Just Because I believe the "MAGA: Why I Am Concerned" Discussion Isn't Over

It seems to me that a higher court would overturn the judge's ruling.

WinterAngel said:

The most shocking part is that there are so many Christians in society discriminately targeting conservatives solely for the values and political positions they hold.

Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more. I'm not shocked by the wicked nature of humanity in general. I'm not the least bit surprised by the lies and slander we see from the media. I am instead shocked just as you are with the way Christians seem to behave regarding our current political state. For some it appears they believe it is OK to throw out the bible and all of Christs teachings when it comes to political views and differences. For Christians to fight one another and slander those with different political views is the work of evil.

WinterAngel said:

We are already seeing the Gospel being neutered to make it less offensive and palatable to the hearers. In fact, I am more than concerned, I am frightened. Because the way thing are going, there are only two options for the Gospel. It is either going to become banned due to its “offensiveness”, or a more “inclusive” false gospel will replace it. This is the environment my children, when grown, will be living in: an anti-gospel/anti-G-d society and having to choose to either bend to the social norms or risk their lives for standing up and saying, "Jesus is L-rd." I pray they will choose to stand. Quite frankly, my oldest already made this choice and has been bullied for his faith at school. My friends, it's only going to get worse.

Click to expand...

This is nothing new. I was teased for wearing Christian shirts in Junior High School 26 years ago. Dark forces at play will always try and destroy our faith. It doesn't matter if we are kids in school or if it's on a political scale. If America turns away from the constitution and denies us our freedoms of religion then everyone in the US will have a problem. The great nation will crumble on itself. This is all nothing to worry about. God is always in control. Everything happens on his timeline and not ours. All we can do is go through life living for him and making our best efforts to do his will. He will always provide.

In all this negativity we see on the news we must not forget about all the good things that go so widely unreported. We see the bad far more than the good but God is here and he is doing amazing things. Sometimes we have to search for the good news because the negative junk is always in our faces. A lot of good news out there like Idols being removed from the Whitehouse and being replaced with prayer. We see huge pro-life marches that show our young people fighting for our God given right to life. You see more and more celebrities finding Christ and coming out as true believers. You see a president who BOLDLY recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

God put Trump there for a reason. He put him there in a time when America so desperately needs change. Hate him or love him. We know God put him there as per
Romans 13:1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

Our faith must stay on God. He knows what he is doing and he has a plan. We cannot see the future and we cannot understand.

To all Christians I say this:

The eagle flies with both left and right wings. If the body becomes corrupt and either wing fails, then how can we soar? We will crash and burn. The body has been infected by a parasite. That parasite being Satan and the only cure is the Holy Spirit. Let's pray that Christians show love to one another and take a stand to unite against evil so that as a whole the USA can receive this needed cure.

After all, the second greatest commandment is to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:39). So yes, we must love Donald Trump even if we don't support his views. The moment we try and convince ourselves he is not our neighbor is the moment we should return to the bible and pray. Jesus answers this in Luke 10:25-37

TravisD said:

After all, the second greatest commandment is to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:39). So yes, we must love Donald Trump even if we don't support his views. The moment we try and convince ourselves he is not our neighbor is the moment we should return to the bible and pray. Jesus answers this in Luke 10:25-37

Click to expand...

I agree. I think there is a lot to be learned by following Daniel's example in how he approached the King of Babylon with humility and reverence for the authority that God had established despite the wickedness of the person God placed in authority.

WinterAngel said:

I have been left with concern to see that almost all the top news media reports, (I don't know about you but the majority of my Facebook feed is this way as well), are directly aimed at dehumanizing the President and/or his conservative supporters.

Click to expand...

Racism is a very human behavior. So is selfishness and so is dishonesty. So is sexual abuse. Even malice is a human behavior. The problem is the current president embodies so many evil human behaviors and so few good ones.

He's not a monster. He's just a selfish, narcissistic hustler.

Basil the Great said:

It seems to me that a higher court would overturn the judge's ruling.

Click to expand...

