I know, I know–We’re all tired of Mitt Romney and Bronco Bama…. Just hear me out a minute.
They say you should never go to bed angry…. Sometimes, after a particularly intense argument with my wife, we make the mistake of going to sleep without sorting things out (It’s usually because we realize that talking through what just happened is going to take a while, and we are just too exhausted. It’s also because I have a bad habit of airing grievances after midnight), but inevitably the issue we left unsettled will come up again later. Well, this country just had a really big fight. And I realize that everyone is tired by now of election discussions and wants to lay their collective heads down and sleep instead of talking about the argument and the hurt feelings and the division we just experienced. Most people, exhausted and weakened by the fighting that grew more and more intense as the election neared and arrived and concluded, have a deep feeling of “Can’t we just move on?” Well yes, we CAN move on…. But we shouldn’t. This stuff is going come up again, and it’s going to be even more intense. Going to bed after a fight like this is the sort of thing that leads to divorce. We need to work it out.
Victoria Jackson tweeted “I can’t stop crying. America died” and “Thanks a lot Christians for not showing up. You disgust me.” That’s saying a lot from someone with a flag and a giant bow in her hair….
All around me, people are either celebrating Obama’s victory or lamenting Mitt Romney’s loss. Some people are taking Mitt’s loss a lot harder than others–Folks on Facebook are losing it. The reactions vary from very mild (taking pictures of themselves while making a frowny-faces), to overly dramatic (claiming a deep depression and an inability to get out of bed), to downright apocalyptic (declaring that our country’s decision to elect Barack Obama is a complete rejection of God and all things moral, inviting God’s judgement and wrath). Pulsing through all of the fear and anger and judgement from the the right is a sadness–Sadness stemming not so much from Mitt’s loss as from Barack’s victory. I think it’s safe to say that most people on the right wanted Obama out more than they wanted Mitt in (hehe…. Mitten).
I love this picture.
Well, the guy that I voted for won, but I am not celebrating. These past few days have filled me with a deep sadness, and it has nothing to do with who will be president for the next 4 years. I woke up the Tuesday morning of the election and realized something interesting: I didn’t give a crap which person won the presidential election. I was just sad–Sad about the loss of truth in all this, sad about the billions of dollars spent on all these elections (money paid to the billionaires who own the TV channels. Here’s an idea: Maybe those moguls could donate all that advertising money from the political commercials we had to sit through to the rebuilding of the homes in NY and NJ, and they can let the people without a place to stay sleep in their five-stall garages and 30,000 sq. ft. houses until their homes are rebuilt. Anyway, I digress), and sad about the hatred and fear and intolerance that continues to divide our nation…. But I was way more saddened about the hatred and fear and intolerance that continues to divide the Church.
The real loser in this election is not Mitt Romney. The real loser in this election is the Church. Followers of Jesus have squandered yet another chance to stand up and show the world a real alternative to all the divisive bullshit that keeps us from being able to talk to people who think differently than us–let alone LOVE them. At a time when everyone is screaming “Obama is the answer!” or “Romney is the answer!” the Church should be yelling “JESUS IS THE ANSWER!” Instead, much of the Church (much of the white church, that is…. 80% of white evangelicals voted for Mitt Romney) downplayed the VERY SIGNIFICANT THEOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES between Christianity and Mormonism and once again put their full support behind the Republican candidate.
Wait a minute…. I’ve smelled this before!
Most of the people in the world who think that Christianity is full of crap think that way because so many of the Christians they encounter are so full of crap. The world can smell hypocrisy like a fart in an elevator. I mean imagine–JUST IMAGINE–the kind of scourge that would have been released from the “Christian right” if the republican candidate was a Christian and the democrat was a Mormon! It would have been the focal point of the attacks. Not the economy, not ObamaCare, not woman’s rights, not the debt…. Jobs shmobs….They would have attacked his Mormonism and labeled it as a cult straight from the devil that will put this country on the fast track to destruction. Most of the world KNOWS this would have happened, and that inconsistency smells like the same old crap that has been wafting from the Church’s direction for too long.
Equally sad is thinking about the people who aren’t able for some reason to sniff out the hypocrisy coming from the Christian right. They’ve heard from the Church for 30 years about the importance of voting for the Christian candidate, and now these same Church-people are filling up their Facebook feed with statuses about how this country is going to Hell in a hand-basket because we didn’t elect a man who was a priest in the Mormon church. And they walk away from this thinking, “Christians and Mormons? Ehh, they’re basically the same thing.”
