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barryatk
Registered Member
Date Joined Jun 2004
Total Posts : 101
| Posted 10/14/2004 12:51 PM (GMT -6) |   | thquote:
Originally posted by spenlake
It was interesting to listen to the candidates and their confessions of the "Almighty" and "faith" last night. I am reading a wonderful book called "Hellfire Nation" that chronicles the revivalism/social morality mentality of the USA from the Puritans through prohibition, civil rights movement, and through to the present day war on terror. The generic call to faith last night resonated with the theme of the book.
The lumping together of all "faiths" in an equal pot including the shamanism of the Native Americans was interesting. It is interesting to me that abortion, homosexuality, and the other social values issues that are being considered in the campaigns can be presented against a common backdrop of "faith" without regard to whether the Almighty has established standards and Laws that define the rightness of these values in an absolute way beyond the judgment of men.
It would be easy to envision a "spiritual" America in which Christianity is not tolerated due to the claim that Christ is the unique and only way to reconcilliation with God and that all other pursuits of spirituality are fraudulent and lead only to deception.
We had a fellowship dinner with the debates part of the activities. As Christians, who can imagine anyone of us supporting Kerry? He is obviously not for the values that we hold. Or is it so obvious? Kerry can seem to be forthright and caring...Bush can seem to be a bit wild. Bush draws fire for his "scowl". I say "scowl" away and do it with a vengeance!
I know those who want the church to back down on our belief that we have the only real answer. It seems funny now that the two sides on our country are becoming so blatant in what they stand for...it does seem that the darkness grows and the light also intensifies. Both sides do claim "spirituality". I keep thinking of Elijah's Mount Carmel...this showdown followed 3.5 years of drought that had brought calamity to the world...does it not seem in some ways that a calamity has happened to us in America? Is it not about 3.5 years back that this happened? Is it a time to back down as the church or a time to stand up? And in what way would we stand up? Is it "confronting the nay-sayers" or is it "loving our enemy"? I have tried many times to bring a rebuke or correction...it seems better to come humbly and offer peace and life from One who can really give it!
I think there's a danger for the church in acting as though we have it all and no one else has anything at all. Wisdom is only from God. It also has at least a trickle through every culture. Who are we to say the American culture, maybe called the American Church, has all the answers? I say we listen to all those souls who seek Truth and Peace...and disregard their titles.
Barry
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