StanJ said:
God is NOT subject to human rational or reasoning...He does what He deigns to do, and does not have to apologize for anything.
You'll have to qualify your statement rjp. I know about God's promises to Israel, but those are still bound under the NC. I have no idea what you refer to about Egypt.
That is the point that Jesus was making. To obey the government, and Paul reiterated this position. Where exactly does the Bible teach that nations are saved?
I don't believe any Christian of sound mind has a problem being a good citizen AND Christian. I also am not a big fan of "American Exceptionalism".
Salvation IS personal rjp, and this is exactly what the Bible teaches.
Jesus never said His disciples should obey the government or give their allegiance to it. His example was to obey the laws and pay the taxes, nothing more. In actual fact,
Christ acted in exactly the manner of a foreign tourist. Jesus was a stranger in the land of His birth and to His own kinsmen. He obeyed the laws and paid the taxes, but did not lend political support to the government. Political opportunists ever since have corrupted His message for their own political motivations of greed and murder. Jesus was never a part of any of that.
"Christ does not vindicate a race or a nation. It is the sovereignty of God which is vindicated."
- Reinhold Neibuhr
Did I write that salvation wasn't personal? I did not. Misquoting my words will not justify error on your part Stan.
The Bible does say that Israel and Egypt and I believe also Syria will be saved as nations. YOU said nations would not be saved and that is an incorrect assertion.
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To return to the theme of the thread, I don't believe that Christianity can be identified with the Republicans any more. It's a fact that the GOP has been distancing itself from the former moral majority for years. The change in alliance will continue and grow greater as the next presidential campaign gets under way.
Moral standards are no longer politically expedient in America. They are to be denied and ridiculed and relegated to the lunatic fringe.
"So do not pray for this people nor offer any plea or petition for them; do not plead with me, for I will not listen to you."
- Jeremiah 7:16
The people of the United States have abandoned God and His ways and as a result will no longer be blessed as a nation. Individuals may be saved if they fervently seek the Kingdom of God, but not the country. America has turned its back on God and the tipping point of divine favor has been crossed. God has turned His back on America.
Judgment is upon us and will grow more severe as time goes by. Watch and learn, pilgrim.
I remember the calls that once went out for national prayer. The calls were usually made by hypocritical presidents who wanted God to march in lock step with their murder and thievery rather than to bow in humility before the Almighty. The calls were echoed by churches that wanted to increase their self-indulgent 'ministries'. I remember petitions to heaven for wisdom to be granted to our leadership. In the end
wisdom was indeed granted, but it was used to betray us.
The Republican party has abandoned its former alliance with white Christians. That much has been obvious to most folks except a few political pundits who like to use the former marriage of political expediency as material for jibes and jokes. It isn't obvious to many white Christians, however. Many of the older generation continue to hang on to days of former glory and memories of hope for political influence. The reality is far different.
It's all about bread and circuses, not morality, God and financial responsibility.
The Democrats are famous for handing out treats to the undeserving and the wayward, while the Republicans were traditionally the party of conservative values and monetary responsibility. Like some ponderous dinosaur, the Republican party is gradually turning away from its traditional position and alliances.......as the nation continues to circle the drain of history and we seek to escape God any way we can.
Christians need to remember the cross more......and wave the flag less.
and that's me, hollering from the choir loft...