Searching Social Stances – Closing Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

We need change.  We need reformation and revival.  It has always been the responsibility of the church to care for the needs of the masses.  We have watered down the mission with sects and politics and then are surprised that we become less effectual.

When we choose to neglect the needs of others we cannot speak the words of Christ and be heard.  When we treat anyone as underserving of our love and care we neglect the heart of the Gospel.  It is in the needs of other that we have the ability to project the love of Christ.

I must not fall into the trap of left versus right.  I must embrace Christ and follow him in humility.  I can hold to my faith without hating anyone.  I can hold to my standards without rejecting the needs of others.  True faith is never in opposition to true love, kindness, and care.

It is my obligation to follow with all my heart that which Christ commands.  It is my joy to be good to others no matter what their relationship to what I believe.  We need to stop taking our stand in things that are not Christ.  When we stand in Christ alone we lose the need to hate, destroy, and neglect.  That is a good place to be.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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Searching Social Stances – Reformation versus Revolution

Greetings Dear Reader,

This is one of those stances that requires careful distinction.  To revolt is to rise up against something as a rebellion for whatever purpose is claimed.   Revolution is not interested in peaceful discussion.  It demands and destroys.

Reformation, however, seeks to reform that which exists.  It is a presentation of ideas through which one seeks to right the course of things.  Reformation is based in idea and their free congress between people of integrity.  It is not necessary to revolt to reform.

The violence inherent in revolution is not necessary to reform things.  When we abandon peace to make others do as we wish we become the tyrannical things we hate.  Burning a shopkeepers business does not further the truths of a cause.  It destroys an honest man’s livelihood. 

If that alone does not give you pause then perhaps the motivations need examination.  If you are willing for one innocent to suffer to defend your ideas then perhaps there is something wrong with you methodology.   It is never necessary to shed blood to be heard.  It might mean yours gets pummeled out of you.  It might cost you more that you are willing to pay.  But that is the nature of reformation instead of revolution..

Revolution – Beatles

You say you want a revolution

Well, you know

We all want to change the world

You tell me that it's evolution

Well, you know

We all want to change the world

But when you talk about destruction

Don't you know that you can count me out

Don't you know it's gonna be

All right, all right, all right

You say you got a real solution

Well, you know

We'd all love to see the plan

You ask me for a contribution

Well, you know

We're doing what we can

But if you want money for people with minds that hate

All I can tell is brother you have to wait

Don't you know it's gonna be

All right, all right, all right

You say you'll change the constitution

Well, you know

We all want to change your head

You tell me it's the institution

Well, you know

You better free you mind instead

But if you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao

You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow

Don't you know it's gonna be

All right, all right, all right

All right, all right, all right

All right, all right, all right

All right, all right

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Searching Social Stances – Positions versus People

Greetings Dear Reader,

Whenever we allow fear or hatred to make our choices we diminish as humans.  When we allow our political positions to be the regulators of care and compassion then we allow others to be neglected for the sake of ideas.

We define our compassion for others by an assessment of politics first.  The essence of compassion is that politics do not matter.  To love one’s enemy is not a political command.  It is social and spiritual.  We are not to do harm or allows harm to be done by inaction.

The political climate fills us with the hypocrisy of believing that neglecting the needs of the opposition is acceptable.  I do not know how to solve the problems that are involved in allowing immigrants from nations that hate us.   I do know that starving children should be fed at any cost.  People dying because we are worried about what may happen is bad thinking.

We get distracted by the political arguments whilst the needs of people go unmet.  We argue over ideas and rights at the cost of justice for the oppressed.  We make up new ways to feel offended whilst furthering the offense of hating others.  In the fervor to advance our own agenda we fail to love and care for those who are in dire need of our help.

As a Christ follower my politics must ride in the back of the bus when love, compassion, kindness, and mercy are on board.  It is not acceptable for others to suffer so that I can create my perfect political venue.  It is a failure to follow for me to choose my social rights over love and compassion for others.  I cannot force other to believe as I do through politics.  I can, however, live my faith honestly by showing love and compassion to the needs of everyone regardless of his or her beliefs and philosophies. 

If my God is not big enough to care for me whilst doing this then I need a bigger God.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Searching Social Stances – Issues versus Insults

Greetings Dear Reader,

I used to get so angry when students would refuse to learn.  As I grew in my teaching experience I realized that one cannot force anyone else to learn.  One cannot legislate learning.  It is the meeting of two minds over knowledge, understanding, and application.  It is the bridge of two people in academic congress journeying to a new place.

The social stances I see hinder learning.  Instead of speaking to each other we have become embattled factions hurling epithets and insults.  We damage each other over ideals instead of reason and conversation.  We fail to hold back our emotions in favor of conversation.

With me the anger, disrespect, and violence weakens one’s position.  I will always listen to a reasoned conversation.  I will withdraw from insults, derision, and attacks.  I will not support those with whom I agree who employ such tactics.  One cannot love one’s enemies and use these tactics.

We attack instead of expressing the need.  When we do express the need we load it with conditions and provisos that make compromise difficult.  I will always hold to standards that align with my faith.  That means that no matter what I think of someone’s morals or values I must care about his or her needs.  I must love him unconditionally.

