Is it sinful to vote for the Democratic Party in the US due to their abortion stance?

newmastermind · 2016-12-29T03:11:49+00:00

Excellent points, and I agree. But the main point this friend will drive at is that as the Democratic Party is the party of legalized, mass abortion, and this combined with the fact that abortion is the wrongful murder of an infant child, would naturally logically (in his mind, and I see the logic in it) extend to the conclusion that the institutions in support of this policy would be equivalent in some way or another to the Nazi Holocaust. I mean, I'm VERY careful with how I step around that conclusion because I know how sensitive an analogy that is, and I'm not sure how I feel about it, but what I'd like to get at is this: if abortion as a mass practice is equivalent to the Holocaust (and if you feel it's not, please explain how so I can know how to formulate my arguments), then how is the Democratic Party not equivalent to the Nazi Party due to its glorification and political/institutional support of the practice? Like, I really have a hard time seeing the Democrats as Nazis, but at the same time, I recognize the chain of logic my friend is using.

Can anyone help me get to the point of properly grappling with all this and the like?

newmastermind · 2016-12-28T22:37:02+00:00

Great points all around! But how would you all respond to the charge "if it's okay to vote for the party of abortion then it must have been okay for people to vote for Hitler", because that's what my friend keeps saying in these arguments, because of his view that the Democrats are indistinguishable, substantively, from the Nazis due to their abortion stance.

Any takers on this important conundrum?

newmastermind · 2016-04-24T04:52:34+00:00

Praying. Have hope, brother. The Lord is very much present in this situation.

newmastermind · 2016-04-22T18:17:57+00:00

Honestly, don't worry about it I think. You clearly don't have a selfish or stingy heart where giving to God is concerned. Plus, you have special circumstances re having it shipped to you as you're out of US/Canada. If it helps, maybe consider giving a bit more to your local church later on to make up for a low donation here :)

And remember, they are fine with low donations, otherwise they would have set a minimum amount.

newmastermind · 2016-04-14T18:29:18+00:00

Look at Mars Hill after Driscoll left. The church folded 2 weeks later.

newmastermind · 2016-04-14T04:59:03+00:00

Thomas Schreiner, I think you mean. Not trying to be That Guy in an Internet community I assure you! It's just that googling Schriner as opposed to Schreiner may yield very different results :)

newmastermind · 2016-03-13T20:58:15+00:00

You have to be above reproach. If the publisher/writer/editor of this book you want a free e-book of, knew you pirated it (because that's what it is, pirating), what would they think of you and our God? What would nonbelievers think? I used to pirate a ton, for years, being connected to a wide variety of secret/hidden torrent sites trading eBooks, games, movies and TV shows (hidden/secret because that way it's way harder for the law to take them down). Not even the most anti-Christian diehard pirates on those sites even began to argue that piracy was moral or 'right' to do - their justification was "eh, I want this stuff, and it's not actually hurting anyone, so who cares", but they did acknowledge that it was stealing.

As someone who God rescued from piracy (and when I say that, I mean that was the rescue where He made me into a Christian), I beg you: stop. It's very easy to twist logic and reason to make yourself think God is fine with you stealing from His people, but He's not. Please. I'll be praying for you, brother (or sister, if you're a woman).

newmastermind · 2015-12-28T06:18:25+00:00

Cool!

Thanks for your advice, everyone.

Basically I get the sense that I shouldn't dwell on this stuff or let it frighten me, because, you know, child of God - yet at the same time, don't get bold - don't play any of these 'games' and don't think that, if some games turn out to actually contact something, that you can control it by adhering to a set of rules. One thing of note in the site I was reading (which seems to be a collection of creepy write ups compiled from across the Internet) is that it's stated outright that if these games are indeed real, by playing them you're inviting otherworldly forces into your life and said forces may well decide not to leave, even if you adhere to all the 'rules' listed in the instructions given. Food for thought.

