Posted on 04/04/2002 5:18:27 PM PST by rintense
Should we pray for the wicked? Of course we are told to pray for our enemies, for those who despitefully use us.....yes, we are told to do that. But that does not mean we call hatred and spite something other than it is and it does not mean that we refuse to rejoice in righteousness when it resides in our leaders!
I agree - and have confessed to God - my loathing of the Clinton sickness. I know I must learn to pray for them. I am wrong not to do so. Though, I have indeed prayed for our leaders (in general) including Hillary Clinton as a "leader" since she became a Senator. I never prayed for Bill Clinton - except: "Deliver us from evil".
And definitely agree - if President Bush ever does anything like the former inhabitants of OUR HOUSE did - we will hold him accountable....just as he said today, he is holding Saddam Hussein accountable. And just as each of us is accountable for our actions and our decisions. But this President has made a commitment from day one to honor and respect the office of the Presidency and his position as our leader of all Americans - and he has sought faithfully to do just that. We respect and admire such faithful and accountable actions! What a joy!
Like the pharisee, Darth?????? Please. The Pharisees trumped THEMSELVES and their false righteousness. They also lorded it over the people they were supposed to "lead", laying burden upon burden on these people. Jesus denounced them as a brood of vipers, didn't he? He did not mince words at their wickedness and hypocrisy. In fact, his only real anger was directed their way!
If that is what you are seeing on these Daily Dose threads - than I think you are missing the gist of what is posted here.
I do not and have not seen any self-righteousness here. I have not seen any pharisee type behavior. For heaven's sake. I beleive our President views himself, like Paul, with great humility and as a "chief sinner" in need of God's help and guidance! I certainly view him as in need of God's help and strength and guidance - but as one who, like David, honors and delights in His God!
I certainly see myself as the "chief of sinners" in need of God's forgiving grace every moment of every day.
I see this President, like most of us here, as DELIGHTING in lifting the burdens of oppression which is on the backs of people the world over! He talks over and over again about the responsibility of leaders to their own people and he abhors leaders who are not acting on behalf of their citizens but who are oppressing and enslaving their own people - and even killing them as Saddam did when he used chemical weapons against thousands of his own citizens!
I believe President Bush is inspired by the love for freedom that dwells within the heart of every human being, planted there by our God, our creator, who created us in HIS IMAGE. And, I believe, further, that President Bush is the greatest advocate of freedom of human beings and an end to oppression of human beings that we have seen on the world stage in a very long time.....primarily because of his seeking of God's way, rather than his own.
If he could "have his own way", I believe our President would do whatever he could to set captive people's free all over the world. And he is doing what he can to call on all world leaders to take actions FOR their people rather than SELFISHLY for their own power!
But having said all this, Darth, that is not phariseical. It is GODLY to seek to end oppression. It is GODLY to take responsibility for one's actions and to expect the same of others. It is GODLY to walk in humility and dependence upon the God who calls all of us to such a life!
That is one of the things so WINSOME about this President! He has a sense of humility but firmness that is simply unmatched among leaders in my memory.
Please rethink your classifying of the dose as pharisee-like. I truly believe that is a midjudgement of what is going on here - bigtime!
I believe our President is asking Israel to stand down from its actions because he knows that a breakthrough for "peace" cannot be found without such restraint. However, I also believe, that our President knows (still) that Israel has every right to defend itself from terror attacks. He has said so and this President abhors lying.
He is surrounded by advisors of all kinds. We know this. Because of his humility as a leader, I believe he may defer to the advice of some in his administration who are NOT worthy to be listened to - especially those in the Dept of State and those from previous administrations who are, how can we say, of the liberal persuasion.
All the more reason, it is OUR RESPONSIBILITY - those of us who believe in prayer - that we must PRAY for him and for his representatives to be about the path of TRUTH.
I actually do not agree that Israel should stand down - not yet. I believe Israel has every right to defend herself, whatever that takes - just as we do. (Again, I know President Bush believes this also). But the President must work for peace there - and he is making every effort to do so. Did you see that he was asked in the news conference why he waited a week to ask Israel to stand down? In other words, he is criticized for not acting soon enough by some to ask Israel to stand down and he is criticized (by many here) for acting too soon in asking Israel to stand down!
He said he believes his decision and request came at the RIGHT TIME!!!!
He must stand by that decision! We can only pray that somehow God is at work in it and in all things in that part of the world. We must pray for the "right voices" to be heard among his advisors. We must pray for the peace of Jerusalem. And we must trust the rest to God who is at work in the world even as we speak.....despite the wishes of all those who would do Israel and America harm!
And, frankly, we should encourage all who say they are believers to do what God tells us to do: To turn from our evil ways, to confess our sins, and to seek His help! And He will hear from heaven and heal our land! THAT IS OUR JOB - the President has his to do. I as a believer have mine! That is all he or we can do!
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