Will The Real Christians Please Stand Up And Remain Standing?
Are You A Writer?
If you are interested in making money online while writing? Hubpages is a great community to write in!
Deceivers Abound
I cannot even believe I’m back to this topic. So many deceived and deceivers abound, calling themselves Christian, but where is the evidence? I watched the attitude of some of our “Christian Leaders” when they approached Obama during his presidential run, and since. The haughtiness was evident. The fact that Obama wasn’t interested in hearing from them; caused them to turn away in anger, as if spurned by a potential mate.
I don’t recall the leaders of the disciples acting that way. I recall that they prayed for them, and not with judgmentalism either; but with genuine concern and hope. Only someone with an agenda would be angry. So the anger I see with the extreme right, perturbs me.
I hear many making claims that Obama is trying to issue in socialism. I’ve heard that word so many times now, that I decided to look it up. In fact, I looked up several related words, because I think that some clarity is well in order.
Since the political pundits and self-righteous right wingers have claimed Obama is moving us towards socialism, I looked that word up on dictionary.com.
“Socialism - A theory or system of social reform which contemplates a complete reconstruction of society, with a more just and equitable distribution of property and labor.”
First of all, the difference between what Obama advocates and socialism lies in the fact that Obama is not trying to take anyone’s property, nor deny anyone the right to make as much money as they want. The only thing he’s doing is leveling the field in the amount of taxes everyone pays. He’s making the tax system equitable in that everyone will be taxed based on the actual amount they earn.
He’s also leveling the field of competition with more educational opportunities. He’s actually enacting regulation to help people keep their homes and property. He is against the government running wall street and the banks etc; but wants to put regulatory tools in place to prevent the greed and lack of oversight that put us in such a disastrous position in the first place. How does this represent socialism? He’s for capitalism because he wants more education so that we can compete in the world again with the new and expanding technologies. This man is not a socialist.
So that draws us to why he’s being called that. Years ago, the pundits in the right wing managed to manipulate everyone by calling certain groups communists. By this, they were able to discriminately attack these groups and strip them of all rights, dignities and civil liberties afforded everyone else. Why? Because of the threat they represented to the old boy’s network and the way they wanted to run things.
“Communism - a theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole or to the state.”
The wealthy in this country have been the ones holding all the property and basically dictating to the rest of us, what we can do/get/or obtain, and what we can’t, because they manipulated the system to their benefit. In addition, they didn’t want to lose their heavy handed grip on the rest of the world, and they didn’t care about the damage they did, stripping others of their resources to line their own greedy pockets.
For years, these people have acted like the entire world was their domain, and they could move about it, and do whatever they wished in whatever territories they entered into. They’ve raped and pillaged, and destroyed other peoples and nations to get what they want. This, they call competitiveness - ie; capitalism.
Now, everyone is being called upon to give back, and do you think that after they’ve scraped and pillaged, raped and killed to get that money and those resources, they want to give any of it up? Of course not, so they stomp and scream and yell and cry about it.
This is what represents Christians?
Manipulation
They devise manipulations and lies all for the purpose of claiming that
what our stormy petrel, Obama is doing is all wrong; a scheme of a
socialist; leading us to communism and so on. All scare tactics are
being utilized, because that is how they have lead this country with
lies and manipulations for centuries...by means of fear. The last
administration was perfect proof of this sort of behavior, but now,
they claim that they are just misunderstood.
Well I think that they have misconstrued the language and confused a
socially-minded person with a socialist. They’re just flipping the
language a bit for confusion’s sake, so let’s get correct definitions.
“Social-minded - interested in or concerned with social conditions or the welfare of society.”
And a social-minded person tends to be more charitable towards people
in society, and isn’t that what Christians are called upon to be? Are
we supposed to hold some people at higher value than others, or did
Christ treat all people equally? Despite the fact that the Jews are the
“chosen” people, I don’t see them held to any higher respect than any
other for God’s kingdom, and here’s why:
Act 10:34 Then Peter opened [his] mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
Act 10:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
In truth, Christians are called to be charitable; to give up what they have and follow Christ. So then, why are so many who call themselves “Christian” having issue with paying their fair share? Many claim to be charitable, but allegedly, don’t want the government telling them how charitable to be.
