Opinions

These questions were originally posted here, and I thought I would add my two cents for all of you who care... or just because it gives me something to bite off and chew as I process through what God is teaching me. (which, by the way, is that I need to actually care about theology and I am working through that. I am beginning to read more and to be ok with having to read things multiple times to understand. Then once I understand the theology, trying to search where in Scripture it is backed up.)

+ Will the individual faiths of John McCain and Barack Obama (as known through their writing and what is reported) influence your vote in November? Do you think it should or shouldn't?

Good question, my friends.

In and ideal world, the President of the US would be a Christian and we would know because his actions and character would lead us to believe there has been a genuine change of heart.

But that being said, I personally do not believe the President needs to be a Christian. And for that matter, if the person you choose to vote for is a Christian, then put that on the plus side for him. However... do I think a voter should vote for a person only because they are a Christian? NO!!! being a Christian does not necessarily make a good leader, especially for a county that was founded as a FREE nation with a SEPARATION of church and state.

Ultimately, no it will not influence my vote at first glance. If I was torn, it might sway me. But for this upcoming election, I am not torn. I know who I am voting for. Go Obama (and no he isn't perfect, but I don't want another four years for a Bush wanna be, and that is what McCain is turning into... what happened to the moderate I used to like? Did he want the presidency so bad that he was willing to stop being himself? not cool, McCain, not cool).

+ Do you believe the Bible is the inerrant Word of God, and if not, how does that affect your view of Jesus?

I personally do believe that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God.

But, did you all know it took me a long time to reach this conclusion, and to be ok with that?

I grew up believing that the Bible was just a book written for its time with little bearing on my life. When I became a Christian my senior year of High School, I took a leap of faith, I guess. I decided that even if I can't fully comprehend the Jesus was both fully man and fully God, or understand why He would die for me, or how God could make this world in only 7 days, or how come there seems to be some evidence for evolution, etc I did believe in the Gospel and I was going to start living that way.

It took me a while to really comprehend all the changes that would come with believing in God and all that it meant. It was probably about a year or so later that I really had to start coming to terms with the Bible being the inerrant Word of God. Some days i still don't want to believe it... why does it have to be so hard, and so seemingly (by the world's terms) exclusive and judgemental? But, I do believe in Jesus, and He makes no mistakes, including in His word. And honestly, there is no explanation for why I changed my mind except to say that it is the work of the Holy Spirit in me.

+ Whom do you believe is primarily responsible for caring for the poor and oppressed: the government, the local church, or the individual?

Another good question.

I think responsibility falls on all parties here... but I guess ultimately to the individual, because that is where it has to start.

I personally do not do enough for the poor and the oppressed. I speak lots, but do little. And that is something I absolutely need to work on. And I will admit I don't do much because I am comfortable right here in America with little everyday contact with the poor and oppressed in my own town, country and ultimately world. But, God has given me as believer the ability to empathize with these people and to want to do more, to think as humans, as God's creation they deserve more and should be treated with more respect than that.

But now, I do think there is some responsibility that goes to the local church. Why as a church are we not loving the least of us? Pretty sure Jesus did, pretty sure He told us to in Matthew 25 (see verse 40, specifically). I don't think we are doing too well here, church. again, I am one of the worst and a huge hypocrite here, and I will answer for it someday. We should be feeding the hungry, clothing the naked... and loving those who do not know him, including homosexuals, those who have had abortions, drug addicts, all of them. And more often than not the church judges them and sends them on their way. That is sad. So, I think we as a church have a responsibility to do something.

And finally, the government should do something. My reasons are very "Christianized" if you will, well, because I am a Christian and that is how I see and respond to the world. But as evidenced by all the non Christians who do many great and wonderful things for mankind, the government should be doing something and taking care of its own people.

Ok... hope all my opinions don't offend too many... and, well, that they made sense. But here is what I was thinking.

Let's all go and do something... volunteer, love the lost, do something to love the least!