Are Trump supporters a protected class?

jason_delisle said:

I agree. I think there is a lot to be learned by following Daniel's example in how he approached the King of Babylon with humility and reverence for the authority that God had established despite the wickedness of the person God placed in authority.

Click to expand...

Absolutely! If we approach those we dislike with hostility and contempt then how can we expect anything good to come from it?

Hank77 said:

Are Trump supporters a protected class?

Click to expand...

No, Trump supporters are the smart class. We are the class of people who believe in making America great again. We're true patriots.

The Barbarian said:

Racism is a very human behavior. So is selfishness and so is dishonesty. So is sexual abuse. Even malice is a human behavior. The problem is the current president embodies so many evil human behaviors and so few good ones.

He's not a monster. He's just a selfish, narcissistic hustler.

Click to expand...

Did you know Michael the Archangel dared not to condemn Satan (Jude 1:9). He reserved all condemnation and judgment for the Lord. It would be prudent for us to do the same especially since we do not know the current presidents heart.


"Edited to replace the word "to" with "for".

TravisD said:

Did you know Michael the Archangel dared not to condemn Satan

Click to expand...

No one's condemning him. Aside from the damage he's doing to America, I think he's mostly pathetic. But since we are commanded to obey those set over us, and since the Constitution gives us the power to select our leaders, we are commanded to rebuke them as needed.

Johnny Slick said:

No, Trump supporters are the smart class. We are the class of people who believe in making America great again. We're true patriots.

Click to expand...

I don't know if it is being 'smart' or just being educated about some basic history, economics, and real results or lack thereof. Even those of us who are likely less than genius class can recognize and be intellectually honest about whether results have been better or have made things worse or wherever that mop flops.

The Apostle Paul clearly warned the Christians about the 'party spirit' or judging people or groups by what leader or icon they followed. He admonished them to beware of considering their group to be smarter, wiser, more correct, more justifiable, more noble, more righteous than another group.

I cannot believe the hatred and vileness heaped upon the President is in way condoned by God and I believe it all, most especially the hateful false witness included, grieves the Holy Spirit and has Satan and his demons dancing with glee.

Those of the TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome) group will never actually engage in any kind of debate that looks for truth or accuracy in any issue or event. If it doesn't denigrate the President and his supporters, including any of us who defend him/them in anything, they want nothing to do with it.

It is tearing this country apart. And it is evil. And that is not the President's fault.

The Barbarian said:

No one's condemning him. Aside from the damage he's doing to America, I think he's mostly pathetic. But since we are commanded to obey those set over us, and since the Constitution gives us the power to select our leaders, we are commanded to rebuke them as needed.

Click to expand...

OK, thanks for clarifying. I had thought that you were implying that he was evil. If you were simply referring to his actions that is more acceptable.

While I cannot agree with you that he is damaging America, I do accept your opinion. Not everyone is happy that under Trump our GDP is finally back up above 3% and as high as 4.1% at one point. Some people are disappointed that unemployment is at a 50 year low due to the creation of 4 million new jobs. Some are terrified about the possibility of $1.5 Trillion in upcoming infrastructure investments due to Trumps $200 Billion Domestic Infrastructure plan. Did you know the Dow hit record highs 70 times in 2017? That's a crazy record right? It shows very high optimism regarding American economic growth. The list goes on as there are literally hundreds of accomplishments under the current administration.

It's hard to believe a damaged America would see such growth. Of course this is all regarding the economy. There are other ways to damage America of course, but I'm not sure what you are referring to.

TravisD said:

OK, thanks for clarifying. I had thought that you were implying that he was evil. If you were simply referring to his actions that is more acceptable.

While I cannot agree with you that he is damaging America, I do accept your opinion. Not everyone is happy that under Trump our GDP is finally back up above 3% and as high as 4.1% at one point.

Click to expand...

Well, let's take a look...


Looks like so far, the expansion that started in 2009 continues. You're arguing that it's the rooster's crowing that makes the sun come up.

Some people are disappointed that unemployment is at a 50 year low due to the creation of 4 million new jobs.