“Charity -
1. generous actions or donations to aid the poor, ill, or helpless: to devote one's life to charity.
2. something given to a person or persons in need; alms: She asked for work, not charity.
3. a charitable act or work.
4. a charitable fund, foundation, or institution: He left his estate to a charity.
5. benevolent feeling, esp. toward those in need or in disfavor: She looked so poor that we fed her out of charity.
6. leniency in judging others; forbearance: She was inclined to view our selfish behavior with charity.
7. Christian love; agape.”
Wow. This sounds nothing like the attitude of the extreme right, right about now. And these synonyms: kindliness, consideration, humanity, benignity, sympathy; I see nothing in their behavior that looks like that. What I see is best described by the antonym: malevolence.
There are 24 verses about charity in the bible. Here are a few choice ones to remember:
1Ti 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and [of] a good conscience, and [of] faith unfeigned:
1Pe 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Rev 2:19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last [to be] more than the first.
1Cr 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become [as] sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
1Cr 13:2 And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
1Cr 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor], and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
1Cr 13:4 Charity suffereth long, [and] is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
1Cr 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether [there be] prophecies, they shall fail; whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease; whether [there be] knowledge, it shall vanish away.
1Cr 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these [is] charity.
1Cr 14:1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual [gifts], but rather that ye may prophesy.
1Cr 16:14 Let all your things be done with charity.
Col 3:14 And above all these things [put on] charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
What I see when I observe President Obama is charity. He is an egalitarian - asserting, resulting from, or characterized by belief in the equality of all people, esp. in political, economic, or social life.
Generosity
“Generosity -
1. Liberality in giving or willingness to give: a scholarship funded by the generosity of anonymous donors.
2. Nobility of thought or behavior; magnanimity.
3. Amplitude; abundance.
4. A generous act.
5. The trait of being willing to give your money or time [ant: stinginess]”
Reading this, you might think that I’m writing this because I’m one of the people labeled by some as a lazy bum who doesn’t have enough education or initiative to get up and do for myself. You’d be wrong. Sure, I’ve been unemployed now for just over two years. By natural standards, I should be writing from a position of need, but you see, that’s just the point. I’m not in need. Why? I have God.
Think about all those people out in the world who don’t have Him; who have a real reason to be frightened about the economic situation we are in. Aren’t we, as Christians called to meet the needs? Then why is paying our fair share such a big deal and burden to a Christian nation? How are we, as Christians going to reach out and meet the needs if we are not willing to give up anything? How are we going to meet the needs if we are only concerned about ourselves and our personal inconveniences? What does this lack of charity say about the God we say we serve? Don’t just stand up when it’s convenient. Don’t just stand up when things are going your way financially or economically. If you’re going to stand up for God, stand up and remain standing.
Sandra M Urquhart
Massage Therapist/Writer
For links to more articles check out:
http://www.sandramurquhart.com & my new website: http://www.issuesinyourtissuesmassagetherapy.com
My Book/Ebook
Dear Child Of God
-
A little book of total scriptural encouragement for all people. Its full of words of comfort for those times when we are going through trials and hardships that we just cannot control. There is hope and healing for the hurting heart and this book provides the assurance of God's providence and a future beyond heartache.
-
Smashwords — Dear Child Of God — A book by Sandra Urquhart
-
If God were to write a letter of scriptural comfort to you during any crisis or difficulty you faced, this would be it. This letter of love was written for a friend in just such a crisis. The scriptures it contains are words of comfort, not condemnation.
Amazon.com: Dear Child Of God (9781438221151): Sandra M. Urquhart: Books
Amazon.com: Dear Child Of God (9781438221151): Sandra M. Urquhart: Books