Some questions for the OLO community:

For the stridently religous people:

1. Who would your major religious figure of choice vote for in the upcoming election? Would it be the same as you, and why would they vote that way?

2. Given said figures are meant to be omnipotent, would they even vote or would they just overthrow the corrupt democratic system and just establish a benevolent theocracy?

3. If they told everyone who they would vote for, would you still decided who to vote for yourself, or would you automatically just vote for whoever they decided to vote for, with all the ramifications either decision would entail?

For the stridently non-religious people..

4. If a new messiah appeared and stood for Prime Minister, would you vote for them if you agreed with them, or would you vote against on principal because you believe religion and politics should be separated?

5. How much convincing would you need to believe that a new messiah, was, in fact the messiah? Or would you vote for someone to lock them up given that this would be impossible, and said messiah would have to be an imposter?

6. Do you think there is any benefit at all to having a religious figure lead the country?

Just some thoughts for a friday...

gw

Hi gw.....

Well..given that Jesus said "My kingdom is not 'of' this world" I doubt He would 'vote' for any :)

But one thing is sure..the Biblical view on government is as follows:

"Give to Caesar that which is Caesars"

Its interesting to note that Jesus pointed to a "Denarius", a Roman coin. He asked "Who's image and who's inscription is on this" they replied "Caesars"...then he said those immortal words. "Render unto Caesar....."

The other important passage is in Romans 13:1

>>1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.<<

Paul wrote this during the reign of either Tiberious,Caligula or Claudius, none of whom were particularly favorable to the 'Christians'.



CONCLUSION. I therefore accept that we have a big part in who becomes Caesar... and in our democratic land we can choose. The interesting thing is... that whether Labor or Coalition are government.. or even a minor party.. it is still 'established by God'.......

We may also be sure of another thing... 'bad' governments eventually get replaced either by the voters or the revolutionaries.

So...I guess the Jesus I know, would accept the party I vote for.. if they win :) and the party you vote for...if your choice wins.

Jesus would vote for what he felt was good for humanity.( After all He was sent to earth to save humanity).

He would vote for the government that cared for the weak, for the aged, the poor,the environment,and for no wars.

He would not vote for a dishonest government or one that was for big business. After all he chased the money lenders (big business) from the temple...

He would also not support a government that alienated us from each other. He taught people to love their neighbours. Stressing that each person should treat others as he/she wished to be treated.

He would not support a government that imprisons people behind razor wire in some of the most hostile terrain on earth, in what, by any definition, are concentration camps, run by an American company specialising in top-security jails (profit: $387 million a year), where the refugees, in their desperation, resorted to suicide, starvation, arson, and mass escapes.

He would vote for a government that would bring about a new state of affairs ...

Foxy: "Jesus would vote for what he felt was good for humanity.( After all He was sent to earth to save humanity).

He would vote for the government that cared for the weak, for the aged, the poor,the environment,and for no wars."

Well said! Obviously, in the context of the forthcoming Australian Federal election, Jesus would vote for the Greens :)

Dear CJMorgan,

Yay! Yay! Yay!

FOXY... I studiously avoided being 'partisan' in my last post, but I'm afraid you did not take the same care. I note some very 'partisan' and party specific themes coming through.

Perhaps Jesus would also expect people to be honest in their attempt to flee from persecution rather than country shop ? :) see..there are always different perspectives on specific issues.. and most of those different perspectives are right some of the time at least.

My post could have applied as much to the Coalition as for Labor..and even for the (gulp...swallow..choke...cough.. strugggggle) the ..(almost can't say it) the greens.. now.. I'll be back after I wash my fingers and run my keyboard though the Autoclave...

BACK... the point is.. Jesus DID come to save.. and one of the things he came to save people from.. well actually its the ONLY thing. "SIN"...

And if you go through the 10 commandments, you will find that the chief of them is.. "you shall have no other Gods before me"

To do so...is sin, whether that 'god' is secularism.. humanism.. atheism.. or any.

So..I'll continue to refrain from trying to score points for any particular party by attaching the credibility of our Lord to it...(after all.. HE...knows the heart of ALL men on all sides of politics) and kindly suggest you have a listen to this rather uplifting experience from youtube. Its really quite inspiring.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3XJl9qSfv4

Perhaps if we all followed the advice of scripture "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" (Heb 12:2) we would all be better people..and have better politicians...

cheers mate.