#faith and politics

[winderlylandchime]

I’m seeing a bunch of posts that make me think most USAmericans don’t know about The No Surprises Act.

It was passed in 2021 (thank you Biden) and essentially states that if you don’t have insurance or your insurance doesn’t cover a service you need (or want) you are entitled to a Good Faith Estimate of the cost of care. (If your insurance does cover the service, you should be able to estimate the cost of care based on your deductible and co-pay.)

As a healthcare provider who does not accept any insurance, I am very careful to not violate The No Surprises Act. Why? Because for every penny more than $400 that the Good Faith Estimate was “off” (or if it wasn’t provided), you are entitled to a refund for that amount.

Y’all. Ask for a Good Faith Estimate. Get it in writing. Compare it to what you are paying. If you are not provided an estimate or if it’s wrong by more than $400, demand a refund.

[kgdrendel]

What Does the Word of God Say about How Rulers Should Rule?

Let’s lay politics aside for a moment, and just consider the Word of God. Politics, of course, is the backdrop to this article. A person cannot be completely apolitical, no matter how hard one tries, but political positions shift, evolve and change, while the Word of God is eternal. Therefore, we should put the Word of God first over our political inclinations. If you believe your Bible, the…

[locustheologicus]

The Gospel Challanges Injustice:

As I prayed this morning I reflected on the plea that was made yesterday by the Episcopal Bishop Rev. Mariann Budde who challenged President Trump's call for unity with a call for mercy.

Let me make one final plea, Mr. President. Millions have put their trust in you and, as you told the nation yesterday, you have felt the providential hand of a loving God. In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now... Our God teaches us that we are to be merciful to the stranger, for we were all once strangers in this land. May God grant us the strength and courage to honor the dignity of every human being, to speak the truth to one another in love and walk humbly with each other and our God for the good of all people.

Sadly, this message which called for mercy for the diverse communities now targetted by the policies formed under his new administration, fell on deaf ears. The President remarked “I didn’t think it was a good service” and even went so far as to demand an apology.

As it turns out this morning's Gospel reading came from Mark 3:1-6 where Jesus heals the man with the withered hand on the sabbath. The Jesuit Prayer app offered the following reflection based on this reading.

Jesus understands the law but chooses to challenge its misapplication, knowing it might provoke opposition. While healing only the man’s withered hand, Jesus responds to his deeper human need: a need to be embraced with tenderness and seen as worthy of God’s loving attention. While the Pharisees are paralyzed within the confines of the law, Jesus chooses love and freedom…and his action heals.

For those of us who read the consistent message that Jesus gives we cannot fail to see that at every opportunity Jesus challenges society to promote justice, mercy, and love. He does not allow the letter of the law to function as a wall that stops him from reaching our and serving those in need. He reminds the Scribes and the Pharisees in a previous passage that "the sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath." Unfortunately they did not seem to accept this teaching which may be why the Gospel tells us that he was angry with them during this event.

The Scribes and Pharisees are ready to impose the law on many of those who are with us today. Laws that will hurt those who are marginalized in our communities. It's fine that we momentarily close the border while our nation reorganizes itself on how they will respond to the migrants here but the actual Jesus of the Gospel challenges us to be just, merciful, and loving to those whom we encounter in our communities today. Injustice may have its moment in the sun for now, but the Jesus we read in today’s Gospel will never sit back and allow unjust laws to have the last word.

Thank you Bishop Budde and Cardinal McElroy for bringing forth the prophetic message and reminding us that the Gospel of Christ will always challenge our social injustices. By the evening of this day our U.S. Bishops conference also added their voice of concern for the recent executive orders that have been promulgated by this administration. Archbishop Broglio offered the following statement.

Many of the issues President Trump addresses in his recent Executive Orders, along with what may be issued in the coming days, are matters on which the Church has much to offer. Some provisions contained in the Executive Orders, such as those focused on the treatment of immigrants and refugees, foreign aid, expansion of the death penalty, and the environment, are deeply troubling and will have negative consequences, many of which will harm the most vulnerable among us.

Moments later Bishop Seitz also added his own even sterner message.

The Catholic Church is committed to defending the sanctity of every human life and the God-given dignity of each person, regardless of nationality or immigration status… As shepherds, we cannot abide injustice, and we stress that national self-interest does not justify policies with consequences that are contrary to the moral law. The use of sweeping generalizations to denigrate any group, such as describing all undocumented immigrants as ‘criminals' or ‘invaders,’ to deprive them of protection under the law, is an affront to God, who has created each of us in his own image.

He also added the following:

We urge President Trump to pivot from these enforcement-only policies to just and merciful solutions, working in good faith with members of Congress to achieve meaningful, bipartisan immigration reform that furthers the common good with an effective, orderly immigration system. My brother bishops and I will support this in any way we can, while continuing to accompany our immigrant brothers and sisters in accordance with the Gospel of Life.

