The Reason For This Blog
[This post can be found at the new site, here]
Today on the Religious Politic, I thought I would open with a reason for it's existence. That is specifically, why does this blog exist, and what is it's goal?
The beliefs of myself are varied, but inevitably they are founded on the Bible. As should be obvious, I am not claiming that my beliefs right now are entirely in line, but rather, that my goal personally is to do so. With that as a backdrop, let me examine a key verse in the Bible:
2 Timothy 3:16-17 "All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (NIV)The issue at stake is this: While it is a common practice to argue politics endlessly, from things like imminent domain to taxation, what is often missing is the element of a Biblical basis. That is, why taxation should exist, or how much it should be, are argued into infinite detail, but hardly ever argued from a Biblical stance.
It is my position, and I can argue this position Biblically, that all views must be subjected to scripture. There can be no "thing" in life where scripture does not penetrate. From romance, to philosophy, to meal preparation, to school education, to news reporting, and (this blogs purpose) also in politics. In my interactions, I have found a desire by fellow Christians to understand how to apply scripture to politics, and I hope this blog will serve that purpose.
In my personal studies I have found that my own understanding of scripture has been not only flawed by misunderstanding, but by a total ignorance on the issue. When I try to understand taxation, I am asking myself: Why can a country levy a tax in the first place? If it can Biblically, what is it's limit? And so on. This blog's purpose is to apply Biblical principles as much as possible to every area of politics.
That is all for now, first definitive post in a few days.
4 comments:
I'm really glad you're doing this, sir. I'm hoping this can help me better understand politics, as I'm rather un-educated (read "went to public school"). Also, how do you personally apply the Bible into food preparations?
ias645,
It is my sincere hope to help the Christian community in applying the Bible to politics.
I personally apply the Bible to food preparation in a similar way that I apply it to all things: By submitting all I do to the authority of King Jesus.
I also apply magical "Bible codes" to plating arrangements. Just kidding.
Hi Toby! Nice page.
I really like the verse you posted above, because it tells us exactly what the Bible is for and how we are supposed to use it. In fact, it's one of my favorite verses.
Let's ask the verse a few questions and see how it answers us.
Verse, what is scripture useful for? "Teaching." Anything else? "Rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness."
Verse, is the Bible useful as a basis for determining public policy? [the verse is silent.]
Verse, why do we use the Bible for these things? "So that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
But verse, aren't we still expected to use the Bible for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, even if it doesn't equip men of God for every good work as a result? [Again, the verse does not respond.]
Verse, who is supposed to receive a benefit from being taught, rebuked, corrected, and trained in righteousness by the scripture? Is it governments? Is it the unbeliever? Who is thoroughly equipped, by the scripture, for every good work? "The man of God."
Thanks for your comment!
You agree that the Bible is, as it says, useful for "teaching", yet you limit it to "things not related to politics". Why do you do this?
You claim that the verse is silent with regards to public policy, yet I think it would be better to say:
Verse, is the Bible useful as a basis for determining public policy? "All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness"
Or again, who is to receive a benefit from being taught, rebuked, corrected, etc.? It is quite clear, as you say: "The man of God."
Who is the government but people? And how should those people who happen to be "men of God" decide things? Would you say that these policies cannot be guided in some way by the Bible?
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