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Kirsten Powers: How a Liberal Democrat and Former Atheist Came to Know Jesus Christ as her Savior
Gospel Light Minute ^ | 2 June 2013

Posted on 07/14/2013 5:59:59 AM PDT by Gamecock

She is a political analyst, blogger, columnist and commentator. She is a Democrat who regularly contributes to USA Today, Newsweek, The Daily Beast, Fox News and the Wall Street Journal among other publications. She formerly served under the Clinton administration from 1993-1998 and was appointed Deputy Assistant U.S Trade Representative for Public Affairs.

In an interview with Focus on the Family, she shares how she converted from atheism to Christianity. She said: “I was not looking to be a Christian. The last thing in the world I wanted to be was a Christian. I had grown up as an Episcopalian, but not evangelical, born again, or any of those kinds of things. It was very high church, kind of mainline, protestant, episcopalian. I did believe in God, but it wasn’t anywhere near what would come to happen to me later in life.

“When I went away to college, whatever little faith I had, I lost. I ended up graduating from college. I worked in the Clinton administration. All my friends were secular liberals. At this point, I really got even more deeply into an incredibly secular world because now, all my friends were basically atheists, or if they had any kind of spirituality, they were very hostile towards religion, Christianity in particular. So, I really didn’t have any interest in it.

“I started dating someone who went to Tim Keller’s church, Redeemer Presbyterian in New York City. Out of curiosity, I went with him. But I told him upfront that I would never become a Christian; that it’s never going to happen. After about six or seven months, I began to think that the weight of history is more on the side of what [I was hearing at this church] than not. Tim Keller had made such a strong case, that I began to think it’s not even smart to reject this. It just doesn’t seem like a good intellectual decision.

“Really, it was like God sort of invaded my life. It was very unwelcome. I didn’t like it. Obviously, I started having a lot of different experiences where I felt God was doing a lot of things in my life. It’s kind of hard to describe, but I did have this moment where the scales just fell off of my eyes, where I was saying, ‘this is just totally true, I don’t even have any doubt.’ …I don’t really feel like I had any courage when I became a Christian, I just gave in. I wasn’t courageous; I didn’t have any choice. I kept trying to not believe but I just couldn’t avoid [accepting Christ]. If I could have avoided it, I would have. There is nothing convenient about it in my life or in the world I live in. It’s not like living in the South where everybody is a Christian. I live in a world where nobody is a believer. But God pursued me.”

Her name is Kirsten Powers



TOPICS: Evangelical Christian; Mainline Protestant; Ministry/Outreach; Skeptics/Seekers
KEYWORDS: bornagain; christianity; conversion; kirstenpowers; kirstinchristian; megachurch; nyc; timkeller
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To: rwfromkansas

As a lifelong Christian who only left the Democratic Party less than a year ago, I can back up what you say about the Christian Democrats I know being pro-life and of the opinion that Democrats are better with helping the poor than Republicans. One reason Christians hang on in that party is that many leading Republicans don’t seem very sincere about being pro-life. They have a track record of soft-pedaling it or being “tolerant” of it (Bob Dole? Giuliani? John McCain?) In my Congressional district, the last Republican member of Congress was pro-choice, as was the most recent Republican governor. If you are thinking you have two choices— Republican or Democrat, you might just stay where you are. I did, and got active in a pro-life Democratic group. It was futile.

What finally sent me over the edge was facing the fact that the Democratic leadership intractably hated my faith and my pro-life stance. Not just disagreed. Hated. Of course, they also disdain my patriotism and respect for western European heritage and values, but that wasn’t enough to make me give up. That, and my 10 year-old son had the clarity of thinking and purity of heart to know that the Democratic Party was a bad place for a Mom to be. When he couldn’t see how a loving mother could be a member of a group of baby killers, and begged me to leave them, I had to figure it was time to make my party affiliation match up better with my basic nature.

I’m not a perfect fit as a Republican, either, but if they win, America has a better chance of keeping on being America, so I’m in.

Perhaps Kristen will make the same journey.


