Trusting
in democracy rather than Christ
This is an excerpt from an upcoming post. I would suggest you read it more than once in order to clearly see what I am saying.
I do
not vote nor do I support moral legislation since it reeks of human works. I
love gay people and I suggest that a gay person can be saved without a complete
and perfect alteration of his behavior. I suggest that believers should love
and serve and witness to gay people. They can come eat in my house. I would
hire them to do work at my house. I would let them repair my car. Somewhere
along the line they might teach my grandchildren in a public school. Ok, not
the ideal situation but I get it.
Recently
the Arizona legislature passed a bill which would allow people to refuse
service to any person based upon religious convictions. The bill was so broad
and vague that any number of scenarios could come into play. Muslims could
refuse to serve a Big Mac to Christians and Aryans could refuse to serve Jews
and on and on it goes. You get the picture. But at the core of the bill was
Believers who refused to cater or service gay weddings. Let’s examine that.
But
if they demand me to service their wedding in any capacity that crosses the
line since that seems to make me support their marriage in some way. I realize
that is a thin line but I do believe there is a difference. But here is where
the American believer differs from many around the world.
The
American believer demands a law which protects him from any persecution if he
takes a stand about anything. While thousands of believers languish in prisons
or are denied good jobs or fear for their lives and who have been murdered for
their faith, the American brand wants none of that. They want democracy to shield
them from any hint of persecution. And in so doing we now have a milquetoast
form of Christianity which can take a spiritual or moral stand without fear of
any persecution.
In
effect, the church desires democracy more than they desire suffering for Jesus’
sake. What
if a believer in China said, “I want to worship Jesus but I want the state to
insulate me from any persecution.”
I
Pet.4: 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a
thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him
glorify God on this behalf.
So what the American brand of Christianity desires is to
be protected by the secular government from any substantive persecution for
taking any kind of a stand. What kind of Christianity is this? The ingenious
and fallen American mindset has created a costless faith which accommodates
believers and allows them to take moral and spiritual stands via bellicose rhetoric
but without the unpleasantness of negative consequences.
Posts
13 comments:
Then David said to Ornan, “Give me the site of this threshing floor, that I may build on it an altar to the Lord; for the full price you shall give it to me, that the plague may be restrained from the people.” Ornan said to David, “Take it for yourself; and let my lord the king do what is good in his sight. See, I will give the oxen for burnt offerings and the threshing sledges for wood and the wheat for the grain offering; I will give it all.” But King David said to Ornan, “No, but I will surely buy it for the full price; for I will not take what is yours for the Lord, or offer a burnt offering which costs me nothing.”
So David gave Ornan 600 shekels of gold by weight for the site. Then David built an altar to the Lord there and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. And he called to the Lord and He answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering.
I Chronicles 21:22-26
As a Canadian listening in on conversations with christian sites, and/or political sites (visited by professed christians) in the U.S., I get deeply discouraged reading the things said. It's not that we don't all sin, but if I was a non-believer and wanted to find Jesus, would I find it there?
These are things I read (and pray that hungry souls don't hear or read, if they are looking for the Lord's Ambassadors):
Obsession with withdrawing help from the poor, calling people lazy, relying on polls and political data, disrespect for the fatherless, calling their mothers moochers, rewarding the rich, respecters of high-profile persons, worship of sports figures, idolizing christian celebrities and authors, movie producers, promoters of Jesus movies, promoters of politicians who falsify facts, promoters of people who lie and distort, promoters of people who boast, mock and slander, promoters of beauty and charisma and extravagant living, promoters of prosperity, war with other nations, youthful appearance, promoters and defenders of only healthy individuals, the strong, free, wealthy, confident, but neglectful of the mentally ill, abused, weak, discarded, imprisoned; boastful of heritage, commerce, economy, competitive spirit, religious traditions, ignoring the carnage of increased gun violence, murders, drugs, increased sexual perversions, murmuring, complaining, unthankful christians, blamers of men for their discomforts, malicious, speaking evil of others, hateful, argumentative, divisive, not looking for His promise, but mens promises, never acknowledge they need repentance, but acknowledging that only "others" need repentance.
I know there are many good christians in the U.S. I thank the Lord daily for them and pray they are protected from the veil of deceit that would try to hypnotize them, turning them away from the faith. Please keep the faith, because many in the world depend on the many good American christians who share in missions and ministry around the world. They have a great gift but a great responsibility to represent Jesus, the real Jesus. Western believers are truly blessed with tools and money. But instead of taking the bounty of God's blessing and provision to encourage and offer physical and spiritual relief, some hoard God's forgiveness and mercy and grace only for themselves. It's like they decide who is worthy and who is not worthy. They resist the weak, but bless the proud. It's what was prophesied for the last days, many would see white as black and black as white.
Multitudes in the valley of decision and the deceived are pushing away the diseased and those without God away, and they have absolutely no conviction or conscience about it, believing they are justified to act and speak that way.
Lord Jesus, please remove the veil, please visit us with one more revival of your Spirit before your return, in your Most Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.
