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Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts

Monday, July 2, 2012

What's Happened to America?

                A couple of weeks ago I got a response to my post Bible and Politics. The woman said, “So you expect everyone to follow your religion? What about the people who don’t believe in God? You’re saying they have to be subject to that. Why do you have to be so unloving? Can’t you give up trying to get God back into the country, even if that means your religion loses power?  Firstly, I’d like to say that I do love everyone the way God wants us to. If I didn’t than I wouldn’t be writing this blog to help save lives and to help those who already have Jesus as their savior to grow. Secondly, I’m not harassing or forcing anyone to believe in God. I don’t force anyone to sit here and read this blog. Thirdly, it’s not about a religion, it’s a relationship and I’m not trying to gain power through my faith or for my faith, only God.
                 With the Fourth of July coming up on Wednesday, I want to talk about this country. Not only this country but the history and what the forefathers wanted for America, a country based on Christianity. God is so far out of this country now though; people are saying that what the forefathers put into effect is outdated and needs to be changed. But it’s not! We were doing so well as a country until God started having less and less of a role in the hearts of our leaders and representatives.
                The calling that God had for this continent started with Columbus when he sailed the ocean blue in 1492. It was not by chance that Columbus landed in the Indies when he had intended to go to India. It’s never mentioned in a single history book but Christopher Columbus was inspired and guided by God and the Holy Spirit. He admits he is a sinner but he went to Lord and is now at peace because of His presence.

“For the execution of the voyage to the Indies, I did not make use of intelligence,
mathematics or maps. It is simply the fulfillment of what Isaiah had prophesied….”

-Christopher Columbus

“It was the Lord who put it into my mind, I could feel His hand upon me, the fact
that it would be possible to sail from here to the Indies. All who heard
of my project rejected it with laughter, ridiculing me. There is no question that
the inspiration was from the Holy Spirit, because He comforted me with
rays of marvelous inspiration from the Holy Scriptures.”

-Christopher Columbus

                George Washington, the first president of the United States was a man of prayer. He turned to God at all times. Whenever he and his troops needed help he always went to God for guidance. George Washington intended for our country to be under the control of God.
 
“I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would have you, and the State over
which you preside, in his holy protection, that he would incline the hearts of the Citizens to
cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to Government, to entertain a
brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow Citizens of the United States
at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the Field, and finally, that
he would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all, to do Justice, to love
mercy, and to demean ourselves with the Charity, humility and pacific temper of mind,
which were the Characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed Religion, and without
an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy Nation.”

-GEORGE WASHINGTON, circular to the states, June 8, 1783

When the Declaration of Independence was written it includes multiple mentions of God. In the first paragraph it says, “When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve their political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them,…” Then, in the next paragraph, it says, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights…” In the last paragraph it states, “We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembles, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions…” Firstly, if you don’t know what rectitude means, I’d like to point out that it means 1. rightness of principle or conduct; moral or religious  virtue. 2. correctness of judgment. The wanted to make sure that God approved of their beliefs and what they were doing!  Finally, the last sentence of the document states, “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence,…” They were looking to God for the protection of the United States!
  Why do people say that the Declaration of Independence is outdated? Because it states that the people of the government have the power to alter or abolish the current Government and replace it with a new one if the current one has become destructive to the nation and its people. I’d like to point out a few statements from the second paragraph of the document.

“That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the
Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its
foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most
 likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

“But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object
evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to
throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”

The current government knows that they are taking advantage of the people and the people are blind to their real power! The Obama administration is ruining our country beyond repair and so many American citizens are blind to the fact that we, the people, have the power to overthrow this current government. He’s giving jobs to illegal citizens while we American citizens suffer! Our tax dollars are being spent to fund abortions! He’s bowing down to other nations and making us look weak! So many Americans say they don’t talk “politics and religion” but even I at just 19 years of age knows the importance! We need to open each other’s eyes to the things happening around us. The Obama administration is just like the government of the King of Britain that the peoples in 1776 succeeded from. He was a tyrant. So is Obama. How? I will outline a list of some similar actions that are listing in the Declaration of Independence about the King of Britain.

