A Little Something on Politics

November 2, 2020April 27, 2021 / ladygrace19 / Leave a comment

So here we are … once again on the eve of Election Day in the United States of America.

It seems like there is so much division, fear, anger, ignorance, and desperation these days. I remember feeling the same four years ago. I wish it didn’t have to be this way. But the truth is, we live in in a fallen world and there is a spiritual war going on. Satan, the Father of lies, is at work and I feel like I can see the darkness he is spreading using politics.

I often get caught up in all that’s going on and the intense emotions, and then I start to feel sick, like, “Can everyone just stop being so crazy?? I don’t want to hear anymore!”

I struggle to know what to do. How to react to certain situations. What God would have me do. What is the godly, Christ-like thing to do? Where would God have me take a stand? Where would He bid me to keep silent and live quietly and peaceably? What situations have a direct spiritual impact that we should be aware of?

Today all of this weighed heavily, until I had to run to my Father’s presence, praying through tears for humility, wisdom, and guidance. Praying for courage. For faith.

I am so thankful that my God is on the throne. And He has gone into the future to prepare the way. And He promises wisdom to those who ask for it!

⁵If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. {James 1:5}

O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
²You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
³You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
⁴For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.
⁵You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me. {Psalm 139:1-5}

I’m a passionate person and a deep thinker, so I can’t help but form strong opinions about most things, including politics and cultural issues. I did early voting this past week; I’m grateful my country gives me a voice and I plan on using it as long as I have the freedom! – To speak up about things I feel are important.

Such as the unborn person’s right to life. The freedom for everyone to worship as they choose. The right to school our children at home and raise them with the values we hold to. The freedom of speech – the ability to voice our own mind and speak truth instead of divisive rhetoric formulated to serve the powerful’s agenda. Protection from tyranny – upholding the constitution to keep our governing authorities and leaders in their proper place. Because unreserved power in a select few person’s hands is eventually abused, for mankind’s heart is wicked.

[This is an intriguing series on America’s founding fathers, the constitution, abortion, and such: Make America Godly Again]

Although I feel strongly about these issues and patriotic about my country, I do realize this isn’t my home. America will not last forever. A president will never be our savior. I am a citizen of heaven, my allegiance is to God, and I have brothers and sisters from every tribe, tongue, and nation. My loyalty is to my heavenly Lord and my family in Christ first and foremost.

²⁰For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, {Philippians 3:20}

That all being said, I’m striving to look at politics through a Biblical lens.

We are admonished in Scripture to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.

⁸He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God? {Micah 6:8}

May God continue to humble my heart and help me walk by the Spirit. To fear Him. To be wise as a serpent yet innocent as a dove. To be filled with all wisdom and spiritual understanding. To seek justice and fight for the cause of the oppressed.

I’ve tried to care less about politics and issues going on in the culture. But that is only stifling a part of myself. I believe God has given me a heart that longs to understand. A deep sense of justice and truth. And a desire for unity, compassion, and transparency in the Church…even amidst differing opinions.

¹⁴if 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 will forgive their sin and heal their land. {2 Chronicles 7:14}

God’s kingdom work takes many different forms. I feel like part of His kingdom work for me is seeking to understand what’s going on my country and taking a stand for His glory and for Christ’s sake. Fighting to stop the shedding of innocent blood is part of that. And speaking truth, even when it’s unpopular. Some of the popular rhetoric concerning minority groups is damaging and toxic, I fear. And it doesn’t appear to promote unity within the universal Church, family values, or Christ-likeness. In fact, just the opposite.

Is it really loving our fellow people to just go along with what culture tells us is right, true, and loving?

²⁴And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, ²⁵in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, ²⁶and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. {2 Timothy 2:24-25}

My heart aches because I see people falling apart. Families breaking down. Riots. Destruction. Chaos. Sin. Confusion. Pain. Hatred. Division.

I want to understand. I want to reach out. I want to speak truth and watch people’s eyes light up with life. Because the truth sets us free.

Love and truth. When we are speaking and living in the love and truth of Christ, the results we should see are people seeking the Lord, humbling themselves before Him, and selflessly loving others.

What are the prevailing agendas in our culture promoting? The elevation of self? The putting down of other people? Finger pointing and blame shifting? The worship of a certain people group? Division? Hatred? Pride? Laziness? Carelessness? Justifying sin? Lack of responsibility and taking ownership of one’s own actions?

We need to take every situation and agenda to the Word of God and ask Him about the matter.

The Word says that for lack of understanding, a people perish. A country fails. Innocents suffer.

