Are We A Christian Nation?

May 18th, 2009 | By Sonnie Johnson

With all the media attention around President Obama speaking at Norte Dame yesterday, I got into a really deep conversation with a very wise woman.

The conversation started with us being on separate sides of the issue. I’m Pro-choice and she is Pro-life. But she’s the Democrat and I’m the Republican, so how did that happen? She broke it down to me like this, “We all have the right to believe what we choose to believe.”

Simple, right? Come on, you know nothing is ever simple with me.

So, we started talking about God and Faith. She brought up taking prayer out of school and not allowing teachers to discipline the students. She places all the blame of our failed educational institutions on those two principles.

I point out, “The extreme left of the Democratic Party are responsible for pushing to take God out of everything and they also rule the unions that allow concessions, like the teacher not being able to defend themselves, to come to fruition.”

Then she came back to her original point, “We all the right to choose what we choose to believe.”

I’m starting to get mad because this doesn’t make any sense to me. If I give you facts and figures, how can you dispute them? Especially if you agree with the initial concept? Especially if you don’t have any differing facts or figures to dispute them?

She repeated, “We have the right to choose what we believe.”

My respect level for this woman is so high, I let it go. I saw where this was headed and I was sure to lose my cool, sooner rather than later.

We stopped talking politics and got back on God. This is where her words really hit me? I said, “America is made up of 72% Christians, We are a Christian Nation.”

She said, “And of the 72%, I bet 50% don’t practice what they preach.”

That’s it. She hit the nail right on the head and got me thinking. That’s the problem. A lot of us choose to believe we are Christians but nothing in our actions prove the point. If God himself came to a random American and said “Let my will be done”, it’s a 50% chance he’d run across someone that questioned what they would get in return.

As a Southern Baptist Christian, I learned you didn’t have to be perfect. You didn’t have to get it right all the time, all you had to do was confess your Sins to God and continue on doing the best you can. And that’s what I believe, heart and soul.

But when I start to think about how I’ve been fighting God, even with absolute faith in his word, I realize this is not as black and white as I thought. Our society is starting to program us into believing what they would have us to believe and we have the right to choose if we want to believe it.

It doesn’t matter if it’s toxic to our future. It doesn’t matter if it contridicts everything we think we believe in. If we choose to drink the Kool-Aid we are bound to it’s results.

And that’s where we find ourselves, having to decide which side to follow. I’ve been under the impression that’s an easy choice to make. But the truth is, you’re cool until you start to talk about God.

Some of us walk around like we are truly Christians, but let the conversation turn to talking about Christianity and people will choose their politics over their God. It’s cooler to be Democrat, than it is to be a child of God.

Out of my conversation, I got these contradictions.

I don’t believe in Abortion, but if President Obama does, I’m sure he has his reasons.

I don’t believe prayer should be taken out of schools, but if Obama agrees, then it has to be the best thing.

I don’t believe in saying “Happy Holidays”, but if Obama said it, I would accept just like he was saying “Merry Christmas”.

What?

Are we a Christian nation? Or are we a nation that likes to believe we have Christian values? Because something has to give. I can understand believing in the fiscal policy of Obama, not really but you know what I’m saying, but I don’t understand how you sacrifice your self held beliefs to do it.

I was told, “you have to do you, first and foremost”, and I laughed. I’ve tried that. I did exactly what I wanted to do, without asking for God’s input. I bent all the rules and didn’t care. When someone came to talk to me about God, I didn’t want to hear it.

Been there, done that. All I got was an empty feeling in the center of my heart and a life that didn’t reflect what I really wanted. One of those, “Be careful what you wish for” moments.

Now when I talk about God, I can get, almost, everyone to agree. They will say God is at the center of their life, but question their politics and they’ll throw God under the bus for Obama.

Maybe Obama was right. Maybe we are no longer a Christian nation. Maybe we are becoming a Government fearing country more than a God fearing country.

The only thing that makes it worse, the Christians who really do believe are making concessions to let it happen. I guess they can choose to believe that’s the same thing as standing up for what they know in their hearts is right. Let’s hope God can see it from your point of view.

President Obama: Not a Christian Abroad, Leaning on Rock at Home

April 15th, 2009 | By Sonnie Johnson

Got a lot going on. My daughter is sick, just a little cold. My sister’s daughter has a undiagnosable stomach thing, preventing her from eating or drinking anything for the last week. And I am getting my annual dose of sinus pressure.

To much info, I know.

Between fixing chicken noodle soup and doing online research for local pediatric hospitals, I caught President Obama’s press conference yesterday. I was floored.

Abroad, we are not a Christian nation. The President of the United States of America, stood before muslims, and basically threw God under the bus. To appease those who would do us harm, he turned his back on the Millions of Christians in America and the God he claims to serve. With Class.

Then, to add insult to injury, he comes before the American people and tells us build our economy on a rock. Do you think we’re that stupid?

A man who believes in nothing will fall for anything. The man who wishes to be liked, will often find his back bent. Should I give another cliche or are you getting the point?

This is not a one time thing. During the election, Obama got in front of people in San Francisco and talked about people in Pennsylvania clinging to religion, then went back to Pennsylvania and talked about having faith and hope. Which is it? Or does the circumstances of who’s listening really matter that much?

To focused on God you say, well how about this?

