Part Nine of a Call to Christian Patriotism

Randy Alcorn (married to my cousin so I always read what he has to say)  has a take on the election here and here.

Some say Democrats are switching to Romney here.

Ellen Dollar writes here why she is a Christian Democrat.

Republican and The View celeb, Elizabeth Hasselback, wrote on Twitter about this debate of last week:

Why is Obama eagerly taking responsibility for the past 4 years in Iraq and Afghanistan- but NONE for past 4 yrs here!?!

Not all believe you should display a flag in church according to this Christianity Today article.

Three moments in the second debate were highlighted here.

The real debate is at the poll. Tonight the third debate will be held. I will listen and blog about it in my last post in this series on Oct. 29.

Howard A. Eyrich, author of the study book we are going through with these posts, A Call to Christian Patriotism, starts a session with a warming for the church is a warning for America.

Addressing our fellow citizens with the truth of our founding documents and the teachings of our Founding Fathers is likewise foolishness in an age of relativism and narcissism (p. 121).

Listen to the media. Many Pro Choicers don't want Romney. They want abortion on demand. Which candidate will give me more health care? And what is the national debt doing to our economy? As a Christian, who is retired and not rich, I prefer to rely on the LORD who has promised to supply all our needs. Relativism and narcissism indeed! Eyrich gives three tests to identify a false prophet ob pp. 121-122 and concludes this section with we win because Jesus is coming again to establish his Kingdom forever and ever (p. 122).

Dr. E. points out that the Christian life is learned. He takes off on a May 15, 2011 five-point sermon preached by Dr. Harry Reeder at Briarwood Presbyterian Church and applies it to the Christian patriot.

 First, the American life is transferred by intentional learning. The history and the documents that emerged must be learned. The principles embodied are not intuitive. Training in the cultural nuances of a demoncratic republic must be rooted in these documents The cause of "liberty and justice for all" must be framed by the Judeo-Christian heritage out of which it emanated. Second, since the American way is a matter of intentional learning, we must immerse our children, our families, our schools, and our immigrants in the founding documents and the historical context so that they might not be corrupted by the many attacks from the wolves (Acts 20:29-30) within and without. Third, we must have (and be) faithful teachers who walk the talk of historical Americanism and teach its content. Fourth, each of us must choose mentors and leaders who symbolize the best of America. Fifth, since the American Way is learned, each of us must take responsibility to become teachers of the American Way (p. 131).

 My favorite quote in this section is on p. 127--a prayer by Joe Wright  that is available on various web sites according to Dr. E.

Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, "Woe to those who call evil good," but that is exactly what we have done.

We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.

We have exploited the poor and call it the lottery.

We have rewarded laziness and call it welfare.

We have killed our unborn and called it choice.

We have shot abortionists and call it justifiable.

We have neglected to discipline our children and call it building self esteem.

We have abused power and called it politics.

We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and call it ambition.

We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.

We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and call it enlightenment.

Search us, O God, and know our hearts; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Amen.