If you're looking to live your best life now, for a life of ease and safety, of external peace, where all your dreams come true, then #Christianity is not for you.

"There is suffering before glory; there is a cross before the crown."

#8 was eye opening and persuasive, therefore heartbreaking.

#25 the same but for different reasons.

🤙🏼

Yeah, I think he's still a "progressive dispensationalist" which IMO is out of bounds given the argument of Romans 9 and Galatians, etc.

My favorite illustration of this is Rahab praying this same thing in Jericho. She wanted Joshua to hurry up. He was coming, even at the gate.

The church is Rahab in a cosmic Jericho.

Friend, Scripture does not promise protection from harm in this life and in this age. Its aim is higher, and everlasting. It promises that for those in Christ, death the last enemy has no power over them. As Christ was raised, we too shall be raised. And Christ promises ultimate victory, not necessarily immediate victory.

Think bigger, think eternally, and compare "the light and momentary afflictions of this age are not worthy to be compared with the eternal weight of glory that awaits us."

That's not to say there aren't provisional solutions for the here and now. But it should be enough--if you have faith--to prevent fear.

"God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind."

When I pray "thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven," I mean a few things. It means: may the kingdom of God, which is in our hearts, spread (through evangelism, discipleship, church growth). It is an ethical thing. I also mean "hasten the 2nd Advent," and that's a geopolitical thing.

Not quite. I'd follow Vos, from his Pauline Eschatology:

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The Natural Law gives what we need there, IMO.

Fear is unbecoming. I am not saying we should not act. I am saying we should not choose violence (except in cases of self-defense or imminent threat toward others). We must keep our wits about us.

Do you think Jesus' repeated exhortations to not be afraid were for nothing? Read Hebrews 2. And do not fear.

And we look for the day when all wrongs will be made right.

This is why I believe in the death penalty, properly adjudicated.

There is no utopia to be had in this age, my friend. We hope for another. We "do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God" here. And we shed the blood of those who shed bled--following proper rules if evidence and jurisprudence--according to the law of retribution.

I'm disappointed to hear you say that...

"All scripture is breathed out by God..."

It is inspired, inerrant, and infallible. It carries the weight, meaning, and authority of its Author.

I'm Amillennial. Was surprised to hear a premil guy say that. I mean, Col. 3. I mean, "here we have no continuing city," we "look for a better, one with foundations," etc. I mean Romans 8 - sheeps to the slaughter. I mean that Christ repeatedly told us that he has overcome the world and to not lose heart in the face of tribulation. We don't win in a geopolitical kingdom of God consummated now kind of way. That is "not yet."

I can't disagree. He recently quoted Spooner disparagingly and I was sorely disappointed. But look at the company he keeps. It's mostly good, but still off in some ways.

There is a time to turn the other cheek, and there is a time to strike back. It takes discernment to when to do which.

If the choice is between being a sovereign nation and succumbing to an internationalist/globalist cabal, then yes obviously I believe in political self-determination at the local level.

"Fighting back" takes many forms. I believe in self-defense even to the taking of life if warranted. But so far this fight is mostly ideological and that's why the response is also ideological and not violent.

"Thou shalt not murder."

"Thou shalt not commit adultery."

"Thou shalt not steal."

"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor."

"Thou shalt not covet."

These are not specifically Christian principles. They are *human* principles. They are the moral law of God our Creator, written on every heart, testified by conscience, and recognized throughout most of history as the Natural Law. You will note that each one is 1) directed toward individuals [the 'thou' is singular]; and 2) each one presupposes private property.

Each one has a corollary, e.g., the command not to steal includes the right to not be stolen from, etc. These laws, therefore, are the basis of Natural Rights as well. Even in the "First Table," the command to worship God means that no one can prevent or even force you to worship in some given way--God alone is the Lord of conscience--this is freedom of worship and freedom of conscience.

This is the law which binds all men, in all times, in all places, and to recognize and uphold these wholesome laws one does not need to be specifically Christian to do so. Our conscience will confirm it--especially if someone violates them toward us.

#LexRex

"Christians: we don't win down here." -- John MacArthur

"In this world, you will have tribulation. But do not lose heart: I have overcome the world." -- Jesus

"Even so, come Lord Jesus" -- and quickly.

It's against Scripture because the kingdom of God is not built by the sword, but by the Word and the Spirit. We are pilgrims; "here we have no continuing city," etc. We are, for now, like Rahabs in a cosmic Jericho and the King is coming (that's how we pray, isn't it? 'Thy kingdom come'?) There's more to it, but that's a short answer.

I agree (with Spooner) that the Constitution (specifically, the Bill of Rights) is a dead letter--but that's not how the Left (and their media) would spin it: they always trot out the Constitution and civil liberties when it suits their ends (and ignore it altogether when it doesn't). I'm not saying it's a legitimate argument, I'm saying that's how it will be used. "The real action is your target's reaction." "The issue is never the issue: the issue is the [Marxist] revolution." They are trying very hard to paint *all* Christians as domestic terrorists and it won't take much to do it if people keep taking their obvious bait. Think how easy it was for the masses to buy the "George Floyd" and BLM nonsense? Think how easy it was to fool the masses into fear over a glorified flu?

As to how to battle enemies of liberty -- we have to recognize their linguistic tactics and counter them. We have to not fall into their traps (and they are sneaky). And we have to speak the truth. I don't hold out much hope for political "saviors" to end the cultural dilution we're experiencing, but (IMO) we can still pursue peaceful and legal means to stop it. Either way, militant Christian nationalism will backfire drastically as it always has. Who would be in charge, the Roman catholics? The Presbys? The Babtists? The Quakers? It's quixotic. We need to return to the principles of the founding (i.e., classical liberalism) culturally, regardless of our elected leaders or whatever "paper tigers" exist. That means education, evangelism, persuasion--a return to Natural Law and Natural Rights. Yes: that's an enormous amount of work to undo the last 60 years of Marxist indoctrination in the schools. It may or may not work--but the church *as church* grasping after the sword of the State is NOT the way. Citizens *as citizens* who understand our true classical liberal heritage, rooted in a transcendent Creator and Divine lawgiver, who will write and enforce wholesome laws (and repeal the unwholesome) are needed in local office--regardless of their personally held religion. One does not need to be a Christian per se to recognize these Natural Law and Natural Rights principles to govern well.

...I'll stop there, it's already probably too long. Thank you for the engagement.

Get knowledge. Get wisdom. In all your getting, get understanding.

Discernment is crucial.

Know the times.