The Beasts Smell Blood

[Aaron]

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2021/05/the_beasts_smell_blood.html

China and Russia are aggressively raising their stakes against Taiwan and Ukraine. Why? Just take a sober view of Biden's America, at war with itself. China and Russia came to a pragmatic conclusion: America in 2021 has neither the desire nor the courage nor the political will to protect itself and its allies.

...

Both China and Russia immediately realized that, with Trump, the guy who brought down a billion dollars' worth of missiles while sweets were being served, it was necessary to remain within the bounds of decency. Under Biden, no one is going to remain within these bounds. On the contrary, Beijing and Moscow are well aware that Biden is a temporary, accidental person in the White House, and it is necessary to strike while the iron is hot. Under Biden, Beijing's and Moscow's expansionist plans are destined to come true.​

 

[JonC]

Thet know President Biden (like his Democrat predecessors) will not address aggression. They have no incentive to refrain from escalating things.

 

[AustinC]

God is orchestrating the nations exactly as He wills. I am excited to be alive right now to fulfill the good works God has ordained for me to do. No fear. All faith. Let's go knock down the gates of hell.

 

[JonC]

God is orchestrating the nations exactly as He wills. I am excited to be alive right now to fulfill the good works God has ordained for me to do. No fear. All faith. Let's go knock down the gates of hell.

That is the thing. Christians too often complain when the world does not mimic Christianity, BUT historically it is precisely during times of worldly opposition that the Church shines the brightest.

 

[AustinC]

That is the thing. Christians too often complain when the world does not mimic Christianity, BUT historically it is precisely during times of worldly opposition that the Church shines the brightest.

Christians in the US are soft and somehow imagine that Jesus will "rapture" them away before they suffer for the Kingdom. They have taken to attempting government control in order to suppress the godless and thus secure their own comforts.
God has brought the unsaved to their very doorstep and is crushing our comfort zones in an attempt to wake us up, yet this nation of Christians would rather kick all the unredeemed out and just hole up in their compounds.

 

[JonC]

Christians in the US are soft and somehow imagine that Jesus will "rapture" them away before they suffer for the Kingdom. They have taken to attempting government control in order to suppress the godless and thus secure their own comforts.
God has brought the unsaved to their very doorstep and is crushing our comfort zones in an attempt to wake us up, yet this nation of Christians would rather kick all the unredeemed out and just hole up in their compounds.

Well said.

 

[RighteousnessTemperance&]

Thet know President Biden (like his Democrat predecessors) will not address aggression. They have no incentive to refrain from escalating things.

Yep. In fact, Biden, just like Obama, is aiding its funding.

Israel and HAMAS in open war

 

[Aaron]

Praying for persecution of the church, are we? But you're not Leftists . . .

Thet know President Biden (like his Democrat predecessors) will not address aggression. They have no incentive to refrain from escalating things.

God is orchestrating the nations exactly as He wills. I am excited to be alive right now to fulfill the good works God has ordained for me to do. No fear. All faith. Let's go knock down the gates of hell.

That is the thing. Christians too often complain when the world does not mimic Christianity, BUT historically it is precisely during times of worldly opposition that the Church shines the brightest.

Christians in the US are soft and somehow imagine that Jesus will "rapture" them away before they suffer for the Kingdom. They have taken to attempting government control in order to suppress the godless and thus secure their own comforts.
God has brought the unsaved to their very doorstep and is crushing our comfort zones in an attempt to wake us up, yet this nation of Christians would rather kick all the unredeemed out and just hole up in their compounds.

 

[Aaron]

Courage, btw, is what I and others do, lifting our voice for justice.

 

[AustinC]

Praying for persecution of the church, are we? But you're not Leftists . . .

You jumped the shark, Aaron.

 

[JonC]

Courage, btw, is what I and others do, lifting our voice for justice.

You are riding a fence. That takes no courage. It is the cowards move.

 

[AustinC]

Courage, btw, is what I and others do, lifting our voice for justice.

Are you lifting your voice for justice? No. You are lifting your voice for political control.

 

[Aaron]

Are you lifting your voice for justice? No. You are lifting your voice for political control.

Liberty, actually. I understand your confusion.

 

[AustinC]

Liberty, actually. I understand your confusion.

You wrote:
"Courage, btw, is what I and others do, lifting our voice for justice."

The confusion is all on you. It seems you are confused about what you actually wrote.

Second, a person is either a slave to sin or a slave to righteousness. Liberty is an illusion.

