Wayne in Maine wrote:I am coming to believe more and more that the Christian's only task is a one-on-one task an our best hope at changing "the system" is to call individuals to repentance and make disciples of them.
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Wayne in Maine wrote:I am coming to believe more and more that the Christian's only task is a one-on-one task an our best hope at changing "the system" is to call individuals to repentance and make disciples of them.
I am with you so far also. Looks like #1 to me...mike wrote:Excellent - I'm with you so far.Dan Z wrote:
- If you want to fight racism and cultural misunderstanding - befriend people of different ethnicities, empathize, walk in their shoes, expose your children to appreciate the richness of cultural diversity.
If you want to stop abortion - adopt a child, provide for an unwed mother, or volunteer and support a crisis pregnancy center, teach the value of sexual morality, help someone in over their head care for their children.
If you want to stand against poverty - give what you have to those in need, create jobs, help people learn how to work, befriend the poor and really get to know their struggles.
If you want to stand against war - register as a CO, take in a refugee family, become resolute in your commitment to do no violence, eschew weapons of war, teach your children to turn the other cheek and to love their enemies.
etc.
How do you walk in the shoes of people of other ethnicities w/o sometimes walking with them in their appeals for justice?Dan Z wrote:So...for all practical purposes, I am a #1 (OK - I did write a letter to Prez Bush Sr. once, along with some members of our church, imploring him to reconsider starting a war in Iraq).
- If you want to fight racism and cultural misunderstanding - befriend people of different ethnicities, empathize, walk in their shoes, expose your children to appreciate the richness of cultural diversity.
If you want to stop abortion - adopt a child, provide for an unwed mother, or volunteer and support a crisis pregnancy center, teach the value of sexual morality, help someone in over their head care for their children.
If you want to stand against poverty - give what you have to those in need, create jobs, help people learn how to work, befriend the poor and really get to know their struggles.
If you want to stand against war - register as a CO, take in a refugee family, become resolute in your commitment to do no violence, eschew weapons of war, teach your children to turn the other cheek and to love their enemies.
etc.
This expresses my point of view very well.Dan Z wrote:I honestly appreciate what you fellows are saying...I've been a contentious abstainer from voting my entire life, and this is where I have tried to live personally and practically throughout the years.
So...for all practical purposes, I am a #1 (OK - I did write a letter to Prez Bush Sr. once, along with some members of our church, imploring him to reconsider starting a war in Iraq).
- If you want to fight racism and cultural misunderstanding - befriend people of different ethnicities, empathize, walk in their shoes, expose your children to appreciate the richness of cultural diversity.
If you want to stop abortion - adopt a child, provide for an unwed mother, or volunteer and support a crisis pregnancy center, teach the value of sexual morality, help someone in over their head care for their children.
If you want to stand against poverty - give what you have to those in need, create jobs, help people learn how to work, befriend the poor and really get to know their struggles.
If you want to stand against war - register as a CO, take in a refugee family, become resolute in your commitment to do no violence, eschew weapons of war, teach your children to turn the other cheek and to love their enemies.
etc.
Yet, I'm hesitant to release the possibility that we might, at times, be called to "speak prophetically" to those who hold political power - particularly in concert with other like-minded brethren.
Dan Z wrote:...teach the value of sexual morality...give what you have to those in need...become resolute in your commitment to do no violence...teach your children to turn the other cheek and to love their enemies
"Aren't even close to biblical commandments"?Josh wrote:That list of things to do looks suspiciously like the same talking points I hear from the left wing. And they aren't even close to biblical commandments, either.
I'll have a go:What would you who chose #1 have to say about abortion? Would you say that abortion is wrong? Would you say that it ought to be illegal? Would your words change depending on whether or not your listener has a position in government? These are not rhetorical questions; I am sincerely interested to see your responses.
In general I equate abortion with murder. It's morally wrong and I am of the opinion that society would be better off if it were illegal. I don't care whether or not my listener has a position in government.PeterG wrote: What would you who chose #1 have to say about abortion? Would you say that abortion is wrong? Would you say that it ought to be illegal? Would your words change depending on whether or not your listener has a position in government? These are not rhetorical questions; I am sincerely interested to see your responses.
Actually, it's not a joke Josh. I chose the words "conscientious abstainer" quite deliberately. "Conscientious" meaning my non-voting is driven by conscience or conviction, and "Abstainer" meaning I choose to abstain, that is not participate in the voting process. I do not morally "object" to voting per se, so the word "objector" didn't seem to fit, but simply choose not to participate as a matter of conscience.Wade wrote:silentreader wrote:Does not contentious objector sound a bit protesting? Abstainer sounds a bit more staying away from something in a non-resistant form. Or that is what it sounded like to me anyway...Dan Z wrote:I honestly appreciate what you fellows are saying...I've been a contentious abstainer from voting my entire life, and this is where I have tried to live personally and practically throughout the years.
...a contentious abstainer... what form does that take?Josh wrote:I think it's a joke since the proper term is "conscientious objector".
Where is the biblical commandment to fight racism and cultural misunderstanding? And what justifies making it #1?PeterG wrote:"Aren't even close to biblical commandments"?![]()
If those are leftist talking points, then good for the leftists, and may still more truth displace their errors. Truth isn't guilty by association.