Comments on: Post elections conversations about the kingdom, Jesus, and politics http://natebettger.com/2008/11/06/post-elections-conversations-about-the-kingdom-jesus-and-politics/ Building bridges, connecting community, village alchemy Sat, 31 Jul 2010 01:50:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: 30,000 troops and my proactive complaint « Nate Bettger | Bend | OR http://natebettger.com/2008/11/06/post-elections-conversations-about-the-kingdom-jesus-and-politics/#comment-1013 30,000 troops and my proactive complaint « Nate Bettger | Bend | OR Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:06:08 +0000 http://natebettger.wordpress.com/?p=438#comment-1013 [...] and “Why I don’t vote” and other such controversial things (“Post-election thoughts” and “Fear-Mongering“… I try to stay out of it and focus on what is happening [...] [...] and “Why I don’t vote” and other such controversial things (“Post-election thoughts” and “Fear-Mongering“… I try to stay out of it and focus on what is happening [...]

]]> By: Noah Johnson http://natebettger.com/2008/11/06/post-elections-conversations-about-the-kingdom-jesus-and-politics/#comment-666 Noah Johnson Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:57:40 +0000 http://natebettger.wordpress.com/?p=438#comment-666 Nate, You say you want to follow the Kingdom model set up by Jesus, the same model that says "the least shall be the greatest" and "whatever you do to the least of these my brethren you have done to me" and encourages us to give food to the hungry, water to the thirsty and clothes to the naked. These are tangible "things" but unless someone gives, who can receive? When you sit idly by with a sack of food while a child outside your front door starves, you in essence helped him starve by your lack of choosing to "do". that is by not helping him you made a choice to help him starve. During nearly the first two centuries of this country Blacks were treated as less than human, WE the PEOPLE changed that!!! Those who voted to put people in office who were in favor of rights for blacks helped, those who did not helped the continuance of injustice. There is no middle ground for the christian to stand... That was the point of many of Jesus sermons.. not doing what is right is the same as casting your lot with those who do wrong. Not voting is the same. Period. When you have the power to do that which is right and choose not to exercise it you abandon those who don't have that power. Romanticise it all you want justify it all you can but its called indifference and it has no part in "The Kingdom of GOD" p.s. if Esther hadn't gotten involved in the political process the Jews would have been wiped out. Paul called on his governors and kings to live like him(book of Acts) Daniel advised the King to do what right or God would strike him down. He also openly defied the laws of the land when they contradicted his devotion to God. Joseph served as the second most powerful politician in all the land and by his advice to pharaoh the coming famine (which God warned him of) was dealt with in a way that saved countless thousands of lives John the Baptist was beheaded for rebuking the king and his mistress for their ungodly affair Jesus himself called on us to pay taxes, an action of political obedience. I would argue God's kingdom is directly involved in government, as the psalms, book of Romans, and proverbs all elude to. good chatting with ya, Nate Nate,
You say you want to follow the Kingdom model set up by Jesus, the same model that says “the least shall be the greatest” and “whatever you do to the least of these my brethren you have done to me”
and encourages us to give food to the hungry, water to the thirsty and clothes to the naked.
These are tangible “things” but unless someone gives, who can receive?
When you sit idly by with a sack of food while a child outside your front door starves, you in essence helped him starve by your lack of choosing to “do”. that is by not helping him you made a choice to help him starve.
During nearly the first two centuries of this country Blacks were treated as less than human, WE the PEOPLE changed that!!!
Those who voted to put people in office who were in favor of rights for blacks helped, those who did not helped the continuance of injustice.
There is no middle ground for the christian to stand… That was the point of many of Jesus sermons.. not doing what is right is the same as casting your lot with those who do wrong.
Not voting is the same. Period. When you have the power to do that which is right and choose not to exercise it you abandon those who don’t have that power.
Romanticise it all you want justify it all you can but its called indifference and it has no part in “The Kingdom of GOD”

p.s.
if Esther hadn’t gotten involved in the political process the Jews would have been wiped out.

Paul called on his governors and kings to live like him(book of Acts)

Daniel advised the King to do what right or God would strike him down. He also openly defied the laws of the land when they contradicted his devotion to God.
Joseph served as the second most powerful politician in all the land and by his advice to pharaoh the coming famine (which God warned him of)
was dealt with in a way that saved countless thousands of lives
John the Baptist was beheaded for rebuking the king and his mistress for their ungodly affair

Jesus himself called on us to pay taxes, an action of political obedience.

I would argue God’s kingdom is directly involved in government, as the psalms, book of Romans, and proverbs all elude to.

good chatting with ya, Nate

]]> By: D http://natebettger.com/2008/11/06/post-elections-conversations-about-the-kingdom-jesus-and-politics/#comment-610 D Sat, 20 Dec 2008 01:51:48 +0000 http://natebettger.wordpress.com/?p=438#comment-610 I love to read the writings of other people that I really don't know and then realize how small this world really is. The thought that God is in control is a big thought, the fact is a big fact, but the reality is so small for so many. Being a part of this community of believers is not to say we all meet on Sunday for an hour and sing some cool songs. This is our community, and furthermore, this is our church, in fact it is His church. I write about this very subject so much and have wondered for so long why more are not outraged by what is going on. Funny thing though, there are thousands of people out there who are the hands and feet of Jesus who understand what and who we are. Thanks Nate. D I love to read the writings of other people that I really don’t know and then realize how small this world really is. The thought that God is in control is a big thought, the fact is a big fact, but the reality is so small for so many.
Being a part of this community of believers is not to say we all meet on Sunday for an hour and sing some cool songs. This is our community, and furthermore, this is our church, in fact it is His church.
I write about this very subject so much and have wondered for so long why more are not outraged by what is going on. Funny thing though, there are thousands of people out there who are the hands and feet of Jesus who understand what and who we are.
Thanks Nate.
D

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