To politic or not to politic...
- Thread starter JTB
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Why would you limit "civilian affairs" to politics? This is a bad translation. The Greek word that they are translating "civilian" is "Bios" which means life. If refers to the course of life, resources, goods, wealth.
Mark 12:44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
the word translated "living" here is also bios.
JTB needs to back up this claim
“Jesus is not on the ballot. Yet trump and his cronies insist that He is on the ballot under trumps name.” Post #51 on the thread Trump 24.
I have asked for the name of the person who has done this and a citation for at least one crony and for Trump. I asked in both post #54 and #56 on that same thread.
If this is true I want to see it. If it is false it is ungodly slander that JTB accuses others of engaging in.
“Jesus is not on the ballot. Yet trump and his cronies insist that He is on the ballot under trumps name.” Post #51 on the thread Trump 24.
I have asked for the name of the person who has done this and a citation for at least one crony and for Trump. I asked in both post #54 and #56 on that same thread.
If this is true I want to see it. If it is false it is ungodly slander that JTB accuses others of engaging in.
"Civilian affairs" as translated in the CEB are two words, one is bios meaning life, course of life, resources, and wealth. For some reason they ignore that word. The other word is "affairs". It means: prosecution of any affair; business, occupation: plural with the addition of τοῦ βίου, pursuits and occupations pertaining to civil life, opposed to warfare
It has the sense of civilian as opposed to military which comes directly from the context of this verse, and since it is the only time this word is used in the Bible that is the only context for this word. But it refers to any business, any affair, any occupation.
There is no sense at all that this refers to politicians any more than to lawyers or construction workers or owners of a small business, or CPAs, or teachers, police, firemen, landlords, etc. We are pilgrims, we are only passing through, don't get entangled in the wealth and resources and all the things involved in your career or occupation. Don't get caught up in your house, or investments, or any of that. Rather, be like the widow who cast in two mites, her whole living, into the offering to the Lord.
It has the sense of civilian as opposed to military which comes directly from the context of this verse, and since it is the only time this word is used in the Bible that is the only context for this word. But it refers to any business, any affair, any occupation.
There is no sense at all that this refers to politicians any more than to lawyers or construction workers or owners of a small business, or CPAs, or teachers, police, firemen, landlords, etc. We are pilgrims, we are only passing through, don't get entangled in the wealth and resources and all the things involved in your career or occupation. Don't get caught up in your house, or investments, or any of that. Rather, be like the widow who cast in two mites, her whole living, into the offering to the Lord.
“Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. "
Christians who don't want to participate in politics, to try to bring God's laws and God's kingdom to this earth are simply cowards... He have to bring God's word and God's law, we don't care what liberals say, liberals have spread error and their lies through force, now we have to bring truth BY FORCE TOO.
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. "
Christians who don't want to participate in politics, to try to bring God's laws and God's kingdom to this earth are simply cowards... He have to bring God's word and God's law, we don't care what liberals say, liberals have spread error and their lies through force, now we have to bring truth BY FORCE TOO.
The Jews thought their Messiah would be a political figure who'd save them from Godless romans. So they did not recognize Him when He came.
Christians are now looking for a political figure to save them from Godless liberals, thus like the Jews will not recognize Christ when He returns.
Christians are now looking for a political figure to save them from Godless liberals, thus like the Jews will not recognize Christ when He returns.
Matthew 5:43You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘Hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even Gentiles do the same?
We shouldn't make politics some kind of priority.
However, since we are citizens in a nation where every citizen has a vote, making wise voting choices is a responsibility even as a stranger here, if not helping to lead as Christians, as to show Christ to a dying world.
However, our first and truly important priority is living a life pleasing to Christ and have no idols before him. We can't decide the work is for or of self, it must always be of and for Him.
You are mixing up a lot of things, for you is better to stay at home in your comfort zone, and let liberals, democrats, republicans take over the world and keep spreading abortion, lgbt, euthanasy and all different types of liberal satanic degeneracy... That's not what JESUS would have done:
John 2:14 "In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
We are not waiting for any human saviour, but we are called to oppose all the satanic stuff in every aspect: politically, spiritually, philosophically etc... That's what a christian has to do, and if a christian don't do that fight, he is a coward and prefers the comfort zone.
