Discussion: Christianity & Politics

On a recent edition of the "Speaking of Faith" radio program, Chuck Colson, Greg Boyd, and Shane Claiborne explained their vastly differing views on how a Christian is called to engage a country's culture and its politics.

Category:

News & Politics

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• charles
• chuck
• colson
• greg
• boyd
• shane
• claiborne
• krista
• tippett
• john
• yoder
• moral
• majority
• christian
• coalition

[TheAmazingImbecile]

you cannot serve two masters

[thegreatbout]

Colson says some decent things but he's off the mark. Shane and Greg show his error easily with scripture in context. This whole series is a good one.

[flashgm41]

@Harleyquinnkitty

This discussion is not about our soldiers nor trying to impose Old Testament concepts of God, but about the great peacemaker Jesus. On many occasions he said "You have heard it said an eye for an eye, BUT I SAY UNTO Love your enemies. Yes God allows governments to act as police, but that does not mean that that same government is to be worshiped, which what we have in this country. Honor soldiers...yes. Honor institutions....no.

[flashgm41]

@TheAmazingImbecile

Your right. You cannot serve God and mammon period. ALL alligiance belongs to God and none should be shared. However, if being a good citizen by paying your taxes, obeying the laws of the land and praying for our leaders makes one a patriot, then I guess Christians are the best patriots. But I find nothing in the word of God, nor the teachings of Jesus that would even remotely suggest that we should die for our country.

[Harleyquinnkitty]

How many times did God command the Israelites to go to war and defeat their enemies...throughout the entire old testament! Jesus is God, he was there, in agreement, with the Father during these times. Sometimes war is necessary to preserve the good. This comes from God himself. If we didn't honor country, fight for our rights, this message could not be seen. God bless our soldiers whose sacrifice allows this message to be spoken.

[RuggedcrossP]

@Soul0125 But didn't Jesus say to love your enemies?

[Hrugnir]

@jescarpita Ah, sorry, I forgot. I might be a moron and someone who gives Christians a bad name as well. I'm ignorant of so many things, and that's why I devote my life to studying the Bible and God.

Believe it or not: there are people out there who will disagree with you, even though they have studied the Bible. I'd just hope we could be respectful Christians about it, and look to our common hope, and not to tearing apart others. Sorry if my initial comment came off as rude or something, btw.

[Hrugnir]

@jescarpita I might be a stupid, ignorant and close-minded dumbass (and whatever other nice things you might say of me), but you're not really getting my point. I'm not saying we're not allowed to do anything Jesus didn't explicitly do. What I am saying is that Jesus is still our model for a Christian's life. Jesus didn't eat a pizza, but he did eat food. Jesus didn't resist his enemies even when most would've. That tells me something. I last talked with atheists a few hours ago, I might add.

[jescarpita]

@ your so stupid and close minded. in the bible it is never married a women, so should not marry women just because jesus never did it????????????? jesus never at pizza, so should we not eat pizza just because jesus never ate it???? ur r a stupid ignorant dumbass that give studious educated christians a bad name. i would love to see u argue against a half educated athiest/skeptic. u wouldnt last a sec moron

[Hrugnir]

@jescarpita See, I agree with everyone up to this point: "would be sinful not to use our god given free will to... stop those who r using there free will for evil"

Give me an example of Jesus doing this, please.

[jescarpita]

@Hrugnir i never ever said anything about establishing a political kingdom, the bible is clearly against that. plus, God would not help "his kingdom" takeover the world be cause it would be against the freewill of others. because of free will, god allows ppl to do enormous evil freely, just as he allows ppl to do enormous amounts of good. y would be sinful not to use our god given free will to do good or to stop those who r using there free will for evil, like hitler

[Hrugnir]

@jescarpita Exactly, so when you take each of the individual 66 books of the Bible into context, you might get a less black and white image than the one you're painting. I think that guy's point was that The New Covenant has different expectations on us than the old one. If you don't agree, hope you're not wearing mixed fabrics!

Let me ask you: If God wanted his kingdom to be furthered by wars, why didn't he help to liberate the Kingdom of Israel, or any other kingdom, to take over the world?