A Better Way

  Yesterday, I was able to pour my heart and tears out on the phone with my mama, lamenting the racist shootings that occurred in our country last week. After getting off the phone, I turned and was shocked to see my own child looking up at me with teary wide-eyes. He had been playing in the other room where he couldn't hear, but at some point during the conversation came silently near.

 "Mommy, I heard you say people are killing people and shooting people," his voiced quivered. "Is that true? Is that really happening here?"

 My heart sunk. The sweet child knows mommy often reads the news and gets "sad", but up to this point I've sheltered him from the reasons. I knew that day wouldn't always last, but as I looked at his aching, wet eyes I wanted to do anything but truthfully answer him.

 "Yes, sweetie, it's true. It happened in Kentucky and Pennsylvania."  I pulled him close so we could talk about it.

  "But here, in North America??" he continued in disbelief as his tears came.

 "Yes, baby," it stung to answer him. But unlike the lions, volcanoes, and monsters in closets, I couldn't tell him this was across the oceans or unreal.

 No, instead, last week, our nation saw a white man try to get into a predominately black church; but unable, went into the nearby Kroger instead- where he killed two black people but told a white person "whites don't shoot whites."

 Another white man went into a synagogue in Pittsburgh and slaughtered 11 people. "I just want to kill Jews," he told a SWAT officer.

 While shock hits with the news stories, it's sadly not difficult to see the symptoms before we got here. 

 A little over a year ago, white nationalist hate groups put on a rally in Charlottesville, with the clear message of wanting to eradicate people of color and Jewish people. While many of us gave an outcry against this, we were often met with resistance in the forms of "freedom of speech", "it takes both sides", and "they just wanted a peaceful rally" excuses.

 Our country elected a president who also dismissed the "rally", and often encourages fear, violence, and hatred.

 We are becoming more and more a nation of violence, even relishing horror as a form of entertainment.

 And too often we hide our heads in the sand so deep that we don't even know the bigoted, violent nonsense coming out of the White House, spread across social media, and happening on our own streets. 

 And so as the gun smoke settles yet again, I'm left wondering- at what point do we lose the credibility in our outrage?  Do we really get to do this- elect a leader who leads us in hate, take pleasure in pretend atrocities, excuse hate groups who make clear their destructive intentions... and then what, act shocked and outraged when the trigger is actually pulled? Is this how we think it works?

 There's another way. A way that recognizes the sinful rhetoric from our President for what it is; that calls it out and stands against it. That recognizes that one of the greatest threats to our country isn't immigration, it isn't across the oceans, it isn't what we're told to fear; no, one of the greatest threats to our nation is the terrorism of nationalism and racism.

 We can post all the proud pictures of voting stickers we want, but until we even recognize what is happening in our country, that our own filthy hate is destroying us, that we are divided by red and blue; until we stop the tribalism and looking away when it's "our guy" in the wrong, and until we decide prejudice must not be tolerated- then the stickers will lose their value. As will our country. 

 But there's a better way. A way that requires a different posture. Heads up, ears listening, mouths speaking truth and love. Prayers sent, gospel proclaimed, citizenship in heaven. There is a better way.

 I don't hold out hope of not having these conversations with my son. Hope that I someday won't be saddened by the news. That hate crimes will somehow earth-side cease.

 But I do hold out hope that I could tell my son about the Jesus followers who stood brave, refusing to be swayed right or left, refusing to be complicit, refusing to simply just feel. I want to tell him about the brothers and sisters in Christ who put on the full armor of God, who loved fiercely, who shone brightly, who gazed at God with such fervency that the tide of hate and lies and destruction stained them not.  I will have to tell him of battles, yes, but I want to tell him of faith-filled heroes whose eternal visions captivated their view and kept them from distraction.

 Brothers and sisters, don't let this hate-saturated culture suck you in. Don't let your itching ears be scratched by those who have lost site of the Jesus way. Or who never even saw it. I don't care what platform or party they claim, measure all things by the Word of God, and let His truth be the voice that speaks to you. May we be lights in the darkness. Until the perfect King reigns and these former things are no more.

 There is a better way.

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:13-16

On Statues and Souls

  
   What good will it be for someone if they gain statues and forfeit their souls?

   Maybe that seems like a dramatic introduction.  But is it?...

                               

  For many, the question in Matthew 16:26 seems alarmingly relevant:  "What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?"  

  When it comes to the Alt-right, we shouldn't have to ponder the question too long.  This klan definitely needs to do some soul-searching.  

  But what about the rest of the statue-staying-callers?  They may not be holding torches and doing the Nazi salute, but could they be bowing down to these statues in other ways?

Unity Gone Bad

  On Friday night, August 11th (wait- did they have a permit for Friday, or just Saturday?), white supremacists took tiki torches, anti-Jew chants, and their fists to Charlottesville in anticipation for the Unite the Right Rally the next day.  They had spent months planning the event.  It was organized by white supremacists as a platform for white supremacists.  The statue was not so much their issue as it was their stage.
  
