Argument Between a Liberal and a MAGA Supporter

When asked to comment about something or someone you don't like or disagree with, do you find it easy to point out how and why they are wrong? Join the club. I can compile the quickest list highlighting points I disagree with others on such as politics, religion, and women's issues. And if you are anything like me, you have a LONG list where you disagree with those who are a part of the MAGA movement. Guess what? They have their lists too. 

Disagreeing with others is part of the human experience but HOW we disagree with others makes a difference. I had a recent experience (today) where I encountered a Trump supporter who hit all the talking points Republicans have about the current Democratic nominee for president, Kamala Harris. If you read my blog then you know, I identify as Democrat. Yes, a Trump supporter and a Harris supporter met face to face. Each far from the comforts of talking smack online without repercussions. What could the possible outcome of face-to-face political talkie talk be I wonder? 

Of course, me and the older lady did not begin our conversation with politics or Christianity, but somewhere along the way while discussing children, husbands, and vacations, she felt comfortable enough to say she did not believe the Bible condoned a woman being president, thus being over men. A woman she said, is a man's helper. I should have walked away then but, silly me explained the Scripture saying a woman is a 'helper' to her "HUSBAND" not every man on earth. In all instances of a woman falling under the direction of a man it pertains to her husband. She is a helper in the home. Point in case, Deborah, a female judge in the Old Testament selected by God to lead an army and men into battle. Deborah was over men and saved a nation, Judges 4:124 and 5:1-31.

This lady supporter of Trump's conceded to that interpretation of Scripture, regarding women rulers raised by God but then said Kamala Harris is not a Christian. WHY DIDN'T I WALK AWAY? I said Donald Trump does not model New Testament Christianity. Abandoning Christianity in regard to Trump, she said the cost of bread was lower under President Trump. Christianity seems not to matter when it comes to him. She said he mentions God whether he behaves like a Christian or not. She offered more and more talking points like Kamala mentioned Trump's name X number of times during the DNC. Yes! Duh! He is her opponent. Who else name should she mention?  And yes, she said Kamala was brown, not necessarily a Black person. And no, she did not know Jamaicans were of African descent. WHY DIDN'T I WALK AWAY. Every fiber of me wanted to ask her AM I BLACK? If you're wondering, I am, even though I'm brown. Go figure our color system.

You get where this went right? There was not one moment she did not bring up a Fox News talking point and finally she said I was ANGRY. She asked me why was I angry? It wasn't Christian of me to be angry. Something I have blogged about when writing about Republicans. Now, I was an angry Democratic Christian. OUCH!

I apologized and told her she was right. I should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger because anger did not show the righteousness of God. I was truly convicted for my behavior. I was not ranting and raving or behaving in a threatening way but, I was heated in my response to her defense of Trump and being a Christian wanting a Christian president. She PUSHED that CHRISTIANITY is what mattered most to her. She struck the nerve of my Christian background and education and overheated my protectiveness of women's issues and African American heritage. Come on! No one questions my brown color and there is an Africa-American box for me to check on most legal documents. Black people are profiled and discriminated by the same color of skin as Kamala Harris and now we are supposed to believe people can't tell who is Black? Can you say INSULTED? Enter please Taylor Swift and sing Shake It Off! I need you more than ever.

She insisted we hug things out. I obliged after I told her sometimes God has a way of bringing people together. I have been praying and working on my temper, so, today let me know I still have more work and prayer to do. I asked her also to maybe think her encounter with me was so she could HEAR from a person like me how OFFENSIVE what she said was. I told her it was offensive, and we parted ways cool, calm, and collected. Voicing how a person makes you feel is not un-Christian if you were wondering.

But, as a Christian, I was ashamed of getting heated with her, because the facts and Scripture, I quoted her were lost and all that became relevant was I WAS AN ANGRY CHRISTIAN. I failed to represent Christ, and I let my words become irrelevant. Now, she probably wasn't going to listen to anything I had to say, but I gave her an easy out. She could now doubt if I were a Christian by my actions. I had become the POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK or brown or tan whatever color since we can't recognize black anymore.

