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Editorial See other Editorial Articles Title: The Lord Is In Control So Don't Worry (and Above All, Don't DO Anything) There seems to be a mindset in the evangelical community today (though it's not really new) which seems to me like the great neutralizer of the church. It seems most prevalent in those you could wish had more vision and were more active, but sadly, they are not. They seem to be possessed of the idea that if God is in control of all things (which He is) then there are some areas where believers just don't need to bother getting involved. Should you tend to become "involved" in one of these "forbidden" areas, (which I seem to have a tendency to do) they will question you about any comments you happen to make. The question they usually start off with is "Do you believe God is in control of all things?" If you answer yes to that the next question will be "Then what are you so upset about?" The intended result of this line of questioning is, in many cases, to shut down your complaint so you will feel a bit foolish for having brought it up and carrying it any further, especially if you are in a group. At which point you are supposed to quietly bow out of the discussion and let it return to such important areas as "personal holiness." Why discuss politics, history, or the present state of our decaying culture when you can dwell on personal holiness? This somehow becomes the end-all of all discussion. Let me state here, before someone jumps up screaming, that I am not against personal holiness. The Scriptures enjoin us to seek to live holy lives, to treat others as we would be treated, and, realizing we can't do that in our own strength, we must admit that we need a Saviour who has done all this perfectly for us and now sits at the right hand of the Father, Jesus, the God-man. Along with this, at least for those of us in Reformed circles, there should come a certain outlook, a certain worldview if you will. Part of that worldview is that God is very concerned with what goes on here on earth and He wants His people to be concerned about it also. We are not just supposed to "get saved so we can get to Heaven" and that's all there is. Since "the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof" I believe He wants us to be concerned about all areas of life--education, culture, art, music, history, --and that most dreaded of all--politics. God wants His people to be involved in what happens in the world. He wants them to be concerned about it. He wants them to be knowledgeable about it. Many of our problems in this country today, along with our lack of repentance, are present because most Christians just don't want to be bothered. It's too much trouble and effort to learn about a problem and why it exists, so why bother. Much easier to just say "Well, it's all because of sin" and drop it there. If the Lord is in control He'll take care of it so I don't need to do anything about it or know anything about it. All I need to do is to "trust God" and go on my merry way. Oh, there is one other thing I need to do. Should someone come along that points out this particular problem I need to try to keep their comments to a minimum so no one really gets shook up over this situation (especially me). The evangelical protests against any possible action run the gamut from "If God is in control, don't worry about it" to "You're not showing much love talking about all this stuff." The idea being that, if you were just a little more "loving" you would be content to give evil politicians a pass. The idea that Christians could also be "loving" by seeking to expose the evil has never occurred to them, and probably won't, as long as we can keep those who raise sticky questions quiet enough. Many of these are the same folks that tell you that Romans 13 means that you must give unquestioning obedience to anything government at any level wants to do. They have the "authority" and so you are just supposed to cave in, feel the jackboot on your neck and thank them for it. The concept that governments are responsible to God, and that, under God, their authority is limited, is something else that never occurs to them. It's lots easier just to knuckle under than it is to find out what government has the legitimate authority to require of you and what it does not. No one is questioning that where government fulfills its God-given functions it should be obeyed. But what's to be done when it starts usurping functions it has no God-given right to? That's another question--and one many in the evangelical community would prefer not to deal with--so just do whatever they tell you to do and shut up--after all, it is the government, legitimate or not! This mindset, carried to its logical conclusion in this country would leave us still as part of the British Empire. After all, the English said we had no right to govern ourselves, and so we should have just sat down, kept quiet, submitted to the tyranny, and never seceded from Great Britain--right? Our current regime tells us we will be forced to buy "health insurance" or go to the slammer, and it has performed, along with the other regimes before it, many unconstitutional actions. The current evangelical response to all this is "God is in control so what are you so upset about?" The thought comes to mind that, possibly, God has allowed some of what has happened to provoke a response from His people--repentance yes, but also resistance to evil. Yet the response of many is still "Hey, the Lord's still in control so don't worry about it." And some will, if you point out these things look down their noses at you for being such a cretin as to even dare to bring up some of these issues. You're supposed to be silent, cave in to tyranny, all the time seeking more "personal holiness." Another thing we learned in Reformed circles is that the Lord works in history and that He is often pleased to use "means" (sometimes people) to do some of what He wants done. This is another idea that seems to float way over the heads of many evangelicals. I've made the statement I started out this paragraph with to some who just stare blankly at me as though they have no concept of what I am talking about. What if the Lord should decide to use people to upset evil politicians' machinations? It wouldn't be the first time. Oh, we don't discuss that. It's not a debatable topic. It might require getting involved and learning something new and we're not sure we're ready for that, so quietly throttle the one who makes such absurd suggestions and lets all get back to personal pietism. If you've read this far, you might think I tend to be a little ticked at some of my fellow believers for their almost total lack of response in areas they should be concerned about. I'm forced to admit you'd be somewhat correct. I've been listening to evangelical responses in some areas for almost four decades, and most of it boils down to "Why are you telling us about the current Marxist in the White House when, in love, we should just be ignoring what he does and loving him?" I wonder if any of these folks have ever had the novel concept that "loving" whoever the current occupant of the Oval Office is might just entail exposing some of what he'd done or is doing and calling him to repentance. And this doesn't apply to whoever is currently the president. After all, they don't call Washington "Sodom on the Potomac" for nothing. As long as we continue to play the "Just love 'em and don't get excited or upset over anything" game, nothing will change. The country will be judged and eventually go down the tubes. Whether some of it can be salvaged by secession or not remains to be seen. And the church will be judged also. I think the Lord would like a response to some of what is happening, and, in the main, I don't think He is getting one.
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#1. To: X-15 (#0)
Was Christ upset at the moneychanging kikes? You're goddammed right He was. Was He pissed off at the religious leaders? Hell yeah. Oh hell yeah. And these fuckwits think that it is wrong to be upset? They had better not bring up that argument with me. It would not be a wise decision on their part. "Personal holiness" my hairy white ass. They are cowards. Useless as tits on a bull cowards.
Some leaders of the anti tax movement dismissed them as "namby pamby Christians" decades ago. They are worthless in any struggle against the govt. If it was left to them they'd still be eaten by lions as the main attraction in The Coliseum. Some don't mind murdering unarmed abortion providers, but they don't want to risk immediate martyrdom by attacking any armed agents of Satan. Oh no, when it comes to that they suddenly brim with dignity, grace and tolerance, even if those agents are murdering children on orders from the govt.
Like Al Benson pointed out in the article: when push comes to shove it's time to whip out the old Romans 13 verse and slink off to the shadows secure in a false rationalization.
The interesting part starts at about 1:02. I"m sure you know about all this, but for the edification of the newbies we have this video as proof, and many like it. What was the saying? We will have freedom when the last politician is hanged by the guts of the last priest? Or words to that effect... .
I find it extremely ironic that the same traitors that will use this argument are also calling Christ a sinner. Christ would not have, and did not obey, this argument. Now what is that chapter really saying? And why are they deliberately misinterpreting it? (that 2nd question was purely rhetorical).
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