Good vs. Evil on earth is with us until He comes again.
Recently one of my long-term followers said they could no longer follow me since I frequently wrote about politics. I was told that my ideas were faulty and that until I revised my personal views that no matter how much she enjoyed some of my work, my personal politics would preclude any further contact. I thought about it, then wrote a short response saying I was sorry she felt that way but that my views are long held and involve my reading and evaluating politics for many years (I'm a Political Science major with a Master's in Governmental Administration), then I wished the reader well. Now, as I've thought about it, I believe it to be important that we understand the good from the bad of things and evaluate all things from our own viewpoint. I don't think anyone from the start plans on being bad or evil, but their experiences and what they are taught, or not taught, plus their human environment plays a major role in what they become, good or bad. Over the years I've become more confident of what I believe and hope that others might reach that point if they haven't already. But it is important that decision be made by each individual via study, reading and evaluation.
As I have thought about where I find myself after all of these years, I also think of the great German theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the founder of the German Confessing Church which broke away from German Lutheranism when it caved to Hitler's guidance which would govern church operations and beliefs. Bonhoeffer fought the Germans from his bureaucratic job while also keeping his church operational in secret, often meeting in hideaways in the forest. Bonhoeffer was eventually caught, tried and convicted and hanged naked on a chilly early spring day not long before the Allies secured control of the country. As he walked to his death, he knew they wanted to take his dignity but they could never take his faith. During his walk to the gallows, he pointed skyward toward heaven and before death, looked skyward with a smile on his face and prayed for His father's grace. His guard, one of a number who had grown to greatly respect their prisoner who continually taught them about God, accepted Christ shortly thereafter saying that the man with such grace and peace just had to be correct in his course of action. We who are Christians, wherever we might be, are expected to be willing to show such testimony at death and it is one thing I hold to be true. I only pray that I have the strength to do so if it is my fate and try to use that thought in standing for what I see to be right. You are, of course, entitled to another viewpoint if you wish, but remember we all are responsible in the end for what we individually believe.
In my personal life, I was raised in the Christian faith and was taught to live by the Golden Rule, which really from my perspective is nothing more than a shortened statement of what you will be if you follow God's Commandments as delivered from the mountain by Moses. Have I been a perfect steward of what I was taught to believe? Absolutely not since I am a sinful mortal like all of us are, subject to falling to temptations at times when we think our wants are so much more important than our needs that we'll do whatever is necessary to gain them. We see that taking over so many things in America today and nowhere is it more prevalent than in our political system. I think it goes right back to the teachings of Jesus where He told us it is much easier for a poor man to inherit the Kingdom than a rich one. And why is that? Simply put, it's because a poor man doesn't face nearly the temptations of a rich one. The rich man, with his money, prestige and resultant power, can likely buy anything in the world he wants and that can include a huge bundle of vices.
So, getting back to the political world, it is something we don't need to shy away from but take head on instead. After all, whether we like it or not, politics has a huge impact on our life, our well being and our freedom and if we don't face that, we will suffer at the hands of politicians and their bureaucracy which today thinks it knows better what we need to do than we ourselves. So, how should we respond? Well, since we can't understand something unless we know its basis, take the time to read sources on both sides and the middle of the political spectrum and think seriously about it from your own perspective. If you usually rely on the New York Times, then read Breitbart News on the internet as well, or vice versa if you are naturally of an opposing persuasion. And if you watch the main stream media, try Fox as well, although Fox of late has shown more of a propensity to be much more moderate and watered down and, frankly, it runs counter to what I believe. If you really want a conservative view, particularly on a constitutional issue, take the time to listen to Mark Levin on the radio. Now Mark can sometimes get very fired up and sometimes people misunderstand him. But his knowledge of the Constitution is very thorough and all should take the time to hear him. The point is, there are many different sources for many different viewpoints including my own, and we should take the time to expose ourselves to those things across the spectrum and evaluate them and then we can grow in wisdom and Spirit on this crazy orb we occupy. And, of course, all of those things must be as a supporting source for the Holy Bible, the history of the world according to God.
