys that like to shop are pretty rare.
I don't even belong with those who share the same sexual desires as I do. I'm like them inside, but not outside, or politically....... and I know my Bible too well to believe that lie.
Most days, I feel like a square peg trying to fit into a round world. A single floundering in a pool of lovers. A paperback novel in a store of Kindles and Nooks. A freak among normal people.
And I still don't know what I want to do with my life, just that it is more than I have done so far.
This isn't the first time I have thought like this, nor will it be the last. And as I have been thinking dire and depressing thoughts about the election and what I see as the most likely outcome - a Hillary presidency - these thoughts have been going through my mind about not belonging. I am starting to feel like I don't belong in the conservative/Republican party......if their values are going to be so opposite and contrary to the Bible; I really don't belong.
And as I have thought about not belonging in this political party that is getting it so wrong, and was reminded that this world isn't my home......even America isn't my real home. I - and anyone serving God - don't belong here.
But yet we tend to lose sight of that. I have been guilty of living too much for this world..... for this country. I don't serve the Republican party, and I do not have to vote for their candidate just because he is their candidate. This is my temporary home. Sure, comfort and freedoms are nice and desirable, but if our desire for those and getting the candidate we like most in as president is more important than pleasing God, than our relationship with Him..... if American politics and culture has our heart more than Jesus does; we are in serious trouble. And I don't want to be in that place. Belonging is a nice thing. Since I wrote the list of places I have not felt I belonged, I have found a few places and things that make me belong; though most of those hold true.
And that is OK. I belong to and with Jesus. According to Him, I belong in Heaven as long as I am faithful and serve Him. I'm not above anyone else, and am one of His weakest children who fails Him often, but He loves me and is guiding me.
This song came to my mind when I did the original post, and has been on my mind lately. The original title of the song was "A Sojourner's Song", but it was changed to "I Don't Belong", and was the inspiration for the name of my original blog which has become my book review blog, Thoughts of a Sojourner. Maybe not feeling like you belong isn't always a bad thing.
And you know what? Someday, by God's grace, I am going to walk through the gates of Heaven, and I won't feel out of place. There is no marriage there, so everyone will be single. If sports exists in Heaven, and I am not sure it will, there will be thousands, maybe millions, who like me, will have no interest in it.
I'll never walk into a crowd of people and feel out of place. I'll sit down and chat with Moses, Noah, Abraham.... and Jesus Himself....... and I'll belong. "Where sinners like me, become royalty......and we'll all belong."
I Don't Belong, written by Buddy Greene and Gloria Gaither
It’s not home where men sell their souls and the taste of power is sweet, Where wrong is right and neighbors fight while the hunger are dying in the street. Where kids are abused and women are used; and the weak are crushed by the strong. Nations gone mad, Jesus is sad and I don’t belong.
I don’t belong and I’m going someday, home to my own native land. I don’t belong and it seems like I hear the sound of a welcome home band. I don’t belong; I’m a foreigner here just singing a sojourner’s song. I've always known this place ain’t home and I don’t belong
I don’t belong - But while I’m here I’ll be living like I’ve nothing to lose and while I breath I’ll just believe my Lord is going to see me through. I’ll not be deceived by earth’s make believe, I’ll close my ears to her siren song. By praising His name – I’m not ashamed cause I don’t belong.
I don’t belong and I’m going someday, home to my own native land. I don’t belong and it seems like I hear the sound of a welcome home band. I don’t belong; I’m a foreigner here just singing a sojourner’s song. I've always known this place ain’t home and I don’t belong
I belong to a kingdom of peace where only love is the law. Where children lead and captives are freed and God becomes a baby on the straw Where dead man live; and rich man give their kingdom to buy back a song. Where sinners like me become royalty and we’ll all belong
Yes I belong - and I’m going someday, home to my own native land. Where I belong and it seems like I hear the sound of a welcome home band. Yes I belong; no foreigner there singing a sojourner’s song. I've always known I’m going home where I belong
During my hospital stay, in addition to the diagnoses of pulmonary embolism; they gave me a bonus: type 2 diabetes. It is just like when you take you car to the garage...... they always find more things wrong with it than what you took it in for.
