My Kingdom Is Not Of This World

[knotodiswrld]

Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here." - John 18:36

Guys, I think we have all, to a large degree, been doing The Cause of Christ, and Petra, and great disservice. We spend a great deal of time on political subjects here, and not always in a very kindly tone. Now, I'm not saying that Christians should not be involved in politics. Far from it. But I do think that we must be careful not to allow our faith to be driven by our politics.

Jesus said that if His Kingdom were of this world, that his servants would fight (i.e. physically, with physical weapons), but that His Kingdom is not of this world.

I'm not saying that discussion such as the one going on in "Trillion Here, Trillion There" are not worth having. But I do believe that a website dedicated to the music of a ministry that touched so many lives for Christ, and some deeply, simply isn't the appropriate place. We are fighting over kingdoms that are of this world ... kingdoms that will some day cease to exist. I am a patriot, and I love my country, but one day The True King will return, and all other governments will hand over power to Him. One day, The United States of America will be a faint and distant memory, if we remember it at all. One day, The King of Kings will return, and there will be only one Nation on The New Earth, with Jerusalem as its capitol.

I'm not saying, "Don't be involved in politics". If you want to join the Tea Party and campaign for smaller government, then I say "Bravo". And if you want to join the Socialist Workers party then ... well, you must follow your own conscience, I suppose. But don't think that anything you could ever do in the political realm could ever be as important as winning one soul for The Everlasting Kingdom.

I know I've prattled on about politics on many a thread here. Frankly, it all started to make me nauseous. This is a website where people will come looking for spiritual guidance. I wonder how many people we've pushed into hell by bickering over politics ... people who never posted a single comment and from whom we will never hear ... people with whom we could have shared our testimonies and faith ... people would could have ministered to with the Love of Christ ... people who could have been in the Only Kingdom that matters but now won't be because we were arguing over kingdoms that will pass away.

This website has a higher purpose than fighting over kingdoms of this world. I think we need to focus more on the Kingdom That Will Never End, and less on our own ideas about how kingdoms of this world should be run.

[rexreed]

Good points. The thing is, I think that the "other topics" keeps the "Petra" threads a little more pure. There's nothing wrong with ignoring the "other topics." It certainly is not the first place I would go for news or commentary.

[brent]

We should not be so heavenly minded we are of no earthly good.

Some Christians think we should only talk about what they call "Christian" things. What they mean is "church" things. These people develop a hyper sensitivity. I am not saying that the poster has this extremist view, but I know people who do.

If we limit our discussions to Petra, there will not be much to talk about. It has all been said. All that would be left is superficial stuff, Classic Petra and side project info. Fortunately we have the Other categories. If you do not like the other topics, do not read them. Personally, I like those more than the redundant Petra related posts, which often times have more off topic posts in them than they should. I am guilty of that. Sometimes those add dimension to a subject. Sometimes they don't. So, if you want to censor the non-Petra threads, then where are you going to draw the line in the Petra related threads?

[gman]

I will just say that what is said on this board is more an indictment on us. If we are chosen before the foundation of the world for adoption as sons, while God may use us in the process of bringing someone to him, nothing we could ever say or do could keep someone whom God has chosen from his kingdom. We miss out on the blessing, and we might speak in a manner contrary to scripture. As far as keeping someone from the kingdom, I don't elevate my role to that level because I don't believe it is biblical.

[Dan]

Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here." - John 18:36

Guys, I think we have all, to a large degree, been doing The Cause of Christ, and Petra, and great disservice. We spend a great deal of time on political subjects here, and not always in a very kindly tone. Now, I'm not saying that Christians should not be involved in politics. Far from it. But I do think that we must be careful not to allow our faith to be driven by our politics.

Jesus said that if His Kingdom were of this world, that his servants would fight (i.e. physically, with physical weapons), but that His Kingdom is not of this world.

