This is an attempt to make a long story short. My love for and devotion to our country goes back to incidents in my childhood, events in my teens, my service in World War II, so much of my work in television and films, and my involvement since 1980, through People For The American Way, in fighting those who would have us believe that people are good Christians or bad ones depending on their political points of view. Many among those who think that way call themselves Born Again Christians.
I would fight another war, if they let me, to defend that Born Again Christian's constitutional right to express that point of view. But I believe that the view itself hasn't an ounce of constitutional credibility, and I am correct in thinking it totally un-American. Each time this has occurred to me, such is the power of good phrasing, I've thought of myself as having a Born Again American moment.
In 1980, hearing a TV preacher ask his TV congregation to pray for the "removal" of a Supreme Court Justice, my reaction was to drop what I was doing in television and answer the preachers with a 60-second TV spot. The reaction to that spot, like an act of spontaneous combustion, resulted in People For The American Way.
Some years ago I asked Keith Carradine if he thought there might be a song in Born Again American. He did and wrote it for me. I then asked Mark Johnson, the man who created Playing For Change, if he would take a camera crew around the country to photograph Americans of all types, races and ethnicities, singing our song. He did and I think you'll love it.
Should you choose to look at it, know that every bit of each lyric is being sung by someone who was actually living the story they were singing about.
That's way more that any televangelist has I'll bet.
the Bill of Rights, my creed’s equality. "
I'm guessing there was a slight change in lyrics here.. original may have been too revealing of the real agenda?
Original: "my Bible "IS" the Bill of Rights..."
There are those who say democracy doesn't work but haven't bothered to really find out how it does work, so ready to cast stones. It's so much easier to criticize than to own up to being responsible and doing things positively, trying to be part of solutions instead of being party to negativeness. America is still great. We're down temporarily but with pluck, luck and work, we will rise again!
It hasn't been explicitly stated but it's pretty obvious what these people want.. more govt. control.. for the govt. to force the "evil" rich man to be "fair" and share his wealth.. "they are going to be "fair" whether they like it or not". Surely this is the role of government.. distributing "fairness".. "freedom is for losers and the "greedy". And there's nothing greedy about taking from others what you didn't earn.. huh liberals?
Thank you Mr. Lear for your insight, ability, and communication. Thank you, too Mr. Carradine for your song and composition. Great stuff for the Fourth of July !
http://reluctant-messenger.com/gospel-of-philip.htm
Well done Mr. Lear.
the precept: I may not agree with what you say. But I’ll defend to the death your right to say it. EBH?
"pray for the "removal" of a Supreme Court Justice"
If it happens we’ll say it was divine intervention. If it doesn’t happen, we’ll just say god said no.
I’m a Born Again American conceived in liberty
Any color you may be, here free of tyranny.
A Born Again American, a country and a creed
that everyone may seek their dream
From sea to shining sea
And everyone who shares that dream
conjoin along with me
God could care less about people’s “political views”. He is only interested in people’s views of Jesus Christ as their Savior from sin.
As far as being bad Christians and good Christians - God can only judge the heart. He tells us the all of mankind are sinner in need of a Savior - Jesus Christ.
All that we have at our disposal are the words of Christ: MATTHEW 7:20 “….. by their fruit you will recognize them. Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
What is the Father’s will? JOHN 6:40 [JESUS] “For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
It would appear that Lear’s article is couched in a general repudiation of Christians and self - ennoblements.
If I’m not mistaking God would have us be three things in order to be seen as good people or good Christians and those requirements are that we be kind (merciful), just and humble; isn’t it that simple? And though it may be hard to keep to these standards they are the qualities that we need to have in mind when dealing with the world including politics.
I have no great love for the democrats but my opinion of the republicans and their policies is not a good one, and I base this on my spiritual understanding. Making the rich richer at the expense of the poor is not a Christian position in any way shape or form; denying health care for everyone is not a policy that Jesus would approve and engaging in wars of conquest is about as far from the gospel light as a nation can get.
I had come across Autobiography just like and turned away, and then a Friend gave it to me after I had started studying YOGA. And the What turned me on to immediately learn the HOW
SRF lesson are a $100 or so and teach you how to become the Spirit AS FAST as any I know.
http://www.yogananda-srf.org/tmp/meditation.aspx?id=132
http://www.yogananda-srf.org/tmp/meditation.aspx?id=116#3basic
1. Energization Exercises:
2. Hong-Sau Technique of Concentration
3. Aum Technique of Meditation
4. Kriya Yoga Technique
I have chosen 1-3 as my path...But Kriya will take some to their journies end
I Am A Born Again Christian, I Seek To Serve, and To Love Others Genuinely. I Speak The Truth In Love. Without Judging Others, Jesus Will Be The ONE Who Will Judge The Living And The Dead. I Will Always Listen To Others Opinions, But I Will Never Compromise on The Word Of GOD. Or Water Down The Gospel To Have People Agree With Me or Like Me. It Is What It Is .