Applying God's Word to Politics

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GWH

Groovy
Oct 19, 2024
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Really? Kay, boiled down, would full participation of Romans 13 throw the U.S. into un-containable turmoil?
No--although that may depend on how one interprets it. IMO, the good soldiers just defeated the bad ones in recent election.
 

PAC-fit

Active member
Sep 20, 2018
151
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28
No--although that may depend on how one interprets it.
That just can't be. Sorry, I'm still new here and might be better off quietly monitoring things in prayer. But, if the interpretation is allowed to shift, so uncustomary and unlike the ability He expects us to move (1Cor 6:2) on issues with decipherin the ''evil'' of Romans 13:3. In terms of the full impact of the Romans 13 soldier, it is clear, that Soldier/Minister will understand the current evil around him while working those very duties (Philippians 2:15).
 

Eli1

Well-known member
Apr 5, 2022
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Look at this @GWH .
This is the 30% waste i was talking about. Yet, despite all this waste US has more money than the rest of the world.

1734109400632.png
 

GWH

Groovy
Oct 19, 2024
1,924
463
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That just can't be. Sorry, I'm still new here and might be better off quietly monitoring things in prayer. But, if the interpretation is allowed to shift, so uncustomary and unlike the ability He expects us to move (1Cor 6:2) on issues with decipherin the ''evil'' of Romans 13:3. In terms of the full impact of the Romans 13 soldier, it is clear, that Soldier/Minister will understand the current evil around him while working those very duties (Philippians 2:15).
You bring up an interesting concept: "Do you not know that the Lord's people will judge the world?" (1CR 6:2) The context seems to mean that Christians should share the mind of Christ (1CR 2:16) or be mature (EPH 4:14-15), so that they would be spiritually one (JN 17:22-23) and not dispute or quarrel, which brings us to PHP 2:14-15, "Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation."

This relates directly to RM 13:1-5, which indicates that God does not ordain evil governments that punish godly Christians, if one reads beyond verse 1.
 

GWH

Groovy
Oct 19, 2024
1,924
463
83
Look at this @GWH .
This is the 30% waste i was talking about. Yet, despite all this waste US has more money than the rest of the world.

View attachment 271146
Well, we should use that money to pay off our debt, just as you do instead of building up debt on a credit card.
 

PAC-fit

Active member
Sep 20, 2018
151
53
28
You bring up an interesting concept: "Do you not know that the Lord's people will judge the world?" (1CR 6:2) The context seems to mean that Christians should share the mind of Christ (1CR 2:16) or be mature (EPH 4:14-15)
Thanks, would love to be able to report responses to my 10-12 year-old enquiry of the Romans 13 ''servant'' is commonplace. But sad to say is anything but. Quite the contrary to downright misguided therories. I won't emphasize the confusion.
This relates directly to RM 13:1-5, which indicates that God does not ordain evil governments that punish godly Christians, if one reads beyond verse 1.
Kinda what I was thinking. But what a marvel to see the scholar of all competence dance their way around this as though we were the scheming discontents with what the Lord has done for us to be concerned with such trivial matters.

So happy to hear a confirming voice!!
 

KohenMatt

Senior Member
Jun 28, 2013
4,063
265
83
I posted this in the Family forum, but...

I've been more convinced that those who choose not to vote renounce any right to compain, criticize, protest or lament the unrighteous decisions and rulings our government makes. For example, if you choose not to vote, you have no standing to criticize the government or society for it's decisions regarding abortion. Whatever the government and the populous majority decide is acceptable. You may spiritually intercede on the behalf of life, but you fall short in actually advocating for it.

If you're content to just pray against things, so be it. But if you want to fight in physical and practial ways, a political vote is important. Jesus did not just operate in the spiritual realms. He also operated and ministered in the physical realms.
 

GWH

Groovy
Oct 19, 2024
1,924
463
83
Thanks, would love to be able to report responses to my 10-12 year-old enquiry of the Romans 13 ''servant'' is commonplace. But sad to say is anything but. Quite the contrary to downright misguided therories. I won't emphasize the confusion.
Kinda what I was thinking. But what a marvel to see the scholar of all competence dance their way around this as though we were the scheming discontents with what the Lord has done for us to be concerned with such trivial matters.

So happy to hear a confirming voice!!
Yes, unfortunately it seems like there is more quarreling than confirming on CC. :^(
 

Eli1

Well-known member
Apr 5, 2022
5,053
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Well, we should use that money to pay off our debt, just as you do instead of building up debt on a credit card.

This is theoretically correct but practically incorrect.
You now why?
Because we’re not too big to fail, that’s why! :D

You see, if you or I can’t pay our mortgage, nobody is going to give us a blank check to pay it and also go on vacation.
No, they’ll evict us and sell the home.