My spirit has been unsettled by the encounter. I repented of course and asked people to continue to pray for me on this temper thing. But I had read a passage in the Bible earlier this same day and I wanted to write about it here. James 2:12-13, "Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law (Love your neighbor as yourself) that gives FREEDOM, because JUDGEMENT WITHOUT MERCY will be shown to anyone who has not been MERCIFUL; MERCY TRIUMPHS OVER JUDGEMENT."

There you have it. I may find fault with people on varying topics well outside of and including politics, religion, and women's issues. But even when I find them completely wrong and unable to accept truth or facts, I am not to JUDGE them harshly. Harsh judgement may show as condemning them as crazy in every imaginable instance or a lost cause in everything important in life. It may be true, but that would be a HARSH judgement on my part.

Okay, I may not go that far. Good for me, right? Well, I'm not going to let myself off of the hook so easily as a Christian. I believe former President Obama said it best when he said we as people get things wrong, but that doesn't make us bad people necessarily. As wrong as I believe people are for USING/MISUSING religion, I must show mercy not judging them to the point of making them less than. I have to remember people can be wrong on something and be a loving caring father, mother, sibling, spouse, and yes, Christian. And this Christian who allowed a little of her temper to flare needs mercy also and not to be judged as a volatile, hostile, or an angry Christian. This interaction today should not cancel my long journey as a Christian and should not be used in determining my future as a Christian. That is what MERCY would say.

Some lessons come hard but thank God they come so we have an opportunity to grow, learn, change. We all need a little grace and mercy in our lives. Mercy is important to God. Whatever is important to God we should find a way to do it as Christian's no matter how hard it is to do. If we try, he will show us how. Why must we search ourselves and reach deep to do the hard things, things that TEST who we profess to be? James 1:2-4, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face TRIALS of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith DEVELOPS perseverance. Perserverance must FINISH its work so that you may be MATURE and COMPLETE, not LACKING anything." Which means, be happy, a chance to grow is at hand in a nutshell.

The biological age of a person may or may not line up with that person's behavior. Christians ARE expected to mature and become wise. Many trials and tests, maybe like engaging with someone you are polar opposite in political views, women's issues, and religion, can be a trial. This political atmosphere can be one of the biggest tests for CHRISTIANS. Biggest opportunity for growth. Where how we forgive, love, and show mercy to others is DETERMINING how we are forgiven, loved and shown mercy to. Scripture says it is so.

It is so easy to have your eyes open and able to see clearly what is disagreeable about others and begin the name calling. We must also have our eyes open to what is disagreeable about ourselves and make a change. Did that lady today ruin my day or help me on my journey to becoming a better Christian, a better person? Was it painful all the way round? YOU BET. Her actions and mine. Because growth is painful at times is one reason so many refuse to grow. But we owe it to ourselves and others. When you face the hard things, you become a stronger person if you keep going. A RESULT needs you to not quit. By not quitting you learn, and being able to continue, you understand great things, good things most times take time, and that knowledge gives you wisdom, peace, and maturity. You no longer belong to the 'Right now tantrum people" of modernity. You can see around the corner as the old folks use to say. 

MAGA nor Democrats are to be tossed out as having not one redeeming quality or less value. We all can and must do better. I know I'm trying.

No To Christian Nationalism

As a practicing Christian, I would like to speak about the buzz around CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM. Christian nationalism is the belief that the American nation is defined by Christianity, and that the government should take active steps to keep it that way. Popularly, Christian nationalists assert that America is and must remain a “Christian nation”—not merely as an observation about American history, but as a prescriptive program for what America must continue to be in the future. 

To be clear, Patriotism is the love of country. It is different from nationalism, which is an argument about how to define our country. 

Religion was addressed in the First Amendment in the following familiar words: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishmen of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." In notes for his June 8, 1789, speech introducing the Bill of Rights, Madison indicated his opposition to a "national" religion.

So why is there BUZZ about the Republican Party wanting to establish Christian Nationalism? Because they must have forgotten or not learned what the Christian Bible has to say about FREE WILL.