In closing, let me leave you with this. Everyone is entitled to believe what they want, but no one is entitled to shut someone down just because they disagree peacefully. We must educate ourselves and find out what the real truth is if we want to really understand. I, in turn, will continue to write about those things I find important and that, of course, involves in addition to politics, a heavy dose of nature and how it's Creator, God Almighty, desires us to use it. Read it or not, that is your right. But writing about it on my own pages and blog, that is my right and I will continue to vigorously speak my piece as a free American. May God continue to grant us the ability to speak and write freely and openly and may He continue to bless America while we love and follow Him.
As I have thought about where I find myself after all of these years, I also think of the great German theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the founder of the German Confessing Church which broke away from German Lutheranism when it caved to Hitler's guidance which would govern church operations and beliefs. Bonhoeffer fought the Germans from his bureaucratic job while also keeping his church operational in secret, often meeting in hideaways in the forest. Bonhoeffer was eventually caught, tried and convicted and hanged naked on a chilly early spring day not long before the Allies secured control of the country. As he walked to his death, he knew they wanted to take his dignity but they could never take his faith. During his walk to the gallows, he pointed skyward toward heaven and before death, looked skyward with a smile on his face and prayed for His father's grace. His guard, one of a number who had grown to greatly respect their prisoner who continually taught them about God, accepted Christ shortly thereafter saying that the man with such grace and peace just had to be correct in his course of action. We who are Christians, wherever we might be, are expected to be willing to show such testimony at death and it is one thing I hold to be true. I only pray that I have the strength to do so if it is my fate and try to use that thought in standing for what I see to be right. You are, of course, entitled to another viewpoint if you wish, but remember we all are responsible in the end for what we individually believe.
In my personal life, I was raised in the Christian faith and was taught to live by the Golden Rule, which really from my perspective is nothing more than a shortened statement of what you will be if you follow God's Commandments as delivered from the mountain by Moses. Have I been a perfect steward of what I was taught to believe? Absolutely not since I am a sinful mortal like all of us are, subject to falling to temptations at times when we think our wants are so much more important than our needs that we'll do whatever is necessary to gain them. We see that taking over so many things in America today and nowhere is it more prevalent than in our political system. I think it goes right back to the teachings of Jesus where He told us it is much easier for a poor man to inherit the Kingdom than a rich one. And why is that? Simply put, it's because a poor man doesn't face nearly the temptations of a rich one. The rich man, with his money, prestige and resultant power, can likely buy anything in the world he wants and that can include a huge bundle of vices.
So, getting back to the political world, it is something we don't need to shy away from but take head on instead. After all, whether we like it or not, politics has a huge impact on our life, our well being and our freedom and if we don't face that, we will suffer at the hands of politicians and their bureaucracy which today thinks it knows better what we need to do than we ourselves. So, how should we respond? Well, since we can't understand something unless we know its basis, take the time to read sources on both sides and the middle of the political spectrum and think seriously about it from your own perspective. If you usually rely on the New York Times, then read Breitbart News on the internet as well, or vice versa if you are naturally of an opposing persuasion. And if you watch the main stream media, try Fox as well, although Fox of late has shown more of a propensity to be much more moderate and watered down and, frankly, it runs counter to what I believe. If you really want a conservative view, particularly on a constitutional issue, take the time to listen to Mark Levin on the radio. Now Mark can sometimes get very fired up and sometimes people misunderstand him. But his knowledge of the Constitution is very thorough and all should take the time to hear him. The point is, there are many different sources for many different viewpoints including my own, and we should take the time to expose ourselves to those things across the spectrum and evaluate them and then we can grow in wisdom and Spirit on this crazy orb we occupy. And, of course, all of those things must be as a supporting source for the Holy Bible, the history of the world according to God.
In closing, let me leave you with this. Everyone is entitled to believe what they want, but no one is entitled to shut someone down just because they disagree peacefully. We must educate ourselves and find out what the real truth is if we want to really understand. I, in turn, will continue to write about those things I find important and that, of course, involves in addition to politics, a heavy dose of nature and how it's Creator, God Almighty, desires us to use it. Read it or not, that is your right. But writing about it on my own pages and blog, that is my right and I will continue to vigorously speak my piece as a free American. May God continue to grant us the ability to speak and write freely and openly and may He continue to bless America while we love and follow Him.
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