marketandchurch

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Everything posted by marketandchurch

  1. Not to mention that perhaps as much as half of evangelicals are not even registered to vote. But in any case, if any of these things are true, I think it only shows my fellow Evangelicals in a more perverted light then I'd wish to see my side as, that they'd rather allow the antithetical choice who disagrees with them 100% of the time to win, then vote for the person who agrees with them 80%-90% of the time, because they can't bring themselves to vote for an impure person who isn't as principled and as close to Godliness as they'd like them to be. We know what the Left does when they get into power, and we know how much America has changed in the mirror image of their values, and how that change is accelerated whenever they gain power over an institution that has a lot of influence over society. It is ungodly to not vote for the person who is only 60% conservative, or even 30% conservative, allowing the person who is 0% conservative to win. Maybe it emminates from a feeling that we're only here in this lifetime to struggle with God, and therefore purity and piety takes priority over everything, including only voting for the pure and pious political choice. But as a covenantal society, we should take a cue from the first one, who was named Israel, and they were named Israel for they not only struggled with God, but also with man as well. And the struggle with man will be dirty, and we won't always come out of it looking saintly.
  2. I was raised Methodist, though my Mom comes from a catholic background. There are things that come out in private prayer... that I don't even share with those closest to me. I think prayer sort of lets you draw out those things you'd be uncomfortable telling anyone else, and in being open with yourself, a lot of weight that often accompanies denial or avoidance of something that may bother you is lifted from your shoulders. So it's certainly therapeutic in that sense. Also, often in prayer, you're thanking something higher then yourself, so it certainly helps in character development, in instilling a sense of gratitude, and frankly, the human being needs that. It makes for a better, humble person. So I think anything that's done in religion, is largely for the benefit of the individual doing it. It isn't here for God's sake. I don't think God needs your acknowledgement, or your anything for that matter. Prayer makes you a better person, just as worship during church service makes you a better, and tithing makes you a better person.
  3. If you care about the faith of fellow Christians, remaining Christian, and true to the beliefs and values you hold and cherish, then you have to fight. Because no one can be honest with themselves, to say that the secular environment we live in today, is good for Christian faith. So on that very basis alone, you have not only a moral obligation, in alignment with the tenants and values of your faith, to be involved in politics, but a religious obligation as well, to create an environment where members of your faith aren't being drawn away from God. Allowing such an environment to persist is to do the enemy's work for them. Inaction is action. It's a vote, and you're casting your vote on behalf of those who do fight, the majority of whom don't share your values, or the kind of America you want to live in. Many Christians just don't know how to fight, and quite frankly, those Christians who do fight are largely ineffective. So you can't blame them for throwing their hands up and walking away. Because the task is just too enormous. But there was a great rabbinic saying, that goes "It's not up to you to finish the task, nor are you free to desist from trying." And I think that's the mindset we just have to have. Ask not what God can do for you, and ask instead what God wants you to do. That's at least how I live my life, and God would have an incredible army fighting on his behalf if others asked the same: Win or lose, what does God want me to do.
  4. I'm new to the forums. Portland native of Tongan descent, I have a lot of family(as in 75%) who are in the church, have attended many services, functions, dances, fed/helped elders, etc., and have even been pursued for conversion, which didn't end well for me or my pursuers. And just to throw it out there, I'm likely never going to be a convert as I have no interest in actively participating in any form of organized religion. But I'm just here to learn more about the faith and more specifically the Mormon perspective, even if I spend most of my time disagreeing with others. I think you(the Church) have something beautiful to offer the world, and outside of a Christian Evangelical community that is rapidly declining, the LDS community and network is the only dependable ally I have, standing up for my values on a whole range of issues, from traditional marriage, to the importance and centrality of the family to making this American experiment work. So it's nice to be here, and I look forward to participating in your forums.