VOTING MATTERSIt is our hope this PowerPoint Presentation will be used as a resource to help us engage as people of faith in the political process. We may not be of this world, but we are certainly in it, therefore, we need to be proactive and use every tool we can to maximize our influence on the political process for the best possible outcome in the 2020 election.

We do not endorse any candidates, but we do encourage you to educate yourself about each candidate, make sure you are registered to vote and then go to the polls and vote.

This PowerPoint Presentation is sponsored by the Inter-Organizational Relations and Public Policy Department of the United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic) Bishop Don diXon Williams

VOTING MATTERSFROM CALVARY’S HILL

TO CAPITOL HILL

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH, BUT

HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE JOHN 3:16

THE ULTIMATE VOTE

WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE ?RIGHT IS RIGHT IF NOBODY IS RIGHT AND WRONG IS WRONG IF EVERYBODY IS WRONG….THE FIRST POLL IN THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY WAS WRONG--- BISHOP FULTON J. SHEEN

JESUS: THE SON OF GODJESUS BARABBAS: (THE SON OF THE FATHER) • BARABBAS INJURED PEOPLE• BARABBAS MADE LIVING

PEOPLE DIE• BARABBAS WAS GUILTY• BARABBAS LIVED

• JESUS HEALED PEOPLE• JESUS MADE DEAD PEOPLE

COME TO LIFE• JESUS WAS INOCENT• JESUS DIED

HOLISTIC MINISRY IN THE 21ST CENTURY

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3: 16Church of the Holy Sepulcher

THE QUESTIONDO WE HAVE HOLISTIC MINISTRY?

ORDO WE HAVE HOLE-LISTIC MINISTRY

HOLISTIC MINISTRY+ HOLISM: The theory that the whole, especially a living organism, is more than the sum of its parts.

+ WHOLE: containing all the parts necessary to make up a total.

+ HOLE: A cavity in a solid mass. An empty spot.

ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS IS SIN I JOHN 5:

17

PERSONAL SINS• DRINKING• SMOKING• CUSSING• LYING• COHABITATION WITHOUT BENEFIT

OF CLERGY/ (BETTER KNOWN AS SHACKING)• ADULTERY• MURDER

INSITUTIONAL SINS• RACISM• SEXISM• CLASSISM • MILITARISM

TWO JOHN 3: 16’SJOHN 3: 16-1716: For God so loved the World, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.17: For God sent not His Son into the World to condemn the World; but that the World through Him might be saved,

I JOHN 3: 16-1716: Herby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

17: But whoso hath this world’s goods, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

TWO MORE JOHN 3:16’STHE HOW PEOPLE “REALLY”

THINK VERSION• FOR GOD SO LOVED THE

WORLD-AS IT WERE• THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY

BEGOTTEN SON-SO TO SPEAK• THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH

IN HIM-TO A CERTAIN EXTENT• SHALL HAVE EVER LASTING LIFE-

AFTER A FASHION

A PERSONAL JOHN 3:16 VERSION• FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD• THAT HE SAVED ME• THAT WHOSOEVER SEES JESUS

IN ME• SHALL NOT PERISH• BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE

THIS WORLDROMANS 12:1-2

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

A TALE OF TWO WORLDSFIRST CENTURY WORLD• TERRORISM• ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS TENSIONS• WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS• WIDESPREAD HUNGER AND POVERTY• GLOBAL ECONOMIC TURMOIL• BRUTAL DICATORS• CORRUPT GOVERNMENTS• MASSIVE NATURAL DISASTERS• SLAVERY• CHILD TRAFFICKING FOR THE SEX TRADE• CHURCH STUFF• FAMILY STUFF• PERSONAL STUFF

TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY WORLD• TERRORISM• ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS TENSIONS• WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS + NUCLEAR INTIMADATION• WIDESPREAD HUNGER AND POVERTY• GLOBAL ECONOMIC TURMOIL• BRUTAL DICTATORS• CORRUPT GOVERNMENTS• MASSIVE NATURAL DISASTERS = CLIMATE CHANGE• SLAVERY• CHILD TRAFFICKING FOR THE SEX TRADE• CHURCH STUFF• FAMILY STUFF• PERSONAL STUFF

COMPASSION

WILL COMPASSION WORK ?• A FEELING OF DEEP SYMPATHY FOR

ANOTHER WHO IS STRICKEN BY A MISFORTUNE, ACCOMPANIED BY A STRONG DESIRE TO ALLEVIATE SUFFERING• FROM THE LATIN: COM

“TOGETHER” + PATI “TO SUFFER”• TO SUFFER WITH

SELECTIVE COMPASSION

COMPASSION

IT ALL DEPENDS• INDIFFERENCE• HEARTLESS• MEAN• JUST PAIN OLD TIRED• COMPASSION ONLY GOES SO

FAR

COMPASSION FATIGUE

BOWELS OF COMPASSION•THE GREEK WORD: SPLAGCHINOS= BOWELS OR INTESTINES•REGARDED AS THE SEAT OF OUR MORE VIOLENT PASSIONS SUCH AS ANGER OR LOVE•THE HEBREWS USED THE WORD AS TENDER AFFECTIONS, ESPECIALLY KINDNESS AND COMPASSION•THE VISCERA OF OUR BEING

LUKE 7: 11-15JESUS WAS MOVED WITH COMPASSIONDIFFERENTIATIONCONFRONTATIONTRANSFORMATIONRESTORATIONLIBERATATION

FROM COMPASSION TO CONFRONATIONMATTHEW 6: 16 AND I SAY ALSO UNTO THEE, THAT THOU ART PETER, AND UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH; AND THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT.

POLITICSUSING THE JESUS PARADIGM

WHAT IS POLITICS ?• THE SCIENCE OR ART OF GOVERNMENT

• THE AFFAIRS OR ACTIVITIES OF THOSE CONTROLING OR SEEKING TO CONTROL GOVERNMENT

• THE PRINCIPLIES, AIMS OR POLICIES OF GOVERNMENT

A WORKING DIFINITION OF POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT IS THE ART OR SCIENCE OF WHO GETS WHAT, WHEN, WHERE AND HOW

POLITICSYOU ARE NOT BORN UNTIL POLITICS SAYS YOU ARE BORN (BIRTH CERTIFICATE)

YOU ARE NOT MARRIED UNTIL POLITICS SAYS YOU ARE MARRIED ( MARRIAGE LISCENCE)

POLITICSYOU ARE NOT DIVORCED UNTIL POLITICS SAYS YOU ARE DIVORCED (DIVORCE DECREE)

YOU ARE NOT EVEN DEAD UNTIL POLITICS SAYS YOU ARE DEAD (DEATH CERTIFICATE)

MOSESMOSES: MAN OF GODPHAROAH: HIGH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALLET MY PEOPLE GO: A PUBLIC POLICY STATEMENT

PAUL & SILASCONFRONTED SLAVERY BY FREEING THE SLAVE GIRLMESSED UP THE SLAVE HOLDERS ECONOMIC SITUATION UPSET THE ROMAN GOVERNMENTCONFRONTED THE UNJUST COURT SYSTEMADDRESSED THE PRISON INDUSTRIAL COMPLEXADVOCATED AS A ROMAN CITIZEN FOR HIS RIGHTS

HEY!! I THOUGHT JESUS WAS A NICE GUY !WASN’T HE GENTLE?

WASN’T HE MEEK?

WASN’T HE MILD?

WASN’T HE NON-THREATENING?

WASN’T HE LOWLY? DIDN’T HE HEAL LEPERS?

DIDN’T HE MAKE THE LAME TO WALK?

DIDN’T HE MAKE THE DUMB TO TALK?

DIDN’T HE GIVE SIGHT TO THE BLIND?

