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JimfromOhio

I am happlily married with 5 kids. I am an accoutant and worked in an accounting field for over 25 years. I like to make a habit of writing down whenever I have deep thoughts about God (so I won't forget). I really into Reformed Theology that is connected to Presbyterian Church in America.

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Location: Columbus, Ohio, United States

I enjoy having deep thoughts about God and put down what I actually think about (so I won't forget).

Saturday, January 21, 2006

What do you think would bridge the gap between the rights and the lefts?

Religious freedom means the freedom to have any religion you want, or to have no religion at all. Any attempt to influence the American federal government and American Citizens along with Christianity would force unbelievers and believers more divided than ever. Spreading the Gospel will be lost because Christianity rules rather than preaches. I don't think that is what Jesus would want. Our form of government offers people the ability to exercise their faith freely and without interference from the government. To be fair to all faiths, our government is set up to not establish a state religion. This includes promoting one religion over another. Faith is something that individuals must accept or reject. People either take the leap and believe or they do not. It is not something that can be forced. God will take over the earthly Governments whenever he is ready. God's main mission is spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That's the main job for Christians to do until Christ's return. We do not need holy wars nor we need creating hardship for the non-believers. We need to let them know about Christ personally rather than having Government telling them who to believe and why we have God's laws. What is the primary purpose of Christians need to do? Gospel or government ? The Gospel--the good news--is that each person, through Jesus Christ, can be forgiven of sin, brought back into fellowship with God, and filled with God’s Spirit for newness of life. Salvation is the bundle of benefits received by the person who believes the Gospel and entrusts his or her life to Christ. Even Jesus submitted to Roman's government without over-throwing it. Remember Jesus' main mission is to spread the Gospel. Government and Church "My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence" (John 18:36) In this explanation Jesus makes it clear that there is a definite separation between His kingdom and the kingdoms of this world. The fact that Jesus had not allowed His disciples to defend Him was evidence enough of this fact. Christ's kingdom is heavenly and seeks the reconciliation of the sinner to God, but civil and world governments are of this earth and seek for power and supremacy. The separation of church and state is also taught in 2 Corinthians 5:20 where the Christian is referred to as an ambassador - "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ." An ambassador is one who represents one country to another. He does not become involved in the government of the other country but seeks the welfare of his own. Likewise, the Christian does not become involved in the affairs of earthly governments but represents the heavenly kingdom to them. He is in this world but is not of this world (John 17:16). His work is spiritual, not political. His responsibility is to help the people of this world to give their allegiance to the heavenly kingdom of Christ.