As self described Christians, what can we do about the situation in our country?

[DoggyDaddy]

Embrace the culture you are a part of.

I'm not a devout Christian by any stretch of the imagination, but I will not embrace the sick twisted "culture" that has become so pervasive in the past several years. In fact, calling perversion "culture" is abhorrent to me.

 

[Hoosierdood]

I'm not a devout Christian by any stretch of the imagination, but I will not embrace the sick twisted "culture" that has become so pervasive in the past several years. In fact, calling perversion "culture" is abhorrent to me.

Embrace does not mean agree with.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Embrace does not mean agree with.

I don't think it means "resist vehemently" either, which is what I tend to do. So how are you using it? Acceptance? That's a nope for me too.

 

[blain]

Is Ray Epps a member of INGO?

 

[Hoosierdood]

I don't think it means "resist vehemently" either, which is what I tend to do. So how are you using it? Acceptance? That's a nope for me too.

I Corinthians 9:19-23

19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Paul embraced many cultures in order to impact them with the Gospel. In Acts 17, Paul encounters an altar to an unknown god in Athens. Let’s just say the Greeks were not the moral examples you would have your children look up to. But rather than condemn their depravity, he embraced the culture and used it as a springboard to tell them about the true God.

Then take Daniel and his friends who had to work in the palace of the most corrupt nation at the time. They didn’t fight. They didn’t bemoan the wickedness. They embraced the culture without compromising their standards.

 

[BigRed]

If you are a devout Christian...

Thou shalt not kill.

Thou shall not MURDER

 

[DoggyDaddy]

I Corinthians 9:19-23



Paul embraced many cultures in order to impact them with the Gospel. In Acts 17, Paul encounters an altar to an unknown god in Athens. Let’s just say the Greeks were not the moral examples you would have your children look up to. But rather than condemn their depravity, he embraced the culture and used it as a springboard to tell them about the true God.

Then take Daniel and his friends who had to work in the palace of the most corrupt nation at the time. They didn’t fight. They didn’t bemoan the wickedness. They embraced the culture without compromising their standards.

That sounds (uncomfortably) like Taqiya in the Muslim faith.

 

[blain]

Thou shall not MURDER

DING, DING, DING!
Johnny, tell him what he's won!

 

[Lost Californian]

Daniel 4:17
Acts 4:18-19
Acts 5:29
Isaiah 33:22

Look them up for yourself, in whatever version/translation you prefer.

Short version of my opinion, ALL things work for the good of those who love God; pray for your leaders; love God more than this world. Act accordingly. YMMV

 

[bmbutch]

Based on my understanding of scripture, as His return draws nye, it’s going to be bad.

As far as what we should do?
No expert other than he who loves the world and the things of the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

I pray for truth, for His light, His will be done.
Tough to accept at times, but I’ll keep on praying.

 

[Leo]

Acts 5:29 "Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!" Please read the chapter to fully understand the context.

There are three Biblical spheres of authority;
1) a man in his home, with duties and responsibilities as prescribed by GOD. .
2) A civic ruler. His authority is limited to civil matters, He has no biblical authority over a man's family and the religious practices there of, and no authority to over ride the ecumenical matters of Spiritual leadership.
3) Spiritual leadership has authority over all thing's pertaining to the exercise of faith.

When a civic leader removes a man's right to biblical leadership in his home, that directive must be disobeyed. When a Civic leader tries to inhibit the exercise of worship and religious faith, his directives must be disobeyed.

That does not mean religious people are not persecuted and put to death by tyrants, but the sin guilt is on the tyrant, and the refusal to obey the order to sin, is counted as righteousness for the believer.

One place where people have problems is the misunderstanding that people think a Christian is to stay out of Politics. A Christian is called to influence his world unto righteousness in any legal method, and the Constitution protects that right. . A Citizen of the USA does not forfeit his rights in the free exercise of his faith. My speech here is protected. I am allowed to wear a T shirt with a cross ANYWHERE I am legal to be as a citizen. I can certainly offer my opinions on any subject in the public domain. Engaging in public debate with any other citizen in the public square is not hate speech, it is Constitutionally protected speech.

Part II
Personally, I am pretty big on writing letters to my government representatives and agency heads. Not emails, but Letters, on paper, with carefully constructed compositions, delivered by the USPS, that clearly states an exact opinion on an exact subject. I can usually get it done with two short paragraphs. Restricting religious exercise has been a topic, protecting the borders, Vetting immigrants, a whole list of 2nd amendment issues, socialized medicine, Taxes, Title ten money recipients, abortion and many other things.

I have even talked to a few Congressmen on the phone and a couple in person.

 

[kawtech87]

Acts 5:29 "Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!" Please read the chapter to fully understand the context.

There are three Biblical spheres of authority;
1) a man in his home, with duties and responsibilities as prescribed by GOD. .
2) A civic ruler. He authority is limited to civil matters, He has no biblical authority over a man's family and the religious practices there of, and no authority to over ride the ecumenical matters of Spiritual leadership.
3) Spiritual leadership has authority over all thing's pertaining to the exercise of faith.

