Thanks to the couple people who emailed me thoughts on the question/dilemma I shared in Thursday's post, A Good Read & A Troubled Heart. I would really, really like to hear from more committed Christ followers about how they are looking at this issue. It is not, to me, so much the quiet vote for Romney that bothers me as much as the shoulder to shoulder publicity and enthusiasm and showcasing the Mormon faith is getting by Christians suddenly all jumping on the bandwagon in our fear of another Obama term. It is an issue I really don't have an answer to . . . the obvious horrible consequences of another Obama term, laid alongside the possible eternal consequences of evangelicals dropping their guard toward Mormonism or in any way contributing to an appearance that the faith doesn't bother us any more. Again, this is nothing at all to do with Mr. Romney or his family or the dedication and kindness of so many Mormons (might more Christians be like them!). Anyway, no need to repeat that post. If you are interested or would like to share your thoughts with me on it, it is linked to above.
Along the line of sharing thoughts, I am so frustrated trying to comment on other blogs and not being able to read those crazy words we are supposed to enter to prove we aren't a computer (and based on how many of you email me instead of commenting my guess is you are too!) that I have, I believe, disabled that part of commenting. Now when you post a comment you should, if I understand it right, be done. It will go to me for moderation. I would love for one or two of you to try it and let me know if that is correct and how the process works for you. I would also love for more people to share through commenting their thoughts, insights, God moments, etc. and to make this blog place a place where like-minded believers can encourage and build up one another. The body of Christ was never intended to be a separated collection of John Wayne Christians, but a living and interacting body that, together, fully expresses Christ's image and strengthens one another.
God bless. Have a wonderful weekend! —Erick
Saturday, September 8, 2012
10 comments:
Thanks for your comments, I look forward to and value your sharing. Due to a large number of SPAM comments, you will need to enter a word verification before your comment will be sent to me for moderation. Your comment will be visible after I publish it. Erick
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I'm a recent "Born Again" Christian. I too share your dilemma with our political state. Brings to mind the comments of Inga Barks on 580 AM. She said she can not, will not, vote for some one who does not live his/her life with out a belief in and adherence to, the tenants of higher power." If a human has to answer to nothing/no one outside themselves, evil, greed, and the lust for power will prevail. The bottom line for me..... Do they value the sanctity of Life ? Unborn, disabled, aged, if YES, they get my vote. No one rises to the top of the American political arena without making hard business and political decisions. Until Christ himself returns we have to support morality, the most Christ like candidate. Then work to get him elected. None of us is perfect but the acceptance of the Christ's Love effects your ideals, your decisions and your actions.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ridin'! I really appreciate your thoughts! (Did you have to enter any SPAM stuff or was commenting easy and sent straight through?) You hit on a point that is, for me, probably one of the most dominate issues and that is the defense of the unborn. Failure to recognize and stand for that is a show stopper for me and, if nothing else, I will probably vote for Romney simply to stand on the unborn's behalf. I agree completely about the dangers of not answering to a "higher power" as it allows morality to be relative and that is scary—I just think that it is critical that the higher power is Christ as defined in Christianity. There are many other ideals of "higher powers" out there and the Bible, in multiple places in the Old Testament, makes it clear that those following them are actually following demons. That, though, is for another time. Thanks so much for commenting. It is a true blessing to hear from you and your thoughts. You have reminded us that even if something isn't perfect, there are issues (like the unborn) worth standing for in it.
ReplyDeleteI did not have to navigate any spam blocks. THANKS !
DeleteErick, I realize this isn't the main point of your blog, and I hope this doesn't come across sounding too harsh. But you said here (and said something similar in the other post) "the dedication and kindness of so many Mormons (might more Christians be like them!)"
ReplyDeleteI take exception to this! First, I personally know hundreds of dedicated and kind Christians, and I'm certain there are thousands upon thousands more than the ones I know. Second, the Mormon advertisements on TV, Facebook, YouTube, and elsewhere are only going to show the positive side of their teaching, so naturally the folks in those venues are going to look nearly perfect. And, like most human beings, when in the public eye (anywhere outside of their own homes or when they have company in their homes) "real-life" Mormons are going to put on their best face. But I'm sure that these dedicated and kind Mormons have their dark sides, just as do our dedicated and kind pastors and all true Christians.
