[DouglasKC]

The admonition is to be honest, not to quit. Matthew's decision to leave (9:9) was because Jesus called him to follow Him and he obeyed even as Peter left his fishing.

You're right, I didn't think about that.

How does this statement in Mark 12 support your point. Please explain in context.

It really doesn't, you're right again.:-)

You can certainly be a government official in manifold capacities without ever engaging in any lawsuit, much less a personal law suit against a brother in Christ (which is percisely Paul's restriction).
Interesting that drstevej, the Calvinist, is advocating activism.

The point I was attempting to make (badly) wasn't that you couldn't have a government job, but that the general theme in scripture seems to be that they stay away from attemping to influence government. Activism is a good word.

Government for Christians is really a perhipheral, incidental neccesity. A Christian is a Christian no matter what type of goverment we happen to live under. To attempt to change our government, or the policies of that government through activism isn't part of the commission given to the disciples of Christ. Ultimately too much focus on this becomes a false God...or at least it was for me.

[drstevej]

***Ultimately too much focus on this becomes a false God***

We agree here.

***To attempt to change our government, or the policies of that government through activism isn't part of the commission given to the disciples of Christ. ***

I will vote today for Suzie Terrell for LA Senator precisely because I want to influence and change our government.

Again, ironic that a dispensational calvinist is arguing for involvement. Why? Not because I believe laws change people, the gospel does that. But laws restrain evil and that is a worthy biblical objective. (In an "anything goes" post-modern culture it seems prudent to have Christians who have a basis for right and wrong to have a strong voice in the kind of morality we will legislate.) Also because freedom allows us to debate and present biblical truth openly to a wide audience. I can add more if needed.

Teaching the nations to observe all that He has commanded is a part of the Great Commission. Why not evangelize and make disciples of governing officials?

I believe that the Kingdom will only come after the return of Christ. I am not trying to accomplish what He alone will do. But the Great Commission is comprehensive touching people at every level of society. No profession which does not require sinful action should be shunned by Christians. One can be a strawberry picker or a lieutenant governor to the glory of God.

****Ultimately too much focus on this becomes a false God...or at least it was for me.***

I appreciate this. The response should be a move to biblical balance not a pendulum swing abandoning the opportunity to be a Daniel, Esther, Nehemiah, Prime Minister Abraham Kuyper, Governor Mike Huckabee or President Geroge W. Bush.