If you stay at home, if you don't participate in politics to confront lies, wickedness, and to bring the social kingdom of Jesus Christ our lord, you will be judged for the sin of omission, in the tribunals of God.
Jesus always fighted and confronted lies, evil and the synagogue of satan... He could have done what you suggest: "Stay at home without doing anything" but he showed us that we have to fight error, IN PUBLIC, we have to PRAY IN PUBLIC, because we are called to be the salt of the world, and because our countries were founded by the christian civilization and we won't allow liberal worms to destroy what our christian ancestors built for centuries.
You read too much into it and therefore assume too much out of it. I never said stay home and do nothing. I'm saying you don't do it by joining false prophets who are themselves ungodly. In the case of democrats vs republicans, the enemy of your enemy is NOT your friend.
But I'm sure I'm not going to sway you, and you're going to march right along with those who, while opposing abortion, also promote mammon worship, self-idolatry, cheating workers, abandoning the poor and sick, and embracing lies and hypocrisy. Just as scripture warns us against doing.
I will do it on my knees and one on one with those affected. I will NOT conflate the Cross with the elephant. The Cross is strong enough to stand on it's own.
And I will remain concerned for my brothers and sisters who are being deceived by such falsehoods.
The cold, unloving tone of your reply (and Hazels) show you've already stepped away from the love of Christ.
Good luck with that
Jesus never called His disciples to join politics, or go against government of any kind and sort. On the contrary, when asked whether one should pay taxes to the Caesar, or not, He replied, - "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's". As for the temple court, where He overturned the tables, - it was the house of God, so Jesus rightfully said, - “Take all this out of here and stop turning my Father’s house into a market”. Paul also confirmed this when he wrote in Ephesians 6:12 : "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
Or maybe republicans would stop dismissing the majority of God's decrees because opposing abortion would no longer provide the smoke screen they need to go against them.
Yes we should let communists burn all the churches, it's easier to sleep while satan approves abortion, euthanasy, and all kind of aberrations.
No we have to smash the antifas, the BLM, the planned parenthood, we have to fight them and send some of those demons to hell... But i guess you are protestant, protestants don't want to fight for God, so we orthodox people will, don't worry.
2 Corinthians 10:4 plus Matthew 24:6~ The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.
G
Gojira
Guest
No. He is speaking analogously.
We are the salt of the earth. That salt needs to be spread everywhere. For, every place that preservative is not sprinkled, that place will start to rot.
The founders of the US, most of whom could be described as born-againers, certainly did not believe that Christians should stay out of public affairs.
Today, we stay out of things because it's all prophesied to go to pot anyway, so we're just waiting on the Lord. Yeah, umm... no. We're told to occupy until He returns -- which, whatever we think we know, we do not know the day or the hour of. Or the year. We are also told to be good stewards of everything He's given us. That includes our country.
G
Gojira
Guest
There is so much wrong with this thinking.
Whatever the spiritual warfare going on behind the scenes, we still have to deal with people. Otherwise, why have police or a military?
We submit to authorities because it is their job to keep order and reward good behavior, while punishing bad. But... what if that government becomes corrupt? Are we still under obligation to obey? My belief is no. And, I am not alone. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Godly man who tried to assassinate Hitler, is one shining example.
Secondly, in the US at least, who is the final political authority? The President? The Supreme Court? The Congress? No. We the people are the rulers. Our founding documents say as much. We elect people to rule in our name. But, they are not our slave masters or our overlords. They serve us. Not vice versa.
The kind of thinking in your thread leaves open all of our seats of power to the enemy, free for his taking. That's a Godly choice?!? We as His occupying spiritual soldiers do not allow satan a freaking square micron of territory.
The only problem I see is if politics becomes an idol. If it is more important than the spiritual, than the gospel, than those things that are eternal, then I say your priorities are inverted and you do need to focus on changing them. But, ignoring the public sphere is the surest way to surrender the US -- something God has given us -- to His enemy. And, history has all too many horrific examples of what happens when a tyrant like satan gets a hold of a country.