A Christian writer over at News In Faith asks, and then answers the question, "why did God allow Obama to be re-elected?"
Excerpt:
Read it all HEREMost conservatives have been scratching their heads over this question since the November elections. Christians have wondered why God would allow such a traitorous and tyrannical administration to continue. I, myself, have put a lot of thought into this and asked “why” so many times. Here are some of the answers I have come up with.
When one looks at history we can see how God has turned rebellious nations and people over to the enemy to chastise. In the Old Testament we see how after Israel rebelled against God and began worshipping false gods they were captured by the Babylonians. There are many examples like this in the Bible.
Now in America we see Christians being persecuted through various means. Christian businesses are forced to either go against their consciences to buy insurance that pays for abortificants or be fined. So they face either complying with evil or risk their businesses. Recently we have discovered the IRS has targeted Christian, Jewish, and conservative groups and businesses to either audit them or make it extremely difficult for them to apply for or receive 501C tax exempt forms. It has resulted in many of them being unable to raise enough money to help Conservative candidates run effective campaigns. Many believe this may have been the reason for our losses in the 2012 elections. Whether this is the case or not, it isn’t difficult to see that we have been in a huge battle for our nation. So what am I saying here?
Sometimes God allows things to get so bad that people start to seek the truth. Would they have discovered it had Romney been elected and the Republicans taken over the Senate? I sincerely doubt it and this is why I say that. If you put a frog in cold water and gradually turn up the heat it will cook to death. I believe this is what has been happening all along even when the Republicans controlled the White House and Congress. Did they solve the problems we faced back then? I have to say a resounding “NO” to that question. The only difference is that things didn’t digress as rapidly then. This is why I believe God is working in a way that will cause people to wake up and see that the government isn’t the answer to their problems. He wants them to see that He is the only solution to everything.
Because of people’s blindness, God did the only thing He could to wake people up. He allowed Obama to get re-elected. He knew that this administration’s radical attempts to change the nation would begin to shock people. You see, people’s basic desires, whether conservative or liberal, is to maintain their liberties. The way it was before nobody even noticed that they were losing their freedoms because it was so gradual. Then suddenly things began to happen. People began to see huge hikes in their health insurance because of Obamacare. The Catholic Church and Christian businesses were being threatened with massive fines if they didn’t buy health insurance that paid for abortificants. They saw people being harassed and threatened by the IRS. Even liberals hate threats to liberty even when it is happening to conservatives. There is an intrinsic built-in mechanism in every person’s nature that causes them to feel intimidated when they see people’s freedoms being taken away. They begin to fear that they will be next. This is why we are seeing these three things starting to take place today.
*******
I found this article via the TEA Party Community.
My comment:
Just think about all of the places (public schools, most colleges and universities, public buildings, media, government, military etc.) where progressive/socialist/communist radicals achieved kicking God out of the culture. Next, add in the liberal apostate churches that kicked Jesus (and Him crucified as the Gospel truth) out of their messages and replaced it with moral relativism that advocates abortion and homosexuality as "normal, natural and desirable"; and we shall realize just how easy it was for them to eliminate Him and His absolute truth, wisdom, knowledge, morals, and values; thus taking out the grace and mercy for salvation through Jesus Christ from the public square.
Of course, that is what they THINK they have done. God is still in control! However in this life, we reap what we sow.
Hsa 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also will reject you from being priest for Me;
Because you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children.
Jesus wins in the end!
Jhn 16:33
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will[fn] have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
And so do the faithful!
1Jo 5:4
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our[fn] faith.
Hat tip:
News In Faith
Posts
33 comments:
I think you're asking the wrong question, Christine.
First of all, you're assuming that there is a God; next, that he is deeply concerned about politics in the United States (as opposed to, say, Brazil); and third, that he's ready and willing to interrupt the “free will” that so many Christians (including yourself) are always on about.
If you gave any thought to the matter, you should probably wonder why your God ever let the USA exist in the first place! We do not formally acknowledge any gods in the laws of the land—the first nation in history ever to do so. We do not require—in fact we expressly forbid—any religious test for anyone who wishes to hold public office. We've been a 'rebellious nation' from the very start!
