Comments on: Election-Year Musings: Part Two

By: Aster Dibaba

Aster Dibaba — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 20:19:13 +0000

Hello Mr Yancey,where is everybody? Has the Election gone so well people are not commenting? I for one don’t like how my brothers and sisters in the Lord are talking.I really believe,we are wasting a precious time,and not bring people to desire what we have.You know, we don’t have to save the world,just only the ones that read us,everyday,even in our own household (those are the difficult,too,close for comfort!)
Well for what its worth
aster dibaba.

By: Aster Dibaba

Aster Dibaba — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 02:56:45 +0000

I have been thinking lately,what would Jesus really be saying about His friends,acting just like everyone around them?I am a sinner,saved by His grace,following Him, as close as I grasp what His Word shows me.When I listen,on my iPod,what the Prophets,were saying in their time,I am moved to cry,sometimes,I just sit in my power chair and ask God for mercy over our Country.I was also remembering,what a good missionary friend of mine asked,after being out of the country for a long time,”what were the Christians,the preachers….doing when, good became bad,when sin became a mistake,Holly Bible is no longer relevant, parents should not make their children feel bad, by making their self esteem suffer….”In short,why are Christians acting and looking like everybody?”I am wandering what she would ask if she is alive today? Please let us stand in the gap. Aster Dibaba

By: Govinda

Govinda — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 16:51:24 +0000

I wnoedr what these divisions are about exactly? This would help one try to see what the pretense of unity might be. However, it seem to me that in the previously mentioned material with regard to climate change the scientific world itself is in a real dilemma privately and publicly. Does the lack of a concise unified voice within scientific world about this issue, bring into question it’s value? What might one think of last years climate summit? Do the results diminish the credibility of the whole task? Perhaps, if one wants to see it that way.As with the church diversity within the church does not mean lack of unity. There will always be areas of greater influence within different churches groups. However as a graduate student have I met many different types of Christians and denominations where their commitment to Christ and their commitment to each other is plainly obvious. The Christian part of Christianity would probably depend on the individual. From an orthodox theological position those know are known by Christ through faith. Most divisions are doctrinally focused, that is why people have the idea in these blogs that interpretation is causing it,it is only part of the issue. Perhaps more importantly are the theological implications behind them. Just as the climate change issue has more import implication behind the disagreements, namely our survival. The environment does not need us to continue but we need it. Doctrinal debates and these types of issues have been around from the time of the apostles. A Christian may come to different conclusions, say a Catholic will lean towards the church as the authority for it’s focal points. A protestant will side with Luther and be sola scripta having the Bible is the authority from which to develop a world view from. Knowledge can help one perseude another in any field towards a better understanding. There have been division within the church that is true. Unfortunately there have been some real wallies in the church but also very influential people whom history praises. As mentioned above science is experiencing the same within itself. Can I judge the divisions I see as a reflection of the whole based on one part, I don’t think so. The cartoon seems to show some extreme examples, hey, that is why satire works.

By: Rendy

Rendy — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 13:56:52 +0000

I think this kind of thing is esapcielly difficult with politics and politicians. Particularly when it is all happening in real time.As for the TEA party, I think it is probably true that there are Dominionists in the group and there have been any number of attempts to co opt it. I even remember seeing a video of Alex Jones disrupting a TEA party once. And the Lyndon Larouche sorts tried that early on too but they were put down fast.The TEA party people maintain that they are just a bunch of Americans fed up with the utter incompetence of our government and their tax and spend programs that never do any good. It seems to have started with the now famous Rick Santelli rant, and then someone named Amy Cramer (sp?) picked up on it and organized the first rally, and it turned out there was a lot of dry tinder for that spark to ignite nationwide. And so the movement happened. They are independents, Republicans, and disenfranchised Democrats and have labored to not fit into any particular mold no matter how hard the left tries to cram them into one (and the less appealing the mold the better. There is now a game called TEA Party Zombies. Oh brother.) Because the movement is comprised of so many people from so many different backgrounds, they have also had as one of their early views the determination not to get involved in the social issues. They don’t want to be aligned with the Republicans, per se, though in general the Republican platform is supposedly similar, fiscally. Therefore they tend to get Repub speakers (when they have politicians speak) and give their approval to Repub candidates. But they say they would also give approval to a Dem should he/she be about the same things the TEA party is about. Not sure how they could stay a DEM that way, though. Maybe socially, but not fiscally.In my state, for 2010 we had a TEA party candidate on the ballot as a Repub for Congress. She didn’t win against the entrenched Dem who will be in Congress until he dies because of the way the districts are divided. He has a hefty number of urban people who strongly tend to vote Dem in our already liberal state. The TEA party candidate did really well and looked like she was going to win until one particular area’s votes were counted. This congressman has that area in his back pocket and will therefore always win. It really stinks as she was so much better grounded. She is the mayor of an area town that does very well for itself. It’s a great town and I think she would have been a good addition to congress. But nope. Anyway, I think that’s pretty much what the TEA party is trying to be about. I like the TEA party and have really been liking what Sarah Palin has been saying at their rallies lately. I love that she tells it like it is. She is skewering everybody that needs to be skewered. Not just Obama and the Dems, but the permanent political class as a whole and the horrendous media, who more than deserve it.JanH