When a civic leader removes a man's right to biblical leadership in his home, that directive must be disobeyed. When a Civic leader tries to inhibit the exercise of worship and religious faith, his directives must be disobeyed.

That does not mean religious people are not persecuted and put to death by tyrants, but the sin guilt is on the tyrant, and the refusal to obey the order to sin, is counted as righteousness for the believer.

One place where people have problems is the misunderstanding that people think a Christian is to stay out of Politics. A Christian is called to influence his world unto righteousness in any legal method, and the Constitution protects that right. . A Citizen of the USA does not forfeit his rights in the free exercise of his faith. My speech here is protected. I am allowed to wear a T shirt with a cross ANYWHERE I am legal to be as a citizen. I can certainly offer my opinions on any subject in the public domain. Engaging in public debate with any other citizen in the public square is not hate speech, it is Constitutionally protected speech.

Part II
Personally, I am pretty big on writing letters to my government representatives and agency heads. Not emails, but Letters, on paper, with carefully constructed compositions, delivered by the USPS, that clearly states an exact opinion on an exact subject. I can usually get it done with two short paragraphs. Restricting religious exercise has been a topic, protecting the borders, Vetting immigrants, a whole list of 2nd amendment issues, socialized medicine, Taxes, Title ten money recipients, abortion and many other things.

I have even talked to a few Congressmen on the phone and a couple in person.

Yes this. This is what I was trying to remember earlier. Thank you for laying it out.

 

[kawtech87]

As to 2 Chron. 7:14, America is not Israel. We are not God’s people. That verse does not apply to us.

By this logic, Paul and the apostles were not "God's people" because they were no longer Jews but Christians. Do you believe that only Jewish people are God's people? Are Christians not God's people? Follows of Christ the son of God/God himself are not "God's people"? I'm confused.

 

[45sRfun]

If you are a devout Christian...

Thou shalt not kill.

Pretty sure if you study the original language (see on www.blueletterbible.com) correctly translated, as in the NKJV, it is “You shall not murder."

As for Romans 13, remember that the Bible describes how the government should behave in 1 Peter 2:14:
“Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.”
Many in our government are doing exactly the opposite and so are in rebellion against God. We certainly would not want to obey any rebellious directives of our government.

 

[45sRfun]

As self described Christians we must follow the Ten Commandments.
We must follow the lead of the Holy Spirit and we must pray that God will intervene.

What else, if anything, can we do without violating the law and our principles.
And when are we justified in taking action to save our nation?

It is God's battle as I understand it and we are certainly in a battle against the evil of this world but what part do we play?

Can you clarify what a "self described Christian" is? Maybe you mean those not associated with a particular denomination? I would not call myself a self-described Christian. I currently align more closely with the Anabaptists but have one major difference with them on their doctrine of non-resistance.

I suspect that what is happening to our nation is God's punishment of the nation for the general immorality that has been rampant especially since the cultural revolution of the 1960s, but roots back farther than that.

The Christian first should pray about the situation, second should use the established means to correct the wrongs, though that is becoming difficult when those channels have been infiltrated by the enemy. However, it seems like the tide could be turning, though if they keep up the election fraud and Soros keeps pumping money into corrupt candidates, we are in big trouble.

Part of the problem is the fabric of our nation was undermined by the government schools and popular television programming.

When a nation murders its babies and for so many decades, what else can God do but judge that nation harshly.

 

[Hoosierdood]

By this logic, Paul and the apostles were not "God's people" because they were no longer Jews but Christians. Do you believe that only Jewish people are God's people? Are Christians not God's people? Follows of Christ the son of God/God himself are not "God's people"? I'm confused.

Americans are not Gods people.

 

[Expat]

Is Ray Epps a member of INGO?

If not him, several like him.

 

[Leo]

Americans are not Gods people.

Romans 11:11-36 is a long detailed essay about non Jewish people being grafted into the people of GOD. It also explains some of those who are Jews by birth are broken off.

John 10:16 Jesus states that he has sheep from another sheepfold, that are under him as the great shepherd, pointing to non Jews.

You are 100% right, being an American does not make you one of "GOD'S people". At the same time, many of GOD'S people are Americans, (and Asians, and Africans, Native Americans, etc)

 

[Ziggidy]

It’s our responsibility to first and foremost pray And turn from our evil ways.

2 Chronicles 7:14​

14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

We truly need to understand that passage and follow it, live it, love it. Secondly we need to get involved, everyone. All in kind of involved. Local elections, school boards, library posts; EVERY imaginable position must be occupied by someone other than the left. When doing so, we need to collectively remember the goal, the agenda. Not allow petty differences separate us from the goal.

Once we control the base, we can forge the future.

 

[Ddillard]

I'm not a devout Christian by any stretch of the imagination, but I will not embrace the sick twisted "culture" that has become so pervasive in the past several years. In fact, calling perversion "culture" is abhorrent to me.

Well said.