Sunday, November 19, 2006

Why Do (most) Christians Support US Government?

One group of people who continue to disappoint me with their support and approval of the emerging US police state is Christians. (If this observation does not apply to you, then please understand that I am not speaking of you and your beliefs) You would think that any group based on the life and teachings of Jesus would recognize that the US government is way off track. Perhaps they do realize it. The main argument I have heard is that "God put our leaders where they are so it is His will. We must support our leaders." That is a load of nonsense. By that standard, it would be immoral to oppose Hitler or any other mass-murdering tyrant who comes to power. The other empty point that I hear made is that "Our government is the best government possible on Earth. Only a monarchy, with God as king, is better." Have the courage to work towards something better here and now. Don't accept a steaming dung heap just because you are not capable of visualizing anything better. I never read anywhere in the Bible where it stated that "Lo, establish amongst thyselves a Constitutional republic. Forsake all other forms of government until that day in which thy sleepeth." Even if that imaginary verse existed, we the people have not forsaken the Constitutional republic, but our corrupt, power hungry "leaders" have. You know that the government no longer feels bound by the limits of the Constitution or Bill of Rights. Don't support G.W. because he claims to be a Christian, either. You will know him by his fruit. This Bush bears the fruits of torture, wars of aggression, lies, and hate. What does that fruit say about him, spiritually? In Luke 22:36 while Jesus was waiting to be arrested, he told his disciples: "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one." Read the entire passage to see for yourself that this is not taken out of context. He was telling his disciples to arm themselves against the enforcing arm of the government. This is the act of a rebel. When the government has "gone rogue" it is no longer moral or right to simply submit to them. You must choose your own path of resistance, though. Resistance to tyranny is God's will.