I have never given an endorsement to any political candidate on this website, and will not start now. My goal on here is and always has been to spread the words of Christ: To maybe in some way help someone find Christ or help them grow in Christ. But, I want to comment on a quote by one of the candidates. Senator Barak Obama is quoted as saying, “And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations." I want to narrow my comments to the “clinging to religion” part.
That is one of the problems in the world today (not just among those who know Christ, but those who don’t). The very first sign that something has gone, or is getting ready to go wrong, people who otherwise never pray in their lives immediate start talking to God. They try and cling to the very thing that when all is going well is far from them. Many of these are our Eastmas guest. You know the ones whose shadows are cast in church twice a year: Easter and Christmas. As soon as things get better, their prayer life and walk with Christ again deteriorates.
Are these people looking for a loving God? Or, are they looking for a temporary fix to their problems in the world. Doesn’t God ask a bit more of us than our calling on Him just in a time of need, or only visiting His house twice a year? Yet, for many that is the sum of their Christian walk. When things are going good they act is if they don’t know God exists. But, the minute things head south the look to God for the answers. For some of this group their Christian obligation is fulfilled with two trips to church a year.
We are called to give God glory in all things, not just turn to Him when things get rough: whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God (I Corinthians 10:31). Paul said we are to pray not only when things are bad, but all the time: Pray without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17). Without ceasing implies all the time not just when times are tight and we get bitter.
If we only look to God when things are rough and we are bitter, one day we might stand before a judge whose words seem bitter when He asks, “Friend, wherefore art thou come?” (Matthew 26:50).
Until next time May The Good Lord Bless and Keep You: All Y'all!
Bobby
Bobby Cohoon
North Carolina, USA
cohoon@embarqmail.com
14 April 2008
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2 comments:
Excellent post, Bobby!! After the tragedy at VT's campus last year, I was heartened to hear all the people talking about praying ... yet at the same time, it saddened me to think that the same people were not calling on God's name other than when they felt they really needed Him. I wanted to cry out, "He wants to hear from you on the good days too!"
Bobby,
We have some very close friends who worship with us and despite best efforts, ours and others, their faith remains superficial. I have begun praying for some bumps in their road because it is during the bumpy times they reach out for God--they study, they pray and they worship--we watch as they grow and are thankful but soon disheartened as things get better and the world takes Gods place in their lives.
blessings
neva
BTW--lest some think i am heartless--I pray that very prayer for those I love---including myself that things never get so good in my life that I forget about the life after this one.
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