Abide God's Word regarding politics and government

I am going to abide God's clear message (without even trying to interpret to our own human reasoning) that He ordained capital punishment. As I said earlier in this thread, the Old Testament laws are discussed into three general categories: moral, ceremonial, and civil. Civil and Moral laws have not been touched by Christ because there is no need to change because they are considered timeless, eternal, and universal, based on God's own character. Christ came to FULFILL the law, not destroy the law. Moral laws are God's laws for His followers while Civil laws are for His followers that Governments are ordained by Him. One of the example of the Civil law is Judges and jurors selected by human criteria, rather than by God's standards. (See Exodus 18:21-22). "Thou shall not murder" is also STILL a law. Since government do no murder, instead, they use the term "capital punishment". In the Old Testament, Genesis 9:6 "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man." In the New Testament, Matthew 26:52 and Acts 25:11, the sword means kill. The "Sword" was not used to spank someone, but to kill them. Jesus was referring sword as "shall perish with the sword." Perish means death. In Greek, it is ajpovllumi , Strong's # 622, the translated word for greek is Apollumi. Perish is defined as to destroy; to put out of the way entirely, abolish, put an end to ruin; render useless; to kill; to declare that one must be put to death; metaph. to devote or give over to eternal misery in hell; to perish, to be lost, ruined, destroyed. So, when Paul was using the word "Sword" in Romans 13:4, For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. That's very very clear whether we like it or not. One of the issues that I have learned about Moral Laws and Civil Laws when I was studying God's perspective in "governing" is abortion. An illustration I used earlier if a man hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury. According to the Old Testament law (Exodus 21:22-23), the offender must be fined whatever the woman's husband demands and the court allows. If there is serious injury, you are to take life for life (capital punishment) I don't agree with some of today's government laws because in relation to abortion, is part of Exodus 21:22-23 law, our authorities (United States) have made it legal to abort babies. The use of the word sword which stands for the government's God ordained right to inflict severe punishment, to include death Capital Punishment (see Matt 26:52; Acts 25:11). The "Sword" was not used to spank someone, but to kill them. If you do what is evil, be afraid, because God has given the government the right to bear the sword, and it doesn't bear the sword for nothing. You don't spank or fine people with a sword; you kill people with a sword. Laws that list of sacrificial offerings, requirements for specific acts such as male to be "circumcised" are ceremonial laws. Those laws have been fulfilled by Christ. Matthew 5:17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." The Ceremonial laws are mentioned in Colossians 2:13-14, "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross." Ephesians 2:14-16 "For He (Christ) Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in His flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility." Hebrews 9:15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. It is clear what laws we are looking at and we must be careful not to disobey God's Word to please ourselves to any human reasoning. I don't like death penalty but who am I to go against God's Word? In relation to get involved, we SHOULD. I do believe very much in being a responsible Christian citizen. But that responsibility is defined for the Christian by the Bible, not by university professors or political scientists or campaign advertisements or any other humanism reasoning. Christ have not given us a political agenda, but a spiritual mandate to proclaim the Gospel and disciple the nations (Matthew 28:19-20). Rather as good testimony to outsiders, Christians can work with non-Christians (& government) in attempting to promote justice and civic peace because it is good for all people, not just Christians (Galatians 6:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:15). As I said earlier, as Christians, we are to focus on the social, economic, political and military crises which confront our lives require us to reaffirm our view of God as love, and the godly life as the way of peace. To love God is to treat people lovingly. (Leviticus 19:18, I John 3). Christ taught us to love our enemies, instructing us that war, both within and without, is sin and an expression of human failure. (Matthew 5, James 4). As Christians, we can commit ourselves to work more actively for public policies that reduce militarism, war, and political and economic inequities. We must work persistently and faithfully for a more peaceful and equitable world community. That means we if we do not like what the Government is doing, GET INVOLVED and make it change (if God is willing).

