[concerned about politics]

Understanding Romans 1 would cure most of their problems. They should start there first.

[Lurker]

Ping

[BlackVeil]

"Luther called quietist preachers unfaithful pigs." He was such a nice guy.

[Darth Sidious]

I wonder if the Founding Fathers sinned when they resisted the authorities... namely King George III.

[nmh]

"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God ... Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed."
<p.I don't know what the hoopla is all about here. Yes, God puts people in power and we are to pray for all BUT that doesn't mean that when government contradicts God's teachings that we ignore God and follow man. Of course not! When you rebel against ungodly laws there will be a consequence. You will please God and be rewarded by Him if your motivation is honest BUT you will be punished by man's laws. So, depending on what the issue is, one must decide who they serve; God or mere imperfect mortals.

[CubicleGuy]

Romans 13 was written at a certain time, for a certain place, under different conditions, when living Apostles directed the Church. One might make the assumption that if it was good enough for the members of the Church in Paul's day that it ought to be good enough for us, some 1900 years later.

But that may not be a valid assumption at all. If God still talks to man, the objective ought to be obtaining the mind of God today regarding the conditions that Christians in Africa find themselves in right now.

[DennisR]

Romans 13:3-4 says, "For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil."

In particular, Paul is assuming that "authority" is "God's minister to you for good." I think it is safe to assume that if any particular authority is NOT acting as God's minister for good--that is, the authority is an evil authority--then that authority is not legitimate. After all, government has basically only one purpose--to protect law-abiding citizens from those who choose to rebel against the law; that is, criminals. If we had no criminals, we would not need government (I know this flies in the face of most liberals, but tough luck, libbies :) ).

[agrandis]

Very interesting post. I think most American Christians embrace one extreme ("quietism") or the other (Christian utopianism). Too many Christians are wrapped up in a detrimental belief that the "spiritual" is all that matters, and that most events and actions on earth are not "spiritual." Many others believe that there is a political solution to sin. Both are horribly wrong.

Chesterton: "The reformer is always right about what is wrong. He is generally wrong about what is right."

[Don Myers]

The anarchists on this website have a big problem with that as well.

[GTXfan]

ping