J.
alan assay's
you jump from one issue into
a statement that has nothing to
do with this bill. if someone does
not want to be a part of evil and goes about it in a legal way, why would you say that they cant' handle or not welcome hardship in the name of Jesus. Please read
Romans and other scriptures that
say we are not to have any part of them or even agree with them.
What part of darkness does light have? thank you
O Lord, let that which seems naturally impossible to me become possible through Your grace. You know that I can suffer very little, and that I am quickly discouraged when any small adversity arises. Let the torment of tribulation suffered for Your name be pleasant and desirable to me, since to suffer and be troubled for Your sake is very beneficial for my soul indeed.
The ways of man.....
Trading the Gospel of Jesus Christ for carnal legislation. The more man legislates, the more power the sin nature has over man to rebel. It is like disciplining a child when they steal a cookie out of the jar without asking. The more a parent disciplines the child, the greater the temptation to rebel and desire the treat all the more.
Public displays of self righteousness never, I repeat, will never glorify our LORD in bringing true righteousness that if found only in Christ Jesus.
So let the parade of public policy continue. And let the believers and unbelievers alike join hands together to complain, pout, petition, demonstrate, and secretly manipulate and indoctrinate others with their special brand of political poison in manipulating and controlling the masses.......this is the ecumenical spirit of our age in which man believes that he is god, playing god with people's lives, and worshipping this man god as if he were in control of all things.
Meanwhile, Jesus is still knocking on the door of man's hearts. Criticize and condemn all you will, oh mighty men of this earth, but please know, the God of all creation, our Sovereign Father, is still in control of all things and works all things according to His plan for the good of those who truly love Him.
How very interesting Brother Rick – I have been meditating for several days now on this same subject “the cost”. But I have not been successful just yet in putting them to paper. I often ponder why these opportunities to testify and share (what small amount of light we comprehend) by grace, are given to us. My prayer is that maybe, just maybe they won’t be dead works on my part. And that the Holy Spirit will speak to another’s heart to seek Jesus with everything they have.
Grace and Peace
Rick,
Your premise appears to be that the sole impetus for the legal redress sought in AZ was that "American" Christianity desires a persecution-free ride through this world. As a discerning Christian living in America, I may not be entirely in disagreement with part of your premise, however ... Would you go so far as to propose that a "true" Christian should seek persecution? ... or only that a "true" Christian should not seek protection from persecution under the law?
1) The AZ law appears to have been written in such a manner as to have not offered unique or special privilege to Christians. Rather, it appears to have been written to uphold freedom both of religious expression and of association for all Americans.
2) I do seem to recall the Apostle Paul using the legal system both to delay and avoid persecution and martyrdom. The records stand that many others in the first few centuries of the Church followed suit. Acknowledgedly, there were those who knew a particular end they were to meet and in the power and direction of the Spirit gladly confronted and received their martyrdom. There were those as well who sought out persecution and martyrdom and were rebuked by other members of the Body for selfish intent and for essentially encouraging the persecutors to the detriment of other believers.
As persecution waned in the early centuries, Christianity flourished. However, as Christianity became state-sanctioned, a new and different corruption crept in. There are always spiritual dangers regardless of the societal, political, and religious climate--flesh and blood is not our enemy.
SDG!
Nathaniel
The Western Church: "Everything done 100% OUR way at all times, or else we and God can't survive." Thank you, Rick. Absolutely, absolutely true.
Thank you all fro your comments. I do not discount a believer humbly presenting a redress in some instances, but most times believers demand redress and shout loudly and are even disrespectful to others.
Re-posted:
"Anonymous said...
O Lord, let that which seems naturally impossible to me become possible through Your grace. You know that I can suffer very little, and that I am quickly discouraged when any small adversity arises. Let the torment of tribulation suffered for Your name be pleasant and desirable to me, since to suffer and be troubled for Your sake is very beneficial for my soul indeed.
9:02 AM
Anonymous Anonymous said...
The ways of man.....
Trading the Gospel of Jesus Christ for carnal legislation. The more man legislates, the more power the sin nature has over man to rebel. It is like disciplining a child when they steal a cookie out of the jar without asking. The more a parent disciplines the child, the greater the temptation to rebel and desire the treat all the more.
Public displays of self righteousness never, I repeat, will never glorify our LORD in bringing true righteousness that if found only in Christ Jesus.
So let the parade of public policy continue. And let the believers and unbelievers alike join hands together to complain, pout, petition, demonstrate, and secretly manipulate and indoctrinate others with their special brand of political poison in manipulating and controlling the masses.......this is the ecumenical spirit of our age in which man believes that he is god, playing god with people's lives, and worshipping this man god as if he were in control of all things.
Meanwhile, Jesus is still knocking on the door of man's hearts. Criticize and condemn all you will, oh mighty men of this earth, but please know, the God of all creation, our Sovereign Father, is still in control of all things and works all things according to His plan for the good of those who truly love Him.
AMEN, AGAIN i SAY AMEN!
your sister in Christ Jesus
Torment is torment. Can a Christian find something other than torment when being tormented?
It isn't God's will for the believers and unbelievers alike to join hands together to dishonor His name.
AMEN Anonymous 10:01!
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