Luk 9:25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

(Thank God, Jesus later died for our sins.) 

So this is my question: should a [true christian] ever lie in order to gain power?
:)

You bring up a great point.
It made me think about the fact that the Nation of Israel (1948) won't even think about a king again until the temple is rebuilt.  Just a reflection.

About christians:
Are we first flesh and then spiritual!
Do we not live in the world and yet we are not [of the world]!
If we don't attempt to change bad laws (because the law was made for the transgressor of the law) are we not just in the way!
While we are on earth, we should attempt to make it a better place.
We are between a rock and a hard place; we are suppose to represent our Savior by being good stewards.

[QUOTE=miami-ted;789453]So, as near as I can tell if a Christian is somehow thrust into the political arena and gains position that's a wonderful blessing from God, but otherwise they should not seek political power.

IMO, no one is going to "thrust" a Christian into running for a political office.
Hopefully we run because we want to make a difference.  We have to live in this world along with everybody else. 

[QUOTE=miami-ted;789453] It corrupts the mind and the soul.

I don't think that a strong christians soul can be corrupted just because they are elected dog catcher.  We are suppose to seek guidance from God and allow Him to lead us not into temptation.

[QUOTE=miami-ted;789453]I can't find any evidence that Jesus ever gave any kind of encouragement to anyone who loved him to seek the power to rule.

I think that that was because during that time the Romans ruled the land with an iron fist.  Jesus came to free the world from spiritual bondage.  And now that you mention it...it takes spiritual freedom to withstand the human bondage that the world will endure until our Lord returns to be the only righteous leader of the world.  We need to understand this.  But! when we profess to be different...profess to be christians we have to act like it. 

[QUOTE=miami-ted;789453]Now, I'm sure there will be detractors and praise God there are some who while in a political arena come to trust in God's word and His Son for their salvation and Paul tells each one to remain who he is, where he is once he comes to know the Lord .  By this we may have some Christians in political offices or appointments.  There will also be some Christians who will seek offices and appointments claiming to desire to 'put God in America again', but look at the strong Christians who came out for the presidential nominees.  Left in the dust early on.

See this is what I'm talking about; first we don't know who really is a "strong" christian.  I voted for Huckabee in the primary and then I was happy when I kept seeing him of the different cable news channels; one day I heard him say something that I knew was not the truth and I placed him in the same league with the rest.  Maybe he believed what he was saying.

[QUOTE=miami-ted;789453]Today we have men who claim some kind of faith, but if you read their answers to the question of faith put to them not a one will dare mention God or Jesus for fear of offending some other religion.  I'm pretty sure the one true God doesn't honor that.

Well! I heard Obama say that Jesus was his savior, but, I have never heard McCain utter those words.  And yet words are cheap. 

I see Machiavelli and other dictators of the world in anyone who lies and deceives.  We have a good example with GWB.  I voted for him twice.

[QUOTE=miami-ted;789453]Now, I'm sure that in some small local town offices running as a Christian may well be a plus, but the real issue is whether or not the person can hold to the life that he has chosen when he accepted God's word and God's Son to reign in his life.

Ditto! 

[QUOTE=miami-ted;789453]
Listen, living this life as a Christian is tough even in a regular job, but having power over people and what most of us consider politics as usual i.e. closed door secret meetings and plans, having to tell 'little white lies' to get deals done, or at least conceal some truth that might turn a deal sour and certainly as one in a political career moves higher up the chain, being able to always and consistently be open and honest is usually seen as a great liability.
So I hope that that answers both questions.
God bless.
In Christ, Ted.[/QUOTE]

A little white lie; what is that?  If I say that I love rock music; that would be a little white lie; but, if I say that my opponent said that he/she is going to make Mexico the fifty first state (and he/she didn't say that); that is a lie.  A lie is when you bear false witness against someone else.  When you lie about what you like or don't like that is poor self esteem.  We as christians can not excuse our lies as politics as usual.

Mat 5:37  But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

:)

What Jesus pointed out was that we have to obey the laws of the land.

The Jews refused to use Roman money (with Caesar's image on it) and that is where the crooks came in.  They charged the Jews a fee for changing their earnings from Roman coins into Jewish money.  The Jews refused to stoop to the ways of the ungodly in order to survive on a daily basis.  Today I can't tell a good man from a bad man, unless I observe his actions.  A lie is not a lie until it is proven.   

Mat 22:21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.

 

[QUOTE=moses26;791106]BUT WHAT IS GODS" GIVE IT TO HIM. JESUS AND HIS APOSTLES AND CHRISTIANS WERE NOT INTO POLITCS- CHANGING THE ROMANS , NOT OF THE WORLD. PEOPLE THAT ARE POLITCS ARE OF THE WORLD THEY GAIN THE MONEY- WEALTH, BIG HOMES, CARS, PEOPLE. ETC,,,IS IT WHO YOU OBEY- JESUS AND GOD, NOT OF THE WORLD. OR THE DEVIL OF THE WORLD.[/QUOTE]

This is my opinion: if you don't believe that you should abide by the rules of the government because the politicians are corrupt then you can't turn around and call one law unjust and another law just.  You can't tell a congregation to vote for this guy and not vote for the other guy.  Separation of Church means that church is off limits for politics.  Church is a place to praise and worship God; it is not a platform to decide the ways and means of man.   

I'm sure that the Roman opressors did not elect their leaders; they did not live in a democracy.

But the way that you described the money grubers it could be anybody (today).  You said: "THEY GAIN THE MONEY- WEALTH, BIG HOMES, CARS, PEOPLE. ETC,,,"

I think that what you are expressing is the fact that power causes (some) people to lie cheat and steal and that christians aren't called to be political.  (The Bible doesn't express that view.)  IMO we can't sit back and do nothing.

  My concern is that some people who appear to be God fearing Christians have sold their souls for the purpose of power.  Today our economy is in the tank and no one is believing the cries because our government has been run for eight on lies and deception.

We have to vote for the leaders that we [hope that we can trust] and on the issues that we believe would be beneficial.

Again! We are first flesh and then spirit; we live in the world, but we are not of the world.  This world is not our eternal home; but we are here now.
:)