Journal jazzbotley's Journal: Armed revolt?
According to the Apostle Paul, government's God-ordained purpose for existence is to punish those who do wrong. So he encourages his readers to obey the law and pay their taxes, and to give honor and respect to all whom it is due. That's all fine and dandy. Yep, that suits me just fine. But what happens when the government is no longer honorable and respectable? Hmm, let us pause and focus our thoughts on that. Paul wrote an epistle or two from the inside of a Roman prison. In fact, he worshipped a God whose human life was ended on a Roman cross. Yet he never advocates the sword. To the contrary, his life was an example of a drink offering poured out as prayer for his oppressors. It comes as no surprise, then, that I think the God of the Christian Bible is legit. I want to choose my actions in life in such a way as to honor Him. I want to maximize the amount of time I spend with Him, in His tangible or intangible presence. But not all who read the Bible are Christians. Not all who claim to be Christians are Christians. Sometimes a Christian's worst enemy is a so-called Christian. Those who are called by God lead lives of faith. Faith is a hope in something not (yet) seen. Faith is action; God says thus-and-so in His Word, therefore I will live my life based on what He says. When so-called Christians take up arms and resist whatever government oppresses them, they sacrifice their greatest weapon: faith in God. Taking up armed rebellion against an oppressive government is faith in action, but faith in the wrong god. "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal" -- the writings of Paul admonish the Christian to lay aside the sword, fall to his knees, and implore the God of heaven to shake the earthly powers-that-be. Prayer is the weapon of the Christian.
I quote the Bible, but my life doesn't always hold up to scrutiny (does yours?). I guess I am somewhat ashamed to admit that, contrary to what Paul wrote, I see governments as inherently evil, since I view every member of the human race as born into evil, therefore we are each capable of commiting the most terrible evil. (Maybe Paul was saying government should be limited to only this one basic function, which is to curb the evil actions of evildoers.) What happens when all power is concentrated into a small population? Well, you have the governments of the twentieth century. You have Washington, D.C., a seething, writhing pit of snakes and vipers. So, when a so-called Christian organizes a political group to coalesce power to work within this snake pit, I question that person's motives. My self image may be self-deprecatory (a la Groucho Marx, "I would never join a club that would have me as a member"). I may project that mentality on others (to the tune of "I would never vote for the type of person who would run for public office"). But my poor little brain cannot reconcile the concept of a person of genuine faith in the Living God integrating with the operating scheme of holding public office in these Untied States. I can leave room for the person of faith, responding to God's call, who like Daniel serves in the king's court. But even David was an adulterer and a murderer. I have no faith in a "Christian" government, unless you're referring to the government seated on Christ's shoulders. Anything based on the bottom-line of a human being ("Christian" or otherwise) calling the shots -- will never have my trust.
So where does that leave me? A mere mortal treading the weary sod of this earth? Wary, but not without faith. Not without hope. I do not cast my vote, wishing and hoping that G.W. will solve the world's ills. (See how well that one worked out?) Neither do I join the militia, singing the song that the new regime will right all the wrongs of the old. (Look at all the banana republics down south. Same tune, different sod -- do you think that white skin enables you to overcome evils that hindered those with skin of brown? WRONG!) I will stand with my brothers in the faith, singing the seemingly futile song that Jesus will return, though we wait another 2000 years, His return is very soon. In the end, nothing else matters except the faithfulness of your own heart to what is true. He is true. May I be found faithful.
Aren't these journal entries supposed to make sense?
I quote the Bible, but my life doesn't always hold up to scrutiny (does yours?). I guess I am somewhat ashamed to admit that, contrary to what Paul wrote, I see governments as inherently evil, since I view every member of the human race as born into evil, therefore we are each capable of commiting the most terrible evil. (Maybe Paul was saying government should be limited to only this one basic function, which is to curb the evil actions of evildoers.) What happens when all power is concentrated into a small population? Well, you have the governments of the twentieth century. You have Washington, D.C., a seething, writhing pit of snakes and vipers. So, when a so-called Christian organizes a political group to coalesce power to work within this snake pit, I question that person's motives. My self image may be self-deprecatory (a la Groucho Marx, "I would never join a club that would have me as a member"). I may project that mentality on others (to the tune of "I would never vote for the type of person who would run for public office"). But my poor little brain cannot reconcile the concept of a person of genuine faith in the Living God integrating with the operating scheme of holding public office in these Untied States. I can leave room for the person of faith, responding to God's call, who like Daniel serves in the king's court. But even David was an adulterer and a murderer. I have no faith in a "Christian" government, unless you're referring to the government seated on Christ's shoulders. Anything based on the bottom-line of a human being ("Christian" or otherwise) calling the shots -- will never have my trust.
So where does that leave me? A mere mortal treading the weary sod of this earth? Wary, but not without faith. Not without hope. I do not cast my vote, wishing and hoping that G.W. will solve the world's ills. (See how well that one worked out?) Neither do I join the militia, singing the song that the new regime will right all the wrongs of the old. (Look at all the banana republics down south. Same tune, different sod -- do you think that white skin enables you to overcome evils that hindered those with skin of brown? WRONG!) I will stand with my brothers in the faith, singing the seemingly futile song that Jesus will return, though we wait another 2000 years, His return is very soon. In the end, nothing else matters except the faithfulness of your own heart to what is true. He is true. May I be found faithful.
Aren't these journal entries supposed to make sense?
