Getting Real
Bond Robin writing in March of 2012:
LESSON TIME:
A friend questioned my "humility" using Phillipians Chapter Two - for him meaning servitude to authority. I explained why this is not universal. How could there appear an exception to this "humble behavior" in the American Public Square?
Answer: The key to Phillipians 2 - is "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." This governs everything else said about humility in this book because it signifies not just humility, like disappearing into the woodwork, but the humility to accept the indignity of the defense of others. (To be the warrior.) This has very special significance in America, where we are ALL called upon to protect our fellow citizens' "Life, Liberty, and Property." That is why - before the darkness descended upon free speech in the U.S., it was commonly heard saying:
"I hate everything he said; in fact, I find what he said repugnant, but I will defend to my death his right to say it."
In America, when I act for the good, it is working for the good of ALL. When I exercise my right or honor someone else's rights, I'm preserving the rights of ALL. i.e., "Not looking to my own things only, but also on the things of others." - etc.
The fact is that this grasp of "looking out for the things of others" SHOULD apply to the citizens in every nation upon the earth, no matter the "form of government" their nations hold, for the practical purpose of securing just rule for all. Our country is the only country where this concept was our founding, was codified in our constitution. "All men created equal and endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, among which are . . "
This understanding is lost in many societies on earth where the mantra is "try not to be noticed while you do what is necessary for family, for survival." Survival against the injustices of tyranny is NOT what the struggle in America should be, though it may become that and to a degree IS that at the moment. But what must be understood is that to struggle against 'unjust rule' IS acting in humility.
Our Founding Fathers were not arrogant men, but rather men of great humility, realizing that everything they owned, their Lives, their Honor, their Property, were not to be "arrogated" to themselves, but humbly used, humbly spent, humbly given away if needed for the Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness of ALL.
Since in America the people are the "sovereigns" "ordained by God with inalienable rights" who institute power in the ruling authorities, who "govern" the ruling authorities by oversight, repeal, and expulsion from office, they the people themselves are as noble as any king when defending the "Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness" of the realm. This defense requires activity in the public square and STANDING for the good. To accept this IS responding in humility to the gift God has given us. I, for one, would be much happier retired to a quiet life of prayer than engaged in the public debate. Still, in obedience, I accept the vocation of what seems a most worldly thing and, in humility, act upon the special gift granted me by God as an American citizen, and I engage.
LESSON TIME:
A friend posted this prayer on another forum. I want to share this exchange because it is crucial to understand the difference between these two prayers. One is from a base of centuries of capitulation to imperial powers. The other is from the base of faith in God and his Goodness that made this country great, powerful, charitable, and a shining light in the world of darkness.
____________
Trust God and His Call on our lives. All else is secondary in this life. Humble ourselves and receive what He has planned. May God grant us Power from on High and Wisdom to follow Him no matter what He calls us to , in our nation. May He preserve our hearts whether we are ruled by muslims or by communist socialists as He has in the lives of holy ones of God for generations.
humbly in Christ,
XXXXXXXX
about an hour ago · Like
_____________
Piano Butch - I say Amen - NEVER to that prayer. I say rather:
May we recognize and trust God and His call on our lives AS AMERICANS. AS Americans, we have been called to LIFE, LIBERTY, and the Pursuit of Happiness and given the duty by God to sacrifice all for Liberty and never to cower under the boot heel of a dictator or a law foreign to us. These rights are GOD-given and inalienable rights. May God preserve our hearts in Liberty, NEVER to bow to the yoke of communism or sharia, and never to accept the position of the Dhimmi or communist slave. May he give us the courage to spend our fortunes, sully our sacred honor, dirty our hands and shed every ounce of blood, and be true martyrs if necessary before accepting the path of cowardice and capitulation. - humbly in Christ - Butch.
XXXXXXXXX, I hate it when Americans speak the language of the Dhimmi no matter how Christian they think it sounds. It seems that you haven't completely escaped the mindset, just like many Orthodox Christians are Islamicized on this point. It holds NOTHING in common with our declaration of independence and our GOD GIVEN inalienable rights. Replace the words sharia and communist in your prayer with the words British and King George, and see if your prayer does not MOCK who Americans are at their core.
