Christians: How should the following Bible verses influence the campaign platforms of the 08 candidates?

Question

Matthew 19
14 But Jesus said, “Suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for to such belongeth the kingdom of heaven.”
21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.
23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Luke 14
12 He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your kinsmen or rich neighbors...
13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind,
14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.
John 8
He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her.

Disclosure: I am a liberal and an athiest and I agree with all those who have answered by insisting in a seperation of church and state; however, the other side (conservatives) seem to have no problem injecting the Bible into politics (gay marriage, stem cell research, etc) so given that that is their philosophy I was wondering how they would apply the above messages from the Gospel to Policy.

Henry the VIII: try universal health care and immigration to name a couple

dcjohn gets points for a thoughtfull answer and billyking for just sheer weirdness.

Answer 1

These verses were removed from all G O P bibles the same week they decided to call themselvesd compassionate conservatives

Answer 2

I am glad you added your additional comments because in all honesty your original comment lacked a specific question or point.

First, I am naturally suspicious of anyone claiming to be an atheist that wants to dive into The Bible to make their point. If you don't believe in it in the first place then how can you attempt to use it in an arguement in any form?

Even if your attempt is to use The Bible to prove professing Christians wrong or lacking in the requirements and tennants in The Bible you really do nothing but help hold up one of the basic beliefs in Christianity....that we are all with sin and it is only by God's Grace we are saved. Just because a person becomes a Chrisitan that does not change and they don't become perfect or without fault after conversion. Read a little further in The Bible about the Apostile Peter and you will see what I mean.

Second, I am not a believer of anyone dropping their beliefs,influences, or ideas in an attempt to become "impartial" for politics, the media, or anything else. It is impossible to find someone completely "impartial" whether they are conservative, liberal, Christian, or atheist. We are human and carrying those beliefs and influences are just part of being human.

I would rather see politicans stand by their beliefs, no matter what they are, than to see someone dance around them to appease some misguided notion that we all have to agree. Then let the voters decide.

Answer 3

I am about to really stir a hornets nest.

The constitution I read says
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

What it says has NOTHING to do with separating church and state. There are men who wrote this who were preachers and ministers. Why would they write something in that separates the church and the state? Why would they write in a law that takes GOD out of politics? It says that the government will not establish a national religion. NOT keeping god and politics from being uttered in the same sentence in a government building. It is almost as if the atheists/agnostics want god out of every facet of our life. They whine and cry about seeing a cross on a road or hill. They complain it violates some kind of law or their sense of well being or it is offensive. Next thing you know, you will not be able to be in politics AND be a Christian or at least profess your faith. We have pulled the ten commandments out of government buildings when our laws were based on some of those same commandments. We took prayer out of school and now kids are killing each other for being teased. We are simply paying a price for our lack of faith.
It is not separation of church and state clause, it is an anti establishment clause.
Having said that I really don't see what those verses have to do with the candidates.

Answer 4

Also in Matthew 10:

34"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

Matthew 5:19
Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven

So please beware when you quote the Bible you better understand context.


22When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

The man's wealth was more important than G-d.

You are to have nothing in your life more important than G-d.

So what about is Edwards going to giveup his big home.

I don't think so.

In the furture study the Bible a bit more before you quote it.

Answer 5

Why? Directly no influence. Because candidates may be Christians their actions will speak volumes. If those actions are in keeping with Christ's teaching than that will be fine. Many of your quotes don't really have a direct corrilation to the situation we have today in the exact words as quoted. Meaning, loosely translated, perhaps, direct no.

Answer 6

My, how selective you were but omitted some important "before and after" verses. I'll give you a short explanation of the prior verse of Matt.19:14, it being Matthew 19:13 (Words in parenthesis are FOR EXPLANANTION)."Then there were brought unto Him little children, that He should put His hands on them, and pray: and the Disciples rebuked them (a number of women, hearing the teaching on the sanctity of marriage as given by Christ, brought their children to Jesus FOR HIM TO BLESS THEM: their intelligence was higher than that of the Disciples, who tried to prevent this action).
Explanations of Verse 14 "But Jesus said, Suffer (allow) little children, and forbid them not, to come unto Me: for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven (children are dependent on parents; Believers are to be totally dependent on Christ, of which children are an example).

