I very much dislike the strife in politics. There is no rest for ones soul, only endless contention. Who could seek peace and politics at the same time? Not me. Its like both sides are trying to destroy the other, and no hope for peace in sight.
Well if everyone followed what Christ taught we wouldn't have this problem. Unfortunately the term Christian has been so torn from what Christ taught that it means very little to people. The Bible clearly lays out what is right and what is wrong, but the "progressives" in our society want to make sure we don't offend, so what is right is termed what is wrong. To be fair this was predicted: 2 Timothy 3. If anyone who claims to be Christian is in that category they need to re-read their Bible.
I wonder if politics hinders our ability to love one another."No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier." (2 Timothy 2:4)
So, also, we need to not let ourselves get tangled up with trying to figure out and judge what is going on and judging.
And, "first of all", pray "for" the people > 1 Timothy 2:1-4. If we find out someone is wrong, this can be a signal that we need to pray for the person and have hope for all which is possible with God . . . like Jesus suffered and died like He did with hope for any and all people.
Am I at least as good at pointing out how I myself am wrong, so people are wise to me and do not go along with how I might try to trick them???????
There also are people who are misleading our attention.
Vote for Jesus....anyone else ever think: "If only other Christians didn't think different from what I think Jesus thinks, this country would be a much nicer place to live in!"?
tulc(is just curious)
As I pay attention to political things, I can pray about what God wants me to see; and I am reminded that Jesus wants us to love any and all people. As I see that certain politicians have problems, this can remind me that they have character problems and need prayer, "first of all" > 1 Timothy 2:1-4. And I can be reminded by their bad behavior of how it can be me . . . trying to lord myself over others, for example.I wonder if politics hinders our ability to love one another.
Politics seem to burden the soul with strife and endless contention.. Is that good?As I pay attention to political things, I can pray about what God wants me to see; and I am reminded that Jesus wants us to love any and all people. As I see that certain politicians have problems, this can remind me that they have character problems and need prayer, "first of all" > 1 Timothy 2:1-4. And I can be reminded by their bad behavior of how it can be me . . . trying to lord myself over others, for example.
"nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." (1 Peter 5:3)
But there are ones who seem more a good example for me, somehow, too. There are ones who do not make a project of criticizing and competing with others. So, this can remind me first to have compassion, not to welcome excuses to feel superior to other people and to put down people > Hebrews 5:2.
I might be jealous that others are getting the publicity and attention and power; but we might be able to do more in face-to-face personal sharing and caring, than power players in government might do only on a secular and material basis!!
No, it is not good. But not all politicians are into this.Politics seem to burden the soul with strife and endless contention.. Is that good?
So we are married to politicians? I thought we were supposed to be separate from the world and married to Christ?No, it is not good. But not all politicians are into this.
Likewise, we could say there is a lot of fighting in marriage, and a fifty-percent divorce rate, more or less. So, do we decide to stop marriage?
But in giving our attention to politics, we can stay prayerful and trust God to keep us from giving in to strife and contention. And in marriage > also, trust God to deeply change us so we by nature more and better do not allow strife and contention and bitterness to get the better of us.
"Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them." (Colossians 3:19)
"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:31-32)
not what I meantSo we are married to politicians?
Yes, we are married to Jesus.I thought we were supposed to be separate from the world and married to Christ?
Both sides are forever hopelessly deadlocked. Its like politics are designed to fail. They are designed to be divisive. How can that be a part of the body of Christ?not what I meant
Yes, we are married to Jesus.
But Jesus did pay attention to what wrong people did, and He would comment.
"No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier." (2 Timothy 2:4)
So, while we do get involved in things which are happening in this world, we need to make sure we do not get tangled in it, and do not allow it to have power over us.
And most of all we can help with our example, I consider.
If both sides are mainly worldly people, this is why. But I think we have some number of Christian people who work in politics, but not how the divisive ones behave.Both sides are forever hopelessly deadlocked.
The worldly ones fail > "without Me you can do nothing," Jesus says in John 15:5. Plus, "God resists the proud," we have in both James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5. But God does use leaders as He pleases. He can have things work out.Its like politics are designed to fail.
Divisiveness is not part of the obedient sharing of Christian people.They are designed to be divisive. How can that be a part of the body of Christ?
If both sides are mainly worldly people, this is why. But I think we have some number of Christian people who work in politics, but not how the divisive ones behave.
