The Christian & Politics

Basically you are saying that God cannot act in this world, regarding leaders, or nations, or anything else beyond individuals because there is no prophet?

Possibly we see it in the Arab world, which has been a backwater for centuries, known mostly for illiteracy and violence. Just a guess. Chastening of nations doesn't neccessarily mean fire from the sky.

 

The clearest modern example of God's intervention in the nations is the same as the most ancient model; the preservation of Israel, that tiny sliver of land next to the Red Sea, in spite of all odds and enemies against it.

 

No, I was asked when God stopped judging nations. In most cases where God judged nations (esp. Israel) there was a prophet warning them to turn away from their wicked ways. Since there are no prophets operating in today's age I deduce that God is not in the nation-judging business anymore either.

 

2 peter

2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
2:11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
2:12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
2:13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

 

Oh you mean like the United Arab Empirates? The richest country on earth? Who has excellent education system? With a murder rate about half of ours? Where vehicle break-ins and other minor crimes are very rare?

 

It would be a mistake to consider that the wealth or oppulance of a handful in any given nation is a sign that God is not judging that nation, nor that it is still not a backwater 3rd world place for the majority of its citizens.

 

What is God doing to the UAE to punish them? Bet you can't come up with much of anything. Even their literacy rate is higher than ours. That would not be possible if the majority of its citizens lived in a backwater 3rd world place.

 

Historically, when God judged a nation, didn't He judge the leaders, and by extension the common citizens?

Generally speaking, what are the signs that God is judging a nation?

 

Fire falling from the sky, chicks turning into salt, etc.

 

Who, in this country, ever suggested that God is on our side?

 

What if, by their refusal of Christ, they are condemned to eternal hell. Is that judgment enough or do you need to see additional judgment.

Also, what if (as is often said around here) that God decided that there is no possible hope for those leaders. That would seem to constitute judgment in most everyone's eyes.

As I said, the condition of a nation or the wealth of its leaders is no indication that no judgment is occurring.

 

Yep, that's what I consider to be God's method of judging people these days. That's what I said in my first post in this thread.

That's judging the individual, which is what I contend is God's methods nowadays. You were the one that said God still judges nations in this present age. So what sort of judgment does he mete out on whole nations?

 

The lampstands represent the Church, not a nation, and the nation is not a Church. People really seem to confuse the two.

 

Doing a bit of cherry-picking there CornDoggy? UAE is not very representative of the region as a whole. According to UN surveys, the average person in the Arab world reads just four pages a year.

But the point is not that Arabs are forever doomed to backwardness. If we go back to the Old Testament prophecies we see that God often promised to restore the fortunes of judged peoples. Maybe we are seeing that with Ishmael.

 

Which is what God did in Old Testament times also, judgement was of individuals.

But what we also see in Old Testament is that God was interested in nations and their leaders behaving according to his precepts. His interest was not only of the eternal soul, but of order and the right behavior of kings of the earth. Why would that change?