Writing helps me sort out how I think / feel / should think about an issue. The great thing about writing/typing for me is I can catch myself (sometimes) before I say something I shouldn't. What follows is my side of an email conversation, poorly edited into a blog post.
Is Christianity Today right to denounce the President? Did they even give a reason why he should be removed from office? (spoiler: they did not). According to Dennison, over 200 theologians disagreed. The following rebuttal says CT provided no reasons why Trump should be removed from office. The media stopped bashing Christianity long enough to enjoy watching the Billy Graham-founded magazine bashing the president that they so enjoy bashing.
Sure President Trump way too often opens his mouth and makes comments he shouldn't Way too often he fails to act Presidential. Not very likeable a good deal of the time. I do know there are Bible verses describing how God appoints and uses leaders of nations. If God didn't want Trump to be president, Trump wouldn't be president. When Trump became the nominee I thought his big mouth would cost him the election. Guess God had other plans.
Who is Christianity Today to cast the first stone? While in a perfect world the President would be above reproach, when did the presidency become a Christian position? With a few exceptions past presidents have been just as unchristian as the current one. Some paid lip service to the church, but how many presidents were truly devoted to Jesus as Lord? Truman and Carter and perhaps George W Bush, but did their Christianity make them better presidents?
When you look close, many of the presidents during my lifetime did unchristian things in office. Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Clinton, and Obama for starters. In his time, Billy Graham followed scripture by praying for (and with) whatever president was in office. Now Christianity Today has crossed that line and judged who should and should not be president. Do they speak for all Christians? Of course not.
These two articles I link do a much better job expressing what I'm trying to say. Highly recommended reading.
https://spectator.org/wwjd-acc
I look around the past and present political landscape and see a dearth of candidates worthy of the position. Liars, power-hungry, more interested in tearing down than building up. Who is talking about governing, of taking care of American citizens? Who wears an American flag pin any more? Candidates speak of climate change and a green new deal and universal healthcare, but no plan to pay for them - except to raise taxes to excessive levels. I don't hear candidates talking about upholding the Constitution or enforcing current laws, or punishing those who break the law. Remember that stuff?
I haven't been the best student of politics, but have read how in the 80's Democratic Speaker of the House Tip O'Neal and Republican President Ronald Reagan repeatedly cast aside their differences to meet together to lead the country into a time of prosperity, helping the economy to soar after the recessions of the 1970's, while also helping to bring down Communism around the world (thanks in part by economic policies initiated by Regan's Democratic predecessor Jimmy Carter). These days I don't see politicians interested in governing, or working on foreign policy in a world suffering in the Middle East, Europe, and in the Far East. I do see a booming US economy and decreased unemployment.
One politician today does appear to be above reproach: Vice President Pence. Yet many in the media tear him down for his stand on certain issues, and bully his wife for the rules of the Christian school she taught at. The attack on Christianity continues. Sad that attacks sometimes comes from within.
I certainly took it with a huge grain of salt when Trump said he was a Christian. He'll have to deal with God about that. Certainly doesn't makes Christianity look good.
Dems getting more liberal and Republicans going the other way. Not sure what the Republicans are doing. I really just see headlines, and skip over to the sports section.
Not sure about the numbers, if indeed it was the Christian vote that put Trump over the top. Others say that as well. Bryant Wright couldn't vote for Trump (or Hillary). Instead voted for a third party candidate. So did other Christians. If I was basing my vote solely as a Christian (as opposed to as an American) would I have voted on one issue (abortion)? In 2016 I figured the winner would be either Hillary or Trump. Would be a waste to vote for anyone else. I thought Hillary would win because Trump kept saying dumb things before the election. I thought his best chance to win was to keep his mouth shut. To vote for HRC or DT because one was more Christian than the other wasn't an option to me. The linked article "Feeding the Christians to the Lions" addresses this decision.
We live in a fallen world. God lets us have free will. We can chose God or make wrong choices. Bad things happen not because of God. Many pull away from God because they think God causes / allows bad things to happen. But in the end God is sovereign. God's overall plan for the world can use whoever is elected to office. Romans 13 says there is no authority except which God has established.
Trump is a bully. I really don't like bullies. Makes a mockery of the presidency. Un-presidential. A Washington outsider. Not the first. Trump is not the first president I haven't liked. Likewise there are athletes I like and others I don't Some athletes are good and others not so much. Sometimes bad, disliked ballplayers gets hits. But Trump added some good justices. He's done some good, all the while being a bully and saying some dumb things. His actions are the most Christian for any President since Reagan.
