Here's What I Believe

OK, I'm being blasted for trying to be neutral. I will concede that it is possible that the fault is truly in me, so here goes. I will take an issue on everything I can think of. If I haven't hit on your pet issue, ask me on the comments. And if I haven't offended you, READ those comments. I'll get to it.

I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He IS the Way, the truth and the life. While God is a just God and someone may go to heaven some other way, the only certainty I see is in a living, active faith in Jesus Christ that INCLUDES obedience to His teachings, to the best of our abilities. I believe unrepentant homosexuals, adulterers, fornicators, extortionists, murderers, rapists, liars, and thieves, among others are going to Hell if they don't repent and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. I believe there IS a Hell, and that it's a mighty crappy place to spend eternity.

I believe that most music is artistic, and have among my CD collection rap, country, pop, rock, classical, folk, blues, metal, hair bands, and pretty much anything except for Yanni, who I believe is probably the most painful thing you can inflict on a person outside of a life membership to the ACLU.

I believe the government should pretty much butt out of EVERYTHING except for the common defense and the general welfare. By "general welfare" I mean ONLY things that benefit the nation as a whole and not entitlements, subsidies, or other pet projects. I believe that no crime should exist unless it is a crime against another person or that person's property, and that what you do on my property is entirely within my right to regulate, but what you do once you step off that property is your own damn business.

I believe that war is wrong. Always. Without exception, and that it never should be seen as anything better than the lesser of two evils, and that it seldom IS the lesser of two evils. I believe that most war protestors are stupid, misguided megalomaniacs who are "in it" for their own self interest and not for any cause greater than themselves. I believe that conscription is wrong, and I believe that having a large standing military promotes, rather than prevents war.

I believe the death penalty is wrong. Always. Without exception, and that it never should be seen as anything better than the lesser of two evils, and that it seldom IS the lesser of two evils. I believe that most protestors against the death penalty are likewise stupid, misguided mgalomaniacs who are "in it" for their own self interests and not any cause greater than themselves. I believe that our prisons should be a horrible place for inmates convicted of crimes, and that they should be given nothing outside the bare essentials for survival for their crimes against society.

I believe abortion is wrong. Always. I believe that an intentional, planned abortion is NEVER the lesser of two evils, and that the doctors who perform them and the women who receive them are murderers and should languish away in penal colonies for the rest of their lives, and the women who have abortions should be sterilized to prevent their ever needing another one again.

I believe allowing others to live in poverty while you live in excess is wrong. Always. I believe that while the government should never force you to care for the less fortunate, it is a mortal sin to deny someone needs if it is within your ability to provide them.

I believe that we are, without exception a greedy self indulgent society, and that we are morally wrong for many of our lifestyle choices. I believe that we are duplicitous, sinful, and immoral creatures. I believe that the most people in church are there to con the church into receiving whatever they can from the church and not there for any expression of sincere faith, and that most ministers are in it for their own self interests and financial benefit as well.

But I believe in grace. And I believe I shouldn't have to tell you all that as a condition of our friendship. In short, I believe in my right to hold these views so long as I don't use them to attack, harass, or harm you and your family. And I believe a real friend wouldn't push me to state those views.

There you go, JU. You asked for it, you got it.