Monday, April 20, 2009

Fear Mongers

Fear Mongers. You know who they are and what they do. They work hard to get people to be uneasy, to be afraid, to hate someone/something by trying to convince others to be frightened by whatever it is they are talking about. They have been around for thousands of years. Oog the caveman was afraid of fire, so he tried to get others afraid of it too. Hitler convinced many people to be afraid of the Jews. The KKK tries to convince people to be afraid of African-Americans, Gays, and whoever else is on their hit list. Liberals tried to get people to be afraid of G.W. Bush. Conservatives tried to convince people to be afraid of Liberals. Now, there is a group joining into the fray of Fear Mongering - Christians.

Let me say I am NOT talking about all Christians here. After all, I am a Christian and I am appalled by the actions I am writing about here. Yet, there is a faction out there using the Internet, E-mails, Print Media (Newspapers) and even the Pulpits of their churches to spread fear about our current President. Let's take a look at a couple examples I have received in my in box this past week.

First, I get one with a "Tombstone" of the USA stating the date of birth as July 4, 1776, and the date of death as Nov. 4, 2008. The article goes on to say (and I quote):

"If Congress grants amnesty and citizenship to twenty million criminal invaders called illegal's (sic) and they vote, then we can say goodbye to the USA in fewer than five years."

Another example is one that states that what President Obama is doing "Scares the h*** out of me", and goes on to accuse the President of turning this country to socialism, being a lover of Muslims as a bad, evil thing, and other such ideas.

These are just two of the many examples I am sent by fellow Christians. Now, I have no doubt of these people's faith. Many of them I worship with, pray with, and even teach their kids in my Sunday School class and Children's Church. Yet when I have one of my kids ask me how God can love everyone, yet why does God hate Obama (they say this because their parents told them this), then it is time to raise the flag and my voice and say "ENOUGH".

Why are Christians so afraid of this man? Okay, don't agree with his policies on abortion or gay rights or the economy. Fine. This is America, where we can disagree with each other. But to send on anything that advocates hatred, fear, and even disloyalty is not the way God would want to be.

The Christian Bible, in 1 John 4, tells us "My dear brothers, we must love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves others is God's child and he knows God.

But anyone who does not love others does not know God, because God is love." (verses 7-8)

Further on in the same Book and Chapter, it reads: "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." (Verse 18). We are told numerous times not to fear.

We are commanded as Christians to concentrate on what is good, right, and true. Fear does not fit into this description. Yet, there is - for all the world to see it. No wonder so many people are not coming to church.

It is time to stop the spreading of the fear. As Christians, we need to share the peace, the hope, the calmness that comes from having a relationship with Christ. THAT is what will help people through these rough times.

Fear comes from Satan, and when we help to spread it, we are doing Satan's work. THAT is not a side I want to be on.

For me, while I disagree with some positions President Obama has, I will pray for him. I will hope he becomes a great leader. I will state my case with positive messages. THAT is, I strongly believe, what God wants us to do.








Saturday, April 4, 2009

Obama has brought about change

Throughout his campaign - Barack Obama promised us he had change we can believe in. Thousands of people believed him. I was skeptical. So I watched very carefully what Obama has done since Jan. 20. I listened to his words carefully. I waited for the reactions to his actions to be seen. Well, lo and behold, I am a skeptic no longer! I have seen that since he was inaugurated as the President of the great nation of the United States of America - Barack Obama has brought about change. It is change I can believe in.

Am I talking about the economy? No. Am I talking about his position on stem cell research? No. Am I talking about what he has done concerning the planting of a food garden in the Whitehouse lawn? No. I am talking about a change that can be taken as monumental in scope. It is a change that hasn't been covered by any of the media. It is a change that I came to realize after a comment by my wife (who often supplies ideas to me - sometimes intentionally).

What is this stupendous change? It is this: The Conservatives have changed their minds about something. Hip Hip, Hurray. Hip Hip, Hurray. Hip Hip, HurWHAT? "Wait a minute!" some of you are saying. "Wait just a Rush Limbaugh minute. Conservatives changed their minds about something? When did this happen and why didn't I get the memo?" Sorry if you didn't get the memo I sent about it. I'm a nice guy - so I'll explain what I mean. Follow me here.

Remember when George W. Bush was President (what some of you would call the "Good Ol' Days; others would call "The days of h-e-double toothpicks"). Remember when there would be an attack or denigration (perceived or real) on one of GW's policies or statements? What did the Conservatives say? "We should not attack or denigrate the President of the United States of America. That is unpatriotic. We must support the President in EVERY decision he makes. To do less is to undermine the office. We cannot allow this. It is the lousy liberals who are doing this evil thing." Yes, that is an actual quote one of my Conservative friends sent to me (and later stated almost word for word later on). Well, that was a strong statement. I was told, again by my friend, that many people held on to this view. I thought they would always hold on this view; and they did hold on to it. Until....... Until January 20, 2009.

January 20, 2009. Obama becomes President of the USA (some of you would call this "The day of freedom." while others would call it "The day the USA entered into a time of h-e-double toothpicks"). Since January 20, my Conservative friends have seemed to change their tune. Now, from the e-mails I receive and conversations I have with them, it seems to be patriotic to attack the President for everything from his economic policies to his religion to his wife's choice of the gown she wore at the Inaugural Ball. "WOW!" I thought. What a change. Under GW, it was unpatriotic to attack and denigrate the President. Under President Obama, it is "....unpatriotic if we do not stand up to his misguided policies and decisions." What a change of heart.

I am in near tears as I write this (sniffle, sniffle). Where are the Kleenex and Rose Colored glasses I occasionally wear? My conservative friends have changed their minds. I honestly did not think it was possible. Now, I see that it can happen. This gives me hope. If a Conservative can change their mind about one thing, they just might be able to change their mind on other issues. Oh rapture! Oh joy! If this can happen, I might even begin to see my Liberal friends be more open-hearted. Think how the world would be a better place if both changes really happened. I'm about to break out in a sappy, Lennonish or Manilowish song. Nah!

Mr. Keb