Because we are individuals made up of myriad experiences we bring to our ideology snippets of understanding that make us individuals!
The "sum" of some of us becomes "stark raving liberal" or "right wing fringe," but most of us end up with a sum somewhere in the middle.
(I'm the home-school mom today, sorting out ideas for my charges)
I have heard so many people speak in my lifetime, and with some I felt instant rapport. Some gave me a sense of repugnance.
Just recently I heard Kitty Werthmann's story , Eric Metaxas speaking, and a debate between atheists and Christians at a college. All made an impression worth mentioning.
As a high school student (late '70's) I was awarded a trip to "Citizenship Camp," sponsored by the Farm Bureau and my local 4-H club. It was "up north," at a lake/church camp in Minnesota.
Two speakers made an impression on me: Cleon Skousen and Leo Thorsness.
If you do any research on these gentlemen you will be struck by what they represent. I was impressed with their stories, especially Col. Thorsness' s.
Perhaps Skousen was "stark raging conservative," but he had some interesting ideas to present. I did not and do not advocate his worldview, but I considered it. I remember one camper sitting by the lake with a disturbed countenance. I'm sure he was completely befuddled by the pro-American, anti-communist rhetoric we were hearing. I've wondered where that young man ended up ideologically since.
Thorsness told a story I have never forgotten. I had a sympathetic view of John McCain mostly because of what I remembered hearing from Thorsness and his horrible experiences.
People without Christ can be horrible. Worldview matters. Impressions make an impact.
When I analyze where people are coming from I am mostly filled with compassion. Not everyone has read the same books I have, heard the same people, experienced the love or friendship that I have been blessed with.
Not everyone has had the rich heritage of Biblical worldview, which gives so much reasonable structure to human and spiritual life.
So many people have been damaged by evil, they see life through the haze of pain.
But they don't need to.
Christ offers an alternative. "Come unto me, all you who are heavy laden."
Open your spirit to Christ's alternative, and see things come into focus----right, left, life, death, pain, evil, and ultimate good.
You can only try to believe, and let the Holy Spirit take it from there.
So go ahead and read Saul Alinsky, Sigmund Freud, Adolf Hitler and Karl Marx. Stuff it through the grid of God's Biblical wisdom, and see what you get.
I know that I have found a view worth having, and compassion for everyone is central to it. "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you."
Off to a busy day. We are going to see Shackleton's Adventure. Amazing story!!
Boy, did he have life experience!
The "sum" of some of us becomes "stark raving liberal" or "right wing fringe," but most of us end up with a sum somewhere in the middle.
(I'm the home-school mom today, sorting out ideas for my charges)
I have heard so many people speak in my lifetime, and with some I felt instant rapport. Some gave me a sense of repugnance.
Just recently I heard Kitty Werthmann's story , Eric Metaxas speaking, and a debate between atheists and Christians at a college. All made an impression worth mentioning.
As a high school student (late '70's) I was awarded a trip to "Citizenship Camp," sponsored by the Farm Bureau and my local 4-H club. It was "up north," at a lake/church camp in Minnesota.
Two speakers made an impression on me: Cleon Skousen and Leo Thorsness.
If you do any research on these gentlemen you will be struck by what they represent. I was impressed with their stories, especially Col. Thorsness' s.
Perhaps Skousen was "stark raging conservative," but he had some interesting ideas to present. I did not and do not advocate his worldview, but I considered it. I remember one camper sitting by the lake with a disturbed countenance. I'm sure he was completely befuddled by the pro-American, anti-communist rhetoric we were hearing. I've wondered where that young man ended up ideologically since.
Thorsness told a story I have never forgotten. I had a sympathetic view of John McCain mostly because of what I remembered hearing from Thorsness and his horrible experiences.
People without Christ can be horrible. Worldview matters. Impressions make an impact.
When I analyze where people are coming from I am mostly filled with compassion. Not everyone has read the same books I have, heard the same people, experienced the love or friendship that I have been blessed with.
Not everyone has had the rich heritage of Biblical worldview, which gives so much reasonable structure to human and spiritual life.
So many people have been damaged by evil, they see life through the haze of pain.
But they don't need to.
Christ offers an alternative. "Come unto me, all you who are heavy laden."
Open your spirit to Christ's alternative, and see things come into focus----right, left, life, death, pain, evil, and ultimate good.
You can only try to believe, and let the Holy Spirit take it from there.
So go ahead and read Saul Alinsky, Sigmund Freud, Adolf Hitler and Karl Marx. Stuff it through the grid of God's Biblical wisdom, and see what you get.
I know that I have found a view worth having, and compassion for everyone is central to it. "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you."
Off to a busy day. We are going to see Shackleton's Adventure. Amazing story!!
Boy, did he have life experience!
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