Good Thoughts

[subllibrm]

For a long time, I thought I understood how Christians were supposed to engage the culture: Speak louder. Fight harder. Push back.

If things were getting worse, it just meant we needed to be more aggressive, more strategic, more influential. But the more I tried, and the more I saw other Christians doing the same, I couldn't deny the obvious reality that it wasn't working.

Oh, there would be short-term successes and flashes of hope. But the trajectory of the culture wasn't changing. And I became convinced that at best, we were spinning our wheels. At worst, we were making things worse.

The deeper I got into Scripture while writing this book, the more uncomfortable realization I kept running into: the approach I had adopted wasn't really coming from Jesus.

It was coming from the world. The world's approaches, the world's strategies, the world's obsession with power and politics. That's a dangerous place for a Christian to build from, especially when we're talking about how to change hearts, minds, and culture.

- Peter Heck

 

[Ransom]

The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. (2 Cor. 10:4-6)​

As best as I understand what this passage means, it's that spiritual warfare is carried out by combatting worldly opinions with effective apologetics. That sounds a lot like "speak louder, fight harder, push back" to me.

I'm not sure you can say it's not working when it's divinely mandated. Perhaps "success" isn't measured by the number of libs we own.

 

[subllibrm]

The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. (2 Cor. 10:4-6)​

As best as I understand what this passage means, it's that spiritual warfare is carried out by combatting worldly opinions with effective apologetics. That sounds a lot like "speak louder, fight harder, push back" to me.

I'm not sure you can say it's not working when it's divinely mandated. Perhaps "success" isn't measured by the number of libs we own.

I hardly think that "black trannies" can be considered apologetics.

 

[subllibrm]

The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. (2 Cor. 10:4-6)​

As best as I understand what this passage means, it's that spiritual warfare is carried out by combatting worldly opinions with effective apologetics. That sounds a lot like "speak louder, fight harder, push back" to me.

I'm not sure you can say it's not working when it's divinely mandated. Perhaps "success" isn't measured by the number of libs we own.

It's not working because "owning the libs" has become the goal over the divine mandate to be salt and light.

 

[Ekklesian]

I hardly think that "black trannies" can be considered apologetics.

OMG...let it go.

Do you have a tranny kid or something?

 

[subllibrm]

OMG...let it go.

Do you have a tranny kid or something?

No, but I know several personally and they need the Lord, not your scorn.

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

No, but I know several personally and they need the Lord, not your scorn.

So do I.
You’re obsessed!

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

I hardly think that "black trannies" can be considered apologetics.

So someone said black trannies and you’re completely obsessed with insinuating that anyone who argues for the Biblical principle of men are men and women are women are Christian Nationalists?

I smell obsession!

 

[aleshanee]

I hardly think that "black trannies" can be considered apologetics.

No, but I know several personally and they need the Lord, not your scorn.

i remember one getting kicked in the knards once after walking into the womens restroom at a shopping mall.... he was not black... but he was a big guy.. with a fuzzy face .. mostly bald head.... dressed in shorts 3 sizes too small and a dirty t shirt.. ... he had been yelled at by several girls in there already and told to leave... but he refused... and began walking toward one of them... . .

so one girl behind him applied the treatment i mentioned above and another did a reverse sweep kicking his legs out from under him and dropped him to the floor... ... after that a mob of young women began kicking him anywhere they could access until his screams brought security running into the restroom.... . ...

end result of the ordeal was he got arrested for criminal tresspass... and taken away in a police car.... he told the police his name was ginger.. ... but his drivers license said something else and indicated a gender that we all clearly saw - due to his extra small and extra tight shorts..... .

so tell me.... how should that situation have been handled by the women in that restroom?.. ..

what would the subllibrms subtle approach be to what most of us in there saw clearly as a physical threat?.... ..

i know what would happen if all that happened today.... we would have all been arrested... ....probably even those of us who did not take an active part.....and he would have been painted as the victim........ . but this was a few years before democrats took over the thought processes of previously sensible people and forced a woke ideology onto everybody....

 

[subllibrm]

So someone said black trannies and you’re completely obsessed with insinuating that anyone who argues for the Biblical principle of men are men and women are women are Christian Nationalists?

I smell obsession!

Not even close. But feel free to keep defending and/or excusing in Christ like behaviors.

Note the thread and the essay shared are not about the transgender tragedy. It's is about the fact that the church has lost her way and has become impotent due to trying to solve spiritual problems with worldly methods.

 

[subllibrm]

i remember one getting kicked in the knards once after walking into the womens restroom at a shopping mall.... he was not black... but he was a big guy.. with a fuzzy face .. mostly bald head.... dressed in shorts 3 sizes too small and a dirty t shirt.. ... he had been yelled at by several girls in there already and told to leave... but he refused... and began walking toward one of them... . .

so one girl behind him applied the treatment i mentioned above and another did a reverse sweep kicking his legs out from under him and dropped him to the floor... ... after that a mob of young women began kicking him anywhere they could access until his screams brought security running into the restroom.... . ...

end result of the ordeal was he got arrested for criminal tresspass... and taken away in a police car.... he told the police his name was ginger.. ... but his drivers license said something else and indicated a gender that we all clearly saw - due to his extra small and extra tight shorts..... .

so tell me.... how should that situation have been handled by the women in that restroom?.. ..

what would the subllibrms subtle approach be to what most of us in there saw clearly as a physical threat?.... ..

i know what would happen if all that happened today.... we would have all been arrested... ....probably even those of us who did not take an active part.....and he would have been painted as the victim........ . but this was a few years before democrats took over the thought processes of previously sensible people and forced a woke ideology onto everybody....

