How do you feel poltically

[steaver]

Abortion and capital punishment are not unrelated, life is life. I believe all life should be in the hands of God. We as a society are capable of punishing the wrong doers without taking revenge.

There is a difference between the two. One is murder because it involves "innocent" life while the other is "punishment" because it involves "guilty" life.

It would be interesting to know what Paul would have written concerning actually getting to vote. He did tell us to submit to the authorities, knowing full well the trouble those same authorities had caused him and other followers of the Way. In fact he called them "God's servant for your good" - Wow a sexually immoral, violent, drunken leader was "God's servant for your good".

You don't need to see the word "vote" in the word of God to know how to apply the deed to your life. God has given us instructions concerning what to partake in and what to reject or reprove. Everything we do as Christians should be measured to the high calling given in God's word.

I don't know what you mean by callous heart. Is voting the measure of a callous heart? I thought actually reaching out to them, providing a safe place for them, encouraging and helping them to finish school was more a measure of the heart condition, but what do I know!?[/

Are you saying these things are "black and white" in God's word? Would that be fundamentalism?

These things you mention are very good things and are some "fundamentals" of God's word, however, if murder is mixed among them then the whole lump is unholy and the "good deeds" are exposed as being done for personal/political gain rather than a work for God.

:jesus:

 

[go2church]

Those that were put to death though not guilty, would they not be important as well? Of course they would and I wouldn't expect you to say otherwise. I know the number isn't huge anyway you count it but even one life, like abortion, is a tragedy. A tragedy that could and should be stopped.

I don't think you need me to point out the grey that exists in the arena of politics. But how about funding of the national parks system, do you think that really is an black and white issue, of course not. But that wasn't really what I was speaking about. I was more directing my comments to the idea that when Christians participate in a secular system in doing so we are going to make the best with the decisions those politicians make. I don't think it is the measure of one's Christianity to have to choose between two poor choices. You do the best you can in that arena knowing that the Lord is still in charge and one way or the other the Lord's will, will be done.

 

[Aaron]

I was wondering. Does Christian automatically equal conservative?

It depends on what you mean by "Christian." If you mean one who is saved, then, no, it does not automatically mean conservative. It does not automatically mean moral, either.

But if you mean one who knows, believes in and obeys the doctrines of Christ, then, yes, he could not be other than conservative.

 

[steaver]

I don't think you need me to point out the grey that exists in the arena of politics. But how about funding of the national parks system, do you think that really is an black and white issue, of course not. But that wasn't really what I was speaking about. I was more directing my comments to the idea that when Christians participate in a secular system in doing so we are going to make the best with the decisions those politicians make. I don't think it is the measure of one's Christianity to have to choose between two poor choices. You do the best you can in that arena knowing that the Lord is still in charge and one way or the other the Lord's will, will be done.

I don't want you to pick out the grey in politics but rather the political issues that are found as grey in God's word.

We are not talking about "decisions politicians make". We are talking about voting for a person before they ever have the ability to make decisions based on what they profess to support and what the record, if any, shows they support.

Funding parks is a non-partisan issue. All politicians support the funding of parks. To what price tag might be debated, but parks have no significant sway at the polls neither do they transgress one way or the other any of God's Word.

Pick an issue that you feel is both partisan and also "grey" in God's word.

:jesus:

 

[go2church]

How about education, that seems to be a pretty hot topic. As an example I will use my own thoughts on the subject

I don't believe in a "federal" system for education funding and decisions. Just exactly what does the Department of Education do anyway beside spend money that I think could be spent better elsewhere? This should be a local decision. The ones who support this are usually Republicans. But wait, to support the Republicans is to support in most cases vouchers. I don't believe in vouchers, public money should be for public schools, so there you have to go toward the Democrats.

There isn't any Biblical mandate concerning a Department of Education or what to do with vouchers. Honest bible believing Christians can have different opinions on these issues. It is, to use an overused term, a grey area.

 

[Revmitchell]

How about education, that seems to be a pretty hot topic. As an example I will use my own thoughts on the subject

I don't believe in a "federal" system for education funding and decisions. Just exactly what does the Department of Education do anyway beside spend money that I think could be spent better elsewhere? This should be a local decision. The ones who support this are usually Republicans. But wait, to support the Republicans is to support in most cases vouchers. I don't believe in vouchers, public money should be for public schools, so there you have to go toward the Democrats.

There isn't any Biblical mandate concerning a Department of Education or what to do with vouchers. Honest bible believing Christians can have different opinions on these issues. It is, to use an overused term, a grey area.

Exactly and abortion is not.

 

[steaver]

How about education, that seems to be a pretty hot topic. As an example I will use my own thoughts on the subject

I don't believe in a "federal" system for education funding and decisions. Just exactly what does the Department of Education do anyway beside spend money that I think could be spent better elsewhere? This should be a local decision. The ones who support this are usually Republicans. But wait, to support the Republicans is to support in most cases vouchers. I don't believe in vouchers, public money should be for public schools, so there you have to go toward the Democrats.

There isn't any Biblical mandate concerning a Department of Education or what to do with vouchers. Honest bible believing Christians can have different opinions on these issues. It is, to use an overused term, a grey area.

You are correct. The issue is not a biblical issue so it would not disqualify a person regardless of their position. Christians can respectfully disagree.

Can you present a political issue that is grey in God's Word? How to fund education is not "grey" in God's word, it simply is not there!

:godisgood:

 

[go2church]

I'm correct, but you want another example? Are you saying that education is not a political issue? Not anywhere I have lived. I guess I'm not understanding what you are asking. I don't and didn't claim that the Bible is grey. Voting is however can be grey at times.

Some Christians don't believe women should be in positions of leadership where they will be in charge of men. Some seeking office are divorced, there are Christians who will not vote for a divorced person. But when faced with having someone who is favor of say legalizing gambling they will vote for the woman or divorced person.

 

[Steve_S]

Equating the Christian faith to any single political perspective is mistaken. It assumes that there is only one way to be Christian.

Yes, I know. It's far too sweping and simple. I was just curious as to what people thought. My own beliefs and attitudes have been way more conservative since I joined the church.