⁶My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. {Hosea 4:6}

I don’t want to blindly follow what everyone else is doing. I want to carefully consider these things and evaluate them against Scripture and pray earnestly for direction.

Look at history. Remember the Holocaust. Adolph Hitler spoke of brainwashing the youth. If he could get them to believe his agenda, the country would be in his hands. He could do what evil he wanted. How does a whole country allow a people group, the Jews, to be treated so inhumanely? First having curfews and strange laws (like wearing a yellow star – an identifying badge) forced upon them, and then eventually being slaughtered by the masses while their countrymen stood by. How does this happen?

Maybe slowly. Silently.

So I think we have a part to play. Seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, ²for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. {1 Timothy 2:1-2}

And then rest. Rest in the assurance that He is forevermore on the throne. He is sovereign. He raises up kings, and He takes kings down. And He will keep all those entrusted to Him. And He will avenge those who have been wronged. And He will eventually judge the living and the dead, and restore the world to perfection. Ridding it of evil.

²¹And He changes the times and the seasons;
He removes kings and raises up kings;
He gives wisdom to the wise
And knowledge to those who have understanding. {Daniel 2:21}

²⁰Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law,
Have fellowship with You?
²¹They gather together against the life of the righteous,
And condemn innocent blood.
²²But the Lord has been my defense,
And my God the rock of my refuge.
²³He has brought on them their own iniquity,
And shall cut them off in their own wickedness;
The Lord our God shall cut them off. {Psalm 94:20-23}

So, regardless of who gets elected tomorrow, my Jesus reigns supreme. (Whether people want Him to or not). He will prevail over evil and darkness. And our purpose as God’s people remains – to make much of His name, implore souls to be reconciled to Him, and love with His love.

³Do not put your trust in princes,
Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.
⁴His spirit departs, he returns to his earth;
In that very day his plans perish. {Psalm 146:3-4}

Take heart, dear friend. If you are a child of the King, know He holds you secure. He holds tomorrow. He holds the future. If you are unsure of how to process politics and this election, know that you can ask God for wisdom and He will give it!

Oh, Lord God, I come before you tonight asking for You to have Your hand over Your people, over this country, and the upcoming election. Thank You that ALL things are in Your mighty hands. Thank You that we can safely trust in You and that we need not fear because we belong to You.

You are mighty and good and gracious. I pray that Your people will seek Your face and ask for wisdom, because You promise to give it. I pray that You will be glorified through Your people’s actions concerning this election. May our hearts yearn to glorify You in everything we do. Awaken the Church to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with you. Humble us, Lord, and raise us up to do your work. Thank You that Your plans will prevail.

Father, I pray for unity and compassion and deep love among Your children, for love covers a multitude of sins. Help us to be diligent about prayer. Praying for wisdom. Praying against darkness. Praying for our leaders. Praying for the hurting and the lost.

I pray for Your peace that passes understanding to cover those who are fearful or anxious about the election, the state of our country, and what the future holds. Comfort their hearts, dear Lord. Help them to fix their gaze upon You.

Thank You for Your Word, Your Truth, and Your love! You are so worthy of our praise, our love, our trust, our complete loyalty. Thank You that You gave us Your Spirit to guide us. Thank you that You will continue to grow us in to the image of Christ. Thank You that we belong to Your Family, through Jesus Christ’s precious blood. Thank You that we are betrothed to You forever. Thank You that You have gone into the future to prepare the way. Keep our eyes on You. I pray this all in the holy name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

⁷For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. {2 Timothy 1:7}

❤ Lady Grace

Politics, the Medical World, and More

February 26, 2019August 15, 2019 / ladygrace19 / Leave a comment

Hello, dear readers. I recently watched a Youtube video that inspired me. It inspired me to get real. So, just briefly, I want to talk about those touchy topics that some of us like to avoid – politics, the medical world, and more.

President Donald Trump

Building a Wall

Voting

War

Illegal Immigrants

Racism

White Privilege

Sexism

Toxic Masculinity

Feminism

#MeToo

Rape Culture

LGBT Community

Hate Speech

Socialism

Police Brutality

Pay Gap

Gun Control

Abortion

Birth Control

Vaccines

Antibiotics

New Age

Harry Potter and Witchcraft

What do you think about all these subjects?

The world can be a confusing place. We have passionate, vehement opinions being thrown at us from every direction. The media shows us terrifying or horrifying stories that make us inclined to believe this or that.

But, before you make up your mind on something, I want to encourage you to stop. Stop and research. Stop and think.

As Christians we are called to be in the world, but not of it.

John 17:14-18

¹⁴I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁵I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. ¹⁶They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.¹⁷Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. ¹⁸As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

Romans 12:2

²And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

So yes, I believe we should have an opinion about the world, our culture, and the practices around us. We should be involved in politics and social issues. But no, we should not look like the majority of the people around us.