Once upon a time, however, there was no National Prayer Breakfast. There was no requirement to mention God in the Pledge of Allegiance. Heck, once upon a time, God wasn't even on our money! But schoolchildren who weren't explicitly Protestant were asked to leave the room when the homeroom teacher did the daily Bible reading. But “Papists” and “Hebes” were not often made welcome in new communities. And once upon a time, in certain parts of our nation, “people of color” were ritually murdered by God -fearing Christians who attended church a day or two later, to hear sermons about how 'all are one in Christ Jesus'.
Until Christians stop killing other Christians in the name of their mutual God, I don't think such people have any right to instruct other people in how to live. And since all religions are guilty of such (or similar) atrocities, none of them deserve the respect they feel they're entitled to.
History has shown us what real persecution is like:
Being confined to “their” parts of town after sunset.
Being forbidden to associate with the 'chosen' except under strict conditions—and the children of both sides forbidden to associate with each other at all. The persecuted forced to do only the most menial of work, assuming they ever get hired. Getting stopped by the authorities merely for being where they are, even in a public place. Being taxed to the edge of poverty—and then taxed for being poor. Having one's children taken away in order to be raised in the 'right' way, usually by the dominant local religion. To be arrested on spurious charges, and sometimes to be murdered, for no good reason.
Historically, Christians have seldom been on the receiving end of such persecution, and certainly not in the past 1500 years.
The Christian writer you've quoted is full of it; perhaps I shall tell her so.
Maybe God preferred a fake Muslim to a real Mormon? It's possible. My own opinion is that God had nothing to do with it.
At least some black people are finally seeing the light:
The Blaze: ‘Free at Last’: La. State Senator Explains Why He Recently Left the ‘Government Plantation’ & Joined GOP in Powerful Video
Others, continue in their rabid hatred:
The Blaze: New Black Panther Leader With ‘Kill Whitey’ Face Tattoo Busted on Gun Charge
Perhaps Elbert Guillory knows something about the GOP that other black people don't. Perhaps Glenn Beck is hoping to use this as a 'wedge' subject. Or perhaps Guillory is just another weathervane politician. Let's see where he is by 2016, shall we?
In the meantime, the most privileged group of people in the most privileged nation in history continues to suffer persecution. See the crocodile weep!
Watching the video at the link provided gives the answer to your question. Did you view it?
Oh...I see...Guillory might just be "another weathervane politician." At least he isn't a criminal like Jesse Jackson Jr. (who didn't get away with his crimes) and Maxine Waters (who apparently is being protected so she can get away with her crimes.)
It's too bad that you probably didn't bother to see Hannity's two specials where an audience of conservative blacks had their voices heard. Talk about persecution! These people are continually tormented by your liberal leftist buddies who hate them because they have moved off the plantation of control imposed by Democratic slavery disguised as charity. In fact, Guillory said it better:
"He went on: “You see, at the heart of liberalism, is the idea that only a great and powerful big Government can be the benefactor of social justice for all Americans. But the left is only concerned with one thing: control. And they disguise this control as charity.”
Do you think I was talking only about 'persecution' of black people? I wasn't.
Tens of thousands of Chinese workers came to the US in the mid-19th century to work, on the condition that they didn't bring their wives. (Imagine yourself in an alien land, possibly for years, with no one to talk to except members of your own sex. Sounds a lot like prison, doesn't it?)
Then there were the Indian Wars. All those people, sitting on all that land, doing nothing with it, standing in the way of America's Manifest Destiny...
There are cases on record where districts were redrawn, and artificial restrictions put up in many city neighborhoods in attempts to keep out Jews. (Decades later, the same tactics were used against blacks.) In terms of education, the conflict was so great that people of the Catholic faith felt obliged to establish a parallel school system, which continues to this day...largely because some people felt that Catholics are not True Christians™. (Yes, I'm talking to you, Anonymous.) Today, of course, the descendants of those same people get apoplectic about a Muslim madrasa.
