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One can hope that is just about tax exempt status. It is not. Just ask the confectioners in Oregon.

It is about acceptance and promotion of a lifestyle that is antithetic to Biblical statements. Until this threshold is reached (maybe never), churches will be under assault.

sschu

Putting Romney forward as a candidate has to be one of the worst ideas the RNC ever came up with. Trying to get evangelicals to vote for a Mormon and someone who could not/would not run against the very unpopular ObamaCare was an absurdity. What were they thinking?

Go for it.

sschu

Make no mistake, they are coming for the churches. It is just a matter of time until churches lose their tax exempt status unless they toe the line with the culture perspective on marriage.

Dark days are coming for us believers here on earth, I think we were told this would be so. Our solace is eternity.

sschu

There is nothing about “protecting oneself” that is difficult, from a worldly perspective at least. What is difficult is how to live Biblically given these very thorny issues. Many early Christians were not willing to fight back and they were slaughtered by the Romans in a most gruesome and painful way, but the love of Christ eventually won out.

The other thing that we see is the idea of “protecting oneself” often morphs into aggressive behavior which makes matters worse.

So what is the answer? Here is a link to a decent article which explains and clarifies the issue and helps us to come to an understanding.

http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/did-jesus-teach-pacifism

It is John Piper, so it is well thought out.

FWIIW, sschu

So I tried to be nice, but I see it very different. The whole of scripture supports the position that we are to “turn the other cheek” to physical violence. Jesus modeled this approach when He went to the cross and this was a consistent teaching of His in the New Testament. Ephesians 6 is a clear teaching that we are engaged in a spiritual war, and our enemies are not “flesh and blood”.

If you see it different, so be it.

sschu

Thanks for the dialog, but I am moving on. My research and experience is such that fighting against others is fruitless and not what Jesus taught. If you see otherwise, so be it, no condemnation from me.

Best, sschu

What was Christ talking about when he told his disciples to sell their cloak and buy a sword?

Yes, one must look beyond the single verse that talks about a sword. The scripture is clear about this and Jesus rebukes Peter when Peter cuts off Malthus's ear.

Matthew 26:52 But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.

Luke 22:49 When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him.

Luke 22:52 adds to this theme.

The point is that we are fighting a spiritual war. The war is "not against flesh and blood" (other people), but against the "power and principalities" of the air, or spiritual forces. One cannot win a spiritual war with physical weapons.

Two swords are hardly enough to defeat the Romans. The "sword of the Spirit" of Ephesians 6 is however.

sschu

One doesn’t turn one’s cheek on evil.

Matthew 5:38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. (NKJV)

If you decide to fight this person who is evil where does that leave you?

sschu

Oh, I don't agree with that at all. Those who initiate the use of force against others are much different than those who respond to it.

So it were so simple. That is why Ephesians 6 talks about other's not being my enemy. When we shoot back, Satan smiles. What about Matthew 5 where it talks about turning the other cheek?

These are challenging verses, but must be read and followed to the best of our ability. Satan's fingerprints are all over this.

sschu

briefly more violent than the Strong Man and returning freedom

This is the challenge, men do not give up power easily.

I hope you are correct.

sschu

It is a spiritual war, always has been.

It is difficult not to see this radical leftism as Satan's handiwork. Ephesians 6 talks bout how "my enemy is not flesh and blood" or these guys. We must die for Christ, not a pleasant thought (carnally), but to die for Christ provides the ultimate reward in heaven.

sschu

We were talking the other day, this is a “values” war, they just do not like or believe what we say or do. “Not my President” is a way of saying the rules of democracy, majority rule with protection for the vulnerable, just does not apply here because Trump is inconvenient.

There is no reasoning with this perspective, leftism is a religion. They will do ANYTHING to win, and it is all justified in the name of their god, environment, social justice, etc.

The risk is we get so annoyed we start shooting at them, and then we are no better than they. It is difficult to see how else this ends.

sschu

Not arguing, but 24-3.5 = 20.5

I agree that the end time events line up with the Leviticus feasts of Trumpets, Atonement and Tabernacles.

sschu

If Christ returns in 2024, that means the Tribulation starts in 2017?

Hmm, that is like this year, right?

That means the Rapture occurs this year in September at the feast of Trumpets?

Not long now.

sschu

If you are preterist, does that make your view post millennial return of Christ? When does the millennia start?

God intervenes for His purposes, and if those happen to coincide with ours, amen.

1 Cor 10:31 provides His top priority, to His Glory.

God’s will for us is clearly taught:

Saved - 1 Tim 2:3-4
Spirit-filled - Eph 5:15-20
Sanctified - 1 Thess 4:3
Surrender/submit - 4:7
Suffer - 1 Peter 3:17

He wants all to come to Him thru His Son. All else must be consistent with His will or can be deemed pride.

sschu

God intervenes for His purposes, and if those happen to coincide with ours, amen.

1 Cor 10:31 provides His top priority, to His Glory.

God’s will for us is clearly taught:

Saved - 1 Tim 2:3-4
Spirit-filled - Eph 5:15-20
Sanctified - 1 Thess 4:3
Surrender/submit - 4:7
Suffer - 1 Peter 3:17

He wants all to come to Him thru His Son. All else must be consistent with His will or can be deemed pride.

sschu

The perennial and infallible teaching of the Church would no longer be universally valid

It seems when you start down this path thinking and proposing that you are the infallible word of God, but in reality you are just human, results like this are not that surprising. Are they? sschu

Go ahead and try it, lets see how long you remain in office when you enact this ruse.

Go ahead and try it, lets see how long you remain in office when you try this ruse.