QT
1.12.2007
Direction: The Christian and Civil Disobedience:
"Nevertheless, the scripture passages quoted at the beginning make it clear that we are to be subject to the governing authorities. How is it that one is subject to government, yet refuses to obey it? That would appear to be a contradiction. John Howard Yoder offers an explanation:
It is not by accident that the imperative of [Romans] 13:1 is not literally one of obedience. The Greek language has good words to denote obedience, in the sense of completely bending one’s will and one’s actions to the desires of another. What Paul calls for, however, is subordination. This verb is based on the same root as the ordering of the powers by God. Subordination is significantly different from obedience. The conscientious objector who refuses to do what his government asks him to do, but still remains under the sovereignty of that government and accepts the penalties which it imposes, . . . is being subordinate even though he is not obeying.4"
For the sake of the gospel followers of Jesus will refuse to obey men.
We should also recognize that the current North American governmental systems are set in place with civil disobedience as a valid method of speaking to government. A quotation from the Declaration of Independence of the United States is instructive on this point:
. . . We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; that, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it and to institute a new government. . . .
While not so blatantly stated, the Canadian Constitution has a similar underlying presumption. In a modern western democracy a good citizen is one who calls the government to account for its actions and who, through the political process, works to make the government better. How does Christian civil disobedience fit into a system where, through the political process, everything is “up for grabs?”
When the government acts in a way which violates Christian conscience under the tests set out above, Christians have several ways to work with the situation. They can seek legislation which changes that which they abhor, they can use the courts to determine whether the law actually applies to them in the way it seems to, they can use the courts in an effort to overturn the law as being a violation of the Constitution, or they can submit to the government while refusing to obey the law. All of these {29} methods have been used by Mennonites in this century on the issues of conscription and of the paying of taxes which go for war purposes. The Amish have successfully obtained exemption from Social Security by these methods, and the concept of conscientious objection to military service came into existence in this way. What is also true of these instances is that what turned the political tide was the willingness of Christians to do Holy Obedience, and their quiet willingness to go to jail rather than to obey the government. Mennonites active in the fight against conscription have said again and again that it was the willingness of Mennonite boys to go to jail which turned the hearts of the people in government to make possible the exemption of conscientious objectors from military service.
Mike's thoughts: This is all very interesting stuff. I have many questions on this subject. My current question: Are you sin if you are speeding or not obeying the speed limit? I know it sounds petty ... but it is more a question of the heart ... is my conscience seared as with a hot iron when I do not feel bad for speeding? Or is it not sinning ... am I being a conscience objector to a law that I think should be changed ... I should be allowed to go faster ... which stated above is part of our political process. I am not sure ...
A bigger question is disobeying a law because you feel a person could have a better life ... like the people who helped Ann Frank in Nazi Germany ... were they sinning because they were not obeying there government and telling the solders where the Jews in hiding were ... on the flip side were the solders who participated in these raids not sinning because they were doing there job. Some could claim, they did not know for sure that these people would in the end be murdered by the Nazi's.
What about the people who came to America for religous freedom? Were they sinning because they did not obey their government and instead fled to america.
Is it ok for me to disobey the law for the mear statement of trying to make the world a better place. To do the right thing per say.
I think about Tiananmen square ... was it sinning for the guy to stand in front of the tank?
http://bieniosek.com/gallery/albums/album15/tiananmen_tank_1.sized.jpg
"Nevertheless, the scripture passages quoted at the beginning make it clear that we are to be subject to the governing authorities. How is it that one is subject to government, yet refuses to obey it? That would appear to be a contradiction. John Howard Yoder offers an explanation:
It is not by accident that the imperative of [Romans] 13:1 is not literally one of obedience. The Greek language has good words to denote obedience, in the sense of completely bending one’s will and one’s actions to the desires of another. What Paul calls for, however, is subordination. This verb is based on the same root as the ordering of the powers by God. Subordination is significantly different from obedience. The conscientious objector who refuses to do what his government asks him to do, but still remains under the sovereignty of that government and accepts the penalties which it imposes, . . . is being subordinate even though he is not obeying.4"
For the sake of the gospel followers of Jesus will refuse to obey men.
We should also recognize that the current North American governmental systems are set in place with civil disobedience as a valid method of speaking to government. A quotation from the Declaration of Independence of the United States is instructive on this point:
. . . We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; that, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it and to institute a new government. . . .
While not so blatantly stated, the Canadian Constitution has a similar underlying presumption. In a modern western democracy a good citizen is one who calls the government to account for its actions and who, through the political process, works to make the government better. How does Christian civil disobedience fit into a system where, through the political process, everything is “up for grabs?”
