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Christianity & Politics

Discussion in 'Free-For-All Archives' started by Jude, Jul 20, 2004.

  1. Jude

    Jude <img src=/scott3.jpg>

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    Democrats 'visit' black churches. Republicans do the same in white evangelical churches. Is this a good thing? Are Christians getting too 'cozy' with politicians?
     
  2. FriendofSpurgeon

    FriendofSpurgeon Well-Known Member
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    Yes, too close and appearing to get even closer. Personally, I think it is a dangerous thing. Politics is never mentioned from the pulpit at our church and hopefully never will be.
     
  3. NaasPreacher (C4K)

    NaasPreacher (C4K) Well-Known Member

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    Yes - certainly.
     
  4. Priscilla Ann

    Priscilla Ann Member

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    Are Christians getting too "cozy" with politicians? Definitely. Politics should not be mentioned in the pulpit; and politicians should not "use" their faith to influence the public.
     
  5. Brett

    Brett New Member

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    If Christians getting 'cozy' with politicians is what it takes to influence them - especially in regards to such things are abortion laws - then I'm all for it.
     
  6. Bro Tony

    Bro Tony New Member

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    The church pulpit is not the place for a politian to stand and try to gain votes. The pulpit is for the preachnig of the Word--Period!

    Christians should be involved, but that involvement should be personal. The church is not an organization to support a political purpose.

    Bro Tony
     
  7. Gina B

    Gina B Active Member

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    Why shouldn't a pastor mention politics from the pulpit? Christianity doesn't stop at certain parts of our lives. It affects EVERY part of it. This separation of God from certain aspects of our lives is not a good thing. I don't like it.
    Gina
     
  8. LadyEagle

    LadyEagle <b>Moderator</b> <img src =/israel.gif>

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    Agreed, Gina. [​IMG]
     
  9. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    Balance is the key. The Bible is not absent of speaking about political systems and reigning parties. Paul did not spare political rulers, and neither did our Lord Jesus Christ.

    Some men, however, have become preoccupied with politics, and I think this is wrong. We are to preach the word..the whole word, of which, the gospel is part.

    Should we be overly concerned about the world and its ways? I think not. We should pray for the rulers, and we should pray about conditions, but we are called to come out from among them and be separate.

    When Paul spoke to the slave, he told him to be the best slave he could be and to respect his master. Paul did not condone slavery, but was simply recognizing the situation that was, in the best interests of the Christian, who happened to be a slave.

    Balance, I say, good people, balance, and common sense.

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
  10. BobRyan

    BobRyan Well-Known Member

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    I believe Christian churches should stay out of politics in general. The very idea that a church would go out and urge people to be democrats or that they would insist on ANY political party is a sad commentary on the abuses of our times.

    The fact that the NAACP would consider churches of one sort to be its "campaign grounds" - is a sad trade off on the gospel.

    HOWEVER - that does not mean that churches should be dead silent on MORAL issues that are of such an urgent nature that they MUST not keep silent.

    Slavery in the 1800's debated the value of human life against the value of rights to privacy, property and self-determination. Abortion today is doing the SAME thing. It is a sin for christians to remain silent on this question of the value of human life TODAY just as it was in the 1800's.

    Think about it.

    The issue of DOMA - gay rights etc - IS EXACTLY the question of Romans 1 and of Lev 18. There we find that PAGAN nations are held accountable to "A certain limit".

    That limit was NOT idol worship.. it was NOT adultery, it was NOT lying or stealing or the worship of the sun gods. Read Lev 18 - the "limit" that they crossed included the sacrifice of children AND the gay rights agenda.

    God said of a PAGAN nation - they would not be allowed to cross that line - and act as if God did not exist. Their limit was reached some time after crossing the line that God said a PAGAN nation must not cross.

    Where are the watchmen on the walls of our nation - declaring loudly the sins of my people - warning that a line is being crossed that God will not turn a blind eye towards? We should have the care and concern that Abraham had for Sodom in praying for our country and promoting its welfare in intercession and in declaring the difference between right and wrong.

    In Christ,

    Bob
     
  11. Briguy

    Briguy <img src =/briguy.gif>

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    PA wrote "politicians should not "use" their faith to influence the public."

    If a politician is following God and doing what is right I believe he should use his faith to influence the public. If the "faith" will influence the public to vote the "godly way" on an issue or for a godly politician then we must use the faith. We are here to "fight the good fight" and I am glad some people are fighting that fight in the world of politics because it gives Christians a little bit of a voice. We must fight our fight by the legal means at our disposal. Sometimes a vote is all we can do to try to promote change in our society.

    In Christ,
    Brian
     
  12. delly

    delly New Member

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    I have never heard a politician speak in any church I have been to and I believe that is the way it should be. We should be able to make up our own minds about who to vote for without it being preached from the pulpit. I would not welcome a politician speaking in our church, not even one I agree with. It is just not the place to campaign from.

    Now, as to certain agendas like "gay rights", I believe our ministers have the obligation to speak against these things as we are talking about the moral decline of our nation. It is a sin like any other and we must speak out against sin.
     
  13. NaasPreacher (C4K)

    NaasPreacher (C4K) Well-Known Member

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    I disagree - a major part off the Northern Ireland "troubles" has been religious leaders on both sides of the political divide using their pulpits to promote their political agendas.

    I don't beleive there is room for politics in the pulpit. Do you desire Muslim religious leaders to use their pulpits to put forth a political agenda?
     
  14. SpiritualMadMan

    SpiritualMadMan New Member

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    If Christians don't get into Politics...

    Politics will get into Christianity...


    Of Course... That is an obvious oxymoron...

    "Christian Politician"

    :D
     
  15. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    Roger,

    Ian Paisley, the Ulsterman, I presume, is one example.

    Cheers, mate,

    Jim
     
  16. NaasPreacher (C4K)

    NaasPreacher (C4K) Well-Known Member

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    Is it possible for me to "no comment" at this point?
     
  17. rsr

    rsr <b> 7,000 posts club</b>
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    Too cozy.
     
  18. Briguy

    Briguy <img src =/briguy.gif>

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    Hi C4K, I didn't really say that the pulpit is the place for advancing a politician. What I said is that it is Ok for a politician to proclaim his faith and gain support because of it. As for the pulpit, the Bible must be taught. The Bible has absolute morals and those will conflict and overlap with the world of politics. Thinking the two, politics and the pulpit, can be totally seperate seems unrealistic.

    In Christ,
    Brian
     
  19. NaasPreacher (C4K)

    NaasPreacher (C4K) Well-Known Member

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    Got it Brian,

    Sorry for misreading your post. Living here I am always a bit on edge for those kind of things and I typed before I engaged my mind. Sorry.

    Roger
     
  20. Briguy

    Briguy <img src =/briguy.gif>

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    Roger, No Problem at all.

    Where is Eire???

    Take care,
    In Him,
    Brian
     
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