2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AFTERMATH

I have never seen the kind of hostility toward a new president as I have seen against Donald Trump.  In fact, the only time more Democrats decided to pout and refused to attend an inauguration was when Abraham Lincoln was sworn in as President!

Many of my friends and acquaintances have, and probably still hate Trump with a passion.  Honestly, I don’t understand it, so let me share a few observations.  You see, I believe the media has falsely accused him to a tremendous degree.

 Most Trump haters do not like him as he seems to have had a somewhat sordid past.  OK.  Point taken.  Ten years ago, he was less than stellar morally and maybe we saw some lingering traces of that in the first debates.  Obama was a druggie in college.  So what?  Who are these men today?

First, I am more interested in who Trump is today than his past.  And it is quite appalling to me how so many self-righteous sanctimonious so-called Christians are so quick to condemn him to Hell by forcing him to live in his past.  Isn’t the primary belief of Christianity forgiveness and Christ-like love?  Didn’t Christ die so we may be forgiven of our sins?  The only thing we should be concerned about is the man today.  He won the election fair and square.

During his first inauguration, there were 6 Christian prayers offered, more than any other inauguration in history.  And in Trump’s speech he said, “We will be protected by the great men and women of our military and law enforcement and, MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE ARE PROTECTED BY GOD.”

This appears to be Donald Trump today, a God-fearing man.  Is he sincere?  I don’t know.  Is this all just a farce to get elected?  I don’t know.  What I do know is he seemed to invite God back into America. 

Who among you is ready to cast the first stone?  Which of you is ready to turn away from Christ’s teachings and refuse to forgive him for any past deeds?  I am not, and will never be that person.  I have committed too many sins of my own to worry about others.  Also, in a spiritual sense, one the hardest things people trying to follow Christ must deal with is false Christians who won’t let them repent.

Secondly, the media has put forth the “fact” that Trump hates Mexicans.  I do not believe this.  Why?  I have never heard him say this.  Only the fake news media has said this.  I HAVE heard Trump say he was against illegal immigration.  There is a big difference between the two. 

In 1775 Patrick Henry warned the people against indifference, complacency, and apathy.  Are we today heeding the Constitution?  One of the President’s first duties is in the Oath of Office states, “defend the Constitution against all enemies, both foreign and domestic.”  What does this mean!  Congress is given the task to make laws, and the President’s duty is to uphold them.  The President cannot make laws.  It is the right and privilege however of our President to enforce laws enacted by Congress that deal with national security.  If someone enters our Country illegally, measures must be taken or we will end up with nothing to call our own.  This is fulfilling the Oath of Office, not racism.

Thirdly, I do not believe Trump is a misogynist.  Again, this is something the mainstream media has raised as a banner to try and destroy him.  Oh how we love to wave about big words.  I am still waiting for some proof of this, and I haven’t seen any yet.  The only things I have heard about occurred many years ago.

Fourth, I do not believe Trump hates Muslims.  Trump has NEVER said this.  However, he has raised some legitimate concerns.  Most Muslims are peaceful people as most Americans are.  However, studies show that 10% to 15% of them are radicalized, or very dangerous.  All I have ever heard Trump say is we need to vet those wanting to enter our Country.  We need to find a way to filter them, and no one knows how to do this yet.  If there was a 10% chance your new neighbor wanted to rape and kill your daughter, would 10% be a risk level you would be comfortable with?  All he wants to do is fulfill the Oath of Office, to protect us from enemies, both foreign and domestic.  This is NOT racism.

And lastly, I would like to quote some lines from Trump’s inaugural address on January 20^th, 2016:

… today we are not merely transferring power from one administration to another, or from one party to another – but we are transferring power from Washington D.C. and giving it back to you, the American people.  THIS IS VERY CONSTITUTIONAL.

… for too long, a small group in our nation’s capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have born the cost.  Washington flourished—but the people did not share in its wealth.  DOES ANYONE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS STATEMENT?

 … what truly matters is not which party controls our government, but whether our government is controlled by the people.  THIS IS VERY CONSTITUTIONAL.

…an education system flush with cash, but which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of knowledge.  ANY ISSUES?

…for many decades we’ve enriched foreign industry at the expense of American industry;… we’ve defended other nation’s borders while refusing to defend our own… and spent trillions of dollars overseas while America’s infrastructure has fallen into disrepair and decay…  ANY ISSUES?

I could go on.   Would those of you that don’t support him, at least give him a chance?  He has the potential to fill the history books as one of the greatest presidents ever.  Will he?  I don’t know, but his inviting God back into our Country is a good place to start.

A CHRISTIAN RELIGION?

Tonight's thoughts deal with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as the Mormons.

Many Christians do not feel that Mormonism is a Christian religion.  There are two primary reasons for this.  First, they feel that Mormons don't interpret in the Bible the "right way."  And secondly, the Mormons believe in continuing revelation from God which is considered by many to be blasphemous.

I find these mainstream beliefs very interesting!  Starting with the second, Christians believe that after Christ died, the heavens were closed and God quit speaking to his Children.  This belief by the way, is not in the Bible, nor was it taught by the apostles.

Imagine if you will, we on Earth, God's children, telling Him when He can and when He cannot speak to us.  Imagine God in all His omnipotence being told what he can and cannot do by His son's and daughter's!  Imagine a young child telling his/her parents to "be quiet," and "I will tell you when you can speak!"  I struggle with this theological reasoning!

Now to the matter of interpreting the Bible the "right" way:  My intention is not to try and prove anything, but invite thought.  So following is a typical Christian belief contrasted with the Mormon belief, and than a few appropriate questions and comments.

Mainstream Christians believe God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit are all the same being.  John 10:30 is used as a supporting scripture for this which states, "I and my Father are one."  There are others, but this gives us a good idea.  Mormon's on the other hand, believe they are separate and distinct individuals, but one in purpose.

If the typical Christian belief is true, why does God, a singular being, state, "Let us make man in our image (Genesis 1:29), which is plural?  In Acts 7:55 Stephen looked into heaven and saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God.  Again, plural beings.  And lastly when Jesus was baptized as recorded in Matthew 3:17, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."  Clearly two persons here.  And like the aforementioned belief, these are but a few examples.

So you see the dilemma.  We have some scriptures stating God and Christ are the same being, and some scriptures stating they are separate.  Which is it?  Using logic, which do we believe literally and which are not to be believed, or have a different meaning assigned?  And more importantly, who gets to make this choice?

I believe the answer to this (which is the Mormon belief) lies within the great intercessory prayer in the 17th chapter of John.  These verses by the way, also seem to indicate God and Jesus are not the same individual as Christ is praying to God, rather than himself.

In the 21st verse, Christ indicates how the Father and He are one by stating, "That they all may be one (the people); as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us..."

Does this not suggest that Jesus and the Father are separate beings, yet one in purpose?  Accepting this allows the other contradictory verses to all be correct rather than forcing a situation where one has to choose which scriptures to believe and which to ignore!

I would maintain that the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints follows the bible more literally and more completely than any other religion, with the bible itself supporting this.  But like most things theological, the Holy Spirit must be relied upon to discern truth.

As the bible states the being of God two different ways, I don't see how mainstream Christianity can assume the Mormon church is wrong and they are right.  You see, the only thing they  have to go on are guesses as to which scriptures are to be taken literally and which are not.

Since the bible contradicts itself on many points, it makes one wish someone with a pure knowledge could tell us the truth.  Anciently, someone with this ability was known as a prophet.  Hmmm.