Politics, Christians, and Romans 13, Part 1
June 6, 2016 at 9:27 AM 5 comments
I sat in church yesterday to hear a wonderful sermon by our pastor. In fact, the entire morning was a tremendous blessing from the men’s Sunday School lesson led by Dr. Mark (we’re doing a short summer series for men and one for women), about mentoring or discipling others, followed by the morning service in which our pastor preached a great sermon on politics and the Christian, which all ended in the Lord’s Supper. It was a beautiful morning down to the hymns and special music. My wife and I are very grateful to be part of a body of people who love one another clearly, as well as loving the Lord.
Pastor’s sermon was on Romans 13, something I have not yet touched on even though I’ve talked a great deal about Dominionism, the Great Commission, and the Christian’s outlook and approach toward one another and the lost. Romans 13 encapsulates Paul’s teachings on the Christian’s outlook and what it should be where the world is concerned, especially in the area of politics. This is something that Dominionists either ignore or twist to their liking, but in my view, Paul’s words could not be more clear.
Yesterday morning, our pastor fleshed out the clear meaning of Paul’s words and I’d like to share some of that with you in this article. However, before I do, I’d like to point out that as with all elections, there is a growing cacophony of noise with one group of people attempting to shout down an opposing group of people.
We essentially have three presidential candidates: Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, and Donald Trump. The problem with these three candidates is not only how all of them stretch the truth, but in many cases, aren’t even honest at all about certain things. It could either be due to the fact that they don’t know any better or they are deliberately trying to obfuscate the truth.
Take a look at this image with a saying allegedly from Bernie Sanders. This is the type of characterization that appalls me, yet people who lean left read this or hear him say it and shout in praise. What Bernie has stated in the image is not true at all. But people do not think today. They feel. This type of statement is a type of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) that many people use to brainwash other people. It happens all the time, especially in religious and political circles. People are conned every day because of this and other techniques.
Social Security is not something the government gives us out of the kindness of their collective hearts, as Bernie implies. It is not a government program like welfare, where people simply receive money and other benefits from the government without even ever having had to pay taxes in many cases. Social Security is what people pay into and the government hangs onto and uses that money, but once a person retires, they are supposed to be able to draw on the money they paid into Social Security. This is nothing like Socialism at all. Welfare is a Socialistic program, but not Social Security.
Yet, Bernie’s followers will scream with delight over that statement without realizing they’ve been duped into believing something that is completely untrue. What Bernie says would be like you opening a bank account with your own money, but the bank trying to make you think it is their money once they have it. I know people who have bank accounts at certain banks and when they want to remove cash of at least $1,000 or more, the tellers ask them all sorts of questions. The impression is that the bank owns the money and that bank is simply being “nice” enough to allow the account holder to use it. No, in reality, the bank is using money that is not theirs for their own benefit and paying a very small percentage in “user fees” (interest) to the account holder. That interest rate has gotten smaller and smaller over the years too.
The bank has no right to keep the account holder from doing whatever they want to do with their money or asking them tons of questions when they want to withdraw some of it. But the government has also inserted itself into the mix and created rules and laws that make it far more difficult for average account holders. The bank is required to answer to the government, but the truth remains that the banks do NOT own your money. They simply use it and pay us a small interest rate to do so. The bank is giving you nothing, but by allowing them to use your money, you are giving the bank quite a bit. Without the account holder placing money into the bank, that bank would not exist.
It is the same with Social Security. The government does not own that money that is in your Social Security account. They have no right to hold it over your head, to threaten to withhold Social Security payments on your retirement if Congress doesn’t pass this or that bill. It is not their money that has been paid into your Social Security account. It’s your money. Because it’s your money, it has nothing at all to do with Socialism anymore than the money you put into your own back account has anything to do with Socialism. But people today cannot think critically. They are strangers to logic and because of that, are easily swayed by words from someone well-versed in NLP or something similar.
Here’s the other image I want to share. Whether or not you agree with the characterization of each person highlighted, the fact remains that this is the way some people see them. You can probably figure out which group created that pictorial meme, I’m sure. First of all, is Trump a “fascist”? Is Clinton part of the oligarchy? What about Bernie and his alleged Social Democracy?
The truth is that every politician has leanings toward fascism. They all want certain things done a certain way. Most also are backed by some group or groups of powerful people considered by many to be part of the Elite. Third, the idea that in today’s day and age, we are trying so hard to make “socialism” appear to be so good and necessary should be a warning to everyone. I would seriously question the definition used of “Social Democracy” as it appears.