CJW: ”At least [Guillory] isn't a criminal like Jesse Jackson Jr. (who didn't get away with his crimes) and Maxine Waters (who apparently is being protected so she can get away with her crimes.)”
“Apparently”? You seem to be ignoring the idea that Jackson and Waters could be seen as being persecuted too...although I have to ask if corruption by any white politician could be tied to, say, any other president except Obama. Greed knows no ethnic limits, and Jackson is a crook by anyone's standard.
Guillory: ”You see, at the heart of liberalism, is the idea that only a great and powerful big Government can be the benefactor of social justice for all Americans. But the left is only concerned with one thing: control. And they disguise this control as charity.”
I have news for Mr. Guillory: the right is also concerned only with one thing: control. The difference between them and the left is that the right makes no attempt at all to disguise it. (Well, there was that “compassionate conservatism” that GWBush spoke of, but that died pretty quickly, and it has yet to reappear in any GOP speech.)
I repeat: the most privileged members of the most privileged nation in history are wailing about how they're being persecuted. **DOES NOT COMPUTE**
Christine.
I imagine you believe it true that God helps those who help themselves. You may therefor find interest in a way that has not been tried before, and comes naturally to you. See my post of today.
I do not have your email address to which I wsould have sent this.
Why would God let him be re-elected? The same reason He let Saul get elected.
1 Samuel 8:6 ¶ But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.
1 Samuel 8:7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.
Daniel 4:17 This matter [is] by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
The real question is that, wouldn't the result be different if the "Conservatives" actually opened their Bible for once and stopped teaching Biblical principles and actually taught the Bible?
Pascal,
I read your essay today and you make several excellent points! Your post really got me to thinking about all the terrible ways that our Constitution is currently being violated by this evil government that we are under. I brought up two additional ways that our Constitution is being violated (there are probably hundreds more!) in addition to your concern about the sustainability issue that is posted in your essay at your own blog.
My comment became too long to post here so I decided to create a blog post which includes a link to your essay.
Violating Our Constitution
Anonymous: ”Why would God let him be re-elected? The same reason He let Saul get elected. “
That's precisely the point I was trying to make, Anon. Thank you.
Christians are constantly telling me that “God is in control” and that nothing ever happens at random in his universe. However, “God must have a reason for it” is usually invoked by the believer only when something unfortunate happens in his/her life, and is always rationalized later when fortunes change.
The thought that God may be the source of your spouse's cancer, or of the flood that swept away your home and much of your city, is something the average believer does not wish to dwell upon. It could lead to wondering why anyone would pray to such a deity...and maybe stop doing it.
A good God would want the best possible results for its followers, and of course has the power to make that come about. An impartial God would operate on “the end justifies the means” and not particularly care about what those means would be, including installing a leader who would be ruinous to the nation. An impartial God wouldn't care how many people suffered in the interim.
But we're always told that God is good, not impartial.
So, if the "Conservatives" actually opened their Bible for once and stopped teaching Biblical principles and actually taught the Bible, I doubt it would have the desired effect. The God depicted in that book is neither good nor evil, just impartial. An impartial God is effectively the same as no God at all.
GMpilot's perspective is as warped about the concept of God as many who follow the religions. That is because the religions themselves have been corrupted as does any institution made up of men.
I have made the argument that Saul being made King in the first place was after years of the Israelites begging Samuel to ask God to anoint one. Samuel is on record as warning them they would not like the result. The failure of Saul, indeed the failure of all governments, is because men seek solutions to their problems through gods and not God.
I have also made the case that God permitted the anointment to show that the solution WAS NOT THERE.
The every day problems that occur due to living and dying are natural. The additional woes that come from men seeking to take it all in their own hands typically make it worse. The record number of murders by totalitarian government in the 20th Century will seem small by comparison were men to accede to the wishes and schemes of those like GMpilot would elevate over him and us.
