My Politicized Faith

​There is the saying going around, 'God is not a Republican or a Democrat.' I look at the major candidates for the upcoming presidential election, Donald Trump or Joe Biden, and I go, YUP, you nailed that one on the head. 

Trump, while I do believe he did a good job when in office I don't really like him, but Joe? He is a hot mess. He is in decline cognitively, and appears to be a puppet manipulated by others.

No offense intended for those of you who like either of these frontrunners, but just 'blurting' my opinion.

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The real issue of the day is there are too many issues.  There are so many ISSUES with more opinions regarding these ISSUES.  Then, the politicians weigh in, and since an election is coming up, their politicized views are loud, bold and more often than not, completely partisan.  

AND... In my opinion, politicians are like taxes. There are too many, they are unfair, lack reason, they never go away. ie Mitch McConnel and Nancy Pelosi are on my non-partisan short list of politicians overstaying their welcome.
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​So I watch the 24/7 regurgitated news to catch up on current events.  BAD IDEA! This is not reporting news, they are News SHOWS all for ratings, while delivering politicized narratives highlighting hate, rage, protests, division, and wars mostly promoting some sort of pagan ideal. Truly void of any Godly message of hope.

And have you noticed the absence of GOOD NEWS? These stories are as rare as Big Foot sightings.
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So what's a sincere believer to do?  Turn to this 66-year-old Christian cartoonist for advice?  I would be flattered, but it is probably not a great idea.  

But if you want snarky answers to complex problems, I am available. 

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Someone recently posed on X (formerly Twitter) the question... What are the most important issues to you in the coming election?  This got me to respond the following in no particular order and I could not pick just one.

THE BORDER - our open border put us all at risk
NATIONAL DEBT - spending, and waste at all levels of government is out of control
HEALTH CARE - It appears to be about greed first, then maybe actual health care. AND today 'health care' includes abortion, and gender affirming 'mutilation'.
CRIME - is out of control with no real consequences
JUDICAL SYSTEM - coddles the criminals, and at times persecutes the victim.
MSM - Is a Godless entity that spews hate and lies. It is a DARK FORCE.
GENDER ASSAULT - men are men, women are women. Anything else is perverse and empty.
LGBTQ+ - Is out of control, and a perversion of natural God designed sexuality.
ABORTION - it is NOT Healthcare (mentioned above)
VOTER FRAUD - we need same day voting with voter id ONLY
CIA & FBI - are on a rogue power trip answering to no one.
FEMINISM - It does not empower woman while distorting the true complementarian roles of men and women.
REVIVAL - Christian values, a return to being a Christian Nation. Our nation is in decline, but... 
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.2 Chronicles 7:14
note: This verse is not just for Israel!
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The good news is that the answers we are looking for are found in our Bibles.  Even simplify it more, Love God and care for others... the rest is details. (my paraphrase of Matthew 22:36-40).

​I know I know, these details are so essential, but not so important that we lose sight of these two greatest commandments.

• LOVE GOD: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:30.  
• LOVE GOD: Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.  Psalm 33:12 needs to be spoken loud, believed, and honored in Washington.
• LOVE GOD: But we know that there is only one God, the Father, who created everything, and we live for him. 1 Corinthians 8:6 We don't need to apologize for believing this; we need to share it.  There is only one way to Heaven.
• LOVE OTHERS: Love your neighbor as yourself. Mark 12:31
• LOVE OTHERS: The religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27. ​

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These scriptures are not broad-brush answers for our hurting world.  What chance does our nation have if we do not obey God's two greatest commandments?  What real chance does the world have in addressing the border, terrorism, racism, hunger, sickness, and war if you don't truly love God and care for others in the moments of our days, and maybe next year with our vote.

I pray these words encourage you to love God and others like never before. Be true to God and His word in all that you do.

Jeff (politicizing in the Back Pew) Larson

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