Christlike Christianity 💙🇺🇦

If you live in these states, your ACA premiums are about to jump:

SD - Up 235%
LA - Up 150%
WV - Up 387%
WY - Up 382%
TN - Up 320%
MS - Up 314%
AK - Up 346%

Republicans are fighting to make sure this happens to their own constituents.

I know I said a bit ago I was working on getting a blog setup. That's still in process, I apologize.

I post on Facebook for a wider reach to the people who really need to hear truth.

Our words carry weight to them and, unfortunately, words can be a precursor to violence. Too many people try to absolve themselves of responsibility by saying it's "just words".

I wrote a shorter article exploring this. Please check it out!

www.facebook.com/share/14J3h4...

I don't think MAGA realizes how bad Trump's EO is.

Too many "Christians" want to be Law of Moses Christians and not Sermon on the Mount Christians.

Please, come back to the real Christ. The one who upset the established ruling elites, religious and secular, by inviting others to live a higher law.

The meme of the two women screaming at a cat and the cat is sitting at the table not caring it's getting yelled at. On the women side it says, "Christians supporting the views and politics of "Christian" leaders and influencers" on the cat side, "Matthew 7:15-23"

It breaks my heart that "the scriptures are laid before thee", yet so many professed followers of Jesus Christ will not simply compare what they hear and read to what the Savior taught. Are they willfully ignorant? Too trusting? I don't know, but I do know we must encourage them to "seek this Jesus"

It's maddening. The last few days I have seen friends and family - the ones I thought actually understood scripture - fall into the exact same spiritual traps Jesus warned against. 😭😭😭

From the 50501 community on Reddit: New pic Posted by Ice_Ice11 - 21,563 votes and 200 comments

www.reddit.com/r/50501/comm...

Be weary of anyone who speaks against empathy, for Jesus has already set the example. Wherefore can ye doubt?

that ye may become the sons [and daughters] of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure."

Seeking to destroy empathy puts us on the path to destroy ourselves.

Empathy is the baseline to develop compassion and foster understanding. Precursors to being endowed with the gift of Charity, "the highest, noblest, strongest kind of love", even "the pure love of Christ" that God bestows "upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ-

To deny empathy - denying the ability to feel as another feels - is to deny the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

To preach against empathy is to preach against Christ and His Doctrine.

Downplaying empathy downplays our responsibility to love one another as Jesus loved us.

To attack empathy is to attack the charge to love our neighbor as ourselves.

To vilify empathy is to vilify our covenant to "mourn with those that mourn and comfort those that stand in need of comfort".

"The Savior’s message is clear: His true disciples build, lift, encourage, persuade, and inspire—no matter how difficult the situation."

"For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?" - Mosiah 5:13

It is unfortunate that so many Christians believe that Charlie Kirk - who gave voice to contention, hate, cruelty, and inequality - spoke righteousness.

This is not so.

I encourage you to read my post about recognizing false priests and teachers.

www.facebook.com/share/p/17Gg...

In light of Charlie Kirk's death, I hope this post might help others find the balance of correcting hateful discourse and having charity.

www.facebook.com/share/p/17CG...

"One of the easiest ways to identify a true follower of Jesus Christ is how compassionately that person treats other people. [...]His true disciples build, lift, encourage, persuade, and inspire—no matter how difficult the situation. True disciples of Jesus Christ are peacemakers." President Nelson

"For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?" Matthew 5:46-47

Charlie Kirk has advocated for beliefs and systems in conflict with the teachings of Jesus. He has given voice to cruelty & hate.

I am deeply grieved he was shot.

We can oppose harmful ideologies AND still have charity for those who perpetuate them.

Disciples of Christ need not seek out violence.

It's ridiculous! I live in a red state and we're going to drive 5+ hours to a blue one to get our next booster. Even with prescriptions it's hard to find a place actually administering COVID shots here.

It is a bit too long to post here, but I'd encourage you to check out my post about righteous judgement and charity. Please share with friends and family who may be stuck in "Christian" hypocrisy. Hopefully we can encourage them to do good and fight against fascism

www.facebook.com/share/p/1Z9Z...

"[...]I had spoken hard things against the wicked, according to the truth; and the righteous have I justified, and testified that they should be lifted up at the last day; wherefore, the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center." 1 Nephi 16:2

A quote from Sharon Says So on a plain blue background, "If the truth threatens your identity, the problem isn't the truth. It's what you've built your identity on."

Not changing, or trying to change, in accordance with truth is a lack of intellectual integrity.

Claiming absolute truth doesn't exist at all is a sign of willful ignorance.

Shades of gray and nuance exist, but context is vital.

Truth is eternal.

I know as we do so we'll be more like the Savior and our Heavenly Parents. Our very natures will become holy through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and when the Savior returns "we shall be like Him". In his holy name, amen.

If we find ourselves thinking something unkind or ignoring the infinite power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ can have on even "the vilest of sinners", may we quickly repent and ask God for help to have charity.

"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven [...]" - Matthew 5:44-45

I'll continue to call out the evil and cruel actions and policies of this administration and the president - so should also any who seek to follow Christ, but we cannot give in to evil by forsaking charity. We must cleave unto charity and the teachings of Jesus Christ.

I understand how difficult it is to have charity for others. To forgive. Even still I find it challenging and I must remind myself to exercise compassion.

Do not mistake me. Mercy cannot rob justice. To forgive doesn't mean to excuse. Charity grants an eternal perspective.

We MUST have charity.

We cannot take joy in the suffering of another.

We cannot take joy in the death of anyone or delight in bloodshed.

No matter what cruelty or evil comes from their actions. We must not rejoice in their suffering and death.

"Of all the divine titles that God could bear, or that Divinity could carry, the one He’s chosen is ‘Father.'" - Elder Holland