Lloyd Hohn

America and Christianity

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 07:51:21 -0600

Recent paragraph in Newsweek, found by La Shawn Barber and details in her blog states, “If this week’s exit polls tell us anything about religion, they remind us that there are tens of millions of voters in this country who believe in God, read their Scripture, pray, regularly attend a house of worship—and do not consider themselves born-again Christians.” La Shawn correctly points out and biblically validates the fact that one cannot be all the above and then state they are not “born again”. You see, to be Christian, one has to have been born again. Just go and see La Shawn’s blog on this one

How is it that we have arrived at such a level of Biblical ignorance? This most likely is the result of pastors and churches NOT teaching Biblical facts and concepts, but rather adapting and modifying the message to “fit” today’s listener and today’s culture. Face it, we are living the day of the individual. As a society, we move and do and fulfill all we want as it pertains to us. Are we so concerned and afraid of socialism as a society that we ignore biblical New Testament teachings of compassion and concern for others? Selfish Christianity is on the rise. Self-centeredness is not something new within Christianity. How else can you explain all the various denominations, traditions, observations within Christianity. All the while, professing that it is “all about HIM”. Ya, right! How have we evolved to a point in basic Christian knowledge that we think being Christian does NOT involve a rebirth? Jesus said, “you must be born again” or “you must be born anew” (or whatever translation or version your prefer)

In attempting to make the church more “user friendly” we sing songs very few people know. We have audio quality that only those with the most acute hearing can understand. We have gadgets that display announcements and sermon outlines and our lyrics, but often are incorrect or behind or just don’t work. THIS is what we consider “user friendly”? Or, is user friendly the fact that we can count on being released in sixty minutes. We are slaves to technology and no longer slaves to Christ, who is stated to be the author and completion of our faith.

Much of the church of Christ has become enamored with processes and procedures. One of my children called and mentioned to me that he had gotten into trouble in his church because he dared to move the communion trays to properly center them on the communion table them before church began. He was informed that only the minister or one of the elders could touch those items once they were on the communion table. Now, where did that one come from? Oh, there are so many more that we could write about and they come from Evangelical, Catholic, Pentecostal, Mainline...you name it. They all have some tradition that makes you wonder what Jesus must think what has become of His message.

Ask yourself this question. How would you react if you attended your church and there was no electricity. Would your church cancel the service? How would you react if you found out all that would be on the “program” for that day’s gathering was a simple piano playing some simple hymns and choruses that had to be done from memory. How would YOU feel? Cheated? Wondering why you were there? Honestly, how would you react?

We have secularized individuals writing articles on subjects that they have no idea about which they are writing! The same is true with people thinking they are Christian when they have no idea what a Christian IS except for that idea of what they think it is. Hence, the statement in Newsweek.

Now, for me to state what I have stated will open me up to the general criticism of being “judgmental” and other nonsense. Are we now going to start re-interpreting what Jesus meant?

You can be religious and attend a church that is christian, but that does not equate to being a Christian. Being one involves change of direction. If the church of Jesus Christ loses that basic understanding, then we will have indeed missed the boat!

Congratulations President Elect Obama

Wed, 5 Nov 2008 19:12:30 -0600

Woke up this day and while traveling in to work, the Farm Report on local KFYR radio was talking about the ramifications of the new Obama presidency on the local farm economy. That news ruined my morning! Not that Barrack Obama won, but that I learned about it from the Farm Report! I wanted to wait until I got to the office and read all the election results! I purposely went to bed early enough to NOT know and go through listening to all the pundits and others gab on and on about this and that and about things that they may or may not know much about.

Perusing several blogs, Facebook and generally gathering people’s reactions from the conservative and christian circles, it was all pretty much what I would label as “okay’dness”. Many were saying they were ok with the election and would be praying and supporting the new President-elect. However, there were some comments about how the world was certainly coming to an end and how that America as we know it was going to end. I just had to chime in and post some thoughts and challenges.

I am puzzled by those who profess faith and confidence in God’s grace and abilities to know what is best, to now question and state that America is finished. You CANNOT emphatically declare that God is in control and then act as though God must have goofed and taken a flier on this election simply because the results did not come back the way you desired and voted!

As BELIEVERS we BELIEVE! If we believe that God is sovereign and nothing happens outside God’s purview, then we MUST accept all things that occur as not surprising or catching God off guard. To all those christians who let their emotions get the best of them and post comments that would almost negate their faith, I trust that in the light of the new day, they have seen “the light” of faith and confidence in God. Is it not asked in Scriptures, “shall not the God of all the earth do right?” (Gen 18:25) We must confidently reply “YES, YES, YES”.

