Sunday, August 7, 2011

A Christian & a Republican & PROUD!

Yesterday, an old acquaintance from high school kinda let me have it on Facebook. After I posted something about TV news anchor Neil Cavuto saying I thought he was smart, followed his news program and like the politics of conservative Fox News Network, she made this statement about me: 

"It is amazingly hypocritical to be a Republican and a Christian." She went on: " I am not going to get into a religious debate with you-but suffice it to say if you were going to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ you would care for the sick (Obamas Healthcare plan), the old (Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid) and the poor (a variety of programs that republicans have striken down) your rhetoric and platitudes don't match your politics."

That's a pretty bold and judgmental statement, don't you think? I really started thinking about it. Am I truly a hyprocrite? Are all Republicans hypocrites? The definition of a hypocrite in Websters is ' a person who acts in contradiction to their stated beliefs or feelings.' I'm not doing anything that is against any of my beliefs.
Jesus does talk many times in the Bible about helping others and it being the duty and responsibilities of Christians to care for each other and I take that very seriously, because I follow Jesus' teachings very seriously.

1 John 3:17 says "But if someone who is supposed to be a Christian has money enough to live well, and sees a brother in need, and won't help him--how can God's love be within him?" 


Matthew 6: 1-3 talks about hypocrisy this way:

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

Just because I choose a political party that doesn't want the Federal Government to pay for everything that I need and everyone else needs, doesn't mean that I'm not a Christian. I'm not a separatist. I pay my taxes. I believe in Medicare/Medicaid and Social Security and pay taxes for that.

But, I believe the responsibility to care for the sick, needy and hopeless ultimately lies within all of us, as individuals. It is up to each of us, according to our own abilities and economic situations to help our fellow man. I'm sure there are millions of us who have helped others who need it. That is what makes American the great country that it is. We all pull together and work together to help others. Many hands lighten the load, right?



I help my brothers and my sisters in need whenever possible. My husband and I together have given thousands of dollars over the years to various churches and outreach ministries which help others in need all over the world after earthquakes, tsunami's, and floods, as I'm sure many others have. We've adopted children from overseas to help in their education and the basic necessities of life. I've visited others when they are sick and reached out to them with phone calls and homemade cards. We've helped local families in need with furniture, food. clothes and counseling. We've invited children into our home from other local needy neighborhoods who were in dire need of clothes and food. We've helped out on an ongoing basis for years, picking up and taking home children from the other side of town who needed rides so they can participate in school, church or sports activities. We've given to missionaries all over the world, who reach out to others in need, in Jesus name.
The difference is we don't shout it to the world. This is the first time I've ever talked about the things I've done or my husband has done, and I do it now only to make a point. We have done these things because we feel Christ has called us to do reach out to others, not because we belong to one political party or the other. I have always lived my life to help others and do for others, and I continue to do that. But what I do is no bodies business but me and God Almighty. I will stand in judgment in front of the Lord, and be accountable for my actions on this earth, to Him and to Him alone.

I am a blessed to call myself a Christian. I work hard to spread the Word of God to people I meet in person, on the internet and on Facebook. I believe in Jesus Christ and his teachings and I am also a proud Republican. I know lots of Christians who are also Democrats, but they don't stand on their party to do all the work. They are out there, just like I am, loving people, one person at a time because that is what God has called them to do. It has nothing to do with their political party. Jesus loves us all: Republicans, Democrats, Tea Party Patriots and everyone else on this earth regardless of their political offiliation. He could care less about your politics, He cares about what's in your heart, and what's in your soul.
 
John 13:35 says,"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” I stand on that verse, because I do love others, regardless of their color, race, political agenda or other beliefs that do not agree with mine. Why? Because I am called to love my enemies and pray for those who persecute me, so that is what I do. Plain and simple, over and out.
 
God Bless the USA!
 
My verses for today are above in red.
 
My prayer for today:
 
Dear Lord Jesus
 
Help me to be tolerate of others. Help me to reach out to them in love and prayer. Your Word in Matthew 5:44 tells me to "love my enemies and to pray for those who persecute me" and that is what I am doing. Thank you Lord that I have the freedom and assurance in You to do that.
 
In Jesus Name I pray,
Amen
 
 











1 comment:

  1. Jesus left an example of paying his own taxes. From what I have studied about those times taxes went to the very rich who felt "entitled". If some of his "coerced" money went to help the less fortunate I feel sure he would have approved. He definitely did not approve of the Enron of his day- the money changers in the temple and those who were "ripping off" the less sophisticated by selling and slaughtering animals under the lie that animal sacrifice was necessary for them to be acceptable to God. My feeling is that the harsh politics of that time are the ancestors of the politics of conservatives today who cheer for the death penalty and would let people without health insurance die. Not all conservatives are republican. Sadly some are blue dog democrats so those of who are "red letter" Christians are deeply troubled when we pray that our country will have the attitude of the Good Samaritan and realize that in helping even those we might feel are undeserving we are actually pleasing God. We simply can't rationalize about creating a "culture of dependency" to justify selfishness and greed. Our taxes should be used not only to protect our country but to make sure we do not have a large population of hungry, sick, homeless, and illiterate people trying to survive on the streets.

    ReplyDelete

I would love to hear your comments on my blog. Please leave them here and God Bless you~