  Not that they weren't protesting the statue-removal also.  But it was sadly much more than that.  In their own words, "The Alt-Right is growing stronger and stronger. Our ideas dominate the internet... Now it's time to dominate the streets. From there, we will begin to dominate politics as well because all power ultimately flows from the streets. A fight lies before us... a fight for action... for vigor... for vitality... for manhood.  You might think it's just a rally, but really, it's so much more" (Altright.com/"The 'Unite The Right' Rally Is Going To Be A Turning Point For White Identity In America"). And if you're not aware of these "ideas" of pure-white-blood-and-soil dominance of the alt-right, you can find more blunt speak in that article, as well as from their other proselytizing posts, tweets, interviews, speeches, etc.

  Ironically, people, including our nation's leader (I use the term loosely), have often chosen to not even recognize this as a "rally"; instead it has been coined "a peaceful protest over a statue".  I'm not sure how we got confused on that.  Last May, Richard Spencer (one of the main speakers for the rally) led a parade of torch-bearing white nationalists around the park. On July 8th, the local KKK that was scheduled to be a part of the rally held a gathering there.  They called for weaponry and violence to be brought to the rally; sent death threats to counter-protesters in the weeks before; had a militia force armed with assault rifles march through the town ahead of the rally; and advertised the rally like this:


                                                

And this...

                                                      

                                                                      

   And in a plethora of other nauseating ads.  My point is this:  The Alt-Right did not hide their intentions and flavor of the Unite the Right Rally.  So why now do we?  Did the Alt-Right actually show up peacefully protesting?  Or did something else happen on August 12th to change our minds?

Hate the Left

  
  No, the Alt-right showed up as brazenly as they had planned.  They encircled and beat up the counter-protesters on Friday night, beat a black man in a parking garage, beat more people than I can list here.  Their chants were horrendous, their signs despicable, and then to top it all off- one drove over a group of counter-protesters, killing one lady and injuring 19 more in a domestic terrorist attack.

  And yet that was even softened to be a "crash".  The events of those two days shocked and pained me, but the dialogue of the following days further sickened me.  We blamed the "many sides" and even often went so far as simply blaming the counter-protesters for "instigating" and engaging the violence.  We allowed there to be room for "peaceful protesters" and "good people" to be a part of the Alt-Right rally; and yet the counter-protesters (which included clergy groups and many peace groups that specifically called for non-violence) was labeled as the enemy of the "Alt-Left" (the foolishness of that term is layered, not the least of which is that you just handed the entire anti-white-supremacist campaign to the left.  Guess what that leaves you on the right? All those white-supremacists that are already claiming your name).

  What happened to cause so much of society, including our administration, to go soft on this?  Surely, if the driver of that car had been Muslim our outrage would have been much more measured and the word "terrorism" would have been flying.  If BLM had put on that "rally" the judgments and damning would be relentless.  If the Unite the Right had been Unite the Left the fury would never mention "all sides", "peaceful protesting", and the real zinger- that "permit".  If President Trump were a democrat (still) the right would have lost their outraged minds over his lies, insults, poor behavior, and lack of leadership in his handling of Charlottesville. The bias abounds. 

  What happened?  The left happened.  Anti-fa.  BLM.  Never mind all the clergy, peace groups, and the many others who just plain think NAZIS ARE WRONG. The mantra became about the violence of the left, the progressiveness of the left, and the debate on statues and liberals stealing our history.  One could not speak out against the atrocities of the Alt-Right without immediately being countered with the left-blame.  People would post passionate, painful, personal pleas on Facebook regarding Charlottesville and it was like a race to see which Republican could refute it with a "but the left" comment first. Deflections, downplays, and denial ran rampant, because... the left.  As long as the right is able to say the words "Hillary", "Obama", "liberal", and "media" they have all the ammunition they think they need to rebuke any criticism of the right- even if you're criticizing Nazis.

  I feel like I should qualify this with more proof, but here's another idea: if you understand what I'm saying here, you already get it.  If you don't, you've quite possibly already mentally come back against a lot of what I've said with a "but the left" argument.

