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Theology => General Theology => Topic started by: Symphony on September 22, 2003, 08:20:11 AM



Title: Church and State
Post by: Symphony on September 22, 2003, 08:20:11 AM

Several threads here have discussed this.  I can't remember which ones they are and, I can't find any here under Theology.

Maybe we could continue here.

I'm just wondering, What are the arguments regarding this, right now--that is, the "separation of church and state"??




Title: Re:Church and State
Post by: Tibby on September 22, 2003, 08:44:23 AM
I think it all depends. I thank there should be equal and fair treatment of all Church. I would happily give up “in god we trust” if it meant we knew for sure that the Muslims and Buddhist and Hindu and Jews and Wiccans had to face the same Separation. There are ways around it. We just need to learn how to fight it legally. The people who support the Separation have no problem fighting it within the law. Why can’t we as Christians do the same thing? A Thing this is Inherently Christian like obeying the Governing Authority.  We had plenty of chances in history to run the Courts, and the bothers that came before us botched that up, so now we have to learn to DEAL WITH the Non-Christians in the Courts. Sorry, but America in not a Theocracy.


Title: Re:Church and State
Post by: Heidi on September 22, 2003, 10:22:56 AM
Every country has a religion that their government uses as the bases for their laws. The laws of the  Christian countries are based on the 10 commandments. The laws in the Muslim countries are based on the Koran. The laws in atheistic countries are based on secular humanism. The notion that secular humanism is not a religion is simply false. Secular humanists worship the human being as the highest power in the universe. How can we separate chruch and state?


Title: Re:Church and State
Post by: Jabez on September 22, 2003, 12:04:44 PM
There is in my opion seperation between church and state,Now religion and state is another qeustion.


Title: Re:Church and State
Post by: Heidi on September 22, 2003, 12:07:54 PM
Don't you think religion and state is what people mean when they talk about church and state?


Title: Re:Church and State
Post by: Jabez on September 22, 2003, 01:37:35 PM
yes my bad.I get upset when others are tring to take GOD out of the US.I know we must obey the law..Although the goverment has declared the bible the word of GOD,people still attack it..its a shame really.


Title: Re:Church and State
Post by: Royo on September 22, 2003, 01:59:56 PM
There is in my opion seperation between church and state,Now religion and state is another qeustion.
Quote by Jabez
___________________________________________________

Very well put. The Constitution says the state shall in no way establish religion. I.E. No state mandated religion as most European countries had. And what Tibby said is true; we are not a theocracy. Which says what Jabez said; there is already a seperation of church and state. But that doesn't mean "never the two shall mix." Christianity, and our form of govenment, has always been a 2-handed state. Only in the somewhat recent history has the forces of evil been trying to tear our hands apart. Or should I say, only in the somewhat recent history have they been succeeding so greatly.
Unless something changes the last many years of what the forces of evil have accomplished, we as Christians will become a dispised group among those who want a more secular society where so many have become "lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God."
Unless God does a great work among us and in us, this country, and Christians in particular, are in for bad times ahead. We can but pray, and work as He guides us to change this. Time will tell.

Yours in Christ.  Roy.


Title: Re:Church and State
Post by: Heidi on September 22, 2003, 02:13:18 PM
It was all prophesied that people would turn away from God as end times approach. There is nothing we can do about it since greater powers are operating than just we humans. All we can do, as believers, is stand firm and stand up for what we believe, but we cannot alter prophesy.


Title: Re:Church and State
Post by: Jabez on September 22, 2003, 02:29:48 PM
"but we cannot alter prophesy. "

How true..

I hope the end is in my life time.I want to fight in the battle.


Title: Re:Church and State
Post by: Heidi on September 22, 2003, 09:16:57 PM
It'd be neat to be a part of end times, but alas, I don't think I'll live long enough to see it.


Title: Re:Church and State
Post by: Reba on September 22, 2003, 11:26:19 PM
Amendment I.2
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The above is an exact quote.


Title: Re:Church and State
Post by: Royo on September 23, 2003, 12:38:15 AM
Amendment I.2
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The above is an exact quote.


Thank you Reba. I didn't have exact quote, but had read it before. Nice to see what it says exactly.


Title: Re:Church and State
Post by: Tibby on September 23, 2003, 01:19:33 AM
It'd be neat to be a part of end times, but alas, I don't think I'll live long enough to see it.

Why do ya say that? People are living a lot longer now a days ;)


Title: Re:Church and State
Post by: Saved_4ever on September 23, 2003, 02:17:03 AM
It'd be neat to be a part of end times, but alas, I don't think I'll live long enough to see it.

