How Are You Different?

[Nadiine]

Here the idea is that you can't separate faith from any aspect of your life though it's mostly a talk idea~folks do it all the time...me included. I watched Iron Man last night; not a program reflecting Christian faith and principles, so there's a case where I compartmentalized my Christian beliefs, boxed 'em up and set them on a shelf till it was over..man I suck..

all of us do that tho.

The difference with politics is that oftentimes morality is legislated federally - I can't separate the 2 becuz my Christianity governs my vote where morality is concerned.
It starts with abortion.
I have a hard time voting for a candidate that doesn't value life of a helpless fetus trapped in a mother's body & can't speak for itself yet.

But I have no doubt that in the world we live in today, we're going to be forced compromise in the candidates we're handed.

 

[AnneSally]

Here the idea is that you can't separate faith from any aspect of your life though it's mostly a talk idea~folks do it all the time...me included. I watched Iron Man last night; not a program reflecting Christian faith and principles, so there's a case where I compartmentalized my Christian beliefs, boxed 'em up and set them on a shelf till it was over..man I suck..

Why do you suck? If you suck I must be seriously sucktitude.

But honestly, I don't see any political system or agenda or ideology here on earth as God's Kingdom. If the Kingdom of God was a matter of human politics passing legislation and laws then Jesus died in vain.

 

[AnneSally]

I can't separate the 2 becuz my Christianity governs my vote where morality is concerned.
It starts with abortion.
I have a hard time voting for a candidate that doesn't value life of a helpless fetus trapped in a mother's body & can't speak for itself yet.

Ah, now this I understand because I am against abortion. This is where I want it banned and the reason is because of what I believe as a Christian. The problem for me is that whilst I agree with the right on that matter (and maybe some others) I agree with the left on yet other matters.

All becoming a Christian has done for me is to make my life in this present world more difficult and conflicted, politically speaking.

 

[MrJim]

All becoming a Christian has done for me is to make my life in this present world more difficult and conflicted, politically speaking.

Well then you are on the right track

 

[AnneSally]

I have a hard time voting for a candidate that doesn't value life of a helpless fetus trapped in a mother's body & can't speak for itself yet.

Indeed, and I have been in some mighty dust ups on another site because I hate Obama's stance on abortion. But then I agree with the Democrats on other stuff.....this is very difficult for me....if I were an American I'd feel as if I were stuck between a cliff and a hard place........trapped between this policy and that policy.....

 

[MrJim]

all of us do that tho.

Right~that makes me a hypocrite. If I can't be trusted with the small things (such as guarding myself against heathen entertainment) why should I think I would be trusted with bigger things? Devil trips us with spiderwebs; he rarely has to use anything stronger...

 

[AnneSally]

Well then you are on the right track

Touche. lol. Thank you.

 

[AnneSally]

Right~that makes me a hypocrite. If I can't be trusted with the small things (such as guarding myself against heathen entertainment) why should I think I would be trusted with bigger things? Devil trips us with spiderwebs; he rarely has to use anything stronger...

But Jesus said that His Kingdom was not of this world. So how do you reconcile that His Kingdom relies on your/our political votes?

 

[Nadiine]

Right~that makes me a hypocrite. If I can't be trusted with the small things (such as guarding myself against heathen entertainment) why should I think I would be trusted with bigger things? Devil trips us with spiderwebs; he rarely has to use anything stronger...

technically you're a hypocrite anytime you sin & in a TON of things including worry/anxiety etc.

We all live in this world & if we feel guilty about watching movies or tv or playing games... etc. etc., then we either need to change our lifestyles so we don't live in guilt, or maybe seek the Lord in our Christian liberties & serve Him & love Him and come to some peace about our liberty until God decides to remove it from us.

Back in bible days they didn't have TV & computers & stuff that we get tempted with. It might be more difficult in our times than bible times to live with less worldly stuff?

 

[MrJim]

But Jesus said that His Kingdom was not of this world. So how do you reconcile that His Kingdom relies on your political vote?

You're missing my point~~I've not voted since '84..I'm speaking of other things. And while His Kingdom is not OF this world it certainly is here

Lk 17:20 –Lk 17:21 KJV
And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

 

[AnneSally]

You're missing my point~~I've not voted since '84..I'm speaking of other things.

Oh sorry.

 

[AnneSally]

And while His Kingdom is not OF this world it certainly is here

Lk 17:20 –Lk 17:21 KJV
And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

EXACTLY!! It is here, within us.

 

[MrJim]

EXACTLY!! It is here, within us.

So many folks take that as unction for transformed people to transform society. Therein is where the breakdown happens-and in America often it's seen as politics being the vehicle. As Nadiine said gov't can make unGodly laws [like abortion], so that's one target. Others see gov't as a way to ease suffering of its citizens [often the "liberal" approach] so they want to see the gov't spend money more towards that end.

I think in many ways both miss the bigger picture and more could be accomplished without looking toward gov't as the vehicle...

 

[AnneSally]

So many folks take that as unction for transformed people to transform society. Therein is where the breakdown happens-and in America often it's seen as politics being the vehicle. As Nadiine said gov't can make unGodly laws [like abortion], so that's one target. Others see gov't as a way to ease suffering of its citizens [often the "liberal" approach] so they want to see the gov't spend money more towards that end.

I think in many ways both miss the bigger picture and more could be accomplished without looking toward gov't as the vehicle...