The Christian community is clarifying its social message in light of this administration and I anticipate that this message will become clearer in the days ahead, especially if the administration attempts to impose itself within the church itself.

To those who seem confused about President Trump’s messianic identity, allow me to clarify. Jesus is our only messiah and his Gospel stands in opposition to many of the executive orders that the President has issued these last two days. A line in the sand is being drawn with Trump on one side and Christ on the other, whose Gospel will you follow?

I am adding to this post because, as of this week (1/27/2025) Trump’s Vice President, JD Vance, a Catholic, publicly offered his critique to the US Bishops where he says the following:

I think that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops needs to actually look in the mirror a little bit and recognize that when they receive over $100 million to help resettle illegal immigrants, are they worried about humanitarian concerns? Or are they actually worried about their bottom line?

As I said, the line in the sand is being drawn and the battle lines are formulating. What Trump/Vance and their followers represent is the gnostic strain of Christian nationalism that has emerged since 2008 (possibly birthed from the remnants of the “moral majority”) which is a nationalistic ideology that was interprets and defines the faith. What many of us who study and believe in the teachings of our faith represent is the counter-cultural movement that Christ started in order to transform people and the sinful systems within domineering power politics and culture.

What is the difference? Christian nationalist fight for cultural dominance, we struggle to promote the principles of the Kingdom of God (as Jesus taught it) within ourselves and our society. As an example cultural dominance looks to dominate and define the community with their cultural values so they go after personal morality as a way to purify society within the idol of their own cultural vision. This is why their attack on abortion and diversity is directed not at the issue itself (does not seem to bother them that abortions have increased since being made illegal) but on the control and even the elimination of the population.

This is not the goal of our faith. Borrowing from the work of Richard Niebuhr we are not promoters of the Christ of Culture but of the Christ who is the transformer of Culture. We do not come in to judge or oppress people to our image and rules but to embrace them in love and mercy. We advocate against unjust laws that terrorize, oppress and terminate life and the environment because that goes against our most basic belief in the inherent dignity of all people and the integrity of all creation.

Vance, a Catholic, knows this I am sure. He knows that the Church will not compromise on this principles and if he cannot use that for his ideological ends then he has to delegitimize the Church in whatever way he can. So for that reason he needs to throw an ad hominem fallacy and attack the institution itself in an attempt to end its influence on the issue.

I have said it before and I will say it again, part of the religious tradition of this nation to is to allow the Spirit to work within our authentic Christian communities in what has been called the Great Awakening movement. It may be time we evangelize our communities and usher in the fourth Great Awakening.

[markwilliams54]

The Ethical Quandary of Political Allegiances in Modern Evangelicalism

In the interconnection of faith and governance, the evangelical Christian community stands at a pivotal juncture, grappling with the implications of their deep-seated involvement in political affairs. Dr. Mark Williams' profound treatise, DECEIVED! The Poisoned Fruit of Evangelicalism, delves into this issue, articulating how the relentless pursuit of political influence has precipitated a significant erosion of moral and ethical standards within this faith-based cohort.

The book dissects the gradual paradigm shift within evangelical circles, from a primary focus on spiritual enlightenment and gospel dissemination to an overt preoccupation with legislative success. This evolution, as Dr. Williams illustrates, has not merely recalibrated the community's priorities but has starkly compromised its moral integrity. The dichotomy between the espoused religious convictions and the political machinations endorsed by evangelical leaders forms the crux of the analysis presented in DECEIVED!

Central to Dr. Williams’ critique is the exploration of the moral compromises that have become prevalent as evangelical leaders forge alliances with political figures whose policies and personal conduct often starkly contradict foundational Christian ethical norms. This alliance, predicated on a transactional approach to faith-based political engagement, presents a profound moral conundrum: Should the evangelical community continue to endorse leaders who promise to champion their causes at the expense of core Christian values?

DECEIVED! lays bare the consequences of these alliances, highlighting a pervasive moral dissonance within the evangelical community. This dissonance is manifested in the widespread acceptance of leaders who, while pledging to uphold certain Christian values such as the sanctity of life and marital fidelity, simultaneously flout other equally significant biblical teachings through their personal and professional conduct. This selective morality, Dr. Williams asserts, has not only diluted the evangelical message but has also significantly diminished the community's credibility and influence.

Furthermore, Dr. Williams challenges the evangelical community to introspectively reassess its engagement with the political sphere. He advocates for a reinvigoration of the gospel's quintessential teachings—compassion, humility, and love—as the guiding principles for political involvement. By realigning their political actions with these foundational precepts, evangelicals can begin to mend the rift between their political actions and spiritual convictions.

