The ?I hate Lori? club
When I was in grade school I was singled out by one of my ?friends? and she started a club at recess called the ?hate Lori club.? She?d get all the other girls in on it and they?d make fun of how I was dressed or something I liked. It?s really silly to me now, but back then it really hurt my feelings. It brings to mind the subject which God has been speaking to me about?Barak Obama and Christian people. I almost didn?t post this article, but then it occurred to me that I may be falling into the trap of censorship our culture and media has set for unpopular views and speech. You know ? the one that tells me that if I?ve got something different to say then everyone else then I probably shouldn?t say it for fear I might ?offend? everyone. I feel, though, that if someone else starts the discussion by presenting their view and has made their ideas public, then my response ? be it in agreement OR disagreement ? is only fair. That?s only American; that?s what makes the difference between us and countries that aren?t free to speak as they wish. It?s not meant to offend or criticize ? it?s simply my opinion on any given subject that?s already up for discussion.
With that in mind, I?d like to BRIEFLY address the attitude I see being put forth by many Christians toward Barak Obama. Let me first say that I do not hate our president. While I certainly do not agree with many of his views and I did not vote for him, I respect him as a human being created in God?s image and also as a man of intelligence doing a job I?M certainly not qualified to carry out. In fact, there are many people every single day who have extremely different beliefs and views than I do that I interact with, befriend and LOVE. (And yes, those contrary views include evils such as abortion, homosexuality, drunkenness, etc.) I choose not to hate because I?ve been commanded to love ? not because I?m tolerant and politically correct ? but because Jesus told me to! (In fact ? for those of you who know me ? you know I?m about as politically incorrect as Glenn Beck! I?m certainly a FIRM believer in calling a spade a spade and exposing the evils of our day by the standards of Christ?s Word.)
I had to write this because, frankly, I?m ashamed of the way Christian people have spoken and continue to speak about our new president thus far. I see bumper stickers with the ghostbuster?s sign over Obama?s face next to Jesus fish. I see blogs with articles about the love of God wedged between ?hate Obama? fan clubs, etc. It begs the questions in my mind, ?Is God not sovereign? Does he not have control? Did he not allow ? even appoint this man to lead the free world for HIS own purposes? Let?s face it ? if the Lord of the Universe is in fact the Lord of the Universe, then this man ? Barak Obama ? is indeed to be respected by God?s people.
15He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. ~Colossians 1:15-18
I have to admit I probably would have been right in it with you guys had it not been for my husband. It?s simple, really, because you see every night Timmy puts the girls in bed and he gets down on his knees with them and he prays. Every night they pray for their family and friends and at the end they say, ??and God please change Obama?s heart?? They don?t pray that he?ll be impeached. They don?t pray for God to punish him. They pray for God to help him see the truth. It?s the same prayer they pray for everyone else. They chose to love someone who isn?t sure which hand is right and which is left. They chose to love the way God loves and see a person with a soul rather than a monster fit for destruction. I think that?s what God expects of his people. Just my opinion, of course.
9 But God said to Jonah, ?Do you have a right to be angry about the vine??
?I do,? he said. ?I am angry enough to die.?
10 But the LORD said, ?You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?? ~Jonah 4:9-11
Am I saying we should do things that go against conscience or the Word? Absolutely not! If laws are passed that interfere with my living a godly life then I do not and will not comply. Until that day, though, I will follow my husband?s lead and get down on my knees and pray with him, and my children, and my church for God?s guidance, protection and wisdom to be on my president ? the same as I do for my unconverted friends and family members ? regardless of his views and evil associations ? because if it?s hurtful and hateful to start the ?hate Lori club? or the ?I hate my sister;boss;uncle; coworker club?, then it certainly isn?t acceptable to do it towards a leader that God has clearly instituted.
1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God?s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God?s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God?s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
8Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, ?Do not commit adultery,? ?Do not murder,? ?Do not steal,? ?Do not covet,? and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: ?Love your neighbor as yourself.?10Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. ~Romans 13:1-10