If after reading this title you choose to not read my blog this week, I will understand. But this week I have decided to take a stand. I fear too many are being politically correct. I fear this will be the downfall of many faiths and our country.
SCRIPTURE: REVELATION 2:12, 14-16
From The Message, by Eugene H. Peterson
Write this to Pergamum, to the Angel of the church. The One with the sharp-biting sword draws from the sheath of his mouth – out come the sword words:
“But why do you indulge that Balaam crowd? Don’t you remember that Balaam was an enemy agent, seducing Balak and sabotaging Israel’s holy pilgrimage by throwing unholy parties? And why do you put up with the Nicolaitans, who do the same thing?
Enough! Don’t give in to them; I’ll be with you soon. I’m fed up and about to cut them to pieces with my sword-sharp words.
POLITACALLY INCORRECT
As the tenth anniversary of September 11, 2001 approached, I found myself having many, many questions. The main question: Why are we not speaking out? Why are we not taking a stand?
A stand for our beliefs. Are we willing to weaken our faith in the name of unity? Are we willing to remain quiet because we might offend someone?
A stand for our country. Are we willing to allow the values of our country to be lost because our elected officials have become entrenched in words like Republican, Democrat, Liberal, Conservative and Independent?
A STAND FOR WHAT I BELIEVE – FAITH
I believe in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Do I know how to explain this? No. What I do know is that God the Father comforts me, encourages me and has prepared a place for me when I leave this earthly body. I do believe God the Son came to cleanse me of my tiniest sin. Because I am cleansed, God the Father will remember my sins no more. I believe I have been baptized with the Holy Spirit.
I do not have the right to force my beliefs on others, but I do not have to water down my beliefs or integrate what I believe just so everyone is happy. God warned the church in Pergamum. They were allowing people to compromise with the world and with pagans. This is what I see our churches doing today.
I am instructed to be a good neighbor and love my enemies. I have no problem working beside and with individuals of other faiths, races or nationalities. I do not want anyone to suffer and my heart breaks when I see hungry and mistreated people wherever they are. But I do not have to agree with or approve of other beliefs just to present a unified front.
I do not have the right to kill someone because they do not agree with my faith. But I do have to right to speak out against a religion that will not censure, stop funding and remove from the Muslim or other faiths the “radical” faction that wants to kill anyone that does not believe the way they do. The shooting in Norway, the bombing in Oklahoma City, the Westboro Baptist Church protesters and the terrorists attacks on September 11, 2001 are all wrong. Radical factions are not limited to one faith nor one country, but no faith should continue to support and defend the radical factions. And when a faith continues to do so, they should not be asked to hold hands in unity, they should be held accountable.
A STAND FOR WHAT I BELIEVE – COUNTRY
I am first a Christian. Second a wife. Third a mother and grandmother. Then I am an American, but I am very concerned for the country we are handing to our children and grandchildren. I may be politically incorrect, but I believe:
I believe we need to return to strong family values. Parents need to be parents and not friends. They need to set boundaries. They need to teach their children values instead of allowing them to learn from the street, television, computer games and overpaid athletes. We need to teach our children about responsible sex, that love lasts more than one night and being there at conception is the beginning of being a parent not the end. The education of our children needs to be a priority. This education must begin in the home and continue in the schools, with the parents being involved in reading and math instead of just the Friday night ball game.
Every citizen is as important as any other and should be treated equally. Until we quit checking a box for race, sex, income and nationality, this country will be divided.
I am proud that our country has opened its arms to people, although I am also sure the original Americans wonder if things might have been better if they would have sunk those ships instead of welcoming and feeding the strange new people. I am proud of a country where people choose to live. Where individuals and families run to escape persecution, starvation, torture and death and wish to make this their home. Their country. Who bring their dreams and hopes of a better life. But we are one country and we need to be united under one flag and one language.
I welcome all who enter this country legally but I refuse to be labeled unchristian because I support the enforcement of illegal immigration laws. I honor the office of President but refuse to be called a racist because I do not support the agenda of our current President. Neither of these have a thing to do with race or nationality. It is my right to support laws and disagree with agendas.
Laws should be applied equally whether you are employed by a private or public company, self employed, unemployed, retired or working in the government. Our rights cannot harm others. Being mad at someone does not give you the right to shoot them. Having a rough time does not give you the right to rob someone. And nothing gives you the right to physically, mentally or emotionally abuse children.
As much as anyone, I hate to pay taxes but the only way this country can survive is by everyone contributing at the same tax percentage without deductions and exemptions. This is not a new idea, but it is fair.
I believe companies should either keep manufacturing in the USA or be forced to build overseas facilities equally compliant with USA environmental regulations and wage scales. The USA does not make anything anymore. We can blame this on strict environmental regulations and union demands for extreme benefit packages. I believe in a days pay for a days work but our citizens cannot work if the companies receive tax incentives and then leave the country once those incentives expire.
Our elected officials have passed so many laws no one knows what they are. They pass laws without reading them. They pass laws to get their name on a bridge. They pass laws – Our elected officials have forgotten the foundation upon which this country was founded. They are so removed from living they do not understand being without a job, being homeless, being broke, or living a normal life with shopping, cooking and paying their own way. They are so removed from living outside Washington that the only thing they do know is how to listen to lobbyist, exempt themselves from the laws they pass and spend our money. It must stop.
Our country is extremely blessed in compassion, patriotism, a call to duty and resources. But we are also at a crossroads. We no longer have the funds to finance the world. We have assisted in wars to protect the freedoms and lives of strangers. We have given medical, financial and other forms of relief following natural disasters. And we are told, by the very countries we assist, that we do not do enough. We purchase products from other countries that can be found within our own borders. We are willing to have the landscapes in other countries destroyed, to drive our cars, but unwilling to create jobs and develop less expensive energy on our own soil.
Do you know what I just realized; I have written much more than I had planned, but there just didn’t seem to be a stopping point. Also, I have written more about what I believe about our country than what I believe about my faith. I wonder why? I know my faith is solid because the foundation is solid.
Is the USA still solid? Are we standing on a solid foundation? My fear is that we are not and an even bigger fear is that our country is like a snowball, rolling down a mountain, getting bigger and bigger. Rolling away from its foundation so fast no one will be able to stop it.
No one? Oh, yes. There is one.
Lord, What power lies in my hands? None. But I do know where the power is. Thank you Lord that the power is in the heavenly realms not only in the present age but also in the one to come. Only you know what is to happen tomorrow. For today, give me patience and understanding. Give me strength and courage to stand on a strong foundation of faith and be loyal to what I believe. Close my ears to those that try to weaken your word. Guard my Spirit. Awaken this country, Lord. Remind them of the values of truth, honesty and justice. You have richly blessed our land, please open the hearts of our people and give us guidance and direction. Amen.
