dealing with the political season

mdar123 said:

I find myself getting caught up in all of this and it's pulling me away from God.

I'm trying to understand what is going on in my heart in feeling so strong about political issues today. Although I know God already knows.

At the bottom of my stubbornness, anger, struggle, is a feeling of being left-out, shut-out, ignored, put-down, gossiped about and stomped on by my family (non-Christian, ...borderline anti-Christian) and society in general. Christian values regarding marriage and how we live have become more and more marginal and criticized, almost feels illegal if I don't fall in line to celebrate these ideals. And it feels to me things are becoming more and more this way. And on top of that, it feels like those in control are becoming more and more controlling about how I choose to live.

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You've put your finger on a development that has only recently begun to be recognized--the totalitarian impulse that's a part of Liberalism (and, therefore, the Democratic Party).

Those who have supposed that it's the traditionalists or Christians who want the rest of society to adhere to their moral principles are beginning to wake up and realize that the much greater threat to liberty is coming from the opposite end of the political spectrum. It does not countenance any deviation from political correctness, and if you do, your reputation, job, home, family, residence, and all are likely to be taken away from you.

And they're beginning to "feel their oats," too, after so many recent triumphs--
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...-including-racist-portrayals-of-a6763101.html

mdar123 said:

I find myself getting caught up in all of this and it's pulling me away from God.

I'm trying to understand what is going on in my heart in feeling so strong about political issues today. Although I know God already knows.

At the bottom of my stubbornness, anger, struggle, is a feeling of being left-out, shut-out, ignored, put-down, gossiped about and stomped on by my family (non-Christian, ...borderline anti-Christian) and society in general. Christian values regarding marriage and how we live have become more and more marginal and criticized, almost feels illegal if I don't fall in line to celebrate these ideals. And it feels to me things are becoming more and more this way. And on top of that, it feels like those in control are becoming more and more controlling about how I choose to live.

However, I know God is in control. But I just can't understand why society is going down this path if He is in control. I can't see why this is happening. And it feels confusing too, in that, if God is letting this happen, is this what He really wants?

Am I 'on the wrong side of history' as my family and others would say?

Thank you for listening.

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The world can somewhat see that conditions everywhere are growing worse and uncertain, and evil is in the hearts of many; and there is government failures, violence, immorality, self-indulgence and hedonism; and Christians can appreciate that God is allowing this to get the attention of carnal souls to come to the Savior before it is too late. Satan knows his end is drawing to a close, I see, and is working harder and faster to draw souls away from God. Bible students can appreciate that the end is getting closer for many reasons. We should not get involved in the politics of the world, and be a godly people trusting God and not man. We can have peace in waiting for the Lord Jesus to call up His saints (the Church --"Bride" of Christ). God has told us of the end times, and it will get worse as Scripture shows; but all is well for the true saints of God.

The pendulum swings back and forth, from right to left and back to right. . . recognize where you are and what direction things are swinging & tale comfort that in due time. .. when enough people have taken enough of the koolaid to get sick and become sick of being sick. .. they will again look for water until they start consuming more and more of the other flavor of koolaid & begin drinking themselves sick and eventually become sick of being sick and . . . . this cycle will repeat several times in your lifetime. Relax

mdar123 said:

I know God is in control. But I just can't understand why society is going down this path if He is in control. I can't see why this is happening. And it feels confusing too, in that, if God is letting this happen, is this what He really wants?

Am I 'on the wrong side of history' as my family and others would say?

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First, I think you are seeing things very accurately.

The why of it comes down to free will. God lets man make his choices, even when those choices are bad. He sticks with us, though, and begins to work them for good when we turn to Him.

In Rev 13 it says the Beast is given authority to prevail over the saints for a season. But in Lamentations Jeremiah tells us that God does not afflict willingly. He is pure Light and unfathomable love, so He must have good reasons to let man reap what he has sown, hard as it is on us.

As for who is on the right side of history, only those who have read the end of the book know how to decide that correctly. The last shall be first, and the first, last. One consequence of the darkness descending on the world is that it is becoming increasingly clear to objective observers that man's solutions do not work. The Biblical admonition not to put your trust in princes is ringing ever more clearly in my ears.

Yes, I refer to the last two chapters of Revelation.

Well Revelations talk about all this. As I like to say "Spoiler alert! I know how the world ends!". Things are going to get worse. Our values we have will be mocked more as time goes on. I can't complain when I see other christians in other countries who are getting beheaded, but none the less things are changing for the worse in america (and elsewhere). I don't care about who I vote for anymore. I just vote for the "lesser evil". As for God letting this happen, people still have free will. So bad people will run for president, bad people will pass bad laws...etc. Even though it may not make sense to us, none of what they do matters because the world will end and a new earth will be created. Our new lives, our real lives (as I say) will begin. It may not feel fair while in this life that things are changing so much, but its just how it is. The bible says we will be hated because of His name.

Well take heart the Kingdoms of this world will be crushed to a powder by the Kingdom to come when Jesus returns. The book of revelations tells us that the heavenly kingdom will descend, with the holy city the New Jerusalem as its center. Every knee shall bow and everyone confess that Jesus is Lord.

