life of a female bible warrior

Texas Flag (Photo credit: sylvester75117)

As a Christian, living in a red state under Republican rule is challenging. I hadn’t thought it mattered all that much though until recently when I began to see the Republican party actually impacting my life up close and personal.

Like I wrote in my last posting, “The Next Voting Cycle,” I am actually one of the people in Texas who will not be permitted to enjoy the Affordable Health Care Act because I live in a red state that decided to tell the rest of us that we’re going to opt out of what President Obama so freely offered.

I can write the good governor, my congressmen and senators, (and I will), but they’re predominantly all conservative Republican so I’m not sure it’s going to do much good to tell them that I intend to vote them out as soon as humanly possible — and thanks a whole lot for all they’ve done for Texas, ( mild sarcasm).

As a Christian, instead of cussing them, I have to pray for these misguided politicians and the people who erroneously who support them. I have to do this instead of allowing myself to get discouraged and resentful because my negativity isn’t going to help anything; it’s not going to change anything either. Getting angry about this won’t help a thing.

Red States, Blue States (Photo credit: dannysullivan)

I’m not sure how on earth taking away poor people’s food stamps, or their option for affordable health care is biblical or an example of “loving thy neighbor as thy self;”

I don’t know how encouraging the destruction of the environment and the wildlife upon it is Christian.

I don’t honestly understand how one pooh pooh’s scientifically proven global warming, or supports spending tax payer money we supposedly don’t have to purchase an unnecessary war machine. None of these are Christian values taught out of the New Testament by the disciples of Jesus Christ or Jesus Christ Himself.

I’ll never get how gun violence is actually supported by the religious right who claim Jesus Christ as their guide. I don’t grasp how they claim it’s Christ-like to support and pack concealed handguns and blow away their neighbor if they feel so inclined to do so.

As a Christian in Texas or anywhere else, the written words of Jesus Christ tell Christians to exhibit behavior that shows the fruits of the Holy Spirit in their lives; this is how we know someone is Christian, by their love one for another.

Jesus didn’t obsess over the economy, prosperity, and scratching one’s way to the top no matter who one stepped upon to get there. Jesus basically despised the holier than thou, self righteous lovers of Mammon. He told us what would happen to those who served riches and loved money more than their fellow men and women.

Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day. A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores.

It happened that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried. In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom. He cried and said, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue! For I am in anguish in this flame.”

But Abraham said, “Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in the same way, bad things. But now here he is comforted and you are in anguish. ”

— Luke 16:19–25

Red State (2006 film) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I’m comforted by this parable in that even though I live in this red state where I was born and raised, where the rich run things and could care little to nothing about the poor, the sick, fatherless, widows, single parents, or the unemployed who are scratching  to eek out a living — it’s okay. It’s all right because God sees what’s going on and He cares.

These right-leaning men and women who claim Christianity, but actually support an approve the likes of an Ayn Rand satanic economic philosophy spouted by wonder boy Paul Ryan, is insanity itself; it’s completely preposterous! There is nothing Christian about this and Jesus Christ is surely horrified, but what can I do about it, after all? Is anyone from that side of the fence even listening to me? I seriously doubt it… nevertheless, I will continue to write and share my thoughts about Christendom gone wrong, apostasy in the making, and the absolutely deceived who think they’ve somehow gotten this all right.

Jesus Christ said it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a lover of riches to see heaven and I believe He is right. Not every Christian Republican voter flies under this banner that I’ve laid out, but quite a few do and many of them live right here in good old Texas.

These religious right Christians insist that the sins of abortion and homosexuality are an abomination before God, preaching intensely in their self righteous fury, and they are blind as one who strains at a gnat and swallows a camel. They don’t see their own abominable sins! They really don’t!

Ahh well.

Things are as they are and I’m just going to fix my mind upon what Jesus said while I sit in this red state and think about my inability to receive the health care that President Obama kindly tried to arrange for me and others who are in dire need of it, who also live in red states. And I will think about the following words as I watch Republican values playing out before me in a state where I have no choice but to accept what is.

So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many are called, but few chosen. Matthew 20:16

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” – Matthew 6:19-21,24

When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”Matthew 20: 24-28

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Matthew 19: 21-24

“And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in; it chokes the Word, which becomes unfruitful” – Mark 4:19.

In Wikipedia we read:

‘Thus, Jesus cites the words of the prophet Isaiah (Is:61.1-2) in proclaiming his mission:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” — Luke 4:18-19

Luke, as is well known, had a particular concern for the poor as the subjects of Jesus’ compassion and ministry. In his version of the Beatitudes, the poor are blessed as the inheritors of God’s kingdom (Lk 6.20-23), even as the corresponding curses are pronounced to the rich (Lk 6.24-26).

God’s special interest in the poor is also expressed in the theme of the eschatological “great reversal” of fortunes between the rich and the poor in The Magnificat (Lk 1.46-55):

He has shown the might of his arm:

and has scattered the proud, in the conceit of their hearts.

He has pulled down the mighty from their thrones,

and exalted the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things;

and the rich has sent empty away.’

–Luke 1:51-53

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_views_on_poverty_and_wealth

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rich_man_and_Lazarus

http://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/19.htm

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