Too Much Turmoil

It's been a while since I've last written a blog. I've been putting it off, maybe because I've been busy with life, but most likely because I've been disturbed by the turmoil in our world right now, so much nasty politics, and so many natural disasters and catastrophic events that always provoke those who can come up with a conspiracy theory for every tragedy. It's maddening, even devastating, to see what is happening in our country and throughout the world. At a time like this, it seems frivolous to write about my simple Christian life in the Nebraska Panhandle.

I am sad when I notice how much Christians of any persuasion are misunderstood, mocked, blamed, and even attacked for their very existence. In a nation where our freedom of religion and freedom of speech have always been heralded as two of our most essential freedoms, I don't feel like I am free to say (or write) what I really think about anything of importance. I am frustrated when I realize that the people around me think they know what I believe and how I vote, and if my supposed beliefs don't align with theirs, some consider me unworthy of calm conversation or friendship--or even, for at least a few, unworthy of life itself.

The thing is, my convictions do not lean to either the far right or the far left.  Like many people in the US, I think we need to work together to find common ground, somewhere in the middle of the two extremes. But, unfortunately, the middle seems to have disappeared.

When our government fails us, when our representatives in Washington can't get along even to provide the essentials that will keep our nation solvent, provide much-needed paychecks for lowly government employees, and protect the truly destitute people who live among us, we need to put aside our differences long enough to care for those in our own communities who are desperate for the very essentials of life. And, do you know what? I see it happening, quietly but persistently, in many Nebraska communities, where people are stepping up to provide for their neighbors who are facing hard times. 

But the national news media doesn't often address the grassroots efforts of caring people, many of them Christian, who are humbly making sure that the people around them have warm shelter and enough food to eat.

"We're at a point in Christianity where people don't 

care if you can back it up with the Bible. 
Their feelings, desires, and emotions override what Scripture says. 
They don't follow Christ. 
They follow self."

Stephen Mattson, The Gospel Coalition

Unfortunately, this is true of some Christians, too. After all, we are imperfect people who sometimes stubbornly refuse to do what's right. Not too long ago, I wrote about what I think of Christian groups who don't get along, focusing on their differences instead of working together to meet their common goals. You can read more about that here.

Whether or not you are a Christian, before you criticize Christians for our beliefs, you really need to know what we believe. You can talk to someone who claims to be a Christian but, better yet, you can go to the source: read the Bible! Unless you've read it cover-to-cover, you don't really know much about God or the people who serve him. (If you really want to understand what the Bible says, read it in the New Living Translation or the New International Version. You can easily download a free Bible app for your phone--I'll be glad to help you.)

There's plenty more I could write about this, but I have neither the time nor the inclination to write a book on this particular topic. I guess I just needed to vent. But, for the present, I will simply trust God through all the turmoil, since I know that I can't do anything about it anyway.

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. 

Psalm 73:26