Why do ya say that? People are living a lot longer now a days ;)

Are you kidding?  I sure hope so.  After the flood the average age was about 70.  Guess what it still is today.


Title: Re:Church and State
Post by: Tibby on September 23, 2003, 08:57:58 AM
It'd be neat to be a part of end times, but alas, I don't think I'll live long enough to see it.

Why do ya say that? People are living a lot longer now a days ;)

Are you kidding?  I sure hope so.  After the flood the average age was about 70.  Guess what it still is today.

Nah, we are never going to get rid of the Baby boomers. If we had a world wide nuclear war right now, but Sunday, all we would have left are the Baby Boomers and the cockroaches. ;D

Feals good to be Gen x, doesn't it, Jason? ;)


Title: Re:Church and State
Post by: MercyBreeze on September 23, 2003, 07:55:48 PM

Interesting that there exists a "freedom of religion" within this country, but if that "religion" is based upon something Christian, Biblical, or morally defined, then such "freedom" only exists as a minority.  In fact, to boldly speak of what you believe (if that belief involves Jesus Christ) suggests that you are likely to be treated as an outcast.

To some degree, it almost appears that Christians today have traded places with homosexuals in social perspective.  "Homosexuality is more than okay and we're not going to say anything if you believe in it or do it.  However, you're a moron if you believe that Christ died, rose again, and all that jazz.  What a load of crap."

Having faith in Christ (to whatever end that faith exists) is increasingly looked down upon while having faith to do as you please with yourself is increasingly supported as a way of life for any normal american.  For if you are a normal American, you won't believe in the bogus of Jesus Christ.

Pretty lopsided if you ask me.  If freedom is freedom, why is no one going to the Supreme Court to argue the problem of pornography on the grocery store magazine shelves?  Why is no one going to the Supreme Court to argue the problem of infidelity within marriages?  Did we lose our guff somewhere along the way?  Cause as believers, I gotta say, we look pretty cowardly.  

We don't want to stand on a belief.  We don't want to argue a doctrine.  We don't want to ruffle any feathers.  We don't want to push any buttons.  God forbid, right?  Let's just sit and wait for His return, huh?

No.  God help us.  We have issues of our own.  With the power of Christ within us, we should have nothing to fear.  Yet, we seem to fear everything that involves confrontation.

In Christ Alone,

Mercy


Title: Re:Church and State
Post by: Heidi on September 23, 2003, 08:00:54 PM
Well, it's difficult to legislate morality. After all, God allowed us the freedom to do as we pleased until we realized it was causing us pain and suffering. Unfortunately, the unbelievers are going to have to fall a long way down before they admit their behavior is causing problems. If they persist in denying it, they, of course, will fall all the way into hell.


Title: Re:Church and State
Post by: Reba on September 24, 2003, 11:52:26 PM

Interesting that there exists a "freedom of religion" within this country, but if that "religion" is based upon something Christian, Biblical, or morally defined, then such "freedom" only exists as a minority.  In fact, to boldly speak of what you believe (if that belief involves Jesus Christ) suggests that you are likely to be treated as an outcast.

To some degree, it almost appears that Christians today have traded places with homosexuals in social perspective.  "Homosexuality is more than okay and we're not going to say anything if you believe in it or do it.  However, you're a moron if you believe that Christ died, rose again, and all that jazz.  What a load of crap."

Having faith in Christ (to whatever end that faith exists) is increasingly looked down upon while having faith to do as you please with yourself is increasingly supported as a way of life for any normal american.  For if you are a normal American, you won't believe in the bogus of Jesus Christ.

Pretty lopsided if you ask me.  If freedom is freedom, why is no one going to the Supreme Court to argue the problem of pornography on the grocery store magazine shelves?  Why is no one going to the Supreme Court to argue the problem of infidelity within marriages?  Did we lose our guff somewhere along the way?  Cause as believers, I gotta say, we look pretty cowardly.  

We don't want to stand on a belief.  We don't want to argue a doctrine.  We don't want to ruffle any feathers.  We don't want to push any buttons.  God forbid, right?  Let's just sit and wait for His return, huh?

No.  God help us.  We have issues of our own.  With the power of Christ within us, we should have nothing to fear.  Yet, we seem to fear everything that involves confrontation.

In Christ Alone,

Mercy

Well said mercy


Title: Re:Church and State
Post by: Symphony on December 09, 2003, 05:27:41 PM

I think the Separation of Church and State was first ordained by God, in 1 Samuel 8.

There God tells Samuel to go ahead and give the people what they want, a king, like all the other nations around them.  But, He also says, "...they are not rejecting you, but they are rejecting me..."

   
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