Well tomorrow is President Obama's inauguration speech and I am a little frustrated. Okay a lot. It makes me sad to think of what is happening in our country. Then I turn on the news today and they are speaking of the Inauguration Party and how it is going to cost $150 million dollars just to celebrate Obama's entrance into the White House, which is 3 times what Bush's inauguration cost. I just don't understand why that much money is being spent on a welcome party, when the economy is in such bad shape.
What is even stranger to me is why Christians are so tolerant lately. I guess to me the truth is pretty black and white. When I picture America, I think of Sodom and Gomorrah and how Lot had to run and take his family out of the wicked city in order to be saved from destruction. His wife however turned back to look at Sodom and then she was turned into a pillar of salt. She turned back because she could not leave the sinful lifestyle behind. For some reason she felt she needed to look back because she was drawn to it. But see Lot should not have chosen to reside near Sodom in the first place. Abram gave him his choice of land to reside in, he was given the first pick. The decision Lot made almost cost him his entire family.
This reminds me of sin and how this world is so full of sin and deception. I guess I just am discouraged but why should I be? Jesus already warned us these times would come. The end times are inevitable and to me they are here for sure. I guess I am just disappointed by Christians who just don't want to rock the boat. They don't ever want to make any waves, because they want to blend in. They will vote for anyone, just merely based upon what he can "do" for them, or for equality rights. I believe Christians especially should vote their conscience and not try to blend in. They especially should vote for morals above money. Matthew 6:33 says "But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and ALL these things shall be added unto you." We aren't supposed to vote for the man who will make the wisest economic decisions or who is most heroic. We are supposed to vote for the man who fears God. When we put God first, he promises to meet our needs.
I just don't understand why I drive into church and people have Obama stickers on their cars, and people have Obama all over their websites and Facebook sites. These things make me sad because this is a sign of weak morale.
This indicates the heart of the people who are making a choice on where they stand. They are choosing what matters most to them, and it is not morals or right and wrong. This is a "sign" of the inner heart. I also don't understand why Obama would want a well known pastor to pray during his inauguration. I am unsure what type of message he wants to convey. This is strange to me. Sort of like asking God to bless me as I am about to sign in a massive amount of immoral and wicked legislature. Sort of like I want God's blessing on my endeavours but I don't want any sort of guidelines or commandments to follow.
It seems now more than ever Christians need to stand up for what is right. They need to lift up what is right, and encourage other Christians to do the same. I think of Jay Sekulow from the ACLJ, and how he is continuously fighting to keep Christian rights in effect and all the work he puts in. I respect him because he is willing to stand up and fight for what is right. http://www.aclj.org/
The prophets in the Bible also stood up for what is right as they spoke of the Messiah to come. The disciples started the early church even though they underwent horrific persecution. The cool thing is the persecution is actually what scattered and grew the church. :)
"But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.(Hebrews 11:35b-38)
As I look all around it is evident we are in perilous times. Why are people so oblivious to the Lord? Why are Christians turning away? Why is there such a pull towards the things of this World and such a complacency in the church? Shouldn't it be the opposite?
"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" Isaiah 5:20
What breaks my heart the most is the amount of people I know who call themselves "Christians". Even in my own family, there are so many people who claim they know Jesus Christ. They claim they are saved and born again. They are sure that they are going to heaven and they proclaim it with boldness. They shed a tear when Christ is mentioned, but their lives display someone who is completely torn. Sometimes I wonder if I will see them in heaven one day. I get sad when I see so many people from my Christian High School, who now 10 years later, want nothing to do with Christianity. They are successful men and women who are interested in glamour and worldliness. I think of how empty they must be and how they are searching for something or someone to fill the hole only God can fill. I think of the verse that haunts me sometimes because I wonder how many of these people are really saved at all.
Matthew 7:14 reads:
"But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
Notice this verse does not say how many find it, or the massive amounts of people who find it. No. It says narrow is the road and only a FEW find it.
This breaks my heart.
I wonder how many people have lived in their own Sodom so long that they are being pulled towards it's lies. It saddens me how sin is so deceptive and how even if they are given the opportunity to get out like Lot was, how they would still look back.
However, in the midst of all things Christians are called to pray for their leaders. No matter what. Also, we are to remember that they will know us by our love for one another. We need to get over our frustrations and walk in love. No matter if we disagree. We are called to honor the authority which is placed over us by God and pray. We are supposed to be as wise as a serpent, but harmless as a dove.