DIDN’T HE CAST OUT DEVILS?

DIDN’T HE RAISE THE DEAD?

SO WHAT’S A NICE GUY DOING AND SAYING STUFF LIKE THISHE CALLED THE PHARISEES A GENERATION OF VIPERS MATTHEW 23: 33

HE DESCRIBED THEM AS WHITEWASHED TOMBS FULL OF EVERYTHING UNCLEAN MATTHEW 23: 27

HE ENGAGED A BUNCH OF ROUGH GUYS, TAX COLLECTORS AND PROSTITUTES LUKE 19: 1-10

HE BECAME OUTRAGED AND KICKED THE MONEY CHANGERS OUT OF THE TEMPLE MATTHEW 21: 12

HE CONFRONTED THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND POLITICAL SYSTEMS OF HIS DAY

SO HOW DID HE GET LIKE THAT ?• FROM HIS BIRTH HE WAS A

THREAT TO THE POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT• FROM HIS FIRST SERMON, HE

BECAME A THREAT TO THE POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS ESTABLISHMENT

LUKE 4: 14-30THEOLOGY

• HE PREACHED GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR IN SPIRIT, TO THE MEEK AND HUMBLE AND TO THOSE THAT WERE TRULY SORRY FOR THEIR SINS• HE PREACHED DELIVERANCE TO

THOSE WHO WERE CAPTURED BY SIN AND GUILT• HE PREACHES TO A WORLD THAT

IS SPIRITUALLY BLIND, LAME AND DISEASED BY SIN

SOCIOLOGY• BUT HE ALSO PREACHES GOOD NEWS TO

THE POOR OF THE WORLD, TO THOSE WHO THE RICH LOOKED DOWN UPON, TO THOSE WHO SAW THE GOOD NEWS AS BREAD

• BUT HE ALSO PREACHES TO THOSE WHO ARE IN CHARGE AND CAPTIVES OF THE PRISON INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

• BUT HE ALSO PREACHES TO THOSE THAT EFFECT AND ARE AFFECTED BY HEALTH CARE (THE AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE ACT OR BETTER KNOWN AS OBAMACARE)

HE KNEW THE HISTORY OF SLAVERY AND THE OCCUPATION OF HIS PEOPLE BY: •THE EGYPTIANS

•THE ASSYRIANS•THE BABYLONIANS •PERSIANS•THE ROMANS

WHAT MADE JESUS A THREAT TO THEM ?

•HE WAS NOT A PART OF THE RULING CLASS BUT ONE WITH THE POOR•THE PEOPLE WERE TIRED OF BEING UNDER

OCCUPATION AND WANTED A NEW RULER AND WANTED TO KNOW WHEN WERE THEY GOING TO CONTROL THEIR OWN DESTINY•AS KING OF THE JEWS (MESSIAH) HE WOULD

PRESENT SOCIO-ECONOMIC POLITICAL PROBLEMS FOR THE POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS RULERS

THEY WERE SCARED OF HIS MIRACLES• WHEN JESUS HEALED PEOPLE, THAT

THREATENED THE EMPIRE BECAUSE THAT MEANT THE PEOPLE COULD GET STRONG ENOUGH TO OVERTHROW THE CAESAR• WHEN JESUS RAISED PEOPLE FROM

THE DEAD THAT THREATENED THE EMPIRE BECAUSE IF SOMEONE DIED THEY COULD BE BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE AND BECOME A PART OF A NEVER ENDING ARMY• WHEN HE FED THE 5000, THE EMPIRE

SAW THAT AS A NEVER ENDING SUPPLY THAT WOULD MAKE THE PEOPLE STRONG.

