I don't hold to sola scriptura, so there's no particular verse guiding my thinking..
Scripture verse?
How do we know that? I know that Jesus had a lot to say about the Jewish religious leaders, but He never criticised King Herod - although John the baptist took him to task because he married his brother's wife. Neither Jesus nor Paul ever protested against the Roman authorities at any time. Early Christians were persecuted because they politely refused to offer the pinch of incense in worship to the emperor, but they never staged any protests against the political leaders. So there is no support in the New Testament for it.
Some Christians protest against political authorities, especially those in Communist countries and they are persecuted, but I think they bring it upon themselves, because, without Scriptural authority they do it in the flesh.
Jesus' and Paul's response to the pagan practices of the time was to heal the sick, cast out demons, and get people converted. They did not employ any "rent-a-crowd" protests against the government of their time. This is why I believe that Christians today who arrange and support protests against the government are doing it in the flesh and not the Spirit and God won't support them.
This is different to the Jesus marches of the 1970s, because they were marches for Jesus and not against the government of the time.
I don't hold to sola scriptura, so there's no particular verse guiding my thinking.
I don't hold to sola scriptura, so there's no particular verse guiding my thinking.
I'm 62, I've been accepting the consequences for my actions for a very long time now, but I agree it's not something to enter into lightly. I've been arrested before (twice for protesting abortion) but I've been involved in many demonstrations and protests over the years. Never lightly but always with the idea that helping my neighbors and the poor is more important then my playing it safe.I don't think that God will stop you protesting, and you won't go to hell because of it; but you may have to accept the natural consequences of it. If you ended up behind bars because you went too far and cried persecution, I can imagine the Lord coming to you, wagging His finger, and saying, "Silly boy. Don't blame Me. You brought it all upon yourself!" Then He will bail you out and you will have learned a very valuable lesson!
So...hiding Jews during WWII was a sin? That was illegal. Holding bible studies in some countries was/is illegal is that a sin? Sharing the gospel is illegal in some countries, is that a sin also? I'm just trying to find out where the line on the whole "I can't do something I think is the right thing to do, if it's illegal it's a sin." is.
tulc(likes to know those sorts of thing)
Protesting abortion is quite different. You will see on another forum I was very outspoken against the murder of unborn children.I'm 62, I've been accepting the consequences for my actions for a very long time now, but I agree it's not something to enter into lightly. I've been arrested before (twice for protesting abortion) but I've been involved in many demonstrations and protests over the years. Never lightly but always with the idea that helping my neighbors and the poor is more important then my playing it safe.
tulc(also? his day job is driving around Chicago all day everyday, so he's not someone who is easily freaked out by crazed people doing stupid things, which can happen sometimes in those situations)
It actually is.
tulc(agrees with JackRT)
Protesting abortion is quite different. You will see on another forum I was very outspoken against the murder of unborn children.
However, there are those whose God-given duty is to protest against the evils of our society. It is not for everyone, but some are especially anointed to have that ministry. It is not an easy one and not very understood by the majority of peace-loving Christians. It reminds me of the character "Valiant for Truth" in John Bunyan's Pilgrims Progress. He was the character covered in other people's blood and a sword in his hand.
I don't see much, if any, difference between Germans killing Jews and innocent Palestinians being killed by Israelis. Both are wrong.That is a good question, the answer is in the book of Acts, We are to break the law, if keeping the law violates Christ's Law or The Word of God.
1. Allowing Jews to be killed is a violation of the Word of God
If it's not done during class it's not illegal, and the conversation should be started only if the kids ask the teacher questions.2. Not sharing the Gospel is also a violation of the Word of God, that is why I support Christian teachers praying and sharing the Word of God in Public Schools even though it is illegal.
I'm curious: who gets to decide what's "purely political" and what's not? Because by that definition the founding fathers and the American Revolution was pretty sinful.3. Protesting purely political issues, if protesting is illegal then yes it is a sin.
Hmmm...see above, because it looks like we're back to "who gets to decide that?".If you break any law of the Land that does not violate God's Word then you sin be for God. ( Romans 13)
Sure:Please give the Book, Chapter, and verse to support your statement.
tulc(who's goal is to be a sheep, not a goat)Matthew 25: 31-44 said:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
I don't see much, if any, difference between Germans killing Jews and innocent Palestinians being killed by Israelis. Both are wrong.
How is breaking the law in one country going change the savage behavior in another country?
Not during class, and only if the kids ask the teacher questions.
Please give the Bible verse to support for doing this. Where is the verse in the Bible that says this?
I'm curious: who gets to decide what's "purely political" and what's not? Because by that definition the founding fathers and the American Revolution was pretty sinful.
The Word of God does, If it's not in the Bible then it's purely political. The Founding Fathers may have sinned I do not know does not matter today.
Hmmm...see above, because it looks like we're back to "who gets to decide that?".
tulc(is kind of leaning toward him getting to decide for himself about that)
Again is it violating something in the Bible, if not, you have no right as a Christian to break the Law and soil the name of Christ.
Sure:
tulc(who's goal is to be a sheep, not a goat)
You asked what Scripture I used, I don't think you asked if you'd to agree with me. See the difference?I'm sorry but the verses you gave have nothing to do with a Christian obligation to protest.
I love how non-liberals kind of think they get to decide if a Scripture is being twisted or not, so I guess we're even, huh?I love how Liberals twist Scripture to fit their fancy.
.
Jumping off a cliff for a Christian can also be done, but not advisable.
It is our Christian obligation to live as Christians. That means living within the laws of the land.Actually it is a Christian obligation.