Are certain political views sinful?

60 million murdered children is 10x Hitler's holocaust. Just to borrow your terms, doesn't turning your back on a holocaust misrepresent Christ?

 

No, it was unchecked antisemitism, finally ended by good soldiers taking out Hitler.

 

No problem, thanks for the input. It's a messy subject with several variables and potential directions. I knew this going in.

 

My focus actually isn't on you. My focus is on the issue of voting and politics, whether or not it's morally relevant. My view is that it is.

I see where you're going with this. You're confusing a couple issues. Christians are commanded to pay taxes customs fear and honor to their local lands and governments (Romans 13:7). The Bible isn't anti-government. It is anti-globalism, the idea of national governments relinquishing their sovereignty, but it's actually very pro-government. You've been deceived on this.

Read what Paul said about government:

Rom. 13:1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.​

This passage refutes your post. It's not sovereign national governments we should fear, it's the dissolving of sovereign governments into globalism (a big staple of leftism). God created the nations at Babel as a gift to us, and Satan has been trying to undo that gift ever since.

I think this is where our primary disagreement lies. You don't believe government is from God. You apparently don't agree with Paul on this issue.

 

I'm not sure what you're saying here. Are you saying Paul is not writing this to Christians in General, but just to the Church at Rome, just telling them not to rebel against Rome, because they're evil and dangerous? I'm just trying to understand your exact position.

 

The only thing I seek and encourage my government to do is God's basic will for governments—protect the innocent and punish evil. Beyond that, I don't want government to do too much more.

 

Regardless, the theme of honoring authority and kings is not something limited to oppressive governments. This goes against the basic reading of Romans 13 that states categorically governments are from God for our good.

3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.​

The focus here has nothing to do with rebelling against evil governments. Paul specifically tells us governments are for our good. They are called "God's servant."

And these were established at Babel. We have trouble understanding that, but life can be very cruel away from civilization. Even the Roman Empire was better than anarchy.

But this does explain why we're having such a sharp disagreement. You believe honoring and depending on your government is akin to idolatry. Paul, I can assure you, did not think this way. He often cited Roman law for his own protection. He often called himself a Roman citizen.

That said, the scope of God's will for government is very limited. Minister to the innocent, punish the guilty. That can have a broad range of applications, but it's very simple. Abortion, therefore, is not something governments should be doing, and the death penalty for murder is.

And God has granted you the right to vote! Very few in history have had this right. You are actually part of a governing body, with authority from God. That's why I can't separate it from moral relevancy.

 

And I think you could say that Britain at that time was practicing globalism. It's one thing to rule local lands, another to try to conquer the world. Hitler, also, is properly understood as a globalist (not a nationalist as some assert).

And Jesus seems to be telling us the personal weapons are not only permissible, but necessary. "...and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one." (Luke 22:36)

 

Curious if you saw this:

61-Year-Old Homeowner Kills 2 of 4 Armed Home Intruders with AR-15, One Was Wearing ‘Jason’ Mask (Video)

 

I've changed on my understanding of "turn the other cheek." I'm convinced this is a reference to insults rather than violence. Christ is not saying offer your other check if someone punches you, or offer another child if some one kills the first. A smack on the cheek was a pretty grievous insult in those days. Christ is basically saying, don't match insult for insult. He's reiterating the Proverb that a wise man overlooks an insult.

Same is true with giving your coat and scarf away and walking 2 miles. Christ is not saying you have to give your house or your car away, or move to the east coast on someone's request. He's telling us not to sweat the small things, so to speak.