Wednesday a Democratic presidential candidate tweeted "Today I join millions around the world in celebrating the arrival of divinity on earth, who came into this world not in riches but in poverty, not as a citizen but as a refugee. No matter where or how we celebrate, merry Christmas." Decent tweet for a presidential candidate, I suppose. I really shouldn't be picky BUT (a) why not mention Jesus by name (b) Jesus was not a refugee (3) really wasn't in poverty (4) dislike using Jesus to fit a political narrative. Will Christianity Today deem him unfit for office?
In reading Romans 13, I think of people I know who were scared when Trump was elected because they thought Trump would do them harm. Interesting the verses below saying the only people who need to worry are those rebelling against what God has instituted.
Romans 13:1-7 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God's servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
Its great we live in a country where we can agree to disagree. Unfortunately so many these days have been led to believe that those who don't agree with you are evil, an enemy who needs to be defeated by any means possible.
NOTE: guaranteed that even among my tiny readership, this post will be taken out of context.
ME: the busyness continues. Christmas was just okay. Not the greatest ever.
Monday: was worn out after returning from Augusta. Did some stuff around the house. Not too much on TV, but I stumbled across Parenthood, a NBC TV series that ran from 2010-2016. produced by Hollywood elite: Ron Howard and Brian Grazer. Started binge-watching the first season while playing on my laptop. Had things to do on the laptop and wound up staying up until 1 am.
Tuesday: slept late. Did stuff upstairs for awhile then plenty to do downstairs. Dishes, straightening, laundry, folding, clearing off tables, taking out trash. Make a run to get a present and also cheese from Trader Joes. MC was bringing Okie by the house, so I spent the afternoon doing more cleaning. Never once did I sit on the couch. Only sat to eat breakfast, and later lunch. By the evening I was exhausted. Had Parenthood playing all day and finished season one.
Showered and packed and went out to get gas. M came home from work around 630. Anna arrived at seven. Anna and I left at 7:15. Traffic wasn't bad but finding at a Taco Bell with a moving drive thru line was a chore. Customer service so bad. Added 30 minutes to our trip. Arrived at 1230 am.
Wednesday: did get to sleep until nine. Ham biscuits for breakfast. Had 22 for lunch. Ham, turkey, roast beef, chicken salad, tomatoes, lettuce, spinach dip, cherry delight, tossed salad, coconut cream pie, Bavarian dessert, pecan pie, sugar cookies, and more. Without Will, Mary-Clayton, Matthew, Hillary, and Grant, we had to get some fill-ins to sing the Twelve Days of Christmas. I did get some emails deleted.
Is Christianity Today right to denounce the President? Did they even give a reason why he should be removed from office? (spoiler: they did not). According to Dennison, over 200 theologians disagreed. The following rebuttal says CT provided no reasons why Trump should be removed from office. The media stopped bashing Christianity long enough to enjoy watching the Billy Graham-founded magazine bashing the president that they so enjoy bashing.
Sure President Trump way too often opens his mouth and makes comments he shouldn't Way too often he fails to act Presidential. Not very likeable a good deal of the time. I do know there are Bible verses describing how God appoints and uses leaders of nations. If God didn't want Trump to be president, Trump wouldn't be president. When Trump became the nominee I thought his big mouth would cost him the election. Guess God had other plans.
Who is Christianity Today to cast the first stone? While in a perfect world the President would be above reproach, when did the presidency become a Christian position? With a few exceptions past presidents have been just as unchristian as the current one. Some paid lip service to the church, but how many presidents were truly devoted to Jesus as Lord? Truman and Carter and perhaps George W Bush, but did their Christianity make them better presidents?
When you look close, many of the presidents during my lifetime did unchristian things in office. Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Clinton, and Obama for starters. In his time, Billy Graham followed scripture by praying for (and with) whatever president was in office. Now Christianity Today has crossed that line and judged who should and should not be president. Do they speak for all Christians? Of course not.
These two articles I link do a much better job expressing what I'm trying to say. Highly recommended reading.
https://spectator.org/wwjd-acc
I look around the past and present political landscape and see a dearth of candidates worthy of the position. Liars, power-hungry, more interested in tearing down than building up. Who is talking about governing, of taking care of American citizens? Who wears an American flag pin any more? Candidates speak of climate change and a green new deal and universal healthcare, but no plan to pay for them - except to raise taxes to excessive levels. I don't hear candidates talking about upholding the Constitution or enforcing current laws, or punishing those who break the law. Remember that stuff?
I haven't been the best student of politics, but have read how in the 80's Democratic Speaker of the House Tip O'Neal and Republican President Ronald Reagan repeatedly cast aside their differences to meet together to lead the country into a time of prosperity, helping the economy to soar after the recessions of the 1970's, while also helping to bring down Communism around the world (thanks in part by economic policies initiated by Regan's Democratic predecessor Jimmy Carter). These days I don't see politicians interested in governing, or working on foreign policy in a world suffering in the Middle East, Europe, and in the Far East. I do see a booming US economy and decreased unemployment.
