I don't really follow politics. I don't vote, and keep from having an opinion. Obviously, though, keeping yourself entirely free of a presidential election, and definitely this one, is kind of hard. There are so many absurdities in it. From McCain rambling on about Obama's celebrity status to praising Palin about her's, to Palin going out and buying $150,000 worth of clothes, to Michelle Obama's "For the first time in my adult life" blunder, there has been no other election that has been this crazy to keep track of. The "Iron my Shirt" incident was priceless.
Part of the reason, though, that I have been keeping such a close watch on this election is because of a man at my job, Mick.* Mick is a staunch McCain supporter. He literally hates Barack Obama. He criticizes everything Obama does. I bet if Obama didn't let down the toilet seat, Mick would scream how he was not fit to be president.
At one point, Mick was talking to me about Ayers, Obama's acquaintance who was at one time a terrorist. He asked me if I knew anything about this and I told him I heard about it but wasn't extremely knowledgeable on the matter. He then proceeded to tell me how I represented the average, ignorant American. I took offense but kept my mouth shut. He then showed me some facts about the Obama-Ayers relationship. When he thought he had my full attention and was starting to sway me to his side (I can assure you he wasn't. I think he believes that I am an Obama supporter because I'm bi-racial, black mother, white father. I don't have the heart to tell him I don't have an opinion) he finally let me get back to work.
When I got home I proceeded to check his statements and found that he didn't know his facts. He is so against Obama that he will believe anything anyone tells him that paints Obama in a bad light. I can't stand listening to him but I have a problem that whenever something bad is said about McCain, I have to prod him about it. I can't wait until November 4. If Obama wins, I will let him have it! It is very exciting!
Another thing Mick did that was so funny is how he completely changed his opinion to match the circumstances. When the big deal was Obama v.s. Clinton, Mick told me that he wanted Obama to beat Clinton because America was not ready for a female president. He said women relied too much on emotion then they should and not enough on logic. He then said that even if Obama won, he wanted McCain to beat him because Obama was too much of a celebrity and didn't have enough experience.
Enter Sarah Palin. Extremely low experience, woman, and bigger celebrity then Obama. Yet Mick said that she had enough experience, America is ready for a woman president, and that her celebrity status is a good thing. It can only help McCain in the long run.
Needless to say, I wanted to puke. If anything, Mick is a prime example of your "average, ignorant American." I won't tell him any of this but I honestly feel that since I have more of a neutral view of this, I can see the entire picture clearly, not blur the parts I want to ignore and brighten the parts I want to focus on.
If only everyone could be like that. Indeed, if only people could see how Christians should view politics.
Jesus Christ, when on earth, said this in prayer to his Father, Jehovah. "I have given your word to them, but the world has hated them, because they are no part of the world, just as I am not part of the world. I request you, not to take them out of the world, but to watch over them because of the wicked one. They are no part of the world,just as I am no part of the world."-John 17:14-16
Christ made it very clear that we as Christians are to be no part of the world. Why? Because neither God nor Christ is ruler of the world. Who is? Satan the Devil! The Bible calls Satan "ruler of the world" and "God of this world" as well as saying that the "whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one." (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; 2 Corinthians 4:4, English Standard Version; 1 John 5:19) For a Christian to be a part of the world would be partaking in what the Bible calls "the spirit of the world."-1 Corinthians 2:12, compare Ephesians 2:1-2
Being separate from the world means being neutral in politics, like Jesus Christ was. (John 6:15) Too, being separate means shunning materialism and self-centeredness. (1 John 2:15-17) Regarding people who did these things James said, "Adulteresses, do you not know that the friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever, therefore, wants to be a friend of the world is constituting himself an enemy of God."-James 4:4
Why is this Christian separateness so important? "The form of worship that is clean and undefiled from the standpoint of our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their tribulation, and to keep oneself without spot from the world." (James 1:27) Our very worship is affected when we are not free from the world!
You see, two things are important to consider when we speak of this. First, the true government under Jesus Christ is the government that Christians uphold. This is called "Kingdom of God". (Mark 1:15) This Kingdom will destroy all wickedness and usher in world-wide peace. (Psalm 37:10-11, 29; Daniel 2:44) For us to throw in a vote for an earthly government is to vote against God's Kingdom and Jesus Christ.
Second, to be a good subject of any government, you must follow the laws of that government. The King, Jesus, has told us to refrain from being materialistic. (Matthew 6:19-23; Mark 10:17-25; Luke 12:15-21) If we do these things, as well as follow his other commands, our worship will be clean and undefiled to our God.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Religion, Science Fiction, Etc.
