this is interesting. i wouldn't have thought of it quite like this.Robert wrote:Vote to plead for a kinder more compassionate government.gcdonner wrote:What is a Christians purpose in voting? For a more comfortable Christianity?
Government does have a place. Paul clearly states that.
So if there is going to be a earthy body, would it not be best to encourage it to be as Christlike as possible? It will never be God's Kingdom, but should we not work towards a better, more humane way to treat others than execution and torture? Encourage it to be good to those it governs?
A vote is just that. A statement of encouragement. "We the people" see this as the better way.
By voting, we removed much of the power away from the few and disperse it to the many.
While there will always be the elite that try to control the masses, a vote is a small way to say "we the people" do not want a king in this world, but a overseer who is still responsible(considerate) to the people.
Jesus never suggested the role of government was to be more Christ-like (?)
maybe this is part of the confusion (many of us have.)
(to me) governments are a necessity to protect citizenry, defend borders, provide justice for crimes. in the U.S., citizens are tasked with voting to guide government; that's the type of government we have, it's not to be a kingdom or empire.
but the purposes you state are the work Jesus instructs His followers, not that they should assign these responsibilities to government, but, that they "do it yourself."
so, as U.S. founders dreamed (but were not so naive to believe would be guaranteed) the U.S. would provide a place for its citizenry to choose .. that is different from a dream that the U.S. would provide. if citizens choose (socialism, or other) much of it is because they are (lazy) and prefer government do what they should be doing. i guess.
problem being, government makes a big expensive mess out of things; government's answers to problems are consistently, more government, more taxes for more government. they fix nothing.
in all of history, control has been by the minority wealthy, not the masses.
no vote, no form of government, has changed that, so far as i know.
the minority wealthy may change, but, the math does not.
i guess.
present U.S. is a form of socialism, that can't be denied.
i suppose it's how far down that road (we) will go. clearly, many can't get enough of it.
yes, i do believe a lot of folks who claim to be Christians would really-really like to throw their responsibilities onto government and not worry about it. a generalization.
Robert, i know enough about you, personally, to know this is not you.
