@ErikReed “Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”
Romans 14:4 ESV
@peterpeccavi People create a distraction by talking about the ladders and then use that distraction as the evidence for why ladders should not be used. How about you just shepherd your flock knowing that you are accountable to God for how you shepherd and stop trying to dictate to others.
““I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!”
Luke 12:4-5 ESV
Watch the bait-and-switch:
A) When the Bible is used to advance a “conservative” cause, it’s “evil Christian Nationalism” (that he’s spent his entire campaign decrying) or it’s “forcing your religion on other people” and must be FORECEFULLY DENOUNCED.
But when the Bible is used to advance a progressive cause, aw shucks it’s just me being Christlike, “speaking truth to power”, and seeking “justice” or “compassion.”
His whole campaign is, ”Christian Nationalism for ME, but not for THEE” and hoping you won’t notice.
B) What progressives do is take the commands Jesus gave to INDIVIDUALS and apply them to the GOVERNMENT.
When Christians use words like “caring” or “generous” they mean caring for people and being generous with their own resources.
When progressives use the words “caring” and “generous”, they mean “vote for the government to forcibly take OTHER PEOPLE’S RESOURCES at gunpoint and redistribute it against their will.”
Of course, this *always* backfires because governments do not work like people and churches, so with governments you tends to get more of what you INCENTIVIZE and less of what you PENALIZE.
This is why cities and states that throw billions of $ at “solving homelessness” end up with MORE HOMELESSNESS, they do not “solve homelessness.”
This is a theology-nerd thing, but in general progressives want the government to do the roles of the church and individual (charity, compassion, care), and they want NOBODY to do the role of the State (administer justice and be a “terror to the wrongdoer”).
^^^this always results in societal chaos and darkness.
Further…
What Talarico (and other progressives) always do is selevtively edit Jesus, so that he becomes a mascot for their cause.
I can do a “when Jesus…” list too, but James won’t like mine…
- When Jesus defined marriage, he defined it as only between a man and a woman
- When Jesus talked about gender, he rooted it in biology, saying “he made them male and female”
- When Jesus talked about harming children (abortion), he said it would be better for you to have millstone tied around your neck and be cast into the ocean
- … that time when Jesus encouraged his followers to buy weapons for self-defense (Luke 22:36)
- Jesus’ family strictly obeyed the government’s border / migration / census laws.
- When Jesus talked about salvation, he said belief in him was the ONLY WAY
- When Jesus healed the sick, he didn’t need a deductible… there were no insurance companies in AD 30, and Jesus was using miraculous power, not paying doctors. This would be like an anti-vaxxer saying “JESUS WASNT VACCINATED!” as justification for their position)
- When Jesus fed the hungry, he FED THE HUNGRY. He did not vote for the government to forcibly take other people’s stuff at gunpoint and redistribute it against their will.
I could go on and on and on and on…
The point is, Jesus is a LORD of the universe, not a MASCOT for your cause.
If you listen to Cain, he will tell you that righteous Abel was the problem.
If you listen to Potiphar’s wife, she will tell you that righteous Joseph was the wicked man.
If you listen to Pharaoh, he will tell you that Moses was an enemy of the state.
If you listen to Saul, he will tell you that loyal David was a traitor.
If you listen to Haman, he will convince you that Mordecai was a dangerous enemy.
If you listen to Ahab and Jezebel, they will tell you that Elijah, the prophet of God, was the troublemaker.
If you listen to the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, they will tell you that the sinless Jesus was a blasphemer.
If you listen to Judas Iscariot, he will find a way to justify betrayal.
If you listen to Pontius Pilate, he will wash his hands while Truth stands directly in front of him.
And if you listen to the world, do not be surprised when it calls righteousness evil and evil good.
My friends, listen carefully: a lie does NOT become Truth simply because it is repeated loudly, confidently, or by powerful people.
Be careful what you hear.
Be careful whom you believe.
Be careful whom you follow.
Test everything by the Word of God.
The world may condemn you for standing for Biblical Truth but the only verdict that ultimately matters is His!!!
Stand firm. Stand faithful. And above all, listen to Jesus.
For those whose conscience is weak about Halloween (Rom. 14:1–6), here’s a list that may help you discern what’s inherently sinful and what’s not.
Not inherently sinful:
• Carving a pumpkin
• Eating candy
• Wearing a costume
• Spending time with neighbors
• Decorating your porch
Inherently sinful:
• Glorifying death or demons
• Practicing witchcraft or divination
• Joining in occult rituals
• Promoting gore, lust, or violence
• Mocking God or sin
You CAN do the things in the first list WITHOUT doing the things in the second list.