GM,
Perhaps Anonymous (is that you Sosthenes?) will come back and answer your comment. But it appears to me, based on the Scripture provided, that he was saying that in the same way the evil of Saul as a king (that the people wanted instead of God)resulted in calamity in ancient Israel, the same thing has happened in America when voters ignorantly disregarded all of what Obama stood for (a plethora of ideology that was against God's Word) and still voted him into office anyway.
We reap what we sow.
You still argue the same old tired points. When you write, "a good God would want the best possible results for [His] followers" belies the point of God wanting Adam and Eve to avoid knowing evil in the Garden of Eden and all of the destruction it would cause in their lives. Because they were given the free will choice to either obey or disobey, they chose the latter. Man became separated from God ever since and now even the whole creation groans for redemption.
God has provided the way of redemption - Jesus Christ.
Rom 8:20
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;
Rom 8:21
because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22
For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.
Rom 8:23
Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
Rom 8:24
For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?
Rom 8:25
But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
I like both reasons of your answer Christine.
The first matches mine.
The 2nd reverberates for another reason you failed to mention. The serpent easily convinced Eve that the reason God did not want her to eat that fruit: "On that day you will be as God." There are those in the human race still covets everything that God is. Including our love for Him.
It appears to be true that no man can ever be free of that desire. So it is best never to give any man too much power because it will lead to them wishing to be worshiped as God. The first was Nimods. Our nimrods prove time and again to be very jealous gods indeed. No man is safe from them.
Very true, Pascal. The same error that Lucifer made when he wanted not only to be a glorious angel - but also was "found with inequity" and thus wanted to vacate his proper place to be worshipped as a god himself - is the error that Eve, then Adam made too. Their descendants show that all of us would have (unfortunately) made the same evil choice.
Adam and Eve knew God and walked with Him before the Fall. Thus, they knew good (because of their relationship with the Creator at the beginning) but did not keep their place and failed the test to continue to worship God. Instead, like Lucifer turned Satan, they vainly try to take His place. In addition, they got a good dose of evil and ended up spiritually separated from Him. They died spiritually, immediately, and died physically, eventually, just because they wanted an intimate experience with the knowledge of evil.
Your accurate assessment of man's inability to handle great power appropriately was not lost on our Founding Fathers. They knew the dangers involved after seeing it at work in other nations. Therefore, the Founders put checks and balances in place in order for our nation to avoid the same pitfalls that crushed so many nations throughout history.
Only God deserves and can handle< absolute power. Men show time and again that they will use such power to do evil.
"that Eve, then Adam."
Not too sure about that chain of events. You may be surprised as to what I mean.
When answering the serpent, Eve tells it we are not to eat of it "or even touch it." That was NOT what God told Adam. We never hear that God told Eve. Eve must have heard it from Adam. She probably asked why. He probably said "Because God said so. Sighs. Look: don't even touch it!"
Serpent knowing all this, comes along, bumps Eve. She survives. "See, God was not telling you the truth."
So I ask you. Was Eve really at fault or was she set up by her hubby who responded to her like she was a child?
Or worse yet: Did Adam set her up in the first place?
After all, what was his response when God asked the two if they had been eating of that tree? He says "the woman whom Thou did givest me bade me to eat and I did eat." Kind of childish too after he treated her as either a child, or was scheming for God to give him a new one.
Sheesh. Viewing the possible reasons for Eve to have said what she thought was the commandment, humanity seemed to be somewhat troublesome even before we didst eat. Makes me wonder if this was the way it had to play out even before the fall. It seems we are meant to be tested, each of us. And pass or fail more or less as He judges. I'm sure He is just, so since it seems we were made with that ambition which can overtake our souls despite how we start out, He alone decides when we've passed the point where He knows us not. We may claim to revere Him then, but He knows us truly.
Perhaps Anonymous will come back and answer (I too suspect it is Sosthenes), but that is his decision to make. It is not yours to answer for him.
