What do Christian expect from Government?

[Anthony]

What do Christians expect from Goverment?

Do Christians need to have laws passed that confirm God's rules, in order to stay obedient to God? Is it God's plan that non-believers will seek him out and come to him, because they will be better reminded of his laws, because the government has re-capsulatized them for them?

Do Christians really think that laws against things like homosexual marriage, will change people's behavior. If people won't follow God's word in the Bible why would they follow Man's word?

Where would it end? Laws against adultery, pre-marital sex, etc.

In the end would Christian Lawmakers become the 22 century Pharisee?

If Man's laws would work better to make us obedient, God would have done it a long time ago.

It doesn't work

 

[Lotar]

You probably won't like my answer then

It is our responsibility to try and influence those around us, and influence our country. Remember that God does judge the actions of nations.

If it were up to me there would be laws against all the above mentioned. Plus I would make a law limiting the valid reasons for divorce, and end abortion.

Christ did not critize the Pharisees for pushing the law, but for being hypocrites and for pushing the traditions of men as the law of God.

 

[Blackhawk]

Anthony,

I think you and Lotar both have good points. Yes we can't legislate morality 100%. it won't work. Man's laws will not make us better if we will not submit to God. But Lotar is right also. We must pass laws denying some things such as abortions and some other stuf also. I guess I would pass some laws against some major things while trying mostly to introduce them to the God who will change their hearts. Over legislation is not the answer but under is not either.

 

[Fiskare]

In a secular democratic society you cannot as a government enforce values that the people do not in the majority share. The answer is for Christians to teach, preach and demonstrate values, in order that any evil secular values loose their appeal to the masses and people choose to follow the way of the cross of their own volition. We don't want either a religious pseudo-theocracy like some Islamic nations which enforces a strict quasi-orthodox rule on the unwilling (or the oppressive Puritan governments of the past) or a rampant anarchy of evil either.

Anyway- what do I expect of a government? To represent the people and have our interests at heart.

 

[Anthony]

I agree with the general comments. It came out of discussion with fellow believers, who don't like the way things are progressing in society. My point what makes people think man passing laws will be any better than God's laws? God knew a long time ago . . .

"You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink"

Passing laws won't make those other people live like you would like them and yourself to live. Also laws aren't going to stop the normal progression of allowing certain sinful behavior to be tolerated in society.

 

[Bayhawks83]

im conservative on social issues.

 

[Lotar]

I agree with the general comments. It came out of discussion with fellow believers, who don't like the way things are progressing in society. My point what makes people think man passing laws will be any better than God's laws? God knew a long time ago . . .

"You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink"

Passing laws won't make those other people live like you would like them and yourself to live. Also laws aren't going to stop the normal progression of allowing certain sinful behavior to be tolerated in society.

I disagree, laws certainly would slow down what is accepted in society, as long as these laws are enforced. Acceptance comes because of how commonplace the actions are.

We pass laws in order to protect our way of life, and so base our laws on our morals. Is it going to hurt you directly if Joe Shmoe can by heroin down at the liquor shop? Probably not, but it will hurt our society, and therefor indirectly you.

All it comes down to is what you believe needs to be enforced and what should be left up to peoples own discretion.

 

[Stormy]

The only real say that I have in my government is my vote.

And yes... I vote for what I desire in my country.

Isn't that the way that everyone votes?

I have Christian morals, so that is what I look for in the people that I help to put in office... people who will be my voice.

 

[Anthony]

I disagree, laws certainly would slow down what is accepted in society, as long as these laws are enforced. Acceptance comes because of how commonplace the actions are.

We pass laws in order to protect our way of life, and so base our laws on our morals. Is it going to hurt you directly if Joe Shmoe can by heroin down at the liquor shop? Probably not, but it will hurt our society, and therefor indirectly you.

All it comes down to is what you believe needs to be enforced and what should be left up to peoples own discretion.

The moral laws that stick are those people already agree with, such as thou shall not kill, or thou shall not steal. The normal easy ones; the ones nobody has a problem with. But you'll never see a laws against pre-martial sex or adultry; and laws against gay sex are now a thing of the past. Except maybe in other countries.

Once society accepts a sinful behavior as being harmless, then the walls against it come tumbling down. Once the genie is out of the bottle it is impossible to put him back in.

The old laws only slowed the "acceptance" of sinful behavior. With or without these laws the sinful behavior occurs and exist behind the scenes.

Question - Do you follow God's law because the goverment also has a corresponding or like law for God's? Can you only follow God's word only when the government enforces a law similar to God's?

Can you only follow God's law when government is also telling you to? Then why should others be forced to follow God-look-a-like laws that man puts together? So their bad sinful behavior won't what?

We can work towards God's law because we are indwelled by the Holy Spirit; isn't that were we should start. Share the Gospel instead of Sharing requirements?