For me, this is an issue of freewill. Are nonbelievers allowed to live their own lives? Are Christians supposed to enforce God's purposes on nonbelievers?
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For me, this is an issue of freewill. Are nonbelievers allowed to live their own lives? Are Christians supposed to enforce God's purposes on nonbelievers?
How could you pray Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as in heaven if you are more concerned about upsetting those who dont want it?
apsen2,
God didnt create believers and non-belivers. He created all people and wishes that none perish but all come to repentance. The free will He gave all people is to choose Him or not. He didnt give people any right to reject Him.
It is democractic society that gives all citizens the right to vote for what they think is best, so when Christians vote for God's purposes society either imposes them on all or imposes ungodly laws on all.
This has been explained to you. Christians are not required to shrink back just so unbeief and rejection of God can flourish. How could you pray Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as in heaven if you are more concerned about upsetting those who dont want it?
‘No’ and ‘probably not’Do you really believe that 'Christian Europe' was better off during the Dark Ages when they were forced into Christianity or today when people have to fight against the secular culture for their Christianity?
Aspen2,
The question to you was how can you pray for his Kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as in heaven if you then abstain from the chance to vote for it?
‘No’ and ‘probably not’
We understand that, we never said law and legislation changes peoples heart, we witness and pray for that whether laws are for or against God anyway. Thats a given. What we are talking about is, if society is going to have laws, we want laws that honour God's purposes, not ones that dishonour and corrupt.Easy - I am praying for the real heart change that comes from justification and sanctification in people's loves - not fake behavior which is coerced from law.
For me, this is an issue of freewill. Are nonbelievers allowed to live their own lives? Are Christians supposed to enforce God's purposes on nonbelievers?
An interesting comparison was made a few years ago.
Atheists were asked to compile a "list of rules" that mankind should adopt to live in harmony.
The "atheist list" sounded just like the "Christian list"
- do not murder
-do not steal
-do not harm others
-better to forgive and reconcile than hold a grudge
-help the disabled
etc etc.
Turns out that Christian values are some of the most desirable .... even when applied to the non-religious population .
"Christian values" are beneficial for all .... even for the atheist .... who on their own , could not come up with anything better.
An interesting comparison was made a few years ago.
Atheists were asked to compile a "list of rules" that mankind should adopt to live in harmony.
The "atheist list" sounded just like the "Christian list"
- do not murder
-do not steal
-do not harm others
-better to forgive and reconcile than hold a grudge
-help the disabled
etc etc.
Turns out that Christian values are some of the most desirable .... even when applied to the non-religious population .
"Christian values" are beneficial for all .... even for the atheist .... who on their own , could not come up with anything better.
Well they are Christian values for Christians, they are only described as humanistic values by humanists. Humanists dont believe in God, Chistians believe God has given His values for all mankindThese aren't Christian values, every religion has these values. It is common humanistic values
That is very interesting,
I did search on Google to see what percentage of Americans say that they are Christians, the polls differ, but in all of the different polls that I saw the amount of Christians in this nation range from 75-85 percent. The vast majority of Americans are believers in Christ.
Hi aspen,
Following on the way your concerns are weaving through several threads, I had this simple thought this morning at seeing this thread title again:
'Are nonbelievers responsible for following Christian values?'
No: but they are 'responsible' for not following Christian values.
Especially in any country where the gospel of Jesus Christ is not illegal and is not, therefore, almost a secret.