On what grounds do you find parallels between Saul and Obama? And why, since God 'knows the future', did he later regret making Saul king? Didn't he know what was going to happen?? Free will and an all-knowing deity cannot exist together, since nothing can surprise a God who can see into the future. The Bible is full of tales where this God has done exactly that; a plug here, a patch there, killing thousands of people for the crimes of its ruler, but almost never the criminal king himself. All that would have been unnecessary for someone who actually knew the end before the beginning.
You may consider it a 'tired old point' but it's still a valid one. Besides, you do believe that God is in control, don't you? Because for the past five years you've been seeking to overturn his will in letting Obama win, not once but twice.
Pascal Fervor: ”...the religions themselves have been corrupted as does any institution made up of men.”
So, using religion to correct the vices of men cannot succeed, because they're just as corrupt? Acknowledged.
After this, Pascal allowed his fervor to run away with him, for he later writes: ”...it is best never to give any man too much power because it will lead to them wishing to be worshiped as God. The first was Nimods [sic]. Our nimrods prove time and again to be very jealous gods indeed.”
Many have tried, yet none have equaled, the jealousy of BibleGod. He boasts of it again and again and again, even though the same book that lists his jealousies also tells us that love is not jealous.
(Yes, I read it. Pretty much what I'd expected.)
BTW, hostess, you said that Lucifer was "found with inequity". I do not think that word means what you think it means.
Apologies. I misspelled the word. I meant to write "iniquity."
in·iq·ui·ty
[ih-nik-wi-tee] Show IPA
noun, plural in·iq·ui·ties.
1.
gross injustice or wickedness.
2.
a violation of right or duty; wicked act; sin.
Synonyms
1. evildoing, infamy, depravity, knavery.
Good clarification on Adam and Eve, Pascal. The blame game that many couples throughout history now often suffer under started way back then!
The point is that having free will must allow for individuals to make wrong choices as well as correct choices. We all continue to struggle with wrong choices this side of heaven. But it will be different - very different in God's kingdom!
GM wrote:
"Because for the past five years you've been seeking to overturn his will in letting Obama win, not once but twice."
You assume that Obama's "win" was a fair election. There is much evidence to the contrary.
Jesus had instructed us to pray, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." There would be no need to pray for this if the Father's Perfect Will was done here in this fallen world. Due to sin, evil and death, God allows the results of such iniquities to continue during this current age of mercy and grace. We only see the "underside of the tapestry" - so to speak. God sees the beginning and the end and how the tapestry of history will result in His Ultimate Will being done at the culmination of history.
Obama and his handlers stand for iniquity (and most all of them also do such evil) and reject practically everything that is good in God's Word. Just as Hitler was allowed for his rampage of iniquity to occur, so are other dictators and evil leaders allowed to do so via the iniquity that is found in them.
Jesus overcame it all at the Cross. He is making all things new for His own. We wait in joyful hope for the Rapture before the Great Tribulation (I believe in pre-trib rapture) and then the return of the faithful with Christ at His Second Coming at the culmination of history.
You, however, only trust in mankind. What a sad state of affairs for your life now and then subsequently in eternity.
”You assume that Obama's "win" was a fair election. There is much evidence to the contrary.”
There's much more evidence that it was a fair election. Those who say it wasn't have yet to prove their case in court; TrueTheVote.com announced right after the elections that they would investigate and announce all cases of voter fraud they found. They've not been heard from since. If they had, it would have been all over the blogosphere. The only case I know of is this one.
There you go with that 'Ultimate Will' song again. If God allows all this nasty stuff to happen, then who are you to try and stop it? By that logic, Colonel von Stauffenberg and others who tried to kill Hitler were trying to circumvent God's will...and by that same logic, Judas Iscariot was actually carrying out that same will! Because Jesus had to be sacrificed, right? Wasn't that the whole point; a painful, bloody death in order to redeem the world?
I don't believe in 'pre-trib rapture'. It wasn't even mentioned in your theology until about 200 years ago, and many don't believe it even now. The faithful think they have an escape hatch ready, even though God has been known to have let down even his Chosen People© in the past.
