"I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life"

Father God, thank you for the love of the truth you have given me. Please bless me with the wisdom, knowledge and discernment needed to always present the truth in an attitude of grace and love. Use this blog and Northwoods Ministries for your glory. Help us all to read and to study Your Word without preconceived notions, but rather, let scripture interpret scripture in the presence of the Holy Spirit. All praise to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Please note: All my writings and comments appear in bold italics in this colour

Thursday, July 21, 2016

America - On a Fast Track to Destruction

What did you think of Mark Burns prayer at the RNC? Was it alright with you? Or were you shocked by it? I was shocked by it myself for three reasons:

1) His naming the person who may well be the next President of the United States as the enemy;
2) His prayer for unity which did not include half of the 'United' States
3) His attitude of telling God what He should do, since it is God Who chooses presidents, it appears Burns is letting Him know who the right person is.

1) America cannot survive another 8 years of this kind of attitude where the President is considered the enemy who should be obstructed at every turn. The air in the U.S. is toxic with hatred, downright explosive, and Congress and the Senate are completely responsible for creating it. If you can't handle losing an election then you ought not to be in politics.
2) see 1)
3) A Christian who is not working at submitting everything to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, is a Christian who is off track and wasting God's time and their own lives. 

The Bible says God selects who will be Kings and Presidents. This was never more obvious than in the last election which was swayed by Hurricane Sandy. Hurricanes are an 'act of God' in judicial and insurance circles, and Sandy was certainly that.

Yet many Christians reviled Obama not realizing that they were complaining about God. Read the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and find out what happens to complainers and revilers; it's not pretty.

The problem is, you reject the notion that God appointed Obama as President because he is not what you consider to be godly. 

1) What makes you think God wants a godly president? If you actually read your Bibles you would find that God often put the most ungodly people in charge of the Israelites in order to push their declining morality to the bottom so that He could cause them to look up again. You are not looking up, yet, America!

2) You want America to be great again! I'm not clear on what that means. 
Does it mean you want to spend trillions more dollars on a military that cost more than most of the rest of the world's militaries combined? 
Does it mean you want to put more boots on the ground in Syria and Iraq? Do you have any idea what Bush's war on Iraq cost?
Does it mean you want to put America back to work? Unemployment is at 5.5%! It has been below that twice, only very briefly, since 1970. America is back to work, as many as want to.
Does it mean you want to repeal Obamacare? Are you happier if millions of people have no health care at all and millions more go bankrupt if they get sick? Is that a Christian attitude? 

Have you read where Jesus tells us to feed the sick, clothe the naked, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, visit the sick and imprisoned? It appears not because I don't see that attitude in American Christians, certainly not those who are politically active.

You put your faith in your guns! You suspect every move by liberals to be a sinister plot, but never examine the way conservatives are manipulating Christian voters. You have made Christians to be reviled thereby making witnessing a hundred times harder.

America can't possibly be great again when fear and hatred motivate Christians. Get back to God, and there may yet be hope.

A Christian Minister’s Rewrite of the
RNC’s “Christian” Prayer
by Mark Sandlin 

Copyright: actionsports / 123RF Stock Photo
Copyright: actionsports / 123RF Stock Photo

There’s been a whole lot of discussion and (rightful) condemning of the opening statement and prayer from Pastor Mark Burns at the Republican National Convention.

To be clear, I’ve played my part in the condemning.

For reference, here is the opening statement and prayer:

RNC prayer
Of particular concern is that statement, “…our enemy is not other Republicans – but is Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party.””

It is particularly concerning that this is being presented as a Christian prayer when the the reality of Christianity is this: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” – Jesus (John 13:34 ESV)

But, I think it will be much more useful and enlightening to provide and alternative statement and prayer based on the one from Pastor Burns.

So, I did:

Hello! I’m Pastor Mark Sandlin from the great state of North Carolina! I’m going to pray and I’m going to give the benediction. And you know why? I suppose it’s because we insist on elevating one religious perspective above another even when the U.S. Constitution suggest we should do otherwise. But, it is important that we stand united – not Republicans, not Democrats, not Independents. It’s important we stand united as citizens of this nation.

So, I humbly invite you, regardless of your political or religious perspective, to join me in this prayer. Good and gracious God, we are thankful for those willing to dedicate themselves to leading this nation. May they be led by wisdom and concern for all citizens. May their decisions serve to bring this nation together rather than further divide it. After all, we are the UNITED States of America, not the Republican or Democratic States of America.

May those elected receive the protection they deserve so that they may remain safe in the face of violence or challenge. May the next President of the United States lead with peace, love, wisdom, and compassion.
Amen.

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