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Monkey487
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[FONT="] [FONT="]Do Not Miss The Forest For The Trees. A Response to the Article [/FONT][FONT="]“Critics of gay marriage often base their arguments on the certainty of their religious convictions. But societies without doubt are dangerous places, argues Adam Gopnik.” [/FONT][FONT="]by Mark Jennings. Part 4 of 5 [/FONT]
But even with this new covenant between Christ and each and every willing individual person, we still try to imitate the ancient theocracy. We have had many apocalyptic spasms emerging from the manufactured belief that capturing Jerusalem will usher in the Millennium. We have had numerous religious wars between Catholics and Protestants. We have had numerous witch burnings, the crimes of the Inquisition, heretic burnings by John Calvin (and many other ‘authorities.’) These religiously related crimes have left a path of blood and pain which has spawned resentment that runs deep to this day. All of this madness is a perversion of Christian thought. (The atheistic regimes in history were many thousands of times bloodier. Vox Day in ‘The Irrational Atheist’ presents the numbers which clearly show that the influence of religion diminishes human brutality. Nevertheless, I offer an apology, for what it is worth, for all crimes done in the name of Jesus whom I call my King. I take no ownership for what is done in the name of Allah.)[/FONT]
[FONT="]My posture leaves me a bit fearful towards the ‘America was founded as Christian nation’ movement. I agree with much of what David Barton has to say in ‘Original Intent’ (as it is very well documented and makes a very good case that our system of law is out-of-control, fickle, contradictory, and very inclined to favoritism) but still fear corruption within our own kind who may take the good things he has to say and then convert it into a case for yet another imitation theocracy. The very structure of the various established churches encourages reliance upon charisma and the authority granted by the various institutions. The fact that everyone can have their own Bibles works against this tendency to collectivize behind a personality. (How many Christians actually study the Bible? I bet the numbers are not good.) It is far easier to just get your marching orders from the established authorities and then do what ‘good’ people do. Theological pandering is an old and persistent threat to us all (2 Timothy 4:3-4.) We should be very careful about the ever present temptation to merge the roles of church and state for the purpose of bringing heaven to earth. It is, as we well know, what we want to hear. [/FONT]
[FONT="]The action of keeping church and state separate protects both institutions. Doing this is very important in protecting the rights of each individual because of the problems I described above (else we go back to same routine of some man (or group of men) claiming the authority of God to rules they make up to keep the rest of us in line.) The roles and purposes of church and state are both different and crucial. The purpose of the Church is to spread the message of grace. I testify to you that I am very aware of my own sin. We all are guilty (Romans 3:23.) But…[/FONT]
[FONT="]“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” 1 John 4:9-12[/FONT]
[FONT="]The purpose of Church is not to enforce the law but to offer grace. The body of the church serves as a support system for the wounded much like a hospital functions for the sick. The church should steer people towards what is good rather than club people for being bad—that’s the state’s job. Individuals can heal, guide, mentor, and teach but everything should be measured against what knowledge God has given and protected for us through His Word. This protects us all from the threat of personality. Individuals from the church can function within the various state apparatuses but they do not carry with them the collective authority of the church. What they (should) carry with them is a humble, trained, and educated acknowledgement that is God who grants rights and that as His servants they should act to protect those rights of everyone equally. [/FONT]
[FONT="]The state is the ‘club’ which, by practical necessity, cannot be an instrument of grace. The state nonetheless has been instituted by God because enforcement of the law is good.[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” Romans 13:1-7[/FONT]
[FONT="]Even in the New Covenant the moral law has not been abolished (Matthew 5:17.) (The Old Testament ceremonial laws no longer apply because you do not have to first become a Jew before becoming a Christian (see Acts 15.)) We are all aware of and subject to the moral law (Romans 2:14). It is against this awareness and the attendant duty which we all eternally war. There are two sides of the coin—Law and Grace; you can’t have one without the other. [/FONT]
[FONT="]We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers-and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me. 1 Timothy 1:8-11[/FONT]
But even with this new covenant between Christ and each and every willing individual person, we still try to imitate the ancient theocracy. We have had many apocalyptic spasms emerging from the manufactured belief that capturing Jerusalem will usher in the Millennium. We have had numerous religious wars between Catholics and Protestants. We have had numerous witch burnings, the crimes of the Inquisition, heretic burnings by John Calvin (and many other ‘authorities.’) These religiously related crimes have left a path of blood and pain which has spawned resentment that runs deep to this day. All of this madness is a perversion of Christian thought. (The atheistic regimes in history were many thousands of times bloodier. Vox Day in ‘The Irrational Atheist’ presents the numbers which clearly show that the influence of religion diminishes human brutality. Nevertheless, I offer an apology, for what it is worth, for all crimes done in the name of Jesus whom I call my King. I take no ownership for what is done in the name of Allah.)[/FONT]
[FONT="]My posture leaves me a bit fearful towards the ‘America was founded as Christian nation’ movement. I agree with much of what David Barton has to say in ‘Original Intent’ (as it is very well documented and makes a very good case that our system of law is out-of-control, fickle, contradictory, and very inclined to favoritism) but still fear corruption within our own kind who may take the good things he has to say and then convert it into a case for yet another imitation theocracy. The very structure of the various established churches encourages reliance upon charisma and the authority granted by the various institutions. The fact that everyone can have their own Bibles works against this tendency to collectivize behind a personality. (How many Christians actually study the Bible? I bet the numbers are not good.) It is far easier to just get your marching orders from the established authorities and then do what ‘good’ people do. Theological pandering is an old and persistent threat to us all (2 Timothy 4:3-4.) We should be very careful about the ever present temptation to merge the roles of church and state for the purpose of bringing heaven to earth. It is, as we well know, what we want to hear. [/FONT]
[FONT="]The action of keeping church and state separate protects both institutions. Doing this is very important in protecting the rights of each individual because of the problems I described above (else we go back to same routine of some man (or group of men) claiming the authority of God to rules they make up to keep the rest of us in line.) The roles and purposes of church and state are both different and crucial. The purpose of the Church is to spread the message of grace. I testify to you that I am very aware of my own sin. We all are guilty (Romans 3:23.) But…[/FONT]
[FONT="]“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” 1 John 4:9-12[/FONT]
[FONT="]The purpose of Church is not to enforce the law but to offer grace. The body of the church serves as a support system for the wounded much like a hospital functions for the sick. The church should steer people towards what is good rather than club people for being bad—that’s the state’s job. Individuals can heal, guide, mentor, and teach but everything should be measured against what knowledge God has given and protected for us through His Word. This protects us all from the threat of personality. Individuals from the church can function within the various state apparatuses but they do not carry with them the collective authority of the church. What they (should) carry with them is a humble, trained, and educated acknowledgement that is God who grants rights and that as His servants they should act to protect those rights of everyone equally. [/FONT]
[FONT="]The state is the ‘club’ which, by practical necessity, cannot be an instrument of grace. The state nonetheless has been instituted by God because enforcement of the law is good.[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” Romans 13:1-7[/FONT]
[FONT="]Even in the New Covenant the moral law has not been abolished (Matthew 5:17.) (The Old Testament ceremonial laws no longer apply because you do not have to first become a Jew before becoming a Christian (see Acts 15.)) We are all aware of and subject to the moral law (Romans 2:14). It is against this awareness and the attendant duty which we all eternally war. There are two sides of the coin—Law and Grace; you can’t have one without the other. [/FONT]
[FONT="]We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers-and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me. 1 Timothy 1:8-11[/FONT]