Its not eithor/or though, as God wants us to be good citizens here, and also to keep His work as main priority!
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- Thread starter Benjamin
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Why does Jesus and Paul say that it is either or (that we are either of the world or we are of the Kingdom; we either serve the world or we serve the Kingdom; that to be friends with the world is to be enemies with God)?
It seems that Jesus and Paul directly disagree with you.
Big difference from mere participation!
They do not want us to have wordy affairs dwarf heavenly ones in our priorities, but nothing wrong with being active in events such as abolishing slavery and abortion, and giving blacks and women equal rights!
I just do not see where God tells us to not vote, do not get involved in trying to keep culture more towards God etc!
I wonder why that is not how God put it.
What Scripture warns against is the world. This does not mean churches cannot (or should not) speak for Christ in all matters (like racism and abortion).
But it is one thing for a Christian to lend his voice to the Church and another to lend it to a political party. We are to do kingdom work, but we are to do it in kingdom ways.
One can be a Christian and be the President, or a mayor, or congress person!
One can be a Christian and be many things.
So, with this statement, WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU SAYING??
From your prior arguments, I get the idea that, TO YOU, it was/is wrong for a Christian to participate in any way in the political process - even voting! Is this a correct interpretation?? If not, please clarify!
Your quote above, to me, indicates that a Christian can be many, or any, thing so long as it does not conflict with God's commands. Is this a correct interpretation?? If not, please clarify!
Your overall basis, again in my interpretation, is that if you take an active part - including voting - in any political process, that you are elevating politics/party/whatever, to your god. Again, Is this a correct interpretation?? If not, please clarify!
He does seem to be stating that as Christians we cannot get involved in :earthly things"
I am saying that Christians can do many things. George Whitfield was a Christian and a preacher. He gave his voice to advocate for slavery. George Washington was a Christian. He owned slaves. I know Christians who are very vocal in the DNC and in the GOP. I know Christians who have had a child aborted. I know Christians who have been divorced for unbiblical reasons. I know Christians who have had affairs. I know Christians who have been abusive.
Christians can do many things - even things that conflict with God's commands. That does not mean they should do those things.
Your interpretation is incorrect - thank you for asking for clarification. What I have been saying is why I choose not to identify with a political party, NOT why anyone else should refrain from doing so.
It is ironic that I have repeatedly said exactly this - that we must be obedient to God as best we can and follow our conscience, that I am not prescribing my views on others nor am I judging others for their views....BUT others seem to be very focused on condemning me for my views, prescribing to me whatever they think I should do, and judging me for my convictions.
I post so that I can understand others and they can understand me. NOT to make them like me or to condemn them for their views. I do argue what I believe because they are my beliefs. And I expect others to argue their beliefs.
Im sorry you are just plain wrong and misapplying that principle in scripture. We are not to take part in the evil of this world. Lending our voice to a political party in and of itself is not evil.
Why not bring a witness to such an important statement?
I don't understand this obsession to paint politics and Christianity as mutually exclusive myself. I'm kind of seeing it as an excuse not to be involved or to defend not making a choice. A form of sticking one's head in the sand.
Just glad that Christians got involved to end slavery and to get us freed from Britain!
Thanks! I know the feeling of being misunderstood, cause "you" know precisely what you mean, while another either just wants to pick a fight OR truly misunderstands what "you" are saying!
I usually prefer to get clarification before condemning!
Again, thanks!!
I disagree. I believe we are responsible for where we lend our voices (not just the reasons but as a whole).
I understand both applications of Scripture. I agree with the early church application (through the 4th century) but that does not make it the only choice. And I may be influenced by studying the arguments of the ECF's (who are not an authority).
Yep. You are always the expert on your beliefs.
This is a must watch. This tells you where they are driving this bus, & they are using fear of death (pandemic narrative) to achieve it. You see who is deemed essential & who is not. Who is not will be driven from existence. Only the essentials will remain. Digital currency (completed control) will make you completely powerless. You then, can owe your soul to the company store, as Tennessee Ernie Ford used to sing. Currency will be no more, remember at the outset of this lockdown......no change? We can’t make change at the drive-thru. Stores didn’t have change for cash transactions. That was the beginning of conditioning you to a no currency world. Just curious, how many here have, or want to have, any precious metals right about now? In the past, on this board, left thinkers always dismissed holding metals in their portfolio, so they were already good with the company store. Don’t ever count on the left to save you, is my thought.