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Oaths 2 – Early American Oaths

Early American Oaths

Oaths, lack of respect for them, and failure to understand their importance point toward our country’s problems and perhaps their solution. But first, who is the sovereign of this United States? I don’t mean in the absolute biblical sense; that’s clearly God. I mean in the publicly acknowledged by the people sense and as evidenced by our founding documents.

First question: Does God care? If He rules the world and if He cares about the world that He created, then yes is the obvious answer. He cares about the type of government you erect over your society. He showed that when He lead the Israelites out of Egypt and went about assisting Moses in setting up . . . what? Continue reading “Oaths 2 – Early American Oaths”

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“Ministers of God” – Romans 13

“Ministers of God” – Romans 13

Romans 13 calls those in political office “ordained of God” and “ministers of God.” Romans 13:1,4. What kind of minister? How are they different from pastors and preachers in the Church? Is there a difference between church ministers and political ministers?

First, there must be a difference biblically. In Israel, the priesthood was separate from the political, at least, in governmental function. The king who tried to offer incense as if he was a priest suffered immediate judgment from God, in the form of leprosy. “And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, ‘It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out Continue reading ““Ministers of God” – Romans 13″

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The Gift of Knowledge & Feeding the Sheep 2

The Church’s Responsibility – To Feed the Sheep, even Public Officials

 

Shepherd keeping the sheep

For example, in the twentieth century, the Protestant Churches of America (The Roman Catholic Church was subject to fewer problems in this area because of its governmental structure & approach to theology) saw a conflict arise to divide whole denominations – the liberal, higher criticism theologians & teachers, who denied major tenets of biblical faith. One of their major beliefs was in the church’s responsibility for social reform. Conservatives who opposed them thought they were entering into a realm that God had forbidden for the church to enter. Therefore, the conservative believers ended up with disdain for social reform, particularly after seeing the leftist political policies advocated by liberals of the church.  (And I’m not referring to a political position when I say “conservative” or “liberal” in this context. I’m referring to a belief in the fundamentals of the Christian faith.)  Piles of books have been written about the controversy. I want to focus on one aspect of the debate, & I’ll be taking conservatives to task for one of their positions.

Continue reading “The Gift of Knowledge & Feeding the Sheep 2”