Click to expand...

Well, let's see if that's a new trend:

O.K., the downward trend slowed under Trump, but not by very much yet.

Some are terrified about the possibility of $1.5 Trillion in upcoming infrastructure investments due to Trumps $200 Billion Domestic Infrastructure plan.

Click to expand...

You probably believed Mexico was going to pay for Trump's wall, didn't you?

Did you know the Dow hit record highs 70 times in 2017?

Click to expand...

Well, let's see how that's going...
https://assets.bwbx.io/images/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/iKdp0NgAKPdw/v1/-1x-1.png
Not so good. In 2018, he lost everything gained in 2017.

That's a crazy record right?

Click to expand...

I have a lot of money in stocks and funds. I'm not laughing.

It shows very high optimism regarding American economic growth.

Click to expand...

the survey results being released Monday reflect a collective belief that some of the economy's momentum is fading. Compared with the NABE's previous survey in October, for example, a smaller proportion of economists said their companies' sales were rising. And fewer expect profit growth to increase. Corporate investments in new equipment has also cooled.

"A large majority of respondents—84%—indicate that one year after its passage, the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has not caused their firms to change hiring or investment plans," NABE President Kevin Swift said in a statement.
Recession in 2019? Here's what economists are predicting

The results fit a broader pattern. The economy appears to be slowing as a dose of stimulus from Trump's tax cuts has been fading. Job growth has been steady, but the stock market has stumbled and global growth has deteriorated.

Home sales have weakened, and 2019 began with a blast of nervous uncertainty as the federal government endured what became a 35-day partial shutdown.
January 2019 Business Conditions Survey Summary

If one is a Christian, one cannot escape the conclusion that the president is a vile person who represents everything a Christian is not.

He lies, even when it does him no good to lie. He boasts about getting away with sexual assault. He had betrayed three wives as an adulterer, which he thinks is not a sin. He says he has no need to ask God for forgiveness.

However, we have had sleazebag presidents before, and some of them did rather good jobs as president. This one has made us a laughing stock to the rest of the world. It was disturbing to see delegates laugh to his face when he claimed to be one of the best United States presidents.

He has weakened our influence in the world, abandoned the Middle East to Russia and ISIS, and let North Korea play him.

And now, as the economy starts to slide as his economic policies take hold, we can look forward to a possible recession.

As economists crunch the numbers for their 2019 forecasts, however, they are expecting a slowdown. Goldman drew some attention this week after it said U.S. GDP growth will slow to 1.8% in the third quarter of 2019 and to 1.6% during the fourth quarter. The positive impact of the tax cuts passed in late 2017 will fade while financial conditions will tighten, Goldman predicted.
...
Some economists are taking a darker view than Goldman, which is not forecasting a recession before 2020. A survey of economists by Reuters this week shows that most expect the chance of a recession in the U.S. is still low, at 35%, although the survey also showed that the median probability of a recession has inched up from 30% in the past month. Last week, Larry Summers, a Harvard economist and former treasury secretary during the Clinton Administration, said there’s a nearly 50% chance of recession by 2020.


The timing of a downturn may be in dispute, but many economists agree that the headwinds facing the U.S. economy are growing stronger and more numerous: Interest rates keep rising, making borrowing costs more expensive for consumers and companies alike; trade tariffs are increasing, thanks in good part to Trump’s aggressive trade policies; and Wall Street analysts are growing concerned that earnings growth has peaked as the bull market enters its tenth year, especially in the overpriced tech sector.
U.S. Economy Will Slow in 2019, May Enter Recession in 2020, Economists Forecast

WinterAngel said:

Greetings,

I have been left with concern to see that almost all the top news media reports, (I don't know about you but the majority of my Facebook feed is this way as well), are directly aimed at dehumanizing the President and/or his conservative supporters. The most shocking part is that there are so many Christians in society discriminately targeting conservatives solely for the values and political positions they hold.

Below are just a few examples of events in our society where I have found fellow Christians justifying the actions of radical anti-Christian movements solely because of the conservative values the victim holds.