One politician today does appear to be above reproach: Vice President Pence. Yet many in the media tear him down for his stand on certain issues, and bully his wife for the rules of the Christian school she taught at. The attack on Christianity continues. Sad that attacks sometimes comes from within.
I certainly took it with a huge grain of salt when Trump said he was a Christian. He'll have to deal with God about that. Certainly doesn't makes Christianity look good.
Dems getting more liberal and Republicans going the other way. Not sure what the Republicans are doing. I really just see headlines, and skip over to the sports section.
Not sure about the numbers, if indeed it was the Christian vote that put Trump over the top. Others say that as well. Bryant Wright couldn't vote for Trump (or Hillary). Instead voted for a third party candidate. So did other Christians. If I was basing my vote solely as a Christian (as opposed to as an American) would I have voted on one issue (abortion)? In 2016 I figured the winner would be either Hillary or Trump. Would be a waste to vote for anyone else. I thought Hillary would win because Trump kept saying dumb things before the election. I thought his best chance to win was to keep his mouth shut. To vote for HRC or DT because one was more Christian than the other wasn't an option to me. The linked article "Feeding the Christians to the Lions" addresses this decision.
We live in a fallen world. God lets us have free will. We can chose God or make wrong choices. Bad things happen not because of God. Many pull away from God because they think God causes / allows bad things to happen. But in the end God is sovereign. God's overall plan for the world can use whoever is elected to office. Romans 13 says there is no authority except which God has established.
Trump is a bully. I really don't like bullies. Makes a mockery of the presidency. Un-presidential. A Washington outsider. Not the first. Trump is not the first president I haven't liked. Likewise there are athletes I like and others I don't Some athletes are good and others not so much. Sometimes bad, disliked ballplayers gets hits. But Trump added some good justices. He's done some good, all the while being a bully and saying some dumb things. His actions are the most Christian for any President since Reagan.
Wednesday a Democratic presidential candidate tweeted "Today I join millions around the world in celebrating the arrival of divinity on earth, who came into this world not in riches but in poverty, not as a citizen but as a refugee. No matter where or how we celebrate, merry Christmas." Decent tweet for a presidential candidate, I suppose. I really shouldn't be picky BUT (a) why not mention Jesus by name (b) Jesus was not a refugee (3) really wasn't in poverty (4) dislike using Jesus to fit a political narrative. Will Christianity Today deem him unfit for office?
In reading Romans 13, I think of people I know who were scared when Trump was elected because they thought Trump would do them harm. Interesting the verses below saying the only people who need to worry are those rebelling against what God has instituted.
Romans 13:1-7 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God's servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
Its great we live in a country where we can agree to disagree. Unfortunately so many these days have been led to believe that those who don't agree with you are evil, an enemy who needs to be defeated by any means possible.
NOTE: guaranteed that even among my tiny readership, this post will be taken out of context.
ME: the busyness continues. Christmas was just okay. Not the greatest ever.
Monday: was worn out after returning from Augusta. Did some stuff around the house. Not too much on TV, but I stumbled across Parenthood, a NBC TV series that ran from 2010-2016. produced by Hollywood elite: Ron Howard and Brian Grazer. Started binge-watching the first season while playing on my laptop. Had things to do on the laptop and wound up staying up until 1 am.
Tuesday: slept late. Did stuff upstairs for awhile then plenty to do downstairs. Dishes, straightening, laundry, folding, clearing off tables, taking out trash. Make a run to get a present and also cheese from Trader Joes. MC was bringing Okie by the house, so I spent the afternoon doing more cleaning. Never once did I sit on the couch. Only sat to eat breakfast, and later lunch. By the evening I was exhausted. Had Parenthood playing all day and finished season one.
Showered and packed and went out to get gas. M came home from work around 630. Anna arrived at seven. Anna and I left at 7:15. Traffic wasn't bad but finding at a Taco Bell with a moving drive thru line was a chore. Customer service so bad. Added 30 minutes to our trip. Arrived at 1230 am.
Wednesday: did get to sleep until nine. Ham biscuits for breakfast. Had 22 for lunch. Ham, turkey, roast beef, chicken salad, tomatoes, lettuce, spinach dip, cherry delight, tossed salad, coconut cream pie, Bavarian dessert, pecan pie, sugar cookies, and more. Without Will, Mary-Clayton, Matthew, Hillary, and Grant, we had to get some fill-ins to sing the Twelve Days of Christmas. I did get some emails deleted.
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