Foreword:
First of all, I consider myself a moderate. Meaning, I don’t lean either way, but if I were to lean, I’d probably lean more conservatively, since our nation needs it more now than ever (spending is just crazy…don’t get me started). The thing that I’m starting to lean away from is conservatives and liberals that preach only conservative or liberal thinking, and are therefore, very close-minded. Period.
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I usually tend to lean away from a lot of Focus on the Family & Dr. James Dobson’s stuff lately because, although I still firmly believe that conservativism has it’s place, conservativism today is being packaged so drastically that it’s turning a lot of seekers away from God (factual…we see it all of the time). The main thing that is really bugging me about a lot of extreme conservative’s thoughts these days is that not all of the facts of each situation are put out there. They most usually tend to put out what they want…similar to how some denominational organizations only believe what they want to believe of the Bible, instead of all of it, as intended. The below email (forwarded to me) is written this same way.
From: response@thecall.com
“Urgent Nationwide Call to Prayer
Mrs. Shirley Dobson, Lou Engle, & Tony Perkins
Hello All—update to earlier invitation—please note phone number changes to accommodate more participants; Please forward to those who will pray in this hour…
Convergence
It is critical that the church in America understands the times and what needs to be done now. The natural things speak of the invisible. Natural happenings on the earth are revealing something that is going on in the spiritual realm. There is a great spiritual conflict with a rising tide of Islamic boldness being manifested. Several happenings are converging this week. First of all, our President has recently proclaimed, honored, encouraged the Muslim holy days of prayer and fasting called Ramadan. He was very silent on the National Day of Prayer but very vocal on the support of Ramadan. Interestingly at the same time a major Christian leader of the Emergent Church called for forty days of fasting and prayer in the same Ramadan period with the goal that the church will better understand our Muslim friends. We are all for understanding but we must have spiritual discernment as to the spiritual dark powers that are being invoked into our nation.
Cause for Concern
At the same time, on the 25th of September, Muslims are calling for a Muslim Day of Prayer in Washington DC (http://www.islamoncapitolhill.com/). They are calling for 50,000 Muslims to gather and pray on the DC Mall. This is the exact word of one of the Sheikhs who is leading this historic gathering, “Muslims should march on the White House. We are going to the White House so that Islam will be victorious, Allah willing, and the White House will become into a Muslim house.” These are not empty words. They speak of a dark spiritual intent and a coming day of great trouble to America.
A Divine Moment
Now these events are enough to awaken us to this significant throbbing moment, but when they all converge it becomes a massive spiritual alarm that must be responded to by the praying Church. This convergence, I believe, is urgently summoning us in the midst of the rising tide of Islamic influence in America to recognize that our God is above every god and that if we return to Him with all of our hearts and call upon Him with fasting and prayer then God could use what the enemy meant for evil to bring about a great day of salvation for Muslims in America.
Here is the Vision
First of all, we cannot be passive as a Church to let these kinds of developments go on without being challenged in the spirit. Our fight is not against Muslims, it is against principalities, powers, and forces of darkness. We are calling the Church of America at the end of Ramadan, from September 21st through 25th, to five days of concerted prayer. On Friday, September 25th, the Muslim Day of Prayer, we are calling the Church of America to fast and pray that Muslims would be moved by the Holy Spirit, convicted by the testimony of Christ, and even be visited by Jesus in dreams. We must pray that God would restrain the spiritual powers behind Islam and grant us the great awakening that we desperately need for America.
Calling Christians
Therefore we are calling Christians all over America to join Lou Engle, Mrs. Shirley Dobson, Tony Perkins, and many other major leaders in America to a national conference call to pray for America. Please join us on Thursday, September 24th from 7:30PM to 9:00PM Eastern in what we believe is a critical moment in American History.”
Praying for Muslims – that’s great stuff! That’s powerful stuff if we’re doing it in a manner of servanthood for them, and not in a manner of judgement or pride. They deserve the same love as anyone else. Now, I’m not negating the fact that some of the Muslim extremists have made it bad for Muslims in general…but they’re not all bad.
The problem that I see way too much of recently (and, again, this is just me!), is that conservative Christians (who don’t consider themselves open-minded, mind you) bash certain foreigners all day long, and as such, bash on their ‘religious’ preferences, as well (which, I don’t follow religion, by the way…I’m a Christ-follower, period…that’s another really good discussion for some time). Mainly Muslims, though. And what Obama did, which I heard from other conservatives, actually (certainly not mentioned in complete truth above), is show love towards those that we’ve bashed for so long…and, in a way, apologized for the American people’s rash actions and hate towards them. I believe that that’s the work of God right there, actually. But, you see, some people don’t see it that way……
If we call ourselves Christ-followers, just because we don’t believe in Muslim beliefs, some of us think that everyone else is not loved ones of God, and that they’re all going to Hell (judging them along the way)! I see this all of the time! No, what’s actually happening, folks, is our President (who admittedly doesn’t have it all straight, mind you) showing those some crazy love that haven’t been shown love in a long time….those that have just as much right to the USA as those of us that are natives. It’s America, people. Every citizen is supposed to be treated equally. But unfortunately, I know that not everyone is, and this is also being done in part by Bible-believing Christians. Sad. Really, really, sad. This is why, actually, that I’ve leaned away from even calling myself a Christian these days…I’d rather be known and attached to the idea and fact of being a Christ-follower, which is the point of this whole constant-growing relationship with Christ. In regards to our own relationship with Him, nothing else matters, really. It’s our relationship with Christ…not anyone else’s.
If we only put as much energy towards authentically loving those that need it, and just doing life with them, instead of judging and criticizing, maybe we’d have churches over-filled with people searching for truth, tithing faithfully, and fully able to meet all ministry needs throughout the world (such as rescuing ALL Indian girls out of sex trade…such despicable things, and we have Christians fighting over such stupid things).
You don’t have to feel like you have to respond. Really, no hard feelings. I just absolutely hate seeing people bash other citizens, and doing it in Christ’s name. Prayer is a good thing, but not as packaged as it is above. Not at all. That’s just calling up some dark, dark things, and I want no part in it.
-tB
