tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post7228941639392256957..comments2023-10-21T04:32:31.262-05:00Comments on Following Judah's Lion: Freeing a SlaveRick Fruehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05879848568892457571noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-34243750628361591302012-11-23T10:19:49.628-05:002012-11-23T10:19:49.628-05:00We are to be witnesses to Jesus toward all men and...We are to be witnesses to Jesus toward all men and to be ambassadors of reconciliation via the Gospel. We do not fight against men's sins, actually not fight against flesh and blood at all, but fight by intercession against the spiritual blindness and bondage that keeps men from obeying the gospel. The Word is our weapon and it is powerful. So we love men for Christ's sake enough to preach the gospel and live a witness lifestyle, but we don't have to be preoccupied with their sins. We warn and speak against sin and coming judgment for the disobedient. The Holy Spirit convicts. We need to quit trying to "Change" people and be truly humble, but also truly brave enough to be loyal to Christ even when that is not the popular sentiment.<br /><br />We should never "accept" sin or sinful behavior; but we must pick the right battle. The battle is for the revelation of Jesus and obedience to the gospel (Acts 2:38-39) not to change the outward man.<br />Victoria Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-660449551533295342012-11-21T23:03:47.792-05:002012-11-21T23:03:47.792-05:00You have identified the exact problem with being i...You have identified the exact problem with being invovled with politics. It always leads to compromise, and because most evangelicals supported Romney is why I point to that compromise. However, even though President Obama claims to be a Christian he is by no means an evaneglcial.<br />If we as believers are not to refrian form such a depsicable system as American politics, then just what are we supposed to avoid?Rick Fruehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05879848568892457571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-8533786903538868592012-11-21T21:11:47.930-05:002012-11-21T21:11:47.930-05:00Dear Pastor Frueh;
While I acknowledge the power ...Dear Pastor Frueh;<br /><br />While I acknowledge the power of your words and understand the need to find the planks within our own eyes rather than focusing on the motes in our own. However, as usual, the question is: how to create the spirit of righteousness?<br /><br />The vitriol against President Obama is undeserved and unfitting of fellow Christians, even if he believes in gay marriage, abortion and war, none of which are fitting towards the Christian faith. Yet, would it be appropriate to also condemn some of the evangelicals who denounced Governor Romney as an apostate, a heretic, because he is a Mormon, although from reports, he is a good man in his personal life, generous to charity, and a believer in Jesus, albeit a Jesus we may not recognize. <br /><br />Can we accept Muslims and even celebrate their holidays, as the Obamas and the conference of interfaith Alliance do, if such is celebrated as loving our neighbor and refusal to condemn their spiritual beliefs, even if we'd view them as apostasy?<br /><br />Jesus loves all and accepts all, so should we do likewise and always tolerate rather than condemn, or does that take us down the path of becoming like the Rob Bells of this world, in which even Hell is erased, where the gift of redemption and salvation is given even to those who actively reject God and his Word? What is the balance that should be struck between loving acceptance and total acceptance?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-71891695224654143642012-11-21T12:01:35.991-05:002012-11-21T12:01:35.991-05:00Just finishing my post from previous anonmymous po...Just finishing my post from previous anonmymous post. THank you for allowing me to share this thought. <br /><br />My church life is all but dissolved because there are no people who will stand for truth, and stand for those who can't defend themselves. Instead of becoming light to the world, the western church has all but become a hound, an attack squad, carnival barkers who get involved in politics, the politics of men who would protect the rich, remove help from the helpless, and befriend real estate moguls, wealthy philanthropists, influential wealthy church leaders, all to pick on a certain few leaders who NEVER once used, exploited the Name of Jesus to get the popular vote. <br /><br />It's funny how the church, who got on the political bandwagon, made a distinction between the 'good' and 'bad' leaders. To them, the good leaders are those who support their agendas and who make claim they are followers of Jesus, in other words, EXPLOIT the bible to gain votes. Some don't even have to say "Jesus"; they just say God, and the church jumps right on their wagon. These 'good' leaders may not personally live up to the christian standard, but if they are helping the christian cause, so all is good? <br /><br />Yet, those christians on the 'good' bandwagon look down their noses at those who are not yet 'called' or who have never been truly exposed to the Word of God, or who may yet be 'called'. <br /><br />These past 4 years has been a fruitful lesson for me. I have seen how easy it is for the church to be led down the wrong path. I agree with Rick Frueh here, that it's not the church's place to be politically involved. Instead of being a voice of clarity and love, compassion, and mercy, the church has become a voice like Satan who brings up certain men's sins to God every day. They want to be like the accuser of souls. And, my whole point here is how many in the church did not