Despite Obama ... Be Encouraged

I'm sure everyone has read and written quite enough about the political situation. Most of you know that I am a Christian. I didn't really like either candidate . Maybe I would have supposed McCain to be the lesser of two evils, though anyone I would have thought decent enough didn't stand a chance.

I didn't vote. Not because I didn't want to; I thought I had an absentee ballot, but I found out a day before the elections that it was only an application for an absentee ballot. I would have stood in line on election day to register, but I got intensely sick around Monday evening. Characterised by the usual, difficulty breathing, muscle aches, dry throat, runny nose. I wouldn't have wanted to wait two or three hours for registration like that. So the circumstances were against me. And really, I still hadn't decided whether to go with the "lesser of two evils" principle or to vote my conscience. Now it doesn't matter. Anyway ...

What I do want to throw out there, right now, are a couple of reminders for my fellow believers. Many of you, some who are dear to me, have become greatly discouraged by Obama's win. I agree that it is discouraging. I'm not going to engage in any political debates, but morally speaking, Obama is really not who I would have wanted, either. However, what is done is done, and God is sovereign, and before we ever even cast our ballots, God knew that this would come about, and He allowed it to be! And if I may dare tiptoe through the TULIP with you for a moment, I also remind you that despite whatever "change" will come about because of who America elects, it is those whom God elects that know true change. There is no presidential leader that can come into this nation and add, remove, change or reform anything that will solve the problem of humanity. To think as much would be humanistic at the very least. If you do not know God, then even national crisis is a moot point next to your own depravity. Only the Holy Spirit can bring about the sanctifying change we truly need.

That said, every true believer needs to remember this: God is seated on the throne. The deal is as good as finished; one day Christ will return for His church! Our citizenship is not of this world but of His Kingdom. All of this may sound rather cliche to anyone who's been a Christian long enough, but actually dwell on it! What can man, (even a president) really do to you? Does he have dominion over your soul or anyone's? Do not fear our leadership; fear God, and pray for our leadership.

Yes, I said pray.

"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." - 1 Tim 2:1-2

Paul wrote this to Timothy when Nero was in power. Nero! If Paul, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, could say as much for Nero (who did great things against the Christians,) then we can certainly say as much for any leader of this country.

Be careful how much time you spend complaining. If you choose to discuss politics with others, do not be foolish in your discussion, reverting to insults and blind speculations, but educate yourselves on what you discuss and be respectful. Most importantly, do not allow all of it to cause you to lose sight of God and His sovereignty. Do not cease to praise Him. Do not stop bringing your desires before Him! Don't allow your skepticism to cause you to forget that He is in control.

And pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ, that they may remember to do the same.

So, yes. Barack Obama may promise "Hope" and "Change" ... Let him. Our King gave us this long ago.

Love you guys. Be wise.

Depicting Christ?

All personal issues aside ... heh.

I'm learning things for the first time, some new things, some things to simply a greater extent, that I don't even know I can write them all. I might offend some of you. (... But wait! No one reads this. Haha.)

Something specifically that I wish I could publish on my deviantART site is a conviction that will make me sound either Amish or Puritan to some of you. But it is the issue of depicting Christ. In few words, I am convicted and repenting of this. I shouldn't have been doing it!

Why? It is simple. Christ is God, and God is spirit. It is true that Christ came in flesh, but did even one of us physically witness that? If not, by whose illustration can we say we have seen Him face to face? Not by the Bible, certainly; not by the Spirit (unless we are Paul.)

Look at the Ten Commandments. The second commandment (it's been trunciated into the first if you are Catholic,) speaks all about this:

"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments." - Exodus 20:4-6

I do not believe this commandment (as the Amish may imply) is saying that we cannot make artwork of God's creation. I do not think that children were stoned if they drew a picture of their pet lamb. Don't misunderstand me. It is clear that the context is referring to the golden idols that many had.

Traditionally, we think, "well yeah. They made statues and called them gods. That's absurd!"

That's true, to an extent. But look at the history, for a moment:
- Who was this speaking to? The Israelites.
- What were the Israelites doing? Leaving Egypt.

... So let me shine a little light on something about Egypt. Before I knew Christ, I was quite captivated in Egyptian mythology. It's not hard to tell. I knew a lot about the deities. At my lowest, I prayed to one of them a few times. I did not think that my statue of Bastet was literally Bastet. I understood it to be a representation of someone that (I had hoped) may actually exist.

The Egyptians actually believed Bastet to be a real, living being in the flesh. They believed this to some level about most of their deities. They depicted her because they thought she could be depicted.

... But let me ask. Can God, who is spirit, who cannot be contained because his existence is infinite in both time and space, be depicted? We can't wrap our minds around that; how can we wrap our pencils around it? I speak the same for every story and allegory that attempts to depict more than an aspect of God. Can God be guessed as a thing of literature might? Can we presume to know what God would say or do in a fictional circumstance? If you can assume God into fiction, I question the depth of your real relationship with Him ... Because lately, I tremble when I compare the God I know to the God I once tried to insert in my fictional works.

Again, folk will say, "but Christ DID come in the flesh! Why can't we draw Christ then?"

My conviction stands firm. I wasn't there. You weren't there. No one here is that old. I absolutely believe that Christ walked on earth in the flesh; I do not presume to know what He looked like, however, and because He is my Lord, I do not think it is my place to presume upon a thing. There is no crime in depicting flesh, but when that flesh is God incarnate, the Lord who was crushed to redeem me, are my hands truly worthy of that? I think a few children's books illustrations can be spared for the sake of not treading on something that may not be my place. The bottom line is that if we truly believe that Christ is God, then why depict Him when God has commanded we should make no such idols -- (being images that represent a deity.)

If nothing else, consider this. Many people have the inclination to want to revere an image and base their idea of God on that image. (Look at how they do!) It's really not worth that stumbling block. There are better ways to honour Christ than drawing Him. Especially those who make light of their images of Him.

Now, to those of you who disagree -- and of you there may be many -- I know I will probably hear your thoughts on this.

But my real concern is this. For those of you who share my convictions ...

Why did you say nothing to me when you saw me doing this?