Jesus or Country?

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

True, I went overboard. But God has done so much more for me it makes America seem as if it has done nothing.

Now that is true. The benefits that the American system of government, economy, and society have provided, however good, pale in comparison to the blessings of Almighty God that he has bestowed through our Lord Jesus Christ and his prophets and apostles.

 

[theophilus777]

Good. Now that we have that much settled:

I kind of hoped that this thread would be about country & western music

How about that country Jesus?

 

[Dorothea]

Let's say your nation state asked you to do something anti-christian, say for instance participate in a war to prop up Islamic rebels at the expense of Christians (Egypt, Libya, Syria etc.). Would you help your state, or would you not do it, knowing that is was anti-Christian?

I have noticed that many people seem to place "The State" over the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. I will have people tell me that Catholics should just fall in line with the birth control mandate, even though it violates our religious freedom. Yet, Romans 13:1-7 makes me think that we should obey the government, but Acts 5:29 seems to contradict. Thoughts?

God is first. Then family, then country. I detached my idol worship of the flag and country several years ago. Extreme patriotism is a kind of religion, imo.

 

[35JesusWept]

I stand with God first and foremost, always. Frankly, I'm lucky that I work for one of the very few remaining companies that have not shunned Christianity in the name of political correctness; for I pray at work, read the Bible at work, and profess Jesus in all things. The company I work for isn't Christian company by any means. The job we do is for the secular world, but the company still holds on to Christian values, and even allows group prayer before company holiday meals and other gatherings.

When it comes to my country, I'd sooner be jailed or martyred before I'd choose them over God. Despite what many Christians want to believe, due to a complete lack of historical research, America was never a Christian nation and we weren't founded or built on Christianity. Our country now stands for prideful sin. Satan has taken this country by the reigns and isn't letting go. I am NOT proud to be an American.

 

[theophilus777]

Despite what many Christians want to believe, due to a complete lack of historical research, America was never a Christian nation

True only in that it is not a defined term, and we didn't want to incur the ire of Somali pirates

and we weren't founded or built on Christianity.

True only if you remove principles and values from the equation; because the framers certainly held both in view, and used both to good effect.

 

[Setyoufree]

You're on the Internet. America has clearly done something for you.

Yeah, for $$$$

 

[ForJesusChrist]

I stand with God first and foremost, always. Frankly, I'm lucky that I work for one of the very few remaining companies that have not shunned Christianity in the name of political correctness; for I pray at work, read the Bible at work, and profess Jesus in all things. The company I work for isn't Christian company by any means. The job we do is for the secular world, but the company still holds on to Christian values, and even allows group prayer before company holiday meals and other gatherings.

When it comes to my country, I'd sooner be jailed or martyred before I'd choose them over God. Despite what many Christians want to believe, due to a complete lack of historical research, America was never a Christian nation and we weren't founded or built on Christianity. Our country now stands for prideful sin. Satan has taken this country by the reigns and isn't letting go. I am NOT proud to be an American.

What is your occupation, may I ask?

 

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

Yeah, for $$$$

You know who can easily dismiss material prosperity? Those who have it.

 

[SolomonVII]

You know who can easily dismiss material prosperity? Those who have it.

That is a really good point.

Only those who have fulfilled on level of the hierarchy can move on to the next.
It is actually the ultimate sign that one has already become very secure to be able to muse that security is no longer important, and is rather trite and mundane.

 

[Setyoufree]

You know who can easily dismiss material prosperity? Those who have it.

True prosperity comes about by agape love....

Worldly prosperity comes to a few through self-seeking and self-love. It belongs to Satan's kingdom.

 

[Setyoufree]

Maslow's pyramid belongs to what the Bible terms "the kingdoms of this world".

Jesus had nothing, yet He only lived for others....That's agape.

 

[Jipsah]

When a nation goes beyond it limits of unrighteousness God brings its reign to an end.

How long are we gonna have to wait for God to smite the murderous regime of God-King Jong-Un Kim?

Nevertheless, they have the power. They misuse it, but it beats anarchy.

Really? You might be hard pressed to make that point to those being systematically starved to death by the Kim regime, and/or whose families have been wiped out for possibly harboring the "wrong" opinions.

 

[Jipsah]

I kind of hoped that this thread would be about country & western music

Speaking of which, based on the people coming in and out of my store today, you're the only person in Oz who didn't come here for CMA. My favorites today: 1) an older (my age, maybe?) Scottish lady who has lived in Melbourne for 40 years but whose accent has remained pure Scots because, she says, she practices every night, and 2) a very attractive young lady from Victoria who was astonished when I asked if she lived near the Murray River, because she actually lives on the shore of the Murray River and was amazed that anyone in Nashville had ever heard of it.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Speaking of which, based on the people coming in and out of my store today, you're the only person in Oz who didn't come here for CMA. My favorites today: 1) an older (my age, maybe?) Scottish lady who has lived in Melbourne for 40 years but whose accent has remained pure Scots because, she says, she practices every night, and 2) a very attractive young lady from Victoria who was astonished when I asked if she lived near the Murray River, because she actually lives on the shore of the Murray River and was amazed that anyone in Nashville had ever heard of it.

What's CMA? (country music awards perhaps?)

 

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

True prosperity comes about by agape love....

Worldly prosperity comes to a few through self-seeking and self-love. It belongs to Satan's kingdom.

Tell that to people who are starving. Man cannot live by bread alone, but he needs the bread.

 

[MoreCoffee]

I know I am declaring my two cents worth rather late in the thread but isn't it obvious from saint Peter's words to the Jewish leadership that when there is a conflict between service of God and service of a nation God wins?

 

[Setyoufree]

How long are we gonna have to wait for God to smite the murderous regime of God-King Jong-Un Kim?

I said nothing about "smite"...

 

[Setyoufree]

Really? You might be hard pressed to make that point to those being systematically starved to death by the Kim regime, and/or whose families have been wiped out for possibly harboring the "wrong" opinions.

Yes, but anarchy is worse...not unless death is preferable. If so, then why isn't there mass suicide?

 

[Setyoufree]

Tell that to people who are starving. Man cannot live by bread alone, but he needs the bread.

He doesn't have bread because mankind doesn't have agape by birth....

 

[SolomonVII]

Maslow's pyramid belongs to what the Bible terms "the kingdoms of this world".

Jesus had nothing, yet He only lived for others....That's agape.

That is your opinion, but there is nothing particularly biblical or Christian about it.

Which is fine. Maslow's pyramid is based on his own understandings and observations of human nature. While the Bible may be seen to encourage us to delve into human nature and who we are, it leaves a lot of the digging for us to do to. We all are bound to have opinions that cannot be supported by the Bible.

A starving man who gives his last morsel to a child speaks of the divine nature of man that no pyramid would adequately express.

Pangs of hunger on the other hand are hard to ignore and do not leave a lot of concentration for higher matters, such as whether the Eucharist is the true body of Christ, or symbolic in nature only.