Fortunately, mine is fairly manageable and my sugar numbers aren't very high. However, this means a change of diet for me. Sweets are obviously a biggie to mostly cut out, but the list of foods that are bad for diabetes is a sad and long one. The hardest thing for me to cut back on - way back on - is not sweets. I love cake, pie, cookies....and all that, but I can handle that. Other things on that list, not so much.
I love, love, love mashed potatoes and gravy/or noodles. We have them a couple of times a week - always on Sunday - and I take a large helping, and then a second good sized helping. But mashed potatoes are bad for me, very bad. And fried foods are bad...... If I was dying today and had to pick my last meal, I wouldn't hesitate for a second. I would pick my mom's fried chicken, mashed potatoes with lots of noodles over it, fresh home made rolls, and her rhubarb pie. Oh yeah - bread: very bad. But all is not lost! Bacon is very, very low in sugars!!! And most meats are low in sugars also, and I love meat.
And it isn't just sugar stuff. I have to also avoid foods high in vitamin K for 6 months while I am on blood thinners...... which isn't quite as bad as the diabetes restrictions. As the nurse read off the things I should avoid or eat very little of while on blood thinners, I told him "I don't even like most of this stuff!" Spinach, kale, beef and chicken liver, mayonnaise....not feeling too deprived here, though there are a few things on that list I will miss.
You see, if I want to live as healthy as I can and not risk my sugar levels get to where I risk losing body parts and my life, I have to cut back and cut out certain foods. If I want the blood thinners to do their job and get rid of the blood clots so I am not in danger from them, then I must again cut out certain foods and be moderate in others.
Is it any different for us as Christians? I cannot ascribe to Calvinism, the doctrine that once we become Christians; we cannot miss Heaven no matter what we do. I have many Calvinist friends who are dear to me, and this is not a post to knock that belief.... but the distinction must be made for where I am going with this.
Once we become Christians and surrender our lives to God, the battle is only beginning. Satan starts an all out onslaught against us. As an non-Calvinist, I believe his aim is to turn us away from God and cause us to miss Heaven. I cannot fathom why he would fight us so hard and try to get us to give up otherwise.
But regardless of which side of theology you fall on, I think - and hope - we can agree on a couple of things:
1) The devil fights us hard and has a huge artillery of weapons 2) We need to do our best to live above sin 3) There are many things which can at least interfere with our relationship with God. 4) We should seek God's will on everything in life, and most of us tend to decide on our own what we can and cannot do as Christians 5) Being a Christian isn't a license to live as we please.
If it is important for me to cut out and cut back on certain foods from my diet so I can keep my sugar levels down, and avoid other foods so my blood clots will be dissolved; then how much more is our spiritual health?
We live in a world of convenience and technology. As devices are invented to make our lives easier and make tasks faster to do; so increases the amount of things to get between us and God. There are more things that Christians shouldn't do, or should cut back on. Just as I and others have had to learn we can't put everything into our bodies that we want, that some things will do us harm, and too much of some things will hurt us; so we Christians must learn that we can't let everything into our lives and souls that is out there.
What effect does some TV shows, movies, books, websites, and more have on our spiritual life? I had no idea I had diabetes and that I was doing myself harm that could eventually be fatal if I had not been diagnosed.
What if the same is true spiritually?
What if the movies we watch are hurting us spiritually and we can't even see the signs?
What if the music we listen to is draining us spiritually and making us more like the world than like Jesus?
What if those books with curse words and sex scenes are impacting our relationship with God in a bad way?
What if Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, etc. are taking more of our time and hurting us spiritually?
What if we have become so arrogant that we think we know what is best for us, and we love entertainment, and "stuff" too much to stop and consider the effects it could be having on our spiritual life and our relationship with God?
What if our diet of music, movies, TV, and whatever else there is, is causing us to look more favorably on sin?
What if there are things we are dieting on and spending time on are even more detrimental to us than sugars and vitamin K are to me?
