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NASB | Proverbs 3:13 ¶ How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Proverbs 3:13 ¶ Happy [blessed, considered fortunate, to be admired] is the man who finds [skillful and godly] wisdom, And the man who gains understanding and insight [learning from God's word and life's experiences], |
Subject: Is civil disobedience OK when... |
Bible Note: Hi, Ed; Very good points, but I see one problem in your approach (which I'll express in the first person just because it's easier to say): I'm not Jesus. I don't have his earthly ministry and I can't carry out his mission of establishing his church on earth. Jesus is my spiritual role model and goal, but I can't live his life. Like most Christians, I don't have a full-time ministry; I'm not a full-time missionary. Unlike Jesus, I have a job, a family, and a daughter to put through college. The Bible tells us about Jesus and the leaders of the early church. But what about the thousands of converts in Acts 2? There's nary a word about how they lived out their lives as faithful disciples of Christ while earning a living and raising a family. Once again, I'll flirt with what some folks will consider blasphemy - I don't find the Bible to be a very practical guide to life. Is it a sin to drive an SUV? Is it Ok for my daughter to attend a secular university? How much should I give the United Way? We celebrated my older daughter's birthday at a moderately expensive restaurant last night; should we have eaten rice and given the money to the Salvation Army instead? These are all comfortable middle-class questions; is it a sin to be middle-class? The Bible has no concrete advice. No, what the Bible does, in conjuction with the Holy Spirit, is to change me from the inside out. The Bible and Holy Spirit help me to abide by Paul's admonition: "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2) They don't tell me what to do in routine, every-day circumstances; they give me the "mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16) so that I can make these choices myself. I believe this is what it means to have God's law placed in my mind and written on my heart (Jeremiah 31:33). And there is another difference with respect to the question at hand. Unlike Jesus, I live in a society where citizens can participate in government at every level. The Bible and the Holy Spirit give Christians our consciences; in this way, they equip Christian citizens to act in societies and situations unlike any described in the Bible. While ours is a secular society, I would prefer to have people in office who share my values if not every one of my beliefs. Finally, I agree with you that "persistent and fervent prayer of righteous men and women against social injustice is the most effective and most unused tool in Christendom today. If more people would pray and trust God, the wrong would be righted and an a new social injustice would not be created." But I am not convinced that Rosa Parks and Dr. King were not God's instruments, used by him to answer such prayers. Peace and grace, Steve aka Indiana Jones |