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To: ransomnote; generally; TEXOKIE; mairdie; little jeremiah; bagster; TXBubba; TheTexasMom; ...

Hi all, sliding here,

*************

Question for you my FreeQy FRiends. As you all know I get up to my eyeballs in conservative activism whenever I have an opportunity. I totally understand that most conservatives don’t have the opportunities I do at this point in my life because we conservatives 1) work and 2) we have family time as first priority.

My church is spending this month in a series where we submit questions and each Sunday morning the questions are pulled from a box with the pastors answering them as they are drawn. Last Sunday there were 3 questions that ticked my political hot buttons. I did not disagree with the pastor’s Biblically based answers but I feel often as believers we let things slide thinking God had things in hand so we aren’t supposed to do anything.

I’ve intentionally addressed this to some of you FRiends of other denominations and I think a couple who perhaps don’t identify with a particular faith because I’d like a broad response. I have 2 more Sundays to figure out how I want to ask my question.

It’s my biased opinion that our involvement in our Constitutional Republic can’t be addressed directly with scripture because there were no Constitutional Republics in Biblical times. Kings, judges, military dictators etc. I want to know why more Christians in my church do not feel compelled to participate in governmental activism. The founding of our nation is based on Judeo-Christian values with the expectation of citizen participation. And while I do know that prayer is the right, first answer for all I feel God expects more from us in our wonderful, unique form of government.

How can I phrase this question to bring out more than “God instructs us to pray for our rulers.” Am I just pushy and bossy about this activism thing? Not every activist does what I do. Plain old phone calls and letters are vital. This thread hosted by our MoD is vital as is every shred of research here, at 8chan and all other places. Q and our blessed President Trump are opening the door for us to take back our country but every one of us on this thread and all other Q forums know we must work to stay informed and diseminate truth and light.

I will apologize now if anyone is offended that I’ve brought my church in here. I just sincerely want to consider this from both within the walls of my church community and from the viewpoint of others outside the church. Feel free to PM if we need to carry this off-thread.


117 posted on 03/16/2019 6:08:26 PM PDT by Wneighbor (Weaponize your cell phone! Call your legislators every week.)
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To: Wneighbor

God helps those who help themselves.

I think you are right to be actively Christian.


124 posted on 03/16/2019 6:24:33 PM PDT by Melian (Check yourself before you KeK yourself. ~ Melian)
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To: Wneighbor

Maybe bring up the point:

Is the country (county, city, state, fedgov) better off if people with principles, morals and belief in God take an active part in governance?

Or is it better off with if the above people just stay home and go to church and pray?

Were the Founders active in government and before that, in rebelling against an unjust government, or did they leave all that work to others?

Did most of the Founders have strong spiritually based principles and believe in God?

I think those points may be useful. There are many, many quotes from wise men that are very supportive of the principle that people with morals, principles, good character and faith in God should work for the benefit of others by being active in public life, as much as they can.


145 posted on 03/16/2019 7:03:24 PM PDT by little jeremiah (When we do not punish evildoers we are ripping the foundations of justice from future generations)
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To: Wneighbor

I’m not quite sure how to pose it as a question, but a couple of points I’d try to make are these:

1. Faith without works is dead. James 2:20

2. We are expected to be good stewards of God’s gifts. IMO that means ALL of His gifts - our money, our time, our talents, our VOTES.

3. I don’t think we are all expected to do exactly the same thing, because we all have different talents. But I do think we are expected to do our best with what we’ve got.

It may give you some comfort to consider that some people might already be “activists” to the best of their ability. For example, I’d rather see parents spend time and effort raising conservative, moral, Christian children instead of being obvious activist (virtue-signaling) do-gooders whose kids are disasters. To be clear, I’m NOT saying that you are a virtue-signaling activist do-gooder!!!! In fact, I think you’re the GOOD kind of activist!

And yes, you can be an activist and a parent at the same time. But we all have priorities and we all have limits on our time.

Some people make calls. Some people write letters. Some people march. Some people post on FR or elsewhere. Some people put up yard signs. Some people put bumper stickers on their cars. Some people talk to family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, .... Some people run for office. Some people volunteer to work on campaigns.

Some people are exhausted trying to care for children (small or not so small), care for ailing parents or elderly relatives, the disabled. Some people are exhausted just trying to make ends meet.

I’ve come to realize that sometimes a quiet, steady presence sends messages that marching and shouting do not. (Nick Sandman, e.g.?) That said, sometimes people can be encouraged to move a little bit out of their comfort zone and do a little more.

It seems I went a little off topic here, but hopefully at least some of my points are helpful.


168 posted on 03/16/2019 8:05:56 PM PDT by generally ( Don't be stupid. We have politicians for that.)
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To: Wneighbor

While peeking ahead (I’m way behind) I noticed your post. I have a verse in Romans you should consider. It states in Romans 12:18 (NASB) “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”

Notice the first two words it says, “If possible.” Quite simply this must mean that there may be times when it isn’t possible. Then the following phrase says, “so far as it depends on you.” Again there must be times when you won’t have any say in the matter. This means you won’t be able to achieve the final part of this verse. Where basically another person will not allow you to be at peace with (them) all men.

So what does one do? Well verses 19 & 21 tells us what not to do. It says don’t do anything for revenge’s sake, or don’t repay evil with evil. So, if you are keeping your nose clean, so to speak, you have a wide variety of options available to you. Think about your responses and use them in a way to try to effect change. You maybe can’t stop their hatred if they don’t want to change. But verse 20 is saying God will sort that out with them later.

Words that may get brought up in this type of conversation might include confrontation or righteous indignation. Strong words. However, as long as one humbly remembers they aren’t perfect I see no reason to shy away from being bold in your response if necessary.

WWG1WGA


185 posted on 03/16/2019 8:32:34 PM PDT by Kalam (Poor me, I have lost my tagline :())
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To: Wneighbor

https://www.amazon.com/Listen-America-Jerry-Falwell/dp/0553149989

Jerry Falwell’s Listen America describes a Christian’s responsibility to be an active participant in public discourse and government.

I’ve used many of his points for presentations that I have done. Get the book while you can as it is out of print.


204 posted on 03/16/2019 9:04:19 PM PDT by stars & stripes forever (Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. Psalm ( 32:12))
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To: Wneighbor

Christians are expected to speak out. I remember when I was a child, the preachers on the radio talked fearlessly against crap that was happening in government and elsewhere.

Then came the 501C3 and the IRS can decide to terminate that. (Today’s type of 30 pieces of silver). That really turns the decision as to what a pastor can say over to the Government.

Many Church leaders seem to have been impacted. This SEPERATION of Church and State crap is bogus-that phrase does not appear anywhere in the Constitution. Our Founders expected the Parsons to speak up - not shut up.

Here’s a couple of my favorite bible scriptures and a link to several others. Perhaps one of these will help you:

Ezekiel 3:18 ESV
If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.

2 Timothy 4:2-4 ESV
Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

https://www.openbible.info/topics/speaking_out_against_sin

JMHO Hope it helps.


226 posted on 03/16/2019 10:07:17 PM PDT by greeneyes
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