Should our faith be kept private?

Good post. Gives you something to think about, eh?

"...and ye shall be witnesses unto Me...unto the ends of the earth."
Acts 1:8
DRF

 

Rev. Mitchell you asked a lot of different questions and are trying to tie them into one central theme, when really they are not all the same thing.

Should our faith be private? No we whould be sharing the truth of the good news to all that are dead in trespasses and sin and that good news is that Jesus died in their place and shed His blood to cover their sin if they will just believe.

We should also be sharing the good news to the spiritually alive person as well and that is that Christ rose again the third day and is an Advocate for us with the Father and that if we will let Him continue to cleanse us and work in us we will one day rule and reign with Him as a part of His bride.

If we are sharing those truths with others that is not a private thing.

This is a different issue. Our prayers can never be removed from the public square, because our prayers do not have to be verbalized for all to hear.

Do we really think that America is going to be a better place because there are some white crosses and stone structures around with the 10 Commandments on them? These crosses and these momuments are not what is going to make the difference. It is the sharing that is going to make the difference. It's the discipling that's going to make the difference.

These things are exactly what you say they are they are material symbols that do not contain truth. They can represent the truth, but they don't contain the truth. The Scriptures contain the truth and the Spirit contains the truth and if we will allow Him to work in us then we can spread the truth.

We are almost making idols out of these things.

I don't think it can be generalized into a yes and no question. I think it depends on what the situation is and what being silent is about. Should we not be able to share the good news? Absolutely not that is a direct command that we are given. Should we bow down and worship an idol or someone? Absolutely not. That is a direct command that we are given.

Should we disrupt a graduation ceremony with a recited prayer that's not planned for because we are trying to find a loophole in what was said. I don't think it paints a very good picture of our Savior or our Lord when there is no command that we have to pray out loud in front of people.

They could have just as easily said their prayer to themselves and in their heart and it would have been just as efficient if they really meant it.

Despite if the motives were pure or not it could be a huge stumbling block for those on the outside looking in. Becuase it looks like an act of rebellion.

 

Sharing the gospel message is almost always a one-on-one thing. Making political statements, on the other hand, necessarily involve a crowd. I think those who focus on putting the Ten Commandments in front of the courthouse or a creche on public land should examine their real motives. The Bible tells us to be in this world but not of this world. Getting America recognized as a Christian nation is not important. Witnessing to your neighbor is extremely important.

 

I might add;
America is not nor ever has been a Christian nation. A Christian nation would be one without bars or whorehouses. One without the need for jails. One which would never enslave another race of people, be they black or red or yellow.(We did that to the African, Native and Chinese) One where every home was whole and at peace. One where all people were loved as Christ loved. America is just another pagan nation. Instead of idols of stone or wood, we bow to pride and avarice and lust.

As individual Christians we have ONE activity in which Jesus commanded us to do. Witness of Him. Anything else is just so much political or social manipulation in the name of God and is wrong.

 

America was founded on Christian principles. Just because there are bars (which are only sinful if you believe drinking is sinful), whorehouses and jails within it's borders, doesn't negate history, and what the country was founded on.

BTW, slavery is not a sign of not being a Christian nation, and is a cultural issue only. Slavery was predominant throughout the Bible without mention of the practice being sinful.

 

Forum Moderator

You're right. Let's bring slavery back...there's nothing wrong with it. I say, let's enslave all Arminians [Deleted offensive name. Watch the words and language you choose to post]. Let's get back to our "Christian" roots.

Joseph Botwinick

 

Matthew 10:32-33 32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

We must not be ashamed of the Gospel, but rather share it with boldness with this lost and dying world.

 

Shout it from the housetops, sing it in the village streets, proclaim it here and abroad, until He comes.

 

Forum Moderator

I suppose you can provide a Scripture calling slavery sinful. I never said there wasn't anything "wrong" with it, but Scripture is silent on it. Culturally, it is wrong.

Since your little "Arminian [Removed offensive langage]" comment was meant to be an insult to me, and a slap in the face, I am not arminian. The "fruits of the Spirit" are Christian roots, also, something you rarely show in your posts.