61 posted on 07/14/2013 10:07:42 AM PDT by married21
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To: Gamecock

Thank you for this thread and may God onto use to bless this strong, brave woman...
She has a way to go before completely shaking off the dark side but she has guts and honesty...
(Think this had anything to do with her dating Weiner at one time? Ugh...)


62 posted on 07/14/2013 10:09:32 AM PDT by matginzac
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To: Gamecock

Thank you for this thread and may God onto use to bless this strong, brave woman...
She has a way to go before completely shaking off the dark side but she has guts and honesty...
(Think this had anything to do with her dating Weiner at one time? Ugh...)


63 posted on 07/14/2013 10:09:41 AM PDT by matginzac
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To: matginzac

That’s...may God continue to bless her....iPad snafu....


64 posted on 07/14/2013 10:10:42 AM PDT by matginzac
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To: Ouderkirk
I for one, don't like inevitability and the resignation that one is powerless to stop it.

IMHO...

People do not know what God has foreordained. From our perspective, we have no idea what tomorrow will bring.

We could receive a phone call which leads to our becoming wealthy. Or a piano could fall on our head as we walk out of a building.

Not knowing the future, we therefore have no excuse to not live according to God's Word and give a (theoretical) 100% effort.

But it is to our shame that in our supreme arrogance we think God is powerless over our little puny "decisions" we make about what will or not will happen in the future. He "sort of" participates, he participates "once in a while", he "helps things along"; all such phrases are logically inconsistent, since the Creator has power over the creation, end of story.
65 posted on 07/14/2013 10:12:12 AM PDT by PieterCasparzen (We have to fix things ourselves)
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To: rwfromkansas
BUT...being a Christian ISN'T about social issues. Oh, its part of being a Christian, but its only a part.

Being a Christian is first and foremost trusting in the saving grace of what Christ did on the cross. Then its about being a disciple of Christ. Learning and practicing being Christ like. But Jesus didn't spend all his time healing the sick and feeding the poor. The majority of his time was teaching his followers Gods principles. Changing their hearts, not just their actions.

How many Christians are running around doing good works, but don't have a clue to Gods nature?
How many focus on Jesus' good deeds, but fail to focus on the truths taught in psalms and proverbs? The Bible teaches us "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." The God of the New Testament is the same God of the Old Testament.

A true disciple of Christ should see what Obama really is, and the democrat party that empowers him. It goes beyond being pro life. Its the exaltation of homosexuality. Its the destruction of laws. The arbitrary enforcement of laws. Its the attack on marriage and the family. Its the attack on anything perceived as Christian.

How can someone CALL themselves a Christian...Better yet...How can someone who identifies themselves with Christ, align themselves with a group who openly and blatantly attack anyone or anything the represents Christ?

This isn't Democrat vs Republican. This is looking at yourself and what you value. Where your OVER ALL allegiance lies and then making your political identification from that.

""Anyone who isn't with me opposes me, and anyone who isn't working with me is actually working against me."-New Living Translation

66 posted on 07/14/2013 10:15:23 AM PDT by mountn man (The Pleasure You Get From Life Is Equal To The Attitude You Put Into It)
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To: rwfromkansas

Bergen County, NJ; affluent, plenty of professing Christians. Of course, as with everywhere, doctrine varies greatly. And the public schools preach the usual abominations.


67 posted on 07/14/2013 10:20:35 AM PDT by PieterCasparzen (We have to fix things ourselves)
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To: RBStealth

Sanctification is a life long journey guided by the Holy Spirit.

We should be thankful God doesn’t dump all of our sins on us at one time, like he did with Isaiah. The older I get the more I see the depth of my sin and need for a Savior.


68 posted on 07/14/2013 10:57:43 AM PDT by Gamecock ("Ultimately, Jesus died to save us from the wrath of God." —R.C. Sproul)
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To: zot; Interesting Times

an interesting testimonial. I wonder if it has also affected her political commentary? Or perhaps if her more ‘conservative’ comments are influenced by her new life?