When the government acts in a way which violates Christian conscience under the tests set out above, Christians have several ways to work with the situation. They can seek legislation which changes that which they abhor, they can use the courts to determine whether the law actually applies to them in the way it seems to, they can use the courts in an effort to overturn the law as being a violation of the Constitution, or they can submit to the government while refusing to obey the law. All of these {29} methods have been used by Mennonites in this century on the issues of conscription and of the paying of taxes which go for war purposes. The Amish have successfully obtained exemption from Social Security by these methods, and the concept of conscientious objection to military service came into existence in this way. What is also true of these instances is that what turned the political tide was the willingness of Christians to do Holy Obedience, and their quiet willingness to go to jail rather than to obey the government. Mennonites active in the fight against conscription have said again and again that it was the willingness of Mennonite boys to go to jail which turned the hearts of the people in government to make possible the exemption of conscientious objectors from military service.
Mike's thoughts: This is all very interesting stuff. I have many questions on this subject. My current question: Are you sin if you are speeding or not obeying the speed limit? I know it sounds petty ... but it is more a question of the heart ... is my conscience seared as with a hot iron when I do not feel bad for speeding? Or is it not sinning ... am I being a conscience objector to a law that I think should be changed ... I should be allowed to go faster ... which stated above is part of our political process. I am not sure ...
A bigger question is disobeying a law because you feel a person could have a better life ... like the people who helped Ann Frank in Nazi Germany ... were they sinning because they were not obeying there government and telling the solders where the Jews in hiding were ... on the flip side were the solders who participated in these raids not sinning because they were doing there job. Some could claim, they did not know for sure that these people would in the end be murdered by the Nazi's.
What about the people who came to America for religous freedom? Were they sinning because they did not obey their government and instead fled to america.
Is it ok for me to disobey the law for the mear statement of trying to make the world a better place. To do the right thing per say.
I think about Tiananmen square ... was it sinning for the guy to stand in front of the tank?
http://bieniosek.com/gallery/albums/album15/tiananmen_tank_1.sized.jpg
1.09.2007
January 9, 2007 - Matthew 8.5-8.27
Jesus Heals an Army Officer's Servant
When Jesus was going into the town of Capernaum, an army officer came up to him and said, "Lord, my servant is at home in such terrible pain that he can't even move."
"I will go and heal him," Jesus replied.
But the officer said, "Lord, I'm not good enough for you to come into my house. Just give the order, and my servant will get well. I have officers who give orders to me, and I have soldiers who take orders from me. I can say to one of them, Go!' and he goes. I can say to another, Come!' and he comes. I can say to my servant, Do this!' and he will do it."
When Jesus heard this, he was so surprised that he turned and said to the crowd following him, "I tell you that in all of Israel I've never found anyone with this much faith! Many people will come from everywhere to enjoy the feast in the kingdom of heaven with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But the ones who should have been in the kingdom will be thrown out into the dark. They will cry and grit their teeth in pain."
Then Jesus said to the officer, "You may go home now. Your faith has made it happen." Right then his servant was healed.
Jesus Heals Many People
Jesus went to the home of Peter, where he found that Peter's mother-in-law was sick in bed with fever. He took her by the hand, and the fever left her. Then she got up and served Jesus a meal.
That evening many people with demons in them were brought to Jesus.
And with only a word he forced out the evil spirits and healed everyone who was sick. So God's promise came true, just as the prophet Isaiah had said, "He healed our diseases and made us well."
Some Who Wanted To Go with Jesus
When Jesus saw the crowd, he went across Lake Galilee. A teacher of the Law of Moses came up to him and said, "Teacher, I'll go anywhere with you!" Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens, and birds have nests.
But the Son of Man doesn't have a place to call his own." Another disciple said to Jesus, "Lord, let me wait till I bury my father."
Jesus answered, "Come with me, and let the dead bury their dead."
A Storm
After Jesus left in a boat with his disciples, a terrible storm suddenly struck the lake, and waves started splashing into their boat. Jesus was sound asleep, so the disciples went over to him and woke him up. They said, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" But Jesus replied, "Why are you so afraid? You surely don't have much faith." Then he got up and ordered the wind and the waves to calm down. And everything was calm. The men in the boat were amazed and said, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him."
Today's Year of the Bible reading is available on the web at http://yob.gospelcom.net/reading.php
Thoughts:
I love the story about the solder, he was so humble and had much faith ... I wish I could be that ... our family has been having a star wars fest ... we watched the 5th one last night The Empire Strikes back ... this passage reminded me of when Yoda is training Luke to use the Force ... first Luke tries to lift his ship up out of the swamp using the force and he fails ... then Yoda does it to show Luke it can be done ...
Luke gasps, "I can't believe it."
Yoda replies in disgust, "That is your problem!"
I know the Force is a lot of New Age crap, but it reminds me of Walking in the Spirit and how we need to lean on God and not on our own understanding ...
1.08.2007
January 8, 2007 - Matthew 7.7-8.4
Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. Everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. And the door will be opened for everyone who knocks. Would any of you give your hungry child a stone, if the child asked for some bread? Would you give your child a snake if the child asked for a fish? As bad as you are, you still know how to give good gifts to your children. But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give good things to people who ask. Treat others as you want them to treat you. This is what the Law and the Prophets are all about.
