Religion and politics...why?

[Truth]

All,

I've been lurking on this news group, and I have to ask, why are so
many of you involved with politics?

I thought Christians do not get involve in politics.

[The Gardners]

I'm interested - what do you mean by "politics"? Was it "politics" to oppose
slave-holding in the pre-Civil War U.S? Is it "politics" to support the
election of school trustees who are decent and moral? Is it "politics" to
speak out against child labor and oppressive wage slavery? I think Jesus
would say that all of these activities and many more are exactly what a
Christian ought to be doing in this Satan-ridden world. To be "salt" and
"light" means rather more than being book-peddlers and doughnut shop
patrons, n'cest pas?

John Gardner

"Truth" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> All,
>
> I've been lurking on this news group, and I have to ask, why are so
> many of you involved with politics?
>
> I thought Christians do not get involve in politics.
>

[friendlyostrich]

Truth, why would you get the impression that Christians didn't get
involved in politics? Politics affects us all, and is of interest to
many people.

[Kelly Siebecke]

Truth wrote:

>why are so many of you involved with politics?
> I thought Christians do not get involve in politics.

I think this is a valid question that deserves a valid answer.

Christians became more visibly involved in poilitics after presidential
candidate Jimmy Carter announced to the world that he was born-again.
Personally, I think that the Pat Robertson's & Jerry Falwell's took
notice and decided that they would do so much better financially if
they could get a candidate that would support their causes if they
supported the candidate (financially and otherwise). They found that
candidate in Ronald Reagan.

Since the early 1980's "Christian" mouthpieces like Falwell & Robertson
with their big mouths and big broadcast licenses have been twisting the
political machine their direction while simultaneously twisting the
minds of their devoted and frequently blind followers. The battle cry
became "bring America back to God!" and the dollars flowed into the
pockets of the Moral Majority, CBN, etc. James Dobson jumped on the
bandwagon and built his own empire first in Arcadia, CA and then moving
to the new Christian mecca in the Rockies - Colorado Springs. Think
these guys really care about American souls more than they care about
their pockets? Think again.

The new Christian political right-wing faction is just another way for
opportunists like Robertson, Dobson, Kennedy, et al to make money and
gain power; and politics IS about power. The thing that everyone seems
to forget (or ignore) is that absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Christians like to follow a leader; while that leader should be Christ
we tend to look to the tangible. And the tangible is there, 24-7, via
religious broadcasting - whether on TV or on radio, we are innundated
with what these guys tell us what God really wrote in the Scriptures
and what way He wants us to vote; to believe and do otherwise will mean
the certain annihilation of American Democracy as we know it. But ask
yourself - does God REALLY view the United States above all others? Of
course not - but listen to these guys long enough and you will start to
believe everything they say. It's all about money and power, power and
money.

What was Jesus really saying when He told us to render unto Caesar that
which belongs to Caesar and render unto God that which is God's? I
seriously believe that statement was about MUCH more than paying taxes
& tithing - it was about Jesus' contempt for politics and power.
Again, absolute power corrupts absolutely. Is it wrong to be a
Christian and be interested in politics? No, I don't think so. But
there is a fine line between what we believe spiritually and what we
believe politically and crossing or blurring that line makes for a
dangerous mix.

So in closing, think about this: wasn't the original sin in the Garden
of Eden about having knowledge and power over God? How is the quest
for political power any different than the power sought in the Garden?
Human-kind hasn't changed a lick in thousands of years. It's in human
nature to get more and be more than the next guy; but when we become a
"new creation" in Christ the old nature and desires are supposed to
"pass away"...

[[email protected]]

Truth wrote:
> All,
>
> I've been lurking on this news group, and I have to ask, why are so
> many of you involved with politics?
>
> I thought Christians do not get involve in politics.

Give to Caesar what is Caesar's was a late scholastic invinted by the
clergy
to mean separation of Church and State. Their intend was to keep the
laity
away from the politics in the Church.

[Koi-Lo]

The Gardners wrote:
> I'm interested - what do you mean by "politics"? Was it "politics" to oppose
> slave-holding in the pre-Civil War U.S? Is it "politics" to support the
> election of school trustees who are decent and moral? Is it "politics" to
> speak out against child labor and oppressive wage slavery? I think Jesus
> would say that all of these activities and many more are exactly what a
> Christian ought to be doing in this Satan-ridden world. To be "salt" and
> "light" means rather more than being book-peddlers and doughnut shop
> patrons, n'cest pas?
>
> John Gardner
>

Who were holdong slaves.. "christians" or atheists.

Describe "morals"

MODERN-DAY religion is, for the most part, very much a part of the
world, so it shares in the world's celebrations and reflects its
nationalistic spirit. Its clergy often acknowledge that fact, and many
of them like it that way. In sharp contrast, Jesus said of his true
followers: "They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of
the world."-John 17:16.


So I ask again why are so called Christians involved in politics?

[Koi-Lo]

friendlyostrich wrote:
> Truth, why would you get the impression that Christians didn't get
> involved in politics? Politics affects us all, and is of interest to
> many people.

Should Christians get inviolved?

[Koi-Lo]

Kelly Siebecke wrote:
> Truth wrote:
>
> >why are so many of you involved with politics?
> > I thought Christians do not get involve in politics.
>
> I think this is a valid question that deserves a valid answer.
>

Thank you


> What was Jesus really saying when He told us to render unto Caesar that
> which belongs to Caesar and render unto God that which is God's? I
> seriously believe that statement was about MUCH more than paying taxes
> & tithing - it was about Jesus' contempt for politics and power.
> Again, absolute power corrupts absolutely. Is it wrong to be a
> Christian and be interested in politics? No, I don't think so. But
> there is a fine line between what we believe spiritually and what we
> believe politically and crossing or blurring that line makes for a
> dangerous mix.

In the political arena, rulers of many of the leading nations, because
of their connections with a Catholic or a Protestant church, had long
claimed to rule 'by divine right,' as representatives of the
Kingdom of God and by God's special favor. The church gave its
blessing to the government; in turn, the government gave its support to
the church. Did the Bible Students also indulge in this?

Instead of imitating the churches of Christendom, true christians
sought to learn from the teachings and example of Jesus Christ and his
apostles. What did their study of the Bible show them?
when Jesus was questioned by the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, he
stated: "My kingdom is no part of this world." In response to a
question as to Jesus' role, he told the governor: "For this I have
been born, and for this I have come into the world, that I should bear
witness to the truth." (John 18:36, 37)

Jesus stuck unwaveringly to that assignment. When the Devil offered him
all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, he refused. When the
people wanted to make him king, he withdrew. (Matt. 4:8-10; John 6:15)
Jesus did not seek involvement for himself or his followers in Rome's
political system but that he was fully occupied with declaring "the
good news of the kingdom of God."-Luke 4:43.

[Jolly Fisherman]

On 6 Mar 2006 14:18:02 -0800, "Kelly Siebecke" >
wrote:

>Truth wrote:
>
>>why are so many of you involved with politics?
>> I thought Christians do not get involve in politics.
>
>I think this is a valid question that deserves a valid answer.

I think you spent a lot of time feeding a troll.