You, however, have only contempt for mankind, which you are a part of. That readily explains why you show contempt for so many others on your writings in this blog. Even I know that the scripture requires two things: love God, and love your neighbor. But it seems you can't spare any love for them. What a sad state of affairs for your life as well.
In the 'eternity' you so eagerly seek, perhaps you can explain to your God why you couldn't do that.
CORRECTION: the url is truethevote.org, not .com. My apologies for the error.
But the silence remains the same. There has not been an entry there since April 5th, and even there it says only “Investigations currently underway for voter fraud.” I report what there is. Conclusions must be drawn by the reader.
Hello Christine ... I don't mean to interrupt your conversation and enlightening "history" lessons. Just I couldn't let this statement go ... "Free will and an all-knowing deity cannot exist together ..."
Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
Your friend Pascal seemed to put it best ... GMpilot's perspective is as warped about the concept of God as many who follow the religions.
Previously you, GM, stated:
" Free will and an all-knowing deity cannot exist together,..."
Why not? Your only reason is the following:
"since nothing can surprise a God who can see into the future."
God knows the future, but we don't. That's the point, GM. Only God knows the ultimate future and He has chosen to reveal some of it through His written Word, the Bible, and His Living Word, Jesus Christ. He has given us all that we need to know in order to repent of sin and believe in Jesus Christ for the salvation of our souls.
It is irrelevant that you don't believe in the pre-trib rapture. You don't believe in any rapture. So be it. But I believe it and I stated it in my comment. I could share all of the reasons why I believe it but you're not interested and perhaps it would take an entire new blog post to explain.
Haven't you heard of the voting irregularities in Ohio? One woman admitted voting 6 times - for herself and others. Last I heard she was arrested and is awaiting trial. The woman ignorantly BRAGGED ABOUT IT! How many other liberal ObamaBorg Bots did the same thing but kept quiet about it? How does a candidate get 100% of the vote in a precinct in Pennsylvania? How does a candidate get 138% of the vote in a county and not be a red flag of voter fraud? There were irregularities with the vote counting machines as well. Plus, now that we know of the suppression of TEA Party groups, Patriot labeled groups and others from getting tax exempt status, that hurt the donations to such groups and thus affected the reach of the groups towards voters.
Having a corrupt attorney general like Eric Holder has shielded Obama's crimes from being prosecuted. The same is probably true regarding voter fraud. When the AG LIES UNDER OATH twice at Congressional hearings and isn't removed from office - we know how far up the corruption goes in the government.
Moving on to your rant about Jesus.
Jesus knew who his betrayer was going to be. He stated it at the Passover meal (Last Supper) and told Judas to "do what he had to do quickly." The timing of everything for the arrest, crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus was also known beforehand and allowed by God to achieve the salvation of billions of souls. There is no greater love - yet you reject Him.
If Jesus wanted to, he could have called down legions of angels to "rescue" him from the cross. He laid down his own life WILLINGLY for his friends. If he didn't do that, he would have re-entered heaven alone. Redemption of the sinners who are all lost is the goal. But you mock such a belief.
If I'm so mean to people here, what's your beef? You don't like or believe in God, you hate the Bible, and you reject Jesus. That's a trifecta of ultimate and eternal loss. Long ago I said "so be it" regarding your hatred.
con't
Who are you to judge me, anyway? Why don't you go to one of those lame blogs that eliminate the need to tell others to repent? Any homosexual, porn, adulterous, blasphemous, atheistic, or abortion affirming blog will do.
Telling people that "I'm OK and you're OK" isn't the true gospel. The first words out of Jesus' mouth when he began his ministry on earth were, "repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Mat 3:2
and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
Mat 4:17
From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
The Bible tells us that the truth is veiled to those who are perishing. You reject what God has revealed in the Bible so you also, logically, would reject what I share from His Word.
The truth that I share doesn't come from me, for I am just an "earthen vessel" in which the Holy Spirit indwells to lead me and (hopefully) those whom I share the Gospel with to the Truth. Truth comes from God's Word.
Your mind has been "blinded by the god of this age" and that is why you can't stand what I share here.
