Christians and Democracy
“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”
1 Peter 2:12
To be a Christian is to live a selfless life. A life dedicated to God. A life so good that even if people accuse us of doing wrong they will see our good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
All too often here in North America Christians are seen in a negative way. They are seen as protesting everything they disagree with. From gay marriage, to abortion, to people of other faiths, even political leaders.
This should not be so.
This is not what God wants Christians to do. We are to reach out to the world with the love of God. Jesus told us to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations. NOT PROTEST.
We are told by Jesus to Love God, our neighbour and even our enemy. We cannot be protesting against them and expect them to see love.
We live in a secular democracy that means the government. A good democratically elected government will do its best to treat all people equally.
A democracy that works correctly is a compromise on the part of all its who make it up. It is in a democracy that Christians either show their worst or their best.
Christians have a choice to abuse the democratic process and try to pass laws that only favour them. Laws that restrict the rights of others. Thus turning people against them.
OR
Christians can build bridges calling on the government to pass laws that make all people truly free and equal even if they disagree with them.
Christians or for that matter anyone should not be doing anything that would restrict the rights of any person or group.
One man Martin Niemoller a German Christian cleric, an anti Nazi during world war two. Seen what it was like when people stood by and did nothing. He wrote,
Quoted below are quotes from scripture and prominent Christians that I think all Christians need to consider,
Tony Campolo the American evangelist made an interesting point when he said,
“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.”
Tony Campolo.
Francis of Assisi prayed,
“O Divine Master, grant that I may not seek to be consoled, as to console. To be understood, as to understand. To be loved, as to love. For it is in giving that we receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned. It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”
Francis of Assisi.
Jesus when asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:36-40
He also said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
Matthew 5:43-45
James the brother of Christ wrote,
“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.
But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it."
James 2:8-10.
Please think about it.
“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”
1 Peter 2:12
To be a Christian is to live a selfless life. A life dedicated to God. A life so good that even if people accuse us of doing wrong they will see our good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
All too often here in North America Christians are seen in a negative way. They are seen as protesting everything they disagree with. From gay marriage, to abortion, to people of other faiths, even political leaders.
This should not be so.
This is not what God wants Christians to do. We are to reach out to the world with the love of God. Jesus told us to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations. NOT PROTEST.
We are told by Jesus to Love God, our neighbour and even our enemy. We cannot be protesting against them and expect them to see love.
We live in a secular democracy that means the government. A good democratically elected government will do its best to treat all people equally.
A democracy that works correctly is a compromise on the part of all its who make it up. It is in a democracy that Christians either show their worst or their best.
Christians have a choice to abuse the democratic process and try to pass laws that only favour them. Laws that restrict the rights of others. Thus turning people against them.
OR
Christians can build bridges calling on the government to pass laws that make all people truly free and equal even if they disagree with them.
Christians or for that matter anyone should not be doing anything that would restrict the rights of any person or group.
One man Martin Niemoller a German Christian cleric, an anti Nazi during world war two. Seen what it was like when people stood by and did nothing. He wrote,
“When they came for the Communists,
I did not stand up,
because I was not a Communist.
When they came for the Jews,
I did not stand up,
because I was not Jewish.
When they came for the Catholics,
I did not stand up,
because I was not a Catholic.
When they came for me,
there was no one left to stand up.”
Martin NiemollerQuoted below are quotes from scripture and prominent Christians that I think all Christians need to consider,
Tony Campolo the American evangelist made an interesting point when he said,
“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.”
Tony Campolo.
Francis of Assisi prayed,
“O Divine Master, grant that I may not seek to be consoled, as to console. To be understood, as to understand. To be loved, as to love. For it is in giving that we receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned. It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”
Francis of Assisi.
Jesus when asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:36-40
He also said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
Matthew 5:43-45
James the brother of Christ wrote,
“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.
But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it."
James 2:8-10.
Please think about it.
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