In my second post on human rights I referred to a quotation from Thomas Paine regarding the connection between "society" and "government".
It should be obvious that the church of Jesus is part of society. Because the church is voluntary using its commission to teach and baptise in order to persuade men, in and outside of government, toward love and good works it acts positively.
The government is entirely different; utilizing overwhelming force it acts negatively to punish evil-doers after they have rejected the doctrine of the church and violated their neighbors life, liberty or property.
I think that many Christians are confused between these two very different structures.
Gospel obedience should be and is enforced on those who by free profession have joined themselves to the church, but not on those outside the faith.
Christians should advocate for the sword to punish murderers, menstealers, and thieves. In doing this they will join together with atheists, agnostics, and others in recognition of basic human rights.
Christians should not advocate for the sword in re-distributing individual wealth or favoring some citizens over others.
Would you like to address the pros and cons of trying to bring the gospel into government? In other words, the successes and failures, especially in certain movements, (abortion, capital punishment, eminent domain, etc.)? Does power tend to corrupt, even in Christian circles when tying itself to government? Is it safer to restrain one's self to the voting booth, or in "advocating" how far should the Christian go?
ReplyDeleteThe government of the United States is becoming a religion. The supreme leaders ask for praise and in return handout benefits/money while promising to take care of your needs. If you reject the supreme leaders(as Virginia did in the last election) you are punished with diminished givings or having benefits removed(recent decision to remove the Joint Command Center). When the government becomes a "religion" and it's leaders know more of what is good for you than you do yourself, we have all lost freedoms and are doomed for eternal subservancy and darnation from the supreme leaders.
ReplyDelete"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent."THOMAS JEFFERSON
"Dependence begets subservience and venality, suffocates the germ of virtue, and prepares fit tools for the designs of ambition."
ReplyDelete"Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny."
THOMAS JEFFERSON
As you can see, I love the quotes of the elder statesman. His forthought gives me the knowledge to carry on.....as does the gospel give me the strength.