If you are following all the ideas and movements that the secular world is, I would plead with you to stop and examine your life and your beliefs.

You should not look like the world.

Don’t blindly follow or agree with something because it sounds good and that’s what the rest of the people are rallying behind.

That is being ignorant, passive, selfish, and careless.

And I don’t think any of those four adjectives should describe a Christ-follower, at least in a general sense.

Acts 5:29

²⁹But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.

We should be wise. Knowledgeable. Strong. Set-apart. Loving. Caring. Informed. Compassionate. Vigilant. Steadfast. Faithful. Truth-seeking. Passionate. Bold. Hopeful. Selfless. Hardworking. Courageous. Different. Godly. Biblical.

Matthew 10:16

¹⁶“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

Stop buying into everything the media says and the culture tells you, and start digging into God’s Word. And I don’t mean surface-level digging … “Oh, Jesus ate bread, so gluten-free stuff is just a bunch of nonsense.” Whether or not the gluten-free lifestyle is a bunch of nonsense (I’m gf because of allergies, so I’m not saying it is!), that is just a very lazy way to approach things.

I mean dig deep. Study the Word. Study God’s character. Study science and biology. How did God create your body to work? What does God say about caring for our bodies? Study the food you eat, the shots you get, the products you use and figure out what exactly you’re putting into your body. Study history, politics, and economics. What logically makes sense if we look at the patterns and rise and fall of nations? What does God say about government, justice, and our part in it?

We need to stop thinking that our lives are just peachy and start learning about the world we live in instead escaping into other worlds by binge-watching TV shows.

This is not a game.

As Christians, we are called to live with purpose. Live intentionally. Take action. Make a difference. Love fearlessly. Fight for righteousness, justice, and truth.

We should not sit back and let wicked men dictate what our society looks like … Even going along with it because, oh, it sounds pleasant, peaceful, and safe. It sounds right and good.

What if you found out that some of the movements you’re supporting were really destroying people instead of helping them like you thought?

Abortion is about fighting for women’s rights!

But millions of babies are being ruthlessly slaughtered in the process. What about their rights? They are humans and this is murder.

We need to love everyone! Support gay pride and the LGBT community!

But such lifestyles are actually harmful and destructive – physically, emotionally, and spiritually – to the individual. There are studies showing that people who get transgender surgeries feel even more empty, depressed, and desperate than before – oftentimes committing suicide. How is it loving to push them – especially children! – into this? While God loves these people, their sin is bringing His just wrath. It is unloving of you to support their lifestyle.

Police brutality! We have too many bad policemen!

But don’t you understand how many good policemen we have? And how they put their lives on the line daily for your protection and comfort; they’re the first one you go to when in an emergency; they see horrible things you’d never want to see, etc. … and that your careless slander may encourage criminals to carelessly take policemen’s lives? Do you know how many police are murdered, and that they might actually need your support and prayers for protection??

#MeToo! Always believe the woman!

But do you know that sometimes the man is innocent (shocking, right??), and his reputation, career, and life is sent into upheaval because we want to cater to vicious and vindictive women?

People who are anti-vaccine are murders! They care nothing for their children! They are pure evil!

But have you ever talked to these people personally? Have you studied vaccines, health, the medical world, and our bodies in depth like they have? Do you know that some of the vaccine industries support abortion in the most awful of ways by putting pieces of aborted babies in their vaccines? (Can you be radically, truly pro-life and also pro-vaccine? Something that I think we, as Christians, need to seriously ponder.) Do you know about the anti-vaccine people’s concerns that vaccines are actually dangerous for their children, whom they love fiercely and want to be healthy and protected?

We need to wake up. Know what’s really going on in our community, country, and world. We need to be a bright, healing light by the way we’re involved in politics and social issues.

Micah 6:8

⁸He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?

So I would encourage you to take a few minutes to watch this video, and check out the other Youtube channels I mention below.

I’m not saying that Republican equals Christian. I’m not saying patriot before Christ-follower. I’m not saying my views are all for sure right. I’m not saying that these Youtube channels are spot-on and have everything together. But they give you something to think about. Something counter-cultural. Something radical. Something intriguing and honest and raw and real and hopeful. Something against the norm.

(Just for your information, not all of these channels are Christian (but probably the majority of them come from self-proclaimed Christians), some of them do contain some language, and I have certainly not watched all the videos! So I’m not saying that I agree with everything presented in these channels. But they’re a way to do some research beyond what the media is telling us!)

Faith and Politics (Christianity and Politics)