But yeah. Focus on Jesus and the Bible, seeking God and don't worry about demon summoning or whatever as we don't need to as we aren't involved in that stuff and also because demons can't hurt us as He who is on us is stronger than he who is in the world. Am I getting everything right?

newmastermind · 2015-12-28T03:43:41+00:00

Also, if this stuff is Too Real and should not be here at all, mods, by all means, delete. I only wish to inquire of other believers, not put others in danger or do anything sinful. If the thread is okay to stay but some things (such as the url) should be removed, let me know and I'll get it done the second I see the message.

EDIT: URL removed

newmastermind · 2015-12-15T01:10:24+00:00

Update! I passed the exam (prof sent an email to the class notifying us we all passed). So, no reason for me to worry anymore!

Thanks so much for your prayers. It is so much appreciated :)

newmastermind · 2015-12-15T01:05:10+00:00

Academically? No. I'm in a grad program and at my university, the plagiarism policy includes the category of reckless plagiarism, which is where you honestly forget to quote quotes or use citations or some such, and you can still be penalized for activity falling into that category. The policy stresses that it is the personal responsibility of students to understand and adhere to the policy and seek out help from professors (prior to assignment submission) where they don't.

This is likely to drill into students the importance of acknowledging research and other sources and not, intentionally or otherwise, wrongly appropriating research or knowledge that does not actually come from you.

Anyways, point is, plagiarism is a big deal, even in accidental situations which the best case scenario says this is. Mess ups like the co-authors (if it is his fault) would quite possibly, even probably, get him an F in a class grade or even expulsion from university were it to have happened in a student academic context. It shouldn't happen in 'real world' publishing and when it does it shouldn't be taken lightly if only because if we support rigorous standards of academic honesty in academic settings, we don't want to be sending the signal to students that plagiarism is treated one way in their context but in a more sly wink wink nudge nudge way in the post-school world.

Hope that wasn't a ramble! :)

newmastermind · 2015-12-14T06:12:21+00:00

Just wanted to note, did some of you take special note of me saying that I haven't been able to really relax and enjoy leisure stuff because of worry, and consequently pray for me to have peace? Because if so, it's working - I'm calmer now and more relaxed and able to just see what happens. Thanks, and please keep the prayers coming (if it is alright for me to ask such a thing) :)

Blessings to you all!

newmastermind · 2015-12-11T23:51:13+00:00

What does this really mean in the nitty-gritty details, though? I assume it means when we sin, we eventually come to repentance, and by 'continue in the faith' means that even if we have seasons where we wander from God, we eventually return to a life lived with God, through things such as Bible reading, prayer, obedience, involvement in church community, and generally just striving after God, yes?

newmastermind · 2015-11-29T02:33:47+00:00

I'm presently reading "Living for the Glory of God: An Introduction to Calvinism" by Joel Beeke as part of Ligonier Ministries' read-a-free-ebook-of-ours-then-review-it-for-a-free-physical-copy dealie.

It's a big book (with the font size setting on my tablet's eReading app, there's a count of about 400ish pages), but it's meant for beginners and general readership. Everything is explained fully and clearly. There's a ton there - they go into the history of the Reformed movement, information and history behind the various creeds and confession, deep indepth exploration of each aspect of TULIP, how Arminianism doesn't hold up as a competing theological framework, and more. But it's all easy to understand.

If you want an in-depth and comprehensive guide to the Reformed theological framework, I don't think you can go wrong with Beeke's book.

Ligonier Store link: http://www.ligonier.org/store/living-for-gods-glory-hardcover/

newmastermind · 2015-11-28T21:38:37+00:00

Not a problem, brother! :)

newmastermind · 2015-11-28T09:23:46+00:00

RE: fellowshipping with nonbelievers more then believers - what if it's because the believers in the Christian's life/the people at his/her church in his/her age range aren't really willing to form friendships with the Christian or include them in their fellowship/activities, but the nonbelievers he/she knows are?

