What's on my mind? A lot. I have had a lot of interesting, eye-opening, frustrating conversations this weekend. And most of them have brought me right back to what I have been mulling over for quite some time.
A while ago I read a book called "Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From The American Dream." by David Platt. It was something I had already been thinking about - how somehow Christianity had become so entwined with Conservatism and the Republican Party.
And this election cycle.. all it's ugliness... and deep divides. I can't help but wonder if God is trying to get our attention. Trying to call us back, away from AmeriChristianity. Away from the Idols we have made of comfort and security and prosperity and even freedom.
It feels like somewhere along the line "God and Country" got out of order. We began to want God to fit The American Ideal, rather than us trying to live His way. He calls us to put nothing above Him, we want Him to Make America Great.
He asks us to take care of the widows and orphans, and He goes out of His way to command that women and foreigners be treated with a higher respect than the culture of the time. We think women are nothing more than sex objects and foreigners will destroy our country.
He calls men to a higher standard, we twist ourselves into pretzels to insist that, despite all evidence to the contrary, men who brag about their lies and sexual assaults and racism are still "good men".
We sacrifice millions of children to the god of convenience and, despite all biological evidence, insist that the woman is just exercising control over her own body, not killing a child.
We laugh at the poor and weak and mentally ill. We call them lazy and stupid and insist that they need to just "get a job" rather than showing compassion.
We turn a blind eye to pornography and how it has changed an entire generation's view of sex and their bodies.
We cannot handle it when someone disagrees with us and we call it "persecution" or "_____phobia"
The list seems endless. No one is immune.
I am not immune. I fear Donald Trump and the damage he can do to our nation, mostly in terms of relations with other countries and his potential to actually start a war. I do not want Hilary Clinton to be President either - let me be clear on that, since it seems that people assume if you don't like one, you must love the other.
But my point is this - maybe as Christians we should be Thankful that we have no good options for President. Maybe we should be Thankful we are forced to re-evaluate some of our opinions, some of our fears, some of our thoughts on where our security comes from.
God is still on His Throne.
God is moving mightily in countries where actual persecution is taking place and has taken place for centuries.
Why are we special?
Why should we not suffer with and for our brothers and sisters here and around the globe?
God is moving mightily in countries where actual persecution is taking place and has taken place for centuries.
Why are we special?
Why should we not suffer with and for our brothers and sisters here and around the globe?
I am letting this convict me, letting go of my fear, and praying for a revival. Anyone with me?
