Is Silence Acceptance?

zephcom

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The Reverend Jim Wallis posted the commentary "The Religious Right Will Rise and Fall with Donald Trump" on his Sojourners website today.

The Religious Right Will Rise and Fall with Donald Trump

In it he talks about the religious right's Value Voters Summit last weekend at which the president spoke at. He does not speak favorably about the president or those 'Christian' people who follow him. Instead he takes the amazing position of violating the Eleventh Commandment "Never speak poorly of another Christian".

As most here have already realized, I do not hold a high opinion of modern Christianity because of its willingness to teach things which do not agree with Jesus' teachings. And now we see a major and vocal segment of Christianity openly and enthusiastically following a leader who, says Rev. Wallis, "Donald Trump is the consummate worshipper of money, sex, and power — to which Christian history has always tried to provide an alternative. Trump literally embodies what Christian ethics and history have been against — and all for a political deal with the religious right."

So my question is: "Is Silence Acceptance?" When the rest of Christians who do not identify as the 'Religious Right' remain silent as this faction redefines what it means to be 'Christian' into something that could easily be called the 'Anti-Christ', should the rest of the world assume that all Christians agree with this because no one will speak up?

Pastor Martin Niemoller wrote this poem in the early 1950s:

"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."


"Is silence agreement?"

 

Halbhh

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The Reverend Jim Wallis posted the commentary "The Religious Right Will Rise and Fall with Donald Trump" on his Sojourners website today.

The Religious Right Will Rise and Fall with Donald Trump

In it he talks about the religious right's Value Voters Summit last weekend at which the president spoke at. He does not speak favorably about the president or those 'Christian' people who follow him. Instead he takes the amazing position of violating the Eleventh Commandment "Never speak poorly of another Christian".

As most here have already realized, I do not hold a high opinion of modern Christianity because of its willingness to teach things which do not agree with Jesus' teachings. And now we see a major and vocal segment of Christianity openly and enthusiastically following a leader who, says Rev. Wallis, "Donald Trump is the consummate worshipper of money, sex, and power — to which Christian history has always tried to provide an alternative. Trump literally embodies what Christian ethics and history have been against — and all for a political deal with the religious right."

So my question is: "Is Silence Acceptance?" When the rest of Christians who do not identify as the 'Religious Right' remain silent as this faction redefines what it means to be 'Christian' into something that could easily be called the 'Anti-Christ', should the rest of the world assume that all Christians agree with this because no one will speak up?

Pastor Martin Niemoller wrote this poem in the early 1950s:

"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."

"Is silence agreement?"

But we do speak up, a very great many of us (not only a few!).

Even using the maximum possible visibility and best effectiveness we can manage, individually. Let me give you a clear example.

Not long after the new administration was in office came the new refugee ban.

It was opposed using the most visible way obtainable, and dramatically --

500 pastors, writers, etc., full page ad in Washington Post,
And from a wide and diverse range.

Why Tim Keller, Max Lucado, and Hundreds of Evangelical Leaders Oppose Trump’s Refugee Ban

Over 500 Evangelical Leaders Sign Letter Against Trump’s Immigration Order - World Religion News

What more can we do? What we are doing -- talking about the real Christianity, which isn't worldly, and isn't about 'left' or 'right' or worldly power, etc.
 
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Thedictator

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The Reverend Jim Wallis posted the commentary "The Religious Right Will Rise and Fall with Donald Trump" on his Sojourners website today.

This maybe true, but as a Christian I had very little real choice on who to vote for. Donald Trump was the least worst of the two. ( I did not vote for either one )


 
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Thedictator

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As most here have already realized, I do not hold a high opinion of modern Christianity because of its willingness to teach things which do not agree with Jesus' teachings.



And yet you are doing the same thing that you are accusing others of doing with this post. ( do you understand Hypocrisy) Jesus never spoke out against the Roman Emperor, nor did he instruct his follower to do so. Matter of fact he told his followers to obey their leaders.
 
