What to do in an Obama World

[J.D.]

From http://www.americanvision.org/article/what-to-do-in-an-obama-world/.

What does Barack Obama’s rise to power mean? For one thing, it means that the “absurd” has become “normal”: when a large proportion of younger “evangelicals” vote for a man who will help perpetuate the war against the unborn, decadence has obviously set it. For another thing, it means that modern conservatism—the conservatism of William Buckley and Russell Kirk, of Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan—is dead. As a matter of fact, it has been dead for a number of years: Election Day 2008 simply provided us the coroner’s report.

For we who consider ourselves “conservative,” it will do us no good to pine away for the glory of days gone by. We can’t re-live the Barry Goldwater campaign; we can’t call Ronald Reagan back from the dead—nor would we want to if we could.

What we Christians in America need to do is to rediscover what our vocation is: we are salt and light; we are strangers and sojourners; we are a nation of priests. This does not mean, as the pietistic Christian might take it to mean, that we are to withdraw from the public square, and simply build our own little Christian ghettoes while clutching our Bibles and waiting for the end of the world. No: the Scriptures call on the people of God to take dominion by being salt and light, to take dominion by being strangers and sojourners, to take dominion by acting as priests on behalf of the world. We are not called to withdraw; rather, we are called to engage the world, ruling as God’s co-regents.

I am not a dominionist, so I don't agree with everything in the article, but I found it encouraging given the circumstances we find ourselves in these days. I've underlines some parts I think are important and I would like to hear from BB folks whether these comments are helpful or not, especially in regards to whether we should withdraw from the culture or engage the culture, and where is the line between separation and involvement.

 

[thegospelgeek]

From http://www.americanvision.org/article/what-to-do-in-an-obama-world/.

I am not a dominionist, so I don't agree with everything in the article, but I found it encouraging given the circumstances we find ourselves in these days. I've underlines some parts I think are important and I would like to hear from BB folks whether these comments are helpful or not, especially in regards to whether we should withdraw from the culture or engage the culture, and where is the line between separation and involvement.

Thanks J.D. I find them very helpful. You have confirmed what I have been preaching for a year. The world has grown darker and darker. What a great opportunity to let our light shine. We are called to withdraw. We must engage. We must reach out and offer hope to the lost. Show the world that there is an alternative.

The line between seperation and involvement lies in our actions. I can love, witness to, minister to sinners. I am anot to take part in their sin. I can love a homosexual. i can witness to a homosexual. I can make them welcome in my home and my church. I can not become a partaker or enabler for their sinful lifestyle. I can not let them mistake my love and care for them as approval of their sin.

I want sinners to be welcome at my church. I do not want them to become comfortable there.

 

[J.D.]

Thanks J.D. I find them very helpful. You have confirmed what I have been preaching for a year. The world has grown darker and darker. What a great opportunity to let our light shine. We are called to withdraw. We must engage. We must reach out and offer hope to the lost. Show the world that there is an alternative.

The line between seperation and involvement lies in our actions. I can love, witness to, minister to sinners. I am anot to take part in their sin. I can love a homosexual. i can witness to a homosexual. I can make them welcome in my home and my church. I can not become a partaker or enabler for their sinful lifestyle. I can not let them mistake my love and care for them as approval of their sin.

I want sinners to be welcome at my church. I do not want them to become comfortable there.

I struggle to understand just what it means to "engage" the world. But something hit home with me last night as I was crusing the internet (I don't remember the site but will try to find it later) and came across an article that said "why there are no protestants on the supreme court", and the reason is simple - the catholics have been sending their children to law school for decades while we fundy/evangelical/protestants have been sending our children nowhere beyond high school or at the most bible college. This is what is meant by engaging the culture.

In this particular regard, the law school at Liberty U. is a step in the right direction. Maybe this thing can get turned around after all.