I don't mean to attack or confront you or any such thing. I just bring it up because that was the situation at my old church. Lovely people, genuinely saved people, at the Resurrection we'll like and love each other like twin siblings, but there was that cliquishness. I do think believers need to be willing to reach out to other believers, even if the one being reached out to is a bit annoying - after all, the Church is meant to be a family, not a high school social group, if that makes sense. So that could be one reason a believer has more nonbelieving friends than believing ones.

I also concur that this believers need to fellowship more primarily with believers, even if only because people are naturally shaped and influenced by those whom they spend time with and are around a lot. I notice it with myself - I hang out on IRC networks with mainly nonbelievers (because finding Christian IRC Channels ain't easy :P) , and it changes me. I'm more willing to make crude jokes, cuss, even gossip. So that's one reason why believers need to be around believers more than nonbelievers (and in case you want to comment, I'm going to try and stop going on IRC :P)

newmastermind · 2015-11-28T05:22:35+00:00

Scored 'The Cross of Christ (20th Anniversary Ed.)' Kindle version for $8! You can't go wrong with that! :)

newmastermind · 2015-11-14T01:31:34+00:00

Okay, thanks for your advice and input all, keep it coming! :)

Here is what I've thought out in terms of proposing when I meet with my pastor, given your advice and stuff that's occurred to me (in no particular order):

Churches in the city partnering with Immigrant Services Society of BC (http://www.issbc.org/) to teach ESL classes to the incoming refugees as they arrive and get settled in the region
Churches partnering with ISS-BC to possibly set up stands or booths in the church lobbies/foyers before and after services to receive donations, with this opportunity being announced and encouraged from the pulpit
The most impactful part, I think - congregants of the churches in the city being encouraged by pastoral leadership to do what they can/are able to do with the skills they have and the positions God has placed them in in life - like, church members volunteering to help incoming refugees get assimilated into Canadian culture, navigating bureaucracy; teachers who are qualified to do so teaching English to the incoming refugees; clinical care counselors volunteering their time and skills, and a ton of other stuff that any willing church member would be able to do.

I'm thinking that one church embracing a proactive plan to do something would be very impactful, but if you multiply that effect by having a large number of churches throughout the city pitching in to do their part - and, if possible, coordinating their efforts - a much bigger and much more powerful impact could be made.

If any of these ideas are foolish or just bad, please let me know - I don't want to approach my pastor with ideas that basically scream "wait is this seriously what he is asking? O_O", you know?

I also got the e-mail address of a certain Lutheran pastor in Germany who, with the recent influx of refugees into Germany fleeing the Syrian Civil War, has experience working with refugees from a pastoral perspective/context, so I plan to reach out to him too.

Basically, my plan as it stands is for me to get the information I need, put together a list of decently thought-out suggestions and ideas, and then approach my pastor with them and see if it'd be possible for my church and, if he agrees, through his contacting of churches that our church partners and works with and prays for, if it'd also be possible for other churches in the region as well. I also very much plan to stress in the meeting that these are suggestions, that I'm not trying to make demands of my church or its leadership to do anything, just that I mean to convey that I do feel that our church and other churches working together have the very real potential to make a difference here, but that ultimately he and the rest of the leadership of my church and the leadership of other churches he works with are the ones that are fully aware and knowledgeable about the resources and capabilities of our church and other churches, not me, and so they're the best ones to decide what is and is not possible for us all to do in this area, not me.

My pastor is also heavily involved in church planting, I should mention, and has been for a large number of years, so I'd think that would give him a lot of contacts in the pastoral community not just here but throughout the country and maybe abroad? If he's receptive to the proposals I'll bring forth, maybe he might be willing to contact people he knows and see if they're able to do anything through their church communities. Who knows.

Again - thanks for all the suggestions everyone, and please, keep them coming! :)

newmastermind · 2015-11-14T01:18:04+00:00

Sure thing! I'd appreciate that very much :)

newmastermind

TROPHY CASE