It is our duty to pray for the new president-elect and his family. Wise choices need to be made concerning cabinet appointments and other staffing needs. He will need wisdom to discern those whose council he needs to heed and what to reject. People with agendas will besiege him and make demands of him. We need to pray for his safety. His wife and children will also need our prayers. Pray that the things that divide us begin to melt away. Pray that Barack Obama’s achievement will inspire young black Americans that they CAN succeed and break the chain of poverty.

I leave you with this Scripture. “The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live. He wants not only us but everyone saved, you know, everyone to get to know the truth we've learned” I Timothy 2:1-4

Pray

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 18:17:59 -0500

Pray for our national elections. If each person will pray and vote, then your voice is being heard. Without voting, you have no right to complain if things are not the way you think they should be.

is the support of israel going to be changing in this election?

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 09:31:53 -0500

While browsing the latest news stories about this election cycle, I came across an article quoting Jesse Jackson on his take about America’s continued support of Israel. He is quoted in the New York Post as stating with the election of Barack Obama, “‘Zionists who have controlled American policy for decades’ remain strong, they'll lose a great deal of their clout when Barack Obama enters the White House.”

Could we begin to see a concerted effort to separate America from Israel? If Jesse Jackson sees this in Barack, why should we not believe it? Jesse goes on to state “Jackson warns that he isn't an Obama confidant or adviser, "just a supporter." But he adds that Obama has been "a neighbor or, better still, a member of the family." Jackson's son has been a close friend of Obama for years, and Jackson's daughter went to school with Obama's wife Michelle.
"We helped him start his career," says Jackson. "And then we were always there to help him move ahead. He is the continuation of our struggle for justice not only for the black people but also for all those who have been wronged." “
There is so much involved in this election. We know that Israel will be attacked and that NO ONE will come to her aid or rescue. The biblical prophetic story makes that certain. So, at some point, America will end up abandoning Israel or at the very least, will no longer support the tiny nation of Jews.
Is this the first step in that journey? Time will tell. Be sure you pray for wisdom in casting your vote this November! It is appearing that as America becomes less Christian and more secularized, the understanding of Israel’s importance diminishes. Ignorance of God and His chosen ones has caused other nations to fall and crumble. Is America about to embark on this same path in this pivotal election?

On another note, our podcasting has been delayed this week due to a new roof being installed on the house and shop. I never knew it could be so noisy installing a roof! First they removed the old one and then put on the new one. I think I know what the inside of a bass drum is now like when the drummer is hitting that kick pedal!

When they finish, we hope to sit down and get one produced. Pray for Linda. Her shingles are very painful and the medication has a pretty negative effect on her body. Being constantly dizzy and tired is no picnic. She will be off work for two weeks.
Blessings
Lloyd
**FOOTNOTE**
After this story broke, Jackson and the Obama campaign backed away from the statements. Obama repudiated the remarks and Jackson clarified and decried the reporter’s “take” on his statements. So now we are left to wonder if this is all because the news broke on this and was becoming international news or if Jackson “misspoke”. Personally, think he got caught with his own words coming back to haunt him.

Palin as Esther

Mon, 6 Oct 2008 12:49:21 -0500

I received a forwarded email this past week that originated with a minister. He states in the email that God had been burdening him to pray about this election. He had been in intense prayer for a couple of days and nights when he was instructed by God to turn on the radio. It was around 2:00 AM when he did this. At that moment it was announced that Sarah Palin and John McCain would be appearing in his area. He was then instructed to go to the rally and deliver a message from God.

Through some extraordinary circumstances, he ends up on the platform and gets a chance to speak not only to Sarah, but to Todd (her husband) and Senator McCain. This minister continues with the story that he had NO idea what he was to say only that God told him to speak with Sarah. God told him that God would give him the words as the appropriate time. So, when he had the chance to speak to Sarah, the message was simply that she was Esther. God was putting her this position at this time. According to the email, she begin to cry. He they told Todd what he had just told Sarah and Todd began to well up with tears. He then had the chance to tell Senator McCain that he was praying for him.

So, what does this mean? Sarah is Esther. We know a couple of things about Queen Esther from the biblical account. She was informed ‘Who knows,’ said Mordecai to Queen Esther, ‘but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?’ It was her role to inform the king of Haman’s plot to destroy her people the Jews. She played a pivotal role in history. Can Sarah Palin be that woman for this time and this election?

I’m not certain that we can, at this point in time, understand the fullness of this declaration given through this pastor. I’m simply waiting to see the fulfillment of what I think the key focus may well be. Who knows that Sarah Palin has been brought to national prominence for such a time as this! Time will tell us if this minister was acting as an agent of God in this matter! Until we have some history to judge, we should all be praying for this election that each Christian votes according to his or her principles and values. Hopefully, each Christian uses a biblical foundation and not a party platform as their guiding light.

Lloyd