In the last few forums, I’ve heard Sen. Jasinski speak about why he is running for office.
His answer both times: “I am running to preserve our way of life.”
In the context, he is speaking about “socialism” taking over.
I don’t think he knows what socialism is, and it has been the insult given to every single initiative for progress since 1900. I believe that he subscribes to the “anything I don’t like is socialism” school of thought. But that’s another topic.
I’ve heard it all.
But what really concerns me is his desire to preserve “our way of life.”
This is easy to say if you are a privileged white man. I am a privileged white man as well.
But I know what it is to have a loved one denied healthcare because of insurance issues.
In this history of our country, “preserving our way of life” was the reason the south rebelled against the North.
In the history of our country, women have had to fight hard for their rights.
And now women cannot find justice for sexual assault.
Preserving “our way of life” is what the frat boys say, not their victims
Preserving “our way of life” is what abusive husbands say, not their wives,
Preserving “our way of life” is what the robber barons say, not the workers fighting to stay alive with subsistent wages
Preserving “our way of life” is what those born into privilege and standing say, not the ones in the margins.
Preserving “our way of life” is what a man says:
who has never been arrested for the color of his skin,
who has never been afraid to walk in a parking lot,
who has never wondered where his next meal was coming from,
who has never had to undergo a sexual assault examination and try to navigate a system that is designed to protect the rapist.
who has never had to escape a violent man with vulnerable children
who has never suffered a health crisis and has been denied healthcare.
It is the statement of a man who thinks that the biggest problem facing southern Minnesota today is roads and tag fees.
Yes, we can address roads, and we should.
But my concern is different than “preserving our way of life”. I am far more interested in opening up that privilege to everyone – Somali, Mexican, Colombian, Venezuelan, Haitian, men, women, chronic illness, or healthy –
Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness isn’t something to “preserve” for the entitled few. It is the right of every American and must be fought for continually.
Sam Powell for Senate District 19.
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Author: Sam Powell
What am I doing here?
I am an ex-Reformed pastor. I love the system of doctrine found in the confessions of the church because they lead to Jesus, exalt Jesus, and clarify the life and work of Jesus.
But I worship him, not the confessions. I will never use the confessions of the church to beat someone down or to win some kind of argument.
In Reformed and Presbyterian churches, I hear over and over again how the books of order, the constitutions, and the centuries of procedures are used to silence the abused, drive away the sheep, protect the powerful, and maintain the status quo.
If you haven't seen it, you haven't been paying attention.
On top of this, in the 1980s and 1990s, several influential and powerful men introduced a new theology in the church as a response to feminism. They called it "complementarianism". They based it on a novel interpretation of the Trinity, by introducing authority and submission into the persons of the Trinity. Doing this, they contradicted the unanimous testimony of the church since the 4th century.
And one more - in the 70s, a cult leader named Bill Gothard invented a religion which he called "Institutes of Basic Life Principles". He peddled it to millions under the guise of Christianity.
All of these streams combined into a weird, oppressive, violent, vicious mixture which has infiltrated the churches. It is a strange new religion, under the guise of Christianity, but has nothing to do with it. It has gone by different names: Moral Majority; Christian Nationalism; Patriarchalism;
It worships power and authority, it worships traditions and parliamentarian procedures, it worships celebrity, and it worships those who can argue down a liberal or a feminist. It values destroying enemies with argument, it values contempt and winning the debate.
It calls for the release of Barrabas - at least he was trying to do something about Rome-
And shouts for Jesus to be crucified.
What this new religion doesn't have is:
Jesus, the Lamb of God
Grace
Mercy
Compassion
Understanding
Listening
or Good news.
All it knows is law. And all it trusts in is power. It knows nothing of washing feet, of letting the mind of Christ dwell in us, or of taking the lowest place.
So this is why I am here. For those who have been run down by Driscoll's bus, who have been crushed by the Gothard machine, cast out by Wilson's cult (or Piper's or MacArthur's)...
...for those who are so confused that they don't know how to separate the gospel of Jesus Christ from the lies and tangles that the enemy has woven into a snare...
I offer my services. I can listen. I can help untangle the lies by pointing you to the simplicity of the faith once for all delivered to the saints.
You can find me at sampowellministries.com
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