Oct 9, 2009 -- 8:59PM, Xristocharis wrote:

My religion and my politics are, I dare say, basically the same thing.

Indeed. Quite so, I expect. Your religion and politics basically promote your point of view in whatever interpretation of the Bible suits you at the time, in my opinion. This exploring Christianity to pass the time of yours seems a great hobby.

You have every right to express your points of view. But, if they involve a careful somewhat legalistic wording to beat another over the head, how is it that you differ from a politician?

Oct 20, 2009 -- 3:34AM, Xristocharis wrote:

Oct 10, 2009 -- 10:09PM, davelaw40 wrote:

but if you ran for office-what prominence would your faith play in the publicity for your campaign?

 

Jon the Xian Dog-catcher? or nonya?

Well, to be honest the issue of Christians even running for public office is something I question as legitimate. Or at the very least, I struggle with the notion. Not a few early Christians felt similarly, forbidding Christians from even being magistrates in the same way Christians were forbidden from becoming soldiers.

For the sake of clarity, I'm not suggesting those in public office aren't or can't be Christian, only that I question to what degree such a vocation severely compromises our vocation as Christians.

But hypothetically, if I was able to resolve this issue to my own satisfaction and conscience, and I did run for office, I doubt I'd be pushy or terribly "public" about my faith. Though I would hope that those things I considered truly important were in keeping with what I consider important in regard to my faith. "The least of these" being the most important.

But the more that thought exercise continues its course the more problematic it becomes. Or at the very least, I remain highly skeptical of the possibility of resolving the issue without violating my committment to Christ and my neighbor or violating my conscience. At some point, compromise seems inevitable.

-Jon

and yet John the Baptist didn't tell the Roman soldiers to cease soldiering, nor did Jesus so command the centurion, nor did Peter command Cornelius

but I do understand your dilemma especially in light of things that happened during the Bush administration just as making public professions of faith, attending Bible studies, or letting people know that one was reading  Oswald Chambers; but then again the Bible already makes clear the difference between those professing public and those who worship in their closet.

Gideon did.