What is more important: entertainment and comfort, or pleasing God and getting as close to Him as we can?
Shouldn't it be more important to have a close relationship with God than to focus on getting to Heaven?
We can't walk into a doctor's office and have a blood test done that will test our spiritual health. The lab can't draw a vial of blood, and say "you need to cut out these movies, these TV shows, this music, these books, you need to cut back on this and that, and cut out that"....... but if we are as concerned about our relationship with God and pleasing Him; we will toss out this idea that it is MY right to do that. It is what I believe is OK. That unless the Bible says "Do not listen to Lady Gaga", then we are free to do it, and no one has the right to tell us otherwise..... even God. We may not add that last part, but we tend to have that attitude sometimes.
If we are as concerned about our relationship with God as we should be, we will seek His guidance on these issues. We should ask Him to show us what we should and should not watch, read, do, how we spend our time, and everything in our lives.
What can happen to our souls and relationship with God is far worse than what diabetes or any other disease can do to our bodies.
It will be challenging to watch my diet and avoid and cut back on foods I love, but it is far more challenging to live in this world and avoid and cut back on the things that are at our fingertips to entertain us and fill our time, minds, and souls with things that could and do come between us and God.
**Disclaimer: I do not think I am any better than anyone else, though as a Christian God has redeemed, I am a new creature in him. **I am not saying Trump supporters are evil or dumb, but I am saying they cannot possibly be paying attention and are vastly uninformed.... or they just have closed their ears and eyes to the truth. **I am deeply concerned about the direction this election is headed.... hence this blog post.
An old Bible story has been going through my mind lately in light of the election circus we are part of. Israel had gone through years of judges, godly men who mostly led Israel in the right paths. Samuel was the current judge, and the people of Israel decided they wanted to be like other countries. They wanted a king:
10 So Samuel passed on the Lord’s warning to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 “This is how a king will reign over you,” Samuel said. “The king will draft your sons and assign them to his chariots and his charioteers, making them run before his chariots. 12 Some will be generals and captains in his army,[a] some will be forced to plow in his fields and harvest his crops, and some will make his weapons and chariot equipment. 13 The king will take your daughters from you and force them to cook and bake and make perfumes for him. 14 He will take away the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his own officials. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvest and distribute it among his officers and attendants. 16 He will take your male and female slaves and demand the finest of your cattle[b] and donkeys for his own use. 17 He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will beg for relief from this king you are demanding, but then the Lord will not help you.” 19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning. “Even so, we still want a king,” they said. 20 “We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.” 21 So Samuel repeated to the Lord what the people had said, 22 and the Lord replied, “Do as they say, and give them a king.” Then Samuel agreed and sent the people home. I have read that many times over the years, and have never ceased to be amazed by something: look at the warning Samuel gave the people. He made having a king sound pretty bad and rough...... and it didn't faze the people. They wanted a king more than anything, and that desire prevailed over common sense.
Verse 21 says God told Samuel to give them a king. And the warnings came true. And more than that, they had other kings. Kings that pulled them away from God and into idol worship, kings that had them sacrificing their children to false gods. Israel's history with kings is a sad one. A king would take his throne and bring the people back to the one true God. He would die, and the next king would take them away from God. Over and over, and the price they paid was great..... but God had given them what they wanted: a king.
As I have watched conservatives and Christians blindly follow a certain candidate and demand that the rest of us fall in and vote for the one they want, I have been reminded of Israel demanding a king. And I may not be off in my thinking. A Facebook friend of mine made this comment today in regards to this candidate: "God may be giving us what we want/deserve like He did when Saul became King." Ouch. What if?
We American Christians have become shallow, self centered, and make our own belief system. Too many of us decide what is right and wrong, and twist Bible verses or just plain ignore the inconvenient ones. We have Christians and religious leaders declaring we need a businessman, not a pastor; as if money and the economy trumps morals and biblical values (no pun intended). Thousands of Christians have decided it is more important to "king" an ungodly and immoral man who they think will help us financially, than it is to find the most godly man who has biblical principles and morals.