Also, God has said, vengeance is mine, I will repay. So the wicked will not get away with what they think they can get away with now.

God is angry with the wicked everyday Psalm7:11
But in his mercy he lets mankind live and make their own choices. But our time is short on this earth, we all need to choose between the kingdom of light or the kingdom of darkness before we leave this earth. Jesus came to give us eternal life, remember that.

Welcome to my world. This place probably has it the worst, but politics drives me crazy. I can't stand the complacent, worldly Christians, but the legalistic ones have their own flaws, and recognizing that is painful for me.

Here's some advice: let God give you the answer. ask for wisdom in these troubling times, to see through lies and hold onto the truth. Even though I often try to consider myself a decent christian because I believe in x, y, and z, I can still get deceived by Satan as well. So let God guide you and nothing else.

mdar123 said:

it feels like those in control are becoming more and more controlling about how I choose to live.

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Be concerned with how to love. We always with God can love the way He has us loving. Worrying about your own life can help you to ruin your life >

"'He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.'" (John 12:25)

mdar123 said:

However, I know God is in control.

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Control can be an ego problem. Many people are holding on to only or mainly God being in control.

mdar123 said:

But I just can't understand why society is going down this path if He is in control. I can't see why this is happening.

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Why could be because of how religious people are going out of style. Children have discovered how church culture people are not deeply loving and satisfied; so now children are becoming desperate about where to go. How to overcome this is to become a real Christian example > not to control things >

"nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." (1 Peter 5:3)

And please feed on 1 Timothy 2:1-4

mdar123 said:

And it feels confusing too, in that, if God is letting this happen, is this what He really wants?

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God's first priority is conforming people to the image of Jesus > Romans 8:29. Nothing and no one can stop Him from this And with God we can not be stopped >

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21)

1watchman said:

but all is well for the true saints of God.

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amen . . . simple

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 15:58)

So, feed on all the good things which the Bible is talking about.

"No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier." (2 Timothy 2:4)

mdar123 said:

However, I know God is in control. But I just can't understand why society is going down this path if He is in control. I can't see why this is happening. And it feels confusing too, in that, if God is letting this happen, is this what He really wants?

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God is in control. Just as he did throughout the Bible, he leads his children into and through horrible circumstances. And "through" may end in their martyrdom. This passage I have found helpful:


God does not necessarily deliver us from "tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword", but rather gives us grace "in all theses things" to be "more than conquerors." In the end, we win and gain the Prize. For now, we submit to his will, act on his direction, and await his salvation.

mdar123 said:

Am I 'on the wrong side of history' as my family and others would say?

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This phrase, "the wrong side of history", is one of the most vacant, self-important, superficial, and ignorant phrases ever. My head wants to explode when I hear it from various politicians.

Whos story is history?
The history of Gods relationship with mankind is in the Bible. We are the ones who are IN the bible!! We are the ones God wants to reach out to..and who wrote the Bible? Lots of different people inspired by God Himself.

Whether you are Jew or Gentile, the ones God loves are the ones who place their trust in his only begotten son, Jesus Christ, we are the ones in history! We are the ones written in the book of life and wont be blotted out!

So what your family and rleatives are saying is only true if they have accepted Jesus as their Lord and saviour. Who writes history? The victors? Who is the victor? Who conquered the grave? Jesus. Who is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end? Only Jesus christ, lord of lords and King of Kings. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Politics is a pile of crap.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/26/politics/missouri-politician-suicide/index.html

It makes you wonder what is going on in this country.

com7fy8 said:

Many people are holding on to only or mainly God being in control.

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mdar123 said:

But I wanted to ask a bit of clarification - what do you mean by this in relation to my post? :

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Don't worry, mdar, you are not the only one who does not understand things I offer

Just before I say that, I say, "Control can be an ego problem." People because of our egos can want to have a lot of control . . . so we can have the things and lives and security we want. Therefore, we can want God to control things for us and what we want.

So, our reason for trusting Him can be not in order to obey Him and give ourselves all the way to Him and how He has us love, but we are trying to use God because He has the control.

It could be like how people want the politician who will have the control to get things done that we want. We might not personally love and care about that politician, but we want to use the person. And we see how even in churches people can be praying mainly for themselves or soldiers from their own country and their sort of political leaders . . . not for people of other countries and religions and political groups > so, I consider and suspect they aren't loving others as themselves.

Plus, if people are into control in their lives, more than first personally caring about others as ourselves, then we can tend also to think of God mostly as the One with the control, but not see Him as being "love" . . . all-loving love > 1 John 4:8&16.

But His controlling is always for His love purposes . . . like happened with Joseph in Genesis 37-50 > God had control, yes, but His control for the sake of Joseph resulted in His all-loving results which He used Joseph to accomplish And we see how God raised Jesus from the dead . . . showing how God has the real control. But this did not benefit only Jesus!

So, God's control for you and me won't be only to solve problems which we are stressing about; but He will have us included in His all-loving activity so we are caring about all others as ourselves and not only stressing about our own personal things.