Good Thoughts

[subllibrm]

From a good friend:

"Midterm elections are quickly approaching, and I won't lie to you: I totally understand why most pastors don't talk that much about voting. Say one wrong thing, sound like you lean slightly in one direction or another, and you get trashed on the internet and you lose the trust of half your congregation. And I don't want that any more than the next person.

But what I don't want - even more than that - is a world system and political powers that Christians have had no influence in. There are powers and principalities at play on the macro level, and we are called to wrestle against them (Eph. 5:12). There are political leaders and hopeful leaders that have evil designs and warped hearts, with a resistance to God and his ways.

So if you are a follower of Jesus Christ - if you call yourself a Christian - that's precisely why I want to tell you how to vote. You ready? Here's my strong voting advice that I won't back down from: Vote with your Bible open.

- Vote with the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16).
- Vote with Jesus' Great Commission in mind (Matt. 28:18-20) - as opposed to a Muslim's or atheist's mission in mind.
- Vote to prevent the wicked from ruling (Prov. 29:2).
- Vote in submission to the governing authorities (Rom. 13:1-2) and the governmental systems in this society (Mark 12:15-17).
- Vote with the unborn in mind (Psalm 139:13-16).
- Vote with "the least of these" (Matt. 25:40) and vulnerable on your heart (James 1:27).
- Vote with the terrorizing of evil-doers in mind (Rom. 13:3-5).
- Vote with a relaxed trust that Jesus is over all the powers in this world (Is. 40:22-24; Col. 1:15-17).
- Vote with peace as an intended outcome in this world (Titus 3:1-2).
- Vote as a way to make this world brighter and more enjoyable (Matt. 5:13-15).

And I realize that this practice of voting with our Bibles open may influence each of us to vote in a slightly (or sometimes largely) different way. But that's the beauty of the mission of Jesus - he gives each of us the unique opportunity to join his mission here on this earth in a very personalized way.

So as the midterm elections approach, let's use this opportunity to be the salt and light of this world, bringing hope and joy, and resisting the process of decay in this culture. Let’s be people of compassion and conviction - the people who follow the One who shows us the path of truth and grace.

Feel free to hit me up if you have questions! I'm certainly a work in process, too. And I would love to chat "

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

I’m all misty.

 

[subllibrm]

I’m all misty.

A Urologist might be able to help you with that.

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

A Urologist might be able to help you with that.

My urologist doesn’t deal with tear ducts. If your’s does you might look for another referral.

 

[aleshanee]

From a good friend:

oh look.... another big cut and paste.... .....someone elses thoughts posted so you can have plausible deniability if one or more of the points turns out to be a stinker.....

"Midterm elections are quickly approaching, and I won't lie to you: I totally understand why most pastors don't talk that much about voting. Say one wrong thing, sound like you lean slightly in one direction or another, and you get trashed on the internet and you lose the trust of half your congregation. And I don't want that any more than the next person.

But what I don't want - even more than that - is a world system and political powers that Christians have had no influence in. There are powers and principalities at play on the macro level, and we are called to wrestle against them (Eph. 5:12). There are political leaders and hopeful leaders that have evil designs and warped hearts, with a resistance to God and his ways.

So if you are a follower of Jesus Christ - if you call yourself a Christian - that's precisely why I want to tell you how to vote. You ready? Here's my strong voting advice that I won't back down from: Vote with your Bible open.

- Vote with the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16).
- Vote with Jesus' Great Commission in mind (Matt. 28:18-20) - as opposed to a Muslim's or atheist's mission in mind.
- Vote to prevent the wicked from ruling (Prov. 29:2).
- Vote in submission to the governing authorities (Rom. 13:1-2) and the governmental systems in this society (Mark 12:15-17).
- Vote with the unborn in mind (Psalm 139:13-16).
- Vote with "the least of these" (Matt. 25:40) and vulnerable on your heart (James 1:27).
- Vote with the terrorizing of evil-doers in mind (Rom. 13:3-5).
- Vote with a relaxed trust that Jesus is over all the powers in this world (Is. 40:22-24; Col. 1:15-17).
- Vote with peace as an intended outcome in this world (Titus 3:1-2).
- Vote as a way to make this world brighter and more enjoyable (Matt. 5:13-15).

