Posted on 01/18/2024 6:01:26 AM PST by JSM_Liberty
House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Wednesday that Joe Biden's presidency is "God's will."
The Louisiana Republican and evangelical Christian took over House leadership in October following Kevin McCarthy's tumultuous tenure. Johnson, who has served in Congress since 2016 but whose platform and personal ideologies were not relatively known prior to taking the gavel, has faced scrutiny by some for views characterized by some as "dangerous." He evoked scripture during his October 25 speech, saying: "The Bible is very clear that God is the one that raises up those in authority." He said that Marxism and communism fail because their ideologies do not stress a belief in God, and he espoused a pragmatic sentiment imploring all House lawmakers to take advantage of the gifts they receive from God. On Wednesday, following a Republican conference meeting on Capitol Hill, Johnson was asked by a journalist if he thought Joe Biden's presidency was "God's will." Johnson harkened to the speech he made just before he was voted speaker.
"I said in my speech before I took the gavel that I am a Bible-believing Christian," Johnson responded. "A Bible-believing Christian believes what the Bible says, right? The Bible says that God is the one that raises up people in authority. I believe God is sovereign. By the way, so did the founders. "It must have been God's will then. That's my belief, right, but I think that a nation makes a decision collectively 'cause we're given the free will to do that, and I think we're gonna make a much better choice as a country coming up in this election cycle. We're very much looking forward to that regime change." ...
(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...
Bump
Job would be proud - patience wise.
Rather, in context, which the left and many conservatives ignore, Johnson is being wholly Scriptural in recognizing that government is God's will, not anarchy or rebellion every time it is judged as being evil to some degree, which are not in their position unless it was God's will.
But which simply does not translate into their election being what obedience to God directive will for man would be (neither that Saul would be king), nor that all their actions are consistent with that will.
However, in the context that it is God's will to is allow people to make choices, and experience the consequences of them and affect others thereby (for good or evil), then this includes particular rulers being in their position, yet by which the purposes of God's will are accomplished.
Therefore it was in the will of God that Pilate himself had his position, whose disobedience to God's directive will for man accomplished God's will in providing salvation for man.
Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. (John 19:11)
Likewise, God's will allowed Joseph to be sold into slavery, then framed and forgotten, all contrary to His directive will for man, but being in God's will enabled God's will for the salvation of his people to be realized, to the glory of God "who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will." Ephesians 1:11)
In this context, the whole Roman government, which often persecuted Christians, was there by God's will (as is the present US admin) who are to punish evil and reward well-doing, to which conditional submission is enjoined insofar as they act consistent with its charter.
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. (Romans 13:1-7)
Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: (1 Peter 2:12-15)
Which submission is extended to slaves, as commanded to them in a slave state:
Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. (1 Peter 2:18-19)Yet, refusing to comply in instances when those who have their power as allowed in God's will abuse it, as in becoming a "terror to good works" in punishing well-doers, and praising of them that do evil.
And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done. (Acts 4:18-21)And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned? (Acts 22:25)
Which extends to exposing such injustice and calling the leaders to accountability - in order preach the gospel:
And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace. But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out. (Acts 16:36-37)
Thus, as the powers that be are ordained of God (Romans 13:1) in the context of government being itself God's will, and allowing men to make choices and God's response to them, then rather than this God-fearing Johnson - whose position itself is the will of God - being "a kook and a clown," in affirming Romans 13, etc., it is those who denigrate him that are guilty of being so, though usually in ignorance of context and the word of God.
Johnson's error was that of presuming that affirming what are pearls of theological wisdom would be understood in that context, versus tearing what is holy Truths. May we not be partakers with them.
Me? I'll take that as a compliment.
You are like a Mormon missionary. You have to shut the door in their face to get them to leave.
Yes, and a pearl referred to something physical, but represented the kingdom of God (Matthew 13:45,46) and a lamb referred an animal with wool and the temple was a building made of stone, both of which represented the incarnated Messiah, (John 1:29; 2:19-22) and water referred to H2O, but represented eternal life, (John 4:13) and meat was physical food man physically lived by but which represented the word of God by which man spiritually man is to live by, (Mt. 4:4; Jn. 4:34; 6:57-63)
In such use of allegory, known physical realities are used as representing spiritual counterparts.
Likewise, Gehenna was a smoldering garbage dump but which in its spiritual counterpart represented a place of where their "worm' dieth not, and the Hell "fire is not quenched," (Mark 9:48) even " the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever" (Revelation 20:10) to which the lost "goats" are sent. "And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name." (Revelation 14:11)
If you want “don’t post to me any further” to be observed then stop resorting to spitwads as "You have given me a headache" in lieu of an actual argument that can be sustained, which your insult of Johnson (incredibly stupid thing for Johnson to say") that provoked this debate, cannot be.
However, as the mod on the RM wisely advised,
If the other guy is throwing spitwads at you on an “open” thread it probably means he has run out of ammunition. Take it as a backhanded compliment. You won, walk away.
I said stop, that means stop. GTFA.
“And if God did not let Hillary run for president, Trump would not have been elected.”
No evidence for such a statement.