Depending on what religion we are looking at, we will find different teachings regarding free will. However, in Judaism, Protestantism, and Catholicism, we find that people are TAUGHT to believe that there is free will. Jewish teachings often state that free will is “bestowed” upon all humans. Why is free will important? One group of scholars views free will beliefs as a mechanism that allows the self to pursue self-enhancing desired states and goals and seek own wants and needs, GOD does not want you to be FORCED to choose Him, but to WANT you to choose Him on your own. No one is to IMPOSE God on anyone, its NOT Christian.

God gave us free will—the ability to think, reason, and make our own choices. He gives us commands and instructions that show us how He wants us to live, but He ALLOWS us to decide whether we will or won't obey. So both God and man have the freedom (free will) to choose and act according to their respective natures. That human nature prior to the Fall (in the Garden of Eden in Genesis) included the capacity to choose evil is apparent (because we did). Free will in Christianity teaches that God gave humans free will. This is the ability for humans to make their own decisions. It means that although God made a world and it was good, it is up to humans whether they choose to do good or bad deeds.

"Thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee" (Moses 3:17). God has told us through His prophets that we are free to choose between good and evil. We may choose liberty and eternal life by following Jesus Christ. We are also free to choose captivity and death by following Satan. No one gets to decide a person MUST to a Christian lifestyle.

Of course our country makes laws which negates harm to it's citizens. Laws are not intended to legislate morality, but to ensure humane treatment of people is protacted and maintained. It goes without saying, there are laws against robbing people, not because its a religious belief, but it causes harm to others. There are laws against murder, because you have no right to take a life. This is why Roe v Wade is such a difficult debate. For many, an unborn child is considered a life. For others, because the fetus is not a completely formed, viable being, it is not considered as a living being yet. 

Christians have been given the command to spread the Gospel by Jesus. It is part of living out their faith. But even in their mandate to share the good news of Christ they have also been told in Galatians 5 13, "For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters, only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through LOVE become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, "You SHALL love your neighbor as yourself." You do not love others if you try to take their free will away.

What are the two requirements of free will? First, the freedom to do otherwise and the power of self-determination. The second is that an adequate account of free will must entail that free agents are morally responsible agents and/or fit subjects for punishment. 

There is a major example of a follower of Christ who wanted to apply his faith to the political arena whichhad disatrous consequences. The traitor, Judas.

Judas the Zealot or Judas Iscariot, is best known as the man who betrayed Jesus. Though he was one of the 12 disciples, he betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, leading to Jesus’ arrest. The Bible does record that Judas was the treasurer for the disciples (John 12:6; John 13:29). However, the Bible also reveals that Judas used this POSITION for his own personal gain. John 12:6 states, “he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.”

At the time, Israel was occupied by Rome, which was newly transformed from a republic to a massive empire of rapid conquest. In Israel, the Pharisees and Sadducees were the religious rulers of Israel and Jerusalem’s grand temple, but they were submitted in temporal matters under the authority of Roman-appointed kings or Roman governors. Israel was already a fractured land with fighting between Samarians, Jews, and other local groups, but with the Roman occupation, Israel became a hotbed of political unrest, rebellion, and oppression, making it a volatile place to live—especially for anyone following a leader like Jesus who attracted so much attention and controversy. 

Judas Iscariot, has been labeled a Zealot in the Bible by many experts. According to this perspective, Iscariot was a member of Sicarii, a subgroup of Zealots who partook in assassinations against Romans and their allies. The Zealots believed the Messiah would come as a military leader who would liberate the Jews from their Roman oppressors. The Dagger-Bearers among them were willing to free the Jewish people through what we would regard today as acts of terrorism. This theory holds that Judas was disillusioned by Jesus (his ministry of love and peace) and believed that having Jesus arrested might force Him to start the revolution.

In my book The Politics of Prayer, I say Judas wanted revolt and Jesus advocated for love and compassion. Judas was frustrated with the government rule. He turned to the powerful in a flawed idea of FORCING what he wanted. Judas did not hate Jesus, he just did not approve of his way of making CHANGE. Judas demanded action by any means necessary. Judas recognized too late the error of his thinking. He was filled with remorse and was ineffective in bringing about change. In the end, he harmed more people than he helped. Judas was actually used by those who were corrupt and sinful.