2Cr 4:1
Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.
2Cr 4:2
But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
2Cr 4:3
But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
2Cr 4:4
whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
2Cr 4:5
For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.
2Cr 4:6
For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2Cr 4:7
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
Hi Steve,
You know that your input is always welcomed here! Thanks for sharing that great Bible verse from Job:
Job 38:2
“Who is this who darkens counsel
By words without knowledge?"
I appreciate the help from you, Pascal and Sosthenes whenever "darkman" shows up with a new rant against God.
Oooohh...now he's probably going to call me raaacist for using that term!
”It is irrelevant that you don't believe in the pre-trib rapture. You don't believe in any rapture. So be it...I could share all of the reasons why I believe it but you're not interested and perhaps it would take an entire new blog post to explain.”
That's right, I don't, and we both know that. If you want to share the reasons why, I can't stop you, but mention of it seemed irrelevant here.
”How does a candidate get 100% of the vote in a precinct in Pennsylvania?”
We've been there already, but since you've forgotten, here it is again.
WorldNet Daily claimed ”In some inner city precincts, Obama garnered between 98 and 100 percent of the vote. This was most frequently noted about Philadelphia, Pa., and Cleveland, Ohio...But these statements confuse turnout with votes.”
”If Jesus wanted to, he could have called down legions of angels to "rescue" him from the cross.”
So Jesus' cry of “My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me?” was just an act? I'm sure you don't believe that. However, it does sound like the words of a man/god who was a bit surprised at what was happening to him. I'm certain that the Chinese and the Toltecs and the Masai and the Inuit and the Lebanese are all eternally grateful for his efforts, 'cause they're all Christians now. Oh, wait...
It is a noble thing to die to save a friend, but even the pagans do that. I think it's even more noble to die for someone who's not your friend; someone who, in normal circumstances, would cross the street to avoid you, or spit at your feet if he saw you. Those most likely to be that self-acrificing are often in public service, such as firefighters.
”If I'm so mean to people here, what's your beef? You don't like or believe in God, you hate the Bible, and you reject Jesus...Who are you to judge me, anyway? Why don't you go to one of those lame blogs that eliminate the need to tell others to repent?”
You're not mean to people here (except me, sometimes), but you're mean about them. Your writings are full of that. I just thought a self-proclaimed representative of the Lord of the Universe would probably be a little less...prideful.
“Who are you to judge me, anyway?” Perhaps you should look in the mirror when you say that.
I'm just a non-Christian observing the behavior of certain Christians and wondering if and why I should embrace their beliefs. So far I've found nothing favorable, at least at this blog. I know you'd like me to leave, but you invited me here. You don't want me to be that rude, do you?
'Darkman'?? What does a 1990s movie hero have to do with me? I thought we'd been talking about how Christians are being PERSECUTED!!!
But since you brought it up, perhaps you'll tell us: are you a full metal bigot like Strom Thurmond, or a more genteel type like Paula Deen? Whichever you are, embrace it! It's a part of what makes you CJWatson.
If you're not, don't bring it into a discussion, and then CYA by hinting I'll accuse you of being 'raaacist'.
That's just lame.
You've gone to two more recent posts by now, so I suppose you've lost interest in this one. Thank your paladin for his aid, and I'll see you again later.
I'm not going to waste my time (again) to try and educate you on what Jesus said while dying on the cross. Go to the Blue Letter Bible, type in the phrase, and then click on the notes to understand why he said what he did.
You are a liar.
You don't come here to "find reasons to embrace Christian beliefs." You don't find "anything favorable" here because you aren't looking for what is offered through the gospel of Jesus Christ. If you were, what you think of me wouldn't really matter. The message that is shared would matter. But we know the reasons why they don't matter to you.
Your false accusations against me just roll right off of my back. And readers here know that your antics don't amount to anything useful.
Go get a Bible, study it, and read the commentaries, dictionaries, cross references, concordance etc.; then go to blog that will help you find what you obviously can't find here. Good luck.