The goal is to produce food for thought.
In one case it appears to have fallen on deaf ears.
I sense a great degree of thought precisely in line with a known reality.
No evidence for such a statement.
Rather, there is no conclusive evidence, but it is a reasonable argumentative proposition akin to arguing that if Covid-19 and its extreme reaction and economic downfall did not take place, then Trump would have been re-elected, overcoming attempts to prevent this.
Based upon the final evidence of Hillary being quite unpopular among many potential voters, and with the FBI investigation hurting her chances, then it is reasonable to assume that (absent from even a more poorer liberal candidate) then Hillary was a type of asset in electing Trump, as is the current admin for his election.
What I reject is that God “let” Hillary run for President.
If that were the case, then God is being portrayed as giving contradicory help to folks noticably not working in God’s interests.
I find it interesting that almost all of the footnotes point directly to translations or revelations given to the Prophet Joseph Smith. The so called Inspired Version of the Bible contains a much expanded Genesis given to Moses that further elucidates God’s interaction with Adam and Eve in the Garden.
Doctrinally there is little if any to take issue with.
No, the conclusion that God is assisting evil does not logically follow from the fact that God enables man to make choices, right and wrong, and that such have consequences, effects, while also enabling man to choose to resist evil. A gun dealer is not responsible for the misuse of the device when it is sold only for lawful purposes. Nor can God be blamed for the misuse of our brains, biceps, bipedal abilities, tongue and testicles, etc. when all such misuse is contrary to God's directive will for man to obey.
It is God's will that man can make choices, and that there are consequences to such, for good or evil, and thus be God's will by way of allowance of consequences, And yet which God allows as serving to accomplish His plan for man, according to His will.
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: (Ephesians 1:11)
The counter argument that God is immoral since He knew/knows what evil man will do with his ability to choose is also fallacious, since God did not make man to do evil nor without the ability to refuse evil (as God appealed to the first murderer to do: Gn. 4:7), at least initially (thus saving oneself from a habit), while God, as being only omniscient, omnipotent, infallible eternal giver of life, knows what all the effects will be of every action, can and will make all to ultimately work out for what is Good, with justice as well as mercy.
Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. (1 Peter 4:19)Ultimately all that God has allowed and done can be seen to be morally pure, while near-sighted, myopic, finite, fallible and failing man is in no position to sit in judgment upon any omniscient, omnipotent, infallible being. Neither do created things warrant being one's god, and thus their ultimate source of security and object of allegiance, and of spiritual affection, as only God warrants being so.
It’s aggravating being forced to read all his stuff.
And yet, even though GOD is claimed to have told JS to create the IV, it is NOT considered Scripture by the powers that be in Salt Lake City.
You guys had better NOT take 'issue' with it!
Or ANYthing else that your leaders have come up with!!
MP3 File
This is the audio clip of Dallin H. Oaks, current Mormon Apostle leader, from the PBS documentary, "The Mormons", declaring unequivocally:
"IT'S WRONG TO CRITICIZE LEADERS OF THE (MORMON) CHURCH, EVEN IF THE CRITICISM IS TRUE."Don't criticize?
Temple Recommend Questions:
1 Do you have faith in and a testimony of God the Eternal Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost?
2 Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Christ and of His role as Savior and Redeemer?
3 Do you have a testimony of the restoration of the gospel in these the latter days?
4 Do you sustain the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator and as the only person on the earth who possesses and is authorized to exercise all priesthood keys? Do you sustain members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators? Do you sustain the other General Authorities and local authorities of the Church?
5 Do you live the law of chastity?
6 Is there anything in your conduct relating to members of your family that is not in harmony with the teachings of the Church?
7 Do you support, affiliate with, or agree with any group or individual whose teachings or practices are contrary to or oppose those accepted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
8 Do you strive to keep the covenants you have made, to attend your sacrament and other meetings, and to keep your life in harmony with the laws and commandments of the gospel?
9 Are you honest in your dealings with your fellowmen?
10 Are you a full-tithe payer?
11 Do your keep the Word of Wisdom?
12 Do you have financial or other oblgations to a former spouse or children? If yes, are you current in meeting those obligations?
13 If you have previously received your temple endowment:
Do you keep the covenants that you made in the temple?
Do you wear the garment both night and day as instructed in the endowment and in accordance with the covenant you made in the temple?
14 Have there been any sins or misdeeds in your life that should have been resolved with priesthood authorities but have not been?
15 Do you consider yourself worthy to enter the Lord's house and participate in temple ordinances?
And yet, even though GOD is claimed to have told JS to create the IV, it is NOT considered Scripture by the powers that be in Salt Lake City.
Why let that bother you? It’s the doctrine that counts.
Was that the Christian thing to do, like turning a cheek?
Perhaps.
Should he have said something discerning about Bidens presidential disasters instead?
Absolutely.
Maybe he is saving the "WOE" thing for a future date.
Was that the Christian thing to do, like turning a cheek?
Perhaps.
Should he have said something discerning about Bidens presidential disasters instead?
Absolutely.
Maybe he is saving the "WOE" thing for a future date.
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