Jesus was a Socialist

[learnedSloth]

The bible seems to be pro slavery as well as there is never mentions of denouncing slavery or even meth usage

The purpose of the Bible is to guide us to the eternal life. The guidance it gives is still relevant in various situations, but that doesn't mean that we should try to recreate the world in which it was given:

If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. -- John 15:19

[Wusti]

I'll follow the Bible and not man's word. C.S. Lewis is not the end all be all authority.

What do you think the Bible directs you to do?

How should the economy of your country be arranged?

Answer without quoting the Bible, please.

Mark 12:17

"Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s."

That is Jesus' command in regards to the economy.

I'm with Jamie - you're an infantile meme - FOAD

[sweetandcool]

What do you think the Bible directs you to do?

How should the economy of your country be arranged?

Answer without quoting the Bible, please.

Mark 12:17

"Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s."

That is Jesus' command in regards to the economy.

I'm with Jamie - you're an infantile meme - FOAD

Argh, my feelings.

I highly doubt that Jamiet feels that way. Though it's possible he will be annoyed by my joke.

[Jamiet99uk]

I'll follow the Bible and not man's word. C.S. Lewis is not the end all be all authority.

What do you think the Bible directs you to do?

How should the economy of your country be arranged?

Answer without quoting the Bible, please.

Mark 12:17

"Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s."

That is Jesus' command in regards to the economy.

Please explain how to organise an economy on this basis?

[Jamiet99uk]

Mark 12:17

"Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s."

That is Jesus' command in regards to the economy.

I'm with Jamie - you're an infantile meme - FOAD

Argh, my feelings.

I highly doubt that Jamiet feels that way. Though it's possible he will be annoyed by my joke.

Oh it was a joke, ok. Nvm.

Ho ho ho.

[Pengwinja]

What do you think the Bible directs you to do?

How should the economy of your country be arranged?

Answer without quoting the Bible, please.

Mark 12:17

"Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s."

That is Jesus' command in regards to the economy.

Please explain how to organise an economy on this basis?

I’m pretty sure that the verse refers to a question about paying taxes, and that tax evasion is wrong. *sigh*

[MajorMitchell]

I would suggest to JECE that "give unto Caesar what is his and give what is God's to God" ..albeit paraphrased is an indication we should pay our taxes

[Jamiet99uk]

Mark 12:17

"Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s."

That is Jesus' command in regards to the economy.

Please explain how to organise an economy on this basis?

I’m pretty sure that the verse refers to a question about paying taxes, and that tax evasion is wrong. *sigh*

Well that's fine but that falls significantly short of an entire economic policy, doesn't it?

[JECE]

I would suggest to JECE that "give unto Caesar what is his and give what is God's to God" ..albeit paraphrased is an indication we should pay our taxes

Why me?

[JECE]

Esquire Bertissimmo: No government, not even the worst dictatorship, can function without ample public support, even if this comes from a minority of the population. Power dynamics within the governing coalition are beside the point.

Every elected government serves its own coalition of voters/donors first to some degree. I'm surprised that's controversial.

In my country (Canada) it's not hard to see. Seniors over young folks. Home owners over renters. Provinces with more seats in the house and senate per person over those with fewer. Etc. It's not a tragically bad system, but we shouldn't expect it will reliably orient itself towards the maximum public good when the electoral incventives are not aligned with that goal.

I said that the power dynamics are besides the point that I was trying to make, not that the power dynamics are controversial. That said, vote NDP or maybe Liberal.

[Pengwinja]

Please explain how to organise an economy on this basis?

I’m pretty sure that the verse refers to a question about paying taxes, and that tax evasion is wrong. *sigh*

Well that's fine but that falls significantly short of an entire economic policy, doesn't it?

Indeed.

[sweetandcool]

I'm with Jamie - you're an infantile meme - FOAD

Argh, my feelings.

I highly doubt that Jamiet feels that way. Though it's possible he will be annoyed by my joke.

Oh it was a joke, ok. Nvm.

Ho ho ho.

Jamiet, I am perfectly capable of not pouring a deluge of verses over your head.

Why did you target me with that request? Have I seemed incapable of using critical thinking in the past?

Since it seemed odd that you would make that request of me, I purposely answered with a verse. That was the joke, and I thought it was a little funny.

Now to business:

1. The Bible is not a manual to running the economy. If I were a Christian and an Economist or a Politician, then I may be able to tell you how the Bible inspires my daily decision making. Alas, I am not, and so I cannot.