Respecting Other Political views

While I am only looking from biblical perspective of Government's authority. This is where each of us, as a Christian, we believe that our political views of all these things are to be guided by the Bible and Holy Spirit. When we voice our political views, our views are MINE based on our understanding the Bible and how we view the world. You and I can view differently on the "details" matter. Christians should use their Bible and their relationship with God by adopting a biblical perspectives which are God's views in all aspects of life. A Christian who steers away from Christians' views are so far "right" because they view differently while a Christian who steers away from Christians' views are so far "left" because they view differently while. I am what some of my relatives and friends called "Liberal Republican" or you can say "Conservative Democrat". I am a conservative democrat simple because many liberal democrats are called the "enabler" . Enabler means one that enables another to achieve an end; especially : one who enables another to persist in self-destructive behavior (as substance abuse) by providing excuses or by helping that individual avoid the consequences of such behavior. The main focus I am trying is to make sure that I keep God's Character HIGHLY without lowering to human's standard. We creatures still can "reason" why things should be done which we believe is true at the same time, God controls everything regardless what we do. God governs (controls) the world (Isa. 40:22-24), the nations (Isa. 40:15-17), and us (Proverbs 16:9) that I have nothing to fear. At the same time, I must submit to God's commandments to get involved in this world to make "things happen". This is WHEN we are to consider the following verses when we try to compromise specific issues that we do not agree with. In Romans 14:5 "One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind." 1 Corinthians 10:28-29 "both for the sake of the man who told you and for conscience' sake, the other man's conscience, I mean, not yours. For why should my freedom be judged by another's conscience?" Nothing is black and white therefore, we will continue to debate the "specifics".