Franklin Graham is dragging his father’s good name through the mud…. Both Fathers.
Another hidden casualty in all of this is the subtle reversal of Church doctrine which preaches that our right standing with God is not based on what we do, but on accepting Jesus as your savior–That we are saved through God’s grace and Jesus’ sacrifice, and not through our own works. Evangelicals, who previously professed a duty to vote Christians into office, have changed their position to one that says, “It’s not what a man believes that counts, it’s what a man does” (Which is a legitimate way of thinking when approaching a choice for a candidate in a secular government). This value that is put on works as being equal to faith/grace is, very un-coincidentally, a very Mormon way of looking at salvation. Now, I don’t think it’s bad policy for Christians to vote for someone based entirely on his or her policies and not on his or her religious beliefs, but what is NOT alright is playing politics at the expense of right doctrine. Like Franklin Graham taking Mormonism down from the list of cults on their website a few weeks before the election. A fart in an elevator….
“Laugh about it, shout about it when you’ve got to choose…. Any way you look at it you lose.”
So after the election, a lot of people came up to me and congratulated me on the win, and I tried to explain that I’m on a whole different team. And my team lost. I voted for Obama because I thought he was a better choice for the country. I like him, and I think he is trying to do the right thing for the people with less/no power–That’s important to me right now. Everyone thinks I’m so Pro-Obama, but really it’s more that I’m against the hijacking of the Church by the right and the perception that Christians have to vote a certain way. There are all kinds reasons for followers of Jesus to vote democrat, to vote republican, to vote independent, and there are a whole lot of reasons to not vote at all as well. In many ways, this was an election between Caesar and Caesar. Every election is. And regardless of who wins the election, the Church has to represent Jesus, and Jesus is the ALTERNATIVE to Caesar. The Church is not a building. The Church is not a staging ground for a plan to make sin illegal. The Church is people–People who must be consistent in their representation of the man named Jesus. People who reveal to the world a different way of doing things–A way that Jesus described as The Kingdom of God–where generosity is stronger than greed, where the first are last and the last are first, where Caesar can have his money, where we don’t return evil for evil, but we love those who hate us, where people aspire for service instead of for power, and where perfect Love casts out fear.
Don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid….
The Boeskool 
Wow! A-MA-ZING! Thanks! Sharing as soon as I get back on Facebook!
Thanks Tina! I really appreciate it.
Yes! Exactly what I’ve been feeling. I’ve seen some Facebook posts about how “God didn’t lose this election – he’s still in control.” Um, noooo, God didn’t lose but the MORMON candidate did! I wasn’t aware that God had endorsed Romney! I feel like screaming but your blog is probably a lot better option. And also my kids say Bronco Bama.
Yeah…. When Jesus’s reputation gets damaged by people hating in his name, the rest of us need to speak up.
Great blog, Chris. Scripture tells us to pray for and thank God for our leaders, and to live our lives in quietness and dignity–all of which seem counter to what I see the church doing these days. It really started with Falwell’s Moral Majority, and the church has been muddied ever since with big money, big egos, big agendas. Jesus had nothing to do with political agendas. He changed hearts and lives one by one. And they crucified him when he didn’t live up to their earthly hopes.
Refreshing to know there are people who are more concerned for what Jesus is concerned than for political candidates. But I also see that standing for righteousness is important. This must be done in love if we expect people to see the real Jesus in our lives. Jesus stood for righteousness when he engaged people. He never condemned them but asked questions that made them think about what they were doing. He looked at people with compassion because he knew they were clueless. I hope and pray that my life reflects Jesus and that by example I can change the focus of the church folk who are so dependent on government instead of God.
I love what you said here John!
Thanks John. Jesus seemed to also have a lot less patience for the religious leaders–AKA the ones who should have known better and had influence over large groups. But the heart of what you are saying I definitely, definitely agree with. : )
Thanks Eric.
