Wind and Fire …
Not that long ago, and indeed, in my youth, I would have spit fire into the mindset of Ultra-radical Christian Nationalists, fire to purify and homogenize their views. Now I realize and accept; God has created us all with unique minds and entitles each person to their own opinions, however infallible and consequential. Nonetheless, it seems more expedient to just hurl out a ball of fire to ignite change, notwithstanding that firepower rarely changes minds. Warheads – and so many people are – divide more than unite.
What’s going on? Aren’t we all part of the universal Body of Christ? Are we always ONE in spirit? Who wants to be ‘our brothers’ keepers’ if most won’t give the other the time of day? Katherine Stewart’s states in her New York Times Op-Ed, ‘Trump or No Trump, Religious Authoritarianism Is Here to Stay,’ “we’ve seen this movie before:
The ‘stolen election’ meme won’t bring Mr. Trump back into the Oval Office. But then, the birther narrative never took President Barack Obama out of office, either.
The point of conspiratorial narratives and apocalyptic rhetoric lay the groundwork for a politics of total obstruction in preparation for the return of a ‘legitimate’ ruler.
Christian nationalists still plan to win the war.”
Michele Bachmann, the former Minnesota congresswoman and 2012 presidential candidate, said, “Smash the delusion, Father, of Joe Biden, is our President. He is not.”
In Crisis Magazine, a conservative Catholic publication, Richard C. Antall likened media reporting on the Biden-Harris ticket’s victory to a ‘coup d’état.’
Mat Staver, chairman and founder of Liberty Counsel, added, “What we are witnessing [‘stealing the election’] only happens in communist or repressive regimes. We must not allow this fraud to happen in America.“
The conservative speaker and Falkirk Center fellow, David Harris Jr. put it this way:
“If you’re a believer, and you believe God appointed Donald J. Trump to run this country, to lead this country, and you believe as I do that he will be re-elected the President of the United States, then friends, you’ve got to guard your heart, you’ve got to guard your peace. Right now, we are at war.“
During a November 11, 2020, virtual prayer gathering organized by the Family Research Council, one of the key speakers cast the election as the consequence of:
“the whole godless ideology that’s wanted to swallow our homes, destroy our marriages, throw our children into rivers of confusion.“
Jim Garlow, an evangelical pastor whose Well Versed Ministry has as its stated goal,
“Bringing biblical principles of governance to governmental leaders,” asserted that Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris are at the helm of an ‘ideology that is ‘anti-Christ, anti-Biblical‘ to its core.“
Why are people, in general, and Christians, in particular, divided? Free will! God has filled us with imaginations, some more active than others. Perhaps, we are still a long way off in our human destiny to honestly and honorably interact and openly communicate. We fear each other more than we trust. We congregate into like-minded groups to reinforce our own confirmation biases.
So, how can one be faithful to one’s convictions while also honoring the sacred and civilizational calling to a shared life? How does one ‘Revere the Stranger?’ With honor, respect, and dignity! Through Wind and Fire, God’s Holy Spirit!
Wear the Helmet of Salvation and enter the spiritual Kingdom of God. Let the salve – the healing oils, the ointment, the anointing – freely flow from head to toe, to cover all your being, to envelope you into His Holy Presence.
Shine the Light and radiate God’s majesty to become an integral part of building the physical Kingdom of God everywhere; 21 … for behold, the Kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:20-21)
God’s spiritual and physical Kingdom supersedes who rules the White House, Congress, the Judiciary, the state legislatures, the United Nations, Modern Israel, the world.
God does not need anyone to reign in His name, “everything is Yours [belongs to God] ” (I Chronicles 29: 16).
Let God be part of you and you, part of God. Let His Wind and Fire move you.
Read more: ‘Trump or No Trump, Religious Authoritarianism Is Here to Stay.‘
With Every Good Wish to You, I am,
Sincerely,
Building the Bridge Foundation, The Hague
Abraham A. van Kempen
Senior Editor
* ‘Christian Zionism … Enraptured Around a Golden Cal” (2nd Edition)
e-book version $ 3.33 (2nd Edition Available on Amazon)
Paperback 33.30 (2nd Edition is Temporary out of print)
A Theo-geopolitical eye-opener expounded with conviction, common sense, and compassion. With 500+ references, ‘Christian Zionism … Enraptured Around a Golden Calf’ pits the Holy Trinity of Zionism – One Tribe, One Land, One God – against the Holy Trinity of Christianity – ALL people, ALL nations, indeed, glorifying the one ‘I Am’ with many names.
Be sure you order the 2nd Edition, published in 2019.