I found it most interesting that you deliberately omitted the final results of this encounter with Jesus, which is Matthew 19:15 "And He laid His hands on them, (the little children) and departed thence."

Verse 21 and 22 of that same chapter is talking about a rich young ruler who asked Jesus what good thing he could DO that he may have eternal life? (verse 16.) (doing is not the answer, but, rather "believing"{John 3:16).

Again, you omitted the key point which is Matt. 19:26 "But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, WITH MEN this is impossible: but WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE (so then, what cannot be obtained by merit may be received by gift; for the Gift of God is eternal life {Romans 6:23}.

Why didn't you finish the verse in Luke 14:12? "Then said He also to him who bade him (who invited him to the Feast) When you make a dinner or a supper, call not your friends, nor your brethren, neither your kinsmen, nor your rich neighbours; lest they also bid you again, and a recompence (repayment) be made to you (it is not the activity that is condemned, but rather ITS PURPOSE).

Luke 14:13 But when you make a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind (that is if you really want to do something good for people): verse 14: And you shall be blessed (is a single promise given by God, with His word standing as surety: for they cannot recompense you (the idea is if we really want to be blessed by the Lord, we are to do good things for people who, in turn, cannot do good things for us; that is Christlike, because He has done so much for us when we in turn could not do anything for Him): for you shall be recompensed at the resurrection of the just (proclaims the fact that God keeps the account of all things, and to be sure, every good thing, at least that which He labels as "good," will be rewarded at the Resurrection, i.e., "the Judgement Seat of Christ").

Again you have conveniently omitted reference to the occasion for John 8:7. While Jesus was in the Temple teaching the people, the Scribes and Pharisees brought a woman to him who had been caught in adultery. Verse 4 said, "They said unto Him, Master this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act" (why wasn't the man brought in as well?) They wanted Jesus to agree to stone the woman but Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground as though he didn't even hear them. (Everyone there could see his writing, what do YOU think he wrote? Could it have been the names of her accusers who had also committed adultery with her?) When they continued asking him, then he raised up..."and said unto them, He who is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her" (now turns the tables from her, and Him for that matter, onto the accusers; they didn't expect this!).

Now that I have explained the scriptures to you, tell us again, WHAT WAS YOUR QUESTION(s) and be more specific.

Answer 7

If politicians incredibly cared approximately those verses, they might prefer to maintain taxes low and government involvement low so as that Jesus' followers could be loose to obey Jesus with all they are able to. To the Lord who cares approximately anybody, his command for me and you to feed the unfavourable, and bless people who cant bless us returned is a minimum of as important simply by fact the unfavourable being fed and the blind and lame being blessed. Jesus says "You do it" no longer "Get 'er finished" it incredibly is approximately doing it. there is not any blessing for the guy paying taxes and having them dispensed by utilising the government. in addition to, this creates a terror of giving all that we've, simply by fact we don't comprehend while the government is going to prefer to take something (no longer that we ought to stay in concern) If applicants cared fairly than desiring administration, then they wouldnt prefer to play God.

Answer 8

Surely, God will judge human beings by their acts, not by the Biblical verses they quote????

Remember the Camel and the Needle Eye's Parable?
http://www.bibletopics.com/biblestudy/43.htm

Let us not pretend as too many have fallen into the bondage of riches and power and office, and would justify their sinful practices by pretending to be good Christians by toting the Bible!

Faith and morality should be what we can do to help those who need our help most, not for our own arrogant and selfish celebration of fame and self-interest. That charity contributions have become a way to cheat from having to pay taxes is itself a dirty practice! Charity should be from the heart, not from using it to manipulate as a game, or to gain the image of a celebrated donor to gain popularity from others!

Answer 9

I don't see how this particular passage should influence campaign platforms at all.

Re: Church and State....people are free to choose their elected representatives for whatever reason they wish. If it's for religious reasons, so be it as long as those elected representatives don't attempt to foist state sponsored religion on the masses. That's why this country is free. Although there IS a separation of church and state, there IS ALSO a freedom of religion. These have to be balanced.

Answer 10

While candidates should be held to high standards, I think all who run are very courageous to expose themselves to the slings and arrows of the populace.

Therefore, I propose that as we learn about our candidates and their values, as Christians we should keep John 8:7 in mind before making outrageous accusations:

John 8:7
So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.