Love the Right

  Ironically, I think one of the reasons the right hates the left so passionately is because they're the "competition" to beat.  And if there's anything a right wing-er loves it's the right winning.  But the irony is this: The right isn't winning.  The right is committing political suicide by obsessively pointing fingers at the left. Too many are so busy constantly gawking at the errors of the left, that they can't even see that their party is being poisoned by the Alt-Right.  They cannot admit the Alt-Right is evil (without qualifying it with a but-the-left-comment) because that would be admitting part of the right is inexcusably evil.  And the right is quite loved.  But true love corrects.  If you cannot self-criticize you are on a slippery slope.  Many Republicans are sold out, no matter what (one example: they hate the "fake news" yet then with itching ears [2 Timothy 4:3] they "seek lies" [Psalm 4:2] that fit their agenda from extreme-right-tabloid-sensationalism). And you can come at this with whatever "but the left" line you want, but these are the facts: One side has a long, deeply dark history.  One side organized and planned a hate rally.  One side took a life.  One side represents the goal of erasing people groups.  And one side did it using our President's name.  And he should have swiftly and strongly and solely condemned them.  For what they did, and especially for doing it with his gear on and with lip service to his name. But he then handled the condemning-of-Nazis-lines so well that Heather Heyer's mother won't even speak to him. 

  
  So, right, it may be time to examine thyself. You are patriotic, party-loving fellas.  And if you love this country and your platform, then please put your side under the microscope for a change. It's past time to turn the pointing fingers your way.  To point to the left over Charlottesville is an example of pointing out the speck in one's eye while your stuck with the log in yours (Matthew 7:3).  Your party is log-filled and imploding, and that will indeed be a victory for the left.

Love Your Self

  Maybe another reason for the denial over the Alt-Right is because one loves oneself too much.

  Pride keeps us from admitting wrongs.  Maybe we are too proud of our political identity, or too proud of our vote to admit error?  

  Or maybe... maybe we are, dare I say, racist.  Maybe we gave that car attack a softer hand because the driver was white.  Maybe we have spent our time criticizing the other side because they're often different than we.  Maybe the Alt-Right doesn't threaten us as much because... they're white.

Love Your Statues

  And sure, maybe we really do just suddenly love statues this much.  Maybe we love them so much that in the d.a.y.s. following a white supremacist terrorist attack, by someone losing their mind over losing the statue, our hearts were all "Aw, I don't want to lose the statues either.  These guys have a point." Maybe our love of statues is what caused us to be so calloused to all of this.  That's possible.  But quite frankly, just like it wasn't just about the statues to the Alt-Right, I don't think it's just about the statues for most others.

 

  Because really, to speak up for statues in the days following that attack is pretty cold.  I mean, even if you really are that big of a history buff, that's pretty bad timing.  Not just for all those hurting so deeply right now, but also for the ever-emboldened white nationalists movement. Maybe we just can't see the humans for the statues.

Lose Your Soul

  Are we bowing down to graven images?  No, I'm not talking about statue-loving.  I'm talking about nation-loving.  I've blogged before about the area of idolatry with patriotism.  Is Charlottesville an example of this?  It seems to me the only lens that's being used by many Christians in all of this is the political lens.  But when it comes to racism, murder, oppression of the weak, white supremacy, our sinful history, and God's chosen people being attacked, these require more than our political passions.  When it comes to compassion, love, equality, and taking care of the vulnerable these are not left or right issues. These are Christ-commanded issues.

  Statues don't have souls.  Last I checked, they would fall under the "earthly things" of Colossians 3:2.  Why are our hearts and minds so set on them then?  To the point that we can't weep with those who weep over them? To the point that we're siding with the KKK?   I'm not saying don't have an opinion on the statues, but when you're more worried about them then you are people groups, there's a problem there.  When you allow yourself to gloss over the attacks in Charlottesville but then cry out about stone, there's a problem there.  Anything that we love more than Christ and others needs to go.  So maybe these statues need to go if for no other reason than they seem to be our "high places".

     Have we lost our eternal perspective when it comes to the right and the left?  Have we forgotten God's definition of "great" (Mark 10:43)?  Would we really stand with Daniel and his friends and refuse to bow down to the statue with all the others?  Placing ourselves in the parable of the good Samaritan, do we think we're revealing that we would indeed be the one to prove to be a neighbor?  Or are we walking right by the broken and wounded to continue our own agenda? Are we confusing compassion for compromise?  Imposing godless qualifications for empathy?

  When we pray "Your Kingdom come" to our Father, know this- that is praying for these statues to go.  That is praying for the confederate flags to go.  Not just because they represent things that are oppositional to His ways, but because when His Kingdom comes all of America goes.  We are citizens of heaven; even now, we are exiles here in this strange land (1 Peter 2:11).  And it's fine to be a patriotic American, but we must, we must, we must be Christians first and foremost. 

  Have these statues become an idol to you?  Has your love of the right become an idol to you?  Has your hatred for the left become an idol to you?  Do pride and politics need to take a back seat in your worldview?  Do we love the right so much that we're willing to forfeit our souls on the altar of hating the left?

  Maybe we've buried our heads in sinking sand, and that's why we're landing where we are.  Or maybe we've misplaced our hope, and that's why we're fighting the way we are.  Whatever the cause for our misconceptions and indiscretions, it's time to tear down the high places. 

  When His Kingdom does come, it will be with a question:  How did you treat the least of these?  Because that is how you treated Him (Matthew 25:31-46).  And when He asks you that question it will do no good to say "But the left..." or to wax eloquently about statues. 

