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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Did American Revolution violate Rom 13:1 | Rom 13:1 | wilmap | 157607 | ||
Kal, You're familiar with the saying: "Those who forget the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them." That's why its not moot. We may claim to love God, but how we react to what his inspired Word teaches will reveal our true thoughts, even the very intentions of the heart. I won't comment on your suggestion that persons with concerns like mine relocate, but I assure you that true Christians can be found in these lands as well. These will have to consider the same questions that I am encouraging us to consider. The majority of "Christians" in Germany in the late 1930's rationalized their allegiance to the Nazi regime. "Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save." (Ps 146:3) |
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2 | Did American Revolution violate Rom 13:1 | Rom 13:1 | mark d seyler | 157611 | ||
Hi Wilma, If I may jump in here :-) I want you to know that I agree with you 100 percent that if we claim that we are worshipping God, but we are willfully disobedient, then we are hypocrits, and we must repent. I love how succinctly you stated: "We may claim to love God, but how we react to what his inspired Word teaches will reveal our true thoughts, even the very intentions of the heart." I think this is a message the cannot be overemphasized. I have had two thoughts I'd like to add in here. One is that in asking your original question, that you already had the answer in mind. Is that true? The other is that you are asking us to comment on the actions of a great number of people, that lived some time ago. Do you think that we can actually know what was in their hearts, and whether or not their actions were in accord with the will of God? Remember the original issue for the colonists. It was freedom of worship. The European governments were oppressive in other ways as well, but the core issue was the right to worship our Lord Jesus Christ as His Word told them to, not according to the whims of the monarchy, or whatever factions were maneuvering for power. Perhaps God led a few good men to seek liberty, and perhaps some, for their own reasons, joined in. Did everyone involved act righteously? Probibly not. Should we judge the actions of individuals, whom we have never even met? I don't think that I should. "Those who forget the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them." - Is this actually true? Is the success or failure of my life based on my knowledge of history, or my knowledge of and obedience to the Bible? Knowing my own history hasn't been enough to keep me from repeating it. Again, I totally agree with you that we should understand how the Bible relates to our lives within the context of our goverment. But, personally, I think we are better served by studying the Bible's commands in light of the issues that confront us today, than by second-guessing the actions of others in generations past. Its an interesting thing about that verse, Romans 13:1. We apply this to our current government, do we not? That it is the lawful authority, and has been established by God. But that came about through the Revolution. If God's purposes were not served through the revolution, would it have succeeded? Love in Christ, Mark |
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3 | Did American Revolution violate Rom 13:1 | Rom 13:1 | wilmap | 157649 | ||
Mark: Thanks for jumping in. You illustrate some of the confusing thoughts that may lead one to misinterpret the obvious meaning of Paul's counsel. Was this meant to be rhetorical: "If God's purposes were not served through the revolution, would it have succeeded?" The Assyrians were a world power for centuries, and even laid the 10-tribe kingdom of Israel to waste, but I dare say that all they succeeded in was God's purpose. Neither the US government nor any other, except Israel, was ever "established" by God, but rather, they only exists because he tolerates them. When the Israelites asked for a king like the surrounding nations, God said they had thus "rejected Him from being king." (1 Sam 8:8) How can any other nation thus claim to be established by God? As respects the saying about the lessons of history, I agree with you that the study of it appears to have only lead most to repeat it. However, my point was to study it in light of God's Word, just as we would study the good and bad examples in the Bible, emulating the former and rejecting the latter. Judging is a touchy word with many, as people in glass houses don't like throwing stones. But when someone claims to represent Christ, we are to judge those on the inside (of the Christian congregation." (1 Cor 5:12) It's also words and actions of others that need to be judged in order to avoid bad association. (1 Cor 15:33) So to answer your original 2 questions: 1) Yes, I already had the answer in mind. 2) We don't need to judge hearts to determine whether their words and actions are out of harmony with God's will. We do need to be aware of our inability to "direct our way" apart from God's guidance, as well as how "deitful the heart can be." (Jer 10:23; 17:9) I'm going to try to address a few of the others comments now. Later. |
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