Posted on 11/29/2019 4:47:17 AM PST by Kaslin
Two weeks ago, two prominent evangelical supporters of President Donald Trump, Eric Metaxas and Franklin Graham, had a discussion about the election, the current political situation and opposition to the president.
"It's a very bizarre situation to be living in a country where some people seem to exist to undermine the president of the United States. It's just a bizarre time for most Americans," said author and radio show host Eric Metaxas.
"Well, I believe it's almost a demonic power that is trying," Graham began before being interrupted by Metaxas who replied, "I would disagree. It's not almost demonic. You know and I know, at the heart, it's a spiritual battle." They then pivoted immediately into the economy as evidence of how good people have it.
The mainstream media rushed to characterize Graham as suggesting all opposition to the president is demonic. It is naturally understandable, given the conversation, that they would go there. But then that raises the question of all the opposition to Barack Obama when he was president. Romans 13:1-2 reads, "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment."
Both Obama and Trump were put into the presidency as part of God's master plan. If you are a Christian, you cannot deny this. Certainly, scripture is clear that man's law does not trump God's law. Refusing to pay for abortions despite a government mandate is scriptural. Praying for the president and paying taxes, even if you oppose where the money is going, is also scriptural.
The problem with the conversation, as with so many conversations these days, is that too many want to characterize their political opponents as enemies, not just opponents. I would agree that something wicked is stirring right now. Scripture is clear there are things unseen, both good and bad. We should be perturbed at the rise of mass shootings, the renewed aggressiveness of abortion rights advocates, the censorious demands of LGBT activists and more. We should also be perturbed at the number of Christians who think they need a strong man in the White House to protect them when they claim to worship the God of the universe.
Americans across the political spectrum need an abundance of grace more than ever right now. We -- and I use "we" intentionally -- are all so quick to presume bad motives these days. We are all so quick to presume someone is bad because they have a different worldview or ideology. Our society cannot continue on if we are not willing to live and let live. Our founders embraced the idea of federalism because they knew a new nation as diverse as ours should be allowed communities of common interest.
Unfortunately, the United States Supreme Court and activists across the country have long worked to exterminate communities of interest. The values of urban, progressive areas are increasingly legally required to be the values of socially conservative areas. A decade ago, progressive activists asked, "How will my gay marriage affect you?" The answer, a decade later, is that my business may be shut down if I do not provide you goods and services. My children will be ostracized if they do not run from their parents' faith.
Evil preaches tolerance until it is dominant and then it seeks to silence good. The only cure for the rise of intolerances and censoriousness is grace. We must be willing to understand that those who fundamentally disagree with us simply have a different understanding of the world. We must work to find common ground where we can and show grace where we cannot. We must be willing to let others live their lives in ways fundamentally different from our own and not feel compelled to have them conform. If we, as a nation, are to survive as one people, we must be willing to be friends in disagreement.
We, as Christians, will either stand up for God’s Truths right now, or, as history so plainly tells, we will stand up for those Truths in the Coliseums or gulags.
The Revolutionary War partly occurred because the situation was rapidly becoming one where King George was going to make people stand up in the gallows and against the wall.
Are we coming to that situation now?
Nonsense.
This whole 'turn the other cheek' claptrap is what's gotten US into this devolutionary spiral.
This article should've come wrapped in a white flag.
“If we, as a nation, are to survive as one people, we must be willing to be friends in disagreement.”
Easier said than done.
If you believe the Bible is true, please read Romans 13:1.
I agree with you. I despise the doormat philosophy of modern Christianity. CS Lewis says Christianity is a fighting religion. We need to fight.
“ We should also be perturbed at the number of Christians who think they need a strong man in the White House to protect them when they claim to worship the God of the universe.”
So just kick back and let God run the show, right? Don’t worry about those pesky powers and principalities, or any such other. It’s all good, right Eric?
What a maroon.
That is your opinion, to which you are entitled too. Prove that he is a Never Trumper. You can’t, and that is factual
“We should also be perturbed at the number of Christians who think they need a strong man in the White House to protect them when they claim to worship the God of the universe.”
Thanks Eric, but I don’t need YOU as my spiritual adviser!
Eric, THAT was a STUPID statement! We live in THIS fallen world where satan is god. “The god of this world/age”.
So don’t disparage MY faith with your claptrap.
We’ll talk about it in heaven, IF you are there.
Sorry, EricK. You don’t even know how to properly spell your own name.
Both Obama and Trump were put into the presidency as part of God's master plan. If you are a Christian, you cannot deny this. Certainly, scripture is clear that man's law does not trump God's law.
I see his logic and I don’t agree and that I cannot deny.
Yes, God gave humans free will and we may do as we please. That’s in the contract, but His master plan is that we are to choose to please Him.
Regarding obama as being God’s master plan? No ... not seeing that, but His Plan says that all things work for the good of those who love the Lord ... eventually. Is that what Erick is saying?
Because, I don’t think obama’s making America go against God by violating His Commandments as daily policy and by removing God from all aspects of American life are part of God’s master plan. That I will deny.
Scripture has many examples for us to follow, or not, and records the consequences. As a Christian, that is something I cannot deny and obama’s way is NOT God’s Way.
And as Christians, or simply as people with a sense of self-preservation, we should have denied obama access to power over US.
What will be a part of His plan is our consequences for our choices, which is why we had the chance to choose Donald Trump as a way to change them.
This fits with His Plan, so perhaps this is what Erick, the former Never Trumper guy (imho), is talking about?
Jesus came to save us first before He comes back as Judge.
Last election, we chose wisely ... barely. Right, Erick?
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