Love humble careful communication from people who aren’t keen on tearing others down. Feels like I need to re-read Arthur C. Brooks’ 2019 book “Love Your Enemies” (on USA’s partisan contempt poisoning our collective soul).
It does feel like we are in a hall of mirrors right about now, doesn’t it? Praying for USA and the coming King Jesus administration. Finally when the Prince of Peace appears, we will get a government soooo much better than we deserve! Maranatha!
Hi there! First of all, I just wanna mention how much this podcast and Mosaic has helped me. And I don't wanna create any conflict with this question but I’ve been reflecting on the teachings of Jesus and how he seemed to prioritize values that I see reflected more in Democratic beliefs. For example, Jesus was deeply connected with beliefs which feels more aligned with Democratic ideals of social justice, equality, and community support. And sometimes I feel like Republican values can sometimes feel at odds with Jesus' message. I’m also curious about the pro-life vs. pro-choice debate within this context. Jesus preached free will, and while abortion may be considered a sin by some, wouldn't it be consistent with his teachings to allow people to make their own moral choices? After all, he didn’t force his teachings on others but left room for individuals to follow him of their own accord. Why do so many religious people align with conservative values, even when it seems that many progressive or liberal values are closer to what Jesus taught? I know I'm all over the place here but there's so much to say that I'm not even sure where to begin. I was just hoping that you would help me understand this a bit more. For example, let's say that Jesus HAD to vote... do you think he would agree with anything that Trump says? And I'm not saying he would agree with Harris either, don't get me wrong haha
Great questions. I feel like in decades past the choice of U.S. President wasn’t too consequential because both candidates had a modicum of I don’t know … integrity maybe, but this year? I feel like both have significant liabilities, and either could be used to rip our country further apart. But that’s just my emotions. I know we’ve always been divided (except after 9/11 maybe). Either way, I love respectful dialog between people that can acknowledge, that even when one feels something is “obvious” we might actually be inverted. I think this was the warning that Gamaliel gave the Sanhedrin in Acts 5:33-40. This whole situation is fraught. Proceed with humility. I keep feeling myself saying I want to vote for the Jesus administration. I sometimes dream of how that will look, if He will undo “our mess” (all falsehood including religions, nuclear and environmental disasters and associated aftermath) with a snap of His fingers (so to speak) or whether humanity will need to do it old school and roll up our sleeves - so to speak. I know that’s not an answer but I love your questions and the way you posed them.
Hey Josh. If you can visit Mosaic in LA and speak to a pastor, I know you could find clear answers to your questions. But I understand why you have these questions.
I’ve often heard this kind of thinking on the left and Jesus absolutely taught to help the poor, immigrants, etc. But He never said the way to do that was through a corrupt federal government that expands and expands and wastes tons of money in every process and does a pretty horrible job whenever it tries to take over something new. Not to mention a government that uses tax dollars to do things that are unethical (starting wars, etc). I believe it’s better to help people and give through charities and churches, not the powerful, corrupt elite. Free will is one thing. But think about abortion for what it really is: ending an innocent life. There are all these new terms like “reproductive justice” to make it sound like something it is not. Unless you’re having a really early abortion, it will involve stabbing/ poisoning/ dismembering the body of your unborn child. I have a son and I had my first ultrasound at 10 weeks. I expected to see kind of a blob, but instead I got to see a formed tiny human inside me. He was clapping his hands and rubbing his eyes and I couldn’t believe it. 10 weeks!!
I’ve often heard this kind of thinking on the left and Jesus absolutely taught to help the poor, immigrants, etc. But He never said the way to do that was through a corrupt federal government that expands and expands and wastes tons of money in every process and does a pretty horrible job whenever it tries to take over something new. Not to mention a government that uses tax dollars to do things that are unethical (starting wars, etc). I believe it’s better to help people and give through charities and churches, not the powerful, corrupt elite. Free will is one thing. But think about abortion for what it really is: ending an innocent life. There are all these new terms like “reproductive justice” to make it sound like something it is not. Unless you’re having a really early abortion, it will involve stabbing/ poisoning/ dismembering the body of your unborn child. I have a son and I had my first ultrasound at 10 weeks. I expected to see kind of a blob, but instead I got to see a formed tiny human inside me. He was clapping his hands and rubbing his eyes and I couldn’t believe it. 10 weeks!!