And I realize that this practice of voting with our Bibles open may influence each of us to vote in a slightly (or sometimes largely) different way. But that's the beauty of the mission of Jesus - he gives each of us the unique opportunity to join his mission here on this earth in a very personalized way.

So as the midterm elections approach, let's use this opportunity to be the salt and light of this world, bringing hope and joy, and resisting the process of decay in this culture. Let’s be people of compassion and conviction - the people who follow the One who shows us the path of truth and grace.

Feel free to hit me up if you have questions! I'm certainly a work in process, too. And I would love to chat "

ok.... but who do we "hit up" if we have questions?...... the anonymous "friend" you quoted here?..... or you?... the sultan of slippery semantics who never comes back with a straight answer to any question?....

 

[subllibrm]

oh look.... another big cut and paste.... .....someone elses thoughts posted so you can have plausible deniability if one or more of the points turns out to be a stinker.....



View attachment 9936


ok.... but who do we "hit up" if we have questions?...... the anonymous "friend" you quoted here?..... or you?... the sultan of slippery semantics who never comes back with a straight answer to any question?....

I'm happy to pass on your questions.

 

[aleshanee]

I'm happy to pass on your questions.

sorry..... i don;t communicate through 3rd partys... ... especially not 3rd party idiots.....

 

[subllibrm]

sorry..... i don;t communicate through 3rd partys... ... especially not 3rd party idiots.....

Your response to his essay is to call him an idiot?

 

[aleshanee]

Your response to his essay is to call him an idiot?

read it again.... i called both of you idiots..... .. ...and last night a majority in the country proved you are not alone..... .... of course most of them voted the way they did knowing what kind of government they would usher in... ... you still have some time before you find out..... .. and find out you will.......

 

[subllibrm]

read it again.... i called both of you idiots.....

So what in his essay makes him an idiot?

 

[aleshanee]

So what in his essay makes him an idiot?

for starters - believing that voting in an election is about making a statement of faith - rather than an exercise of ones civic duty designed to make certain the candidate most likely to preserve freedom and with the ability to actually win gets elected..... .

secondly believing he has the authority to tell others they should use their votes the same way he misuses his...... that;s not only a way to guarantee the election is lost but it;s also a way to risk losing the very right to vote itself....

 

[subllibrm]

for starters - believing that voting in an election is about making a statement of faith - rather than an exercise of ones civic duty designed to make certain the candidate most likely to preserve freedom and with the ability to actually win gets elected..... .

secondly believing he has the authority to tell others they should use their votes the same way he misuses his...... that;s not only a way to guarantee the election is lost but it;s also a way to risk losing the very right to vote itself....

Translation: you didn't read it, or you misread it. Because he said neither of those things.

BTW our entire life is to be a statement of faith. If you believe how you vote doesn't fall under the admonition to "do everything as unto the Lord" then it would be good for you to reconsider that position. Separating one's faith from one's voting? No thank you.

 

[illinoisguy]

This author, an independent Baptist preacher, on an independent Baptist web site, comments on Trump's morality, or lack of it. No apology for the "cut and paste." If you disapprove of "cut and paste" posts, then don't read them and don't click on them.

Does Trump’s Morality Matter?

Why Bible advocates should not blindly endorse the president.

biblenation.org

 

[biscuit1953]

This author, an independent Baptist preacher, on an independent Baptist web site, comments on Trump's morality, or lack of it. No apology for the "cut and paste." If you disapprove of "cut and paste" posts, then don't read them and don't click on them.

Does Trump’s Morality Matter?

Why Bible advocates should not blindly endorse the president.

biblenation.org

“The lesson to be applied today is that the most patriotic thing we can do to love America is to stand for virtue and reprimand immorality.”

The only problem with the article is the lie that Christians have not called out Donald Trump for his moral failures. It is dishonest to pretend that is the case when multiple Christians including Pastors have done just that. The hypocrisy is pretending there is a moral equivalency between personal moral failures and those who would destroy our nation through socialism leading to the the loss of freedom and the detriment of millions of citizens. Not only do the Democrats promote the killing of unborn babies up to the time of birth and physically mutilating children who are confused about their gender identity, but they would also force Christian Doctors and nurses to participate in those evil practices. You can vote yourself into socialism but once they have control, they will never give up that control, whether through voter fraud (illegal immigrants and mail-in ballots) or by force. We need to pray for our country.