  This country needs true revival.  But it doesn't need more politics for revival to come.  It needs something different.  Something pointing up, instead of left or right.
  
  

To the anti-gun-control American, on the day after the worst mass shooting in American histroy.

  Yesterday was the worst mass shooting in American history.  And today I feel heavy from it.  I'm sure you do, too.

We are reacting differently today though, in part.

I feel baffled, frustrated, and a deep angst over our lack of gun control laws- a lack that allows a wife-beating man who had been investigated twice by the FBI, to legally buy an AR-15 and a handgun a week ago, which he used to commit this horrendous act of evil.

I cannot speak fully for how you feel- but I'm guessing it has to do with feeling threatened- threatened that your guns and rights to those guns could be taken away.  I'm guessing you also feel blamed in a round-about away.  So along those lines, I'd add that you seem to feel defensive.

And so we see that in the posts and memes defending guns and gun rights; that lash out against our president and fellow Americans that are calling for more gun control.

Well, I am one of those calling for more gun control. 

And I propose this, in love, and in hopes that this could cause some pause for our bleeding nation:

If, on the day after the worst mass shooting in American history, you are unable and unwilling to even pause and reconsider our gun control laws, then I suggest one of two things may be going on for you:  1.  You are ill-informed.    2.  Guns and the right to those guns have become an area of idolatry for you.

Before you jump to defense, I ask a favor of you- would you please, truly, be willing to hear me out (note: not just read in anger while simultaneously mentally forming your retorts) and give this some heart consideration?

1.  Maybe you are ill-informed:  

Perhaps you do not realize how loose our gun control measures are currently; and maybe when you hear "gun control" you interpret it as "take all of our guns away".  Maybe you don't understand that one of the things that is often meant by "control" is a desire to require background checks on purchasers of guns.  Maybe you didn't know it was possible to legally buy a gun WITHOUT a background check, and yet it easily is:


http://www.marketplace.org/2013/02/07/business/guns-and-dollars/background-check-what-it-really-takes-buy-gun

http://www.governing.com/gov-data/safety-justice/gun-show-firearms-bankground-checks-state-laws-map.html

http://smartgunlaws.org/background-check-procedures-policy-summary/


  Another aspect that is often meant by "gun control" is that we don't think criminals should be allowed to have guns legally.  But since you may be ill-informed, maybe you thought criminals can't have guns legally.  But, they often can.  Not to mention the criminals that can easily buy a gun without ever revealing their past- because again, background checks are easily avoided.

  Mental health would be another area that the "control" seeks to come into play more.  And while I could keep explaining all of these actual aspects of "gun control", perhaps it would benefit you to read our President's actual proposals here.

  If you've read the President's proposal, then we should be able to agree on this: unless you have something to hide, I do not know why these areas of gun control would threaten you so much.

  Another area you may be ill-informed in, is the success that other countries have had in implementing stricter gun control.  You can read in-depth about that here.  Results speak for themselves.

  Lastly, maybe you are ill-informed because you have bought into some simple, shallow quip from social media.   Sayings like:

   ~ "The only thing that can stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun."  Actually, as we saw recently, a good guy who can tackle well can stop a bad guy with a gun.  This statement actually has several other weak points to it; and if you're a Christian you should recognize the biblical principal that there is actually no one who is a good guy (Romans 3:10).

  ~  Social media will tell you guns aren't the problem, the people (the bad guys, ISIS, etc.) are the problem.  But if it's true that people are so evil and capable of such horrors, then why wouldn't we want more restrictions in place to prevent them from being equipped to perform such evils?

  ~  Social media quips often give a false sense of safety to those who own guns.  Sayings along the lines of "being armed will make the bad guy think twice", and that assure us that carrying guns will reduce our risk of being shot.  For one, if being armed will deter such violence, then why are we the most privately armed nation, and yet have the highest cases of gun violence?  As good ol' Dr. Phil would say, how's it working for us?  Also, please remember:  if you are ever in a situation where you need to use your gun, the chances are rather high that you will be unable to.  When we are in emergency situations, our ability to think and reason go way down.  I'm trained in CPR and even also have interpreted a CPR class separately from the one I took.  I know it- well.  When my son fell and hit his head and was unconscious a few months ago, I couldn't even remember "check for breathing" as the first step.  I froze.  Which is what our brains naturally do under such stress and shock.  Police officers go through rigorous, continual training specifically on using their weapons when in duress.  Don't think just because you took one class, you can suddenly be the hero in a mass shooting.  Even if Facebook told you so. 

  ~ Other quips on social media tell us that bad guys will find other ways to kill people apart from guns if their guns are taken away.  This follows the same type of "surrender" thinking as "criminals don't follow laws anyways".  But if we are driven by that type of thinking, we could refute every law we have.  Because bad guys will be bad guys shouldn't mean we give up on restricting them or their weapons.  See more on the link below.

