Always Learning: Comparing Those on the Left and on the Right

Friday, September 23, 2016

Comparing Those on the Left and on the Right

A friend of mine spent some time with a family that is very left leaning, meaning they are usually anti-God, socialists, support abortion, and mostly everything that is against the Word of God. These people, she said, live in fear and anxiety about what is happening in the culture. They feel our nation needs to go more to the left to be a better place.

I know many women who are on the far right, meaning they are usually Christians who love the Lord and His ways. They fight against abortion, for a small government, and mostly for the values found in the Bible. These women live in fear and anxiety about what is happening in our culture. They feel our nation needs to go more the the right to be a better place.

There's something terribly wrong with this picture. Anything that takes away your joy for long has become an idol. The direction of our culture has become an idol in their lives. They have all lost their joy. This is understandable to those who are on the left since they refuse to acknowledge the Lord and walk in His ways. This is not understandable to those who are on the right since they know how the story ends, who sits on the throne, who will be victorious, and have been commanded to not be anxious but to cast their cares upon the Lord.

If believers in the risen Savior look no different than those who have refused Him and made the state of our culture their idol and lost their joy, they need to stop listening to the news and spend a lot more time in the Word and in prayer. We are commanded to pray for our leaders and leave it all in the Lord's very capable hands. He tells us to not fear for He is with us and will never leave us. Do you believe this? If you do, stop worrying and being anxious. You are being a terrible witness for the joy of the Lord. Get rid of your idols and make God the Lord of your life.

Knowing the Lord, serving Him, and shining His light to a dark and decaying world is what we are called to do. This isn't our home. We are strangers and aliens passing through. Our mansions are on a brand new earth where there will be no more death, sickness, pain, or suffering. Live for this home instead and store your treasures in heaven. Yes, vote, pray, and do what you can to get those who live by godly principles or at least, closer to them elected (we will be writing a post about who we will be voting for), but then leave the outcome with the Lord since He is sovereign, you know.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Philippians 4:6

Comments (16)

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farmsteadjournal 0p · 444 weeks ago

You are so right! Putting our eyes on Him keeps our eyes off the world. Thank you for the reminder.

1 reply · active 444 weeks ago

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Lori Alexander 122p · 444 weeks ago

You're welcome. It's something I need to remind myself often since it's so easy to be caught up with.

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EHC · 444 weeks ago

Wow, how timely is your post. I just spoke to a friend this morning, on the right and politically active, that said all the women involved in campaigning can't stand their children and are career women. These are conservative republican women. And I spoke last week to another friend, more on the liberal side, who is emotionally distressed over the possibility of a trump presidency. Both are mothers with school age children. I am going to tell my friends that the best and most effective way to influence culture is to love, serve and nourish their families, physically and spiritually. I stopped reading the news because a lot of it is noise and outrage and I'm not so sure how beneficial it is for me. I feel it takes my attention away from what I should be doing. I like to get my news from my husband because he is less emotional than I am and can give me a quick update on what's going on. That's quite enough for me! Thank you for your timely post.

1 reply · active 444 weeks ago

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Lori Alexander 122p · 444 weeks ago

It is sad how many Christians live and look no different than the world. I watch a little bit of the news but it doesn't get me riled up anymore, but I can't watch much or dwell upon it or it will. You are right, men don't get as emotionally wrapped up and affected by the news as women do. This is why God created us to be in the home and keeping the home fires burning!

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Guest · 444 weeks ago

I also see where people were Cruz supporters and didn't want Trump. Now they are all behind him, like he changed his view points. I find it interesting how Christians just go with the flow anyhow.

I also know Christians who are not voting this year, due to no one qualified, with morals.

I will look forward to the post on who to vote for!

1 reply · active 444 weeks ago

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Laura Macklem · 444 weeks ago

Think Supreme Court appointees, and the unborn. Trump at least said he would appoint pro-life judges, as where Hillary will not.

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Laura Macklem · 444 weeks ago

I actually am a former Republican Congressional press secretary, and used my skills to help re-elect a Christian, pro-life Congressman. After I had a baby, I came home. Since then, I have used my skills to write on behalf of conservative values, and recently volunteered my time writing for a Congressional candidate who is pro-life. I don't hate my children, I love my children, and in fact I homeschool them. I think it's essential we have people with Christian values volunteering in campaigns, fighting for parental rights, homeschool rights, religious liberty, and the unborn. We need Christian women using their gifts to help elect our leaders, when it doesn't interfere with the family.

