Religion & Spirituality

Only logged in members can reply and interact with the post.
Join SimilarWorlds for FREE »

Does Jesus want us to be patriotic?

I don't think he does. For example, when he says "pay unto ceaser..." I think that's a dog whistle basically saying "the kingdom of heaven makes your petty concerns of state and country seem irrelevant"

I dunno, what do you think?

Top | Newest First | Oldest First

NoobGains · 18-21, M

John 6:15 | John 17:14-16 | John 18:36 | Mark 12:13-17 shows us the example of Jesus, who refused to accept a political position. He teaches us, his followers to be "no part of the world" and made it clear that we should not take sides in political issues.

We are loyal to God's Kingdom, which Jesus spoke of when he said: "This good news of the Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth." (Matthew 24:14) By remaining neutral, we are able to speak freely to people of all political persuasions about the good news of God's Kingdom. We try to show by our words and practices that we rely on God's Kingdom to solve the world's problems. (Psalm 56:11)

However, with that being said, I agree with @SW-User when she quotes Romans 13:1. We obey the law, pay taxes, and cooperate with the efforts of the government to provide for the welfare of its citizens.

Rather than participate in any attempt to subvert the government, we follow the Bible's counsel to pray for "kings and all those are in positions of authority," especially when they are making decisions that could affect freedom of worship. (1 Timothy 2:1-2) We also want to respect the rights of others to make their own decisions in political matters.

For example, we do not want to disrupt elections or interfere with those who choose to vote. Just because we choose not to partake, we should limit others who made the personal decision to partake.

Some groups like JWs, Amish, Christadelphians, Hutterites, and Exclusive Brethren share a similar stance or value on being politically neutral based on their understanding of the Scriptures and Word.

RosaMarie · 41-45, F

I think that both religion and government are mostly about small groups of people having power over large groups of people. I don't trust either.

karysma · 31-35, F

@RosaMarie Christianity isn't a religion

RupertCornelius · 36-40, M

jesus died. pretty sure he doesn't want anything anymore.

View 4 more replies »

This message was deleted by its author.

NortiusMaximus · M

@SpiritualMan

Historical fact.

Where's the evidence to support that claim? No one has yet even managed to present any real evidence that Jesus ever existed.

RupertCornelius · 36-40, M

@SpiritualMan pray all you want, i'm not repenting. god can eat a dick.

Rhode57 · 56-60, M

I find the US and UK hippacritical . They claim they believe in the church bible etc but go against its teachings and make their own laws and punish people putting themselves above god . They murder people and call it justice , they punish people for wanting to live nude yet god created us nude . Their just total and utter hippacrites .

Mindfulness

@Rhode57

[image/video deleted]

Tastyfrzz · 61-69, M

Curiously, at the time that the books of the new testament were being written there was a terrible shortage of papyrus and parchment. It was due to drought that papyrus production fell off. Only the wealthy and government officials could afford it. So how did they come about? That is where it is thought that the earliest works were mandated/fabricated by the Romans to pacify the remaining jews after the seige, and destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. According to Josephus, Roman soldiers had been told that the occupants of the city were canibalistic and had swallowed jems so the deaths were pretty grizzly. 1.1 million were estimated to have been killed. There were many in the city at the time as it was at passover. The remainder were enslaved.

This message was deleted by its author.

ArishMell · 70-79, M

I don't know what "dog whistle" means, but Jesus was more likely calling for a sense of proportion, whilst still elevating God above the affairs of Man.

As for being "patriotic", patriotic to whom? Palestine, including the territory that has become Israel, was under Roman occupation with a governor anxious to keep things quiet and please the Emperor Caesar, and local temple elders anxious to protect their own power over their congregations.

CorvusBlackthorne · 100+, M

@ArishMell A dog whistle is a kind of coded message. Usually, the term has negative connotations, because messages that aren't stated directly are usually ones that are going to offend. For example, a certain president who lost the 2020 election once told a crowd of white people at a rally in Wisconsin that they looked like they had good genes. (There wasn't a single black or Mexican at the rally. But we're supposed to believe that isn't what he meant.)

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@CorvusBlackthorne Ah, I see. Thank you.

Roadsterrider · 56-60, M

I think there are examples in the Bible regarding patriotism. It doesn't specifically say patriotism but if you read the Old Testament books about the exodus and the travels of the Jews, God never meant for them to absorb different cultures into a diverse mix. He meant for them to maintain their own culture separate and distinct.

People traveling through a nation are addressed, people who immigrate to a nation are addressed.

in10RjFox · M

Bible would have ceased to exist if Ceaser was not paid .. So it's a kickback to Ceaser.

deadgerbil · 26-30

I've heard pastors say that it's God's will/plan for leaders etc to be put into power whether a person agrees with them or not, and that to be a good Christian, you need to pay your taxes, follow the laws, etc unless it causes you to break away from core biblical beliefs.

Adstar · 56-60, M

That depends on what your interpretation of the Word Patriotic means..

Should we love and care for the land and community we where born into? Yes i believe God wants us to do so.. But again that may not be your definition of ""patriotic""

hippyjoe1955 · 61-69, M

I think that Christians should be much more focused on the Kingdom of Heaven than the kingdoms of mankind. Worshipping Caesar is an ancient idol that can be found to be worshipped all the way back in the time of Hammurabi.

InHeaven · F

I doubt it. Supposed to be love above everything, love above patriotism.... loving the enemy (different system of beliefs)

BiasForAction · M

That’s the best interpretation I’ve heard. I’ll go with that

pancakeslam · 41-45, M

well either way

InHeaven · F

@pancakeslam God bless America

DDonde · 31-35, M

That’s also how I understood that passage.

LordShadowfire · 46-50, M

Yeshua bar-Yosef was no patriot. That was partly because Israel was under Roman occupation. But his point was to focus more on helping other humans than worrying about which candidate will really piss off those people you hate.

This message was deleted by its author.

hippyjoe1955 · 61-69, M

@SW-User The problem is that the Bible is not all that clear on differentiating between what God instituted and the people who infest that institution. Yes humans need government. We are a hierarchical species. That aside, that does not mean the divine right of kings. I can respect the office and seek the removal of the office holder at the same time and still be Christian in my outlook. I can seek a better form of government and still be Christian in my outlook.

Add a comment...