The ethical recalibration proposed by Dr. Williams necessitates a withdrawal from the pursuit of power for its own sake and a renewed commitment to the transformative power of the Gospel. This approach calls for evangelical Christians to embody the principles of their faith in every sphere of life, advocating for policies and leaders that truly reflect the teachings of Jesus Christ.

DECEIVED! The Poisoned Fruit of Evangelicalism serves not only as a critical examination of the current state of evangelical politics but also as a clarion call for substantive change. It is a compelling invitation for believers to reclaim the high ground of ethical integrity and to foster a more authentic manifestation of their faith in the public arena.

DECEIVED! The Poisoned Fruit of Evangelicalism is available for purchase on Amazon and can be further explored through Dr. Mark Williams' official platform. Readers are encouraged to utilize the Dr. Mark Williams app to access a wealth of additional resources, including music and book previews, and to avail themselves of a promotional discount on the purchase of DECEIVED! For more detailed information and to engage with the themes discussed, visit Dr. Williams' website. This book is an indispensable resource for anyone committed to understanding the moral complexities of evangelical engagement in modern society. https://stagingclientswebsites.com/wp3/

[compassionmattersmost]

A Prayer for America

A Heartfelt Prayer for Our Nation: Embracing Unity and Compassion In this pivotal moment of transition, we are called to gather our hearts and minds, reflecting on our shared values as Americans. This prayer serves as a beacon of hope and a reminder of the strength we possess when we come together, transcending our differences. May the light of righteousness, loving-kindness, compassion, truth,…

[dkcdude]

Vote with Your Heart for Your Heart

Introduction As you may have noticed, Election Day in the United States is in just a couple of days. But fear not, this will not be a political post. As hard as it is to believe, there won’t even be any political ads anywhere in this article. Believe me when I say that I understand how easy it is to feel overwhelmed by the weight of our choices in this election. The debates, the ads, the news…

[biblepreacher]

War & Politics: Conquer Evil with Good

We are continuing our series answering the questions of "war & politics". In this post we talk about how to conquer evil with good, which is a crucial point in my framework. For this reason, this post is larger and deeper in scope than the others.

One of the most compelling axioms of our time is the saying “when good men do nothing, evil prevails.” When we look around and see what is being done to babies, how our children are being mutilated, and our society is becoming cruel, desperate, and corrupt, I think we yearn from the deepest recesses of our soul for justice. We look for answers that tell us what we can do about the evils we see…

[rebel-girl-queen-of-my-world]

Attention Christians - THIS is what Jesus would do. Put his body on the line, speak truth to power, and demand justice for the starving and oppressed. 🙌

Thank you, @christiansforafreepalestine, for being an example of true decency and faith in action.

“Our scriptures say ‘woe to you, who eat while others go hungry!” they called out to senate staff.

Saying “Congress won’t eat until Gaza eats,” over 60 Christians from across the U.S. are nonviolently blockading the Senate Cafeteria to pressure the Senate and their staffers to support a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, restore aid to UNRWA, and end military funding to Israel. #CFPAction

[universoulreiki]

There is an increasing polarity in the political world and how many feel we should address the problems facing us. The temptation to separate people and parties into "Good guys" and "Bad guys" is strong. Archangel Sandalphon delivers an in-depth look at how to best shape our choices and alignments, policy by policy and candidate by candidate. We're encouraged to turn away from fear-based political actions and towards heart-centered ones.

Channeled by Daniel Zafer-Joyce on 12-6-22 at Castle Rock State Park, Los Gatos, CA

If you would like to schedule your own private channeling for guidance you can do so at this link:

https://bit.ly/41ufEGA

If you would like to contact Daniel directly with questions you can use the contact link at universoulreiki.com

Follow on Instagram at @Universoul_Reiki for early glimpses of upcoming messages.

Music: Ambient Nature Music | Nature by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu/

Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

Creative Commons CC BY 3.0

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

[yesterdaysprint]

Aldous Huxley in The San Francisco Examiner, September 3, 1932

[theonion]

In a historic reversal of its nearly 2,000-year-old pro-meek stance, the Catholic Church announced Tuesday that it is permanently rescinding the traditional “blessed” status of the world’s meek. “Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ once said, ’Blessed are the meek,’” said Pope John Paul II in a papal bull read before the College of Cardinals. “However, there has always been a tacit understanding between the Church and the meek that this ’blessed’ status was conditional upon their inheritance of the earth, an event which seems unlikely to happen anytime in the foreseeable future. Our relationship, therefore, must be terminated.” “Screw the meek,” the pope added. Full Story

[locustheologicus]

We Catholics are taught by our Church that we should vote. This is a civil responsibility and one that our Church considers an important expression of faithful citizenship. Pope Francis expressed consern about the state of democracy especially with low voter turnout and populist temptations to vote unreflectively.