You may (or may not) remember me from some past disagreements, but I have to say I totally agree with you here! I voted third party (Gary Johnson), for many of the same reasons you voted Democrat, and with many of the same thoughts and feelings on the Church’s peculiar position. (Peculiar, not in terms of the dominant culture that surrounds us, but peculiar in the light of scripture and a scriptural understanding of the Kingdom of God.) As you were saying in your closing paragraphs, I could not agree more: the Kingdom of God can’t quite be legislated. It is not “meat nor drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” It is a Kingdom that is received into a person’s heart by choice, the pearl of great price. The violent take it by force, because they want it more than anything. That is the Kingdom, and those are the people that live in it. Thinking that the Kingdom and its fruit can be legislated by human government is only a few steps away from thinking that true salvation and righteousness (and whatever other good thing that God extends his hand and offers) could be forced on people at gunpoint. That is to say: it obviously can’t be. Sure, you’ll get a pretense, or at best a parody, of these things – but not the true thing at all.
I’m glad that I wrote something you agree with. : )
Interesting article. Yet the country elected a man whose wedding ring spouts the greatness of Allah, a closet Muslim at best, and a supporter of The Muslim Brotherhood at worst. A man who has attended a radical “christian” church, and i use that term loosely, who exposes his children to such vile hatred of the white race is applauded and celebrated. If he was a Republican with the type of background he has, he would have been exposed for the radical that he is. But because the media treats anyone one the left as demigods, the world won’t know about his radical views. A sad day indeed for our country when someone who attacks religious freedoms is celebrated. Wake up Obamabots. You have just doomed you, me, and our children. Thank you very much.
Your information is incorrect, and the result of a political campaign trying to manipulate your vote. Sorry.
thank you for proving Chris’s point.
Susan–You started out all right, and you ended nicely enough, but everything in between is just one example after another of believing lies. I could show you the Snopes article about Obama’s ring (as well as the other Muslim folklore), but I’m certain you would dismiss Snopes as more liberal lies. There actually IS truth in the world, and unfortunately you seem to be on the wrong side of it on many beliefs.
Just in case…. http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/weddingring.asp
Didn’t know that about the Grahams. That makes me sick to my stomach. I heard a sermon on the radio last week by David Jeremiah where he took credit for the idea of Billy Graham running that ad in the papers supporting “socially conservative” candidates (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRlR-_wNfRA skip to 29 min 20 sec). It’s sad to think that after all those years preaching the Gospel and not endorsing candidates that Billy Graham’s name would be sold for some votes.
I think you’re right, Chris. Christians should participate in the democratic process, but the place where we play our most important role in society is when we get out of the Holy Spirit’s way and let Christ reveal himself to others through us. Let Him change people (and in turn our country) from the inside out. Nobody ever got voted into the kingdom of heaven.
Word.
Thank you!!!
I stopped voting the party line years ago when the party started screaming about issues that I, well, take issue with and give me no peace.
I moved away from the right when they stopped promoting right.
I can’t be pro-life if we’re not gonna care for that life at least through school years (cutting school lunches for poor kids will fix our debt, Mittens?).
Anyway, specifics aside, you express much of what I feel. Yes, the man I feel is right for the country right now won; human dignity and respect for our fellow man lost.
Thanks again.
Yup. There definitely isn’t one party that has monopoly on being Pro-Life…. especially when you look at life being more than just pre-natal.
Ha ha ha…the post by Susan (above) enters right on cue to prove the point. Susan…stop drinking the koolaid! Seriously, it’s going to kill you.
My only other comment is taken directly from Scripture in Romans 13:1-2 (and Susan if you consider yourself a Christian, please take note):
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves..
Yep…seems God ordained it after all.
Yeah…. Maybe Paul was wrong about this one.
Thanks for reading, BL!
THe reason I was upset, is two reasons. #1 Abortion is murder, and it makes me weep when we elect candidates that are for expanding the program of killing innocent children. Obama campaigned with the director of planned parenthood and won many single women voters that made the difference in the election. #2 Debt is bad. I was hopeful that Romney would help pass a balanced budget ammendment, about a 50% shot of happening. WIth Obama that has a 0% chance of happening and in all likelihood there will be a 22 trillion dollar debt by the end of his next term. When our creditors ask for repayment our economy will collapse and we will be left trying to pick up the pieces. Chaos in the streets. So yes, I am heartbroken that we again elected a man that will increase the murder of innocents and bankrupt our nation.
But is that true? For example, lowering the number of unwanted pregnancies by expanding effective birth control (e.g. IUD) would be the single most effective way to prevent unwanted pregnancies and abortions. The healthcare policies of Obama on contraception should decrease the number of abortions. IUD’s are 99.8% effective. I’m anti-abortion, but I want a real win (i.e. about 99.8% fewer abortions in those currently having sex without contraception) more than the feel good win of an anti-abortion candidate who cant really make good on promises to change the constitution (which won’t happen any time soon given the political climate). So, I argue, anti abortion is pro-healthcare access is Obama. Sometimes ideology gets in the way of real progress.
