Mixing Religion and Politics

This post is partly to clarify something I said earlier and is meant to elaborate on it. I seem to not be alone, if the NPR interviews I heard yesterday mean anything.

The Bible talks about the "end times" and "rapture" and the final confrontation of the anti-christ and christ at megiddo.

This scenario is filled all kinds of signs and portents. Some of these (a lot of them) seem to be happening right now. There are some serious deficits, but most folks don't even know about them so just jump on that bandwagon and say "Hey Jesus, Here I am! Come get me!"

The Bible also says that "No Man" may fortell the day of the end of the world.

However, our more fundamentalist Christian politicians seem to want to bring about the end times by producing some of the missing elements in the run-up to the end of the world. Are they the anti-christ? Are they his agents?

What about some of the more important missing elements - like the Temple of Jerusalem standing smack-dab in the middle of the dome-of-the-rock that is the Muslim holy site?

Most folks seem to forget about that. The Temple needs to be standing. It isn't standng.

Anyway - that's getting off track, and that was not what I had in mind.

I have a real problem with religious fanatics who don't read the texts they say they are following. I have a real problem with politicians trying to manage world affairs according to their warped religious views - whether jewish, christian, hindi, muslim or ?? (fill in the blank). I am really afraid of a head of state, such as the President of the United States, the Prime Minister of England or the President of Russia, arranging and managing the world to fit some Biblical end-of-world scenario.

Think about this -

If these folks are wrong (and there is a strong possibility they are), the world they want to bring about is everyone at war, everyone out for himself, and desparately needing salvation or God to step in to fix the mess. All because of delusion.

Now, let's just say for argument, that God or the Supreme Intelligence of the Universe, or whatever you choose to call it; does NOT step in to fix it.

What then?

We will be living in a world that is so far removed from the one Christ pointed out to us. It will be near to impossible to live by the Ten Commandments - even to survive a day will be difficult in such a world.

To not worship any other God than God (money is what most people worship),
No graven images (money again, sex, phallus, etc.),
No swearing, using God's name in vain (not even Sheesh!),
Keeping the Sabbath (most people don't, even the church goers mostly keep Sunday, instead),
Honoring your parents (most berate and blame their parents for what/who they are),
No murder (Not even state-sanctioned death penalty),
No adultery (fornication outside of marriage),
No stealing (not even a paperclip),
Don't bear false witness (gossip, tales, lies),
Don't covet (envy) others for their possessions (donkey or wife) means be happy in your place and leave the other person to his & quit trying to "Keep up with the Jones'", which is what brought about the economic & financial mess we are in now. Everyone needs a home, yes, but not a McMansion!

Where are you in that list?

So, back to the topic....

I don't want to live in a world where we are constantly at odds with each other. Christ said he came not to bring peace, but war, and I think I am beginning to see the greater picture.

God wants nothing more than for us to rely on Him. That's all he wants. Quit trying to manage our own lives and the lives of others and allow Him to work his magic. Several of the Bible lessons I've run across lately are of us petty little humans manipulating situations to bring about the word of God as it was guaranteed to begin with. Not having faith, but having to manipulate things. Allow God the time and space to create his miracles!! God does not promise and then not deliver. Have the faith it takes to give God room to work.

I've seen some real miracles. Hearts and lives changed because of letting God do what needed to be done. Stepping out of the way, letting go (not even a hair holding on) and watching with interest but not being ready to step in and help things along if they went sour. Sometimes, things do go sour for a while. Then, just when we have reached the end of our tolerance, patience, and the very end of our wits, here comes the miracle. Unexpected resolutions to problems and challenges. There is NO WAY a human could have dreamed up something so amazing! So much MORE than we could think of. That's God. More than we can dream.

So, my religion and my politics won't be mixing anytime soon. Except for trying to keep other people's religion from messing up the world even worse than it is, my votes are purely secular.

Sweeteners

Yeah, right, sweeteners.....

PORK! The other white meat...

I liked what that one person said -

Everytime Bush got up and begged, he lied.

Are we REALLY going to give him 700 *BILLION* dollars?

Democrats vs Republicans

It used to be "Tax and Spend Democrats" and "Fiscally Responsible Republicans"

You could count on Democrats to make government big and Republicans to make it small.

Now, we have the largest tax bill ever, largest deficit ever, and nobody is taking responsibility.

And the current "regime" is proposing we bail out the fat-cats who got us into this mess by their greed.

Right! Like "the people" are responsible.

People who barely live from paycheck to paycheck. People who are one mishap away from homelessness. People who rent, pay for high-priced gas and food, pay their taxes, pay for the government to steal them blind.

HEY! Wheres' the Vaseline! At least you could lube us when you screw us!

McCain "Suspension" and Elections

Let's get this straight - McCain wants to look like a super-responsible adult congressman and suspends his campaign to "fix" the mess - whereby the government owns everyone's homes.

Obama wants to keep going and practice politics as usual.

WAIT a Minute!! This sounds like a perfect opening for Bush, in his "infinite wisdom" to step in and "suspend elections!" Impose Martial Law on the entire Free World! hey - was that the Constitution that I saw going out the window????

McCain - YOU ARE AN ASS!!! You are playing right into his hands! There is NOTHING you could have done that says you disrespect the American people any more than what you just did.

No Government Action can fix this economic mess. Yeah, pass all the "regulations" you want to about CEO pay restrictions - they'll find a way around them. Pass all the "resolutions" you want to about keeping a better eye on the stock market players and banks. Nothing you do will fix this.

As my mother used to say, "You CANNOT legislate morality!!!" Greed is greed. Putting money above God is immoral. It is SIN! Ain't nothin' gonna fix that 'cept redemption. These guys don't believe in God, so that ain't gonna happen, neither.


Let things shake down. The Feds, Banks, politicians and "experts" are all playing God. Let go! Let God put things right. Yeah, there's gonna be some tough times ahead. A lot of people will lose the homes they can't afford to begin with. The credit card companies will see their fees skyrocket. Banks will see a lot of fees. Eventually, everything will come to balance. UNLESS you keep trying to fix it.

Fed Bailouts and Your Home

Did you realize that when the Fed bails out a mortgage portfolio, Your mortgage might be in the mix???

Yeah, that's right, Uncle Sam likely owns your home. How's that for Communisim? Socialism? Take your pick - the government owns it.

They can kick you out of your house.

Think about it....