A one-sided look meant to spur discussion among the people. What follows are a few passages about what Jesus seems to think about "government". I would also welcome any healthy eschatology concerning Revelation, Jesus' own words about following human-rule, and OT passages (I'm especially not too educated about the Old Testament, so anything written about that will probably be new for me).
Ah, at NDG's suggestion, I will put my own loose opinion about these following quotes. They seem to me to suggest that we should, at the very least, beware of authority, especially in the form of organized government. Jesus' works and words (according to the Bible, at least) point us away from human authority. That is, the only authority followers of Christ should obey is the Holy Spirit, Christ himself, and God the Father. The first passage elucidates the nature of power in kingship; it reaps where it does not sow. The prophecy set forth in Isaiah 4 (elsewhere in the Old Testament, Ecclesiastes por ejemplo, show why systems of domination are to be dropped in favor of freedom) reveal that the prophet who will come is neither violent nor a ruler over them, and through nonviolent means, he will free the oppressed.
When Satan tempts Jesus by showing him all the kingdoms of the earth, Satan reminds us that he creates the kingdoms of mankind. Jesus says, of course, "Serve God only." Jesus' Kingdom of God is among us now, but it is not of mankind, rather it is of the Spirit. Following that are a few examples in which Jesus refuses again to be King over others, tells people that there is only one master (and it ain't government; it's God). Acts gives us a good example of a nonviolent community of people who share their wealth (they have none to their own names), perform works and miracles for others, and who, above all, obey God, not the government.
Finally, I think it's one-sided because I've plucked pieces from a larger picture. I invite, full-heartedly encourage, others to bring out the other side of the coin...
Onward:
This first passage, however, is from 1 Samuel:
"5 They said to him, "You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have."
6 But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. 7 And the LORD told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do."
10 Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, "This is what the king who will reign over you will do: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. 12 Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 16 Your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day."
Compare to Parable of the Talents: Matthew 25:24-5
"'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.' "
Prophecy:
Isaiah 4 "He will judge between the nations
and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore."
Jesus concerning ruling kingdoms of the world
From Matthew 4:
"Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9"All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." 10Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only."
From Luke 4:
5The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7So if you worship me, it will all be yours." 8Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'"
Important to remember that Devil comes from divider (diabolos)
Luke 4:18
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed..."
John 6: Jesus refuses to be made king of this world
14After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world." 15Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
Matthew 23:
"But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. 9And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ.[b] 11The greatest among you will be your servant. 12For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Acts 13-19:
"13When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16"What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. 17But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name." 18Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God."
Acts 5:29:
"Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men!"
Thank you. I look forward to discussion.
AMC
Ah, at NDG's suggestion, I will put my own loose opinion about these following quotes. They seem to me to suggest that we should, at the very least, beware of authority, especially in the form of organized government. Jesus' works and words (according to the Bible, at least) point us away from human authority. That is, the only authority followers of Christ should obey is the Holy Spirit, Christ himself, and God the Father. The first passage elucidates the nature of power in kingship; it reaps where it does not sow. The prophecy set forth in Isaiah 4 (elsewhere in the Old Testament, Ecclesiastes por ejemplo, show why systems of domination are to be dropped in favor of freedom) reveal that the prophet who will come is neither violent nor a ruler over them, and through nonviolent means, he will free the oppressed.
When Satan tempts Jesus by showing him all the kingdoms of the earth, Satan reminds us that he creates the kingdoms of mankind. Jesus says, of course, "Serve God only." Jesus' Kingdom of God is among us now, but it is not of mankind, rather it is of the Spirit. Following that are a few examples in which Jesus refuses again to be King over others, tells people that there is only one master (and it ain't government; it's God). Acts gives us a good example of a nonviolent community of people who share their wealth (they have none to their own names), perform works and miracles for others, and who, above all, obey God, not the government.
Finally, I think it's one-sided because I've plucked pieces from a larger picture. I invite, full-heartedly encourage, others to bring out the other side of the coin...
Onward:
This first passage, however, is from 1 Samuel:
"5 They said to him, "You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have."
6 But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. 7 And the LORD told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do."
10 Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, "This is what the king who will reign over you will do: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. 12 Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 16 Your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day."
Compare to Parable of the Talents: Matthew 25:24-5
"'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.' "
Prophecy:
Isaiah 4 "He will judge between the nations
and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore."
Jesus concerning ruling kingdoms of the world
From Matthew 4:
"Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9"All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." 10Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only."
From Luke 4:
5The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7So if you worship me, it will all be yours." 8Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'"
Important to remember that Devil comes from divider (diabolos)
Luke 4:18
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed..."
John 6: Jesus refuses to be made king of this world
14After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world." 15Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
Matthew 23:
"But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. 9And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ.[b] 11The greatest among you will be your servant. 12For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Acts 13-19:
"13When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16"What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. 17But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name." 18Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God."
Acts 5:29:
"Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men!"
Thank you. I look forward to discussion.
AMC
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