HSU–” Sometimes ideology gets in the way of real progress.” Isn’t that the truth….
Yes, It doesn’t have anything to do with race or rich or poor. It has to do with Fathers and Mothers across this land love their own children and would fight to save a THEIR BABY one minute old but totally refuse to save the others unborn babies…It just amazes me.. I’m 65 years old and have a lot of grandchildren an great grandchildren. I study the issues, and Bills & Policies, not the media and internet hype.. I worked in Peds. clinic for years next to ob gyn..It would brake your heart how many babies are carried to the CAMC hospital SMOKE STACKS behind the hospital after the BABIES are striped of what they can sell…I don’t care if our Presidnt is color Black, Blue, red, greeen it has nothing to do with that ..a baby is a baby.. couldn’t of said it better..Thank goodness someone is speaking truth on her.54 million babies and now Obame added three more ways to kill them.Cry out and pray for the killing firlds of killing thes BEAUTIFUL BABIES..amases me the blind eye to these beaftiful Diamonds.
Sorry about all the type o’s..Hate to proof read!!! lol Probably more but, Yes, I couldn’t have said it better hsu..It doesn’t have anything to do with race or being rich or poor. Why didn’t Dems. harp on Kennedy being from a wealthy family. It has everything to do with Fathers and Mothers across this land that love their “own” children and would fight to save THEIR BABY one minute old or in utero but, totally refuse to save the “other” unborn babies…It just amazes me.. I’m 65 years old and have a lot of grandchildren an great grandchildren. I study the issues, and Bills & Policies, not the media and internet hype.. I worked in Peds. clinic for years next to ob gyn..It would brake your heart how many babies are carried to the CAMC hospital SMOKE STACKS behind the hospital after the BABIES are stripped of what they can sell…I don’t care if our President is color Black, Blue, Red, or Green it has nothing to do with that ..a baby is a baby..Thank goodness someone is speaking truth on here. 54 million babies since 1973 Roe v Wade. Now Obama added three & IN OUR WOMEN’S OVERSEAS CLINICS with your TAXES…..He just thought up more ways to kill them the first day he was in office so people would QYICKLY FORGET. Mexico City policy SHOULD NOT BE A “PLOLICY” BUT, SHOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH CONGRESS & SENATE. BUT, WE DIDN’T FORGET WHAT OBAMA DID!! Cry out and pray for the killing FIELDS TO STOP OF THESE BEAUTIFUL BABIES.. IT AMAZES me the blind eye to these beautiful Diamonds.
LOOK AT THEM AND RAISE UP MEN TO SAVE AND FIGHT FOR THEM! GO LOOK AT THEM IN ALL THE FACILITIES I MEANTIONED.. DARE YOU..YES, YOU CAN.YOU CAN SAVE THEM AND HELP ME BUILD WONDERFUL PLACES FOR THEM TO LIVE UNTIL THEY ARE STRONG..JUST DO IT, JUST DO IT! SICK OF TALK.. Don’t give me all that crap that Obama just made it a law so he is NOT responsible..If girls think that’s so many think it ‘s an ok law then they are more prone to use abortion for birthcontrol..sick
Sharon–Do you have all this stuff saved and then you copy and paste it into every comment, or do you write it out every time?
I think the focus of your article was a little off. It’s not about the candidates themselves. Most people I know weren’t voting for the person, we were voting for the values we believe in. While as a Christian Romney’s Mormonism bothered me, I voted for two issues: protection of the more than 1 million babies aborted every year in the US and support of Israel. If the US doesn’t stand by Israel, no one will. For those two principal reasons, I couldn’t in good conscience vote for Obama. There are many other issues and platforms but I need to vote my conscience, and my conscience is clear.
Yet God is still on his throne. and while disappointed, I am not angry with the people on the left. If more than 50% of teh country wanted him, then we got the president we deserve.
I wonder why 70% of Jews who voted voted for Obama?
Because the scriptures say they will be fooled..Besides since when can you trust POLLS. or voting totals since so many election results had large number of people voting above the registered totals..crazy..
Contraception stops more abortions more than Republican presidents ever could.
