Wonderful article, Mark. Thank you so much for putting it all in perspective. I weep over those pastors who are supposed to be protecting their flock, yet not heeding the warnings about the dangerous nature of this disease and doing what is necessary and prudent. It reminds me of the joke about the man who was threatened by a flood. He rejected the ATV, then the boat, then the helicopter, all of which came to save him, telling them that "God will save me!" When he eventually drowned and came to the Pearly Gates, he complained that God had not saved him! God answered with, "I sent the ATV, the boat, and the helicopter!" The Father expects us to use our God-given common sense to protect ourselves AND our neighbors. After all, we are supposed to love them as we love ourselves, and in this case, denying ourselves the gathering of the saints is loving them as well.
Mark: I love your deep thinking! Many Christians have left the gentle, meek, kind, loving Lamb of God and are chasing after King Jesus, riding on a huge white war-horse, going-out to conquer his enemies and establishing his kingdom on earth through power. With that decision comes meanness, anger, aggression, and ruthlessness, all "for the cause of Jesus." Meanwhile, Jesus has been consigned to express himself through the weak, the poor, the servants, the helpers, the "losers," the "rejects," the "foreigners," the "sinners," and the like. The righteous ones have gone off with Caesar and now have to put-up with Caesar and his ilk. The joy has departed from them all.
Your article is a marvelous lesson for genuine Christians & 'Trump' Christians ...
I consider myself an imperfect genuine Christian who has been a Democrat my entire voting life (am 82), except when I voted for General Eisenhower (b/c my Civics Teacher & hi school debate coach who was a Democrat advised that if the Republicans didn't win this presidency, he feared we would lose our 2-party democracy!).
Of course, I also voted for Jimmy Carter while my rigid Christian siblings did not b/c a "Democrat could NOT be a Christian", nor could Catholics!
Yes, I felt convicted reading parts of your article, but to be perfectly honest, I would NOT have voted for Trump if he had run as a Democrat, b/c GOD has blessed me w/excellent discernment!!
Adds context for that expression we often hear; "could-a, would-a, should-a. It's always helpful when pursuing anything, to reduce it to it's essentials. Look forward to continued dialogue
Wonderful article, Mark. Thank you so much for putting it all in perspective. I weep over those pastors who are supposed to be protecting their flock, yet not heeding the warnings about the dangerous nature of this disease and doing what is necessary and prudent. It reminds me of the joke about the man who was threatened by a flood. He rejected the ATV, then the boat, then the helicopter, all of which came to save him, telling them that "God will save me!" When he eventually drowned and came to the Pearly Gates, he complained that God had not saved him! God answered with, "I sent the ATV, the boat, and the helicopter!" The Father expects us to use our God-given common sense to protect ourselves AND our neighbors. After all, we are supposed to love them as we love ourselves, and in this case, denying ourselves the gathering of the saints is loving them as well.
Mark: I love your deep thinking! Many Christians have left the gentle, meek, kind, loving Lamb of God and are chasing after King Jesus, riding on a huge white war-horse, going-out to conquer his enemies and establishing his kingdom on earth through power. With that decision comes meanness, anger, aggression, and ruthlessness, all "for the cause of Jesus." Meanwhile, Jesus has been consigned to express himself through the weak, the poor, the servants, the helpers, the "losers," the "rejects," the "foreigners," the "sinners," and the like. The righteous ones have gone off with Caesar and now have to put-up with Caesar and his ilk. The joy has departed from them all.
Your article is a marvelous lesson for genuine Christians & 'Trump' Christians ...
I consider myself an imperfect genuine Christian who has been a Democrat my entire voting life (am 82), except when I voted for General Eisenhower (b/c my Civics Teacher & hi school debate coach who was a Democrat advised that if the Republicans didn't win this presidency, he feared we would lose our 2-party democracy!).
Of course, I also voted for Jimmy Carter while my rigid Christian siblings did not b/c a "Democrat could NOT be a Christian", nor could Catholics!
Yes, I felt convicted reading parts of your article, but to be perfectly honest, I would NOT have voted for Trump if he had run as a Democrat, b/c GOD has blessed me w/excellent discernment!!
Adds context for that expression we often hear; "could-a, would-a, should-a. It's always helpful when pursuing anything, to reduce it to it's essentials. Look forward to continued dialogue
I always enjoy and appreciate your words of wisdom. Thank you for your courage and faithfulness.
I could not access your reponse.