tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post5110071152746575729..comments2024-03-28T09:59:13.754-07:00Comments on bionic mosquito: What About Romans 13?bionic mosquitohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12002548958078731031noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-90162382645113099562015-04-29T11:29:20.975-07:002015-04-29T11:29:20.975-07:00Romans 13 seems to be really alluding to Christ wh...Romans 13 seems to be really alluding to Christ who is the only true authority. Earthly and worldly rulers certainly are wicked and do not "reward" good behavior. However, it does admonish a degree of submission with the realization that this life and world are temporary. The eternal implications are infinitely more important. Do not fear those who can destroy the body but fear the one who can destroy the soul. There is a bit of clarification needed. Obviously, governments are vile, duplicitous, bloodthirsty, authoritarian, and basically antithetical to Christ. Scripture says to yield, to some extent, but it does not approve the institution and it more importantly does not tell us to speak out against the evil state. From my perspective, libertarianism and specifically anarcho-capitalism is utterly consisted with Scripture. Rusty Shacklefordnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-37549496491139277122015-04-28T12:00:04.166-07:002015-04-28T12:00:04.166-07:00I hope you're not one of those crazy Baptist F...I hope you're not one of those crazy Baptist Fundies who thinks the Jesuits run the world and are "out to get us".Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-36705268283349824402015-04-23T12:18:39.470-07:002015-04-23T12:18:39.470-07:00I have to part company with you on that score. In...I have to part company with you on that score. In fact, given that God has given us brains and the ability to reason, would he not frown upon those who would buy that each and every word in a book, created by many multitudes of men, with conflicting assertions and philosophies, is his inspired word?<br /><br />Again, given the gift of ratiocination, would not God frown upon a retort of "its faith" or some variant to the preceding question? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-27070119864817542332015-04-23T09:26:20.535-07:002015-04-23T09:26:20.535-07:00'Drama of the Lost Disciples' by Jowett (1...'Drama of the Lost Disciples' by Jowett (1961) makes a convincing-to-me case that the first Christian nation was Britain ('Land of the Covenant', akin to B'nai B'rith, 'Children of the Covenant'), and that only political machinations by Rome and Constantine usurped her role as the true leader of Christianity. The Christianity of Britain was much different from the Christianity of the Council of Nicaea and of Rome. I disagree with his positive read of Constantine. But, the book is fascinating and I most highly recommend it.John G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09127952173210718830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-90235795139533589542015-04-23T09:07:52.252-07:002015-04-23T09:07:52.252-07:00I used to believe in the infallibility of the NT (...I used to believe in the infallibility of the NT (and always implicitly questioned the bloodiness of the OT). Articles like this convinced me that there is nothing sacrosanct about the NT:<br />http://www.original-bible.com/History-of-Bible.pdf<br />http://www.original-bible.com/Root-of-Corruption.pdf<br />http://vho.org/aaargh/fran/livres/reeedcontrov.pdf<br /><br />Constantine had his wife, son, and best friend murdered. He purposely delayed converting to Christianity on his deathbed. This is a man whose 'religious' predilections -- the Council of Nicea was a political, power-consolidation event, not a religious conference -- we are supposed to not question?<br /><br />Marcion Christianity makes a lot more sense to me than our modern-day Christianity:<br />http://www.original-bible.com/Introduction-to-Marcionite-Bible.pdf<br />John G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09127952173210718830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-2389977125733549522015-04-23T06:54:27.789-07:002015-04-23T06:54:27.789-07:00Too many "Christians" place more stock i...Too many "Christians" place more stock in Augustine's "Just War" theory than in the Words of Christ himself. Basically they have come to believe and preach from the pulpit: "if I do evil thinking it's good, then I'm justified". Just as there is no accountability in government, the church has adopted the same principle, giving way to the tight philosophical alliance.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-59547114559349585452015-04-23T03:10:02.340-07:002015-04-23T03:10:02.340-07:00It is all God's word - all equally important.It is all God's word - all equally important. bionic mosquitohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12002548958078731031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-60235951798701528072015-04-23T03:08:25.911-07:002015-04-23T03:08:25.911-07:00It all harmonizes, else it cannot be God's wor...It all harmonizes, else it cannot be God's word. Interpretations must be made by testing Scripture with Scripture. <br /><br />There is no interpretation possible that concludes with unconditional obedience to earthly government. After this all that is left is where to draw the line. <br /><br />The words and actions of Jesus and the Apostles suggest the line should be drawn far short of fawning over the actions of snipers (as just one example).bionic mosquitohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12002548958078731031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-12366606012507361972015-04-23T01:26:59.438-07:002015-04-23T01:26:59.438-07:00Paul definitely spoke to power. His purpose was to...Paul definitely spoke to power. His purpose was to get in front of Nero and tell him to his face that Jesus is Lord....ie not Nero....having said that I agree that Romans 13 is often an excuse for Christians to wimp out....particularly the Bible belt neo cons Miciahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02274123763508945595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-47531953224040135492015-04-22T16:00:47.056-07:002015-04-22T16:00:47.056-07:00For many years, I have analogized the Bible to an ...For many years, I have analogized the Bible to an NFL season. The Gospels are the Super Bowl. Everything else - off-season minicamps.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-648884752216444797.post-38564494307254344482015-04-22T15:47:10.620-07:002015-04-22T15:47:10.620-07:00Too many Christians I encounter do want to confron...Too many Christians I encounter do want to confront the possibility that what Paul may have written does not harmonize with that which is attributable to Jesus.<br /><br />Put another way, there is not much, if any, letter or spirit of Romans 13 in the words ascribed to Jesus in the Gospels.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com