As Jesus said first to Satan's offer, and then twice to Peter's pleas: "Satan, get thee behind me."
Satan wanted Jesus to serve him. "No." Satan gave up taking the direct approach.
Peter wanted Jesus to put aside His final task. Peter (the Rock upon which He founded His Church) acceded to his Master. But those who followed (hence telling Peter a second time) too often have not.
Interrupting:
Thus I say to GMpilot's twist "So, using religion to correct the vices of men cannot succeed, because they're just as corrupt? Acknowledged.":
Those in the church who corrupt and mislead its followers risk being judged as those who harm children. For you to assign to religion itself the faults of those who, after weaseling their way to authority, have corrupted it are also misleading. You now have been informed of a risk for doing so.
If He does not exist you are scott free. If not, I am not in a position to know. Although I am unsure, I would never taunt others who seek wisdom to do nothing that is hateful. Taunting them repeatedly for that is hateful.
Continuing:
Judas too wanted Jesus to put aside His task and was rebuffed.
He decided he could force His hand.
Today we have those who wish to force His hand. They hope to do it by reading Revelation for the sole purpose of establishing every abomination listed there.
Just as with Judas, it assuredly will not end well for such souls.
GMpilot's never-ending taunts to you Christine appear to be related to the Revelation formula followers. He incessantly challenges you to give up as has he.
Not without reason it is said that misery loves company. You're wise to see through its invitations.
Thus I say to GMpilot:
GM then brays: "Many have tried, yet none have equaled, the jealousy of BibleGod. He boasts of it again and again and again, even though the same book that lists his jealousies also tells us that love is not jealous."
Each of your first 3 links are
1. from the graven image commandment (in Exodus)
2. is the same verse from Exodus recounted in Deuteronmy.
3. the last, from Ezekiel, was of a warning about what happens to those who ignore the acts and consequences, pretty much Newton's first law.
You rail against this notion of jealousy as if it were a human trait; only fools fall into that trap. Ignoring God's commands are tantamount to ignoring natural law. Serving any single god is about the same thing as watching the cooking over one fire and ignoring all the others until they burn down your camp. Jealousy is a fitting metaphor as it burns intensely and responds not to reason.
And any who disregard that fact will find, time and again, paying heed to only one aspect of life leaves the door open every time for other aspects to mow you down.
"(T)he foundation of our national policy will be laid in the pure and immutable principles of private morality; ...the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained..." George Washington, First Inaugural Address, 1789
GMplot: See the phrase "the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained."
This is not a difficult concept. Even those who have no faith in Him can still understand this concept. We call it nature and nature's laws. Or simply Natural Law.
Even Deists (a favorite label/ploy of Leftists in their attempts to re-designate what ALL Founder's believed.) understood that concept, as did George Washington, as do honest atheists. Does GMpilot?
I woke up to make some tea and take Advil for the pulled muscle in my back. Noticed that I didn't close my browser and didn't turn off my computer for the night.
I saw, read, and posted your comment Pascal. Thanks for what you shared. It was awesome!
God bless and good night!
You shouldn't post when there's something physically wrong with you. It may distort your thinking.
In any case, you've told me repeatedly that you don't care what I think of you, so I don't see why your panties are in a twist now.
I have read what Jesus reportedly said on the cross: "My God", etc. was just one of those things. But the others don't sound so despairing as that one.
Pascal Fervor doesn't deign to address me directly, so AFAIC he's talking to you. Where I come from, people of opposing viewpoints talk to each other--even in Congress!
Cheer up; don't forget your 'persecution' serves a purpose in the Scheme of Things. And remember that next time you rant about some obvious bullsh, I'll come back to call you out on it. As always.
See you around.
Um...Er...Earth to GM? Pascal HAS responded directly to you. See his comment of June 25, 2013 at 11:28:00 PM PDT
My response would be that our theology of justice is maybe half true because it is based on Calvinism.
The Demise of Moral Government Theology
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXxs9SmXU5U
Your friendly neighborhood once known as Sosthenes
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