I’m paraphrasing, “This economic situation started with the housing market. Over the last decade, the lending practices have changed. Instead of saving their pennies for a down payment for a house, many Americans went out a bought a house they couldn’t afford.”

With Class and a straight face.

O.K. Let me remind everybody of something we learned before Obama was even elected President. Obama was a lawyer for ACORN, who brought a suit against banks in Chicago for not offering loans to people who couldn’t afford them.

So, when surrounded by those who feel entitled, he offers entitlement. When surrounded by the media and the taxpaying Americans it’s fiscal responsibility. Again, we aren’t buying it.

Us Christian Americans, we do stand on a rock. We stand on God and we believe he is unwavering in his love for us. That’s why we give him glory and praise.

Obama waves, shakes, moves, bends, and doesn’t care what you think about it. Former President George Bush didn’t care what anyone thought, but you knew exactly what he thought. He wasn’t willing to change his opinion just because the press core was different. America was the greatest country in the world when he was talking to liberals, abroad, or his own grassroots. God was his rock. Maybe Obama should have inherited that.

I Say Merry Christmas

December 4th, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

I will admit I watch Bill O’reily regularly. I’ve noticed since taking the lead over all the network news broadcasts, O’riely is extra “for the people.” His constant shouts of looking out for the people are making me question his sincerity. If your going to do it fine, but don’t keep reminding us. Damn.

That aside. I SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Since I was a child and we had to wake my mother before touching anything so we could first thank God, I’ve said Merry Christmas. Since my mother gave each of us some money to buy something special for brothers and sisters, I’ve said Merry Christmas. Since I had a role in every Christmas play at my church, I’ve said Merry Christmas.

And yes, I will thank Santa for his contributions to Christmas, but he is not the Reason for the Season.

I used to hate when I had to wait to open presents. We would rush and my mother would take longer because we weren’t getting the message. We cared more about Santa than we cared about the Birth of our Savior.

Celebrating Christmas with my daughter, with my mother looking down, I realize even more why it’s important to remember why we celebrate. And I have a four year old. All she can think about is the horse that does this, the game that does that, and the doll with wings. It has become a balancing act for me.

I remember the joy I had waiting for Santa but I also remember the three wise men, the manger, and a little bitty baby. I remember the joy of opening a gift but I also remember being surrounded by my family and friends. But I love it because I Love Christmas.

Now, in our politically correct society, it’s wrong to say Merry Christmas. Two years ago, on black Friday, I went to a Target in Richmond Virginia and the greeter told me Happy Holidays. I paused for a moment and responded Happy Holidays. Then as I walked through the store buying Christmas gifts, it hit me. I like the sound of Merry Christmas.

When I left the house to go CHRISTMAS shopping, I was thinking about my daughter being excited about Santa and being surrounded by my family thanking God. Happy Holidays took those thoughts out of my head. I got tighter with my money. Holiday’s come and go, but Christmas, Christmas is different.

I had a friend in High School. Her mother was a Christian and her father was a Jehovah’s Witness. Her mother passed and she was raised by her father. She was not allowed to have birthday parties nor could she come to my birthday party. But for two days out of every year, her father would realize Christmas is different.

On Christmas Eve, he would put up a Christmas Tree. He even invited us to help decorate. The tree would stay up all of Christmas day. Then, pouf, it was gone. But for two days, Christmas important to even a Jehovah’s witness.

So what’s the problem with those that have no religion. If I weren’t to bluntly state my opinion, I would recieve well deserved Hate Mail, so I’ll pass. Instead, I will question the need to take Christmas from the rest of us. If you don’t have fond memories of Christmas past, what gives you the right to impede upon mine.

Now, with that question, I give more respect than is actually garnered. It doesn’t matter what anyone does, they can not impede upon my Christmas. As long as I can Pray to God, I’ll always have Christmas. I fight because my daughter hasn’t built that steadfastness yet. I’m not saying outside forces will have an actual affect on my daughter’s belief but I would appreciate not having the extra fight.

Like the people in Washington State, who put up a sign saying there is No God, No Angels, No Devil; There is only our natural world. Religion is but a myth and superstition that hardens hearts and inslaves minds. Did I forget to mention it was right next to a nativity scene?

I’m not one of those super sensitive people. I raise my daughter and she will know Jesus is why we celebrate Christmas. But I am cautious of turning my head and looking away. To say a little sign doesn’t make an impact would make me irresponsible. It would make me pigheaded and blind to the impact of a Society that doesn’t mind the voice of the few outweighing the call of the many.

I wonder if anyone from the Atheist group puts up a Christmas Tree. i don’t care if they call it by a different name; you can put make up on a pig. Do they invite their families and friends over to share the evening? Do they roast marshmallows or watch Frosty or Rudolph with their kids? If so, then they should shut up and celebrate the winter solace surrounded in love.

Cause that’s what I’m going to do. And when I approach someone and say Merry Christmas and they reply Happy Hanukkah, I’ll understand they understand. And when I approach someone and Merry Christmas and they reply Happy Kwanzaa, I’ll understand they understand. And while we’re spreading well wishes to those who don’t believe the same as us, there will be those who have no reason to spread joy. They only have hate and intolerance.

To those I’ll say, I’m praying for you.

Merry Christmas to All.