What if like with Israel, God gives us what we want and what we deserve? Trump is promising to work with the very people we have been angry at for not fixing things and for caving to Obama. He has said in his own words that he wants to do things that are not constitutional, and has said he'd go around the law if need be....if anyone pays attention to him and what he says and what he has said and done; the warnings are in flashing neon lights.
But we want a "king." We want a businessman who will turn our economy around, and hang the fact that he may further bankrupt our country morally..... we don't want a pastor, we want a businessman.....money is more important than morals and biblical principles. Give us Trump, not a Christian man. I read Jerry Falwell Jr's exlanation for endorsing and supporting Trump...... and the bottom line was money. He thinks Donald Trump can help our country financially.
What if God lets us have an ungodly businessman..... a man who said he would further gay rights, a man who defends Planned Parenthood; the largest abortion provider in the country? If he can beat Hillary - which polls show he cannot - what will our country look like at the end of a Trump presidency? Our economy may be better, though I doubt it; but what will our country look like morally under a serial adulterer and strip club owner who makes a mockery of the idea of asking God for forgiveness? Will we be better off in the ways that matter in light of eternity? Will we be any better off in the areas that matter under a Trump presidency versus a Hillary presidency? Will our religious freedoms be better off, or worse off? If he carries through on his promise about gay rights, I am guessing they will be worse.... but we want a "king", we want a businessman, not a pastor!
If we step around asking God's guidance on who to vote for, and just vote for the loud one who says what we want to hear, if we elect a man who God cannot possibly favor.....what will it do to us? If we pick comfort over morals, if we pick the economy over what God may want.....will that draw us closer to God, or further from Him as a country and as individuals?
But it is "just voting." God isn't interested in politics...... or is He? As important as elections are, shouldn't it be something we seek God's will in very seriously? I cannot imagine praying through on voting for Donald Trump, unless God does it with the same attitude that He said to let Israel have a king and give us what we deserve.
Elections have consequences, and they can be serious and long lasting. The next president may put as many as 3 Supreme Court justices on the bench. We know what kind of judges Hillary Clinton will pick....bad ones with no respect for God or the Constitution. I asked on Facebook a while back what kind of judges Donald Trump would pick, and a Trump supporter barely old enough to vote flippantly replied "all kinds".....as if that is funny. Trump said his pro-choice liberal sister would make a great Supreme Court justice, and he has ardently supported liberals and their polices for years...... so I could safely bet everything I own that his picks wouldn't be any different than Hillary's...... but at least he would make our economy great again, and money is what matters in this election, not character or morals.
I know it may seem like I am being too hard on Christians who support Donald Trump..... but they refuse to acknowledge anything brought up against him and sidestep every issue. I actually had a Christian young man take issue with my bringing up Donald Trump's strip clubs and adultery. He said he was bothered that I rate Trump's sins worse than others. He was more bothered by me having a problem with Trump's strip clubs and adultery, than with Trump having strip clubs and committing adultery. Instead of acknowledging owning a strip club and committing adultery is bad, he chastised me for having an issue with those and said he and I are no better than Donald Trump.
Let that sink in. My friend is evidently fine with Trump's transgressions, but not fine with me having an issue with them....is that normal?
Last week, I pointed out that I have friends who are afraid to let their young children watch the debates now because of Trump's vulgarity... and Christians mocked that. One said to get real, kids are bombarded with worse than that. Another said kids need exposed to vulgarity so they get used to it and aren't sheltered...... and there were a couple of similar comments. Let that sin in also: Christians criticizing ME for having a problem with Trump's vulgarity, instead of thinking he is wrong.
If defending any man - politician or whoever - is more important to you than seeing what is wrong..... if you fault someone more for pointing out these things more than the wrong being done or said.... you are in a dangerous place, and are placing way too much adulation in that man.
I am going to make a couple of statements that may seem over the top, but I not only have been paying attention to Trump; but I have been paying attention to his supporters:
1) He has a cult-like following. The majority of his followers won't even acknowledge his bad points and things he says, even when confronted with solid proof...... cults are like that.... it is as if they have been brainwashed. Think I am exaggerating? Try pointing out some of his flaws to a Trump supporter. A normal person would acknowledge them.....Trump supporters, just like Obama supporters, will not.