Religion plays a big part in my life. I am an unpaid, ordained minister. I manage my own company to help pay the bills and do my ministering during my spare time. While I guess I could get paid doing this, I feel that following the command of Jesus Christ, "You received free, give free" (Matthew 10:8) is a little too important.
God has not always played a major role in my mind. At one time I believed in God but did nothing about it. I didn't care. After God became too big to ignore did I decide to give my life to Him, through Jesus Christ my Lord. (John 14:6) I realize that even though I am a sinner and at some points feel that I am not good enough for God to accept me, I realize that what Jeremiah told us when he was lamenting the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians is so true and plays a big part in my life. He said, "It is the acts of loving-kindness of Jehovah that we have not come to our finish because his mercies will certainly not come to an end. They are new each morning. Your faithfulness is abundant."-Lamentations 3:22-23
Now, I have to remember, (and I am planning on writing these down and putting them on my computer) that Paul's words in Romans 6:1-2, 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8, and Hebrews 10:26-31 are true--and very serious. I have to be very careful not to sin. I, unlike many people, have decided not to tell myself that since God is good he will forgive my sins no matter what. It will get to the point where "there is no longer any sacrifice for sins left" if I keep "trampl[ing] upon the Son of God" and view "as of ordinary value the blood of the covenant by which [I] was sanctified." (Hebrews 10:26, 29) Sin is a very serious thing, and while our sins can be washed clean by the blood of the lamb, it can only go so far.
Before I became settled in my particular beliefs, I studied many different religions, one of which was Mormonism. While studying Mormonism (my best friend was a Mormon) I was introduced to one of the greatest book series of all time, "The Ender Quartet". I was re-reading "Children of the Mind" and realized that Ender Wiggin would be a Mormon, just like his mother Theresa. He said in "Children" (or perhaps "Xenocide") that true gods would love us so much that they would try to teach us how to be just like them. I couldn't believe that I hadn't caught that phrase the other three times I read the book. That is one statement by Ender that I cannot agree with. We cannot become like God. "Before me there was no God formed and after me there continued to be none" is pretty clear to me.-Isaiah 43:10
This is my first blog. Sure, I was once a member of MySpace and used the blog service, but that was only for posting short stories that I wrote. I plan to use this for personal thoughts, observations, and random ramblings. I can only say, stick around, you might be surprised.
God has not always played a major role in my mind. At one time I believed in God but did nothing about it. I didn't care. After God became too big to ignore did I decide to give my life to Him, through Jesus Christ my Lord. (John 14:6) I realize that even though I am a sinner and at some points feel that I am not good enough for God to accept me, I realize that what Jeremiah told us when he was lamenting the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians is so true and plays a big part in my life. He said, "It is the acts of loving-kindness of Jehovah that we have not come to our finish because his mercies will certainly not come to an end. They are new each morning. Your faithfulness is abundant."-Lamentations 3:22-23
Now, I have to remember, (and I am planning on writing these down and putting them on my computer) that Paul's words in Romans 6:1-2, 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8, and Hebrews 10:26-31 are true--and very serious. I have to be very careful not to sin. I, unlike many people, have decided not to tell myself that since God is good he will forgive my sins no matter what. It will get to the point where "there is no longer any sacrifice for sins left" if I keep "trampl[ing] upon the Son of God" and view "as of ordinary value the blood of the covenant by which [I] was sanctified." (Hebrews 10:26, 29) Sin is a very serious thing, and while our sins can be washed clean by the blood of the lamb, it can only go so far.
Before I became settled in my particular beliefs, I studied many different religions, one of which was Mormonism. While studying Mormonism (my best friend was a Mormon) I was introduced to one of the greatest book series of all time, "The Ender Quartet". I was re-reading "Children of the Mind" and realized that Ender Wiggin would be a Mormon, just like his mother Theresa. He said in "Children" (or perhaps "Xenocide") that true gods would love us so much that they would try to teach us how to be just like them. I couldn't believe that I hadn't caught that phrase the other three times I read the book. That is one statement by Ender that I cannot agree with. We cannot become like God. "Before me there was no God formed and after me there continued to be none" is pretty clear to me.-Isaiah 43:10
This is my first blog. Sure, I was once a member of MySpace and used the blog service, but that was only for posting short stories that I wrote. I plan to use this for personal thoughts, observations, and random ramblings. I can only say, stick around, you might be surprised.
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