You can't be Christian and a Libertarian?

[AGRP]

Chuck Baldwin did a great job in answering this question:

http://www.thenorthwestreport.com/a-nation-of-truth-rejecters/

If this thread proves anything, a Christian MUST be a Libertarian.

 

[Churchill2004]

I'm a hardcore atheist, secularist, Jesus-wasn't-that-great rationalist, and I think the premise is ridiculous. I'll happily debate religion, but there are plenty of devout Christians who believe in liberty. A lot of the forerunners of classical liberal thought have their roots in religion- the King is below God's law, natural rights are a divine gift, the Protestant individualization of faith, etc.- and a belief in human liberty (while I don't find it in my reading of the Bible as a whole) can and has been justified on a scriptural basis- 1 Sam 8 is a great anti-state rant in the voice of the OT God himself. Judge Napolitano is a pre-Vatican II Catholic (his professed love of "Ann" Rand notwithstanding). Ron Paul is a conservative Christian. A lot of the founders had great Enlightenment skepticism of Christianity, but aside from Tom Paine and a few others they were not atheists, or even anti-Christians. The Bible has motivated a lot of horrors in human history, but it has also motivated many great defenders of humanity.

So, yeah, Christians can be libertarians, just like Jews and Muslims and Buddhists and Hindus and even us lonely atheists.

 

[Live_Free_Or_Die]

18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll. (Revelation 22:18-19)

Only the arrogance of man could translate a concept that something should not be changed to it is impossible for any man to ever add or take away and since it is impossible to add or take away it must be true.

 

[Live_Free_Or_Die]

You are learning Who Christ is but still have much to learn about His Bride, the Church.

lol, I will be sure to give his bride her proper due next time I stop by one of those government approved 501c3 brides...

 

[YumYum]

It is imperative that we understand that everything contained within the Bible is not the absolute word of Jesus and/or God. It was assembled by men who tried to understand Jesus and in some respects never fully understood or embraced his teachings. I have a list of books that all would benefit from reading to better understand what I have come to accept as God..... you can start with the book by Eckhart Tolle A New Earth(yes... a bit new age in its writing!), then Boundaries by Dr. Cloud to better understand how Jesus called us to invoke love in our personal relationships (We are definitely NOT called to help all those who are in the grip of evil/despair in the world) and in fact become enablers/co-dependent in many instances, and also the book Misquoting Jesus for a better understanding of what the Bible is and how it has evolved into what we know it today. It is imperative that we not think in absolutes if our goal as Christians is to become enlightened and serve a love greater than ourselves. Just like the Buddha, Jesus' ultimate message was not to establish any kind of religion which is man-made structure but to exude love and light into the world. Sometimes love involves saying no. As for religion, it is a man-made structure and while necessary to carry the message of Christ it is a necessary evil. Perhaps Paul too used this newly form religion of Jesus for self interest rather than to honor God through love. I wish I knew hte Bible well enough to say for sure from my vantage point. Much of the Catholic faith is rooted in the antithesis of God by using its power over the hearts and minds of individuals to serve evil. While I was a fan of pope John Paul, for much of the Catholic church's existence was all too often authoritative in nature rather than loving which I believe accounted for much of the diversity amongst all the denominations within Christianity. Now a days it is possible to manipulate Jesus to serve anything from Child molestation to marxism, quite pathetic and not at all what I believe to be the true nature or purpose of Christ. jmho.

Most excellent post!!!

 

[YumYum]

I'm a hardcore atheist, secularist, Jesus-wasn't-that-great rationalist, and I think the premise is ridiculous. I'll happily debate religion, but there are plenty of devout Christians who believe in liberty. A lot of the forerunners of classical liberal thought have their roots in religion- the King is below God's law, natural rights are a divine gift, the Protestant individualization of faith, etc.- and a belief in human liberty (while I don't find it in my reading of the Bible as a whole) can and has been justified on a scriptural basis- 1 Sam 8 is a great anti-state rant in the voice of the OT God himself. Judge Napolitano is a pre-Vatican II Catholic (his professed love of "Ann" Rand notwithstanding). Ron Paul is a conservative Christian. A lot of the founders had great Enlightenment skepticism of Christianity, but aside from Tom Paine and a few others they were not atheists, or even anti-Christians. The Bible has motivated a lot of horrors in human history, but it has also motivated many great defenders of humanity.

So, yeah, Christians can be libertarians, just like Jews and Muslims and Buddhists and Hindus and even us lonely atheists.

Have you ever tried praying to Jesus?

 

[outspoken]

It is my firm thinking that Jesus was a libertarian. So, you would have to be libertarian to be a Christian I would think.

The Jesus I have come to know intructed His followers to be liberal with one's own heart and conservative with one's own mind and resources, ultimately to be used in the service of something greater than ourselves. We still reside in a world wraught with evil who seek to exploit other people and the their production in the service of their own ego. It has become nearly sinful in the eyes of many to be a person who lives below his/her means and saves for a rainly day. As with children, sometimes the greatest form of love we can show is saying "NO." This too goes for starting wars unjustified, stealing, coveting our fellow citizens property, spewing hatred/fear, and all else that has become the mantra of virtually all the leaders in both parties today.