  ~ Going along with the above, social media can insist that with more gun laws only the good guys will be punished.  But if you're a so-called good guy, none of the proposed gun laws should restrict your gun use.  For more on this point and the one above, please read this.

  ~  "No guns, know fear; know guns, no fear" is another meme I've seen.  This one actually leads nicely to my second main point though, since it has to do with idolatry...

2.  Maybe guns and your gun rights have become an area of idolatry:

  "No guns, know fear; know guns, no fear" is a blatantly idolatrous statement.  Our hope is to be in Christ alone, and just because we don't have a specific weapon does not mean we must live in fear and doom (and of course this statement ignores the great level of RISK that is included with gun possession).

    
 But is this actually the heart issue here?  John Piper wrote about Christians and bearing arms and addressed this more deeply than I will here.  He pointed out that if our hope is so deeply connected to our guns, then our hope is not in the right place.  He made a lot of great points about our heart in this area, so I encourage you greatly to read his post.  Ironically, a lot of fellow "Christians" wrote unimaginably hateful things to him because of this article.  Newsflash:  if someone ELSE not being all pro-gun-love causes you to act in hate to that person, then your guns are an idol.

 Where is your hope?  What is your trust in?  Are you primarily motivated by fear?  Does the idea of gun control make you act hateful to others or to your government?  Do you have respect for other aspects of self-defense, or are guns "the way"?  Do you seek to "evangelize" others and get them on the gun bandwagon?  Are you offended by others who aren't gun-lovers?  Are you placing a greater value on guns then you should be?  Do guns hold more worth to you then is spiritually healthy?  Do you value and invest in your earthly weapons more than your spiritual weapons (Ephesians 6:10-18)?

 
Only you can answer these questions.  But I think these are timely questions to ask.  It is possible that guns and your rights to guns have become an area of idolatry to you; and maybe that is why the day after our largest mass shooting, you may be clinging to them tighter than ever.

 
If you've read this far, I sincerely thank you.  This isn't my full philosophy on guns by any means.  I simply am hoping to cause some pause and awareness on this area.  It's more complicated than you or I can understand.  But our heart postures should be one of humility and willingness to change if we can better protect our fellow Americans.  It starts by asking ourselves tough questions.  To be willing to open our mind in humility.  Maybe, in the end, our answers will be the same.  But there is honor in pausing and asking the questions.  At this point in American history, it would be foolish to not do so.

10 Biblical Responses to Evil

  After Tuesday's election there's been a lot of different responses to the state of our nation.  A president's re-elected and certain laws are passed.  There's a lot of emotion out there.  Of what I've read and heard, there's plenty of panic, despair, confusion, anger, and hatred.  Thankfully, we do not need to be discouraged or bogged down by such feelings.  Here are some alternative reactions we can grasp onto as Christians, in no particular order... (all verses are taken from the ESV)...

1. Don't be surprised.  It should not at all surprise us that the world is bad and does bad things.  That people who are lost don't produce godly actions and despise God and Christianity.  That things are getting worse.  The Bible is full of verses describing the world as evil, sinful, dark, wicked; a place contrary to God, godly things, and Christians.  And it even tells us specifically not to be surprised when we go through trials and are hated:

1 Peter 4:12- "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you."

1 John 3:13- "Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you."


2. Don't fear, worry, or be anxious.  God's most common command in Scripture is to not be afraid.  Fear, worry, and anxiety weaken us, distract us, enslave us, and rob us of our joy.  There are many, many verses on this.  Here are just a few:

Philippians 4:6- "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."

Matthew 6:34- "Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow for tomorrow will be anxious for itself."

Isaiah 41:10- "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."


3. Trust God.  We are to trust in God, not our country, not our president, not our economy, not a list of values.  Those things are tainted; they change; they crumble; they can be taken away.  But by trusting in God we have a stable, pure, unchanging Rock.  Don't ever lose hope.  We need to trust that He will "work all things together for good" (Romans 8:28).  Trust Jesus.  Trust Him with your self.  Trust Him with your future.  Trust Him with your children and their futures.

Psalm 18:2- "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."

Psalm 118:8- "It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man."

Proverbs 3:5- "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding."


4. Get involved in a good cause.  One of the things that I decided to do during this election process is to volunteer at our local pro-life crisis pregnancy center.  It's a pro-active, applicable, and direct way I can support the pro-life movement and help unborn babies.  What's some evil especially burdening you?  What's a good cause you can plug into to help combat it?

Matthew 5:16- "Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

Titus 3:1- "Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work."

1 Timothy 6:18- "They are to do good, to be rich in good works."


5. Pray and give thanks:  If we are burdened, we must pray.  We need to continue to give thanks and be joyful.  Instead of focusing on what we don't have, or on what might happen in the future, we can choose to focus on what we do have; and be glad that while it could get worse, right now it isn't.

