Biblical Politics
In my devotional this morning I decided to read a chapter posted for me from my web devotional site, a passage that may seem to indicate we're supposed to dutifully vote in civil elections and pay excessive tribute to appease potentates and all the rest of it. It was the second chapter of Timothy's first letter. Please read it yourself. You'll see it says nothing about what many dedicated Romanists think it does, what they take from it to screech at us that we are supposed to do everything the reigning potentate says to do.
Are we supposed to respect those potentates -- who indeed are put there by God? Certainly. It clearly says that, through "petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving." This does mean the only instance when you should be railing against any perceived or very real tyrant is if you are firmly entrenched in the Catholicist rebellion movement, and just about every active one seems to be doing quite a bit of railing these days. Going to vote in whatever civil election they are holding tomorrow? You are indeed being a rebel. But what about democracy? Just window-dressing, sorry. Caesar will still do what he will do, and yes, he will do so at the behest of Jesus Christ asking him to because he must rein in the wickedness of a reprobate populace too many of whom will not find spiritual solace and restoration in the Kingdom.
Not sure about what I just wrote? That's okay, only with the mind of Christ can you. You can, however -- please know, you surely can have it, but you've got to ask Him, not one of the thousand prominent counterfeit Jesuses.
Again, I don't really have to say anything. Scripture can, though. Read that chapter from First Timothy. Look carefully at it. Does that first part say anything about doing all the civil election and civil engagement things related to Caesar's domain? If anything it unequivocally says to separate yourself from all that to live in peace, to industrially care for any and all in your community, richly and charitably as Caesar must allow you, and as such be the Kingdom to those who want His genuine freedom from their own sin and the resulting ruthless condemnation that always pursues and crushes the soul.
Tell me the first part of First Timothy Chapter Two does not say that quite clearly.
Then, most controversially, there is the second part of that chapter. The part about a woman's role in all of this, all the civil activity and all of it -- whether in a political, social, or even ecclesiastical setting.
It makes me wonder, reading that, when I see so many women showcased as the ones voters are supposed to select. Very prominently, all over the media channels. They are even running against one another in Arizona, in Washington, in Michigan -- those are just the most prominent ones. Others are on the ballot in Georgia, New York, and Oregon... many more actually who aren't as much in the news.
What does that second part of that passage really mean? Are there that many people who just dismiss it as misogynist Bible plap? Think it is just the rationale for establishing a "Handmaid's Tale" hellscape? That it is all just old-fashioned pre-1960s oppression that is perfectly fine to fiercely reject?
Or is it actually God's authentic design for the best Kingdom living that involves men doing the things God made them to do and women doing the things God made them to do? When I look at all the women taking leadership positions that should really be assigned to men, I think about the consequences of that and ask myself a question many others have been asking recently: Where indeed are all the men?
Richard Reeves is a researcher and author who even recently appeared on Bill Mahar's wildly leftist HBO talk show. He pulls no punches with his latest, Of Boys and Men, and speaks meaningfully about how males have been so unrighteously marginalized, even demonized with idiotic accusations about "toxic masculinity," and how detrimental that is to everyone. Reeves is not the only one, by the way -- there are many others actually sounding the clarion call that a virulently feminist, LGBTQ-sympathizing mentality has essentially emasculated men in the worst ways.
Are all men sinners in need of a Savior? Absolutely. But taking their God-established roles in particular leadership positions and filling them with women is unbiblical and destructive. Feminists have always said, "A woman can do anything a man can do." That attitude started the societal cancer that has now metastasized. It isn't the only thing that is wrecking the country now, but it is a major issue that is not addressed at all -- I get it, devout Catholicists have been richly browbeat with it for their entire lives. If you don't agree you're just a woman-hater or misogynist or sexist or some other bad thing the New York Times enthusiastically lives to spew at you and to everyone who will listen to what an asshole you are.
The biblical truth is that, in the same vein, there are critically important things men can't do that only women can do, and those things are so extraordinarily significant as well!
What are those things? I can say nothing to Caesar, or to Caesar's minions, or to those who consider their lives depend on what they do to interact with Caesar. It is Cain's domain, given to him by God at the beginning of time when the first human sacrifice took place. That's not my concern -- well, it is to the extent that my readers may see all of that and want out. But the out is not a vote or a tribute payment or an official ingratiating registration with the authorities.
It is by Christ, period.
Many people will think that a "red wave" will save them tomorrow. First of all it may not come at all because there are still so many people who are convinced that Republican political party anything is the same as Nazi Commie xenophobe bigoted backwoods Neanderthal puppy-slapping bunny-licking Hitler Hitler Hitler infinity. Secondly those bright white knights of the good conservative always-Trumper movement will never do what they should to get this country the way these people think it should be. They can't.
I just pray there'd be some who'd actually abjure that realm and be Kingdom.
If you read that Timothy passage, you'd see it.
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The image is a stock photo pulled from the ACLU website.
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