2 replies · active 444 weeks ago

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Lori Alexander 122p · 444 weeks ago

I agree with you, Laura, and I believe Christians should run for political offices if they feel led but I am strictly talking about being anxious and consumed about it since this isn't our home.

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Laura Macklem · 444 weeks ago

I was really addressing the person who said women who work on campaigns hate their children, because really we are in part doing it for our children, and for sure doing it for God and country. As for running for office, I would not do that because I know I'm called to be serving my family in the home full-time, and that is where my heart is as well. However, if I can sneak in some writing work for a pro-life candidate, I will, if my husband agrees. I think you are really right Lori about not getting anxious, although it's difficult knowing what kind of world our children will be living in. It's so strange seeing people even denying there is such thing as gender!

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Wendi · 444 weeks ago

As I read the title Joshua 1:7 came to mind. It just happened to be the verse of the week for my daughter. :)

Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.

Reminds me to not be swayed by the left or right but to walk the straight and narrow path.

1 reply · active 444 weeks ago

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Lori Alexander 122p · 444 weeks ago

Yes, we sure should, Wendi, but thank the Lord that we are no longer under the Law that was given to Moses and live under the New Covenant instead.

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KiwiGuest · 444 weeks ago

I was speaking with my father about this very subject - being worried and anxious about the future. How much worse do you think the world will get before Jesus returned and takes His people off?

1 reply · active 444 weeks ago

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Lori Alexander 122p · 444 weeks ago

No one knows for sure, only the Father, so we keep trusting Him and living for Him as He has told us to do in His Word.

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Roselyn Krapf · 444 weeks ago

Aunt Roselyn here, Lori. I am very distressed by the simplistic way you describe 'both sides.' I am a self-identified liberal, as are many of the friends I spend time with. I and many of my friends believe in God, that the world is God's good creation, and that we are called to be good stewards of His creation. We love children and many of us have spent our lives working with them. If believing the words of Jesus, "Feed my sheep, give water to the thirsty, and clothe the naked," makes me a socialist, I welcome the label. Your generalizations are hurtful.

1 reply · active 444 weeks ago

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Ken · 444 weeks ago

The context of the post Aunt Roselyn is not to fully explain all who are part of the left and right, but to show that Christians are to be people of hope and not fear. There is no doubt that some on the left are God fearing people who love God and believe that a bigger government which more fully supports the poor and disadvantaged is what would please Jesus, and fulfill his command to "Feed my sheep."

The right believes in personal responsibility and sees government aid as a necessary short-term solution, but longer term a destructive force in the life of those who begin to depend year upon year on food stamps and welfare. It is part of the nature and socialization of some people to depend upon others hard work for their benefit. This can be seen even at family gatherings where some do much work for getting things prepared and cleaned up while others sit back and enjoy the fruits without contributing.

There are exceptions t the generalization, of which you are one. I think there is a growing group on the left coming out of churches as churches turn more and more liberal. Away from the fundamental theology of the Word towards an emphasis on what they see as the Words of Jesus. But I would challenge that they are selective words as Jesus made many demands for personal responsibility. The Parable of the Talents in Matt. 25: 14-20 is a perfect example of the personal responsibility Jesus expects of all people, yet, those who cannot feed themselves, certainly Jesus wants us to ensure they are fed.

The left has within it a large contingent set on destroying anything about Christianity and religion as they see religion as the biggest hindrance to the advancement of society. So you and your friends are an important, but smaller group on the left. I suggest that you should come out from the thinking that you are on the left and consider yourself an independent group of like-minded socialistic Christians, instead of aligning with so many who oppose God and desire a moral view that is contrary to God's Word.

The church has always been a vehicle for caring for the poor and those in need. We believe that the closer to grass roots the programs to help the poor, the more effective, and cost effective they will be; instead of a massive assistance program that is poorly monitored and makes no demands upon the recipients to become productive contributors to their own economic success. We are with you on "feed my sheep." Where we disagree is how this may be best accomplished.

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Polly · 443 weeks ago

I agree. Christians are becoming too easily wrapped up in politics in an unhealthy way. (I always vote and am dedicated to exercising that privilege, but am NOT going to let this election or the current news consume me!) Jesus is on the throne. We have so much more to do in this world than fixate on politics in a negative way. And we CAN do the will of God and serve Him regardless of what is happening in our country--in fact, it becomes more imperative for Christians to fix our gaze on Christ alone as conditions become worse.

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