-          He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
-          He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
-          He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
-          He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
-          He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.
-          He has combined with other to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
-          For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world
-          For imposing taxes on us without our Consent
-          For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Government.
-          For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
               
                God is being removed from our country! There’s no more prayer in school. They tried taking the word “God” out of the pledge of allegiance and off our money. That is why we are suffering as a nation!

"...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and
pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will 
hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

-2 Chronicles 7:14

 

Monday, June 18, 2012

The Bible and Politics

              The presidential elections are being held this year in November and the candidates are going on their campaigns. Everyone is starting to decide who to vote for and others are choosing to remain loyal to their registered party. But for a moment, let’s forget about political parties. What’s really important is what the person stands for and what their moral values are. Who is going to bring God back into our country? Is there anyone at all? What needs to happen is for the voters and citizens of our country to listen to what the candidates have to say and what’s important to them.
                Who should Christian voters vote for in 2012? All of the candidates profess faith in Christ, but faith does not equate to a calling to be President, nor does profession of faith equate to faith. In the past, many have touted their relationship with Jesus to draw support and votes from Christians during the primaries, only to turn their backs on us during and/or after the general election. America does need a righteous leader, one who is wise and capable and experienced, one with strong leadership ability. Ultimately, elected officials remain responsible under God for their actions and decisions, and we need to pray for whoever ends up in office.

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers,
intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone- for kings
and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives
in all godliness and holiness.”

-1 Timothy 2:1-2

                The issue is not whether we want a God-fearing president who will lead America well. Of course we do. The issue is that a church leadership or church body might back one candidate over all the others, as though the voice of God had spoken. One pastor may support the candidacy of Rick Perry and another pastor might support Barack Obama. The fact that a church leader backs a particular candidate does not necessarily give God’s view on the matter. Voters need to do their homework.
                First, we must recognize that God ordains who should lead.

“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities,
for there is no authority except that which God has
established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”

-Romans 13:1

                The bible constantly states that leadership is a position given by God. That does not mean that those who became leaders obeyed God or served Him well. There are plenty of kings and rulers in Israel who turned away from God and followed their own desires. Yet, God still gave them the position for His purposes.

                The United States is a representative form of government, which means that the people of America have far more control and responsibility over what happens in their government than do the citizens of a dictatorship or a kingdom. The United States was formed as a government of, by, and for the people, and Christians have the same civic duties as all citizens. However, it seems that the leaders of our country, whether in the judicial, legislative, or executive branch, are becoming more tyrannical. Wicked leaders cause a country to fail, and that is what is starting to happen to America.

“By justice a king gives a country stability, but one
who is greedy for bribes tears it down.”

-Proverbs 29:4

“A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving
rain that leaves no crops.”

-Proverbs 28:3

“Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked
man ruling over a helpless people.”

-Proverbs 28:15

“When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding;
but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.”

-Proverbs 28:28

                Also, our nation’s government should not be so large. A smaller government is better for the country as a whole. Once one man becomes wicked, he poisons the whole system (Proverbs 29:12).

“When a county is rebellious, it has many rulers,
but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order.”

-Proverbs 28:2

                Regardless of how leaders conduct themselves, either in their personal lives or in carrying out their official duties, they must be obeyed. But their ungodly examples are not to be copied. By respecting those who hold offices through the authority and permission of God, we actually show respect to God Himself. While their personal conduct may be far from praiseworthy, even to the point where some corrupt the very government that they represent, they are still appointed by God to preserve order and punish law-breakers and wrongdoers.

“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must
obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what
they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up
heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are
not willing to lift a finger to move them.”

-Matthew 23:2-4

                However, the salvation of the world ultimately lies in Jesus Christ, the Messiah, not the messy thing we call politics. Government decisions are important but only the blood of Jesus can save us.

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through me.”

-John 14:6

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given
among men, whereby we must be saved.”

-Acts 4:12