"Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, 'Are You the King of the Jews?' Jesus said to him, 'It is as you say.'" (Matthew 27:11)
The Gospel accounts of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus reveal the charge of the Jews and the interest of the Roman Governor. In fact the inscription on the Cross of Jesus reveals the problem--- "This is Jesus, King of the Jews." The claim (and reality) that Jesus Christ is the Savior of mankind, "who bore our sins in His Own Body on the tree," and, "the Blood of Jesus Christ...cleanses us from all sin," was not the concern of First Century Rome, nor is it of governments today. Savior, Prophet, Healer, "the Good Shepherd," as far as the pagan is concerned, are just religious terms, quite innocuous for most. But, "King," ah, now that's a very different matter.
This has always been the case with societies in general and oppressive regimes throughout history. Religion is only a threat to the masses when that religion invades their culture, i.e., government, economics, education, etc. Even in communist Eastern Europe most of the regimes did not care so much what went on in church buildings, but the warnings and penalties were quite severe against Followers of Jesus Christ going beyond the "prison" of the church building, especially when it came to teaching children about Jesus Christ. And, my dear friend, this has been true in the United States of America in the past 50 years. In 1962 and 1963, the government, with the consent of the people and passive reaction of the American church, took the prayer of Jesus and the Words of Jesus out of the state ("public") school system. Americans who voted for such leaders who appointed such a Supreme Court which outlawed Jesus Christ and His Words, did what the communists did in Eastern Europe. They made it illegal to teach children about Jesus Christ. "Selah."
The coming American elections are about the same struggle as faced Pontius Pilate and the First Century Jewish Community, "Are you the King of the Jews." American culture is asking American Followers of Jesus Christ the same question. What will be your response? Don't watch or listen to political ads. Most on both sides are, frankly, ridiculous. Vote for the political party which most closely reflects in their philosophy, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews." A statement of each party's political platform is far more valuable than some "voters' guide." Let your "voters' guide" be the Word of God.
Father, in Jesus' Name, may my vote reflect, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews," King of the United States of America, Him Who is Alone, "King of kings, and Lord of lords." Amen.
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See, "Vatican Reverses into a Darker Age" @ www.apf327.blogspot.com
The Gospel accounts of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus reveal the charge of the Jews and the interest of the Roman Governor. In fact the inscription on the Cross of Jesus reveals the problem--- "This is Jesus, King of the Jews." The claim (and reality) that Jesus Christ is the Savior of mankind, "who bore our sins in His Own Body on the tree," and, "the Blood of Jesus Christ...cleanses us from all sin," was not the concern of First Century Rome, nor is it of governments today. Savior, Prophet, Healer, "the Good Shepherd," as far as the pagan is concerned, are just religious terms, quite innocuous for most. But, "King," ah, now that's a very different matter.
This has always been the case with societies in general and oppressive regimes throughout history. Religion is only a threat to the masses when that religion invades their culture, i.e., government, economics, education, etc. Even in communist Eastern Europe most of the regimes did not care so much what went on in church buildings, but the warnings and penalties were quite severe against Followers of Jesus Christ going beyond the "prison" of the church building, especially when it came to teaching children about Jesus Christ. And, my dear friend, this has been true in the United States of America in the past 50 years. In 1962 and 1963, the government, with the consent of the people and passive reaction of the American church, took the prayer of Jesus and the Words of Jesus out of the state ("public") school system. Americans who voted for such leaders who appointed such a Supreme Court which outlawed Jesus Christ and His Words, did what the communists did in Eastern Europe. They made it illegal to teach children about Jesus Christ. "Selah."
The coming American elections are about the same struggle as faced Pontius Pilate and the First Century Jewish Community, "Are you the King of the Jews." American culture is asking American Followers of Jesus Christ the same question. What will be your response? Don't watch or listen to political ads. Most on both sides are, frankly, ridiculous. Vote for the political party which most closely reflects in their philosophy, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews." A statement of each party's political platform is far more valuable than some "voters' guide." Let your "voters' guide" be the Word of God.
Father, in Jesus' Name, may my vote reflect, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews," King of the United States of America, Him Who is Alone, "King of kings, and Lord of lords." Amen.
****************************
See, "Vatican Reverses into a Darker Age" @ www.apf327.blogspot.com
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