I'm not saying that discussion such as the one going on in "Trillion Here, Trillion There" are not worth having. But I do believe that a website dedicated to the music of a ministry that touched so many lives for Christ, and some deeply, simply isn't the appropriate place. We are fighting over kingdoms that are of this world ... kingdoms that will some day cease to exist. I am a patriot, and I love my country, but one day The True King will return, and all other governments will hand over power to Him. One day, The United States of America will be a faint and distant memory, if we remember it at all. One day, The King of Kings will return, and there will be only one Nation on The New Earth, with Jerusalem as its capitol.

I'm not saying, "Don't be involved in politics". If you want to join the Tea Party and campaign for smaller government, then I say "Bravo". And if you want to join the Socialist Workers party then ... well, you must follow your own conscience, I suppose. But don't think that anything you could ever do in the political realm could ever be as important as winning one soul for The Everlasting Kingdom.

I know I've prattled on about politics on many a thread here. Frankly, it all started to make me nauseous. This is a website where people will come looking for spiritual guidance. I wonder how many people we've pushed into hell by bickering over politics ... people who never posted a single comment and from whom we will never hear ... people with whom we could have shared our testimonies and faith ... people would could have ministered to with the Love of Christ ... people who could have been in the Only Kingdom that matters but now won't be because we were arguing over kingdoms that will pass away.

This website has a higher purpose than fighting over kingdoms of this world. I think we need to focus more on the Kingdom That Will Never End, and less on our own ideas about how kingdoms of this world should be run.

I understand what your saying and agree on your Biblical points. If you think there is a need for Spiritual guidance thread, start one. The Off the topic is here so people can talk about money, politics and other necessary evils. Unfortunately you can't talk about these thing on social networks etc, without your boss or govt. trying to use it against you. Personally I think it's great that some man up, and tackle some of these real life issues. Get rid of politics I guarantee you loose Brent, Manny, Exe and others that like a bit of a debate.

Remember no one is making you read the thread, this is not a govt. policy (yet)

[gman]

I think we are free to have those discussions, and we should have them. Especially if we are citizens of the U.S. in an important election season where the media and the web isn't always presenting an unbiased, factual, or straight viewpoint.
We should recognize that such discussion will get heated at times, and should pull back and issue apologies where necessary, if the discussion has gotten out of hand or we've crossed a line that we shouldn't have.
We shouldn't shy away from the tough discussion and debate. We just need to watch what we say; think twice before we write something or submit it. Like Guardian once said regarding the tongue, "Everytime I add a line I wish I could subtract, too late to take it back.".

[Dan]

I think we are free to have those discussions, and we should have them. Especially if we are citizens of the U.S. in an important election season where the media and the web isn't always presenting an unbiased, factual, or straight viewpoint.
We should recognize that such discussion will get heated at times, and should pull back and issue apologies where necessary, if the discussion has gotten out of hand or we've crossed a line that we shouldn't have.
We shouldn't shy away from the tough discussion and debate. We just need to watch what we say; think twice before we write something or submit it. Like Guardian once said regarding the tongue, "Everytime I add a line I wish I could subtract, too late to take it back.".

well said.

[brent]

Nahh. I would still hang out here. Besides, whether a few of us would spilt or not should not make or break any TPZ big brother/user policies.

My hope is that people do not take the verses quoted by the OP out of context. In context, Jesus was thought to be the chosen one to overthrow Rome. The Jews were looking for a physical kingdom. The point is, and always was, that anyone who believed God and obeyed God, was in His Kingdom. His Kingdom has no geographical boundaries. His Kingdom is multi-national. His Kingdom is not political. THAT is the point of those verses. It is not that we are to refrain from addressing issues, personal opinions, etc, etc. That has nothing to do with those verses.

While we are regenerated, sanctified, etc, etc, we are all individually unique, and have arrived at differing observations and conclusions. If people cannot express those things among fellow believers without people's feelings getting hurt, then what makes us think we can share anything at all with the world. Some people need to grow some thicker skin and some people need to have more tact. I think I know what I need to work on.

[CatNamedManny]

I think politics is a messy means that can be used for positive ends. As long as we can stay civil about it (haven't read any of the posts on the trillions thread ... yet), there's no reason we can't talk about how best to form our society into something that better reflects the kingdom of God. I know I don't always succeed, especially about the civility part, but I try, anyway.