WWJD?
I have not posted in almost a month. I broke my finger and it was very difficult to type for a while so that was annoying and now I'm just plain busy. But I have a free moment so I thought I'd post something that a guy went to high school with wrote on his Facebook page. It is a note regarding religion and the election. It is excellent and I wish I could take credit for writing it, but alas, I don't have his level-headedness, if that is a word. Here it is, Vance Nickelson on the election.
"I waited a week after the election to write this because I know it's not going to be a popular viewpoint with many of my friends. But after reading many status reports and having a few heated and some not so heated debates, I wanted to share some thoughts.
One of the things that has bothered me most during this election, and in fact it has bothered me in previous elections as well, is the proclamation or insistence that one candidate is "God's Choice." I have seen people, many of whom I love and respect, wonder aloud how God could allow this person to be elected or why more Christians didn't vote a certain way as if somewhere God had anointed one candidate over another.
I'm not trying to debate the merits of which party or candidate's philosophy is better for our country. That is a secular matter. I'm also not suggesting that devout Christians shouldn't pray diligently about for whom they should vote. They should.
I was told before the election if I were a Christian, I should vote Republican. I was informed that the other choice was to vote against the will of God. When I pressed these individuals, I was told that the Republicans were for morality and what was right. I then questioned whether we should legislate morality. Isn't morality a personal choice? Should the government be about legislating such things? I was told it was ok to legislate morality because it was what God wanted.
But then, after reading the scriptures, it becomes evident that God also wants us to care for our fellow man and to have everything in common.The early church in Acts shared everything, even giving from whatever wealth to help those who could contribute none. But that's socialism, my Republican friends tell me. Charity should be of private means and not the work of the government. So, why should we legislate certain moral decisions because they are what God wants, and then turn and say individuals and not the government should handle other "moral" decisions like helping others? Argue if you will the secular merits of liberal versus conservative economic policies, and debate if you like the reasons for certain laws and various foreign policies, but stop attaching religious rhetoric to your choice of party or candidate.
Pray and vote your way, and I'll pray and vote mine. But I won't judge you by your vote, please follow the scriptures and don't judge me by mine."
"I waited a week after the election to write this because I know it's not going to be a popular viewpoint with many of my friends. But after reading many status reports and having a few heated and some not so heated debates, I wanted to share some thoughts.
One of the things that has bothered me most during this election, and in fact it has bothered me in previous elections as well, is the proclamation or insistence that one candidate is "God's Choice." I have seen people, many of whom I love and respect, wonder aloud how God could allow this person to be elected or why more Christians didn't vote a certain way as if somewhere God had anointed one candidate over another.
I'm not trying to debate the merits of which party or candidate's philosophy is better for our country. That is a secular matter. I'm also not suggesting that devout Christians shouldn't pray diligently about for whom they should vote. They should.
I was told before the election if I were a Christian, I should vote Republican. I was informed that the other choice was to vote against the will of God. When I pressed these individuals, I was told that the Republicans were for morality and what was right. I then questioned whether we should legislate morality. Isn't morality a personal choice? Should the government be about legislating such things? I was told it was ok to legislate morality because it was what God wanted.
But then, after reading the scriptures, it becomes evident that God also wants us to care for our fellow man and to have everything in common.The early church in Acts shared everything, even giving from whatever wealth to help those who could contribute none. But that's socialism, my Republican friends tell me. Charity should be of private means and not the work of the government. So, why should we legislate certain moral decisions because they are what God wants, and then turn and say individuals and not the government should handle other "moral" decisions like helping others? Argue if you will the secular merits of liberal versus conservative economic policies, and debate if you like the reasons for certain laws and various foreign policies, but stop attaching religious rhetoric to your choice of party or candidate.
Pray and vote your way, and I'll pray and vote mine. But I won't judge you by your vote, please follow the scriptures and don't judge me by mine."
posted by Angela at 4:48 AM
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