The worldly ones fail > "without Me you can do nothing," Jesus says in John 15:5. Plus, "God resists the proud," we have in both James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5. But God does use leaders as He pleases. He can have things work out.
Divisiveness is not part of the obedient sharing of Christian people.
But God does use secular leaders, like our Apostle Paul shares in Romans chapter 13.
Also > even if you have a family of roguish people, this does not stop you from sharing with them and talking about things in their lives, does it? And if you can do something good, don't you do it . . . even if others won't?
Like this, a Christian can be involved, but the person can stay with doing what is good, and being a good example of how to relate. The Christian can reach to others.
But I do think it is good to lead and influence by example, not to force and pressure people. God wants freely given obedience and love.
Both democrat and republican have people who claim to be christian.If both sides are mainly worldly people, this is why. But I think we have some number of Christian people who work in politics, but not how the divisive ones behave.
The worldly ones fail > "without Me you can do nothing," Jesus says in John 15:5. Plus, "God resists the proud," we have in both James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5. But God does use leaders as He pleases. He can have things work out.
Divisiveness is not part of the obedient sharing of Christian people.
But God does use secular leaders, like our Apostle Paul shares in Romans chapter 13.
Also > even if you have a family of roguish people, this does not stop you from sharing with them and talking about things in their lives, does it? And if you can do something good, don't you do it . . . even if others won't?
Like this, a Christian can be involved, but the person can stay with doing what is good, and being a good example of how to relate. The Christian can reach to others.
But I do think it is good to lead and influence by example, not to force and pressure people. God wants freely given obedience and love.
With God, we can refuse to be under the power of politics. We can use them, though, how He pleases. We can pray and obey how God personally guides us in His peace, and not boast what politics can do, but know how God is able.But thats what politics do, they divide us into republicans and democrats. So how can we have those politics in the church?
No - - light can not have fellowship with darkness. But with God we can be kept from being overcome by politics. We can stay with doing only what God has us doing, and make sure our attention is guided by Him.Can light and darkness have fellowship? Politics divides us and conquers us, just like spiritual Rome and Babylon does.
Whoever is obeying God is not divided from others who are obeying God. And with God we can make His use of government people. And yes God has punished wrong government people, but also He did make His use of them. This does not mean He fellowships with wrong people whom He uses for His purpose.What of the division though?
Thank you for the reply. In politics i see Christians tearing each other down, causing frustration instead of peace, causing hate instead of love. Thats not the way i see in scripture.With God, we can refuse to be under the power of politics. We can use them, though, how He pleases. We can pray and obey how God personally guides us in His peace, and not boast what politics can do, but know how God is able.
There are ones who boast that their politics can do much good, while others boast how politics can bring down Christians. But with God we can make His good use of everything.
And yes we are commanded not to have any divisions among us. We will answer for if we do this. 1 Corinthians 1:10 >
"Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." (1 Corinthians 1:10)
No - - light can not have fellowship with darkness. But with God we can be kept from being overcome by politics. We can stay with doing only what God has us doing, and make sure our attention is guided by Him.
"No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier." (2 Timothy 2:4)
I can get involved with politics, by praying for howsoever God pleases to bless any and all of the people, including how He would change the character of any evil person. Jesus on the cross died with hope for any evil person; so my involvement needs to be with hope for every person > love "hopes all things" (in 1 Corinthians 13:7).
Whoever is obeying God is not divided from others who are obeying God. And with God we can make His use of government people. And yes God has punished wrong government people, but also He did make His use of them. This does not mean He fellowships with wrong people whom He uses for His purpose.
Also . . . not all division is between Christians. There are ones who do obey God, and others disagree with them. This is division, but it is not the fault of the ones obeying God.
In a division, both sides can be wrong, in which case it is not Christian to take either side. I think I am seeing how ones are claiming one candidate is not as bad as another, though that one is certainly not good. But Jesus said it was wrong for the self-righteous one at the temple to look down on the tax collector. Both were wrong. But the one who repented was justified. So, it certainly can be wrong to judge one person to be better than another who seems more obviously against God.
So, if we are somehow involved with politics, we need to make sure we are first busy with seeking however God knows we ourselves need His correction >
"For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?" (1 Peter 4:17)
There are wrong people who are saying Christians hate them because the Christians point out that they are wrong.causing hate instead of love