Thank you Lord for Mark & hsu..Bless them and help them even to cry out in strong prayer for the ending of these baby mills…Everyone gets crazy about SAVEING THE SEALS AND PUPPY MILLS but, wear blinderS concerning the babies..
I don’t want this to seem heartless, but if all the babies that are aborted are full people since conception, what do you think happens to their souls after they are dead? Do you believe God sends them to Hell? For an eternity of torture?
What about the 10-25% of pregnancies that end in SAB’s (Spontaneous Abortions, or “miscarriages”)? Are all those babies in Hell too? Is this the God that you believe in?
What are you getting at, Chris?
Well, I might need a whole other blog post to explain that, Chris Shaffer. There are some people who believe that a Christian’s main purpose should be trying to make it illegal for people to have access to abortions–people who believe that those babies aren’t fully human. Medically, before a child is viable on its own, it is not considered a full human. If the people who have decided this are wrong and a fetus actually does have a soul and is fully human ten seconds after conception, I guess I’m wondering what people (in this camp of “this is the biggest issue Christian’s face”) think happen to those fetus’ souls. Are they in Heaven?
It’s a legit question, no?
After this election, and in talking to my fellow Christians, it is official to me that “christians” are the worst fear mongering, fake loving, misguided people in America. Hypocrites. I can’t even take it and I’m a Christian. I can only imagine what the world thinks of us. It literally makes me ill
I’m so sorry, Smalls. Don’t lose hope! : )
I love how you think… just saying….
: )
HSU, I’ve honestly never thought about that approach to abortion before. I definitely agree that fewer unwanted pregnancies would mean fewer abortions. And I think that any step toward ending the practice is definitely a good one. The problem is that many people (me included) don’t hold all forms of equally. I don’t want to get too deep in the weeds with it, but if we were going to use the contraception strategy to impede the deaths of unborn children, we would have to come to an agreement on which forms of contraception didn’t destroy the fetus. That would mean an agreement on when life begins, which we are miles away from in this country. What we need are some brave bioethicists that will wads into those murky waters and try to develop consensus on this very important question. Then law makers could do their thing. Right and left are all agree that murder is wrong. The only reason there is controversy is because it is arguable when a fetus is a human person. All that to say, contraception is a good route except for the personhood/method issue.
So Republicans are hypocritical for voting for a Mormon but Democrats are not because they voted for a man who sat in a church for 20 years with a pastor who said We shouldn’t say God Bless America – we should be saying God Damn America!” This pastor married the Obamas and baptized their children What a crock! That’s not MY definition of Christianity any more than Mormonism. I didn’t vote for a candidate’s religion. I voted for the one who I felt would bring our country back from economic ruin.
oh c’mon. Stop pretending that America is unimpeachable. America has done good, but it has also done evil. For example, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuskegee_syphilis_experiment
where the government injected hundreds of blacks with syphilis in an experiment. God damn America for that one. If you want America to be better, you must know what it has done wrong. God damns us for our sins, but saves us through his grace right? Think about it for a while.
It’s an oldie, but a goodie, Dawn.
https://theboeskool.com/2011/10/25/mormons-muslims-and-mitt-romney/
Just in case you don’t read it, you should know that his sermon was based off a MLK Jr. sermon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GJlaEbEMsE
May 8, 2011 – 15 min – Uploaded by WRMCSNorg
Keynote Speaker, Carol Everett – Part 1–26th Anniversary Shareholders in LIFE Banquet …
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I’d love to see you write an article espousing all those ‘good reasons for a Christian to vote Democrat.’ When a parties platform mandates are clearly liberal and promote agenda’s such as Gay Marriages and Pro-Choice- (sacrificing our most vulnerable at the alter of our carnality)- policies that clearly thumb their nose in the face of a Holy God, I can never understand how one who considers themselves a follower of our Creator Father who set rules in place for us to follow- for our own Good and the good of our nation- I don’t have a single shred of understanding for that thinking. One of the first things Obama did in his first weeks of his ’08 Presidency was to take a stand on his solidarity with Gay Rights and made an appearance on Ellen D’s TV program. That speaks volumes as to his support and his ‘thumbing his nose, at what God deems as evil. When Christians get into blaming, criticism and practice a lack of love for their fellow man, we are out of line, and some are. But we are to fight the good fight and align ourselves with the Heart of God – not to condone that which he calls evil. We love the sinner and hate the sin. God allowed Obama to become President,- but it is a sad
reflection of the state of the Church- the Body. We have taken sin lightly and turned a deaf ear for far too long and we are receiving exactly what we deserve as a nation. Discerning Christians see the writing on the wall. We are on a fast track towards Socialism and I don’t believe there is a single person out there who doesn’t know this in their heart of hearts. The Stock Market fall the day after the Election was a reflection of this country’s confidence in the consensus.