LESSON TIME:
A friend questioned my "humility" using Phillipians Chapter Two - for him meaning servitude to authority. I explained why this is not universal. How could there appear an exception to this "humble behavior" in the American Public Square?
Answer: The key to Phillipians 2 - is "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." This governs everything else said about humility in this book because it signifies not just humility, like disappearing into the woodwork, but the humility to accept the indignity of the defense of others. (To be the warrior.) This has very special significance in America, where we are ALL called upon to protect our fellow citizens' "Life, Liberty, and Property." That is why - before the darkness descended upon free speech in the U.S., it was commonly heard saying:
"I hate everything he said; in fact, I find what he said repugnant, but I will defend to my death his right to say it."
In America, when I act for the good, it is working for the good of ALL. When I exercise my right or honor someone else's rights, I'm preserving the rights of ALL. i.e., "Not looking to my own things only, but also on the things of others." - etc.
The fact is that this grasp of "looking out for the things of others" SHOULD apply to the citizens in every nation upon the earth, no matter the "form of government" their nations hold, for the practical purpose of securing just rule for all. Our country is the only country where this concept was our founding, was codified in our constitution. "All men created equal and endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, among which are . . "
This understanding is lost in many societies on earth where the mantra is "try not to be noticed while you do what is necessary for family, for survival." Survival against the injustices of tyranny is NOT what the struggle in America should be, though it may become that and to a degree IS that at the moment. But what must be understood is that to struggle against 'unjust rule' IS acting in humility.
Our Founding Fathers were not arrogant men, but rather men of great humility, realizing that everything they owned, their Lives, their Honor, their Property, were not to be "arrogated" to themselves, but humbly used, humbly spent, humbly given away if needed for the Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness of ALL.
Since in America the people are the "sovereigns" "ordained by God with inalienable rights" who institute power in the ruling authorities, who "govern" the ruling authorities by oversight, repeal, and expulsion from office, they the people themselves are as noble as any king when defending the "Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness" of the realm. This defense requires activity in the public square and STANDING for the good. To accept this IS responding in humility to the gift God has given us. I, for one, would be much happier retired to a quiet life of prayer than engaged in the public debate. Still, in obedience, I accept the vocation of what seems a most worldly thing and, in humility, act upon the special gift granted me by God as an American citizen, and I engage.
LESSON TIME:
A friend posted this prayer on another forum. I want to share this exchange because it is crucial to understand the difference between these two prayers. One is from a base of centuries of capitulation to imperial powers. The other is from the base of faith in God and his Goodness that made this country great, powerful, charitable, and a shining light in the world of darkness.
____________
Trust God and His Call on our lives. All else is secondary in this life. Humble ourselves and receive what He has planned. May God grant us Power from on High and Wisdom to follow Him no matter what He calls us to , in our nation. May He preserve our hearts whether we are ruled by muslims or by communist socialists as He has in the lives of holy ones of God for generations.
humbly in Christ,
XXXXXXXX
about an hour ago · Like
_____________
Piano Butch - I say Amen - NEVER to that prayer. I say rather:
May we recognize and trust God and His call on our lives AS AMERICANS. AS Americans, we have been called to LIFE, LIBERTY, and the Pursuit of Happiness and given the duty by God to sacrifice all for Liberty and never to cower under the boot heel of a dictator or a law foreign to us. These rights are GOD-given and inalienable rights. May God preserve our hearts in Liberty, NEVER to bow to the yoke of communism or sharia, and never to accept the position of the Dhimmi or communist slave. May he give us the courage to spend our fortunes, sully our sacred honor, dirty our hands and shed every ounce of blood, and be true martyrs if necessary before accepting the path of cowardice and capitulation. - humbly in Christ - Butch.
XXXXXXXXX, I hate it when Americans speak the language of the Dhimmi no matter how Christian they think it sounds. It seems that you haven't completely escaped the mindset, just like many Orthodox Christians are Islamicized on this point. It holds NOTHING in common with our declaration of independence and our GOD GIVEN inalienable rights. Replace the words sharia and communist in your prayer with the words British and King George, and see if your prayer does not MOCK who Americans are at their core.
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