Evangelicals: Do you think legislating conservative Christian morality will win more souls to Christ? (crucifixion, Gospel)
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In recent years, one of the primary arenas of the evangelical church attempting to live out the Great Commission has been in politics and the idea that our nation's laws should reflect conservative Christian morality.
I saw a quote from a liberal Christian that said something along the lines of "oppressing people will not convert them, it will only shut their hearts towards what you have to say."
I find that to be very true. In a society where the laws are in line with the Bible, people may follow them because they are the law but they wouldn't have a real change of heart, which is what conversion to Christianity should be about, isn't it? Instead, it will anger and turn hearts away from the conservative Christian message when people are being forced to live a life that they don't want to live in their hearts.
So for those who want to legislate our country back to Biblical values, do you believe that it will actually result in genuine conversions to conservative Christianity? If so, why? If not, what is the reason for being so politically active?
In recent years, one of the primary arenas of the evangelical church attempting to live out the Great Commission has been in politics and the idea that our nation's laws should reflect conservative Christian morality.
I saw a quote from a liberal Christian that said something along the lines of "oppressing people will not convert them, it will only shut their hearts towards what you have to say."
I find that to be very true. In a society where the laws are in line with the Bible, people may follow them because they are the law but they wouldn't have a real change of heart, which is what conversion to Christianity should be about, isn't it? Instead, it will anger and turn hearts away from the conservative Christian message when people are being forced to live a life that they don't want to live in their hearts.
So for those who want to legislate our country back to Biblical values, do you believe that it will actually result in genuine conversions to conservative Christianity? If so, why? If not, what is the reason for being so politically active?
There is a very long history of Evangelical Influences since I can remember ( back in the early '50's)..but for decades, due to division of "Church and State" prevision in the Constitution..Religion was held at bay..BUT in the past few decades..They have forced their influence into legislatures of various States..and thankfully many of those laws passed didn't pass muster in Supreme Courts of the State...then on a few occasions..SCOTUS..
It's rather sad..that there is so much influence going on from State to State continually trying to pass laws aligned singularly with a Christian Group/ outside of Catholic Faith...which has created hardships for everyday citizens across far too many States....
Historian David Bebbington defines Evangelical Christianity as having four main qualities (quoted from here):
* Biblicism, a particular regard for the Bible (e.g. all essential spiritual truth is to be found in its pages)
* Crucicentrism, a focus on the atoning work of Christ on the cross
* Conversionism, the belief that human beings need to be converted
* Activism, the belief that the gospel needs to be expressed in effort
Quote:
Mainline tend to be more liberal on both, and Historically Black tend to be theologically conservative and socially liberal.
A second popular affiliation-based approach, however, refers to “conservative” protestants and contrasts them with “moderate” and “liberal” protestants. Conservative protestants and then broken into different groups, including evangelicals, fundamentalists, and charismatics.
The term “conservative protestant” in the second approach is roughly equivalent to “evangelical” in the first approach.
I think my point is..I nor do most give a care what you believe in..BUT once $$/influencing backers/elected officials USE their accesses to FORCE their particular belief system is not just wrong> BUT against the Constitution..I think the Kim Davis of late is just one prime example!!
So for those who want to legislate our country back to Biblical values, do you believe that it will actually result in genuine conversions to conservative Christianity? If so, why? If not, what is the reason for being so politically active?
Conversions? Not necessarily yea or nay... who knows.
Are conversions to conservative Christianity different than conversions to liberal Christianity? There is only one Christ, not two.
Politically active? Why is anyone politically active? People want to have laws that reflect their values. Seems obvious.
People want to have laws that reflect their values. Seems obvious.
And the point is that enforcing purely religious values on other people should not be viewed as a Christian value. Convince if you think it is appropriate, don't use force of law.
And the point is that enforcing purely religious values on other people should not be viewed as a Christian value. Convince if you think it is appropriate, don't use force of law.
That's the point. With all this talk of "turning America back to Christ" which is code for fundamentalist Christianity becoming the dominant force in culture and politics as it was in the 1950s, it will only happen if hearts are won. It won't happen by force of law. That will only push more and more people further away from where conservative Christians want them. Pretty much all anti-Christian sentiment in America today is because of this. People don't want to be forced to live a lifestyle that they don't want to live.
As for one or two Christ's, I agree only one Christ is real, but there are at least two (if not more) in America today. There is one Christ who is concerned primarily with helping the poor and needy and love and acceptance for all. There is another that is primarily concerned with gay marriage, guns, and outward expressions of Christianity such as Ten Commandments monuments and public prayer. Which one is the true Christ?
