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@josephw saidI would agree with the part of the quote above; Christian is not something you put on your passport, but a way of life.
“If you’re not living it out, doesn’t that prove you don’t really believe it? … A lot of people have this idea, like, ‘I can believe it, but not do anything about it.’ No, that’s wrong. You have to live it out,” he said."
Raj is correct that Christians should be no part of the world, and not be involved with politics in the world. The battle is within, not against the governmental authorities, which where possible we should be in obedience to.
Paul in his letter to the Ephesians said that "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Nothing about taking on governments head to head.
It's interesting (to me) that Susie from time to time will mention "Republican" Christians, and other made reference; we don't really have a movement like that in the UK that I can think of. Specifically thinking about with the Anglo_American alliance, scripturally speaking, I would challenge whether there should be should there be Democrat/Republican/Labour/Tory Christians?
As there have been comments on Donald Trump, I would limit myself to these observations: He's a politician, and as a breed politicians are probably the only profession were being "professional liar" and "hypocrite" is part of the job description, irrespective of the philosophy that that clam to represent. Show me one that isn't?
@medullah saidAny desire to have a better world starts with one's self. You can look this up if you want in 1910, The Times asked, "What was wrong with the world." C.K. Chesterton responded, “Dear Sirs, [What’s wrong with the world?] I am.”
I would agree with the part of the quote above; Christian is not something you put on your passport, but a way of life.
Raj is correct that Christians should be no part of the world, and not be involved with politics in the world. The battle is within, not against the governmental authorities, which where possible we should be in obedience to.
Paul in his letter to th ...[text shortened]... job description, irrespective of the philosophy that that clam to represent. Show me one that isn't?
@medullah saidChristians should be no part of the world, and not be involved with politics in the world. The battle is within, not against the governmental authorities, which where possible we should be in obedience to.
I would agree with the part of the quote above; Christian is not something you put on your passport, but a way of life.
Raj is correct that Christians should be no part of the world, and not be involved with politics in the world. The battle is within, not against the governmental authorities, which where possible we should be in obedience to.
Paul in his letter to th ...[text shortened]... job description, irrespective of the philosophy that that clam to represent. Show me one that isn't?
How can Christians convincingly claim that they are following Jesus's exhortations, both implicit and explicit, in the Sermon on the Mount if they tell themselves they "should be no part of the world"?
Should they really just be piously dabbling at the edges on a scale that personally suits them, rather than contributing to society-wide efforts to address iniquities?
@kellyjay saidThat's a very interesting quote Kelly, and of course we saw WW1 within a few years.
Any desire to have a better world starts with one's self. You can look this up if you want in 1910, The Times asked, "What was wrong with the world." C.K. Chesterton responded, “Dear Sirs, [What’s wrong with the world?] I am.”
@fmf saidPlease give me an example of something said in that sermon that supports this line of thought.
How can Christians convincingly claim that they are following Jesus's exhortations, both implicit and explicit, in the Sermon on the Mount if they tell themselves they "should be no part of the world"?
Jesus himself said that his kingdom and his followers were no part of the world, and when the devil offered the world to him he told him to get lost.
Christians have to operate in the world, but not be part of it's decision making governmental process.
@medullah saidI have two points with this.
I would agree with the part of the quote above; Christian is not something you put on your passport, but a way of life.
Raj is correct that Christians should be no part of the world, and not be involved with politics in the world. The battle is within, not against the governmental authorities, which where possible we should be in obedience to.
Paul in his letter to th ...[text shortened]... job description, irrespective of the philosophy that that clam to represent. Show me one that isn't?
1. Evil should be confronted wherever it exists. This includes in government. Excluding government from your fight against evil is weak. It gives evil its best foothold in the lives of innocent people. This is how people are subjugated. Christians need not turn their backs on them. There is scripture in support of what I'm saying.
2. A common trap is blowing off evil with thinking "Oh, they're ALL bad, so it doesn't matter." That's a cop-out. It DOES matter. There are politicians who try their best to do a good job and do what they were sent to Washington to do. Think Mr. Smith before he went to Washington. Those should be supported. Letting the established evil fester also eventually condemns the idealistic, which we need more of in Washington. Or Paris. Or London. Or Brussels. We are given discernment. Use it.
@kellyjay said“I know I am touching the living body of Christ in the broken bodies of the hungry and the suffering. Each one of them is Jesus in disguise.” -- Mother Teresa
People who want change the world should start with themselves, we are after all the only one whose conduct we have a say in. 🙂