Of course it's not the same as these images. It's not even close. Very strange why you'd even think of this example.
The Son of God is not the same as some guy living in 1700s.
Is this an appropriate picture?
- Thread starter JTB
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Of course it's not the same as these images. It's not even close. Very strange why you'd even think of this example.
The Son of God is not the same as some guy living in 1700s.
I see. Now i understand.
So to you that picture is not even offensive because it supports Trump and your ideology.
Okay. We all have free-will.
I do not feel emotionally manipulated to view such an image.
Jesus gave His life for Americans as much as anybody else.
Values & Politics:
As Christians we should hold to Biblical values, that's a given.
And if one political party subscribes (or even pretends to subscribe) to those values, then we'll naturally tend toward that party.
This is just common sense for any "biblical" Christian.
But merely because some issues are matters of common sense and simplicity, doesn't mean ALL issues are matters of simplicity.
Some matters, such as the lines where religion and politics cross, take a bit of care and untangling.
(Even Christ was extremely careful and articulate when addressing political issues... so as not to create wrong priorities.)
As Christ's ambassadors, we should try to be very careful in our thinking, just as Christ did.
Today's Topic:
1.) The opening post is a specific picture of Christ: the incarnate God interacting with a human flag.
2.) You then posted pictures of "christian men" doing "Christian men" things.
3.) There is a stark difference here: God doing a "human thing" is not the same as human men doing a "human thing."
4.) These are entirely different categories of action, like apples and oranges.. and we need to be careful with them.
5.) We shouldn't compare them, because they aren't the same.
6. Then we need to give some real thought to this human thing God is doing, and what it actually means, and whether or not God would even do this thing. (And that all depends on what we feel the "thing" is... we can interpret the picture differently.)
7.) The primary problem lies in the PICTURE ITSELF... we can all look at it and interpret it in different ways. I could say "God is doing this", and you could say, "No no, God is really doing something else." The picture itself can be interpreted in different ways.
Conclusion:
1.) This is why I try not to express myself with memes... a singular meme can be interpreted different ways by different people, so that confusion and controversy are often bound to follow.
2.) We need to be careful with these things.
God Bless.
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These show political figures aligning with Jesus. The OP shows Jesus aligning with politics.
This trend alarms me greatly. The conflation of the Cross with the flag, and more so the elephant, in my Spirit screams blaspheme. I can no more see Jesus wrapping Himself up in the American flag than wearing an "I love Rome" t-shirt. The Bible says "for God so loved the world", not "for God so loved America". Jesus was not white, He was not American, He was not politically affiliated, and He did not preach nationalism. Just the opposite, Paul taught us "join me in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. A soldier refrains from entangling himself in civilian affairs" (2Timothy 2:3-4). God told us where this world will end up. NEVER did He tell us "try to stop it". No, He told us to PREPARE for it. And He further warned that those who do not prepare will fail Him. It is fine to be proud of your country, but the moment you wrap the flag around the Cross you confess that the Cross itself is not enough. Let those who have ears hear what the Spirit says. And the Spirit says your hope is in the Cross, not the flag.
But what if one political party CLAIMS to be upholding Christians values, while in reality they don't?
We know the left is a Godless horde. Don't need to convince anyone here of that.
The right, tho, claims to be Godly. But other than abortion, what Christian values do they hold up?
Thank you JTB,
But I don't think most people would interpret this picture as a matter of HUMAN EMULATION but as a matter of GOD'S RELATIONSHIP TO AMERICA.
If most people would interpret this meme as showing God in some particular RELATIONSHIP to America, we must immediately recognize it could easily be a relationship that humans CANNOT emulate.
I think this just illustrates the inherent confusion in some of these memes.
Very Interesting Topic Brother,
God Bless.
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Let me explain it this way.
The 2 Tetriarchs (Pilate and Herod) and the Jews made Jesus a political discussion out of something that definitely was NOT political.
Then killed him.
Because the Jews demanded it. And since Jesus refused to talk to Herod (little wonder since he had John the Baptist killed) Herod let Pilate know that he didn't care. (Jesus was a "Nazarene in the middle of Herod's area of rule) Pilate really didn't want to kill Jesus either. (Washed his hands of the affair)
So the Jews won the political debate that they created giving them a "win" for the day. Which they believed increased their clout/power with the people of Israel.
So...
Where the USA started out as a Christian Nation of several different denominations....it has drifted farther and farther towards secularism. And Political infighting is currently destroying this nation with the wild swings and shifting of political demands and desires to the rest of the world. Not to mention that they can't agree on anything anymore...especially a budget.
When the Republicans only want to honor treaties they gain financially from....
When the Democrats put homosexuality as a cornerstone of foreign policy...
But we seem to want everyone's people as a source of cheap labor so we get their money....
Yeah....our time as God's nation is on notice...and soon to end.
The 2 Tetriarchs (Pilate and Herod) and the Jews made Jesus a political discussion out of something that definitely was NOT political.
Then killed him.
Because the Jews demanded it. And since Jesus refused to talk to Herod (little wonder since he had John the Baptist killed) Herod let Pilate know that he didn't care. (Jesus was a "Nazarene in the middle of Herod's area of rule) Pilate really didn't want to kill Jesus either. (Washed his hands of the affair)
So the Jews won the political debate that they created giving them a "win" for the day. Which they believed increased their clout/power with the people of Israel.
So...
Where the USA started out as a Christian Nation of several different denominations....it has drifted farther and farther towards secularism. And Political infighting is currently destroying this nation with the wild swings and shifting of political demands and desires to the rest of the world. Not to mention that they can't agree on anything anymore...especially a budget.
When the Republicans only want to honor treaties they gain financially from....
When the Democrats put homosexuality as a cornerstone of foreign policy...
But we seem to want everyone's people as a source of cheap labor so we get their money....
Yeah....our time as God's nation is on notice...and soon to end.
Ahhh now we get where the rubber meets the road. You don't care about the cross and the flag, its Trump that annoys you. I figured as much. So where do you see that Trump figures into this picture?
I see it in your response where you confuse religion with politics. Or more accurately God with politics.
You're not alone in this choice but in no way i will make this mistake because the other side of the AR15 Jesus is the trans Jesus that's pushed in some churches which are at the opposite end of your spectrum.
So, you enjoy yourself with your political God and i also enjoy myself with my supreme Creator and we're both happy.
Max I have always respected your POV even if I don't necessarily agree. I know you think deeply about these things, and you don't respond without facts and when you're giving an opinion you say so. Yes, there is a but coming. lol I got over the American political/Christian thing many years ago when I first came into the country. We were doing a concert in Maine and I remember seeing a sign above a store that was selling both guns and running a Christian bookstore. So they had a picture of a gun and "God bless you" beside it. I pointed it out to all my family because I thought it was so odd.
But really, go to Gatlinburg, you'll see all kinds of paintings, decor, caps and t-shirts with these types of images. It's as American as apple pie. It happened long before Trump and will long after. When we traveled we sold t-shirts like that all the time. So I guess I really don't see what the issue is.
No there is no such confusion. Certain things can fall into both categories. Abortion is both religious and political. So is homosexuality and a dozen other issues. There are times where these issues cross each other. Fact of life.