[Faith-talk] We want America Back!

Tue Sep 13 19:11:21 UTC 2011

I think of it in terms of Thomas Jefferson.  I do believe that this country 
does need to go back to its Bible believing roots but that's probably not 
too realistic.  People came here to get free of governments that chose a 
religion for them.
You are right that most of what's going wrong in this country is the 
condition of our hearts.  Just because things happen, does not mean we need 
to except them as the norm.  We shouldn't stand back and say it's okay for 
teens to be having babies out of wedlock.  It's not okay for schools to be 
providing birth control and not informing parents if a child gets an 
abortion.  We need to reverse our thinking and get back to giving up these 
children to families that will love them and who can care for them.  It's 
not okay to flirt with the person in the next cubicle because you had a 
fight with your spouse this morning.  It needs to become more difficult to 
get a divorce again.
But there are just some things we all could learn to be the kind of society 
that people are still risking their lives to gain.
Whatever one's higher power is, we must believe in that.  I don't think it's 
okay to teach the children about different religions in the schools either.
I don't want to tolerate someone else's faith if it requires them to kill 
animals on Oct. 31 as a sacrifice to who-knows-what.  I don't want to 
tolerate stoning of someone because adultery.  But if we could all just stop 
this insane hating!
Barbara

Let every nation know whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay 
any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose 
any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.--John 
F. Kennedy
-----Original Message----- 
From: Rex Leslie Howard, Jr.
Sent: Tuesday, September 13, 2011 1:28 PM
To: 'Faith-talk,for the discussion of faith and religion'
Subject: Re: [Faith-talk] We want America Back!

I'm sorry but I do not like the term "social Christianity."

What does that mean, exactly?

Does it mean we are to be tolerant of all religions even though there is
only one religion that leads to Heaven? I will not preach the Koran,
Buddhist teachings, Hindu teachings or any other religious teaching. In
fact, I don't even like the term religious because I think this is where we
go wrong. I am not religious, I am Christian. More harm has been done in the
name of religion than any other cause. It is not true that more harm has
been done in the name of Christianity. Christianity practices love but it
does not exclude righteousness and it does not include tolerance for all
people no matter what.

Yes, God wills that none should perish but god also allows us to exercise
free-will.

In the exercise of that free-will some will perish for a lack of
understanding because they usurp their understanding over the wisdom,
knowledge and guidance of our Lord and Savior.

I think we sometimes gag at gnats and swallow camels. We get lost in what is
a fundamental truth and what is not.

Here are some fundamentals. Jesus is the only way to Heaven. That's a
fundamental; that is a very important understanding.

The Bible should be the ultimate authority in our lives. That is
fundamental.

Jesus came to us through a virgin birth. This is a fundamental truth.

Why is that important? Because if Jesus were not the seed of Man then the
prophecy made in Genesis 3 is not true. We are told to let God be true and
every man a liar so I believe this to be true.

It is not important to ascertain on which day Jesus died but it is important
for us to understand that he rose on the third day. If this is not true,
then we are as dead as we were before accepting Jesus as our Lord and
Savior.

We must also understand that sin is a condition of the heart. I have heard
it said here on this group that there is nothing wrong with having a drink
or two from time to time. I won't debate that issue because I'm not a
legalist. I believe that most people have an addictive personality and will
become addicted to mood-altering and mind-altering substances. In these
cases, it is certainly sinful for people to drink. It becomes a condition of
the heart. People with addictive personalities will set aside common sense
and morals for the fix of the substance to which they become addicted.

I do not believe for one minute that homosexuality is destroying the
sanctity of marriage. I believe homosexuality is an abomination because it
speaks to the condition of the heart.

I believe, more than anything, the sanctity of marriage is being destroyed
by the high rate of divorce. We have a Walmart mentality here: if we're not
satisfied with the product, send it back. We don't work through differences,
we forget how to compromise and we are so selfish that all we think about is
ourselves. We don't just slip into adultery in the blink of an eye. We don't
slip into a life of fornication in the blink of an eye. It starts with a
choice, that choice leads to another and another until our hearts are
defiled and we care only for the things that give our flesh pleasure.

That conduct is destroying the sanctity of marriage. Homosexuality is one
part of a whole picture that is destroying God's idea of marriage.

If a woman wears makeup and jewelry and perfumes because it makes her feel
good then I don't see a problem with it. But, if she is doing those things
to illicit a lustful response from the opposite sex, or in some cases, the
same sex, then this is sinful and it speaks to the defilement of the heart.

We need to focus on the heart.

Do you know that some people do good things because their heart is not
right? They are looking for recognition or accolades from others and it has
nothing to do with servanthood.

We can look at someone who appears to be doing a good thing and think well
of that person without knowing their heart. We can also look at someone who
is doing something we might think is bad, and be totally off the mark.

Only God knows the heart of Man. We should examine fruits, yes. We should
exercise righteous judgment, yes. But we should never put ourselves above
others in trivial matters. Some things are important and we must stand firm
on those things. Other things are trivial and we need to let those things
go.

Romans 14 speaks to this in great detail.

Okay, that's my rant for today.

-----Original Message-----
From: faith-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:faith-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of Barbara Hammel
Sent: Tuesday, September 13, 2011 12:06 PM
To: Faith-talk,for the discussion of faith and religion
Subject: Re: [Faith-talk] We want America Back!

And while I agree with Greg here, I think what we really need are religious
values to be taught by all and not the social gospel--aw what do they call
this new religion?--where naything goes.
While God wishes that none should perish and that we all should believe in
Him, I think where agreed values are in common, they should be what this
society is built on.
I don't wish to see Sharia law take over this country but I also think all
religions should stand together for the sanctity of life and marriage of a
man and a woman and all the other things like no killing or stealing or
cheating on your spouse.
Yes, we should be a God-fearing nation again but if that cannot be, at least
we could live by the principles of social Christianity.
Barbara

Let every nation know whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay
any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose
any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.--John
F. Kennedy -----Original Message-----
From: Greg Aikens
Sent: Tuesday, September 13, 2011 10:46 AM
To: Faith-talk,for the discussion of faith and religion
Subject: Re: [Faith-talk] We want America Back!

Putting your hope in any governmental system is foolishness.  The only
reason we can lament the loss of governmental support of christian ideals is
because we were spoiled by having them for a while.  If you truly want
America back and want to make an impact on American culture, legislating
morality isn't the way to go.  I'm not saying that Christians shouldn't be
active and involved in the political process, but changing laws doesn't
change hearts.  I'm sad that the song doesn't even mention the need for
personal evangelism, introducing people to Jesus etc.  Those things should
be the Church's primary tools for changing the world.  Instead, the song
puts out the vibe that God's army is going to take over the government so we
can have control, and we don't care who we offend or alienate from Christ in
the process.

Sorry Joshua, but I can't say I'm a fan.  I usually don't weigh in on this
stuff but I guess it just struck a chord.

-Greg
On Sep 13, 2011, at 10:16 AM, Joshua Lester wrote:

> Hi, it's Joshua Lester.
> This song has alot of truth in it.
> Listen to it!
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2M5Hc8ofIHs
> Blessings, Joshua
>
> _______________________________________________
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