That's the point. With all this talk of "turning America back to Christ" which is code for fundamentalist Christianity becoming the dominant force in culture and politics as it was in the 1950s, it will only happen if hearts are won. It won't happen by force of law. That will only push more and more people further away from where conservative Christians want them. Pretty much all anti-Christian sentiment in America today is because of this. People don't want to be forced to live a lifestyle that they don't want to live.
As for one or two Christ's, I agree only one Christ is real, but there are at least two (if not more) in America today. There is one Christ who is concerned primarily with helping the poor and needy and love and acceptance for all. There is another that is primarily concerned with gay marriage, guns, and outward expressions of Christianity such as Ten Commandments monuments and public prayer. Which one is the true Christ?
That's because they have no idea of what religions for Christ DID in the early days of this country:
Quote:
In newly independent America, there was a crazy quilt of state laws regarding religion. In Massachusetts, only Christians were allowed to hold public office, and Catholics were allowed to do so only after renouncing papal authority. In 1777, New York State’s constitution banned Catholics from public office (and would do so until 1806). In Maryland, Catholics had full civil rights, but Jews did not. Delaware required an oath affirming belief in the Trinity. Several states, including Massachusetts and South Carolina, had official, state-supported churches.
In 1779, as Virginia’s governor, Thomas Jefferson had drafted a bill that guaranteed legal equality for citizens of all religions—including those of no religion—in the state. It was around then that Jefferson famously wrote, “But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.” But Jefferson’s plan did not advance—until after Patrick (“Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death”) Henry introduced a bill in 1784 calling for state support for “teachers of the Christian religion.”
Future President James Madison stepped into the breach. In a carefully argued essay titled “Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments,” the soon-to-be father of the Constitution eloquently laid out reasons why the state had no business supporting Christian instruction.
--------------
Madison also made a point that any believer of any religion should understand: that the government sanction of a religion was, in essence, a threat to religion. “Who does not see,” he wrote, “that the same authority which can establish Christianity, in exclusion of all other Religions, may establish with the same ease any particular sect of Christians, in exclusion of all other Sects?” Madison was writing from his memory of Baptist ministers being arrested in his native Virginia.
So the next time you hear someone say this country needs to turn back to Christ, tell him he should turn to the Smithsonian Magazine to get a true picture of the divisions and outright hatred of some Christians for others, and how more than one state taxed ALL citizens for the benefit of a particular denomination in their state.
Politically active? Why is anyone politically active? People want to have laws that reflect their values. Seems obvious.
People have no right to laws that are based ONLY on their God's desires. Secular lawa is not to be used to enforce ANY God's desires. They are for the safety of citizens and maintenance of order, period. You and your God's sins are irrelevant.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nateswift
And the point is that enforcing purely religious values on other people should not be viewed as a Christian value. Convince if you think it is appropriate, don't use force of law.
Actually push Christian moral and ethics like life down on the laws of the land will keep sin off the land or just reduce it ..... See with more sin on the land more authority for the devil to play his rough house over the people and even created hatred and more health problems ....................... See lands with the spiritual authority like isis brings on ethics of sin like there is a place were beheading occur and crucifixions and bondage are happening and a cycle of death is common for ethics and sinful morals ......................... Look all the people with back pain which is a spiritual authority of a devil which is allow to rule in people land where sexual perversion is active , as it is not God that back pain comes but that authority of the devil with people and the lands were sin is active .......................... See it may be more then just back pain which the devil can operate where the land is polluted with sin and there are other health problems that can occur and weather problems that can be brought on by sin is a spiritual authority .................... Then if condition were it is easy to be a Christian where a place like the world is not, or for Christians to be comfortable in a world with less sin and devils then that is a bonus for all ................See this wisdom of spiritual authority is from the apostolic gifting from Gods spirit to see into the lands for the purpose of God
And the point is that enforcing purely religious values on other people should not be viewed as a Christian value. Convince if you think it is appropriate, don't use force of law.
In recent years, one of the primary arenas of the evangelical church attempting to live out the Great Commission has been in politics and the idea that our nation's laws should reflect conservative Christian morality.
I saw a quote from a liberal Christian that said something along the lines of "oppressing people will not convert them, it will only shut their hearts towards what you have to say."
I find that to be very true. In a society where the laws are in line with the Bible, people may follow them because they are the law but they wouldn't have a real change of heart, which is what conversion to Christianity should be about, isn't it? Instead, it will anger and turn hearts away from the conservative Christian message when people are being forced to live a life that they don't want to live in their hearts.
So for those who want to legislate our country back to Biblical values, do you believe that it will actually result in genuine conversions to conservative Christianity? If so, why? If not, what is the reason for being so politically active?
No. Of course not.
But we are voters, and we can vote to have a society that we like.
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