But my beef is not that you believe so many Mormons dedicated and kind but that you seem to think that only a few Christians are so. And that you implicitly suggest we should strive to be like the Mormons ... the very thing that worries you about the shoulder-to-shoulder support given to Romney and his faith.
Hi Amy,
DeleteThanks for the observation and thoughts, and no, it doesn't sound too harsh to me. You bring up multiple points and I'll try and address each. This is the kind of dialogue I believe strengthens us and I am grateful for it. I'd love to see more of it on this blog.
1. My view of Mormons: Maybe I have fallen for all the commercials and emphasis on family, etc. I do know that, of the Mormons I know (not a lot, admittedly) there seems to be a much higher percent that seem to reflect the virtues of their faith than the percent would be of professing Christians I know, but that doesn't mean that they are all like that or that they are all in any way perfect. I am sure that there are many who are very short of the ideals their faith stresses, just as there are Christians (including me)---just as I am sure there are horror stories from inside Mormonism just as there are horror stories from some people in Christian circles of their church experiences.
2. Wishing more Christians were like them: Not in any way saying there aren't a lot of Christians who are, and not meaning to say (though it did sound like it in retrospect) that all Mormons are wonderful people. I probably feel into the trap of believing most Mormons are like the commercials and few I've met, but I think I was mainly thinking about the missions trips as I wrote that. I wish more Christians had the commitment to their faith that Mormonism or Jehovah's Witness, etc. draw from their followers who come to the faith fully expecting to have to give a large part of their life to sharing it, going abroad or at least door to door, etc. I see so much in our Christian faith in America of people professing it because they are American or go to church with no commitment of life or heart to following Jesus. In the little I know of these other faiths, it doesn't seem it is possible to come in so luke warm and live so luke warm. Maybe I don't know enough. Probably shouldn't have even made the comment. Maybe I am getting a pastor's cynicism seeing and reading too much of what falls short . . . starting with all my failures and short comings. I don't know---but thanks for helping me stay in check and balanced!
God bless. We hope to see you soon!
Point #2 (above): "Fell" not "feel"
DeleteI don't want this to become a point/counterpoint about Mormon people. But I have to address this: I am fairly certain that Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses are told that they *HAVE* to do the missions work as part of the requirements for entry into the church and heaven (if they do everything else right too). Both cults are works-based, unlike our grace-based faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ. For myself, I would rather tell people about my faith out of my love for my God and for the people He loves rather than out of duty or obligation to church rules. And so I do, whenever and wherever He sends me. I'm sure I am not alone in this feeling.
ReplyDeleteI hear your heart Amy, and knowing you as well as we do I know that you are absolutely not in the category I was lamenting. I don't know the specifics of either faith and if what you are saying is right or not, but it probably wouldn't change the heart of my lament much either way. I think, starting with myself, I just ask, "If we really believe Heaven and Hell is real, and that eternity is constantly in the balance, and that the Spirit of God Himself lives within us, are the decisions and priorities of our life reflecting that?" Like I said elsewhere to you, maybe I'm just getting cynical or, as a pastor, staring to focus too much on what isn't happening instead of what is. I begin with myself saying, "Do I really live like God Himself lives in me? Are the priorities of my life and the use of my time reflective of the profession of my beliefs about eternity, etc.?" I'm probably just crying out in some way and not making my point really clear. I do appreciate so much your thoughts and helping me to be more careful in just shooting out a thought. As I told you when you visited, I don't feel a peace spending hours on each post, so the result is that they may not be as "sanitized" as they should be! God bless you. We miss you. And, yes, I'll take grace based work out of love over performance based work out of fear or obligation any day. I just don't want to so "rest" in grace that my eternal rest causes me to be spiritually lazy here.
DeleteI think "Ridin'" has said it well as far as the election is concerned: Until Christ returns, we must support morality. And in this case, as far as we can trust what we are being told in the political realm, Romney's stand on key issues such as abortion is what we must support. If anyone asks me, I may say, "Well, I don't support his faith, but I support his politics." How does that sound?
ReplyDeleteI think you are right. I don't see a real option. Maybe your clarity at the end is the way to go. I'm not seeing it said much anymore, however, and that is probably what bothers me. Thanks for the friendship. It sure is wonderful that we have a mighty God and we know how it all comes out in the end!
Delete