1 Peter 5:7- "Casting all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you."

James 1:2- "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds."

Philippians 4:6- "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."


6. Remember that Jesus died for everyone.  He died for our president, for each and every homosexual, for each and every woman who has had an abortion, etc.  Because He loves them.  Because He wants a relationship with them.

John 3:16- "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

1 Corinthians 15:3- "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures."


7. Remember that we are sinners too.  We have been just as lost as "they" are.  We are "the least of these".  We crucified Christ.  We are no better than anyone else.  We are forgiven and changed only by the blood of Christ and His Spirit.  We have received abundant grace and mercy, that we are so unworthy of.  We need to be humble and filled with compassion by such truths.

Titus 3:3- "For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another."

Isaiah 53:6- "ALL we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned- every one- to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us ALL." (emphasis mine)

Romans 3:23- "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."


8. Remember who the enemy is.  In Catching Fire of the trilogy The Hunger Games, Haymitch tells Katniss "Remember who the enemy is."  We need to heed the same advice.  Satan likes to distract us, causing us to point fingers every which way, forgetting that he is THE enemy.

Ephesians 6:12- "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."

1 Peter 5:8- "Be sober-minded; be watchful.  Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."


9. Share the gospel.  We can't expect godly behavior from the unsaved.  We can't expect sanctification of those who don't have the Spirit.  Being a light to the darkness requires there be darkness.  In order for lives to change, hearts must change.  Instead of being dismayed by the evil around, think of what great opportunities we have to share Jesus!

Mark 16:15- "And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.'"


10. Focus on your own sin first.  The evil that will most impact our lives, and our children's futures, is our own.

Knowing that President Obama was re-elected does not make me nervous for Silas' future.  You know what does?  Knowing that I'm his mother.  Me, a weak sinner, who's prone to wander.

Knowing that homosexuality and marijuana is becoming legalized does not make me quake for Silas' future.  Knowing that Silas has already seen sinfulness from his mamma does.  The times I've not been patient with his crying. The times I've worried about money for formula I didn't know I'd need.  The times I grumble about dirty dishes. The times I don't respect his daddy like I should.  The times I skip my devotions because I'm just too tired.

These are the actions that bring me to my knees in shame, in fear, in sole dependence on God.  That make me cry "God, have mercy!"

If we turn our pointing fingers back around to ourselves, we might be slower to cast stones.  At the same time, we can be empowered.  Because no one but ourselves can keep us from glorifying God.  It doesn't matter the laws or lack of laws, you can still glorify God!

Matthew 7:1-5- "Judge not, that you be not judged.  For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.  Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?  Or, how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is a log in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye."

John 8:7- "...He stood up and said to them, 'Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.'"

And, on that note, I leave you with a song:

Coming out of the political closet... Why I'm not voting.

So I have my lil (or not-so-lil) to-do list here today.  And what's not on it is to vote.

Cause I'm not voting today.

I'd love to explain why:

1.  I don't trust/support the process or the candidates: 

The whole voting process to me is flawed and sketchy.  From the electoral college, to the sleezy ads on TV, I find the whole process unstable and shady.

I feel equally hesitant of both candidates.

If someone told me to pick between which cheek of mine they were gonna slap, I wouldn't.  Even though I know they're gonna slap me in the face anyways.  Even though they might tell me it's a privilege to get to pick- I know it'd be silly for me to pick.  It'd be silly because I don't want either cheek slapped.  If i give in and just pick one, I then had part in that cheek being slapped.  I'd find it more fitting to refuse to pick, knowing someone else will still pick for me, but then it was totally 100% "out of my hands" when they slap me.

That's how I feel about voting this year.  I have major concerns for both candidates.  I do not feel supportive of either candidate.  By voting for one, I feel that shows support.  I can't in good conscience vote for either.  Sure, no presidential candidate will ever be the "perfect" candidate, but that's not what I'm waiting for.  I'm waiting for one I may disagree in areas on, but don't have such major concerns for.  One that I can feel a lot more confident about then I do this year.  So yes, picking between the two candidates to me would be like picking which side of the face to get slapped on.  I'm not gonna pick that.  People say, "If you don't vote, you can't complain"- which I think is a terrible, and silly thing to say.  As if voting earns you the right to complain?  Maybe we should just not complain no matter what;)  Anyways, imagine if I voted for a certain candidate even though I didn't feel good about it, and then that candidate does indeed end up doing harm to this country and being a less-then-great leader.  And I voted for them.  Talk about not being able to complain.  "Yeah, I knew I didn't feel good when I voted for this guy, but I voted anyways cause that's what people do."  Yeah, really can't complain for sure then.  And I personally just wouldn't want that on my conscience.


