The Artist Must Die: A Simplistic View of Politics

Sep 7, 2008

A Simplistic View of Politics

To me politics boil down to two world views.

The first world view is one that is full of compassion. It reaches out to those who are in need and wants to help them. It is an idealized belief of basically the words of John Lennon's song "Imagine". I believe that democrats truly want us to all live in peace and harmony and share our wealth with one another. This also means that morality and truth is "adjustable". The government seeks to "help" and thus, control. The more influence that the government has over individuals, the less freedom we all have. Eventually,we become socialistic and almost communistic to the extreme while trying to "level the playing field for everyone" or force the masses to conform to their ideals. In an effort to please everyone, we lose our sense of right and wrong and are subject to grave consequences.

The second worldview is full of conviction. This group reaches out to those in need by pointing to life principles that must be respected. It is like the light house and the boat parable. The boat must change course because the light house is immovable. We can either live by principles or be crushed by them. This group holds individuals to a higher standard of self requiring accountability and fostering a sense of right and wrong. This group is horrified by the "anything goes" idea presented by the "compassionate" group. This group knows that total freedom without bounds is total chaos. This group believes in accountability for personal actions. Categorized as small town idiots who simply hide behind bibles or cling to guns, they are really honest hard working people who won't let the trends of a generation decide who they are.

I am very moved by the compassionate group. My heart is broken for many injustices and unfortunate circumstances that plague so many. I also believe in absolute truth. In a simple comparison, it breaks down to either these two thinking patterns:

The emotions and feelings of a jacked up society determine their own idea of "truth"
or
Truth stands as an anchor regardless of what the "waves of societal opinion" may be. True is true always.

boiling down to this.

Most Democrats make the rules up according to feeble human understanding, emotion and feeling.
Most Republicans believe that if we don't respect the principles of life(God), we will lose our society to all-out debauchery. And this is a society where no one benefits in the long run.

4 comments:

AnonymousSeptember 7, 2008 at 4:31 PM
The line between beliefs of the two parties has been blurred but I believe the majority of people vote because of 30 second sound bites and they don't really know and understand what the person or party really believes. More people watch American Idol than watch political speeches and debates and they vote for the one who will make them feel good and give them money.
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riverSeptember 9, 2008 at 6:19 PM
dear Kacy love you as always. Maybe part of the problems is that we have allowed politicians to split us with their old war strategies , "divide and conquer". If they can split us into and keep us fighting one another then they can play the gamble to win.

For me and i believe for many both on the left and right:

"Life is infinitely creative, resourceful, reliable and ultimately good. (Both Reps and Dems)

Human beings are an expression of that life force and, as such, are creative, resourceful, reliable and fundamentally good. (Both Reps and Dems)

All life is inextricably connected - what happens to any of us happens to all of us. (Both Reps and Dems)

Evil exists as a potential in all human beings and it derives from the illusion that we are separate from each other and from the fountain of life and the source of God. ( Both Reps and Dems)

Evil cannot be vanquished by force of arms or by fear. It can only be conquered by love. ( For both Reps and Dems)

In the power of compassion and direct right actions we and hold ALL of life with reverance and
transform institutions, social systems and the wounded human hearts.( Both Dems and Reps)

The arc of human history moves toward democracy, justice and an appreciation for our wondrous multiplicity of expression. To stand with power we must stand within the circle. (Both Dems and Reps)

It is the right of all people to enjoy life, liberty and the security of person; to be treated equally under the law; to enjoy freedom of thought, conscience and RELIGION; to free expression and association; to have free access to clean water and air. ( All the Dems and the Reps)

It is possible for all human beings to be free from economic want and poverty and to live with dignity. (All Dems and Reps)

Peace among and within nations is only possible when these rights are assured to everyone. (For all the Dems and the Reps)

The most fundamental responsibility of government is to ensure the health and well-being of the land and of all its inhabitants. ( For all the Dems and the Reps)

Individual rights must be balanced with responsibility for the well-being of the community. (Balance for all the Reps and all the Dems)

The success and survival of our civilization and, possibly, that of the human race are in increasing jeopardy because of our commitment to an unsustainable pattern of resource consumption, particularly our dependence upon fossil fuels. ( For all the Reps and all the Dems)

While our planet's physical resources are finite, the resources of love and imagination are without end.
It is indeed possible to create a society which lives sustainably and harmoniously within the parameters of our planetary life support systems. ( For all the Dems and the Reps)

We have a responsibility to live in such a way that we do not diminish the opportunity for future generations to enjoy the same quality of life which we enjoy. ( For all the baby Dems and all the baby Reps)

A human birth is a precious gift that is accompanied by a responsibility to act with generosity, sensitivity and compassion for all living beings. ( The seamless garment for all Dems and all Reps)

In doing our best to leave a better world for our children.( For all the Children)

All people, individually and collectively, are capable of learning from their mistakes. (All of us both Dems and Reps are imperfect and all fall short of the glory of God)

Life inherently includes suffering, but we have a responsibility as members of the human family to do what we can to ease that suffering and to structure our social institutions in such a way as to minimize unnecessary suffering due to poverty, disease, war, injustice and environmental degradation.
( For all the Dems and the Reps)

Joy is also an inherent feature of life and it is possible to participate joyfully in the suffering of the world. ( May we all aspire for the inherent goodness to minister to those in need, all the Dems and all the Reps.)

