Someone forwarded me the whole response, but I am going to just post a couple paragraphs (because I thought it was interesting, though I may or may not necessarily agree with everything he says) to point out where he stands. If you want to read his whole response, you can temporally read it on his website following this link: Dutch Sheets' Response to the Recent Presidential Election
Here are the first two paragraphs:
Dutch Sheets' Response to the Recent Presidential Election
November 6, 2008
I feel certain that many in my stream of the Church want a statement from me concerning Tuesday's presidential election. I will be frank in my remarks but I do not, however, intend to vent anger or attack anyone. I have read several statements from friends and colleagues I respect very much. Their thoughts are well stated and, for the most part, insightful. None of them, however, seem to want to say some things that I believe need to be said. I do not claim infallibility or to have the final word, but my convictions run deep and I believe I bear a God-given responsibility to share them.
Was This God's Will?
Was what happened Tuesday God's will? I am quite confident it was not. America was offered a very clear choice between moving further toward protecting the unborn or further away; between a Supreme Court that would move toward honoring God, life and morality or away from it. The stakes couldn't have been higher nor the cost greater. As a nation we put on blinders concerning Barak Obama's background, associations, beliefs and practices, and set these causes back years, possibly decades. And in doing so we took another step away from God and His plans for America, and another step toward judgment.
4 comments:
Dutch Sheets’ response to the election outcome is remarkably short sighted. This man lacks vision and understanding of God’s will. The fact is, he DID prophesy that McCain and Palin would win the election and will now not own up to it. Please do a quick fact check through the internet before his failed “prophecies” are taken down. I feel it is very hard for him to understand that God is not a Republican, God is not an American Evangelical Christian, and God does not share Dutch’s world view. I feel Dutch believes his personal desires and feelings are God’s will, hence the confusion over the outcome of the elections. How does he respond? Because things did not go his way, he proclaims things did not go God’s way, and now God is mad, and now God will hurt and destroy those He is angry with for not backing Dutch's candidate. The response of Dutch Sheets, are the words of a very immature and small man.
I will elaborate further. I think the main problem with Dutch Sheets’ statement and his position in general is that Dutch, as well as many in the Evangelical community, have molded an idol of what the believe God is in their minds and hearts. This idol agrees 100% with the Evangelical interpretation of the Bible, the Evangelical view of right and wrong, correct and incorrect, and yes, the Evangelical political choice. They project the view of their Evangelical God onto all of the Body of Christ and those that are not “in-line” with this Evangelical idol are in error and in danger of harsh wrath and destructions.
When the real God does not conduct the world in the view of the idol they have created, instead of them being wrong, the rest of the world has erred judgment and punishment is on the horizon. When the real God acts in his sovereignty and things don’t line up with their idol of God, there is anxiety, confusion, and consternation. I am not saying these individuals are idol worshipers. What I am saying it that they have a fragmented, portioned view of God. So when the real God does not act as the image they have fashioned of Him, it us very hard for them to come to grips with – when reality does not align with the fashioned image. The natural human inclination is in the face of confusion to blame and spout recriminations. To close, yes, this is a small and immature position from a small and immature mind and requires deep searching of the heart.
For a different point of view from another side of the Charismatic community here are two prophetic words given by Kim Clement before the election outcome. I personally read the first the day it was posted in April. I've posted the relevant portions:
March 29, 08--Obama Prophecy
"Enough of this discussion about Jeremiah Wright." God said, "This makes no difference. It is a spirit that has endeavored to rock and sway the people and to divide them." God said, "I will sway it next week. Yes, I will, and because of Pennsylvania, I will raise up the man I want," says the Lord, "to rule and to reign and to declare victory in the Middle East."
"For they have unfairly spoken against an African man, and I'm not talking about Jeremiah Wright; I'm talking about Obama. For God said, "Even though you may think this or that, there is an element of righteousness inside of him to reach out for Jesus. Therefore, I will sway it next week," says the Spirit of God, "and I will cause My man, My power--to exalt in the White House what is necessary to declare victory. For this time, I shall rise up and I shall make known who I am in a way that I have never done it in this nation," says the Lord. "
"For the Spirit of God says, "Do not say, 'Is it this one or is it that one?' Hear me out. I am raising up My mantle, My voice. This nation shall be awakened to a spiritual activity that has been dead for 42 years. Listen to Me," says the Lord. "I will take over in a way and in a fashion that will bring a force of spiritual unity in this nation for the first time. You can believe it or not. I will take white and I will take African, and I will bring a unity in the Church between the two of them," says the Spirit of God."
"This night in America and in this next week, God has informed us to "watch" as He unfolds and reveals things so you will know that your nation has not been set aside for division and discord; but a time in the Church where African-American, where white or Caucasian, where Hispanic and every race in this nation under the spiritual guidance of the Spirit within a midst of war and division--will bring them to a place of unity."
End Quote
September 20, 2008
"For God said I will cause the next four years to be a rulership under Me and under the Lord God Almighty and under the banner of the Trinity, the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Do not say "God has forsaken America." I have just told you through my prophet that there shall be so many changes and America shall be known as great and they shall be proud for they have attempted to help and unite other nations but now God said there is discord amongst this nation. I will cause you to be surprised, for God said you will look and you will say "look things have happened that we never dreamed would happen" therefore let Me rule, let Me reign. For the peace of God is about to rest upon this nation, yeah it shall be My will to speak goodness and goodness shall happen, says the Spirit of God!"