2.  Voting is a privilege; and so is not voting:

I've heard the point made that we should vote because it's a privilege, and a lot of people in the world don't have that privilege.  True, and great point.  But not voting is a privilege too.  There are countries where people are forced to vote.  We live in a great country that gives us the freedom to vote or not to vote.  So not voting for me is just as much a use of my freedom as voting is.

3.  I've yet to be convinced that I should vote:

I've heard several explanations and arguments about why one should vote, and I've yet to be convinced.  Granted there are many good and fair reasons, but none that I feel accurately explain why one MUST vote.

One argues that "one candidate will win no matter what, so you mine as well have a say."  No, I don't want a say.  Remember the cheek slapping analogy?  I don't want a say in this.

I don't see the point in just voting for the sake of voting.  It seems a lot of the pro-voting agenda I've heard is just that.  Pro-voting.  I need to be pro-candidate.

An argument that I have heard that I feel is fair and solid is that one should still vote then, but for a third party candidate.  One can even write a name.  This I respect.  This I "get".  But I feel the same point can be made by not voting.  By voting for someone other than the main two, you're saying "I don't want either", even though you recognize the minuscule chance that that other name will win.  I'm registered to vote.  Maybe by not voting I can send a message also that says "I don't want either candidate, and I don't want a part in this process."  Maybe if everyone who was registered to vote and felt such similar hesitations didn't vote it would send this message louder.  And we could stand a chance of causing pause and gaining notice from our government that maybe this voting process is due for a make-over.

I'm tired, very tired, of hearing that it's one's responsibility to vote.  No, it's not.  It's not legally my responsibility.  It's not morally my responsibility.  It's not biblically my responsibility.  I do have many responsibilities in these areas though...

4.  I believe there are political, moral and Biblical responsibilities I can and should focus on:

I've blogged before about what our role as Christians is politically, so feel free to read more deeply there.

I have a political, moral, and biblical duty to obey laws that are not contradictory to God. (Titus 3:1, Rom. 13:1,5)

I have a political, moral, and biblical duty to respect my president. (Rom. 13:7)

I have a biblical duty to pray for my nation, president, and other leaders. (1 Tim. 2:1,2)

I have a biblical duty to not be afraid. (Deut. 13:6; Ps. 27:1; Is. 41:10,13; Rom. 8:15; 2 Cor. 4:7-10; 2 Tim. 1:7; Heb. 13:5, 6; etc.)

I have a biblical duty to not slander or dishonor anyone, but to be edifying in all speech and conduct. (Eph. 4:29; 1 Thess. 5:11; Titus 3:2; 1 Cor. 13:5; 1 Pt. 3:13,14; etc.)

I have a biblical duty to seek peace, unity, humility, and love (Eph. 4:2,3; Col. 3:14; Titus 3:2; Rom. 12:16; 1 Cor. 13:4; 2 Tim. 2:24-26; etc.)


Unfortunately, while we get so caught up in voting, we seem to compromise some of the above.  Politics surely seem to bring out the worst in us.  This is the one time in four years that I cringe when I see red, white, and blue because often accompanied are insults and elitism.  But God tells us to be humble and gentle and loving.  I've seen Christians make statements of "I'm afraid of what will happen if..." a certain president becomes elected.  But we're not to be afraid!

The passion and urgency we show in telling one another to vote, we should show in telling one another to pray for whoever becomes our president and that God would help us to respect him.  And we need to be urgent and passionate about revival happening in America, something Christians must begin with the Spirit's power.

Neither candidate can destroy or save this country.  God alone can do that.

Today I'm not voting.  Not because I'm lazy.  Not because I'm unpatriotic.  Not because I'm apathetic. Because I can't vote in good conscience, and I am personally compelled to purposefully not vote.  I don't at all judge those who are voting today; I don't think voting is wrong.  It's just not right for me this year.

Patriotic or Ethnocentric?

 Today is the 4th of July, and not just any 4th of July- the 4th of July of a presidential election year.  So, political spirits and patriotic feelings have been high and in full form even apart from the 4th.

  To be fair and utterly upfront, I don't like politics.  Alright- I kinda hate politics.  And I think that's okay.  My Biblical responsibility in relation to politics is to respect and pray for my government.  I'm not called to a political party or agenda.  I'm not commanded to picket.  I'm not commanded to care;)

I tend to hate politics because of the ugly ways it makes us behave, and the level of importance we give it that it just isn't due.  Specifically among Christianity, I feel there can be a tendency to be Americans first, and Christians second (as if you can really "be" a Christian if it's not your full, overwhelming identity).  We forget that "American" is a temporary citizenship and our true King is Jesus.  And Jesus is not an American;)

Secondly, I also tend to hate politics because people's behavior completely confuses me.  With one breath we're "proud to be Americans" and the next we're trash-talking our President and leaders and griping over our lack of morals.  We're die-hard Americans when it comes to comparing us to those "other" countries out there and making sure our tags claim Made in the USA.  But when it comes to each other here, we're not proud to be Americans- we're proud to be Republicans.  Or Democrats.  Or part of the NRA.  

