ColdDrink

I was getting ready for sleep when I checked my emails and found this from my younger sister posted five hours earlier. She is clever and liberal enough to have written it but it sounds professional. She gave no source and did not respond to instagram. I will post it anyway because it is thought-provoking and in-your-face for some.

"We might just change our minds about whether we as a nation even want God’s blessing.

Blessed are the poor, Jesus says, not the prosperous.

Blessed are the mourning, not the triumphant.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth, not the imperialist mentality who boast that America is greatest and others should obey its will.

Blessed are the merciful, not the vengeful, not those who refuse food to the hungry or refuge for the immigrant.

Blessed are the pure in heart, not those full of greed, self-interest and manifest destiny.

Blessed are the peacemakers, not the warmongers, the war machine, the might-making-right.

To be a nation blessed by God would be quite a sight to behold indeed.

Somehow, I don’t think this is the kind of blessing politicians and the patriotic are talking about.

In fact, I imagine they’d say asking for this kind of blessing would be downright unpatriotic.

But truly when we say “God Bless America,” this is what we pray for.

My guess is most of us are thankful God’s never exactly answered that prayer."

Rufus Loc: Deep South

A little twisted but I suppose we can all get off the mark when we get passionate and see the moral decline that has taken place in our lifetimes. Yep, I am sure I have been guilty of being overly judgmental and pious at times. It is something I ask God to help me with often. Good post. It is thought provoking.

Dummy Boy Loc: Michigan

....your prayers are falling on deaf ears....hypocrite...notional christian .....

Rufus Loc: Deep South

Yes we know. I shall pray and ask God to open your ears.

ColdDrink

Hmmmm, a "little twisted": how so? It seems spot on to me, but then my sister sent it.

Rufus Loc: Deep South

I stand corrected. I went back and read it again and realized it was written with good intentions. I guess I have become skeptical and pessimistic in today's world. It seems if we don't examine things critically we may be taken advantage of. Forgive me for jumping to conclusions. Your sister may have something here.

Blade_Runner Loc: DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

Obviously, Rufus, "Sis" doesn't have a clue what Jesus meant. Never forget Paul's words to his son, Timothy. (Ephesians Chapter 3)

Rufus Loc: Deep South

I shall look it up in the morning my friend. Thank you and goodnight.

ColdDrink

Please share how those words to Paul's companion, Timothy in Eph3, totally negate my sister's post. I am really curious and need your inspiration and insight.

Blade_Runner Loc: DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

Sorry, I meant Ephesians Chapter 6. I was thinking of II Timothy Chapter 3.

There is considerable ideological bias in your sister's post. It is just another indictment of our nation as the world's worst bad guy.

Why don't you read carefully Ephesians Chapter 6 and II Timothy Chapter 3 first?

The America portrayed in your sister's post is not the America our Founders created.

God will not bless a nation that no longer honors Him and has turned away from Him. Our prayer should be to ask God to forgive us and to once again praise Him.

Dummy Boy Loc: Michigan

Rufus Loc: Deep South

:thumbup: I have Ephesians 6:12 memorized." For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." NIV

alabuck Loc: Tennessee

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I can understand fighting, "... against the rulers, against the authorities of this dark world ...," (we may differ on their identities), but who, are, "...the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms ...," supposed to be?

To me, the, "...spiritual forces of evil..," wouldn't be "heavenly;" they'd be from hell. Did Paul mis-speak? Did a translator mis-translate? How could there be ANY evil in Heaven?

Rufus Loc: Deep South

Here is an example: Satan goes to God's throne and asks permission to put Job through all kinds of trouble. I hope someone else who is more knowledgeable on this will chime in. I simply do not know if Satan is still allowed in heaven or not. But we do know there is a spiritual battle going on. Possibly, God allows Satan to move about in the heavenly realms for now. But we know what happens in the end. Remember God is omniscient. What seems like a long time to us may mean nothing to God. The Bible says a thousand years is like a day and a day like a thousand years to God. I simply do not have a good answer. Wish I did. Either way I am not bothered. God is in control and Satan is defeated. It all ends well. :thumbup:

alabuck Loc: Tennessee

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ColdDrink, I'd say your sister recognizes the hypocrisy that permeates our "Christian nation." But, she left out some parts, where we were told to: take care of foreigners, the homeless, the hungry, the unclothed, the sick, and the poor. And, that we're to "give freely" (not begrudgingly or reluctantly) of what we have. In fact, we're told to give away ALL we own and to follow Christ.

How can one do all that, and still hold proudly onto our "capitalistic economy" philosophy? How can we, a "Christian nation," try to keep out "foreigners" and look upon them with disdain? If we are "ALL, one in Christ," how can we even be divided into various economic classes, religious denominations or races? How can we openly judge one another about sin when the one who judges will be judged by his own standards?

It seems that "Christians" are very good at cherry-picking those Bible verses that can be massaged to buttress their own selfish attitudes and, at the same time, be used to disregard the "heart" of Christ's message (the Beatitudes). We've become very good at pointing out the "sins" of others, while ignoring our own.

I don't need any man to tell me of my sins; or anyone else of their sins. Anyone who does is sinning by doing so. They are bring like a Pharisee. They are trying to be my judge. That's God's job, and His job, only; not theirs.

I was born a sinner. And, I continue to be a sinner. But, by God's grace, through His redeeming sacrifice, I have eternal life. Not by my actions or words, but only by His grace. I don't need the approval of any man. God's grace is sufficient for me.

I applaude your sister's post. And, I don't care if she authored it or not; it is still an outstanding post.