2) Adolf Hitler was elected. Is Trump like him? I hope not, but he has said things that make it clear he is willing to go around the law if needs be...... what he wants is more important than the law and Constitution. A lot of dictators get elected. They deceive people, get a blind following, and once they are in power.... BAM. Don't believe it could happen here? Keep on telling yourself that.
3) Trump himself said he could shoot people in public and not lose any votes. I fear he is correct. I am not saying this because I don't like him..... I am saying this because I am paying attention and am awake: the idea of a Trump presidency worries me a lot..... just as much as a Hillary presidency.
I don't mean to be harsh, but the warnings are there. If a Trump supporter truly wants the truth, he should be able to come to the decision to dump Trump. If morals and biblical principles are more important to him than money, he should dump Trump. If he truly wants to make America great again, we need to make it good again..... and a godless strip club owner and adulterer cannot make it great in the way it needs to be made great.
My theories may seem extreme, but if you factor in his liberal past of very recent days, what he says, how he acts, his vulgarity, his coarse jokes about women's menstruation and people's handicaps, his immorality......and don't scratch your head in befuddlement that conservatives and Christians are so blindly following and defending this man......then maybe I am in a dream and none of this is true.
God may give us the "king" we want, and just like Israel, our country will never be the same, and will be led even further from God than we already are. How can we ask God to bless America and shed His grace on it, if we thumb our nose at a godly candidate, and decide money and the economy is more important than morals and biblical values? We may pay a price for having our "king" that we never wanted to pay.
And ending with a disclaimer: No candidate is perfect, and no... we aren't electing a pastor, but can we at least elect a non-pastor who isn't a vulgar sleazeball?? We have a couple of Christian candidates who I believe would be good for this country in the ways that matter. They have flaws - see, I can admit it, unlike a Trump supporter - but they are good men, decent men, men who pray and acknowledge their need of God. Men who are truly pro-life, pro-traditional marriage, pro-God, and pro-Constitution.
I got a text from my little sister Tuesday asking me what time I was going for a walk on the bike trail. I actually had no plans to walk, as I have been so tired lately that a nap sounded better than a walk when I got home. I replied with a "not sure." She replied back and asked if I wanted to meet them at the bike trail for a walk, or if I'd rather go alone. Since I hadn't planned on walking anyway, a walk with my sister, brother-in-law, and nephews sounded more fun than a walk by myself or a nap.... so I went for it.
My nephews brought their bicycles and would ride ahead and wait for us to catch up on foot. The weather was awesome for a walk, and though the Greenway Trail wasn't very green; it was still an enjoyable walk. I suggested we climb the steep rock steps up to where there are a lot of rocks and a high rock wall that people occasionally climb on with climbing gear. My nephews had never been up there, and it was fun to watch them explore and climb on the rocks.
On our way back, we walked down to the dam and creek that runs close to the bike trail and stood watching the water. A decision was made that they were going to my parents' for a while, and when we reached our vehicles all 3 nephews asked if they could ride with me, and my youngest nephew called "shotgun", so he was in the front. We were going less than a mile, but it made this uncle feel good that they wanted to ride with me, though I didn't take their dare to tear out of the parking lot at 55 mph....the speed linit being 35 there.
Rewind a few days. My sister and her gang was at my parents' and the boys were outside. Nine year old Nathan came upstairs and asked me "Uncle Mark, will you play the Wii with me?" I was enjoying chatting with the adults, but I went down and played the Wii with him.
There's an old Bill and Gloria Gaither song that goes like this:
We have this moment to hold in our hands
And to touch as it slips through our fingers like sand
Yesterday's gone and tomorrow may never come
But we have this moment today
Life is so fleeting. I am in my mid 40's and wonder where the years have gone. It seems like just yesterday I became an uncle for the first time, and that niece will be 21 in October. Graduation from high school doesn't seem almost 30 years ago, but it has almost been that long.
