COC Stew - Christ, Obama and Cortes

John 11:45-46 'Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Yahshua did, believed in Him.  But some of them went their way to the Pharisees and told them what things Yahshua had done.'

I often stand amused and amazed by the various editorial perspectives the media and general public shell out.  Many of these people are fiercely defensive concerning their political partys and economic organizations, few with any real clarity concerning the truth beyond it.

America, for several years, has been in an economical tailspin.  Those loyal to the leadership that initiated and encouraged the downward spiral, cheered.

Now, not even two years into his first term in office, Barack Obama finds the tailspinners declaring boldly, "Obama's policies have failed!"  After only two years, one must ask, "Failed who?"

Many have vilified the stimulus funds, but those funds helped protect many business, many people, and many families that were on the edge of the void, from falling in.  Things could be drastically worse than they are now.  Many despise the health care program which has, and will aide in the future, millions who could not get any basic services without destroying their futures in a pit of medical debt.  It seems that many in America believe that healing is reserved only for those who can afford it, for those who have worked to earn it.

John 12:39-40 'Therefore they could not believe, because that Isaiah said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart, that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.'

Healing and helping the poor are not part of the program for a greedy society that worries  more about achievers being punished by taxes, and success being demonized.  No, this is business as usual for those that worship business.  Those who don't like change in any society, are those who hold the most fear.  They have the most to protect and everyone becomes their enemy.

John 12;15 'Fear not, daughter of Sion:  behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.'

People who are willing to achieve and succeed at the expense of others - those that see a competitive marketplace as sacred and democratic - have lost grip of the reality to be won in Christ.  These are people who rush out in the manna field and fill their baskets with no intentions of sharing the overage they collect.  They worked for it, so they will keep it.

"In a free-market capitalist system, there are always winners and losers.  It's creative destruction."  Ron Johnson - Republican nominee for the Senate in Wisconsin

From a Christian viewpoint, that is just sick.  Creative destruction?  That sounds like an argument for evolution.  The fact that people find it okay to destroy and lose some people, while others win only serves to show how far from Christ many have walked because of their political beliefs.  I think every slave owner of the past would love this system.

1 Corinthians 12:25-26 'That there should be no schism in the body;  but that the members should have the same care one for another.  And whether one member suffers, all members suffer with it;  or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.'

According to "creative destruction" some members of the American body have to lose so others can win - and this is considered acceptable and civilized; and worse, for some, Christian.

Is the money it is going to cost you and your family in the future more important than the lives of those who might be lost today?  If it is, I can only wonder what your concept of greed is.

1 Corinthians 12:27 'Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.'

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Sadly, there is no such thing as the "American body."  There is, and always has been a great void, a schism in this nation.  Those standing on one particular side have never wanted to acknowledge or do anything about it.  They are quite content with the way things are.  While some "over there" go hungry and cry in quiet desperation for shelter and medical care, loyalist to the American-way, run back to the Pharisees, and with their greedy little hearts, cry about their worries, grieve for the wealth and prosperity they may lose.

John 11:47-48 'Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we do for this man doeth many miracles?  If we let Him thus alone, all men will believe on Him. . .'

And that is the real fear after all - is it not?

When Martin Luther King rallied African-Americans, especially in the South, to peaceful protests that resulted in arrests, his white brethren in the ministry of "God", including the great Billy Graham, asked him to stop, to tone it down.  Why would they do that?

They did it because they were comfortable in the status quo - it was working for them.  They didn't want the so-called peace and prosperity disturbed, even though the current conditions were grievous for thousands, even millions. 

Right now, here today, we are assaulted with the same rhetoric voiced by those hiding behind hedges, behind gated communities.  They don't care about the suffering going on outside their castle walls.

John 11:48 'If we let Him thus alone, all men will believe on Him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.'

Sounds a lot like "tea-party" enthusiast.  It's our country and no one is going to take it away from us! 

I did not vote for Obama (I didn't vote at all actually).  I don't even support Obama.  And moreover, I am not trying to compare Obama to Christ; they are most definitely not the same.

What I am saying is, change scares people, especially those who were comfortable and secure with things the way they are.

Our society is sick.  All mankind is sick.  Every nation on earth is dying of a terminal disease, a selfishness and fear that can never gratify or be satisfied.

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"The lust for glory extends beyond mortal life, and taking the whole world will hardly satisfy it, much less one or two kingdoms."  - Hernan Cortes

Imperialist Spain, much like America today, once believed it was the most civilized nation in the world.  As Brendan Bernhard wrote, "As Christians and as . . . soldiers they lived in the conviction that they were doubly blessed - both history and God were on their side."  (1)

Many Christians today are convicted that America is doubly blessed by history and Christ, to succeed.  All the greed, injustice and militarism can be justified in victory; holy, democratic and civilized.

Spain believed they were bringing peace, prosperity and Christ to an otherwise backwater world, a barbaric and uncivilized people where having private property was forbidden.  That does sound like a tyrannical government.  And yet the twenty million subjects of the Incan Empire Francisco Pizarro conquered knew neither crime nor hunger.  They had beautiful cities and religious temples.  They had an agricultural economy with aquaducts and roadways that were superior to those built in Rome.  Gold could be found everywhere in the empire and yet it was not coveted or horded.  If a famine came, storehouses were opened and no one went went hungry.  If earthquakes or other disasters struck, everyone worked to rebuild the infrastructure, and everyone took care of everyone elses needs, even farming each others fields if necessary.  No one worried about how much it would cost to help anyone else.

Who then were the barbarians, the uncivilized, the terrorists - the heathens?

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"We Spanish suffer from a disease of the heart which can be cured only by gold."  - Hernan Cortes

America suffers from the same disease.  This virus has been passed on from generation to generation.

I, however, believe in a King that says "Have faith in charity, have faith in doing what's best for everyone in the human body today." 

I don't support many things Obama stands for, but I do applaud and rejoice when anyone does something to aid the homeless, the impoverished, and the unhealthy.

Those who say Obama has failed are those who only have stuff to lose.  What they are thinking is, "My wealth is not safe and I fear for tomorrow."

Personally, I have always been a fan of Robin Hood.  I'll never cry over the rich losing anything when their wealth can be used to help feed and house someone today.

If you are living in Christ, the actions and the prouncements of the Caesar, of the president, and even of the business leaders and conquistadores don't trouble you in the least.  We will not be intimidated or impressed by their golden thrones, or their so-proclaimed superior moral ground which we know is sopped with blood like a sinking marsh after generations of brotherly bloodletting.

John 11:53 'Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put Him to death.'

The spirit of Cain is still hard at work.  Ambition rules godly blessings.  Don't miss that.

There is a schism in America and those who have, those who are motivated by success and money, will gather and take counsel together, and in their "gods" name, destroy anyone who messes with their private prosperity.  Doing what is best for everyone today is not nearly as important to them as their insurances and guarantees for tomorrow.

Wealth is a security for those who don't have faith that the Lord will provide - day by day.

Amen