It's Totally Legal for a Bar to Discriminate Against Trump Supporters, NYC Judge Rules

http://time.com/5320865/maxine-waters-confront-trump-staffers-family-separation-policy/

https://news.sky.com/story/home-for-sale-trump-supporters-not-welcome-11310898

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=13&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjasNK264rgAhVDJ1AKHWT4B6oQFjAMegQICBAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fmoney%2F2018%2F07%2F06%2Fteen-maga-hat-whataburger-theft%2F762422002%2F&usg=AOvVaw3zQ3fIxxUAxhQR4k8rSOk0

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjvjtbk64rgAhXSYlAKHT5XCdUQwqsBMAJ6BAgHEAo&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DxBYdxagqUyQ&usg=AOvVaw1BhSOzyN6vGaNYStbyq0Ar

https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/417105-trump-supporter-assaulted-while-wearing-maga-hat

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=video&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwi2rLXM84rgAhXhMewKHeC4A_MQtwIIMTAD&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DjyHB0COkw3s&usg=AOvVaw386May99tRElXVPHlYaMBZ

My concern is simple and I am shocked that nobody has addressed this yet. It is the precedent this sets for Christianity and the Gospel. The Gospel is by its very nature, “offensive”. It is offensive because it confronts people about their sin. Showing them the ugly truth of their state so that through this revelation they may repent and be saved. I fear the radical anti-Christian movements have become so focused on political correctness and sensitivity to the feelings of others that just about anything can be considered so offensive as to justify or condone hostility or discrimination. How long before the Gospel is no longer “politically correct”? How long before a simple cross is treated no differently than a red “MAGA” hat is today? One day we believers will wake up to a nightmare, wondering why there are protesters in front of our churches, spitting and throwing things at us as if we are at a Trump rally. One day, we will be forced out of restaurants for simply saying a blessing at the table. One day, society will be comparing people with Bibles and crosses to people with white hoods and torches. And when that day comes, we will all look back and wonder how this could have happened? We are already seeing the Gospel being neutered to make it less offensive and palatable to the hearers. In fact, I am more than concerned, I am frightened. Because the way thing are going, there are only two options for the Gospel. It is either going to become banned due to its “offensiveness”, or a more “inclusive” false gospel will replace it. This is the environment my children, when grown, will be living in: an anti-gospel/anti-G-d society and having to choose to either bend to the social norms or risk their lives for standing up and saying, "Jesus is L-rd." I pray they will choose to stand. Quite frankly, my oldest already made this choice and has been bullied for his faith at school. My friends, it's only going to get worse.

Jesus said all of this would come to pass beautifully in Matthew 24:4-14 (NKJV),

“And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

Has anyone else seen this? Right now all I can do is pray G-d has mercy on our nation for the sake of the generations to come. Jesus continued with details on the severity in Matthew 24:15-22 (NKJV),

“Therefore, when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.”

L-rd have mercy. Come quickly!

Click to expand...

Hey, stop watching the news. I have to be sparing with the news coverage I watch preferring local coverage, and I block people's news feeds on facebook who post political stuff, that way I don't see it.

It makes life easier. Sometimes on rare occasions you may want to comment, but by keeping a handle on the discussions it will not be so upsetting.

In the end, it's about trusting God. We trust that nothing will happen that God does not allow to happen, and that He will strengthen us to any task or trial we face.

We don't have to deal with the hate, and we don't have to allow the 24/7 news cycle into our heads. Let go, trust God.

WinterAngel said:

...The most shocking part is that there are so many Christians in society discriminately targeting conservatives solely for the values and political positions they hold.

...My concern is simple and I am shocked that nobody has addressed this yet. It is the precedent this sets for Christianity and the Gospel. The Gospel is by its very nature, “offensive”. It is offensive because it confronts people about their sin. Showing them the ugly truth of their state so that through this revelation they may repent and be saved. I fear the radical anti-Christian movements have become so focused on political correctness and sensitivity to the feelings of others that just about anything can be considered so offensive as to justify or condone hostility or discrimination. How long before the Gospel is no longer “politically correct”? How long before a simple cross is treated no differently than a red “MAGA” hat is today?