Each and every life has inherent value and is worthy of respect. ( All are worthy the unborn the elderly the red, the yellow, the black, the white, both Reps and Dems)

In poetry, art, music, dancing and the spirit of play.
In the power of truth.
At the heart of all things is an ineffable mystery worthy of awe and wonder.( For all the Dems and the Reps)

By the Grace of God we all are sustained and guided. ( Both Reps and Dems )

Why do we allow them to split us? The political machines create the monsters and then taunts us with wild rhetoric why do we fall for it? Us against them, family against family, for what? Especially with the use of religion. I know many wonderful Dems that have a profound faith and service in and for God, Jesus, and other religions of their hearts. And i know many wonderful Republicans that have big big big hearts that are often the first to lend a hand. Dear one why do we buy into their programmming for as soon as they get into office it is chaft in the wind, all to often? Why do we pour so much money into war rather than peace? If we really want change then reach out to the both the Dems and the Reps and form a circle that holds all the children to come in its midst for the earth belongs to them, not us.

Love you Kacy sorry this is so long.
marci
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kacySeptember 9, 2008 at 8:19 PM
Aunt Marci,
You always have such a graceful way of mending things and seeing the positive in the big picture. I love you so much.

Did you see the pics of grandmother?
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riverSeptember 10, 2008 at 8:52 AM
Thanks sweetie!

Yes, i did see the pictures of the family and so enjoyed. Luke and Kyson are awesome. I tried to download a couple of the family pictures but do not think i figured it out. Could you send me the family pictures in an email??? Would love to have the ones with Grandmother and the family shots with her.

Much love
auntie marci
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Some Warnings to the Christian Artist

"However, there are dangers in exercising one's artistic creativity. One danger is idolatry. the worship of the work of one's own hands, Another is jealousy of other, perhaps more talented or more successful artists, A third is the prostitution of one's artistic talents in the service of evil causes. Yet another is the falsification of artistic visions received from God, This danger is unavoidable in our sin-perverted world, as any godly writer or artist will instantly admit. Because literature and art can be so influential in society. Christian writers and artists must take very seriously the Scriptural admonition to "work out our salvation with fear and trembling" as God is "working out His good pleasure in us" (Phil. 2:12-133. Christian writers and artists also should bear in mind that their work is in many respects of an instructive or teaching nature, The writer or artist as teacher `~ill be judged more strictly' by God (James 3:1). Lastly. Christian literature and art should "bless our Lord's holy name with all that is within" the artist (Ps. 103:1). Our creativity must glorify our Creator (Rev.t:1 1). To glorify our wonderful Lord we must forsake mere "Christian utility" aimed at mere entertainment. How sad that Franky Schaeffer, son of the late Ltr .Francis Schaeffer and a talented painter and film maker, could rightly accuse today's Christians of "addiction to mediocrity' and shoddiness in craftsmanship in the arts, This cannot glorify our Creator (Rev. 4:11)."

click here to read the whole article

DYING TO SELF

When you are forgotten, or neglected, or purposely set at naught, and you don't sting and hurt with the insult or the oversight, but your heart is happy, being counted worthy to suffer for Christ.

THAT IS DYING TO SELF

When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart, or even defend yourself, but take in all in patient, loving silence.

THAT IS DYING TO SELF

When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, any impunctuality, or any annoyance; when you stand face-to- face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility-and endure it as Jesus endured.

THAT IS DYING TO SELF

When you are content with any food, any offering, any climate, any society, any raiment, any interruption by the will of God.

THAT IS DYING TO SELF

When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation, or to record your own good works, or itch after commendations, when you can truly love to be unknown.

THAT IS DYING TO SELF

When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy, nor question God, while your own needs are far greater and in desperate circumstances.

THAT IS DYING TO SELF

When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself and can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart.

THAT IS DYING TO SELF

Are you dead yet? In these last days, the Spirit would bring us to the cross.

OTHERS MAY, YOU CANNOT !

If God has called you to be really like Jesus, He will draw you into a life of crucifixion and humility, and put upon you such demands of obedience, that you will not be able to follow other people, or measure yourself by other Christians, and in many ways He will seem to let other people do things which He will not let you do.

Other Christians and ministers who seem very religious and useful, may push themselves, pull wires, and work schemes to carry out their plans, but you cannot do it, and if you attempt it, you will meet with such failure and rebuke from the Lord as to make you sorely penitent.

Others may boast of themselves, of their work, of their successes, of their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing, and if you begin it, He will lead you into some deep mortification that will make you despise yourself and all your good works.

Others may be allowed to succeed in making money, or may have a legacy left to them, but it is likely God will keep you poor, because He wants you to have something far better than gold, namely, a helpless dependence upon Him, that He may have the privilege of supplying your needs day by day out of an unseen treasury.

The lord may let others be honored and put forward, and keep you hidden in obscurity, because He wants to produce some choice, fragrant fruit for His coming glory, which can only be produced in the shade. He may let others be great, but keep you small. He may let others do a work for Him and get the credit for it, but He will make you work and toil on without knowing how much you are doing; and then to make your work still more precious, He may let others get credit for the work which you have done, and thus make your reward ten times greater when Jesus comes.

The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch over you, with a jealous love, and will rebuke you for little words and feelings or for wasting your time, which other Christians never feel distressed over. So make up your mind that God is an infinite Sovereign and has a right to do as He pleases with His own. He may not explain to you a thousand things which puzzle your reason in His dealings with you, but if you absolutely sell yourself to be his love slave, He will wrap you up in a jealous love, and bestow upon you many blessings which come only to those who are in the inner circle.

Settle it forever, then, that you are to deal directly with the Holy Spirit, and that He must have the right to tie your tongue, or chain your hand, or close your eyes, in ways that He does not seem to use with others. Now, when you are so possessed with the living God that you are, in your secret heart, pleased and delighted over this peculiar, personal, private, jealous guardianship and management of the Holy Spirit over your life, you will have found the vestibule of Heaven.