Cheryl, my question to you is why is God going to judge America because of how it votes with regard to Gay Marriage and Abortion above all other sins? Why do we as republicans and Christians focus in on those two sins above all others and say that the other side is “Thumbing their nose at God” because of where they land on those two issues? I feel strongly about abortion being murder and I think that homosexuality is a sin. But why won’t God judge us for our obesity (gluttony) or our acceptance (even within the church) of divorce? Why didn’t God judge us as a nation for slavery or for the atrocities committed against Native Americans during the realization of Manifest Destiny? All sins are equal in the sight of God (James 2:10). When we as Christians or as a political party zero in on a couple of sins that most of us happen to not be guilty of and then ignore the ones we commit daily, then we’re starting to stink like the Pharisees. I think a good case could be made for why a Christian shouldn’t vote for a Republican this year too (Mormonism, Greed, Hypocrisy, etc.). No political party has a monopoly on sin, Cheryl. Wouldn’t you agree?
Cheryl–I’ll give you four.
Here’s is one about trying to see both sides of the abortion issue: https://theboeskool.com/2012/10/01/finding-a-middle-ground-on-abortion/
Here’s one about how I believe a government of “We’re all in this together” is closer to what God had in mind than a government of “You’re all on your own.” https://theboeskool.com/2012/08/22/jesus-voting-republican-would-be-a-miracle/
And here’s two about the gay marriage issue: https://theboeskool.com/2012/08/02/why-the-lines-at-chick-fil-a-made-me-cry/ https://theboeskool.com/2012/02/24/gay-marriage-and-green-eggs-ham/
Your belief that gay people are sinning (that I believe is in error, as evidenced here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezQjNJUSraY&feature=player_embedded ) should not mean that you should work toward taking away/restricting their civil rights. You might also believe that the Bible makes a case against inter-racial marriage, but that doesn’t mean it’s your backwards Church’s job to try to make inter-racial marriage illegal.
Gee Whiz Boeskool,
Maybe I should start blogging. We need a rather large blog to get this set straight. I, as a Born Again Redeemed Christian am painfully aware of the mountain of sin that I have been delivered, set free and forgiven of. This is available for all who call on the name of Jesus. If a party platform included laws that ENCOURAGED or PROMOTE as a platform mandate ANY thing that God calls sin – that party would not have my vote. Everyone here gets totally off track using all other sin as an excuse to not call sin, sin. There are six specific – and even more indirect scriptures calling Homosexuality what it is- a sin. I will be happy to post those for you if you’d like. It is what we do with these things as a church that counts- not that we condemn, we love at all times, but many have been set free from what is clearly an unnatural lifestyle, and they now lovingly assist others coming into the same freedom. We act as if there is not a living God who sets us free from bondage. (And Homosexuality is exactly that-bondage). As if He is unloving enough to ignore for a lifetime the desires of our heart to be free. That He is not a personal God, that He just leaves us hanging with no hope. Where are the Christians spreading hope to those bound by any sin, gay lifestyle or any addiction- instead of fighting for their right to live a life of bondage. I have been loosed from many- and I mean many addictions by a loving God. Though we don’t know why a Gay person or one with any other painful background, abuse or lifestyle happens to one, God says he works it all together for our good. Since we do not have eternal vision on par with our Creator we can not see what ‘God is working into an individual’ through a painful situation. But our job is to love and resist, vote the Bible as Believers and align ourselves to the mandates that are near to the heart of God, not spend out energy on fighting for ones right to walk in sin.Tell them Christians – that we serve a Loving God who heals, delivers and sets free! Find them the help they need. Gay people know in their heart of hearts that their lifestyle is wrong. And being Pro-choice IS MOST certainly being Pro Abortion. I have had four of them myself prior to salvation – and I know personally the depth of damage they create in ones soul. God is so clear on his position on this, it amazes me how we twist it all around naming the love of Jesus for our position. Left to his own devices man will sin every time, proven from the time of the Garden to today. We either raise a standard or we fall and I hear and read a lot of falling going on.
