tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7655599220452053902.post6593822884005837419..comments2012-07-12T13:11:34.217-07:00Comments on Ryan's Thoughts On Life: 2 Thessalonian Politics, aka The Church of KochAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01956577832484666357noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7655599220452053902.post-42711867206435996962012-07-12T13:11:34.217-07:002012-07-12T13:11:34.217-07:00Thanks, J. Due to my health and other reasons, I&...Thanks, J. Due to my health and other reasons, I've tempered back my involvement in the video game industry. You may spot the occasional review or piece of news from me, but mostly expect my various meanderings going forward. <br /><br />As for the Old Testament, I feel this is where most Christians become easily confused and misguided. I've run into many church groups that use Old Testament (OT) scripture out of place to condemn their constituents to hell--mostly for money or to achieve their own agenda. The OT serves important historical, legal, allegorical, and prophetic purposes that built up the coming of Christ. Paul's writings to the churches in the New Testament is very clear about what happened and how to live considering the Law of the Old Testament: if they willfully want to observe one part, they need to observe it all.<br /><br />If anything, the Old Testament was even more strict on how to treat the poor, including: debt forgiveness, charity, and even allowing them to eat off your farm land. It's funny how libertarians will quote Chinese proverbs as Old Testament adages, but avoid blatant testament.<br /><br />You're absolutely right about mixing religion and politics. Religion is a system of beliefs that should help guide individual decisions. It shouldn't be used to browbeat others to follow suite: this is how Chris was crucified to begin with. Religion is very personal, so when it gets mixed with politics, people get offended. If we kept religion out of politics, we can feel free to openly discuss intelligent approaches to better lives for everyone involved.<br /><br />As for running a church like a business or charitable organization, I don't think they should be either, but that's for another blog...<br /><br />RyanAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01956577832484666357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7655599220452053902.post-73241789981450875872012-07-11T20:39:54.710-07:002012-07-11T20:39:54.710-07:00Ryan,
You made some wonderful points there! I rea...Ryan,<br /><br />You made some wonderful points there! I really enjoyed reading your blog (and I wish I had known about your blog sooner!). With the utmost respect to you and your Christian brethren, as an atheist I wanted to comment on the part of your article where you mention that aside from the Old Testament, "the Bible seems very loving and caring to every person." <br /><br />I absolutely agree with this and no doubt, the bible offers some very sound moral guidance and wisdom to those who read it. The issue, however, is that the Old Testament covers more than half of the bible! For a person such as myself, it is not so easy to ignore some of (what I find to be) the "less loving" messages in the Old Testament for all the kindness and caring that is in the New Testament. It's not like the proverbial rotten apple in the basket when it comes to the bible and the Old Testament; it's more like there are only a few good good apples to choose from!<br /><br />This aside, I think while no doubt religion can influence one's political aspirations, I feel that religious priorities and political priorities should be separate. Our founding fathers believed in the separation of church and state. The beautiful thing about America is that this is (or is supposed to be) the land of the free. A land where you may pursue the religion of your choice and not be harassed for it.<br /><br />I think religion and politics are like water and oil and should be kept that way! When you start to mix them, I think churches begin to be operated as a business rather than a charitable organization. Several of the points in your article show this to be true. I can only hope that many of the Christian fellowship will adopt your perspective on religion and politics. Certainly, it would make to help out a great many more people in need of such charity!<br /><br />~JustinAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7655599220452053902.post-34647265132871143832012-07-11T17:55:12.589-07:002012-07-11T17:55:12.589-07:00Thanks, Danny. I may have to copy your quote abou...Thanks, Danny. I may have to copy your quote about patriotism being a fruit of the Spirit. You're right about the pro-life issue causing people to hinge their vote by: I can't count how many people have told me this is the ONLY this they vote by.<br /><br />You sound like a wonderful pastor; maybe next time I'm in Ohio I'll have to swing by for a service (if my pastor dad doesn't pull me to his own service, LOL).Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01956577832484666357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7655599220452053902.post-17524105380824506152012-07-11T17:43:38.566-07:002012-07-11T17:43:38.566-07:00Well stated Ryan.
Being prolife myself, I think i...Well stated Ryan.<br /><br />Being prolife myself, I think it has traditionally been the central issue many believers vote according to. Unfortunately, I think it has devolved to lead to many of the Jesus must be a Republican type thought.<br /><br />Many people now are promoting a syncretism regarding faith and government. Patriotism has practically become one of the fruit of the Spirit. People have even tried to claim America has replaced Israel. This is convoluted for a couple reasons:<br /><br />a) People claim that God must be pleased with a democratic republic, yet the only government you see in Scripture is monarchy.<br />b) Many of our founding fathers, when referring to "God," were not referring to Yahweh of the Bible but to a God of deism.<br /><br />As a pastor in a very conservative part of Ohio, I've done my best to avoid talking politics from the pulpit. And it's funny, around here some people are greatly offended that I don't!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com