I have no problem with the women or their response.

Again, it's the framing of it as a political issue requiring a political solution that is the problem.

I chose the black trannies line because it so clearly shows the lack of grace and the worldly mindset that has infected our approach to a lost and dying world.

Every single boogeyman cited by Christians parroting the political talking points is still a human being created in the image of God and is in need of the Savior.

Go back and reread the quote I posted. As he noted, It isn't working. It isn't working because it isn't biblical or godly.

 

[aleshanee]

I have no problem with the women or their response.

Again, it's the framing of it as a political issue requiring a political solution that is the problem.

but the democrats.... who are certain to retake power if conservatives do not stick together... have a major problem with how the women in that restroom responded.... .... they made it a political issue by making both the physical and verbal kind of response we had to the situation illegal and subject to both prosecution and lawsuits.....

now.... according to the law... all you have to do is say you know the man in drag in the restroom is a male.... even without demanding he leave ....and you can be subject to prosecution or lawsuit.... ... they will say you violated his civil rights by mis-gendering him....

so..... like it or not ... because it has been written into law - it is already a political issue ... requiring a political solution.... i.e. voting to change the leadership back where the state is concerned.... or keeping with regards to the federal - an administration more responsive to constituents.. and empowering that administration to protect the rights of those of us simply trying to protect ourselves... .. .it is has nothing to do with us "making" it political...

I chose the black trannies line because it so clearly shows the lack of grace and the worldly mindset that has infected our approach to a lost and dying world.

it might have shown the mindset of the one person who made the comment.... but the fact you have repeated it over and over and made it part of your mantra every time an issue on christians fighting political battles comes up clearly shows a lack of discernment within you.... .... you wish so badly to apply a guilt trip to your fellow christians that you are willing to smear them with whatever you have at hand... whether it applies to them or not...

Every single boogeyman cited by Christians parroting the political talking points is still a human being created in the image of God and is in need of the Savior.

created in the image of God - yes.... but do all people remain in the image of God?... or it is possible by consistently conforming to the world that they have transformed themselves into the image of something else?... .. and when they have done that - is it not right to show them what they have done to themselves rather than mollycoddle them and pretend everything is alright?... . .

Go back and reread the quote I posted. As he noted, It isn't working. It isn't working because it isn't biblical or godly.

i read the quote...... and i think it is a cop-out for a man who has realized nothing but failure in his own struggles against the world ..and now wants to blame all the rest of christianity for what is clearly his own personal problem.....

but take heart.... i think the day is coming soon when you ... the writer of the quote... and all others like you will get the chance to actually live according to that quote and face the kind of real hostility to your faith you so far have only surmised about and offered theoretical summaries on..... ..

in other words - you will get a chance to show you can live by your own words in the kind of world we have warned you is coming - and which you seem determined to help usher in......

 

[subllibrm]

but take heart.... i think the day is coming soon when you ... the writer of the quote... and all others like you will get the chance to actually live according to that quote and face the kind of real hostility to your faith you so far have only surmised about and offered theoretical summaries on..... ..

Um, I didn't write it. It's a quote. With citation.

As to change. The culture will be changed by a working of God via spiritual rebirth. Not by political machinations. We have been trying that for a half century and the culture has gone the other direction. That by itself shows that what we have been doing doesn't work.

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

Not even close. But feel free to keep defending and/or excusing in Christ like behaviors.

Note the thread and the essay shared are not about the transgender tragedy. It's is about the fact that the church has lost her way and has become impotent due to trying to solve spiritual problems with worldly methods.

Can you cite one instance wherein I defended or excused any un-Christlike behavior? I just believe that you are painting with a broad brush in order to defend your narrative.

I have been saved for over 60 years and have seen our culture evolve and devolve over that time period. In our current cultural climate, the key element is some form of transgressive behavior. Any standard God has established must be corrupted, condemned and mocked. It is almost impossible to operate in said culture without a defense of those standards. And because some may be offensive in their defense, I must stop and clutch my pearls with you and some guy who’s book or blog you read??

Please.
And Hallelujah!

 

[subllibrm]

Can you cite one instance wherein I defended or excused any un-Christlike behavior? I just believe that you are painting with a broad brush in order to defend your narrative.

I have been saved for over 60 years and have seen our culture evolve and devolve over that time period. In our current cultural climate, the key element is some form of transgressive behavior. Any standard God has established must be corrupted, condemned and mocked. It is almost impossible to operate in said culture without a defense of those standards. And because some may be offensive in their defense, I must stop and clutch my pearls with you and some guy who’s book or blog you read??

Please.
And Hallelujah!

The cultural rot happened on our watch. That what we have been doing isn't working has no shortage of evidence.

 

[aleshanee]

Um, I didn't write it. It's a quote. With citation.

As to change. The culture will be changed by a working of God via spiritual rebirth. Not by political machinations. We have been trying that for a half century and the culture has gone the other direction. That by itself shows that what we have been doing doesn't work.

you endorsed it.... did you not?... by typing "good thoughts" for the title?......

but as to change.... i have a suggestion for you... ... instead of constantly complaining - condemning and denouncing the methods others use to engage the culture - why don;t you go out there and engage it yourself.... .. show us how it;s done ... and then show us what your results are....

i don;t know what you do in the way of ministry.... but i know many people including myself who are involved in ministries that do work.... .. and frankly i get tired of seeing and hearing people who have seen their own efforts fail - trying to berate the rest of us as if their failure was our fault ...and insisting that since their methods found no fertile ground then the rest of us must be miserable failures as well........

.