"I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."(Matthew 10:16)
I am thankful God is in control despite what is going on, and who is in office. We need to constantly remember this world is not our home and like C28's motto says: We are Not of This World. NTW.
"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35
What is even stranger to me is why Christians are so tolerant lately. I guess to me the truth is pretty black and white. When I picture America, I think of Sodom and Gomorrah and how Lot had to run and take his family out of the wicked city in order to be saved from destruction. His wife however turned back to look at Sodom and then she was turned into a pillar of salt. She turned back because she could not leave the sinful lifestyle behind. For some reason she felt she needed to look back because she was drawn to it. But see Lot should not have chosen to reside near Sodom in the first place. Abram gave him his choice of land to reside in, he was given the first pick. The decision Lot made almost cost him his entire family.
This reminds me of sin and how this world is so full of sin and deception. I guess I just am discouraged but why should I be? Jesus already warned us these times would come. The end times are inevitable and to me they are here for sure. I guess I am just disappointed by Christians who just don't want to rock the boat. They don't ever want to make any waves, because they want to blend in. They will vote for anyone, just merely based upon what he can "do" for them, or for equality rights. I believe Christians especially should vote their conscience and not try to blend in. They especially should vote for morals above money. Matthew 6:33 says "But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and ALL these things shall be added unto you." We aren't supposed to vote for the man who will make the wisest economic decisions or who is most heroic. We are supposed to vote for the man who fears God. When we put God first, he promises to meet our needs.
I just don't understand why I drive into church and people have Obama stickers on their cars, and people have Obama all over their websites and Facebook sites. These things make me sad because this is a sign of weak morale.
This indicates the heart of the people who are making a choice on where they stand. They are choosing what matters most to them, and it is not morals or right and wrong. This is a "sign" of the inner heart. I also don't understand why Obama would want a well known pastor to pray during his inauguration. I am unsure what type of message he wants to convey. This is strange to me. Sort of like asking God to bless me as I am about to sign in a massive amount of immoral and wicked legislature. Sort of like I want God's blessing on my endeavours but I don't want any sort of guidelines or commandments to follow.
It seems now more than ever Christians need to stand up for what is right. They need to lift up what is right, and encourage other Christians to do the same. I think of Jay Sekulow from the ACLJ, and how he is continuously fighting to keep Christian rights in effect and all the work he puts in. I respect him because he is willing to stand up and fight for what is right. http://www.aclj.org/
The prophets in the Bible also stood up for what is right as they spoke of the Messiah to come. The disciples started the early church even though they underwent horrific persecution. The cool thing is the persecution is actually what scattered and grew the church. :)
"But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.(Hebrews 11:35b-38)
As I look all around it is evident we are in perilous times. Why are people so oblivious to the Lord? Why are Christians turning away? Why is there such a pull towards the things of this World and such a complacency in the church? Shouldn't it be the opposite?
"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" Isaiah 5:20
What breaks my heart the most is the amount of people I know who call themselves "Christians". Even in my own family, there are so many people who claim they know Jesus Christ. They claim they are saved and born again. They are sure that they are going to heaven and they proclaim it with boldness. They shed a tear when Christ is mentioned, but their lives display someone who is completely torn. Sometimes I wonder if I will see them in heaven one day. I get sad when I see so many people from my Christian High School, who now 10 years later, want nothing to do with Christianity. They are successful men and women who are interested in glamour and worldliness. I think of how empty they must be and how they are searching for something or someone to fill the hole only God can fill. I think of the verse that haunts me sometimes because I wonder how many of these people are really saved at all.
Matthew 7:14 reads:
"But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
Notice this verse does not say how many find it, or the massive amounts of people who find it. No. It says narrow is the road and only a FEW find it.
This breaks my heart.
I wonder how many people have lived in their own Sodom so long that they are being pulled towards it's lies. It saddens me how sin is so deceptive and how even if they are given the opportunity to get out like Lot was, how they would still look back.
However, in the midst of all things Christians are called to pray for their leaders. No matter what. Also, we are to remember that they will know us by our love for one another. We need to get over our frustrations and walk in love. No matter if we disagree. We are called to honor the authority which is placed over us by God and pray. We are supposed to be as wise as a serpent, but harmless as a dove.
"I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."(Matthew 10:16)
I am thankful God is in control despite what is going on, and who is in office. We need to constantly remember this world is not our home and like C28's motto says: We are Not of This World. NTW.
"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35
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