You are not fighting for liberty. You are fighting because you want to be in control and not having control makes you want to react in violence at those you think are trying to oppress you. What you are doing is actually entirely selfish.

 

[Scott Downey]

Christians in the US are soft and somehow imagine that Jesus will "rapture" them away before they suffer for the Kingdom. They have taken to attempting government control in order to suppress the godless and thus secure their own comforts.
God has brought the unsaved to their very doorstep and is crushing our comfort zones in an attempt to wake us up, yet this nation of Christians would rather kick all the unredeemed out and just hole up in their compounds.

A little bit of escapism theology is not a bad thing, Jesus says we are not of the world, so wont experience the wrath of God.
And our salvation is revealed in the Last Day

There is no pre tribulation rapture, there is a rapture at the end of the age after the
tribulation of those days at Christ's returning.

So we are at the end of the age now since Christ first came, but the final consummation awaits at the end of the end of the age.
Paul and Peter talk about our salvation yet to come. It is a truth lots of the church does not think about.
The apostles are talking about a salvation kind a like Noah experienced, where we are saved from the sudden coming destruction

Hebrews 9
26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, 28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

1 Peter 3
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,

 

[JonC]

Liberty, actually. I understand your confusion.

Yes, political liberty granted by the government...NOT Christian liberty. There is a difference.

 

[RighteousnessTemperance&]

Yes, political liberty granted by the government...NOT Christian liberty. There is a difference.

Nothing compares to Christian freedom, which only God grants, and only through Christ Jesus.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. –Romans 8:1f​

But in America, our liberty is attributed not to government, but rather to God, and for all.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

–Preamble to the Declaration of Independence​

 

[JonC]

Nothing compares to Christian freedom, which only God grants, and only through Christ Jesus.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. –Romans 8:1f​

But in America, our liberty is attributed not to government, but rather to God, and for all.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

–Preamble to the Declaration of Independence​

The interesting thing about our freedoms in Christ are that these are things Christians lay down, never pick up. Our liberty is from sin. Our rights are things we put aside for the gospel and our brothers.

Government freedoms are different. These are things secular people pick up as individual rights to preserve their own self interest.

Philippians 2:5–11 : Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,
6 who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
as something to be exploited.
7 Instead he emptied himself
by assuming the form of a servant,
taking on the likeness of humanity.
And when he had come as a man,
8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.
9 For this reason God highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow—
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth—
11 and every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

 

[RighteousnessTemperance&]

The interesting thing about our freedoms in Christ are that these are things Christians lay down, never pick up. Our liberty is from sin. Our rights are things we put aside for the gospel and our brothers.

Government freedoms are different. These are things secular people pick up as individual rights to preserve their own self interest.

Philippians 2:5–11 : Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,
6 who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
as something to be exploited.
7 Instead he emptied himself
by assuming the form of a servant,
taking on the likeness of humanity.
And when he had come as a man,
8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.
9 For this reason God highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow—
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth—
11 and every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

America does not recognize the unalienable rights, e.g., Life, Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness, as government rights, but rather as God endowed.

They are not removed by believing the Gospel, but rather further entrusted to God who gave them.

This does not remove government responsibility to recognize and uphold them, especially in the United States of America.

Even Apostle Paul asserted his rights as a Roman citizen when the opportunity afforded. We know he specifically did so in Jerusalem (Acts 22:25ff), in Caesarea (Acts 25:10f), and in Philippi (Acts 16:35ff). In the latter case, Silas also asserted his Roman citizenship.

 

[JonC]

America does not recognize the unalienable rights, e.g., Life, Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness, as government rights, but rather as God endowed.

They are not removed by believing the Gospel, but rather further entrusted to God who gave them.

This does not remove government responsibility to recognize and uphold them, especially in the United States of America.

Even Apostle Paul asserted his rights as a Roman citizen when the opportunity afforded. We know he specifically did so in Jerusalem (Acts 22:25ff), in Caesarea (Acts 25:10f), and in Philippi (Acts 16:35ff). In the latter case, Silas also asserted his Roman citizenship.

Where do you see God giving an unalienable right of life, of liberty, of the pursuit of happiness, to a nation????

Please provide the passage, because if this is true then the gospel itself is invalid.

Instead it seems God has given us a command to die to this world, to the flesh, to seek not our happiness but His glory, to rest not in unalienable rights but in Christ.

Let's start with one and then go on to others.

What passage gives us the right to pursue our happiness as an unalienable right?

Paul asserted his rights to go to Rome and be a witness of Christ, and to die for Him. I don't think this quite applies.