And you see, what he said there I find completely repulsive. In my eyes, he crossed a serious line.Brack wrote: ↑Thu May 20, 2021 1:05 amLast January, Franklin Graham compared the 10 GOP House members who voted to Impeach Trump to Judas Iscariot. It was a very dumb statement from him. But I am happy that Graham is willing to move on from the election, and that he got the Moderna COVID vaccine. I also got the Moderna COVID vaccine.
It's kind of like this for me. My former now deceased pastor during all of my growing up years, never once commented publicly. Not once. Not ever. Pray for peace? Sure. Pray for a fallen world? Sure. But his main objective was to teach directly from the Bible with no theatrics, and bring people to Christ.
Period.
His son is on Facebook. I grew up with him and his sisters. Truly, their mother watched me after school until I was old enough to be a latch key kid and watch myself. I knew this family at church and home. Basically lived with them in a way. Church was my second home. They essentially took part in raising me. I was friends with his sister until I got married and left home. All my growing up years, I knew this family publicly and privately. NO political talk ever inside the church or outside. I am sure he and his wife had political discussions privately. But they did not bring any of that into church and no hint of it in their home. NONE.
His son (a business man) posts political stuff all over his Facebook. Trump type stuff. Far right type stuff. His sister is married to a preacher. HE posts political stuff on his Facebook. Same thing...far right. I honestly think that their father would disapprove.
If you look at my Facebook there are zero political posts. ZERO. Why? Because I don't want to influence anyone nor do I want to make my family and friends (near and far) feel uncomfortable because they do not share my political leanings. The closest I ever came to anything political was probably posting quotes from Dr. King.
Let me address Dr. King. Where I think Billy Graham felt called by God to preach the Gospel and he did, I think that Dr. King believed he was called by God to the civil rights movement. Dr. King had the Biblical knowledge, the Black experience, the education and the charisma to do what he did. He chose passive resistance. In my mind, he looked to the nature of Christ. He spoke out, he protested peacefully. Nothing makes me think differently of either man who felt their calling was from God.
The Bible warns against certain things. Some of which are found in Paul's Catalog of Sins or also referred to as Vices. Here are the 7 deadly sins that Paul warned against. Pulling these off the Internet.
Lust
Gluttony
Greed
Sloth
Wrath
Envy
Pride
Do NOT tell me that we don't see those that I bolded aren't present in many of today's politicians. Trump alone ticks off all the boxes.
What about lying, theft, and idolatry? Are those not present in many of today's politicians?
So this is my thinking. When it comes to presidential candidates, we're hiring someone for a job, and we're faced with a choice of candidates. We vote, we hire, we see the end result of our vote whether the newly minted President meets or fails to meet our expectations. Then go from there. Kind of like giving Caesar (the state/country) his due.
I don't think that any Christian should hitch their public wagon to any politician. I don't think that any Christian should be promoting a political candidate publicly. I don't think any Christian should be wearing things like campaign hats or use bumper stickers (whatever stuff) because it amounts to idolatry.
Which is what we are seeing in terms of Trump's standing with the GOP as I type this out.
Call me crazy. Call me old school. I positively hate it when I see EV's or any other high profile religious leaders or pastors preaching from the pulpit, promoting a political candidate or ideology.
We're supposed to hitch our wagon to Jesus Christ, not place our trust in one man. Bible says that as well. Taking that further, I believe that our vote is between our conscience and God. That we are not to promote any man nor try to influence others or intimidate others into promoting any man.
Period.
So when I see Franklin Graham promoting the LIE that is Trump, I see him as engaging in idolatry and placing his trust in man, not Jesus. Is he not kissing the ring? A Christian is kissing the ring? Are you kidding me? As for issues, I think the Bible covers probably all issues and so long as preachers or religious leaders are teaching directly from the Bible, not putting their theatrical or political spin on it, then any Christian who has a Bible to open and examine, can easily sort out issues for themselves, though I will admit there are some issues that are very difficult to sort.
Period.
If anyone thinks my thinking is flawed, feel free to challenge me. I don't care if anyone does.
K, I feel better now that's out of my gut.