The Narrow Gate
Go in through the narrow gate. The gate to destruction is wide, and the road that leads there is easy to follow. A lot of people go through that gate. 14 But the gate to life is very narrow. The road that leads there is so hard to follow that only a few people find it.
A Tree and Its Fruit
Watch out for false prophets! They dress up like sheep, but inside they are wolves who have come to attack you. You can tell what they are by what they do. No one picks grapes or figs from thorn bushes. A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit. Every tree that produces bad fruit will be chopped down and burned. You can tell who the false prophets are by their deeds.
A Warning
Not everyone who calls me their Lord will get into the kingdom of heaven. Only the ones who obey my Father in heaven will get in. On the day of judgment many will call me their Lord. They will say, "We preached in your name, and in your name we forced out demons and worked many miracles." But I will tell them, "I will have nothing to do with you! Get out of my sight, you evil people!"
Two Builders
Anyone who hears and obeys these teachings of mine is like a wise person who built a house on solid rock. Rain poured down, rivers flooded, and winds beat against that house. But it did not fall, because it was built on solid rock. Anyone who hears my teachings and doesn't obey them is like a foolish person who built a house on sand.
The rain poured down, the rivers flooded, and the winds blew and beat against that house. Finally, it fell with a crash.
When Jesus finished speaking, the crowds were surprised at his teaching. He taught them like someone with authority, and not like their teachers of the Law of Moses.
Jesus Heals a Man
As Jesus came down the mountain, he was followed by large crowds.
Suddenly a man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus. He said, "Lord, you have the power to make me well, if only you wanted to."
Jesus put his hand on the man and said, "I want to! Now you are well." At once the man's leprosy disappeared. Jesus told him, "Don't tell anyone about this, but go and show the priest that you are well.
Then take a gift to the temple just as Moses commanded, and everyone will know that you have been healed."
Today's Year of the Bible reading is available on the web at http://yob.gospelcom.net/reading.php
Comments
I like the last story ... Jesus says "I want to" I like hearing that ... God is for us ... he wants to help us ... He loves us ...
I love the first story ... Ask and you will receive ... search and you shall find ... God is accessable ... God wants to be a part of your life ... You Rock God
1.04.2007
January 4, 2007 - Matthew 4.12-5.12
Jesus Begins His Work
When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he went to Galilee. But instead of staying in Nazareth, Jesus moved to Capernaum. This town was beside Lake Galilee in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali. So God's promise came true, just as the prophet Isaiah had said, "Listen, lands of Zebulun and Naphtali, lands along the road to the sea and east of the Jordan! Listen Galilee, land of the Gentiles! Although your people live in darkness, they will see a bright light. Although they live in the shadow of death, a light will shine on them." Then Jesus started preaching, "Turn back to God! The kingdom of heaven will soon be here."
Jesus Chooses Four Fishermen
While Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw two brothers. One was Simon, also known as Peter, and the other was Andrew. They were fishermen, and they were casting their net into the lake. Jesus said to them, "Come with me! I will teach you how to bring in people instead of fish." Right then the two brothers dropped their nets and went with him.
Jesus walked on until he saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee.
They were in a boat with their father, mending their nets. Jesus asked them to come with him too. Right away they left the boat and their father and went with Jesus.
Jesus Teaches, Preaches, and Heals
Jesus went all over Galilee, teaching in the Jewish meeting places and preaching the good news about God's kingdom. He also healed every kind of disease and sickness. News about him spread all over Syria, and people with every kind of sickness or disease were brought to him. Some of them had a lot of demons in them, others were thought to be crazy, and still others could not walk. But Jesus healed them all.
Large crowds followed Jesus from Galilee and the region around the ten cities known as Decapolis. They also came from Jerusalem, Judea, and from across the Jordan River.
The Sermon on the Mount
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on the side of a mountain and sat down.
Blessings
Jesus' disciples gathered around him, and he taught them:
God blesses those people who depend only on him. They belong to the kingdom of heaven!
God blesses those people who grieve. They will find comfort.
God blesses those people who are humble. The earth will belong to them!
God blesses those people who want to obey him more than to eat or drink. They will be given what they want!
God blesses those people who are merciful. They will be treated with mercy!
God blesses those people whose hearts are pure. They will see him!
God blesses those people who make peace. They will be called his children!
God blesses those people who are treated badly for doing right. They belong to the kingdom of heaven.
God will bless you when people insult you, mistreat you, and tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me.
Be happy and excited! You will have a great reward in heaven. People did these same things to the prophets who lived long ago.
Today's Year of the Bible reading is available on the web at http://yob.gospelcom.net/reading.php
Gerald Ford
I heard a Episcapol (sp?) priest give the sermon at Gerald Ford's funeral ... he quoted the beauitudes(sp?) ... he said President Ford fullfilled all of them ... I wonder if he was really like that or was the priest just trying to be nice ...
