Discussions from the weekend....

As Bob and I traveled this weekend...we spent it visiting family around the state....we had some serious time to discuss things that we'd been reading and thinking about.

He's been reading the book "Slave" by John MacArthur and it's a book that's had a strong effect on him.  I'll be downloading it on my Kindle later this morning.  I'm sure if it strikes a cord in me the way it has in him I'll be writing more about it, but better to wait till I've read it to comment.  I will say that it sounds like one of those books that can't help but alter one's perception of our relationship to God and how we serve and worship Him.

We also talked about some of the things that have been foremost on our minds on a variety of topics to do with church and our Christian walk.

One thing that I've been wrestling with lately is the bluring of the line when it comes to Christianity and the government/politics/patriotism.  I can't see any way in which what country we are in, or are from, should be mentioned in a worship service.  As Christians we are supposed to be outside the flow of politics and pride of place.  Not only shouldn't there be a national flag or patriotic imagery in a church (or patriotic songs), I'm not sure it should have any place in our lives.

The Bible has many passages about our being pilgrims and wanderers on this earth.  Jesus never talked about politics or national pride as important...if anything just the opposite.  How then is it proper to mix the two?

When we look at this subject (especially in this country) it begs the continuation into the subject of voting.  How can we vote for those that are espousing, and personally going directly against the will of God?  Neither of the two ruling parties in the country today are doing what we are told to as Christians, although one of them likes to put on that mantle, and the other is trying to get a little of that for themselves, knowing there are votes in it.  The truth is that neither of them is following what Jesus taught us to do.  In one way or another both are directly violating what Jesus taught.  How then can we in good conscience support them?