The Boston Tea Party Problem in Condemning Mob Actions

[SemperFiDawg]

People can and will bend scripture to address any issue to their liking, hence so many Democrat and Republican christians both claiming the moral high ground. Christ said "My Kingdom is not of this world", but I be dog-gone if most don't try to make it so. Have at it. The first one that succeeds in bending Heaven into their earthly mold PM me. I want to see it.

 

[SemperFiDawg]

Of course Jesus and the Apostles spoke on political topics.

Jesus told his disciples to pay taxes and to "Give to Caesar's what is Caesar's and to God what is God's."

Paul also wrote and taught for Christians to submit to the governing authorities and to pay taxes.

What can I say? I'm wrong. Nothing spiritual about those.
You go boi. You're on a roll.

 

[gordon 2]

violence can be the answer at times. Jesus ran people out of the temple with a whip.

I wish I had Jesus' power to know when a good whipping is appropriate-- but I think that is reserved for Him. Every time I got a beating or I gave one... there was every time sorry repercussions...

 

[Israel]

https://forum.gon.com/threads/dear-president-trump.936801/

 

[LittleDrummerBoy]

For me, it's never been a question of whether governments are included in Christ's instruction to "make disciples of all nations." How could we possibly disciple a nation and exclude the government? The question is how to include governments in our discipleship efforts?

It strikes me that the balance and emphasis of most American Christians toward our government doesn't align very well with the Great Commission or Biblical examples. Of course, each believer has their individual callings, so my comments here are more about the overall balance rather than any individual action. While I observe that the overall balance does not seem to correspond to Scripture, I would be committing the error of "argument from absence" to criticize a specific action because there are no positive examples in Scripture. There are no examples of internet discussions, either.

Most Biblical examples of people of faith teaching their governments and leaders are constrained to fundamental issues of righteousness rather than having a role in every policy decision or even picking the winners in every transition of power.

Of all the political issues in ancient Egypt, God had Moses focus on one: Egypt's oppression of God's people. "Let my people go."

Of all the domestic and foreign policy issues in Israel in the time of Ahab, God had Elijah focus on just two things in his interactions with the king: 1) The worship of idols 2) The shedding of innocent blood.

The prophet Elisha didn't even want to talk to Ahab's son Joram (king of Israel), telling him to go to the prophets of his father and the prophets of his mother. He said he wouldn't even speak to him or notice him if not for the presence of Jehoshaphat, the righteous king of Judah. So much for "always respect the office." Elisha did seek the word of Yahweh and advise Jehoshaphat about a battle (at king Jehoshaphat's request.)

John the Baptist's advice to soldiers was simple and direct about righteousness in doing their jobs. He had no policy teaching or advice for King Herod, only a rebuke for sexual immorality having taken his brother's wife as his own. Did any Christian with opportunity dare to tell our own president about his adulterous wife, "It is not lawful for you to have her?" Perhaps not, since it cost John his head, and such a focus on righteous might close doors to opportunities for policy discussions.

After Herod killed John, Jesus would not even speak to him. Just as Joram was unworthy of Elisha's attention, Herod was unworthy of hearing directly from Jesus. It was a pearls to pigs situation, and Jesus was setting an example for us. Jesus did testify to Pilate about who he was.

Paul spoke before a number of public officials. The central issue was always who Jesus is. No rabbit trails into Roman policy matters. When the straight testimony of Jesus produced no result, he used his time to discourse on "righteousness, self-control, and the judgement to come."

We would do well to follow the example of Scripture and disciple our government in the most fundamental issues of righteousness rather than all of our pet policy preferences.

 

[j_seph]

I just cannot see where my God, My Jesus would want any of his children following, those politicians that are for things like same sex marriage, abortion, etc........ So would that not be some sort of blasphemy to follow and agree to them?

 

[SemperFiDawg]

I just cannot see where my God, My Jesus would want any of his children following, those politicians that are for things like same sex marriage, abortion, etc........ So would that not be some sort of blasphemy to follow and agree to them?

The HS doesn’t lead people down the wrong way, politically, socially, or individually. The world is full of people who claim to be Christians who have no idea who the HS is, how He works, much less look to Him to stay in the center of His will. We’re experts at putting anything ahead of God’s will and believing it is His will.

 

[j_seph]

The HS doesn’t lead people down the wrong way, politically, socially, or individually. The world is full of people who claim to be Christians who have no idea who the HS is, how He works, much less look to Him to stay in the center of His will. We’re experts at putting anything ahead of God’s will and believing it is His will.

Guess what I am saying, God is first not the Government.

 

[SemperFiDawg]

Guess what I am saying, God is first not the Government.

I got that and was agreeing.