How many special moments have slipped by while I was busy doing my own thing? Years from now, what will I have wished I had done differently? Will I be happy with the amount of time I spent with those I love, or will I wish I could go back and redo so many moments?
We are all too busy, but I never want to be so busy that I say no to doing something with the kids I love so much. I never want to be too busy to be a friend, to listen, to pray, to just be there for those in my life. Yesterday is already gone, and we have no guarantee of tomorrow..... but we have this moment today.
We Have This Moment
Hold tight to the sound of the music of living,
Happy songs from the laughter of children at play;
Hold my hand as we run through the sweet fragrant meadows,
Making mem'ries of what was today.
Chorus: We have this moment to hold in our hands
and to touch as it slips through our fingers like sand;
Yesterday's gone and tomorrow may never come,
But we have this moment today.
Tiny voice that I hear is my little girl calling,
For Daddy to hear just what she has to say;
And my little son running there by the hillside,
May never be quite like today.
Tender words, gentle touch and a good cup of coffee,
And someone that loves me and wants me to stay;
Hold them near while they're here and don't wait for tomorrow,
To look back and wish for today.
Take the blue of the sky and the green of the forest,
And the gold and the brown of the freshly mown hay;
Add the pale shades of spring and the circus of autumn,
And weave you a lovely today.
**Warning #2: This is also political in nature *** Warning #3: This may not even make sense by the time I am done.
You have been warned :)
It isn't easy dealing with same-sex attractions. Some people act like it is contagious, and they will catch it from you. Others seem afraid you're going to rape them or their children. The church as a whole just doesn't get it... hence years of struggling in silence in the very place one should be able to get love and help: the church.
Evangelicals have made the sin of homosexuality so bad, that it is like the unpardonable sin. When I first realized that I had been dealt this card, I was convinced I was going straight to hell and there was no chance at redemption for one such as I. Thankfully, the very first person I confided in by way of a letter ( that beat around the bush so much that he had to be a genius to get what I was talking about), straightened me out on that issue. (If you need straightened out, ask me and I'll help you out).
We have made this sin so bad, and have been so outspoken about it in the wrong ways, that our churches are full of boys, men, girls, and women scared to death to tell anyone their deep, dark secret. And yet, we don't bat an eye at the unmarried couple committing fornication; which is also condemned by the same Bible that condemns homosexuality. Christians react in horror at two guys kissing and having a relationship on TV, but saturate themselves with movies and TV shows that show all kinds of heterosexual sins.
This sin and lifestyle does have consequences that heterosexual sins don't have. It is a lifestyle full of more promiscuous living than the average heterosexual. Disease is more rampant. It is much more difficult to find a lasting relationship for a variety of reasons.... and this lifestyle has negative effects on our freedoms, and may eventually cause imprisonment and fines for anyone who dares speak out against it..... that is the ultimate wish of the militant gay movement.
But is it any worse than other sins in the grand scheme of things? God did call it an abomination, yet He also said wearing clothes that are like what the opposite sex wear is an abomination. I am not equating the two, though I think they are connected to this whole gay/transgender movement.
Nor am I trying to defend homosexuality.
I was debating with a young guy today who is an ardent Trump supporter and a Christian. I asked why he wasn't bothered by Donald Trump owning strip clubs where women are degraded, used, and often trapped; or why he isn't offended by Trump's serial adultery and bragging about it. As with any Trump supporter when confronted with things like this, he sidestepped and told me that he is bothered by my rating Trump's sins worse than other sins, and that he (my friend) nor I are any better than Donald Trump.
Since neither of us was going to change our viewpoints, I dropped it.....though I am bothered by what he said. Am I rating sins? Are some sins worse than others? Am I guilty of the same thing the church has done to me?
Another young Trump fan (it is a shame the first presidential election these guys are voting in, they are voting for the wrong guy) chastised me for calling Donald Trump a sleazeball. I looked up the word, and it means " disreputable, disgusting, or despicable person (also used as a general term of abuse)." I think it is pretty despicable to own a strip club and cheat on your wives (and brag about it).... so I am not dropping the term.