Right now in history, the Christian faith is being used in a way that is against its own teachings. Whenever religion is used for selfish gain, the outcome is catastrophic. Christian Nationalism was not practiced in the Bible. In the Bible, the religion was always given to people. The people who adopted the faith were to live holy lives and share their faith with others. Brow beating others and making laws has not been a part of the Christian faith. 

In 2 Chronicles there is a verse that reads, “ if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). God is speaking to his followers and worshippers, not to every person in the land. They are told to be humble (the practice of meekness, obedience to God, respect of self and others, submissiveness and modesty (see Colossians 3:12-13). People with humility put others' needs before their own, sacrificing for the love of others), To pray, seek God, and stop sinning, then God will heal their land.

I truly hope those representing the Christian faith realize they are embassadors of Christ. it is not what they SAY that has an affect but what they DO. Wanting others to be adherents of the Bible while they themselves are not adhering to the Bible is not Christlike. If America is a Christian nation as so many Christians believe, and Christians were practicing Christianity, our country would not be as contentious towards one another and polarized in the way we are today.

Don't forget to buy my book, The Politics of Prayer, available on amazon.com and please like, share, comment, and follow this page. Thank you.

WORKING WOMEN still attacked

    

    Did you ever believe we would be living in a time where a woman would be elected as vice president? How about we have had several women run for president, and Hillary Clinton almost made it. Today, Republican candidate for president, Nikky Haley, announces she will bne dropping out of the race. Even though there has not been a woman president yet, does not mean it will never happen.

     With Christian Nationalism rising, Christians want a return (never actually were practiced in the first place) to biblical practices and guidelines. They want to ensure every child will be born, but not have too many even though the Bible tells the Christian to be fruitful and multiply. Globally, Christians have a birth rate of 2.7 children per woman. But Muslims have a higher rate, namely, an average of 3.1 children per woman. This differential is one of the reasons that the Muslim population is growing faster than the Christian. 

    Another biblical belief, suprisingly by Christian women, is that the woman should be submissive to her husband, be his supporter and encourager, and to care for the children and household. This is not just a made up belief. The Bible does support this position of a woman in a marriage. But not the unmarried woman nor the non-Christian woman. This is a point many people seem to forget. Even men feel women should not be in high positions of leadership, especially over men due to the SUBMISSION aspect. The submission is between husbands and wives.

     Women who do venture into the world of power and authority are attacked and attacked on their appearance. First Lady Michelle Obama is taunted saying she isn't even a woman. First lady Jill Biden has been declared by Fox News as not being a doctor of education. Saying she is misusing her title in an effort to elevate herself. Donald Trump said Nikki Haley's husband deployed in the military to get away from her. The attack on the career woman is brutal. 

    On good old Facebook, a question was asked by a woman: "Should women work outside of the household and do you men prefer their wives not to work?" Well, I had to respond.

    My reply was family-based, stating that I believe the institution of family has suffered from not having at least one parent at home to rear their children. Schools, churches, babysitters, television, etc., cannot and should not instill family values, total academia, and societal laws into the sponge like mind of children.

    I said if the married couple agreed, whether it was the husband or wife, at least one person should take on the responsibility for their children's development from birth to age 18 and remain present in the home. Just my belief.

    Another Facebook friend replied to me by saying that the WOMAN should be the one at home and not working according to the Bible structure for marriage. She said women should stay in their designated place and the false belief of modern Christians that if an agreement is struck, it makes a woman working outside of the home okay (which she said it doesn't). She said she would never consider working unless her husband was ill, then she would enter the workplace.

    I went back and acknowledged the Bible is the best blueprint for correct living FOR CHRISTIANS and if it was followed the home would be healed. The problem most Christians have is they try to make everyone, regardless of THEIR religion or non-religion, adhere to the Bible. I have said in a previous post, forcing someone to be Christian, is NOT Christianity. Every person has free will. Our country was built on the premise that everyone has freedom to human rights and freedom of religion.