Click to expand...

MAGA has nothing to do with Christianity.
I think it's quite a leap to conflate the two. ymmv

I am more than concerned, I am frightened...

Click to expand...

Not surprising. Fear is a common trait among political conservatives.
(link 1) (link 2) ( a bunch more links )

If one is a Christian, one cannot escape the conclusion that the president is a vile person who represents everything a Christian is not.

He lies, even when it does him no good to lie. He boasts about getting away with sexual assault. He had betrayed three wives as an adulterer, which he thinks is not a sin. He says he has no need to ask God for forgiveness.

However, we have had sleazebag presidents before, and some of them did rather good jobs as president. This one has made us a laughing stock to the rest of the world. It was disturbing to see delegates laugh to his face when he claimed to be one of the best United States presidents.

He has weakened our influence in the world, abandoned the Middle East to Russia and ISIS, and let North Korea play him.

And now, as the economy starts to slide as his economic policies take hold, we can look forward to a possible recession.

As economists crunch the numbers for their 2019 forecasts, however, they are expecting a slowdown. Goldman drew some attention this week after it said U.S. GDP growth will slow to 1.8% in the third quarter of 2019 and to 1.6% during the fourth quarter. The positive impact of the tax cuts passed in late 2017 will fade while financial conditions will tighten, Goldman predicted.
...
Some economists are taking a darker view than Goldman, which is not forecasting a recession before 2020. A survey of economists by Reuters this week shows that most expect the chance of a recession in the U.S. is still low, at 35%, although the survey also showed that the median probability of a recession has inched up from 30% in the past month. Last week, Larry Summers, a Harvard economist and former treasury secretary during the Clinton Administration, said there’s a nearly 50% chance of recession by 2020.


The timing of a downturn may be in dispute, but many economists agree that the headwinds facing the U.S. economy are growing stronger and more numerous: Interest rates keep rising, making borrowing costs more expensive for consumers and companies alike; trade tariffs are increasing, thanks in good part to Trump’s aggressive trade policies; and Wall Street analysts are growing concerned that earnings growth has peaked as the bull market enters its tenth year, especially in the overpriced tech sector.
U.S. Economy Will Slow in 2019, May Enter Recession in 2020, Economists Forecast

Hazelelponi said:

Hey, stop watching the news. I have to be sparing with the news coverage I watch preferring local coverage, and I block people's news feeds on facebook who post political stuff, that way I don't see it.

It makes life easier.

Click to expand...

Ignorance may seem easier, but in the long run, it's harder. I read and listen to lots of sources I find objectionable, merely because I want to make sure I'm getting all sides of an issue.

“This life’s hard, but it’s harder if you’re stupid.” - Jackie Brown in The Friends of Eddie Coyle

The Barbarian said:

Ignorance may seem easier, but in the long run, it's harder. I read and listen to lots of sources I find objectionable, merely because I want to make sure I'm getting all sides of an issue.

“This life’s hard, but it’s harder if you’re stupid.” - Jackie Brown in The Friends of Eddie Coyle

Click to expand...

Its not ignorance to stay away from hate filled debates that have no point other than spewing hate.

As a matter of fact, The Bible says

But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.

And while this pertains to religious matters, I see no point not to apply it elsewhere also, such as pertains to political lately.

Everyone's a racist, I've even been called racist, misogynist and every other name in the book and I'm a woman of Arab heritage.

These types of discussions serve no purpose, no one listens and no one discusses. People talk over one another and decide they are the sole arbiters of right and truth.

lol. It's far from ignorance to keep such debates at a minimum and keep away from the 24/7 news cycle, who jumps to conclusions based on half truths any way.

Hazelelponi said:

Its not ignorance to stay away from hate filled debates that have no point other than spewing hate.

Click to expand...

There are plenty of sources that disagree with every one of us, that are not dedicated to spewing hatred.