I can think of no presidential campaign ad this year that hasn't made me groan, or even LOL in cases;)  

The gas prices go up, it's because of them. They go down, it's thanks to us.  We're always right; they're always wrong.  Period.

So yeah, politics confuse me because perspective is a funny thing.  

I can tend to hate politics because I think we often label ourselves "patriotic" when we're really just "ethnocentric".  To clarify, some definitions: 

"Patriotic: of, like, suitable for, or characteristic of a patriot".  That could be more helpful;) So, to add the definition of a patriot...

"Patriot: a person who loves, supports, and defends his or her country and its interests with devotion."

"Ethnocentric: the belief in the inherent superiority of one's own ethnic group or culture."  

  Often under the guise of "patriotism" we put down other countries and people of other nationalities.  That's not patriotism.  


  If we're truly patriotic then maybe our trash-talking needs to be reeled in.  Maybe the mockery and snide comments need to go away.  Maybe we need to disagree in kinder, more respectful ways.
  
  Maybe, we can be Christians.  Remembering that Jesus loves the world.  The world.  And we don't live in a Christian nation.  We need to let that one go.  But we, WE, are to be Christians.  Above being a political party.  Above pushing an agenda.  Or fighting someone else's.


  And so while our flags wave high and our votes get ready to be cast, I ask:  are we truly patriotic, or merely ethnocentric?  And are we, above all, Christians?

Pointing Fingers

    Recently our President made some comments about same-sex marriage that caused waves for sure.  I've blogged about politics and how I believe Christianity should respond to our government plenty before; so I won't hash all that out again.  But about the same time I heard our President's comments I also discovered a new song from Casting Crowns, called "Jesus Friend of Sinners".  Such a powerful, true, needed, and timely message for us to hear and be reminded of!

"Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away
We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing.
Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth's become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me.
Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded,
A plank-eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided.

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners,
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks Yours.

Jesus, friend of sinners, the One Who's writing in the sand
Made the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands
Help us to remember we are all the least of these
Let the memory of Your mercy bring Your people to their knees
Nobody knows what we're for only what we're against when we judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners,
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks Yours.

You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast
For the leper and the lame; they're the reason that You came.
Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast
But you died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet.

'Cause You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever,
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever.

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks Yours.

Obama, Easter, and Silence.

  A lesson that's been impacting me lately has been that we need to make up our own minds. I need to make up my own mind.  You need to make up your own mind.  Too often we let culture, friends, family, our church, etc. make up our minds for us; and we fail to think through things on our own, check out full facts, and un-stick the stigma from our cluttered minds.  


  One area I feel this happens way too often in is politics.  How rarely can political information be shared without bias and drama free??


  I've been learning to make up my own mind about President Obama.   As I've mentioned before in my other blogs on politics, the one thing I know about our President now and all political leaders is that we as Christians are to treat them with respect, period.  That alone has spurred much of my frustration with some of the comments I've heard from some Christians and Republicans.  


  If I didn't make up my own mind, I would think that Obama was a Muslim and the anti-Christ.  I would think that he is that absolute worst thing that could happen to America.


  It seems that we are super skilled on dishing dirt, spreading negativity, and rolling in the drama. If a hint is made or rumor heard that can be added to the "what is this world coming to" bash-wagon then by all means, let's jump on!


  Yet when I try to make up my own mind I see things quite differently.  Is our president perfect?  Of course not.  Are there things I disagree with Obama on?  Of course.  But with all the negativity I've heard from others, I was shocked to hear the following speech from Obama himself.   I shouldn't be surprised that his Easter prayer breakfast speech was not facebooked, tweeted, or newsflashed like the other less-than-positive comments have been, because it doesn't fit with what we want to think about Obama.  I wonder, if one of the up-and-coming Republican candidates had given this speech, would it have been talked about and praised?  Instead, I'm sure there will be some excuse made for this speech of Obama's and many faults found.


  But in my own mind, I find this speech refreshing, courageous, and inspiring.  Especially as our President shares of Easter...


  "It's an opportunity for us to reflect on the triumph of the resurrection, and to give thanks for the all-important gift of grace.  And for me, and I'm sure some of you, it's also a chance to remember the tremendous sacrifice that led up to that day, and all that Christ endured- not just as a Son of God, but as a human being.  So it is only because Jesus conquered His own anguish, conquered His fear, that we're able to celebrate the resurrection.  It's only because He endured unimaginable pain that wracked His body and bore the sins of the world that He burdened- that we are able to proclaim 'He is risen!'"  


  I hope you listen to the full speech below:


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2012/04/04/president-obama-hosts-easter-prayer-breakfast_n_1402871.htm