We can discuss anything.  I must not argue or divide just to win my way.  The values I hold are worthless if they cannot abide honest discussion over issues.  My faith is a failure it cannot stand with all its requirements.  If the greatest commandments are to love God and love humans I cannot water that down and be honest.  I do not need to insult others to live my faith.  If you need to argue this then perhaps we do not share the same faith.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Searching Social Stances - Mayhem

Greetings Dear Reader,

Whenever one engages in violence against persons and property the action is by definition intolerant.  In a nation that accepts violence as entertainment we pretend to be people of peace and tolerance.   We act as if we care about the rights of everyone.

We do that until those rights disagree with our values.  Whether it is destroying college property or allowing someone to die because of rules and regulations we are not tolerant.  We may claim to be but in truth we visit mayhem on each other actively and passively. 

When protests have even the smallest bit of violence they are no longer protests.  When a law to protect our borders allows an ailing mother to die we are no longer being noble.  If we call our position one of social justice then we had better assure just behavior and just treatment of everyone.  When I say that I follow Christ I had best be peaceful with everyone.

If one claims to follow Christ and allows for mayhem then one is not following Christ.  If one claims to seek tolerance, peace, or justice and acts violently then one is seeking none these.  It is in the peaceful protest of injustice that justice will be obtained.  It is in the assurance all people get a peaceful voice that the truth can be heard.

I am required to love and respect everyone.  That love and respect does not condone any particular philosophy or behavior.  I can believe that one is wrong in his or her morals, values, and stances without hating him or her.  I can disagree with an approach to a social ill without being racist of bigoted.  What I must do is assure that I insist that the social ill be addressed with respect to the needs of others.  

No matter which side of the issue I am on if I am part of or condone mayhem I am wrong.  If I work through love and peace to assure that the needs of others are met I am living out the Gospel.  If I exclude anyone from that care then I am not follow Christ. 

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Searching Social Stances - Mockery

Greetings Dear Reader,

Running through the social media feed often leaves me sad.  It has become too easy to mock people with what appears to be impunity.  It seems to me that mockery is always self-serving.   When it does more it seems to breed disrespect and damage peace.

We do not go from dissatisfaction to riots.  We take a path to get to violence and insurrection.  If we disrespect others through mockery we do not allow a peaceful exchange of ideas.  We cannot say that we have respect for the idea of dialogue and disrespect the people with whom we disagree instead of having it.

I am not pointing a finger here.  I am saying that when I amplify my negative view of someone else to the absurd I harm both the peace and the truth.  I damage the fabric of reason and compromise.  When I use mockery to get a laugh at someone else’s expense I am failing to be loving and kind.

No matter how I feel about any stance on a social issue I am not permitted to mock someone else.  I am not allowed be dismissive or condescending.   I do not expect those who do not follow Christ to behave this way.  I also refuse to act in kind. 

I have mocked others in the past and been mocked by people I love.   Mockery causes harm whether we accept that it does or not.  I am not allowed to do harm.  As I journey through these varied stances on social issues mockery will not help me see your position in a positive light.  Neither will it further the cause with people of integrity.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Searching Social Stances – Opening Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

(With apologies to Andrew Lloyd Webber) At the watering holes of the progressive set I sense a lack of enthusiasm for our new President’s style.  The protest sticks of the liberal class aren’t supporting a single ass that will rise for the Don…

It seems that there is a change in the timbre of the voices rising in protest over the choices made by President Trump.  I have already made clear my thoughts on the responsibility of the Christ follower to the President.  We are obligated to love him, respect the office, and pray for him as the anointed servant of God. 

This does not mean that he is infallible.  It does mean that my thoughts must first go to the Father.  My position must be one of humility and grace.  I must disagree with respect and support with integrity. 

The air has changed in the world and I am concerned that if we do not center ourselves as Christ followers we will follow the wrong gods home.  We will lose our way and our voice.  We will not be the salt and light we are to be as representatives of Christ.

I am going to ponder what I see and develop a deeper understanding of what I must do to follow Christ well.  I must do this and always make it my focus.  See Christ and follow him alone.  I see too much hurt and hunger not to do this.  Walk with me and me see more clearly Dear Reader.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Commitment - Oaths

Greetings Dear Reader,

“An oath is a solemn commitment that often involves invoking a divine witness and is relative to future behaviour.”   We primarily see oaths from those entering the military, law enforcement, medicine, and politics.  All of our national Presidents have taken this oath:

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

The presidential oath is taken most of the time with his hand on a Bible.  The public nature of this type of commitment should be inviolable.   Oaths and vows deal with future actions.  We promise to do or not do something.  We give assurances that the thing that we are being entrusted with will be completed faithfully.

So much of an oath is related to acts of faith.  We are bound to act in the promised way for the duration of the time we are entrusted with the office or duty.  I wonder if we understand the full weight of that type of commitment.  Since we cannot foresee all circumstances we are promising to act a certain way no matter what happens.  This is a serious faith based commitment.

I am not talking about faith in God.  It is faith in our own fortitude that is involved in an oath.  I will do “X” no matter what happens with “Y”.   This is not only binding it is open ended.  It does not surprise me that Jesus cautioned us about swearing oaths.  It is not that we should not take them but that we should understand the full weight of them.

It keeps coming back to personal integrity.  I must be complete in my loyalty to the words I say.  I must be honorable and honest.  I must be the one who governs my actions so that they adhere to my word.  An oath is making clear that to which I am saying “yes”. 

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)