A PRAYER THAT COULD GET YOU KILLED

OUR FATHER• THEIR ARE NO INDIVIDUAL

PETITIONS IN THIS PRAYER• OUR, US OR WE MAKES IT CERTAIN

THAT THE FOCUS OF THE PRAYER IS NOT ON THE INDIVIDUAL BUT RATHER ON THE PLIGHT OF THE PEOPLE

TEACHING THE DISCIPLES TO PRAY

HOLLOWED BE THY NAMENOT CAESAR’S NAME BUT “YOUR” NAME ALONE IS HOLY

ROMAN STATE LAW REQUIRED ONLY CAESAR’S NAME TO BE HOLLOWED BUT “WE” MANIFEST YOUR HOLY NAME

THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE

JESUS PREACHED THE PRIMACY OF THE KINGDOMCAESAR’S UNJUST KINGDOM MUST COME TO AN ENDCAESAR WILL CAN NO LONGER BE ALLOWED TO RULE

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD• CAESAR’S KINGDOM WAS

RIGGED SO THAT ONLY THE “HAVES” WOULD HAVE A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF BREAD. THE “HAVE-NOTS” ONLY HAD HOPE FOR BREAD FOR THE DAY• JUST AS IT IS IN HEAVEN

OUR NEEDS WILL BE SUPPLIED

FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS• JESUS TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES TO

PRAY TO RELEASE US FROM OUR DEBTS. (THE GREEK WORD APHIEMI) MEANS TO FORGIVE AND RELEASE US FROM OUR DEBTS FROM CAESAR’S KINGDOM WHICH FORCES ITS SUBJECT INTO DEBT TO SUPPLY ROME’S YEARLY MONETARY TRIBUTE THAT WAS THE LIFE BLOOD OF THE EMPIRE• IN OUR DAY, WE ARE HAVING TO

DEAL WITH THE PAY DAY LOANS SCANDAL THAT STACKS THE SYSTEM AGAINST YOU

KEEP US FROM TEMPTATION• THIS TEMPTATION IN THE

CONTEXT OF THE PRAYER WOULD MEAN THE TEMPTATION TO SERVE CAESAR RATHER THAN GOD.• CAESAR’S KINGDOM HAS WAYS TO

FORCE YOU TO GIVE UP TO THE POWERS OF EMPIRE BUT GOD HAS GIVEN US THE STRENGTH TO RESIST• RESIST THE TEMPTATION TO TREAT

THE NEEDS OF THE RULER AS PARAMONT INSTEAD OF TREATING THE NEEDS OF GOD AND THE PEOPLE AS HOLY

WE CAN’T WALK ON WATER SO WHAT

DOES GOD EXPECT US TO DO ?• # 1. LOVE GOD• # 2. LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF• # 3. TREAT THE NEEDS OF THE

PEOPLE AS HOLY• # 4. GIVE VOICE TO THE VOICELESS• # 5. PRAY FOR OUR ELECTED

LEADERS• # 6. LEARN ABOUT OUR LOCAL,

STATE, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ISSUES BECAUSE THEY ARE “ALL” RELATED

WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO ? • # 7. ACT BY:

REGISTERING TO VOTELEARNING ABOUT THE CANDIDATESTAKING YOUR SOULS TO THE POLLS AND VOTEAFTER VOTING, STAYING EDUCATED ON THE ISSUESWRITING LETTERS TO YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALSVISITING YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALSPRAYING AND THEN PRAYING SOME MORE

YOU “REALLY” CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

GOD HAS NO HANDS BUT OURS GOD HAS NO FEET BUT OURS

IF GOD CAN RAISE JESUS FROM THE DEAD, GOD CAN WORK OTHER MIRACLES IN THIS NATION

WORDS FOUND AT THE SEA OF GALILEE

FINALLY, IN THE WORDS OF BISHOP DEMOND TUTU

I don’t preach a social gospel, I preach the Gospel, Period. The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is concerned for the whole person, When people were hungry, Jesus didn’t say, “Now is that political or social”? He said, “I feed you” because good news to a hungry person is bread,

THE END OR

SHOULD WE SAYTHE BEGINNING