That’s why it’s not the same thing.
 

GWH

Groovy
Oct 19, 2024
1,924
463
83
I posted this in the Family forum, but...

I've been more convinced that those who choose not to vote renounce any right to compain, criticize, protest or lament the unrighteous decisions and rulings our government makes. For example, if you choose not to vote, you have no standing to criticize the government or society for it's decisions regarding abortion. Whatever the government and the populous majority decide is acceptable. You may spiritually intercede on the behalf of life, but you fall short in actually advocating for it.

If you're content to just pray against things, so be it. But if you want to fight in physical and practial ways, a political vote is important. Jesus did not just operate in the spiritual realms. He also operated and ministered in the physical realms.
I agree completely, and I am so frustrated with my best friend since ninth grade who disagrees with me on this point, as though the KOG in heaven is all that matters, not the prayer of Jesus for it to come on earth as much as we can help.
This is theoretically correct but practically incorrect.
You now why?
Because we’re not too big to fail, that’s why! :D

You see, if you or I can’t pay our mortgage, nobody is going to give us a blank check to pay it and also go on vacation.
No, they’ll evict us and sell the home.

That’s why it’s not the same thing.
That view is depressioning.
 

Eli1

Well-known member
Apr 5, 2022
5,053
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@GWH i told you that i like you many times, but i also like how a southern baptist arrived at many teachings of the Bible which align more with Eastern Christianity than Western Christianity. I am not sure how you arrived at this point, on your own or if someone taught you (if any) but God works in mysterious ways as you said.
This is why i agree with you on 50% of the things you say. :)
The other 50% is that we (on the East) say "we don't know" or "it's a mystery" on some topics as opposed to giving wrong answers.
It's that whole Faith and Belief aspect that You and I have said.

Anyway, what do you think about this:
1734188665563.png

I say Yes, do it. I don't know any arguments against it. Something to do with farming i've heard? But not sure.
What do you think?
 

GWH

Groovy
Oct 19, 2024
1,924
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@GWH i told you that i like you many times, but i also like how a southern baptist arrived at many teachings of the Bible which align more with Eastern Christianity than Western Christianity. I am not sure how you arrived at this point, on your own or if someone taught you (if any) but God works in mysterious ways as you said.
This is why i agree with you on 50% of the things you say. :)
The other 50% is that we (on the East) say "we don't know" or "it's a mystery" on some topics as opposed to giving wrong answers.
It's that whole Faith and Belief aspect that You and I have said.

Anyway, what do you think about this:
View attachment 271167

I say Yes, do it. I don't know any arguments against it. Something to do with farming i've heard? But not sure.
What do you think?
I guess I graduated from my Baptist upbringing with about 90% understanding of the Gospel and 10% understanding of the didache, and since searching Scripture on my own perhaps my understanding increased about 50%, supplemented another 20% by seminary instruction (and 1% lately by CC :^)

Regarding dst, my understanding is that it was implemented mainly to allow more daylight hours after the typical work day, but I bet we could do fine without it.
 

GWH

Groovy
Oct 19, 2024
1,924
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Returning to the theme of this thread, Scripture supporting the application of GW to the political sphere of life include this from MT:

MT 5:13-16, "You are the salt of the earth... You are the light of the world... Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

MT6:9-13, "This is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven... your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven..."

MT 11:21-23, "Woe to you Korazin! Woe to you Bethsaida!... And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths."

MT 13:24-43, "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field... his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat... Let both grow together until the harvest... As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil... He who has ears, let him hear."

MT 19:5, "A man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."

MT 19:18, "Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your parents and love your neighbor as yourself."

MT 20:25-28, "The rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave--just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."

MT 22:21, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."

MT 23:37-38, "O Jerusalem, how often I have longed to gather your children together,... but you were not willing... Look, your house is left to you desolate."

MT 24:7-9, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom... Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me."

MT 25:31-32, "When the Son of Man comes in his glory... All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats."

MT 26:55-55&64, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me?... This has taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled... In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One."
 

Eli1

Well-known member
Apr 5, 2022
5,053
2,193
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How you doing today army?

I got a new Political/Ethical dilemma for you. Old people!

I will start with my own father. My father is a chess player and he’s 85 years old right now.
But 10 years ago he was driving on his own, to go to chess tournaments weekly. I knew that he’s not a good driver and God has protected him, and many people on the road have tried to avoid his driving, but that day 10 years ago my mother told me to go with him because she told me he’s not the same behind the wheel.

