Open Blogging: 05/06/2023

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32 Responses

  1. Michael says:

    “America has turned from God and desperately needs another spiritual awakening, author and pastor Greg Laurie says in a new video in which he encourages Christians to pray for the nation.

    “Our nation is in trouble now. We have so veered from the distinguished character of Christian,” Laurie said. “We’ve forgotten these roots that this nation was built on – the soil of liberty.”

    Laurie, the senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship, recorded the video for the National Day of Prayer, which fell on May 4 this year and is observed by people of faith nationwide. Laurie made the video while standing on the property of Mount Vernon, George Washington’s home, in Virginia.

    “I’m reminded of a quote by General Washington. I will loosely paraphrase it – ‘to the distinguished character of patriot, it should be our glory to add the even more distinguished character of Christian.’ And I think it’s very important to note that Washington had faith in God. He believed it was the Lord Himself who directed him,” Laurie said. “Do you know he was never shot in battle? And he was in the thick of it. Incredible.”

    The United States, Laurie said, has fallen far from the times when Washington was president.

    “It’s time for us to really pray for our nation that we would return to the Lord again. Second Chronicles 7:14 is the verse that often comes to mind, where God is speaking contextually to the nation Israel, but I think principally what is said there applies to any nation, including the United States. The Lord says, ‘If my people which are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways’ – God promises that ‘I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land.'”

    America “needs to be healed,” Laurie said. First, though, the nation must repent.

    Laurie encouraged Christians to “pray that we see another great spiritual awakening, another Jesus movement, another Jesus revolution.

    “Our nation needs it desperately,” he said. “But let it start with you and let it start with me as we pray for America.”

    I’m tired of Greg Laurie and tired of this endless scripture twisting and revisionist history.

    The Chronicles verse applied to Israel as a nation in covenant with God…the only nation that has ever been in a covenant with God. America is not in covenant with God. America is another beast empire that will go the way of all beast empires.

    America was founded on the “soil of liberty”…for white male property owners, many of whom believed it was acceptable to own another human being as property.

    America can neither repent or “turn to God”.

    America is not in covenant with God, nor are all Americans of one faith, nor have they ever been.

    This sort of nationalism warms the cockles of the hearts of many, but it’s manure theology and a complete distraction from what the churches actual mission is.

    I think we are all grateful to live in a place with abundant resources and personal freedoms
    It makes it very easy to be a Christian and it allows for a more comfortable life than most live.

    We thank God for this.

    However, if Greg really wanted to see God move among us, he would start by calling the sects he belongs to and the political party he has aligned with to repentance.

    That, unfortunately, has always been too hard for Greg, when flags and platitudes bring applause.

  2. filistine says:

    flags and platitudes also bring donation$.
    that said, one can pray for our leaders, political, community, religious, familial, etc.

  3. Michael says:

    fil,

    Truth.
    Donations make the world go ’round.
    Indeed, we are commanded to pray for our leaders…it’s a part of most traditional liturgies.

  4. Michael says:

    On a more amusing note, Trey called me yesterday all excited about a movie he watched…”Jesus Revolution’…”do you know this story”?….yea, I’ve heard it…

  5. Em Wegemer says:

    Michael @9:54 am
    Sound words….n. IMNSHO

  6. JD says:

    Today’s experience and attitude:
    God commands all men everywhere to repent (except for me, myself, and I). In other words everyone else needs to repent. Me and Him are best buds. His blood is flowing in my veins. And so on ad nauseum.

  7. Em Wegemer says:

    “blood flowing in my veins?”
    AHEM 🙄

  8. Captain Kevin says:

    “do you know this story”?….yea, I’ve heard it…

    That’s hilarious!

  9. Jean says:

    Laurie: “The United States, Laurie said, has fallen far from the times when Washington was president.”

    I would really like to know in what specific ways, according to Laurie, the United States has fallen?

    I wonder how many Americans, if understanding and given the choice, would trade the year of their birth for being born in the 18th Century?

  10. filistine says:

    I think Laurie is speaking into the void that is left when people rely on others to tell them what to think and believe. The history is there to be read and researched, but we’ll just rely on ol’ Greg to tell us what’s up and not. The Apostle Paul commended the believers at Berea for searching the scriptures to see if what he told them was true.
    I don’t envision the Greger welcoming the fact check…just the fat check.

  11. Captain Kevin says:

    Do you think Greg is purposely trying to deceive, or does he truly believe this version of American history?

  12. Michael says:

    Greg is just repeating the tenets of the American civil religion…probably has never read a history book in his life…

  13. Michael says:

    9 people shot to death in a Texas mall tonight…

  14. filistine says:

    Capt.
    I think GL is a smart person, but not an educated person. I think he is a pragmatist and will say and do what works for his aims. I don’t think he is attempting to deceive, nor is he committed to being informed and accurate. He’s sloppy and successful.

  15. Michael says:

    Well said, fil.

  16. filistine says:

    Michael–I don’t know how to respond to news like that anymore. It grieves me, frustrates me, and weakens my hope and resolve for the future of my kids and grandkids. Solutions are elusive, platitudes are empty.

  17. Michael says:

    Fil,

    Amen and amen…I grieve for the world I’m leaving my godson…he deserves far better.

  18. filistine says:

    The gun violence seems to be escalating–random, extreme, senseless–wherein the only reasonable explanation revolves around mental health crises & hatred. The glut of guns, both legal and illegal, and their capacities to kill and maim so easily and thoroughly are certainly a factor. Rational & responsible gun owners cannot fathom such misuse of a treasured “right” and react to any solutions that might impinge on that right. I’m afraid the value of human life is less than the value of our guns & ammo.

  19. The New Victor says:

    That the USA is going post-Christian like the EU and GB is obvious. I think that many of the problems are better solved in the secular domain.

  20. Officerhoppy says:

    Going? I think we’re already there

  21. Captain Kevin says:

    Fil: “I don’t know how to respond to news like that anymore. It grieves me, frustrates me, and weakens my hope and resolve for the future of my kids and grandkids. Solutions are elusive, platitudes are empty.”

    Pretty much my reaction as soon as I saw the news. This world scares the hell out of me.

  22. Alan says:

    When cultures lose their restraint – when they have no internal boundaries violence is predetermined. It is cooked into the stew.

    Nihilism yields exactly what we are getting; murder, suicide, rampant violence (ignored by government) sexually rapacious appetites, idolatry.

    I too hate Christian nationalism but not the river banks that the Judeo-Christian culture afforded the western world.

    We are reaping the whirlwind

  23. Muff Potter says:

    Greg Laurie is a mountebank.
    Plain and simple.

  24. Michael says:

    Alan,

    There is much truth to your statement.
    However, only a fool would believe that those river banks can now be reinforced without radical changed repentance from those who call on the name of the Lord.

    We better get started now, because this show is about over…

  25. Michael says:

    I just put it on the list…looks beautiful…

  26. Muff Potter says:

    I hope he’s caught and punished.

  27. Alan says:

    It is over; given over!

  28. Captain Kevin says:

    John MacArthur Tells Seminarians Not to Speak at Conferences With Women, Even Though He Has – Daily Digest – The Roys Report

    Just when I wondered if MacArthur could be any more of an ass.

  29. bob1 says:

    CK,

    Sad, yes?

    Something tells me he hasn’t sunk to the bottom of the barrel yet.

  30. Captain Kevin says:

    bob1,
    Unfortunately, you’re probably right.

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