There's a lot of well meaning sentiment in your post.
But, ask yourself this.
What are YOUR standards?
I've spoken to people from other cultures that are US citizens - in their minds, the only reason they don't shoot people is because the LAW prevents them.
Their self standards don't stop them.
So - follow that through.
What happens if we have enough people in this country who have those sorts of Standards?
Do we legalize shooting people?
No? Why not? It's what the people decided in that case.
You're the minority?
According to your argument, who cares about your minority set of Standards!
According to your argument, we who believe that shooting someone else is morally wrong, because the Bible tells us so - should just sit back and shut up, right?
After all - we wouldn't want to force the Bible's standards on anyone, would we?
The Bible is FULL of politics. The Bible is FULL of stories that show that GOD DESTROYS NATIONS WHO ABANDON HIM.
Do you hear that?? DESTROYS NATIONS WHO ABANDON HIM.
How can speak on the virtues of the Bible and not recognize that teaching in the Bible?
We are given the Responsibility to participate in our resources. Our Nation is part of OUR resources.
If as a Christian, we are not also then advocating for taking care of That resource in a way that is in line with the teachings of the Bible - then what ARE we advocating for?
It's not the Bible - it's something of the world.
As I've said before - the Church should not be IN the Government. The Church however is supposed to be the moral compass of the People, whom which creates the Government.
"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
Cant we still rise up in Christ without forcing it upon people. God gave each of us free will. Who are we to take that away. I think the point is we shouldnt demand they change rather we let love conquer all. We can share the good news but we dont save. Only jesus does. I think that's the heart of his message although he maybe could have worded it better
To fight off sickness you need a strong body and a sound mind. I think Christian's need to focus on the getting ride of the darkness from the body of Christ first. Then these fights will become clear and Christ will lead. Yes absolutely vote against these things but let's not make it our lives mission or say we have moral ground to di this this and this. If we learn to truly reflect Christz light then we can then light up the world. However not until we learn to carry that light within as an individual person and collective body of Christ. It's like we are carrying this moral high ground while at the same time living in darkness. So my thought is first we focus on Christian's. Find out how to bring larger portions to one mind in the love and light of Christ
I hear what you're saying - but why can't it be both?
I agree with what you're saying - that we as the Church have a lot we need to get right ourselves.
But what I disagree with - and correct me if I'm wrong - is what seems to be the message here that we should not get involved with voting in line with the Bible until we as a Church are good and clear?
Am I missing something?
I think you would agree that we as Christians will never be perfect - that's the whole point of why we need Jesus to begin with, lol...
So when do we decide we're clean enough to get involved in voting for and proposing laws that reflect what the Bible tells us we should be doing?
I re-read what you said - and I do agree with you that this nation will never turn around if the body of Christ does not take care of the apostasy that has taken hold over it.
"Live YOUR life to YOUR standards."
There's a lot of well meaning sentiment in your post.
But, ask yourself this.
What are YOUR standards?
I've spoken to people from other cultures that are US citizens - in their minds, the only reason they don't shoot people is because the LAW prevents them.
Their self standards don't stop them.
So - follow that through.
What happens if we have enough people in this country who have those sorts of Standards?
Do we legalize shooting people?
No? Why not? It's what the people decided in that case.
You're the minority?
According to your argument, who cares about your minority set of Standards!
According to your argument, we who believe that shooting someone else is morally wrong, because the Bible tells us so - should just sit back and shut up, right?
After all - we wouldn't want to force the Bible's standards on anyone, would we?
The Bible is FULL of politics. The Bible is FULL of stories that show that GOD DESTROYS NATIONS WHO ABANDON HIM.
Do you hear that?? DESTROYS NATIONS WHO ABANDON HIM.
How can speak on the virtues of the Bible and not recognize that teaching in the Bible?
We are given the Responsibility to participate in our resources. Our Nation is part of OUR resources.
If as a Christian, we are not also then advocating for taking care of That resource in a way that is in line with the teachings of the Bible - then what ARE we advocating for?
It's not the Bible - it's something of the world.
As I've said before - the Church should not be IN the Government. The Church however is supposed to be the moral compass of the People, whom which creates the Government.
"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
John Adams
Cant we still rise up in Christ without forcing it upon people. God gave each of us free will. Who are we to take that away. I think the point is we shouldnt demand they change rather we let love conquer all. We can share the good news but we dont save. Only jesus does. I think that's the heart of his message although he maybe could have worded it better
I hear what you're saying - but I ask you this.
Where do we draw the line of moral values to put into law?
Who decides where that line is?
Someone decides that line.
Every law has a moral value behind it.
Since we decide which moral values are made into Laws, by whom we vote for (in theory, lol)...
Then it is up to the majority of the people to determine the moral values that are made into laws.
For example - do you know it's been voted on in the 2022 election in California that it will be LEGAL to kill a baby on the day it's born?
How do you feel about that?
Should we, as Christians, not get in the way of that law?
Where do you draw the line? We're the ones who decide on where the line is.
Where do we draw it?
God shows us where - and leaves it up to Us to decide on if we will do it or not.
That is the reoccurring theme throughout the Bible.
To fight off sickness you need a strong body and a sound mind. I think Christian's need to focus on the getting ride of the darkness from the body of Christ first. Then these fights will become clear and Christ will lead. Yes absolutely vote against these things but let's not make it our lives mission or say we have moral ground to di this this and this. If we learn to truly reflect Christz light then we can then light up the world. However not until we learn to carry that light within as an individual person and collective body of Christ. It's like we are carrying this moral high ground while at the same time living in darkness. So my thought is first we focus on Christian's. Find out how to bring larger portions to one mind in the love and light of Christ
I hear what you're saying - but why can't it be both?
I agree with what you're saying - that we as the Church have a lot we need to get right ourselves.
But what I disagree with - and correct me if I'm wrong - is what seems to be the message here that we should not get involved with voting in line with the Bible until we as a Church are good and clear?
Am I missing something?
I think you would agree that we as Christians will never be perfect - that's the whole point of why we need Jesus to begin with, lol...
So when do we decide we're clean enough to get involved in voting for and proposing laws that reflect what the Bible tells us we should be doing?
I re-read what you said - and I do agree with you that this nation will never turn around if the body of Christ does not take care of the apostasy that has taken hold over it.