So like the zealots, you think Messiah came to overthrow the Romans? We are called to be a blessing to our society, but angry vitriole like this is more like a curse to our neighbors. We are called to live so purely and peacefully that no one can say anything bad about us.
Please note, I vote Republican and conservative, but I bristle at my fellow Christians who think that Jesus demands that we take control of the reigns of government and compel our neighbors into righteousness. While I believe that we need to be model citizens--and in a participatory democracy, that means speaking up and voting--we should be take care not to presume to speak for Christ in the polls, nor should we presume that outlawing sin brings anyone closer to salvation.
I'm sorry that you're so ignorant of American History and tradition.
Little known to most people is that our Founding Fathers, before the return of Israel to the world scene, thought this was "New Jerusalem"
One of the mottos of the Revolutionary War was "No King but King Jesus"... This was in reference to our Founding Fathers sincere desire to undo Israel's rebellion when they insisted on a King.
Our Tripartate form of Government (Executive, Legislative, and Judicial) is formed DIRECTLY upon a BIBLICAL model.
Your pronouncements to the contrary do not change the scriptures. Nor do they change our Biblical admonishment to be salt and light. If we abdicate this nation's leadership, a nation FOUNDED upon Christian principles, then we are no longer salt and light.
The "peace and love" perversity is just that, perversion of the scriptures. There is NO SCRIPTURE that suggests Christians should not be involved in government, in fact our own Founding fathers said SPECIFICALLY that this county was designed with the Bible, the Ten Commandments, and Christianity in mind and that our form of government was incompatible with any other philosophy.
Abdicating our responsibility to take our government back is nothing short of a death sentence upon the morals, values, and character of future generations.
NON-INTERVENTION DOES NOT WORK! We have seen 40 years of buying into this lie right from the pit of hell about "peace and love"... Just like the flower children of the 60's.
Do you not think that people who believe in God should speak out strongly against social degradation and depravity and other ills that are condemned not only in the Bible but in every religion in the world?
The rejection of universal moral absolutes is what is turning our country and indeed the world into a living hell.
Being pure and holy is all very well, but doesn't necessarily help others if they don't hear the truth loud and clear. Jesus Christ was a perfect example - He was pure and holy Himself, He spoke the truth loud and clear (and was highly controversial, I might add) and also performed actions which might have been considered rough, such as overturning the money changers tables. I have read he also had a whip, which He used.
And His motivation was nothing but love for God, and mercy towards the fallen souls.
I think we should all take His example to heart, and stop being quivering cowards.
Well said kezekial.
The Church has only one mission and one mandate.
However, any of God's people, may be individually called (by God) to confront evils of culture, or evil done by heads of state, friends, ...family (you get the idea). But doing so does have its risks (...John the Baptist !).
Every creature is subject to God's standards of righteousness (...Nebuchadnezzar). Any creature can be called to account by God at any time (...Belshazzar).
So, if anyone feels they are called to be in the business of calling down God's judgment on others, you better make sure God is the one who gave you that job, else you will be the one on the carpet before God (James 4:12).
We all all sinners, Man is a sinner, no man is or can be without sin. It is the "discipline" that we must display in controlling our sinful ways and desires. I refer you to two of the pages that I sometimes say with my Rosary:
http://www.kensmen.com/catholic/15prayersofstbridget.html
http://www.kensmen.com/catholic/5wounds.html
I think if you read through them you will find your answer.
"We are called to live so purely and peacefully that no one can say anything bad about us."
Jesus Himself, by the life He lived, proved that no matter how purely and peacefully you live your life - people will still say bad things about you (and some will even try to kill you)...
"I bristle at my fellow Christians who think that Jesus demands that we take control of the reigns of government and compel our neighbors into righteousness."
Interesting... so what's your stand on "righteous anger"?
The problem is the word hate. It has a differnet meaning today. I biblical times even Jesus hated the moneychangers in His Fathers Temple.
I have a Noah Websters dictionary from 1848? and the def. of hate is : a strong dislike.
So like many words today hate has been hijacked to have a different meaning.