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zephcom

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But we do speak up, a very great many of us (not only a few!).

Even using the maximum possible visibility and best effectiveness we can manage, individually. Let me give you a clear example.

Not long after the new administration was in office came the new refugee ban.

It was opposed using the most possibley visibility by many (not a few) --

Here's one: 500 pastors, writers, etc., full page ad in Washington Post

Over 500 Evangelical Leaders Sign Letter Against Trump’s Immigration Order - World Religion News

What more can we do? What we are doing -- talking about the real Christianity, which isn't worldly, and isn't about 'left' or 'right' or worldly power, etc.

Signing a letter opposing the president's orders has nothing at all to do with reclaiming one's religion. That is a purely political stance, not a religious stance.

'They' are telling the world that Christianity is this evil, hateful religion which only favors white, capitalist, patriarchal Americans. And they have an entire history of Christians in America that verifies they are right.

And there are very few willing to reveal the real Jesus to the world because...maybe it is because...no one really believes that what Jesus taught is valid. Maybe it is because Christianity has spent so much effort teaching that everyone is such a failure in God's eyes that they long ago gave up even taking the first step in following Jesus.

Christianity wants people to believe they are failures, totally incapable of doing what Jesus asks. And Christianity wants people to believe that even though Jesus said differently. Look at John 14:12 NIV:

12 "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."

Jesus believes in you. YOU have to believe in Jesus.
 
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zephcom

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And yet you are doing the same thing that you are accusing others of doing with this post. ( do you understand Hypocrisy) Jesus never spoke out against the Roman Emperor, nor did he instruct his follower to do so. Matter of fact he told his followers to obey their leaders.

I'm not asking anyone to speak out against a national leader. I'm asking people to correct those people within their own religion for their heresy. In Matthew 18 Jesus teaches that it is the responsibility of believers to correct brothers and sisters when they 'sin'.
 
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Thedictator

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"Donald Trump is the consummate worshipper of money, sex, and power — to which Christian history has always tried to provide an alternative. Trump literally embodies what Christian ethics and history have been against — and all for a political deal

And so does Hillary Clinton to the one millionth power. One thing I do know Trump did not let 4 people get killed for political reasons.
 
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dysert

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Is silence agreement?
Not necessarily. I can think of several reasons why someone may be silent. For example, they may not know what's going on, they may not have formed an opinion about what's going on, they may be afraid to say something about what's going on, etc.
 
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Thedictator

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I'm not asking anyone to speak out against a national leader. I'm asking people to correct those people within their own religion for their heresy. In Matthew 18 Jesus teaches that it is the responsibility of believers to correct brothers and sisters when they 'sin'.

Ok, just what heresy are you talking About?
 
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Halbhh

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Signing a letter opposing the president's orders has nothing at all to do with reclaiming one's religion. That is a purely political stance, not a religious stance.

'They' are telling the world that Christianity is this evil, hateful religion which only favors white, capitalist, patriarchal Americans. And they have an entire history of Christians in America that verifies they are right.

And there are very few willing to reveal the real Jesus to the world because...maybe it is because...no one really believes that what Jesus taught is valid. Maybe it is because Christianity has spent so much effort teaching that everyone is such a failure in God's eyes that they long ago gave up even taking the first step in following Jesus.

Christianity wants people to believe they are failures, totally incapable of doing what Jesus asks. And Christianity wants people to believe that even though Jesus said differently. Look at John 14:12 NIV:

12 "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."

Jesus believes in you. YOU have to believe in Jesus.

I believe, And follow, and there are many that do. How will you find them locally?

Look for this to be clearly real and evident --

"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
 
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'They' are telling the world that Christianity is this evil, hateful religion which only favors white, capitalist, patriarchal Americans.

All christians are not white, capitalist, or patriarchal.