69 posted on 07/14/2013 11:03:43 AM PDT by GreyFriar (Spearhead - 3rd Armored Division 75-78 & 83-87)
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To: PieterCasparzen

There is always a point where you resign yourself to whatever god/fate has in store for you.

It is never a pleasant experience for those of us who ascribe to the theorem that “you make your own luck” and that you can no longer influence the outcome.

I have always been able to influence almost every aspect of my life, but yet god was never one of them. I just hit the “I believe” button and moved on, rather than resist.


70 posted on 07/14/2013 11:22:36 AM PDT by Ouderkirk (To the left, everything must evidence that this or that strand of leftist theory is true)
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To: Gamecock
Powers: “I started dating someone who went to Tim Keller’s church, Redeemer Presbyterian in New York City."

That is rumored to be the church Ann Coulter attends, or once attended.

71 posted on 07/14/2013 11:30:33 AM PDT by Albion Wilde ("Remember... the first revolutionary was Satan."--Russian Orthodox Archpriest Dmitry Smirnov)
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To: Gamecock

Awesome Joy in knowing Christ!


72 posted on 07/14/2013 12:11:17 PM PDT by AUsome Joy
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To: Gamecock
From Redeemer's website...

The Redeemer Vision
"As a church of Jesus Christ, to help build a great city for all people through a movement of the gospel that brings personal conversion, community formation, social justice, and cultural renewal to New York City and, through it, the world."

Social justice = Socialism

73 posted on 07/14/2013 12:20:35 PM PDT by newfreep (Breitbart sent me...)
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To: PieterCasparzen

There is always a point where you resign yourself to whatever god/fate has in store for you.

It is never a pleasant experience for those of us who ascribe to the theorem that “you make your own luck” and that you can no longer influence the outcome.

I have always been able to influence almost every aspect of my life, but yet god was never one of them. I just hit the “I believe” button and moved on, rather than resist.


74 posted on 07/14/2013 12:21:38 PM PDT by Ouderkirk (To the left, everything must evidence that this or that strand of leftist theory is true)
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To: newfreep

There are many here who would call Jesus a commie.


75 posted on 07/14/2013 12:30:01 PM PDT by Gamecock ("Ultimately, Jesus died to save us from the wrath of God." —R.C. Sproul)
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To: Gamecock

In today’s liberal/socialist “speak”, “social justice” is truly code for socialism.

Although I wasn’t traveling with Christ during his time on earth, I can safely say He was not a commie - that’s one of satan’s political groups.


76 posted on 07/14/2013 12:37:42 PM PDT by newfreep (Breitbart sent me...)
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To: Gamecock
I live in a world where nobody is a believer. But God pursued me.

Ah....Sola Gratia...

Exo 20:21 The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.

77 posted on 07/14/2013 12:54:18 PM PDT by HarleyD
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To: circlecity

By God’s Grace! Her story of God invading one’s life is similar to mine (in that as a teen I was doing LIFE my way and God sort of invaded through a youth pastor (I now thank God for) who showed me as an angry young man that I wasn’t living for God, and that He was real! Praise Jesus!


78 posted on 07/14/2013 3:08:13 PM PDT by JSDude1 (Is John Boehner the Neville Chamberlain of American Politics?)
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To: RBStealth

So she (coming out of the Liberal Democratic background) is basically saying that traditional Biblical marriage can never be changed, but that she believes that gays should have the same contractual rights as everyone else?

I would argue with her that redefining marriage through government IS wrong, but I would agree with her that (though I would plead for gays to come to faith in Christ-) they should have the contractual rights (of inheritance, ect)..


79 posted on 07/14/2013 3:12:58 PM PDT by JSDude1 (Is John Boehner the Neville Chamberlain of American Politics?)
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To: wmfights

Well maybe your cousin isn’t born again because Ephesians 2:8-9 clearly speak AGAINST belief in Christ as a work that we can earn.


80 posted on 07/14/2013 3:14:46 PM PDT by JSDude1 (Is John Boehner the Neville Chamberlain of American Politics?)
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