By: Ann Gaylia O'Barr

Ann Gaylia O'Barr — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 01:51:03 +0000

Hubert Humphrey said something about never having enough jails or policemen to enforce laws that a significant number of people disagree with. Better to lead by example and influence than force our beliefs on others through laws.

By: Maria

Maria — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:47:17 +0000

Dear Brother.
You really deserve appreciation, Praise the Lord. I am so blessed by the words Jesus is delivering from your soul, I would really love to invite you to bring the Gosple in my country, I am Evengelist and I really keen desire to meet and hear the living words from you. Blessing in Jesus.

Evg.Maria

What is your country, Maria?
Philip

By: Greg Denholm

Greg Denholm — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 04:53:52 +0000

In reference to my response to part 1, I have reflected somewhat and wish to alter something I said. While emphasising the difference between the way of Jesus and the way of worldly power (a valid point), I asserted that neither of these two ways comes to fruition via the other. I believe I went too far here, and inadvertently misrepresented the nature of the Gospel. Through his Son, God has plunged himself right into the midst of our sin-ravaged humanity. Jesus grew up in our midst, played with us on the street, ate and drank with us, walked with us along the road, relaxed and rejoiced with us, prayed for us and with us, got to know us and allowed us to get to know him: he “made his dwelling among us”. We who seek to follow Christ are clearly to do likewise: to make our dwelling among unbelievers, wherever they may be. This surely includes the realm of politics (shock, horror). Those of Christ’s followers who are called into politics have a mandate to be Christ’s incarnated presence among politicians, lobbyists, image makers and powermongers of every description, influencing public policy so that our communities more closely reflect God’s values of justice, mercy, righteousness and neighbourly love.

A proviso, however: Whilst the principle of Christian involvement in politics is sound, the challenge is to avoid allowing the dirtiness that is so often an inherent part of the game to infiltrate our own hearts. If we are to be Jesus’ presence among those vying for worldly power, we must do so faithfully, humbly and graciously or we defeat ourselves.

By: pooben naidoo

pooben naidoo — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:38:02 +0000

Dear phillip

I recently read your book “Jesus I never knew” and feel that the kingdom that he chose to establish is definetly for this world. I agree however that the method and objective of his will is definetly spiritual. Jesus chose to fight oppresion hypocrisy and crass materialism in his day. Indeed He died for this reason. He also died so that we may experience the fullness of life.

It is our duty to participate fully in shaping the destiny of the world especially in achieving the 7 beautudes. I therefore feel that the spirit of freedom, love and decency of ordinary americans who are mostly christian should be the basis for participating in the election. As a south African I pray that Americans should vote for peace and justice in the world. The World is in dire need of a peace that passeth all understanding.
Love pooben

By: aster Dibaba

aster Dibaba — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:35:44 +0000

May God continuously give you wisdom and grace.I would like to humbly,suggest to all Christian people who might be thinking to take or not take stand in some of the public issues, to read, F.B.Meyer’s book called “Moses”Just like we are benefiting, reading Mr. Yancey’s books for our times,M. Meyer’s wrote great book on leaders and people being involved in supporting those politicians that are out there living The Beatitudes and The Ten Commandments,in front of the watching world.

By: Linda Whicker

Linda Whicker — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:23:05 +0000

Love your blogs and inspired by your books, but bewildered by your comments here concerning the Ten Commandments. Jesus may have repeated all ten except for the Sabbath, but surely the fact that the fourth commandment is the only one of the ten beginning with the word “Remember” is significant.