The
Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go
unpunished. Prov.16:5 (NIV)
Do
not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful
for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who
listen. Eph 4:29 (NIV)
Therefore
what God has joined together, let not man separate. Mark 10:9 (NIV)
….for
all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,… Romans 3:23. If
we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins, and
purify us from all unrighteousness. John 1:9 (NIV)
If
anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his
tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. James 1:26 (NIV)
But
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its
passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the
Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. Gal. 5:22-26 (NIV)
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Rep.
Reid Ribble, R-Wisconsin.
The
Evangelical community's values include repentance, forbearance, uprightness, and
the value of a hard day's work. With that in mind, I am dismayed by the
excitement I have seen from parts of the Evangelical community over Donald
Trump's campaign for president. In his personal life, his often-changing
political beliefs, and especially his language, he totally disregards the values
that we hold dear.
While
I know that only a part of the community is supportive of his campaign, recently
two prominent Evangelical leaders, Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. and Southern Baptist Pastor Robert Jeffress announced their support for Mr. Trump for
president. I believe that they were shallow in their assessment, mistaken in
their endorsement, and now risk leading the faithful towards a candidate that
exploits their religious faith for political gain.
Regarding
Mr. Falwell Jr., his position has assuredly put his father's legacy at the Moral
Majority movement at risk of being rendered mute. His argument is that Liberty
University once had financial problems and decided to get help by hiring
consultants to navigate the financial hurdles. He believes Mr. Trump would bring
the same business acumen to our national finance crisis that Liberty University
discovered with its consultants. However, he willfully ignores Mr. Trump's
failed business ventures and bankruptcies. He even lauded Mr. Trump's use of
bankruptcy law to achieve his goals. I wonder if Mr. Falwell views the stunning
success of Trump The Board Game, Trump Airlines or Trump Vodka as an example of
what we might expect of a Trump-led government?
Aside
from Mr. Trump's checkered past and "evolving" views, his language concerns me
the most. For some reason, people seem to gravitate to Mr. Trumps challenge to
political correctness. I agree that the constraints of political correctness
have gone too far, but Mr. Trump is often simply hateful. Calling women "fat
pigs," "dogs," "bimbos," "disgusting animals," and "slobs" is just one example
of Mr. Trump's lack of control over his tongue. His mocking of a disabled
reporter and his relentless name-calling have revealed a flaw that, in my
opinion, ought to disqualify him for the highest office of the land. I hope we
are better than this.
With
all this in mind, I am extremely troubled by Mr. Trump's relatively high polling
results with Evangelical voters. On January 26, 2016, Politico Magazine reported
that Donald Trump had 37 percent support among Evangelical voters. It's time for
Christian voters to pause. Take a minute and read the texts of scripture at the
beginning of this article. Then ask yourself a question. Does Donald Trump
exemplify the teachings of the Christian Church, not in how he may lead the
country but in how he has lived his life and managed his campaign for
president?
I
want to be clear — I am not seeking a national pastor nor spiritual leader for
the White House. But I am seeking someone who represents and lives out the
values of a predominantly Judeo-Christian nation. I am seeking someone who
brings out the best in who we are and challenges us to grow — together, not in
suspicion of each other — as a nation. So before racing to the polls to support
any candidate, I am suggesting that every American ask some probing questions to
determine a candidate's moral character.
Is
the candidate honest or is the candidate given to embellishment, dishonesty or
deceitfulness?
Is
the candidate conceited? Remembering, this is something God detests.
Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/evangelical-case-against-donald-trump-158733/#XRc1uK3Rj348P733.99
CHINA – Pastor jailed for social
media prayers is freed.
Thank God for the release of our Chinese brother Yan Xiaojie, a
pastor jailed for five months for circulating prayer requests on social media.
Release
International.
