The Role of Government

[mbgb]

oooh, I just had a huge discussion on this with a friend. From an American perspecitve, I'm typically Republican, with Libertarian leanings fo' sho'. I am not card-carrying or anything, but tend to vote that way. I think the Democratic party of the 50's and 60's is the Republican party of today. I also think the Democratic party of today leans towards Socialism in my opinion, which is very scary. The more the government is doing for you, only bad things can happen. I believe, as a Christian, what many of you have already said, that Govt. is God-ordained and is here for a reason. I believe human nature will always cause us as a people to act and react in certain ways. I believe that the democracy of America is going to fall one day and I believe that is God's will to be honest. If you read revalations about smaller nations uniting into one (the European Union perhaps?) and all currency becoming the same (the Amero?)...it all could be viewed as signs of the end of time.

But, if I were to have my own opinion, I believe that the way a lot of left-leaning liberals tend to view things is that big-government needs to be fixing all of the little problems of the people. That is such a scary thought to give the government such control over our every day lives. Also, the popularity of the "big election" amazes me when you consider how the local elections so much more affect everyday lives. However, I am not surprised one bit at the popularity of Obama considering the state of the world and the lack of belief in our Almighty Father creating this world and being in definite control of everything. I see how Obama's speeches become appealing, and it's reminescant of JFK's hope for the future in the 50's...but JFK was also a member of the 1950's democratic party. Obama is a member of the 2000's socialistic democratic party. IT's become eletist and leaning towards communism in my opinion. They are talking about the government taking over big oil. Times like this make me glad that we are allowed to bear arms and that my husband and I at least are not living beyond our means. Because all of these people afraid to allow guns are going to be wishing they had them when this country goes to poop.

OK....soapbox...over.

Sorry if I've ofended anyone, but hey, that's how politics is played unfortunatey. I was only trying to tell it how I view it, not to take a stab at anyone. I ultimately try to vote the way God would have me. I wish we would all do that, but many don't think to do that.

love to you all, God bless!

[DeepCuts]

Someone said, "The government was ordained by God (whatever government we may be under) to govern us."

If this is true, does that then mean that God ordained Hitler to rule Germany? Did God ordain Robert Mugabe to govern Zimbabwe? I don't understand that.

[Pete Martinez]

Habakkuk 1:5-6 - “Look among the nations and watch; be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you. For indeed I am raising up the Chaldeans (Babylon), a bitter and hasty nation which marches through the breadth of the earth, to possess dwelling places that are not theirs.”

Habakkuk 1:7-“They are terrible and dreadful; their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves. Their horses also are swifter than leopards, and more fierce than evening wolves. Their chargers charge ahead; their cavalry comes from afar; they fly as the eagle that hastens to eat. They all come for violence; their faces are set like the east wind. They gather captives like sand. They scoff at kings, and princes are scorned by them. They deride every stronghold, for they heap up earthen mounds and seize it. Then his mind changes, and he transgresses; he commits offense, ascribing this power to his god.”

God can and will raise up a nation to punish those that transgress against him. While I am not 100% sure of all the details involved in world war 2 the 1920s saw a very sinful period of time in America's history followed by a banking collapse and then a war. Now I cannot say if it was related to judgment or not but if it was... How shall he not punish this nation for the sins we commit today?

[intricatic]

Originally Posted by DeepCuts

Someone said, "The government was ordained by God (whatever government we may be under) to govern us."

If this is true, does that then mean that God ordained Hitler to rule Germany? Did God ordain Robert Mugabe to govern Zimbabwe? I don't understand that.

When you're talking humanism, it's hard to understand why God would allow bad things to happen to good people, but the physical isn't the only tangible element in a spiritual discussion. Adversity is a spiritual thing as much as a physical thing, and adverse situations tend to strengthen the spiritual element of life much more than peace does (think Dietrich Bonhoeffer, for instance).

In the same vein, one might say that the captivity of Israel in Babylon is difficult to understand, yet it's apparent if you're familiar with the Bible that persecution serves an ultimate purpose in God's plan beyond the physical limitations that humanism views the world within. It's not something anyone is able to discern without looking outside those limitations, despite any knee-jerk reaction that might offer an easier escape from such a difficult thing. It's also difficult to talk about without having people accuse you of absurdities such as calling Hitler an agent of God's will, which is clearly ridiculous if you understand where the argument comes from.

[Ryder]

"Bureaucracy expands to meet the needs of the expanding bureaucracy." -Oscar Wilde

"Dictatorship naturally arises out of democracy, and the most aggravated form of tyranny and slavery out of the most extreme liberty." -Plato

Thought these might be relevant...

[Pete Martinez]

"Our earth is degenerate in these latter days; bribery and corruption are common; children no longer obey their parents; every man wants to write a book and the end of the world is evidently approaching."
Assyrian Clay Tablet- 2800 B.C.