Obama: Churches Should Focus More on Poverty Instead of Abortion and Gay Marriage
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I remember when I was a teenager in high school we learned about separation of church and state. It seemed like a good idea that we not let govt. dictate what religion we would all be.
What wasn't really talked about was the separation of morality and state. Morality is subjective they would say. But a lack of morality is being slowly pushed onto the citizens of America, maybe the whole world.
Abortion isn't moral. Gay marriage isn't moral. Is this subjective? Not for Gods people. But supposedly, Gods people shouldn't focus on Americas immorality.
Churches should focus on poverty instead?
2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
Psalm 37:25-27
[SUP]25 [/SUP]I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
[SUP]26 [/SUP]He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
[SUP]27 [/SUP]Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
Too bad they didn't teach anything useful when I was a teenager in high school. I probably could have really benefited by a good born again Christian teaching bible morality and principles when I was younger.
What wasn't really talked about was the separation of morality and state. Morality is subjective they would say. But a lack of morality is being slowly pushed onto the citizens of America, maybe the whole world.
Abortion isn't moral. Gay marriage isn't moral. Is this subjective? Not for Gods people. But supposedly, Gods people shouldn't focus on Americas immorality.
Churches should focus on poverty instead?
2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
Psalm 37:25-27
[SUP]25 [/SUP]I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
[SUP]26 [/SUP]He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
[SUP]27 [/SUP]Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
Too bad they didn't teach anything useful when I was a teenager in high school. I probably could have really benefited by a good born again Christian teaching bible morality and principles when I was younger.
V
While its galling to have this simpering little fool lecture the church, unfortunately, he's right.
If the church does nothing but lecture and takes no real, universal action -- i.e., across the spectrum of denominations and ideologies -- against poverty, disease, education, etc., why should the world listen to us?
The Bible speaks clearly about the need for a social ethic of caring for the poor, and a Scriptural grounding within Christian theology provides a primary foundation for a Christian ethic of social response to those who are less fortunate. The Lord’s directives throughout the Old and New Testaments have both vertical (God-focused) and horizontal (man-focused) dimensions that are inseparable.
As well as being the central focus of God’s Law, the vertical and horizontal aspects are inseparable. The God-focused, as well as social-, man-focused, aspects of the Ten Commandments must all be kept in order to fulfill the Law.Jesus confirmed this in His Finale Sermon to His closest disciples the night before He was crucified.
Many of us in the church think this means "doing" to please God, but nothing we do can ever be sufficient to please God. We must love Him, and love other. Unfortunately, most of us -- including me -- go around thinking, "Well, I do love others, so I'm good."
Really? What have you done to show it? Sure, you love your wife or husband, love your kids, love your church, love your friends. So what?
To fulfill the vertical aspect of our relationship with God through Christ -- love for God -- one must also fulfill the horizontal aspect -- love for mankind. They go together. By disobeying the social aspect of the Law, man is not simply guilty of breaking a social law, man is also guilty of falling short in his love for God.
I hate the fact Obama is the one saying it the loudest. Our church leadership, from the local pulpit to the seats of power among the elite teachers and modern-day prophets should be doing the same, because it's true. We can't ignore truth, but we can't ignore need, either. We should take the responsibility for poverty, sickness, pain out of the hands of the federal government and do it ourselves, for God.
If the church does nothing but lecture and takes no real, universal action -- i.e., across the spectrum of denominations and ideologies -- against poverty, disease, education, etc., why should the world listen to us?
The Bible speaks clearly about the need for a social ethic of caring for the poor, and a Scriptural grounding within Christian theology provides a primary foundation for a Christian ethic of social response to those who are less fortunate. The Lord’s directives throughout the Old and New Testaments have both vertical (God-focused) and horizontal (man-focused) dimensions that are inseparable.
As well as being the central focus of God’s Law, the vertical and horizontal aspects are inseparable. The God-focused, as well as social-, man-focused, aspects of the Ten Commandments must all be kept in order to fulfill the Law.Jesus confirmed this in His Finale Sermon to His closest disciples the night before He was crucified.
John 14, NASB
15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments."
15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments."