So I did. He didn’t have to go very far, about 2-3 miles when I noticed that he almost hit the sidewalk. So I told him “stop and let me drive”. I took the wheel and I convinced him to never drive again. So I take him to chess tournaments now or call an uber when I’m busy.

So the question is: How old should we let old people drive? Or maybe not just the age, but a thorough examination of their skills? Because obviously the registry of motor vehicles in Massachusetts didn’t see a problem with my father’s driving when they renewed his license, but I did.
And i knew that not only he'd be a danger to himself but he could cause an accident which could injure a child ... or worse.

What do you think about this? Considering that the public transportation is poor in USA compared to Europe.
This discussion came up because one of my co-workers today went to the funeral of his cousin who was killed by an old driver who was driving a truck.
 

Aaron56

Well-known member
Jul 12, 2021
3,045
1,800
113
I posted this in the Family forum, but...

I've been more convinced that those who choose not to vote renounce any right to compain, criticize, protest or lament the unrighteous decisions and rulings our government makes. For example, if you choose not to vote, you have no standing to criticize the government or society for it's decisions regarding abortion.
This is how what you wrote sounds to me:

I've been more convinced that those who choose not to sin renounce any right to complain, criticize, protest or lament the unrighteous decisions and rulings people make. For example, if you choose not to sin, you have no standing to criticize the government or society for it's decisions regarding sin.
 

GWH

Groovy
Oct 19, 2024
1,924
463
83
How you doing today army?

I got a new Political/Ethical dilemma for you. Old people!

I will start with my own father. My father is a chess player and he’s 85 years old right now.
But 10 years ago he was driving on his own, to go to chess tournaments weekly. I knew that he’s not a good driver and God has protected him, and many people on the road have tried to avoid his driving, but that day 10 years ago my mother told me to go with him because she told me he’s not the same behind the wheel.

So I did. He didn’t have to go very far, about 2-3 miles when I noticed that he almost hit the sidewalk. So I told him “stop and let me drive”. I took the wheel and I convinced him to never drive again. So I take him to chess tournaments now or call an uber when I’m busy.

So the question is: How old should we let old people drive? Or maybe not just the age, but a thorough examination of their skills? Because obviously the registry of motor vehicles in Massachusetts didn’t see a problem with my father’s driving when they renewed his license, but I did.
And i knew that not only he'd be a danger to himself but he could cause an accident which could injure a child ... or worse.

What do you think about this? Considering that the public transportation is poor in USA compared to Europe.
This discussion came up because one of my co-workers today went to the funeral of his cousin who was killed by an old driver who was driving a truck.
That is indeed a dilemma, because driving skills can vary regardless of age. My father was a safe driver until he died at 95. And female drivers probably should be tested at 75 :^)

Perhaps our society needs to develop the idea that it is okay and even right to report unsafe drivers to the authorities, just as they should report unsafe gunowners.
 

Eli1

Well-known member
Apr 5, 2022
5,053
2,193
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That is indeed a dilemma, because driving skills can vary regardless of age. My father was a safe driver until he died at 95. And female drivers probably should be tested at 75 :^)

Perhaps our society needs to develop the idea that it is okay and even right to report unsafe drivers to the authorities, just as they should report unsafe gunowners.
Very good point army. Let's blame the women. It's their fault. :ROFL:
Basically what you're telling me with that "report" comment is that it's going to be business as usual.

Alright. Always a pleasure and see you next time on the next topic. (y):coffee:
 

GWH

Groovy
Oct 19, 2024
1,924
463
83
Very good point army. Let's blame the women. It's their fault. :ROFL:
Basically what you're telling me with that "report" comment is that it's going to be business as usual.

Alright. Always a pleasure and see you next time on the next topic. (y):coffee:
What about this? What is the strongest or most basic argument against allowing illegal immigration?
 

Eli1

Well-known member
Apr 5, 2022
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What about this? What is the strongest or most basic argument against allowing illegal immigration?
The fact that you have to make an argument for this is why Trump won!
The left has no common sense anymore and I hope they get a clue from this massive defeat but I guess a basic argument is what I told a liberal who was here in this forum a few months ago.

Do you leave the door of your house open for anyone to come in?
No?
Okay, now apply that to a nation.
 

GWH

Groovy
Oct 19, 2024
1,924
463
83
The fact that you have to make an argument for this is why Trump won!
The left has no common sense anymore and I hope they get a clue from this massive defeat but I guess a basic argument is what I told a liberal who was here in this forum a few months ago.

Do you leave the door of your house open for anyone to come in?
No?
Okay, now apply that to a nation.
That is along the same lines as mine: Do you want 10 million people cutting in line in front of you?

Biblical answer? (The first shall be last :^)