 

[thegospelgeek]

When I think about "engaging" the world I think that we are in the world but not of the world. Most of my christian friends spend all their time with christians. They play ball in the church gym. Attend Christian Schools and go to Bible College. Protected and seperated from the world. But shouldn't we be out there, working out at the Y with the unsaved. Jogging and Walking through neighborhood where we can witness to the lost. Going out to dinner with lost co-workers so i can witness for my savior? I'm not talking about pretending to like someone to invite them to church, but having a real relationship with the lost. That way, when something happens that shakes up their world, they can turn to you, and you can point them to Christ.

 

[TCGreek]

In obedience to Scripture, pray for the new administration and keep promoting the kingdom's agenda.

 

[J.D.]

Here's something to think about:

When answering the question, "what's wrong with the world", Fundamentalists tend to say "we're not separate enough", and Evangelicals tend to say "we're not engaged enough".

Could it be that they are both right?

 

[J.D.]

pray for the new administration

I pray for the president's covnersion to a Bible-based faith in Christ and to original constitutional principles.

 

[abcgrad94]

Thanks J.D. I find them very helpful. You have confirmed what I have been preaching for a year. The world has grown darker and darker. What a great opportunity to let our light shine. We are called to withdraw. We must engage. We must reach out and offer hope to the lost. Show the world that there is an alternative.

The line between seperation and involvement lies in our actions. I can love, witness to, minister to sinners. I am anot to take part in their sin. I can love a homosexual. i can witness to a homosexual. I can make them welcome in my home and my church. I can not become a partaker or enabler for their sinful lifestyle. I can not let them mistake my love and care for them as approval of their sin.

I want sinners to be welcome at my church. I do not want them to become comfortable there.

Excellent post! I especially like the last line.

 

[JustChristian]

Thanks J.D. I find them very helpful. You have confirmed what I have been preaching for a year. The world has grown darker and darker. What a great opportunity to let our light shine. We are called to withdraw. We must engage. We must reach out and offer hope to the lost. Show the world that there is an alternative.

The line between seperation and involvement lies in our actions. I can love, witness to, minister to sinners. I am anot to take part in their sin. I can love a homosexual. i can witness to a homosexual. I can make them welcome in my home and my church. I can not become a partaker or enabler for their sinful lifestyle. I can not let them mistake my love and care for them as approval of their sin.

I want sinners to be welcome at my church. I do not want them to become comfortable there.

Actually, the sun came out when George W. Bush left office. The emphasis of his administration on American world supremacy has left us bankrupt both morally and economically. There's a new can do attitude in the White House that we desperately need to come through the Bush depression.

 

[Marcia]

I don't like the wording in the quote on the OP and I am not an admirer of those people listed there.

Being salt and light and preaching the gospel is not taking dominion but it is letting God use us to bring people to Christ. The Lord leads the battle, not us. Dominionists think we are supposed to take over the world so that Jesus can come back.

Engaging the world - yes, what does that mean? To me, this simply means being out there and taking opportunities to witness to people. I've never thought otherwise.

 

[JamieinNH]

I am going to do the same thing I strive to do in an Obama World.. and that is the same thing I did in the Bush world and "Insert Name Here" world...

Witness, spread the good news, study myself to make me stronger and trust God...

What more do we need when we are talking about one man and his "world"?

 

[HankD]

What to do in an Obama World

Do as Paul did in Galatians 5: Continue to preach the offense of the cross.

The cross says to the world (from whence we were taken) This is both the price and remedy of sin and all have sinned.

 

[J.D.]

I don't like the wording in the quote on the OP and I am not an admirer of those people listed there.

Being salt and light and preaching the gospel is not taking dominion but it is letting God use us to bring people to Christ. The Lord leads the battle, not us. Dominionists think we are supposed to take over the world so that Jesus can come back.

Engaging the world - yes, what does that mean? To me, this simply means being out there and taking opportunities to witness to people. I've never thought otherwise.

So just witness and go home? Is that engaging? But if that's the way you see it, so be it.

But who is it you don't admire?

 

[Marcia]

So just witness and go home? Is that engaging? But if that's the way you see it, so be it.