Even the author at your link recognizes that he is speaking of just a slice of christianity.

And at the same that the Religious Right is pursuing its goals, other christians are LOVING others ... as Christ taught.

Jesus said that the world will know His disciples by their LOVE.

Anything else is just a shouting contest.
 
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zephcom

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And so does Hillary Clinton to the one millionth power. One thing I do know Trump did not let 4 people get killed for political reasons.

I don't recall saying anything about Clinton. Frankly that has nothing at all to do with the behavior of the religious right in regard to its behavior toward the president.
 
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zephcom

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Not necessarily. I can think of several reasons why someone may be silent. For example, they may not know what's going on, they may not have formed an opinion about what's going on, they may be afraid to say something about what's going on, etc.

And those are likely all reasons why 'Christians' are letting the religious right destroy their religion. None of them, however, should apply to a 'real' follower of Jesus.
 
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zephcom

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All christians are not white, capitalist, or patriarchal.

Even the author at your link recognizes that he is speaking of just a slice of christianity.

And at the same that the Religious Right is pursuing its goals, other christians are LOVING others ... as Christ taught.

Jesus said that the world will know His disciples by their LOVE.

Anything else is just a shouting contest.

Of course not all Christians are white, capitalists or patriarchal. But look around America. That does describe a rather huge amount of people who vote in American elections.

The religious right have every right to pursue their goals no matter how hateful and divisive they are. That isn't my complaint. My complaint is that a whole lot of Americans who -should- know that behavior reflects badly on both Christianity and Jesus because these people allow them to enact their hatefulness and divisiveness under the banner of Christianity.

If people really think that Christianity represents Loving Behavior toward others, they should either reclaim their religion or accept that it is lost forever and start a religion that DOES follow Jesus' teachings.
 
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zephcom

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That's obviously not the case.

Obviously. And I lay that problem at the doorstep of Christianity because it is a failed religion. It turned its back on Jesus and is wandering aimlessly in a desert.

Self-sacrificing Love for others is so rare in America that the news media has to write stories about 'heroes' when they practice it.
 
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jacks

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Obviously. And I lay that problem at the doorstep of Christianity because it is a failed religion. It turned its back on Jesus and is wandering aimlessly in a desert.

Self-sacrificing Love for others is so rare in America that the news media has to write stories about 'heroes' when they practice it.

Are all religions that preach love and kindness "failed religions" or just Christianity?
 
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The Reverend Jim Wallis posted the commentary "The Religious Right Will Rise and Fall with Donald Trump" on his Sojourners website today.

The Religious Right Will Rise and Fall with Donald Trump

In it he talks about the religious right's Value Voters Summit last weekend at which the president spoke at. He does not speak favorably about the president or those 'Christian' people who follow him. Instead he takes the amazing position of violating the Eleventh Commandment "Never speak poorly of another Christian".

As most here have already realized, I do not hold a high opinion of modern Christianity because of its willingness to teach things which do not agree with Jesus' teachings. And now we see a major and vocal segment of Christianity openly and enthusiastically following a leader who, says Rev. Wallis, "Donald Trump is the consummate worshipper of money, sex, and power — to which Christian history has always tried to provide an alternative. Trump literally embodies what Christian ethics and history have been against — and all for a political deal with the religious right."

So my question is: "Is Silence Acceptance?" When the rest of Christians who do not identify as the 'Religious Right' remain silent as this faction redefines what it means to be 'Christian' into something that could easily be called the 'Anti-Christ', should the rest of the world assume that all Christians agree with this because no one will speak up?

Pastor Martin Niemoller wrote this poem in the early 1950s:

"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."

"Is silence agreement?"

No
 
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zephcom

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Are all religions that preach love and kindness "failed religions" or just Christianity?

If they preach it but don't live it, yeah, they are failed religions. Look at the history of Christianity from the Fourth Century right up to the headlines of today. The article referenced in the OP is dated today.
 
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