Submission to Government & Capital Punishment

The Old Testament laws are discussed into three general categories: moral, ceremonial, and civil. The Bible itself does not divide the law into these categories (many of the laws overlap in their purpose), but this three-fold division is useful when we talk about the laws. Civil Laws listed in the Bible have not been touched. Still remains intact under both Old and New Testament. When we talk about Civil laws, we are talking Romans 13:1-7, 1 Peter 2:13-17 and other similar passages. You shall not murder (Exodus 20:13) is one example. "You shall not murder" is also found in the Moral laws. Three examples of Civil laws: Guilt defined as "beyond a reasonable doubt," or other human definition, rather than according to the Biblical requirement for a minimum of two or three witnesses. (See Deuteronomy 19:15-20) Judges and jurors selected by human criteria, rather than by God's standards. (See Exodus 18:21-22) Immunity from prosecution granted for one's testimony against another. (See Exodus 23:1-8) Moral laws are generally considered timeless, eternal, and universal, based on God's own character, and therefore in force today. Moral laws are God's laws for His followers while Civil laws are for His followers that Governments are ordained by Him. Ceremonial laws are laws that list of holy,worship offering, requirements are ceremonial laws. Circumcision is also under ceremonial law. A cleansing ritual is another illustration of ceremonial or ritual law: the priest was to touch the person's right earlobe, right thumb, and right big toe (Lev. 14:1-18). Ceremonial is a law which was abolished, which Christ "took out of the way, nailing it to his cross." Col. 2:14. Paul calls it "the law of commandments contained in ordinances." Eph. 2:15. Ceremonial law, were given by God through Moses in the first 5 books of the Old Testament. Christ is the mediator of the covenant, that we receive the promised eternal inheritance. That Covenant is that He has died as a ransom to set us free from the sins committed under the first Covenant. The Book of Hebrews explains that Jesus is the mediator, the executor, of The New Covenant (The New Testament). The word mediator comes from the verb "to mediate" which means a mediator is one who stands between two parties or two factions needing to be reconciled eternally. With that promise, as a Christian, I always thank God continually for our New Testament guarantees of spiritual life and freedom in Christ. The bond of the Covenant between God and US is ETERNAL that will never fail because it is God who has promised, and I have strong FAITH in His Character of His Eternal Promise. There is a confusion about WHEN to disobey the Civil laws that God have established. God did not established governments to make sure citizens follow God's laws when the governments do not follow God themselves. God never commanded the governments to "spread the Gospels". The world who are without Christ also have their own views. More often than not, the secular world view is in conflict with the bible. To Christians, this should NOT be a surprise. To the world who are without Christ, this conflict is not a surprise either. God dictated governments to "govern" the people and live in a civilized world. We Christians are not to give total and final submission to the secular government because we are responsible to God spiritually when the government ask us to disobey God and that is when we can disobey the Government. Our first submission is to the Church (Heb. 12:18–24; 1 Pet. 2:9–10). Jesus taught that the government should work in harmony with the church and should recognize its sovereignty in spiritual matters (Matt. 22:21). The separation of church and state is taught in 2 Corinthians 5:20 where the Christian is referred to as an ambassador - "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ." "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) I have mentioned before, we only disobey the Government when they ASK us to disobey GOD. As I have explained in the past, If you don't like the laws, get involved and change it without total rebellious. Just simply say "I disagree" MLK and Rosa Parks did. Corrie Ten Boom disagreed with Hitler and hid the jews. Dietrich Bonhoeffer disagreed and got hanged. Daniel's friends of the Old Testament disagreed and got thrown into the furnace (Daniel 3:6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace."). We just have to be careful how we disrupt God's ordained government as First Peter 2:13 says "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men." Colossians 4:5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 1 Thessalonians 4:12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders. We need to discern and figure out how FAR should we obey the Government before we decide to disobey. I disagree with USA's abortion's law but I am not submitting to this law by speaking up and again, I am not violating anyone else's rights to the law. Whatever country you live in, you must obey as long as you don't violate God's holiness. Peter and the apostles had opportunities to say, "We ought to obey God rather than men." The only time a Christian can violate his government is when he is asked to disobey God. Now.. what law are we going to disobey? Surely, its not the Capital punishment because Christians are divided on this issue. What laws do you think when is the right time to disobey God? God have established the Capital Punishment in Genesis 9:6 "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man." Regarding the "SWORD". The use of the word sword which stands for the government's God ordained right to inflict severe punishment, to include death Capital Punishment (see Matt 26:52; Acts 25:11). The "Sword" was not used to spank someone, but to kill them. If you do what is evil, be afraid, because God has given the government the right to bear the sword, and it doesn't bear the sword for nothing. You don't spank or fine people with a sword; you kill people with a sword. Here's the paradox of an issue: "If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman's husband demands and the court allows. But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life." [Exodus 21:22-23]. (Note: The verse just quoted calls for the death of all who are guilty of the murder of a child in the womb,abortion. But, sadly, our authorities have made it legal to abort babies). To live in a country that "theocracy" form of government in which God and the government are allied. Jesus said "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). Jesus makes it clear that there is a definite separation between His kingdom and the kingdoms of this world. America was formed by strong community of people who decided to have a government that is govern by the people. Not all of the founders were Christians but majority of them were. They didn't come to create a nation similar to the King where people have to follow specific religion. The founders of 1776 Constitution were mostly lawyers and they have found loopholes to be independent from the English Empire. The American War was a war between Great Britain and revolutionaries within thirteen British colonies, who declared their independence as the United States of America in 1776. Which means, they created their own "government". Therefore, in a way, it was not a rebellion but rather "the people" wanted to created they own government rather than following the "empire". the King of England, by his own choice, made the decision to remove the thirteen colonies from his cover of authority, protection, and jurisdiction. Abandoned by their protector, the King of England, the Colonies had no obligation to submit to the English Parliament. Having been abandoned by the King of England, the Colonies had no option left but to establish themselves a new cover, a lawful shield of government formerly provided for them by the King. Every step leading to the founding of a new governmental authority was one of lawful action by the colonial legislatures established under authority of the King of England. Today, politics and ideologies have come in the form of the separation in our minds of "sacred vs. secular". Majority of the decisions within the Governments around the world are secular minds more than sacred (spiritual) minds.