Romans 13 (AMP)
1 LET EVERY person be loyally subject to the governing (civil) authorities. For there is no authority except from God [by His permission, His sanction], and those that exist do so by God's appointment.
2 Therefore he who resists and sets himself up against the authorities resists what God has appointed and arranged [in divine order]. And those who resist will bring down judgment upon themselves [receiving the penalty due them].
3 For civil authorities are not a terror to [people of] good conduct, but to [those of] bad behavior. Would you have no dread of him who is in authority? Then do what is right and you will receive his approval and commendation.
4 For he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, [you should dread him and] be afraid, for he does not bear and wear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant to execute His wrath (punishment, vengeance) on the wrongdoer.
5 Therefore one must be subject, not only to avoid God's wrath and escape punishment, but also as a matter of principle and for the sake of conscience.
6 For this same reason you pay taxes, for [the civil authorities] are official servants under God, devoting themselves to attending to this very service.
7 Render to all men their dues. [Pay] taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, and honor to whom honor is due.
8 Keep out of debt and owe no man anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor [who practices loving others] has fulfilled the Law [relating to one's fellowmen, meeting all its requirements].
9 The commandments, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet (have an evil desire), and any other commandment, are summed up in the single command, You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself.
10 Love does no wrong to one's neighbor [it never hurts anybody]. Therefore love meets all the requirements and is the fulfilling of the Law.
Either Side of the River
"On either side of the river lie, long rows of barley and of rye, that clothe the world and meet the sky, and through the field the road run by to many towered Camelot...." - Lord Alfred Tennyson's, The Lady of Shalott.
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5 Comments:
Yay Jonathon! You rock! I support you 100%
Please hear me out sister in Christ...
Bush's actions as commander in chief include initiating aggression against a country with 1/13 our population, 1/180 our economy and 1/200 our military budget. Iraq had never done anything to us, nor had they ever threatened to do so. There is no Christian basis for initiating force and violence as America did regarding Iraq.
So many Christians put so much overemphasis on who is in the White House. The president cannot instill morality. Christian morality cannot be forced. Jesus only enters your life by invitation. (Rev 3:20)
Oh sure, GWB got off Olde Demon Rum years ago and probably has not looked at a woman other than Laura in years. However, a president – any president – is powerless to set the moral tone for the nation. GWB’s own daughters have been busted for underage drinking. His niece has been caught possessing crack cocaine. NO PRESIDENT, BORN AGAIN BELIEVER OR NOT, CAN SET A GOOD OR BAD MORAL TONE FOR AMERICA.
“We cannot have this!” cry the traditionalists. “Marriage licenses should only be issued to couples consisting of one man and one woman.”
What is their basis for this belief in the need for a government-issued marriage license?
Marriage licenses – documents conferring the state’s blessing on a marital union – have no biblical basis. There is no scripture mandating such authorization for marriage. In Genesis 2:24, when God ordains marriage, He says that “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” Neither Genesis 2:25 – nor any other Scripture – states that this union can only be official with a piece of paper from the local magistrate.
Black’s Law Dictionary’s definition of a license is "the permission by competent authority to do an act which without such permission, would be illegal." Why do we need permission from the state to participate in something ordained by God? Also, when you obtain a license to marry, you give the state unbiblical authority over your marriage and over your children, as well as placing yourself under all sorts of immoral laws.
For the first 2 years in office, W continued the Bush I - Clinton - UN Embargo of Iraqi oil, which had done horrendous damage to the Iraqi economy. Then he went in and bombed the bejeebers out of Iraq, killing thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians. What a compassionate Christian guy!
Wow, anonymous, that was quite the comment. I've been getting "quite the comments" a lot lately. I feel the need to just remind everyone that the election is over now and it would be best if we all just prayed for our president. I know everyone will agree on that, especially those who would rather that someone else be our commander and chief. So we would all do well to pray for him and for our country... and while we're at it, be uplifting and encouraging to all those around us regardless of beliefs, social standing, or political affiliation. After all, what is lasting in this world?
HolyThug: I know in the bible where it says for Christians not to practice the things of this world. Such as partaking in homosexuality. But, where does it says we have to make everyone act like Christians, and to use the government to do so?
Also the bible says not to murder. But, where in the bible does it tell us to make sure that everyone in the world doesn't murder. We can't force people into living like Christians are supposed to. making those laws doesn't help people come to Christ. In my previous post I quoted the scripture saying that Jesus only neters people's lives through invitations.
Voting for laws and politicians who will make Christian morals the law of the land is a lazy way of trying to reach the lost. Many people read the beginning of Romans 13, and seem to forget the rest. Thank you stephanie for providing the whole verse.
9 The commandments, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet (have an evil desire), and any other commandment, are summed up in the single command, You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself.
Instead of making a crusade to ban homosexual marriage, why don't you befriend a homosexual couple, and love them like Jesus would have loved them. Maybe, after time, they will see the love that Jesus has which will surpass any love that they may feel between each other. No laws will keep them from doing what they do... only the love of Jesus can.
Instead of voting for a president who'll appoint judges who'll overturn Roe v. Wade, why aren't Christians stepping up and providing opportunities for young girls to adopt their babies out. Or, volunteering some of their time at a Crisis Pregnancy hotline, and help talk some girls out of getting an abortion. Abortions will still happen even if Roe v. Wade is overturned. But, just voting for that and not taking steps to prevent it in a practical way is lazy Christianity.
I just have one question, no offense to anyone, but since when did Stephanie's blog turn into a political debate forum? I mean, really guys, if you want to debate, get eachother's email addresses or something. I read Stephanie's blog because it helps to hear her point of veiw about Jesus. She's a very smart girl and she knows what she's talking about. I don't like seeing her blog turned into a battlefield. Though, it's good to hear the truth, no matter how hard it is to listen to. Sometimes people don't like the truth. It's true. Of course, this is Stephanie's blog. I'm not telling anybody to do anything, but I figue I should say something because she is my friend, and being honest is good.
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