Huh? That's not what I said. Furthermore, you must know nothing about my ministry!

Full time ministry for over 10 years involving but not limited to: Led outreach of 9 people from my church to teens in line at M Manson concert and passed out flyers I had written; outreaches to Moonie events; witnessed to Pagans in a witchcraft store; witnessed to New agers in New Age store, witness online through my website; spoke to groups where there were unbelievers attending; went to Goth clubs several times and one time sat at a table and gave my testimony to a Goth who asked for it; constantly urging believers to witness; give believers suggestions and material to use to witness to New Agers and those in the occult; spoken to numerous youth groups at youth conventions; have spoken in MD, CT, NY, VA, Denver, St. Louis, Kansas City, OR, CA, NC, SC, Fla, Chicago, NM, AZ, TX, Ohio, (many of these places several times), and too much to put here. Most of my prayer partners say they get tired just reading about what I do. Guess this is staying home, huh?

Have you ever been to my website? Clue: I'm a missionary with a mission board living on donations.

Also, my testimony has been published around the world, is in several books, I have a book, I have published articles, I am quoted in books, I am always trying to spread the gospel in my ministry, etc. etc.

WHY do people on the BB constantly make wrong assumptions about people!

 

[Marcia]

So just witness and go home? Is that engaging? But if that's the way you see it, so be it.

But who is it you don't admire?

I was objecting to the agenda of Dominionists. Can't you read what I wrote? Do you know what they believe??

I don't admire the conservatives listed.

 

[J.D.]

Huh? That's not what I said. Furthermore, you must know nothing about my ministry!

Full time ministry for over 10 years involving but not limited to: Led outreach of 9 people from my church to teens in line at M Manson concert and passed out flyers I had written; outreaches to Moonie events; witnessed to Pagans in a witchcraft store; witnessed to New agers in New Age store, witness online through my website; spoke to groups where there were unbelievers attending; went to Goth clubs several times and one time sat at a table and gave my testimony to a Goth who asked for it; constantly urging believers to witness; give believers suggestions and material to use to witness to New Agers and those in the occult; spoken to numerous youth groups at youth conventions; have spoken in MD, CT, NY, VA, Denver, St. Louis, Kansas City, OR, CA, NC, SC, Fla, Chicago, NM, AZ, TX, Ohio, (many of these places several times), and too much to put here. Most of my prayer partners say they get tired just reading about what I do. Guess this is staying home, huh?

Have you ever been to my website? Clue: I'm a missionary with a mission board living on donations.

Also, my testimony has been published around the world, is in several books, I have a book, I have published articles, I am quoted in books, I am always trying to spread the gospel in my ministry, etc. etc.

WHY do people on the BB constantly make wrong assumptions about people!

Ummm....I was just trying to spur conversation and retro/introspection over whether we are doing things right. But thanks for the atomic blast anyway.

Let's drop it.

 

[Marcia]

Ummm....I was just trying to spur conversation and retro/introspection over whether we are doing things right. But thanks for the atomic blast anyway.

Let's drop it.

Well, if I misunderstood, I apologize. But I never said, "let's just witness and go home."

 

[John Toppass]

Actually, the sun came out when George W. Bush left office. The emphasis of his administration on American world supremacy has left us bankrupt both morally and economically. There's a new can do attitude in the White House that we desperately need to come through the Bush depression.

This is pure lies told by liars.
We can become a great nation again when people learn about what they speak and not speak what they hear.

 

[Creyn]

This is pure lies told by liars.
We can become a great nation again when people learn about what they speak and not speak what they hear.

Thank you John, short and to the point.

The proof is in the pudding: I only just joined, so my memory of the requisite questionnaire is fresh. Does not one HAVE to be a Baptist to join the site? Do any of the ridiculous ideas promoted by that individual square with our faith?

 

[blackbird]

What am I gonna do in an "Obama" world??

Same thing I did in the "Bush" world and in the "Clinton" world and in the "Reagan" world and in whoever's world

Pray to the Father through His Son, Jesus Christ!!