"For it is a stench unto Me, says the Lord, to hear men speak about the possibilities of an African American president with disdain. I've already told you that there shall be an African American president that shall come to rule but it shall come in My time. It shall come in a time of maturity, it shall come at a time that is perfect for this nation. Therefore God said, do not look back and say "oh we have to go back a few years." God said, you're not going back, for I have already got the inventions ready for you to have the energy that you need and so that you can be self-sufficient. It's going to happen so quickly and God said even now, even at this time, during the Thanksgiving of this year, I shall unfold many many things in this order. Therefore God said, look, prosperity is coming back to you. Do not look and say "Wall Street" and do not say "the stock market" and do not say "this or that." God said, I have looked at you and you are the apple of My eye, and because you are the apple of My eye I will come to you like I came to David and rescue you from the enemy that has tried to pull you down, says the Lord!"
End quote
A very different view than Dutch and his camp.
There are five stages of grief according to the Kubler-Ross Model. It sounds like Dutch Sheets and many in the Evangelical community are going through them:
1. Denial.
At first, we tend to deny the loss has taken place, and may withdraw from our usual social contacts. This stage may last a short time, or longer.
2. Anger.
The grieving person may then be furious at the person who inflicted the hurt or at the world, for letting it happen. He may be angry with himself for letting the event take place, even if, realistically, nothing could have stopped it.
3. Bargaining.
Now the grieving person may make bargains with God, asking, "If I do this, will you take away the loss?"
4. Depression.
The person feels numb, although anger and sadness may remain underneath.
5. Acceptance.
This is when the anger, sadness and mourning have tapered off. The person simply accepts the reality of the loss.
This is straight out of a text book not manipulated for this post. I think Dutch is in stage #2 - anger, but since unmerited anger is not a very nice Christian trait, instead of the anger belonging to Dutch, he tells us it belongs to God for not voting in his candidate.
Frankly, I don't know who Dutch Sheets is, nor do I care what his or any other man's opinion is as compared with what the Word of God has to say on this matter.
Romans 13:1-2 & 7 (NIV) has this to say..."Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor."
We need not quote the subjective opinion of this person, Dutch Sheets, nor any other man rather than simply standing on what the Word of God has to say. The Word of God is our compass, our road map, and God's instruction for our lives, and we need not look any further to find the answer to any question we face. There are many "Christians" who spend a great deal of time dabbling in the world of politics and providing irreverent commentary about our leaders and casting judgement, but God's Word clearly establishes that we are to do no such thing. In fact, quite to the contrary, we are to support, honor, and respect our leaders...period. God's Word has no loopholes!
Regardless of who was elected President of the United States or to any other office, they are worthy of our highest honor and respect. The job they do is something none of us is cut out for, but God saw fit to grant them such authority. So, who are we to squabble about such things or waste even one precious moment complaining about what is already done? I believe, God desires that we live as people of love and mercy...to do what Jesus did when He walked the face of this earth. And if He didn't waste His time doing such things, then why should we?
You may say, "Jesus did question or challenge the leadership of the day." And, in fact, that is true! Jesus questioned the religious authority of that time, who hypocritically judged others with a prideful and hauty heart that was self-righteous and looked more outward than inward. But, to Caesar, who represented the very regime that would put Jesus to death on the cross, He said "give unto Caesar what is Caesar's." When Jesus Christ himself had the opportunity to demonstrate disrespect to earthly authority and lead a rebellion, He instead modeled submission to the laws of the land and the rulers who establish such laws. His example should speak volumes to us about how we are to live.
Please do not misunderstand, this does not mean that we are to merely be passive bystanders about the evils that exist within our society and even within our government. However, we are to battle against Satan and his regime...not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12). The enemy of our souls would love for nothing more than to divide us against each other and to destroy the witness each of us is supposed to have as followers of Christ. The unbelievers are looking to the church and to those who proclaim their faith in Jesus Christ to see what our reaction will be. And if we model for them the concepts of love, peace, humility, respect, and submission to our authorities then I believe God will be glorified. But, if we, as "Christians" stubbornly defy our leadership, then what else can we expect from those who do not call themselves "Christians"?
The lesson that I believe each of us should take away from this is that we should spend more time working to conquer the battle against our own flesh and doing battle in the heavenlies as we intercede for our country and lift up our leaders in prayer than we spend looking outward at the speck in everyone else's eye while we yet have planks in our own.
Submission and respect to authority = God's blessing in our lives
Rebellion and disrespect to authority = God's judgement on our lives
...The choice is ours to make! I choose God's blessing...may you also.
And as for the predictions Dutch Sheets or others have to make about what tragedy or callamity this President will bring to our nation, I would say that such things are already abounding and will continue to abound. In fact, once again, God's Word provides the answers to that subject as well. Matthew 24:6 says, "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come." And 1 John 5:19 says, "We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one." Therefore, we should not be surprised by these things as Christians. In fact, we should be prepared for even more of it (no matter who holds the office of President of the U.S.). But, we needn't fear because in John 16:33 Jesus tells us, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
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