once write, speak out against the hateful rhetoric against one man, who never applied for a job based on his christian record, but by his political accomplishments. Yet the hounds of the church were unleashed on him like a legion of demons, stating the US would be harshly condemned by God because of his actions. <br /><br />This has to be the biggest church delusion of this century; what I wonder is, if the church leaders don't repent, how will unbelievers ever want to be part of it? <br /><br />So, in parting here, I have to say, I love President Obama, his family, wife Michelle and two sweet daughters, just like I love all those in government, on both sides, who work tirelessly to keep the infrastructure going so we christians can enjoy the fruit of their labors. And the church does enjoy it, even though they would dare not admit it. Instead of thanksgiving, complaint. <br /><br />I thought we as a church took our responsibilies seriously and prayed for all souls, those lost, not lost, in between and so on. Jesus' love is so strong, no words can describe it, and His love for these leaders is just as strong. The church has trashed those that Jesus loves and it's a travesty. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-71651962720011874322012-11-21T11:47:06.617-05:002012-11-21T11:47:06.617-05:00"For some very odd reason, christians (majori..."For some very odd reason, christians (majority) have basically taken one man and besmirched him personally; what I don't understand is why just this one man?"<br /><br />Besides being consumed with politics, there are three basic and underlying reasons. Economics, race, and nationalism. The carnal man needs someone and something to hate, and President Obama serves that purpose. Sad.Rick Fruehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05879848568892457571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-60339237292094420232012-11-21T11:33:38.918-05:002012-11-21T11:33:38.918-05:00Amen. This sentence in this blog post explains it...Amen. This sentence in this blog post explains it all for me: "The overwhelmind essence of the faith called Christianity is an inward faith. It is birthed by faith inside of the heart and soul of a believing sinner, and there it either grows or stagnates". <br /><br />I should avoid reading all news to give my soul peace, but am still fighting my inner man trying to understand why so many christians react the way they do. And I look at myself in this as well. I feel I am a lone voice sometimes when I hear the hateful accusatory attacks towards public figures from christians. I want to see a Church where I can run to for refuge. But, that's not happening. One instance is how the so many christians used one man as a verbal target continually these past 4 years. That is President Obama. For some very odd reason, christians (majority) have basically taken one man and besmirched him personally; what I don't understand is why just this one man? There are so many in this culture who don't proclaim their love for the Lord, or who are extreme liberals. But they've somehow dodged the indiscriminate accusations from christians. <br /><br />When I was a kid, I used to stand up to bullies when a weaker kid was taunted. I was just a nominal christian then. Not born-again. And I didn't ask the weaker kid being taunted if he was a true christian or not. I just defended him based on the fact that he was being cruelly treated by others. <br /><br />I find that today, some christians seem to think it's OK to bully people. If they think they have socialist leanings, are for gay/abortion rights, etc., christians feel it's free reign to taunt and yell, comment on christian sites about the man's unchristian behavior, over and over and over. They disparage one man on sites without allowing said man to defend himself. Jesus said that what we do to others we do to Him. Jesus never said they had to be believers. <br /><br />The tragic example shown by the church, in the way it's pointed it's finger, and in the way it's not corrected or rebuked christian sites for making outlandish accusations towards the President will be in history books, unless the Lord comes soon. <br /><br />It is tragic. I have cried, reading what supposed christians write in regards to one man. Who will be their next target? The thing is, the Church's problems aren't about doctrinal divisions. It's about how gullible we all are. It's so easy to join the bully club and be part of the 'clique' bullying one human being, not others who are in the same ranks, but just that one man. Where were the harsh judgmental words towards previous Democrat Presidents? Never have there been since now. Why? What propelled the church to decide it's time to attack now? <br /><br />Our faith should be an inward faith. And when we see a soul being bullied, our first Holy Spirit reaction should be to pray for that individual, and carry a burden of prayer for that and all those who are being publicly bullied, humiliated. These men and women didn't become public figures so they could spread the gospel. They became public figures so they could serve the elect in a temporal way, of which the "church" enjoys many a benefit from. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-3072346970913376032012-11-21T11:26:28.955-05:002012-11-21T11:26:28.955-05:00Thank you. The path of discipleship and sanctific...Thank you. The path of discipleship and sanctification is lonely, but when you enter the path, you must press forward. We are called to be the salt and light to the world. We have Jesus and his beautiful gift of salvation. How selfish would it be to not share that! Run to the sinners. Put on the full armour of God and be fruitful. And most of all, be love. Amynoreply@blogger.com