JESUS WELCOMES ALL - BUT ACCEPTS ONLY THE FEW
| Posted On: 08/24/08 10:03:25 AM |
Age 64, OH |
Thanks for the kind reply dear friend. As far as immigration goes, this a very complicated issue as most are. We need to walk in the Spirit of the law and not the letter of the law. Even governments and courts should do this. But that requires that our officials and judges have real wisdom and not be so foolish as so many of the ones who now serve. Our forefathers seen this problem from afar, they said this system of government would only work for a people who revered the Lord Jesus Christ and His book the Bible. We have an example of the answer to this problem in the scriptures. God told Israel not to mix with the heathens. We are also told in the NT that what do people of the light have in common with people of darkness. Israel was to keep separate, BUT to allow ANYONE who wanted to become a part of Israel to become one. But, they had to become a part of Israel to get in. they had to be circumcised and worship the God of Israel. We have NOT followed this example at all. We have let others in to the extent that they now rule instead of us. No one can preach to these people if they make preaching against the law, and we are close to that at this time. The Lion does not wag the tail, but the tail wags the Lion. The same is true of any church. Of course we want to welcome unbelievers. But if the unbelievers are left to be comfortable in their unbelief, then it is not long until they rule the church, instead of the believers. It is not long until these unbelievers make it against the rules to preach the Truth. This is the case we have right at this time in the church of this nation. - Back to immigration; if illegal immigrants are let in, we lose complete control. Not only do we lose control, but the rule of law is destroyed. It is as Jesus said, many are called, but few are chosen. Jesus welcomes all, but accepts only the few. The church has lost the church and lost this nation. We need to stop pointing the finger and confess our sin to Jesus and repent and follow Him. Peace and grace to you. Lou
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Thanks for your responses
| Posted On: 08/22/08 12:04:01 PM |
Age 27, MO |
Hey, Thanks for the gentle feedback Lou and John. I appreciate your thoughts. So, Lou, you rightly say that Jesus cared and died for all. I think we should very much be concerned about one group taking the lives and livelihood from another group of people. What I am not sure about is if war with that first group of people is the best way forward. Why are we upset with one group taking from another? Because it denies the image of God present in the second group. Our challenge is to respond to the situation that shows Christ's love for both the attackers and the attacked. How do we as citizens of the Kingdom of God help the situation without denying the images of God in the attackers? Christ loves and died for them as well. I am not advocating any sort of easy solution, but rushing to defend them through killing their enemies seems to fly in the face of what Jesus advocates.
Lou, you also talk about how most illegal immigrants are hostile to Christianity and suggest that on this basis we keep them out. (I might be misrepresenting you on this point, so let me know if I am, for that is not my intention.) Assuming for the moment that this is the case, I love the idea of having people move in around me that are hostile to Christianity, for there are more opportunities to grow the Kingdom of God and help restore interpersonal relationships and to help them get to know their creator and to trust in Him for their salvation.
John, I completely agree with you when you say that we need to be involved in the affairs of this world. I agree wholeheartedly. I think we disagree in terms of how we go about doing that. I see us as citizens of the Kingdom of God first and American citizens second. As such, I think that Christians as a group and individually should act from our primary membership, as citizens of God's Kingdom, not America's Republic. Jesus did confront the world, but he did not battle it (in terms of physical aggression, that is). He used teaching, aid, and relationships to transform the world. We should, as citizens of His Kingdom, employ the same tactics. We are called to be good citizens, to be sure and God has instituted the governments of America (and Iran and China by the same logic). But we are to be citizens of God's Kingdom first and to our local political systems second. I think (and I could be wrong) that God's Kingdom would be better served if we acted via God's Kingdom rather than via America's interests and methods. What do you think?
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JESUS CARED FOR ALL
| Posted On: 08/21/08 12:15:41 PM |
Age 64, OH |
Are we not to lead all men to Jesus Christ. Would that not include people in the government, people of the government, and people for the government. I try to show the Way of Jesus Christ by all that do or do not do. Jesus was concerned for every single person and died for all. Should I be unconcerned about one group trying to take the property of others or even one group trying to take the life of the poorest and weakest and most innocent of the humans here on this earth. We know that most of these illegal immigrants have a religion that is hostile to true Christianity. Our government is giving this nation away to those who have not shed any blood, sweat, or tears for it. Should we not protect the innocent in this matter. I do care about a van load of children being killed by Mexican trucks that can not even read our signs let alone obey our laws. Lou
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answer
| Posted On: 08/21/08 01:08:52 AM |
Age 48, MO |
Well, Christianity is giving. If we say we have love and aren't involved in the affairs of the world, do we have love? You say Jesus was not involved in the affairs of the world, however, he battled the world, the world systems, and their beliefs. This is why He is hated and why we are to be hated. Jesus also said to give unto Ceasar the things that are Ceasar's. He said this because governments are instituted by God and we are to be salt and light, defend rightousness, and be bold. To put this all together, I would say faith and love requires action. As for the USA, we still should defend the good and proactively try to change the bad. The principles of freedom and democracy are biblical and worth defending, bondage (Egypt) is the alternative and the unsaved seek it. John
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The U.S. government will not protect its citizens
| Posted On: 08/19/08 03:27:36 PM |
Age 61, MO |
The U.S. government is filled with vile, traitorous officials. These officials have turned their backs on the citizens for the last several administrations, until they have systematically destroyed or corrupted the fabric of our social, political, economic, and religious traditions. We can expect no relief from the current election cycle. The only way we can protect ourselves is to shut down the odious bureaucracy that governs us, by starving them out. We must keep the fruits of our labor: no more to entrust that fruit to any who would fill their coffers without giving anything back. Let he who does not honestly work, not eat. George Cancilla
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Should Xians be concerned with this?
| Posted On: 08/19/08 03:22:08 PM |
Age 27, MO |
How much should Christians be involved in political affairs? I don't see Jesus or Paul or anyone of the New Cov era getting involved with Rome's invasions or defense. I wonder (and I am not sold either way) if we followers of the prince of peace should be concerned with advancing and defending America's political, economic, and cultural power and instead be concerned with showing God's love to the world though our deeds and actions and rhetoric.
What do you think?
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