2. However, the verse I quoted was an apt answer to your question. Generally speaking, Christians shouldn't be concerned with worldly things like the government.

(And before you bite my head off about Christians in the government, I would like to point out I am one person and not a conglomeration).

[Jamiet99uk]

Argh, my feelings.

I highly doubt that Jamiet feels that way. Though it's possible he will be annoyed by my joke.

Oh it was a joke, ok. Nvm.

Ho ho ho.

Jamiet, I am perfectly capable of not pouring a deluge of verses over your head.

Why did you target me with that request? Have I seemed incapable of using critical thinking in the past?

Since it seemed odd that you would make that request of me, I purposely answered with a verse. That was the joke, and I thought it was a little funny.

Now to business:

1. The Bible is not a manual to running the economy. If I were a Christian and an Economist or a Politician, then I may be able to tell you how the Bible inspires my daily decision making. Alas, I am not, and so I cannot.

2. However, the verse I quoted was an apt answer to your question. Generally speaking, Christians shouldn't be concerned with worldly things like the government.

(And before you bite my head off about Christians in the government, I would like to point out I am one person and not a conglomeration).

Firstly I aimed the request at you because a conversation about politics and economics was occurring, and I was getting angry with LearnedSloth for responding only in Bible verse, and you appeared to be taking his side so I challenged you to do better.

To your points:

1. I agree with you that the Bible is not a manual to running the economy. That is why I was annoyed with LearnedSloth for responding to a discussion of economics with Bible verses.

2. This is an interesting viewpoint. Do you mean to say that Christians should step back entirely from governmental affairs, and that you would support a system in which the state was run entirely by atheists? (If this is not your view, what exactly are you trying to say here?)

[sweetandcool]

Oh it was a joke, ok. Nvm.

Ho ho ho.

Jamiet, I am perfectly capable of not pouring a deluge of verses over your head.

Why did you target me with that request? Have I seemed incapable of using critical thinking in the past?

Since it seemed odd that you would make that request of me, I purposely answered with a verse. That was the joke, and I thought it was a little funny.

Now to business:

1. The Bible is not a manual to running the economy. If I were a Christian and an Economist or a Politician, then I may be able to tell you how the Bible inspires my daily decision making. Alas, I am not, and so I cannot.

2. However, the verse I quoted was an apt answer to your question. Generally speaking, Christians shouldn't be concerned with worldly things like the government.

(And before you bite my head off about Christians in the government, I would like to point out I am one person and not a conglomeration).

Firstly I aimed the request at you because a conversation about politics and economics was occurring, and I was getting angry with LearnedSloth for responding only in Bible verse, and you appeared to be taking his side so I challenged you to do better.

To your points:

1. I agree with you that the Bible is not a manual to running the economy. That is why I was annoyed with LearnedSloth for responding to a discussion of economics with Bible verses.

2. This is an interesting viewpoint. Do you mean to say that Christians should step back entirely from governmental affairs, and that you would support a system in which the state was run entirely by atheists? (If this is not your view, what exactly are you trying to say here?)

No, I'm not quite saying that, but I think that would be okay.

Christians are supposed to live their lives, and through their lives they can glorify God. If for whatever reason, they are led down the path of Government then that is perfectly fine, so long as they remember that God comes first.

For Christians who are not involved with the Government, it is perfectly natural to have opinions about the state of the Government and society, but again, they should remember that God is what is important and since God is watching over us that there is no reason to excessively stress over what is going on in the world.

Sadly, this became a huge problem in our Church and it was very stressful having our pastor focusing on politics, and behaving in a very doom and gloom manner. I am thankful that we are finally in a better place now.

[Pengwinja]

“But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain” Titus 3:9 KJV
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Esquire Bertissimmo]

“But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain” Titus 3:9 KJV
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I'm genuinely confused by the Christian approach to politics.

It seems like the common claim in this thread is that Christians should strive to be apolitical, or maybe more accurately post-political.

But Christian belief seems to compel at least some political preferences (e.g., for those who interpret Christianity as obliging a pro-life stance).

And many Christians seem to want to own their faith's influence on modern political issues (e.g., the US Civil Rights Act).

Does Christian faith really council ignoring earthly politics, when politics is sometimes the only viable means to achieving Christian ambitions? To pick an extreme example, wouldn't a Christian North Korean feel compelled to involve themselves in a political movement for religious freedom?

