"What did Jesus and Paul do politically and/or socially to change people's lives in their times? The answer to that question is nothing. In fact, when Pilate directly asked Him if He was a king, Jesus responded by saying His Kingdom is not of this world, and thus neither He nor His servants would fight (John 18:33-37). He never petitioned the cruel and devitalizing Roman government for anything. In fact, He said that we should pay taxes to Caesar (Matthew 22:21) and strive to love our enemy (Matthew 5:44).
The apostle Paul was of the same stripe. Slavery was a common practice wherever he traveled in the Middle East, but the Bible records no efforts that he made to end its dominance over so many people's lives. Both Jesus and Paul were revolutionary in their religious teachings, but those teachings did not involve even peaceful efforts to overturn governmental practices that Christianity would not consider to be in the people's best interests."
Excerpt from Essay: Jesus, Paul, and the Christian Right by John W. Ritenbaugh
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Yahshua and Paul had their missions from God, which due to their days and circumstances didn't include a call for the Israelite nations to remember the Law of Moses (with its statutes and judgments). They also didn't live in "democracies" like we do today, where we are offered God-given opportunities to effect change (or at least call for it). It is inaccurate and misleading to compare the ministries of Yahshua and Paul to today. What if abolitionists had the defeatist, negative attitude found in too many lazy Christians today? Or our forefathers who fought against the tyrannical British? (Romans 13 Revisited).
Yahshua said if his kingdom were established then, his servants would FIGHT. He also told his disciples whoever didn't have a weapon (sword), to go get one! (Luke 22:36).
The Sabbath-keeping Church of God is called to exercise faith and works and do more than engage in pleasant social gatherings (fiddling while Rome burns) and blather bland messages that wouldn't offend anybody (but God and true Christians who know we're to dare to share the plain truth on every issue, politically correct or not). We are to address the issues of today and reveal what the Word of God offers as the solution - whether it's about the CURSE of illegal aliens, the foreign invasion we're suffering from Mexico, the CURSE of militant minorities and genocide against white Israelite people in South Africa and Zimbabwe (raped Rhodesia) - not just wring our hands and offer pie-in the sky! The biblical prophets and servants of God called for NATIONAL REPENTANCE and didn't shy away from revealing what our peoples need to repent of or suffer the consequences.
Remember the Law of Moses
Onward Christian Soldiers!
Why did ancient Israel have an army? Was it because they didn't have faith? Did they believe in themselves instead of trusting God? Did they insist on fighting their own battles, rather than let God wage war for them?
Separation of Church and State? Says Who?
God calls upon our Israelite family of nations to RESTORE HIS LAW AND ORDER, and we'll receive blessing to the degree we love and obey and He will bless our NATIONAL EFFORTS that reflect national repentance, learning to go by God's Word as LAW, trusting in His wisdom, rather than leaning to our own understanding with all our different political parties of men.
God's One Government Has Two Branches!
The Sabbath-keeping Church of God (that remains faithful to the plain truth of the Bible that Herbert W. Armstrong taught) has heard a lot about government, but many seem to have forgotten that God's ONE government has TWO branches: Church (Priest) and State (King).
Should Christians Judge?
All judgment must be tempered with mercy. Jesus clearly taught that we can see others imperfections (the "mote" in their eye) and help to remove it once we have first gotten the "beam" out of our own eye. The purpose is to help and not hurt: constructive criticism, not self-righteousness or sinister motivations.
Why did ancient Israel have an army? Was it because they didn't have faith? Did they believe in themselves instead of trusting God? Did they insist on fighting their own battles, rather than let God wage war for them?
Separation of Church and State? Says Who?
God calls upon our Israelite family of nations to RESTORE HIS LAW AND ORDER, and we'll receive blessing to the degree we love and obey and He will bless our NATIONAL EFFORTS that reflect national repentance, learning to go by God's Word as LAW, trusting in His wisdom, rather than leaning to our own understanding with all our different political parties of men.
God's One Government Has Two Branches!
The Sabbath-keeping Church of God (that remains faithful to the plain truth of the Bible that Herbert W. Armstrong taught) has heard a lot about government, but many seem to have forgotten that God's ONE government has TWO branches: Church (Priest) and State (King).
Should Christians Judge?
All judgment must be tempered with mercy. Jesus clearly taught that we can see others imperfections (the "mote" in their eye) and help to remove it once we have first gotten the "beam" out of our own eye. The purpose is to help and not hurt: constructive criticism, not self-righteousness or sinister motivations.
"Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression [the Church and Synagogue], And the house of Jacob [the family of Israelite nations - all Twelve Tribes of Israel - their sins. 2 Yet they seek Me daily, And delight to know My ways, As a nation that did righteousness, And did not forsake the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me the ordinances of justice; They take delight in approaching God" (Isaiah 58).
Furthermore, Yahshua taught we're to be salt and light:
Matthew 5:13-16
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Salt serves both to preserve and irritate (helping to heal) wounds. When we dare to share the plain truth it preserves or makes known God's standard, His Word on any given subject, and that often irritates those unwilling to let the truth set them free from their self-righteous ideas in this sick world and society.
When we live and dare to share the plain truth of the Bible, its light exposes the darkness and disturbs those who prefer to live a lie.