 

Right!
I had forgotten that rebellion is a Christian principle!!! (Romans 13)
And as for slavery being predominant in the Bible, had you forgotten the year of Jubilee? All slaves were to regain their freedom during that year. We did not do that, therefore the slavery as practiced in our nation was indeed sinful.
Again...we are not nor ever have been a Christian nation. A Christian nation would be one who obeys God. We don't nor ever have. I don't care what revisionist history you care to subscribe to, you cannot prove Scripturally that we ever have been a Christian nation. Any country founded upon rebellion against God ordained authority is not nor can be Christian. That is unless true repentance takes place nationally, and we are not (as a nation) about to do that.

BTW; forget about trying to explain away Rom. 13 or Titus 3 or 1 Pet 2. Remember that those Scriptures were written during a time when very evil Emperorrs were on the throne of Rome, yet the Christians then were commanded to be subject to them "for Christ's sake". We are and always have been commanded to obey and be subject to the rulers above us. Only ONE priciple was to be disobeyed and that was if that ruler commanded us to worship other gods or to cease preaching Christ. England NEVER did that, therefore our rebellion was as the sin of witchcraft or idolatry.

But I digress and ask the OP for forgiveness for sidetracking the thread.

 

Since we are a Christian nation, grounded on the moral teachings of the Bible, and the Bible is silent on the issue of slavery, I see nothing wrong or sinful about it. Let's enslave all Arminians and get back to our Christian roots.

Joseph Botwinick

 

Your sarcasm is duly noted. Sarcasm must be the weapon of they who cannot intelligently answer with a valid or truthful argument.

BTW; should you care to exchange ideas with a civil tongue, I would gladly engage your points Biblically. Meanwhile perhaps you would care to re-read my post and address the salient points of my argument.

 

I never said the USA was a "Christian nation", but was founded on Christian principles. Our nation has "never" obeyed God? Proof of this? What exactly is your definition of "Christian nation"?

 

Question 1;
Obey Scripture at all times.
Question 2;
Prayer cannot be removed from the public square since no power on earth or in hell beneath it can prevent us from calling upon our God. The problem here as I see it is we have produced a whole generation of mamby-pamby Christians who fear man rather than God.
Question 3;
Personally I think that yes, all symbols should be removed since they have become gods of wood and stone. Everyday of the week I see "christians" with their cutsie bumper stickers and fishy symbols speeding along the interstate just as fast as the rest of the ungodly in direct defiance of a simple little speed limit rule. This is a smear on that Beloved Name they profess to believe in and love. And some say we are a"Christian nation" Yeah right!!!
Question 4;
As Peter and John declared right before they were beaten for preaching in the name of Jesus; "We cannot but speak the things we have both seen and heard." You decide. Shall we obey God or man? The preaching of the cross IS an offence. I will GLADLY bear that offence and will gladly offend any and all I meet with the message that they are bound for hell lest they should repent and believe the gospel of Christ.

 

Tell that to Elijah:

1 Kings 18:27

I apologize if you misunderstood, but my responses were not even directed toward you and therefore, did not require a response from you, or any other kind of engagement at all really.

Joseph Botwinick

 

I did not realize that the answers to your question were so hidden from your eyes.
So I will help you out my friend.

1. Proof we never obeyed God.
War of the Rebellion 1776

2. Definition of a Christian nation.
One which obeys God.

3. Proof we are not founded upon Christian principles.
We rebelled against the Crown of England.

4. Conclusion; God hates rebellion. But God has been gracious and merciful to us for His own purposes.

The ACLU is also founded on "Christian principles". Namely, compassion for the oppressed. Yet I dare say that one would be hard pressed to call that monstrosity a "Christian" organization. :laugh:

Care to prove that rebellion is a Christian principle? You know as well as I do that rebellion against government is written into the Declaration of Independence. And you know as well as I do that God HATES rebellion. Rebellion is Satan's first act. As was ours.
No. I do not hate my country. But I do face facts and apply those facts to what God says in order that I may align my opinions up with God rather than man.

 

I agree with the last part of Joseph's statement. "Let's get back to our 'Christian' roots. Biblilical roots that are neither calvinistic or arminian.

Bro Tony

 

Apology accepted.
Please accept mine towards you. I did indeed misunderstand. When I read a thread oftentimes it is hard to discern who is speaking to whom unless that responder directly addresses the other by name.
My mistake. Sorry bro.

 

Jim,

No apology is needed.

Joseph Botwinick