What are you doing here, Jacke? (Revisited)

On April 4, 2006 I wrote a blog entry, What are you doing here, Jacke?, and I discussed questions I was asking myself about why I blog and in what direction I should be going. I had this to say:

"Forgive me, God for being such a miserable human being full of petty thoughts, full of diversion away from You. Where are You? You are in the eyes of my Mother, who needs me, who calls to me. You are in the eyes of the children who look to me for guidance and actually value the example you alone enable me to set. You are in the eyes of my husband just before he kisses my mouth. You, dear God, are in the quiet, in the questions. Only You hold the answers."

And I referenced 1 Kings 19:11-13 (New International Version):

"11 The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

So, what I'm doing is not blogging on anything unless I feel *inspired* to do so. Unfortunately, I haven't felt very inspired lately. Angry, perhaps, over the border security issue and the prospects of amnesty-like proposals in the Senate. Angry, perhaps, over what I have perceived as little interest on the part of our elected representatives to represent us. Not inspired.

So, I decided to give kudos to Angel at The Rogue Angel for helping to inspire me to get to this point, a point in which I am weaning myself away from arguing with "Progressive" Christians, and fairly successfully, I might add :) . It was a post from Angel that shined the light of truth in my direction and being unable to either argue or disagree with her points made (to argue with her about this issue would be to argue with God Almighty, how could I do that? The answer is, I can't.) Here's the link to the post that shook me up, though somewhat grudgingly: More Than Fitting.

Anyway, I want to give credit where credit is due and so, I wanted to share a reply I wrote to an article posted in that political debate group to which I belong. The article, Religious Liberals Gain New Visibility, from the Washington Post says in part:


"The Rev. Joseph W. Daniels Jr., senior pastor of Emory United Methodist Church in Northwest Washington, said a key question for him is whether the religious left will become "the polar opposite to . . . the religious right" or be "a voice in the middle."

"What this country needs is strong spiritual leadership that is willing to build bridges. We don't need leaders who are lightning bolts for division and dissension," he said.

Nonetheless, some observers doubt that the revitalization of the religious left will lessen the divisions over religion in politics. "I do think," said Hertzke, "that, if in fact this progressive initiative takes off, we will see an even more polarized electoral environment than we did in 2004.""

...and here was my reply:

I just broke down and read the article that went with the headline. Lol. It was very predictable. The thing is, there is no way that "religious" leftists and "religious" righties can come together. They talk about different issues. The leftists want poverty, the environment and peace to be their focus, well, that's all well and good, but they don't want other moral issues to get any focus. On the other hand "Conservative" Christians are concerned about poverty, the environment and peace, as well as OTHER moral issues, they just disagree with the "Progressive" Christians about the best way to address the pet issues of the "Progressives," and they, both factions, come at THOSE issues from a purely partisan political standpoint defined by liberal or conservative politics rather than their particular brands of religion.

In the meantime, I keep hearing the Southern Baptists, a primarily Conservative Christian denomination, receive accolades for their work in helping the victims of Katrina. They are STILL there, still serving food to those who need it. Where are the Unitarians and the Lutherans? I've heard nothing about them in NO. I'm not saying they aren't there, they very well might be, but I keep hearing about the Southern Baptists and what good work they are doing, not the Unitarians, not the Lutherans who are staunch advocates for this new Progressive Christian movement.

The "Progressive" Christians want to throw money, money gained from over-taxing the American people, at all Nations living in poverty, Conservatives disagree with continuing to throw more and MORE money at those Nations, whose actual, poor citizens reap little benefit from that money, the money instead ends up lining the pockets of corrupt government leaders. It serves to make the "Progressive" Christians feel better if they throw some more money that way, all the while complaining about commercialism while driving their foreign made cars and playing with their house full of high tech gadgets. That's my humble opinion after being on the front line trying to communicate with "Progressive" Christians. After making many months attempts at finding some common ground and compromise and finding very little I decided it would never be possible and there IS clear scripture which guides Christians not to argue and be divisive with one another over words:

A Workman Approved by God

Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."

In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. - 2 Timothy 2

Thanks to the Rogue Angel.

End of my reply.

So, I repeat, thank you, Angel, for the reminder and the gentle way in which you accomplished it.

For those of you who read my blog and are looking for that "spunk?" Lol, I've still got spunk and though at times I feel I have retreated from a battle, which really, really irritates me, I also realize that in all my efforts to "communicate" with "Progressive" Christians I didn't change their minds about a thing and other than feeling that I am a little more tolerant and less ready to judge others they have not changed my views on particular political issues, either. So, what's it about, then? Arguing for the sake of arguing? That's what I decided.

I'll continue to blog about issues which I feel inspired to blog about. Maybe I'll even show a little "spunk" from time to time but I'm thinking my days of arguing with fellow Christians for the sake of argument are behind me. :)