 I pointed out that my answer was for women in general and I was proposing a solution for the crumbled family. I pointed out the fact that the question would be moot, whether a mother should work outside of the home, if all women were Christians because we all know that every Christian married before having children and the husband would be the head of the household and what ever his income, sufficient or not, they would live within their means joyously. SARCASM ALERT. Christians also love the luxury of a two-income family. Stop playing.

    I myself became a Christian after having a child out of wedlock. Once wed, I did stay at home with my children. But, as Christian wives and mothers, what are we exampling to other Christians and non-Christians by telling them they are less if they choose to be employed? Are we saying mothers who work are NOT Christian? Can Christians have conversations with non-Christians without placing guidelines we accepted freely (the Bible) on them and yet have solutions for their very real problems and concerns in daily life? We were given a commision in Christianity to spread the Gospel (the good news), not to police every living person, determining whether they are EVIL or GOOD.

    Back to the Facebook woman saying she would work if her husband was ill and could not work. Why do rules dissappear when the head of the house is not able to perform adequately in providing for his family but not in any other serious circumstance? What if the husband's income could not feed the dozens of children you are commanded to bear (be fruitful and multiply). Is it fine for a mother to work outside of the home then? By the way, Christians are only having the number of children they feel comfortable supporting financially and emotionally which is not biblical either (Read my book "When Will Eve Be Forgiven?" for more detail on this Christian birthrate hypocrisy). Why do Christians bend biblical guidelines when it is advantagous for them, but there is no bending for the non-Christian?

    According to the Bible, the head of the household means head of the household. If a woman and the children suffer from insufficient income brought in from one working man, then the family should suffer from the husband's inability to make any income. An unemployable husband is still head of the household and the woman is still the caregiver and overseerer of the home. No one would want to enforce such a hardship on a family and tow the line that a mother should not work outside of the home.

    Christians seem to change the rules for themselves but have no tolerance for non-Christians changing rules they never agreed to follow. The Bible then, in the eyes of Christians, seems to be for the non-Christian, moreso, than for the Christian. For Christians, the Bible is fluid.

    Many people have problems with the sex roles presented by the Bible. To those not practicing the faith, the Bible seems cruel and unfair at times. Well, it is not. That is PRECISELY why the Bible is a guide for PRACTICING Christians.

    The practicing Christian knows they are not alone and have God to depend on in these types and times of extreme hardships. It is in these miracle ready circumstances (hardships, tragedy) that a greater testimony is given to the world: "When I follow God and His word, He is faithful to supply my needs." How can God demonstrate His great love and care for His followers, who obey His commands and are promised numerous blessings for following his statutes, when THEY step in and handle things themselves out of fleshly fear and concerns? THIS IS NOT SARCASM. The Bible even says Christians are a strange people not doing what the world does, but depending on Him in faith. The Christian, according to the Bible, should be a peculiar person (1 Peter 2: 9) in this present evil world. They should be distinctively different, unique, and strange. That's because they're a new creature in Christ, with a new nature that's from Christ, and experiencing a new power that is the grace of Christ. This is what separates Christians from non-Christians, not who is GOOD or BAD. The Bible says for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23. Yes, those pointing to others are also sinners.

    Christian women (some) look down on the working woman as long as their husband's have a good job, but their tune changes when finacial difficulties occur and they will take that non-Christian woman's non-biblical job position in a heartbeat.

    So, the reason for this post. Be careful of the self righteous stance you take with the world. Teach the Bible, don't change the message, but be mindful of the advice you are giving. We are ALL so far from following the guidelines of the Bible and we need the grace and mercy of God daily. With love, we should help to move others as well as self into the place of maturity God would have us all live in. We can be what God would have us to be with education, support, and not condemnation.

We live in a time of greed allowing the family structure to suffer. We live in a time where we pick and choose what part of the Bible we are willing to follow. If we all got it right immediately our world would be a dfferent place. 

    From a woman who has been a working mom and a stay-at-home mom, I have respect for the great intitution of womanhood and motherhood.