But the question I have to ask is this: is Social Democracy compatible with a Constitutional Republic like America? The simple answer is no, it isn’t, but it is being made to seem like it is because it seems caring toward others and that caring attitude tends to obfuscate the clear facts and dangers of socialism when dealing with America’s Constitutional Republic. In the end, it will spend a lot of money we don’t have to create more government programs that will simply swallow up most of that money in “administrative” costs and accomplish very little. We could easily become what Venezuela has now become. But you cannot make people who are solidly behind Bernie see this reality.
The fact remains that anyone who takes up residence in the Oval Office will do at least some of the Elite’s bidding. To me, that is a foregone conclusion. At the same time, if someone managed to get elected who wasn’t totally controlled by the Elite, there are enough people in Congress who are controlled by the Elite who will still get what they want done and block the things they don’t. People don’t see this though. They see Bernie as the next “savior” just like many of them saw Barack Obama. People still speak of President Obama and his achievements as though he were a version of the second coming too.
In the end, these are politicians and people and what does all this have to do with Romans 13 and the Christian’s response in this area? We’ll get into this starting in our next article in this short series. Join me then.
Entry filed under: christianity, Cultural Marxism, Emotional virtue, eternity, Global Elite, Life in America, Political Correctness, Politically Correct, Politics, Religious - Christian - End Times, Religious - Christian - Prophecy, Religious - Christian - Theology, salvation, second coming. Tags: bernie sanders, democrat, democratic socialism, donald trump, hillary clinton, Politics, republican, socialism.
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1.
rutnerh | June 7, 2016 at 9:40 AM
For variety, my 2 cents on a little social not Christian activism!
Social democracy was clearly practiced by FDR in getting the USA out of the decades long depression era triggered by partially restrained capitalism ( of course tooling up for WWII helped enormously in getting full employment, less so now except for our huge weapons industry).
But now we have an even more greed driven totally uncontrolled WS prosperity version with devastating effects on the shrinking working middle class further burdened with enormous health care costs under Obamacare, essentially selectively subsidizing the healthcare and insurance providers.
The best fix is a single payer NHS with true 100% coverage as practiced efficiently in Taiwan ( not dysfunctional British, Swedish or Canadian and other NHS models) at 1/3 of US costs for incomplete coverage.
Ditto for capitalist Bismarck’s highly effective social policies post the 1870s wars for integrating ex soldiers and their health needs in Prussian society (where I was born in 1934). No similar social and medical programs were implemented post Civil War with lingering economic and societal depressions for over 50 years till WWI.
Food for thought and maybe time to copy a few of Bernie’s crazy ideas instead of coddling WS and Big business.
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modres | June 7, 2016 at 12:55 PM
Some historians argue that FDR’s policies actually extended the Depression. Personally, I think that Obamacare was designed from the getgo to fail so that the only “option” would be a single payer healthcare system. I’d be opposed to that simply because it gives the government more power. I’m for the government having less power, not more. However, I also know that, according to Scripture, there WILL be a one-world system of government that will incorporate many things.
It really doesn’t matter if we’re talking about corporate greed or socialist greed, because greed exists in both systems. The one huge difference is that under Socialism, it is a select group of individuals who actually have and control everything and it normally does not trickle down.
According to Saul Alinsky (Rules for Radicals), there are 8 areas that need to be controlled before a state or nation can become truly socialist:
1) Healthcare – control healthcare and you control the people
2) Poverty – increase poverty as high as possible; poor people are easier to control and won’t fight back if the government is giving them everything for them to live
3) Debt – increase the debt to unsustainable levels. Taxes can then also be increased and this will produce more poverty
4) Gun Control – remove people’s ability to defend themselves from the government. That way, a police state can more easily be created
5) Welfare – take control of every aspect of a person’s life (food, housing, income)
6) Education – take control of what people read and listen to – take control of what children learn in school
7) Religion – remove belief in God from government and schools
8) Class warfare – divide people into two groups – the rich and the poor, which causes more discontent and makes it easier to tax the rich even though the additional taxes won’t amount to much
We are well on our way because of how the powers that be have been doing everything they can to bring Alinsky’s “rules” to fruition.
I don’t believe socialism is supportable under the framework of our Constitutional Republic of America. I DO believe that this coming one-world governmental system (as outlined in the Bible) will have two levels – the top level, which is where the minority will live, will enjoy unfettered capitalism, while the lower level – that’s all the rest of us – will “enjoy” socialism.
I believe Obamacare was designed to be a complete failure, which will lead to only one “viable” option: a single payer system where the government will have total control of our health, who gets what, and how much is paid out. The taxes in Canada are incredibly high to pay for their single payer system. Taiwan is a very small area compared to the United States (or even Canada).
