tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20166943.post1025971471325128349..comments2024-03-18T15:28:19.721-05:00Comments on Ministry and Music - Seeking the Old Paths: Americans United, Wiley Drake, and imprecatory prayerR. L. Vaughnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10992710377193518029noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20166943.post-33749617249239068462008-03-04T18:13:00.000-06:002008-03-04T18:13:00.000-06:00Bro. Anon, when you write "Perhaps we feel too 'in...Bro. Anon, when you write "Perhaps we feel too 'in control' when it comes to voting," I think you bring up a very important point. I think we Americans have come to believe that we can raise up leaders with our votes without the Providence of God. But it is God who raises up one and puts down another. In America, our votes are part of the process He has ordained to do so.<BR/><BR/>His providence unfolds the book,<BR/>And makes His counsels shine;<BR/>Each opening leaf, and every stroke<BR/>Fulfills some deep design.<BR/><BR/>Here He exalts neglected worms<BR/>To scepters and a crown;<BR/>And there the following page He turns,<BR/>And treads the monarch down.R. L. Vaughnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10992710377193518029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20166943.post-15907206543606865192008-03-01T10:22:00.000-06:002008-03-01T10:22:00.000-06:00I've often wondered how Paul would have handled po...I've often wondered how Paul would have handled politics if voting for various Roman government officials had been available to the early church, not to mention if voting for religious officials had been available to the Jews. It's hard for me to believe that he would have remained silent as he traveled from local assembly to local assembly. Surely he would have indicated, strongly, to the church at Rome how he felt they should vote were they able.<BR/><BR/>It's a fine line: There is, and always will be, a sort of 'private persuasion' that ministers practice with their congregations when it comes to politics, but on Sunday morning when a minster has a captive audience--and getting up and walking out would send too strong a message or seem overly rude--some discretion should be shown on the part of the speaker...if politics is the subject.<BR/><BR/>Surely we stand or fall by the Grace of God...and surely this holds true for our politicians. Perhaps we feel too 'in control' when it comes to voting.<BR/><BR/>I would go into at least a four-year depression if Hillary or Obama were elected President. However, their election would not catch my God of guard.<BR/><BR/>Grace is still sufficient...even when it comes to politics.<BR/><BR/>Bro. AnonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20166943.post-77763123128581533952008-02-29T16:07:00.000-06:002008-02-29T16:07:00.000-06:00Many modern churches have given up on the power of...Many modern churches have given up on the power of God to change lives, and are fully committed to doing it through the political process. I'm sure some believe they can do both. But the purpose of churches is to preach Christ and Him crucified.<BR/><BR/>On the other hand, I think in a free country it is for each church to decide how they want to handle this rather than Americans United. I think I understand the IRS rationale of not granting tax-exempt status to political groups. If political machinations could be conducted freely without tax as "a church", then political machines could just claim they are churches and be tax-exempt. Churches kind of get caught in between here a little bit, I suppose, because many do feel an obligation to speak out on moral issues, and some suppose that also includes endorsing candidates who stand in some particular way on moral issues. Again, I'd say that churches that feel particularly strong about this should just forget the tax-exempt status.R. L. Vaughnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10992710377193518029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20166943.post-79077685106250647182008-02-28T20:39:00.000-06:002008-02-28T20:39:00.000-06:00It is so unfortunate that churches and some minist...It is so unfortunate that churches and some ministers will use the pulpit to exhort political views and even pray for harm against those who disagree.<BR/><BR/>You would think a church member would be led in their heart to vote for the candidates or issues to which they feel most resembles their convictions. Being prodded to vote a certain way by a minister is another matter altogether.<BR/><BR/>An example which comes to mind is the funeral of a Democratic senator who perished in a plane crash several years ago. There were many dignitaries present from both sides of the spectrum. Before the service was over, it had turned into a full-fledged political rally.clinch64https://www.blogger.com/profile/02450008261295839386noreply@blogger.com