More recently, Pope Francis recognized the difficulty with the American election but still called on us all to be involved and to form our conscience for this election.

Recognizing these social concerns and the important upcoming elections that have the potential to move us closer to authoritarianism or the democratic process, the church is asking all of us to be involved and vote. The Jesuit magazine, "America" offers the following six suggestions for conflicted voters.

Prepare a personal scorecard: Where do the candidates stand on pro-life, anti-poverty, immigration, foreign policy and religious freedom issues? ...the process can help clarify a Catholic voter’s thinking before stepping into the booth.

Split your ticket:  A split ticket sends a clear message: We want both sides to address problems in a bipartisan manner, not with extreme proposals.

Assess each candidate’s character and leadership skills: A candidate who is willing to lead, reach across the aisle, strongly consider opposing views and respect the rule of law in decision-making can be vital in achieving the common good—an important Catholic principle.

Remember that you do not have to support the candidate you vote for on every issue: There are many ways to exercise your rights as a citizen in the public square besides voting, such as attending rallies, writing letters or participating in coalition or community groups.

Talk to fellow Catholics: It is worth talking to family, friends and acquaintances about the election through a Catholic lens. Even if you disagree or even argue with someone, this provides another guidepost for your decision process.

And finally, vote, even if it is a difficult decision: For some Catholic voters, neither major candidate is satisfactory, and you must “hold your nose” to vote for one of them—or at least say a prayer before doing so.

These are great points for all Catholics to ponder as we prepare for election day. Regarding the fifth bullet point, talking to fellow Catholics, I advise us all to take seriously the idea of promoting cordial diologues based on an ethic of mutual respect for one another. In the past I have promoted the "Civilize It" Campaign from the USCCB, a campaign to get American voters to participate in the electoral process with the dignity that flows from our Catholic values. The Jesuit social ction thinktank, The Ignatian Solidarity Network, offers Catholics a different opportunity. This campaign is more follows Ignatian spirituality and is more friendly towards sociel media engagement. It has Catholics take the pledge below and then widely promote their political enagement.

[markwilliams54]

Evangelicalism’s Dangerous Pursuit of Power

The evangelical movement in America has become inextricably linked with political activism, but at what cost? In DECEIVED! The Poisoned Fruit of Evangelicalism, Dr. Mark Williams explores how this shift from spiritual focus to political power has eroded the moral foundation of the Church.

Dr. William’s book paints a stark picture of how many evangelicals, driven by the desire to advance causes like pro-life advocacy and religious freedom, have abandoned the core teachings of Jesus. These causes, while seemingly noble, have been co-opted by political agendas that prioritize legislative victories over the genuine spiritual welfare of individuals. This manipulation of faith for political gain is at the heart of DECEIVED!

The author demonstrates how evangelical leaders have become deeply entrenched in the political sphere, often supporting candidates whose personal lives and policies contradict Christian values. Dr. Williams asks a critical question: how can believers, in good conscience, align themselves with politicians whose behavior is antithetical to the teachings of Jesus? Is the promise of political power worth sacrificing our spiritual integrity?

DECEIVED! exposes the reality that many well-meaning Christians have been misled into believing that their political activism is a form of service to God. However, Dr. Williams explains that these actions often lead us further from the message of Christ. Instead of focusing on compassion, forgiveness, and love—the very heart of the Gospel—Christians are distracted by the pursuit of power.

The book is not just an indictment of modern evangelicalism but also a call to return to the essence of Christian faith. Dr. Williams encourages readers to reassess their priorities and reflect on whether their political engagement is truly reflective of Jesus’ teachings. Is it possible to fight for moral causes without compromising one’s faith?

In answering these questions, Dr. Williams provides a compelling argument for a return to spiritual integrity. DECEIVED! encourages Christians to resist the temptation of power and refocus on what really matters: following Jesus’ example of love, service, and humility. This book is a must-read for anyone concerned about the direction of evangelicalism and its impact on both faith and politics.

DECEIVED! is now available for purchase on Amazon and at https://deceived.drmarkwill.com. To preview chapters from this transformative book and enjoy Dr. Mark Williams' inspiring music, download his app using the QR code below. Buy the book through the app to get a $5 discount on the retail price of DECEIVED! The Poisoned Fruit of Evangelicalism. https://stagingclientswebsites.com/wp3/

[whereserpentswalk]

Thing I made.

[biblepreacher]

War & Politics: Can Christians Serve in Political or Military Vocations?

Having argued that Jesus is Lord, which gives him alone the right to order his Kingdom, and that there is one authority over all to which we must answer, which means there aren’t different standards for “secular” and “religious” spheres, and having argued that God has both reserved vengeance for himself, now it’s time to ask the question that has divided how Christians engage with questions of…