I truly believe that the powers that be – the Elite who are controlled by Satan and his schemes – are doing everything they can to put socialism into place and the United States – as a Constitutional Republic – is really the last bastion of true democracy that exists. Venezuela – a Socialist country – is floundering in debt, a terrible shortage of food and other supplies (empty shelves) and a corrupt government.
Capitalism, while many might complain about the inherent tendency toward greed by some, at least provides the ability for anyone to earn a true living and make something of themselves if they’re willing to put in the time and effort. Socialism has no such rewards. It is a system that is controlled by a small group of individuals who also can easily give into greed and do things for their own self-aggrandizement.
Communist Russia proved this decades ago during the Cold War when it was learned that top government officials and anyone believed to be loyal to the party never went without, while the average person spent much of their day in lines to buy two rolls of toilet paper or one loaf of bread.
Socialism is not the answer, but it is where the world is headed.
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3.
rutnerh | June 7, 2016 at 2:21 PM
In reply to modress, my final 1 cents worth on politics.
Great list of dos by socialist Alinsky, who called himself a community organizer, and was the model of young Hillary who wrote an enthusiastic dissertation on Alinsky at Wellesley that has been sequestered at her request since 2007, apparently since it would affect her electability then and now. Ironically Obama started his career in Chicago also as a community organizer advising poor people how to get govt funds, legally and illegally. Thanks for this list suggesting that Hillary, if elected, may well adopt some of socialist Bernie’s ideas in continuing Obama’s socialistic status quo policies or even expand them….to your chagrin.
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4.
modres | June 7, 2016 at 3:04 PM
To MY chagrin?
If you are a socialist, that’s up to you. I’ve stated that I’m opposed to socialism but I have ALSO noted that this is where the world is heading. I’m very much aware of Hillary Clinton’s idolizing of Saul Alinsky, the guy who “high-fived” Lucifer in the opening pages of his book. She’s corrupt through and through and the only thing that keeps her out of prison is the Elite who still have need of her services.
Socialism is not a good thing primarily because it removes the impetus for creativity and hard work. It engenders laziness. Moreover, it in itself is not a guarantee against greed and corruption. That’s been proven repeatedly. There is no example of how Socialism has ever worked or sustained any economy of any nation.
You may wish to look up the true meaning of “community organizer.” In reality, it is an individual who goes into a community and essentially stirs up discontent. Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and others are basically community organizers who also use a form of religion for a cloak of respectability.
I don’t see Socialism as a good thing. If you do, then clearly, we differ on things. I know that some Christians like to argue that Jesus was a “socialist,” but clearly that’s not true. Even in arguing that He fed thousands and healed many, He did so without the use of government services of Rome. He did those things as a witness to His own Deity and commission. When He returns to this earth, He will set up His Kingdom where He will actually reign, not as a leader over a socialist agenda, but as an Imperial Ruler who will do what will bring glory to Himself. No one will stand in His way or deter Him.
As I’ve stated previously, the founding documents of the Constitutional Republic we call America leaves no room for socialism or Marxism. But the push has been on for quite some time to turn this county into that so that the Elite can gain total control over this country. Once America falls, then the North American Union (NAU) will come into fruition, where Canada, the US, and Mexico will be seen as one grouping or union of nations, much like the many nations that today make up part of the European Union (EU). It’s all about making things easier for the Elite, who – whether knowingly or unknowingly – work for Satan.
It’s probably very important to remember that in Isaiah 14, we have record of Satan’s sins where in the end, he promised to become “like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:14). God has been allowing Satan to do everything he can to make that happen, even to the point of allowing the Antichrist (Satan’s spiritual son) to rule the world. The way to get to that point is by using socialism and Marxism to make that happen.
I’m sorry you see socialism as a good thing when clearly, it is being used by the enemy of our souls for his own purposes.
If you support Bernie, that’s up to you. As for me, I’m tired of voting for the lesser of all evils and I will still be held responsible for voting for someone considered that. Am I any less culpable for not voting for Satan but voting for one of his underlings? There is no one of value running for president and any of them who would get elected will simply continue to do the bidding of the Elite, as has been the case for many, many decades, quite possibly going all the way back to 1896 when J. P. Morgan, Ford, and Carnegie all “bought a president” with McKinley. The whole system is a joke, in my opinion.
Thanks for your comments. Take care.
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Politics, Christians, and Romans 13, Part 2 | Study - Grow - Know | June 7, 2016 at 7:19 AM
[…] Last time, in our first article in this series, we highlighted aspects of some of the political chicanery that’s going on today. It will only heat up and get worse as the time approaches the next presidential election this November. We can be sure of that and if I wanted to, I could write about some political hot button every day. Fortunately, I don’t want to, but I do want to get into the first few verses of Romans 13 because it is there that Paul discusses how the Christian’s approach should be toward the political system in our world. […]
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