It seems to me like Jesus existed in a time where politics was inseparable from religion. By declaring himself the son of God he was challenging the divine right of other rulers — a political and religious claim. By flipping the tables in the Temple Jesus was challenging both the religious and political authority of the Jewish high priests.

I would have expected more posters to take the view that Christianity is an all-encompassing worldview that ought to be political. God showed you the way, and now it is your job to spread his message and do His work in all facets of your life.

[Pengwinja]

“But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain” Titus 3:9 KJV
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I'm genuinely confused by the Christian approach to politics.

It seems like the common claim in this thread is that Christians should strive to be apolitical, or maybe more accurately post-political.

But Christian belief seems to compel at least some political preferences (e.g., for those who interpret Christianity as obliging a pro-life stance).

And many Christians seem to want to own their faith's influence on modern political issues (e.g., the US Civil Rights Act).

Does Christian faith really council ignoring earthly politics, when politics is sometimes the only viable means to achieving Christian ambitions? To pick an extreme example, wouldn't a Christian North Korean feel compelled to involve themselves in a political movement for religious freedom?

It seems to me like Jesus existed in a time where politics was inseparable from religion. By declaring himself the son of God he was challenging the divine right of other rulers — a political and religious claim. By flipping the tables in the Temple Jesus was challenging both the religious and political authority of the Jewish high priests.

I would have expected more posters to take the view that Christianity is an all-encompassing worldview that ought to be political. God showed you the way, and now it is your job to spread his message and do His work in all facets of your life.

Proverbs 3:6 “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

You’re right. The Bible says to put God in all aspects of your life, which would include political views.

[CaptainFritz28]

I think it's not so much a matter of not being involved in politics as it us recognizing the sovereignty of God. In Church, the sermon each Sunday should not be focused on the upcoming election, not because it isn't important, but because it is far more important for Christians to know how the Bible instructs us to live our everyday lives. Each member of the Church has a different role; some of those are political, and may involve becoming a legislator or activist, and many are entirely disconnected from politics (although that doesn't mean they shouldn't vote/advocate for who they believe to be the most Biblically upstanding candidate).

We also must remember what system we live under. The early Church did not vote and was not involved in the politics of Rome because, well, they couldn't be. What they did was instead focus on changing people's lives first, and from there, society as a whole will become more Christlike, leading to a shift in the government towards that. While this is also true nowadays, our political system is very different from the Roman Empire. We, then, have a responsibility to do for our fellow man what is best for them, and if that means being involved politically, so be it.

The trouble arises when Christians make politics their focus, and think that such and such Bill or such and such candidate will save us all. When we turn our reliance off of God and onto politicians, we fail to recognize God's sovereignty.

So yes, Christians have a responsibility to be involved in politics, but that responsibility is no different than the responsibility we have to be involved in aiding those around us everyday, and ultimately, our trust should lie in God, not the Republic.

[sweetandcool]

“But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain” Titus 3:9 KJV
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I'm genuinely confused by the Christian approach to politics.

It seems like the common claim in this thread is that Christians should strive to be apolitical, or maybe more accurately post-political.

But Christian belief seems to compel at least some political preferences (e.g., for those who interpret Christianity as obliging a pro-life stance).

And many Christians seem to want to own their faith's influence on modern political issues (e.g., the US Civil Rights Act).

Does Christian faith really council ignoring earthly politics, when politics is sometimes the only viable means to achieving Christian ambitions? To pick an extreme example, wouldn't a Christian North Korean feel compelled to involve themselves in a political movement for religious freedom?

It seems to me like Jesus existed in a time where politics was inseparable from religion. By declaring himself the son of God he was challenging the divine right of other rulers — a political and religious claim. By flipping the tables in the Temple Jesus was challenging both the religious and political authority of the Jewish high priests.

I would have expected more posters to take the view that Christianity is an all-encompassing worldview that ought to be political. God showed you the way, and now it is your job to spread his message and do His work in all facets of your life.

Proverbs 3:6 “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

You’re right. The Bible says to put God in all aspects of your life, which would include political views.

I'm not quite sure this makes sense to me.

What do you think it means to put God in all aspects of your life? What does it mean to you that "he shall direct thy paths"?

Are you saying that this means that Christians are commanded to take over the world?

[Jamiet99uk]

You're all stark raving mad.

Maybe if you put more thought and effort into making things better and helping people here in the real world, and less time participating in your cult and telling each other how much you love the invisible sky daddy, humanity would have a chance.