Deuteronomy 8: Is Religion to be in Politics?
Jan 24, 2018 16:04:35 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2018 16:04:35 GMT
Many have said that religion and God do not belong in politics.
That is an interesting statement; and yet one that is uninformed or ignorant to the understanding of life.
The answer however is so obviously simple:
If God has everything to do with morals, and morals have everything to do with policies, and policies have everything to do with politics, then God has everything to do with politics.
In Deuteronomy 8, after the Israelites were wandering in the desert...they were passing between two particular opposite mountains; there they were exhorted to put in mind of God's dealings with them; to where the good God had spelled out to them more of His "politics" to the people of Israel to be in continuity with the Tablets of Mount Sinai; to the end that they may love him and serve him.
If and when God would bless the people in prosperity as individuals, and or as nations, He does so from their fidelity to Him, and to bring them though a lesser hardship in life to the understanding and supremacy of God. He also stated to them to take heed, and beware lest at any time they forget the Lord thy God, and neglect his commandments and judgments and ceremonies, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, and fed them in the wilderness with manna which their fathers knew not, and after He had afflicted and proved them, and had given them a land of wheat, and barley, and vineyards, wherein fig trees and pomegranates, and oliveyards grow, milk and honey, where without any want thou shalt eat thy bread, and enjoy abundance of all things: where the stones are iron, and out of its hills are dug mines of brass, that when thou hast eaten, and art full, thou mayst bless the Lord thy God for the excellent land which He hath given thee. Lest after thou hast eaten and art filled, hast built goodly houses, and dwelt in them, and shalt have herds of oxen and flocks of sheep, and plenty of gold and of silver, and of all things, at the last he had mercy on them, lest they shouldst say in their heart: My own might, and the strength of my own hand have achieved all these things for me. But remember the Lord thy God, that He hath given thee strength, that He might fulfill his covenant, concerning which He swore to thy fathers, as this present day sheweth. But if thou forget the Lord thy God, and follow strange gods, and serve and adore them: behold now I foretell thee that thou shalt utterly perish. As the nations, which the Lord destroyed at thy entrance, so shall you also perish, if you be disobedient to the voice of the Lord your God.
Thus, this is certainly the drama of human history; the question of fidelity or infidelity to God is the understanding in this life and its flowing consequences.
Below, Bishop Williamson had given a very good conference on this question; and pulled out the relationship and parallels of this dramatic flux of individuals and society.
That is an interesting statement; and yet one that is uninformed or ignorant to the understanding of life.
The answer however is so obviously simple:
If God has everything to do with morals, and morals have everything to do with policies, and policies have everything to do with politics, then God has everything to do with politics.
In Deuteronomy 8, after the Israelites were wandering in the desert...they were passing between two particular opposite mountains; there they were exhorted to put in mind of God's dealings with them; to where the good God had spelled out to them more of His "politics" to the people of Israel to be in continuity with the Tablets of Mount Sinai; to the end that they may love him and serve him.
If and when God would bless the people in prosperity as individuals, and or as nations, He does so from their fidelity to Him, and to bring them though a lesser hardship in life to the understanding and supremacy of God. He also stated to them to take heed, and beware lest at any time they forget the Lord thy God, and neglect his commandments and judgments and ceremonies, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, and fed them in the wilderness with manna which their fathers knew not, and after He had afflicted and proved them, and had given them a land of wheat, and barley, and vineyards, wherein fig trees and pomegranates, and oliveyards grow, milk and honey, where without any want thou shalt eat thy bread, and enjoy abundance of all things: where the stones are iron, and out of its hills are dug mines of brass, that when thou hast eaten, and art full, thou mayst bless the Lord thy God for the excellent land which He hath given thee. Lest after thou hast eaten and art filled, hast built goodly houses, and dwelt in them, and shalt have herds of oxen and flocks of sheep, and plenty of gold and of silver, and of all things, at the last he had mercy on them, lest they shouldst say in their heart: My own might, and the strength of my own hand have achieved all these things for me. But remember the Lord thy God, that He hath given thee strength, that He might fulfill his covenant, concerning which He swore to thy fathers, as this present day sheweth. But if thou forget the Lord thy God, and follow strange gods, and serve and adore them: behold now I foretell thee that thou shalt utterly perish. As the nations, which the Lord destroyed at thy entrance, so shall you also perish, if you be disobedient to the voice of the Lord your God.
Thus, this is certainly the drama of human history; the question of fidelity or infidelity to God is the understanding in this life and its flowing consequences.
Below, Bishop Williamson had given a very good conference on this question; and pulled out the relationship and parallels of this dramatic flux of individuals and society.