This may be extreme, but it makes the point very well. If a woman is being raped, should we pass by and do nothing? After all, her attacker will not have a change of heart if we throw him off of her. Our goal is to preach the Gospel only, no? Perhaps we should leave him be and hope to run into him at the coffee shop later that evening and then we can witness to him, and maybe, he won’t rape any more.

Likewise is this argument pitting the preaching of the Gospel against political involvment of any kind. Within a narrow context, I agree that if there is a wrong motive, then there will be a error as a Christian. On the other hand, to use that narrow context to suggest that any political activism is wrong, is, well, in my opinion, very wrong. Most people do not get involved in politics to change peoples hearts.

God mostly answers prayer through providence. When we see Him face to face, we can ask Him what happened to our Country. He’s going to tell us that while we were waiting for lightning bolts to shoot from the sky, we ignored the fact that He provided us the means to change things for the better by giving us the freedom to get involved, if for no other reason, than through making needed information available, and He gave us the right to vote. A non vote is a choice also.

I’ve probably benefited more than anyone from John’s ministry, but I disgree with him on this.

While it is true that “no human government can ultimately do anything either to advance or to thwart God’s kingdom” and that “the worst, most despotic worldly government in the end cannot halt the power of the Holy Spirit or the spread of God’s Word” it is certainly not helpful in advancing God’s kingdom and God’s word that christian preachers and leaders are exposed as hypocrites and criminals. But this is not even the point. The issue is the christian person’s involvement in political matters.

Apart from his or her right to actively participate in political matters, I submit a christian person has the duty to oppose injustice and oppression whenever and wherever such injustice and oppression is found, that so called “temporal issues” can be imbued with eternal values
and that christians and christianity will be passive, if not active, tools and accomplices if they remain silent in the face of injustice and oppression.

David Cloud is a wack job, avoid him and his materials.

I object to the characterization of the Crusades as attempts to regain “Christian control of the holy lands.”

JM’s Catholic/Protestant view of history neglects the long history of independent Bible believing Christians since the first century. The Roman Catholic Church was NOT Christian, but rather a persecutor. When Protestant reformers — of the Catholic Church — got control of various governments, they, in turn, persecuted non-conformists, especially independent Bible believing churches. A good intro to the subject would be David Cloud’s “A History of the Churches.”

This post would seem to suggest Christians should avoid civil service and spend their time on spiritual matters such as growth and service.

I was wondering what PM’s position would be on Christians serving in government – considering the oaths they must take any the potential conflict gov’t service might have with their faith?