theboeskool,
As a Reborn Christian who has been delivered, set free and forgiven of many – and I mean many addictions and sins, I am clear on where Christians should stand as redemptive and loving, just as Jesus did. Just because there are those C’s who don’t take that stance, does not mean that we twist our views on sin in the name of the love of Christ. I watched you videos and want to ask where are the Christians who preach deliverance, redemption and freedom to those caught up in the slavery of homosexuality? Because we don’t believe this one thing, we make the decision to just stand for the rights of any sinner to sin. What is that? Exodus International gives hope and a future to those who are caught in this unnatural life style and all the videos and
opinions in the world don’t change the facts. This lie is as clear as those who have the audacity to believe in a Big Bang theory. Homosexuality is a soul damaging lifestyle, as is having an abortion for which I am well acquainted – having had four of them myself – prior to salvation. God is clear on both and siding with ones right to sin will Never be right. Preach hope, deliverance and forgiveness from a Loving God church. Be the Church for Gods sake.
My apologies for two posts, the first one did not post until 20 minutes after the 1st. I had assumed that it did not take, thus I wrote the 2nd post.
Here’s some info on Exodus International: It’s a story from Christianity Today, just in case you are worried about reading it. : )
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2012/julyweb-only/alan-chambers-accused-of-antinomian-theology.html
They have turned away from the whole “reparative therapy” thing. You should watch the documentary One Nation Under God–It talks about the story of one of the founders of E.I. and his committed gay partner. Also, you should read up on John Paulk–He was on the board for Exodus International and was also the manager for Focus on the Family’s “Homosexuality and Gender Division,” right up until he was found flirting with men in a gay bar. Exodus International doesn’t let patients talk to anyone else who has gone through the program…. You know why? Because they are afraid it will make them “relapse” into gayness. You think this sound like a “cure?”
So are you in favor of the laws in Uganda that can imprison gays or even have them put to death for being homosexual? Are these the sorts of laws you would like in the US?
The one point that wasn’t made that I am now curious about is this, “what about Obama’s Islam?”
I mean, grammar aside, when’s the last time a president made a major announcement at the start if a religious festival they didn’t participate in? For a ling time a president has not mentioned the beginning if lint, Resurrection weekend or any random Buddhist holiday. However pres. Obama’s made it a point to announce Ramadan and explain its significance. Jesus looses yet again as Christians allow Obama to pretend to be Christian.
Barack Obama is a Christian. He is not a Muslim. He is a Christian. Not a Muslim. Like Phil said below, when people like you speak these things (out of ignorance or spite or fear or inability to do actual research), it makes all Christians look ignorant/ill-informed and easily ignored.
Wow. The judgmental comments coming from fellow Christians (above) is truly sad. No wonder the voices of people of faith are being ignored.
Sigh….
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/11/01/obama-admin-tells-court-hobby-lobby-must-obey-hhs-mandate/…Just a quickie abut what liberalism is doing to our country. I see a lot of blindness around me- an indication that darkness is increasing- even in the minds of those who call themselves the church.
Let’s be done arguing, okay? I don’t want to add to the noise. Maybe you can just subscribe to my blog and try to get a real sense of who I am and why I believe what I believe. Or you could start at the beginning and read all the way through.
I would like to know what you think about the Uganda laws that make being gay something that can get people imprisoned of even killed…. Do you think this is what God has in mind for the world?
Wow! How can u preach being christian, and working wiv d spirit and still say you’re pro abortion and that being gay is a civil right? When d angel appeared to mary in luke 1 and she conceived, the fetus in her wasn’t Jesus? It wasn’t human yet? Have u seen pictures of wat angels look like? They’re babies, why cant stillborn babies or miscarried babies get into heaven? But aborted babies? Killed just because you think they’ll inconvenience your lifestyle and promoting contraceptives wen you should be preaching abstinence, just for d economy of the country, just for money. As for being gay, please read the book of revelation, reading wat people like you that call themselves christians actually believe makes me feel like wat John saw in revelation is coming to pass
Amen Claremarie. Moral absolutes and the Word of God (our moral compass) have gone by the wayside for those who preach that we who stand for them are hypocritical and judgmental. Is it any wonder? The Bible says that in the last days even the Elect will be deceived by their own Reasoning – apart from the Word. But have no fear, Jesus was crucified on Golgatha, the place of the Skull, symbolizing his Rising-above mans reasoning. Though it appears to be bleak now- Humanism will not stand!