 

[subllibrm]

“The lesson to be applied today is that the most patriotic thing we can do to love America is to stand for virtue and reprimand immorality.”

The only problem with the article is the lie that Christians have not called out Donald Trump for his moral failures. It is dishonest to pretend that is the case when multiple Christians including Pastors have done just that. The hypocrisy is pretending there is a moral equivalency between personal moral failures and those who would destroy our nation through socialism leading to the the loss of freedom and the detriment of millions of citizens. Not only do the Democrats promote the killing of unborn babies up to the time of birth and physically mutilating children who are confused about their gender identity, but they would also force Christian Doctors and nurses to participate in those evil practices. You can vote yourself into socialism but once they have control, they will never give up that control, whether through voter fraud (illegal immigrants and mail-in ballots) or by force. We need to pray for our country.

Mr. Trump's behavior has been defended and excused here on the forum. Remember that I got in trouble here for saying that he is a vile and despicable man. The basic premise being that his personal evil has/had no bearing on his ability to lead and govern.

But please feel free provide links to all of the Christian leaders who have publicly called him out for his actions and attitude. The MAGA movement has been quick to squash any dissent from people on the right who have expressed concern about his character. If you don't believe me, go back and read your own replies to me when I pointed out anything negative about him. The party is everything to the MAGA faithful and to them, Donald Trump is the party. Any conservative who doesn't toe the party line (bow before the Donald) is at best a RINO. So yes, the church has been tarnished by her obsequious relationship with Mr. Trump and silence regarding his misuse of his office and abusive leadership.

 

[ALAYMAN]

…,

But please feel free provide links to all of the Christian leaders who have publicly called him out for his actions and attitude.

Do you have a number (of leaders that rebuked Trump) in mind which would absolve us of being labeled as Christian Nationalists, or satisfy your longing to see “the church” cleared of their collective guilt?

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

Separating one's faith from one's voting? No thank you.

That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you all along!

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

Do you have a number (of leaders that rebuked Trump) in mind which would absolve us of being labeled as Christian Nationalists, or satisfy your longing to see “the church” cleared of their collective guilt?

buS has a moral superiority itch that he comes her to get scratched.

 

[ALAYMAN]

buS has a moral superiority itch that he comes her to get scratched.

I just think the lines of judgment (of those who call us to refrain from political involvement) are extremely arbitrary, ambiguous, and subjective as to which (and how many) character flaws should cause my conscience to capitulate to effectively allowing socialists, baby murderers, DEI experts, and child mutilators to govern me.

 

[biscuit1953]

Mr. Trump's behavior has been defended and excused here on the forum. Remember that I got in trouble here for saying that he is a vile and despicable man. The basic premise being that his personal evil has/had no bearing on his ability to lead and govern.

But please feel free provide links to all of the Christian leaders who have publicly called him out for his actions and attitude. The MAGA movement has been quick to squash any dissent from people on the right who have expressed concern about his character. If you don't believe me, go back and read your own replies to me when I pointed out anything negative about him. The party is everything to the MAGA faithful and to them, Donald Trump is the party. Any conservative who doesn't toe the party line (bow before the Donald) is at best a RINO. So yes, the church has been tarnished by her obsequious relationship with Mr. Trump and silence regarding his misuse of his office and abusive leadership.

https://religionnews.com/2016/06/21/7-conservative-christians-who-are-not-supporting-trump/

Franklin Graham has repeatedly rebuked Donald Trump for his potty mouth and warned him that he cannot go to heaven because of his good works. Pat Boone has called out Donald Trump’s behavior on more than one occasion even though he is a personal friend of his. I have heard John Piper, John MacArthur, Ray Comfort, and numerous other Christian leaders call out Trump’s behavior. Many on this forum including myself have criticized Donald Trump for his immoral behavior and most don’t believe he is saved. The problem is, pretending that people on social media who support Donald Trump are all Christians and are to be used as examples that typify Christians who defend his personal moral failures. Franklin Graham has also spoken out on the evils of socialism which many on this forum seemingly find less offensive than Trump’s foul language.