Many of us in the church think this means "doing" to please God, but nothing we do can ever be sufficient to please God. We must love Him, and love other. Unfortunately, most of us -- including me -- go around thinking, "Well, I do love others, so I'm good."
Really? What have you done to show it? Sure, you love your wife or husband, love your kids, love your church, love your friends. So what?
Matthew 5
47 "If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?"
47 "If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?"
To fulfill the vertical aspect of our relationship with God through Christ -- love for God -- one must also fulfill the horizontal aspect -- love for mankind. They go together. By disobeying the social aspect of the Law, man is not simply guilty of breaking a social law, man is also guilty of falling short in his love for God.
I hate the fact Obama is the one saying it the loudest. Our church leadership, from the local pulpit to the seats of power among the elite teachers and modern-day prophets should be doing the same, because it's true. We can't ignore truth, but we can't ignore need, either. We should take the responsibility for poverty, sickness, pain out of the hands of the federal government and do it ourselves, for God.
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R
the reason the church is focusing so much on abortion instead of poverty is because one represents a truth under attack and the other does not...
for a generation now people have been denying the sanctity of human life...on the other hand nobody is attacking the idea of helping the poor...the church simply has to respond...and it should not be surprising that the church is focusing its defense on the point that is being attacked...
for a generation now people have been denying the sanctity of human life...on the other hand nobody is attacking the idea of helping the poor...the church simply has to respond...and it should not be surprising that the church is focusing its defense on the point that is being attacked...
V
We have absolutely no credibility if we don't attack both!
The world looks closely at what Christians do. When we bypass the issue of poverty, sickness, injustice (and no, I'm not referring to Ferguson or Baltimore!) and rail incessantly against the moral choices of others -- i.e., abortion, homosexuality, pre- and extra-marital sex, etc. -- we come off sounding "holier-than-thou." We don't listen to one another when that is the perceived attitude, so why would the world want to listen to us?
It is also a biblical truth that Jesus commanded us to love God, and love others. Saying we love others isn't actually loving them. Loving them is serving alongside the poor and oppressed as a demonstration of God’s unconditional love for all people. We love the way Jesus cared for the poor and oppressed — and the way he showed us how to listen to children and how to look out for widows and orphans.
Jesus half-brother James established this truth.
We can't forego one truth for another. We must preach it all.
The world looks closely at what Christians do. When we bypass the issue of poverty, sickness, injustice (and no, I'm not referring to Ferguson or Baltimore!) and rail incessantly against the moral choices of others -- i.e., abortion, homosexuality, pre- and extra-marital sex, etc. -- we come off sounding "holier-than-thou." We don't listen to one another when that is the perceived attitude, so why would the world want to listen to us?
It is also a biblical truth that Jesus commanded us to love God, and love others. Saying we love others isn't actually loving them. Loving them is serving alongside the poor and oppressed as a demonstration of God’s unconditional love for all people. We love the way Jesus cared for the poor and oppressed — and the way he showed us how to listen to children and how to look out for widows and orphans.
Jesus half-brother James established this truth.
James 2, NASB
5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
We can't forego one truth for another. We must preach it all.
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You cannot legislate righteousness. Righteousness must come from God through Gods people. Gods people cannot influence their culture unless they live so close to God that the heathen cannot deny their testimony for Christ.
I do not need a law to tell me abortion is wrong. I already know that. I do not need a law to tell me men do not marry men and women do not marry women. Nature itself teaches that simple fact.
Righteousness exalteth a nation and when the wicked rule the people mourn.
For the cause of Christ
Roger
I do not need a law to tell me abortion is wrong. I already know that. I do not need a law to tell me men do not marry men and women do not marry women. Nature itself teaches that simple fact.
Righteousness exalteth a nation and when the wicked rule the people mourn.
For the cause of Christ
Roger
V
Great post, Roger, and I agree, for the most part. However, as to this:
... the Pharisees denied Christ's testimony, and He is God. They'll deny ours, too, and have grounds to do so, because we aren't perfect as He is. No matter how close we live to God, someone will always beg to differ. That can't bother us. Even when we falter, we press on.
God bless, brother.
God bless, brother.