Any sin will keep us out of Heaven. The Bible lists several sins and says those who do those sins will spend eternity in hell: liars, thieves, immoral people, homosexuals, and more..... but here on this earth, are some sins worse than others? Is it wrong to rate sins?
I've lived with people rating my sin worse than others, and it doesn't feel good. But the most mature Christian among us would say some sins make a person worse than others:
Mass shooter Bomber Rapist
Child molester
Adulterer Strip club owner
If you follow my friend's logic, Jeffrey Dahmer is no worse than Donald Trump... so if he were alive, would my friend defend him and tell me I have no right to call him a terrible person? Would he, Jerry Falwell, Jr, and other Christians vote for Dahmer if he said what they wanted to hear? If Trump's sins don't exempt him from being supported by Christians, should Dahmer's? If we can't rate sins, is a child molester any worse than Donald Trump? Is he any worse than Jerry Falwell, Jr?
You see, we DO rate sins. Some things people do are far worse than others. I am sure my friend wouldn't want a child molester living next door to him or a murderer.......but if all sins are equal and no one is better than any sinner, then why not?
I think the main issue here is Trump supporters have no true defense for supporting a vulgar man with his history and sins; so they come back with things like this. I could be wrong... regardless, there are some sins more evil than others; and I am not a bad Christian for suggesting someone running for president and being supported by Christians should not be their choice because of the things I mentioned. Nor am I bad for saying as a Christian I cannot support a man with his lack of character and integrity.
Calvinism may play into it, yet I think even the most radical Calvinist would say a man who commits certain sins daily cannot be a Christian......so are they saying some sins are worse than others?
Maybe sin is the eye of the beholder. People who struggle with or are friends with those who struggle with same-sex attractions and/or actively live the gay lifestyle are not going to view it the same way as your average evangelical Christian who thinks they don't know any such people......how wrong they are! Families of drug addicts aren't going to view it the same way as we who don't have it in our family.
But yet, there are some sins more distasteful and more evil than others, no matter who you are. Back to Jeffrey Dahmer. If you don't know who he was, he was a man in the 70's and 80's who kidnapped young men who he would have sex with, then kill and eat parts of them and keep other body parts preserved. He isn't a guy you'd have over for a BBQ or to babysit your kids..... and no one would criticize you for that.
So are I and others wrong for not wanting a man like Donald Trump as president? Are we wrong for questioning how or why any Christian can support him so ardently?
Knowing about his strip clubs and cheating, would you feel comfortable having your daughter/sister or whatever young female you love be his intern in the White House? Would she be any safer around Donald Trump than around Bill Clinton?
And just what are the Christian Trump supporters willing to accept and overlook in a candidate? Today it is lying, business failures, vulgarity, strip clubs, and adultery. What will they accept in the next candidate since they already started down this path? If no sin is worse than any other, and no one is worse of a person than others, then the sky is the limit. Is this the end of Christians electing good men of integrity and biblical and conservative values?
I doubt many of the same Christians supporting Trump would support an openly gay male with his male lover/husband...... but is that any worse than Trump's sins? I would say it is less than Trump's sins..... but who knows. I would never have thought Christians and conservatives would so ardently support and defend a man such as Donald Trump, and criticize we who point out his faults and tell us we are no better.
Maybe I am no better than he is. Maybe my sins make me as terrible of a person as I view Donald Trump. Maybe if I were running for president, true Christians and conservatives would look at me as I look at Donald Trump. Maybe.
But there is a difference in Donald Trump and I. I have repented and asked Jesus to be the Lord of my life. I am not proud of my sins, but am sorry. I know I need a Savior. And since I serve this God that I serve and want to honor Him in all I do.... I can never vote for a man who is so at odds with the Bible and all I believe.
If that makes me a sin rater and a bad person, then so be it. I still believe some sins make a worse person than others, and that some sins are worse than others.
And this post isn't intended to knock Trump supporters...... but it is to ask some good questions.