Claremarie–I haven’t ever claimed to be “Pro-Abortion.” Being pro-choice does not mean being pro-abortion. I am personally against abortion–If I ever got pregnant, I would not get an abortion–but I don’t think that the way to work toward less abortions is to make all abortions illegal. And I don’t think that it is my place to enforce laws on someone (or especially judge someone) who believes (along with many doctors and scientists) that a 5 week old fetus is not fully human. Also, I don’t know what you’re getting at about angels looking like babies…. The Bible never describes angels as looking anything like a baby. Maybe you’re thinking of art from the middle ages? Or greeting cards?
As far as the issue of homosexuality, I could not imagine the kind of country that would try to restrict someone from being gay. Should pre-marital sex be illegal as well? What about divorce? Should gossips be thrown into jail? Should we stone people who cheat on their spouse? The Bible calls these things sins as well, but I’d say that people still have the right to do them…. Wouldn’t you?
Here is a (somewhat long) video of a man named Matthew Vines explaining why the Church’s traditional view on homosexuality is way off: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezQjNJUSraY&feature=player_embedded
And please do me the courtesy of at least eating a meal with me before you decide that I’m not really a Christian. : )
I know I’m reading this well after you posted it, but I always find it interesting how people who call themselves Christian are so quick to condemn gay people, however, somehow give a white flag to hold people who cheat on their spouses, whether physically or emotionally. If they are speaking about the specific passage in the Bible where it discusses sexual sin, both of these items are mentioned in the same sentence. I also wish people would stop treating abortion as such a black and white issue because it isn’t. People who picket abortion clinics and against gay marriage disgust me because as Christians we are supposed to be loving and treat others with respect even while they are in the throes of sin, not condemn them. It is not our job to judge the way others choose to live their lives. By being judgmental and hateful,people are not inciting others interest in Christianity, they are turning them away, which Jesus would not be supportive of. 🙂
Lets look at it this way, and please forget that you live in the 20th century and think about heaven and hell for one second, wat you call ‘right’ is the freewill that God gave humans but did not give to angels, ofcourse we have the freewill to commit sin, but should we? If you shouldn’t then why should you tell others they have a right to commit sin when you’re a christian? What about going to hell for sins committed has that escaped your mind or are there different rules for different folks because they live in a society that has given them the right to get abortions and enter same sex marriage? Does the fact that divorce,pre-marital sex, adultery, happen everyday make them any less of a sin? Just because you cant create laws to abolish these things doesn’t mean you should go about telling people they have a right to do them. The holy spirit doesn’t bend your will but he directs it and as christians we should help others make the right decision. The apostles were called christians because people saw them acting like christ, they were different from others, wat is the difference between you and a morally upright pagan that u’re against abortion? THERE SHOULD BE A DIFFERENCE. You need to try not to mislead others with what you say and do with this blog.
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Lawd, oh lawd. Where have you been all my life? Lol! Just found your blog today. Could’ve really used your reflective insight during the election. Nikkitown lies in the buckle of the Biblebelt & it sure got a bit lonely around here. Great blog! Look forward to more!
Good to have you around!
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Chris, this seems to have a markedly anti-Mormon feel to it. Was that your intention and do you still feel that way? I know this article is what, 6 years old? It just seems very out of character compared to your current writings.
(To be clear, I voted for Obama twice and HRC. I look back at previous elections and just chuckle at how naive we were. I’d be thrilled to have Romney in the office and I did not want him in 6 years ago! But your implication that the Mormon church is a cult is bothering me quite a bit right now.)
I think that many Mormons are great.
But I believe that history has proved that Joseph Smith was a fraud and a villain. The more research I have done, the more I have found this to be indisputable.
Mormonism is no more or less a “cult” than much of what people are calling “christianity.” If Franklin Graham called himself the Messiah and declared a new religion the “one true way to salvation,” I’d call that bullshit as well. A religion based on an awful person who was a proven liar is not something I’m interested in defending.
That being said, I think that so many Mormons are great people… Just like so many “Christians who believe that everyone other than THEIR sect is going to hell” are good people. They are just misled. I’m not trying to single out the LDS Church… I think that roughly 90% (or more) of the church identifying as “christian” is full of shit.
I hope that explains it a little, but if you’d like more clarification, I’d be happy to give it to you.