From: ptfarre@afterlife.ncsc.mil (Peter Farrell)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Re: Power
Date: 13 Nov 92 07:19:12 GMT
Organization: The Great Beyond

In article <Nov.6.03.35.08.1992.5496@geneva.rutgers.edu> stehman@hubcap.clemson.edu (Jeff Stehman) writes:
>A few weeks ago my Sunday school class discussed politics in general
>and the presidential race in particular, and I nearly ODed on
>republicanism. :-)  It was clear that everybody had a very strong
>desire for the USA to become a godly nation.  What bothered me about
>both the classroom discussion and the more intimate discussion over
>lunch afterwards was that many of the participants seemed so intent on
>establishing this godly nation, that they were overlooking the souls
>of individuals.  For instance, many of them liked the idea of keeping
>pagans or atheists from holding public office or positions in public
>schools.  Along similar lines, I believe Bush once made a comment that
>atheists shouldn't be citizens.  I'm not interested in discussing the
>legality of these ideas, but rather, the consequences of establishing
>such a nation.
>
>Spose it happens.  Christians hold all the authority in the United
>States -- they are in power.  More than that, they keep non-christians
>from holding certain positions or doing certain things or whatever.  My
>questions is, how do you then witness to these non-christians?
>...

Jeff,
As intriguing as this idea of a Christian controlled government sounds,
I think it is best forgotten. And this comes from a fellow Christian.
First, let us face facts about America. It is not, nor is it likely
ever to be such a nation. If trends are any indication, it is moving
steadily in the opposite direction.
Second, such notions have been entertained in the past, and with startling
outcome. To even attempt to implement such a state in any fashion except
that by which the Holy Spirit would do it is to invite disaster. That might
sound surprising coming from a conservative Christian (and Republican),
but consider that the Civil War was fought by a generation of Americans
who were far closer in the social consensus to a Biblical society than
we are. Many sincerely wrong people fought with desperate and savage
passion; Stonewall Jackson was reportedly a very devout Christian.
Third, on a more positive note, history indicates that the most powerful
and sweeping changes in societies come from within as hundreds upon thousands
of people meet up with God's Holy Spirit. Some of the great revivals of
this and the last century have borne fruit which is still evident today.
The 1908 Azusa Street revival is one example which comes to mind.

We should avoid the temptation to rely too much on institutional means
and value system warfare. First, because we cannot win that way, second,
because we are too likely to make a big mess, and third (probably most
important, really) because an empowered Church is how God turns the 
world upside down.

ps: Personally, I think the Church has been largely disobedient in the
commandment to believe God and not quench the Spirit of God in its own
midst; that's half the trouble right there.

Pete

-- 
Peter Farrell			| "Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, 
ptfarre@afterlife.ncsc.mil 	| shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he
				| who does the will of my Father in heaven."