Every day now we hear new reports of Members of Congress issuing outlandish/outrageous threats/insults against members of the opposite party. The biggest offenders to date include Republican Congressman Paul Gosar who posted a video depicting violence against Democratic Congresswoman Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez.
“Republican Rep. Paul Gosar posted a photoshopped anime video to his Twitter and Instagram accounts showing him appearing to kill Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and attacking President Joe Biden. Ocasio-Cortez tweeted in response Monday saying a “creepy member” of the House had “shared a fantasy video of him killing me.””And he’ll face no consequences bc @GOPLeader cheers him on with excuses,” the New York Democrat added. As part of the initial tweet, Gosar asked, “Any anime fans out there?” He also shared a link to the video. Gosar is portrayed as a cartoon anime-type hero and is seen attacking a giant with Ocasio-Cortez’ face with a sword from behind. The giant can then be seen crumbling to the ground. Another scene shows Gosar flying through the air, swinging two swords at a character with President Biden’s face.” (CNN POLITICS, November 10, 2021).
Another firebrand in The House of Representatives Is Congresswoman Lauren Boebert. She seems to be well gifted at aggravating the nerves of her democratic colleagues of color. Unfortunately, however, her only motive seems to be that she hates the women mentioned, primarily because they belong to another race or faith.
On Day 3 of the controversy caused by Lauren Boebert’s suggestion that a Muslim member of Congress might be a terrorist, the Colorado Republican said that she “can’t wait” to debate the issue with Rep. Ilhan Omar on Fox News primetime show. Yup. That’s what she said. What the two would debate is not entirely clear to me. Boebert said on multiple occasions that Omar, a Democrat who represents Minnesota in Congress, was a terrorist. She also said that Omar was “black hearted” and “evil.” And she regularly refers to Omar as well as Reps. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts as the “Jihad Squad.” (CNN POLITICS: The Point by Chris Cillizza December 1, 2021)
Another colorful character in the constellation of Republican politicians. Gifted at attracting negative attention to herself, is Marjorie Taylor Greene. She accomplishes such a feat by the outrageous, irrational, and simply delusional statements that she is so infamous for making.
Freshman Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, has been stripped of her committee assignments by the House Democratic majority over racist remarks, her embrace of conspiracy theories, and her past endorsement of violence against leading Democratic officials. Greene, 46, is a newcomer to politics, and previously worked for her family’s construction business in Georgia. She was labeled a “future Republican Star” by former President Donald Trump, whose political style she emulates. The House Democrats took the unusual step on Thursday. In 2017, Stephen Paddock opened fire from a hotel room window overlooking an outdoor country music festival in Las Vegas, killing 58 people. Afterward, Greene suggested that the shooting might have been staged. “How do you get avid gun owners and people that support the Second Amendment to give up their guns and go along with anti-gun legislation?” Greene asked in an online video. “You make them scared, you make them victims and you change their mindset, and then possibly you can pass anti-gun legislation. Is that what happened in Las Vegas?” “I don’t believe (Paddock) pulled this off all by himself, and I know most of you don’t either,” Greene said. (AP NEWS: A Glance at Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Incendiary Words by Brian Slodysko February 5, 2021).
All of these people are American citizens. They all had the benefit I hope, of one of the best educational systems in the world. I imagine that they all had presumably supportive parents. But by virtue of their current conduct one wonders where things could possibly have gone wrong during their formative years? Their words and conduct reveal that they are filled with hatred, prejudice, malice, and are apparently predisposed to engendering and using violence against their political opponents. They all appear to have one thing in common. They admire and hold up Donald Trump as their great exemplar. An extremely poor model indeed. All the current information that we have about that personality. Reveal that he has had a long history of criminal conduct. He has sexually assaulted several women, cheated on his taxes, refused to pay many of his building contractors, was impeached for corrupt conduct, cultivated a relationship with white nationalists, and most recently lied, and conspired with criminals to overthrow a fair election so that he could be installed as an authoritarian ruler. Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3. All of these people are in desperate need of the new birth.
Few people are very concerned about the afterlife. They spend most of their time and effort preparing for this life. Unfortunately, however, unless we master certain basic characteristics not only will our existence in this life be a living hell. There will be no realistic hope of existence in the life to come. We all need a good character. That concept has many definitions.
The Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved. Helen Keller.
Character is not something that you buy; it is not a commodity that can be bartered for; it is not a quality suited for only the rich and famous; rather, the character is built upon the foundational commitment of love, honesty, and compassion for others. Byron R. Pulsifer.
Tolerance is a fundamental character trait of great people and a part of the attitudes and practices of those we admire and respect. People without tolerance are diminished and poor. John K. Carmack.
It should be obvious to all that the possession of a good character is definitely not a piece of cake. It is an attribute that has to be worked at and carefully cultivated, as long as life lasts. Accordingly, insulting, threatening, demeaning, and trying to belittle others will only lead to our own moral ruination.
The Master Teacher puts it this way,
“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. (Luke 6:27-31 NKJV).
The important thing to bear in mind here. Is that there is an invisible moral order. Over which we have absolutely no control. That force, if you will, can bring about good or evil in our lives. As we read in scripture, “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” Consequent upon his wicked life of rebellion against The Lord Almighty and his pursuit of all that was opposed to good. The prophet Elijah was sent to pronounce a message of doom against the corrupt king Ahab.
“So Ahab said to Elijah, ‘Have you found me, O my enemy?’
Isn’t it unfortunate that evil-doers invariably rail against those who try to rein them in and bring them back to the pursuit of righteousness. Just because people do everything they possibly can to save us doesn’t mean that they hate us.
And he answered, ‘I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the Lord: ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on you. I will take away your posterity, and will cut off from Ahab every male in Israel, both bond and free. I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, because of the provocation with which you have provoked Me to anger, and made Israel sin.’
Every evil-doer will definitely not suffer this fate. Because there are varying degrees of wickedness. Similarly, every lost person will not burn for several days in hell since there are degrees of punishment. But why engage in a life of conduct that will ultimately lead to a place of torment?
And concerning Jezebel the Lord also spoke, saying, ‘The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’ The dogs shall eat whoever belongs to Ahab and dies in the city, and the birds of the air shall eat whoever dies in the field.’ (1Kings 21:20-24 NKJV).
The inescapable truth here is that we are being studied and carefully observed by supernatural agencies. They are all at the disposal of The Lord of Creation. He makes things happen because He controls all reality. He decrees for our lives whatever He thinks is appropriate and against His judgment, there is no appeal. What was about to come upon Ahab and his entire family was a fate for which they had all fervently labored.
But there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the Lord, because Jezebel his wife stirred him up. And he behaved very abominably in following idols, according to all that the Amorites had done, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.” (1 Kings 21:24-26 NKJV).
(TO BE CONTINUED).
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