I don't put my faith in politics or the govt. The Bible does say to respect and fear the rulers and authrorities out of respect for Him because it is His minister. I try to do that but I'm not always very good at it. I sometimes disagree with the government and want to rail against it. How can that be good when the Bible says to be in subjection to it for my own good? But at the same time I respect authority....how conflicted....(scratch head)

I have lots of unreconcilable questions about politics and society, so ultimately, I think I agree with you and don't look toward govt as the vehicle for God's Kingdom, but as a secular minister for God in this present world to keep order.

Obviously, I don't think it always reflects His will otherwise this world would be perfect and there would be no abortion, no dictators, no evil.

 

[Nadiine]

So many folks take that as unction for transformed people to transform society. Therein is where the breakdown happens-and in America often it's seen as politics being the vehicle. As Nadiine said gov't can make unGodly laws [like abortion], so that's one target. Others see gov't as a way to ease suffering of its citizens [often the "liberal" approach] so they want to see the gov't spend money more towards that end.

I think in many ways both miss the bigger picture and more could be accomplished without looking toward gov't as the vehicle...

I disagree tho, we do more than ONE way... politics is ONE way of several.

It's not like I (we) stop witnessing to people, refuse to go to church, give offerings, give to charities or work in ministries to further God's kingdom.

We simply do SEVERAL things, it's not an either/or option. Since politics does govern morality, I'm bound (as a born again believer) to promote the party who is more compliant and in agreement with biblical moral principles - and it sure isn't the liberal party.

Errgo, I do my part in trying to keep a more Christian standard moral into office (who then elects conservative supreme court judges over the land, etc) - AND my part in financial service to the Lord and daily Christian life; living out my faith.
(perfectly? no. but I try)

 

[Nadiine]

I don't put my faith in politics or the govt.

I sure don't see how they've earned our faith any...

I feel sorry for people who don't have the Lord to trust in -
I couldn't handle life without knowing the Lord these days.

 

[MrJim]

I disagree tho, we do more than ONE way... politics is ONE way of several

Politics seems to be the BIG way though~it's the pinnacle of achievement; you don't see people gettin' all hepped up about much of anything else as they do their political candidates~and this is in church!

Skip the political vehicle~work the charity & missionary end of things instead of letting itself be whored out by the politicians and I believe the Church might find itself again.

 

[AnneSally]

I sure don't see how they've earned our faith any...

I feel sorry for people who don't have the Lord to trust in -
I couldn't handle life without knowing the Lord these days.

It would be a nightmare. To have to put one's faith in politics? What choice do you really have? Sold out to a political agenda you can't trust or become an anarchist? It's as stark as that....

Shudder.

Thank God Jesus is Lord.

 

[AnneSally]

Politics seems to be the BIG way though~it's the pinnacle of achievement; you don't see people gettin' all hepped up about much of anything else as they do their political candidates~and this is in church!

Skip the political vehicle~work the charity & missionary end of things instead of letting itself be whored out by the politicians and I believe the Church might find itself again.

hmm. Well, America is going through a very challenging juncture in history. It reminds me of what I've studied about what happened in Britain when it was secularising. There is a struggle going on between the secular and the sacred. It's tough for America and in many ways I agree with Christians standing their ground and that can only be done by upholding the Bible, God, and Jesus Christ as the SUPREME authority and barometer of morality and Truth. That has its place in the public sphere.

The Church in England undermined themselves and paved the way for the hideous things going on over there today.....yikes....

 

[Nadiine]

Politics seems to be the BIG way though~it's the pinnacle of achievement;

Sure it's a big way, politics rule & govern an entire country.
This is about trying to preserve the country as it was intended by the forefathers - liberalism was NOT what this country was built on and succeeded under.
(YOU DON'T THINK SATAN WORKS THRU POLITICS??) I work against my enemy

And I'm not real sure what you mean by Pinnacle of acheivment? Are you referring to pride & power? If so, you're WAY off there & it's an inaccurate judgment on people's motive.
It's more like fighting & scrapping before you go down for the count.
I DO live here and don't want liberalism ruling over my country - is that so wrong?

I may be a citizen of heaven, but for now God has me right here and I have the freedom to exercise my worldview; something OT Christians didn't have who had tyrants ruling over them & persecuting them.

you don't see people gettin' all hepped up about much of anything else as they do their political candidates~and this is in church!

I dunno which church you're talking about here -- not in my church and none of the churches I went to or hear on the radio use their churches for political platforms.
The ONLY time a church I know has involved itself in politics was to announce a petition that they hoped we'd sign that would leave our State's definition of marriage as btwn a man and a woman.
it was to combat homosexual marriages.
Nothing wrong with that. It's a MORAL issue and therefore spiritually important.

And I was HAPPY to sign it & so was my husband.

Skip the political vehicle~work the charity & missionary end of things instead of letting itself be whored out by the politicians and I believe the Church might find itself again.

Why skip it? Can't we walk & chew gum at the same time?

How hard is it to take 1/2 hour out my day to go to the church gym and punch some buttons on a screen?
Is this too taxing??

For me to NOT vote is to violate my own Christian conscience in not doing ALL I can to combat liberalism which I view as a growing cancer in the land. More harmful to Christianity than ignoring it to say "I trust in God, I don't have to ACT to do anything"

sorry Jim, won't do it and it isn't even a logical consensus to me when we can do all of the above.