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This episode adds to Paul's thoughts on politics. You can't get the whole story about Paul and Politics without thinking about what he says about principalities and powers. In this episode, we discuss the connection between spiritual authorities and political authorities.
NOTES:
Here are some verses that speak to the thin veil between spiritual authorities and political authorities.
RECAP/TAKEAWAYS
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MUSIC:
Little Lily Swing, Tri-Tachyon, Attribution-
We are still looking at what the New Testament says about politics. In this episode, we discuss how the Apostle Paul related to authorities and what he taught about politics.
NOTES:
Here are some key passage from Paul's experience and writing that we discussed.
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MUSIC:
Little Lily Swing, Tri-Tachyon, Attribution-
Peter learned his politics from Jesus. He also had personal experience with authorities who would quiet his preaching of the resurrection. So, Peter had a lot to say about how Christians relate to authority. That is what this episode is about.
NOTES:
Here are a couple Biblical references in which Peter speaks about politics and authority.
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We'd love to hear from you. Please send us an email or question at [email protected].
MUSIC:
Little Lily Swing, Tri-Tachyon, Attribution-
Jesus was political. He said, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's but to God the things that are God's." (Matthew 22:17-21) He was crucified as "King of the Jews." In this episode, we explore how Jesus was more political than we sometimes recognize.
NOTES:
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MUSIC:
Little Lily Swing, Tri-Tachyon, Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International, https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Tri-Tachyon/the-kleptotonic-ep/little-lily-swing
In this episode, we go back to the beginning, to Genesis, and establish some of the history and theology of government. The legitimacy of government rests on its connection with God's authority. We try to make that connection in this conversation.
NOTES:
The Biblical texts we cited include:
Genesis 1:26-28 -- Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
Genesis 9:1-7 -- And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. 2 The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered. 3 Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. 4 But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. 5 And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man. 6 "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image. 7 And you, be fruitful and multiply, teem on the earth and multiply in it."
Deuteronomy 16:18-20 -- 18 “You shall appoint judges and officers in all your towns that the Lord your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. 19 You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous. 20 Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
2 Samuel 7:16 -- And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.'"
1 Chronicles 29:11-13 -- Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. 12 Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. 13 And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.
Daniel 2:20-23 -- 20 Daniel answered and said:
“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. 21 He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; 22 he reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. 23 To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king’s matter.”
Romans 13:1-7 -- Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this, you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
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MUSIC:
Little Lily Swing, Tri-Tachyon, Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International, https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Tri-Tachyon/the-kleptotonic-ep/little-lily-swing
In this episode, we take a look at some of the verses that mention the United States in them...yes, you are right. The United States isn't in the Bible. But, it is among the nations, and the nations are in the Bible. Listen to what the Bible says about our God and his relationship to the nations. See if it doesn't help you not to fear. The simple takeaway is this: Do Not Fear!
NOTES:
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MUSIC:
Little Lily Swing, Tri-Tachyon, Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International, https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Tri-Tachyon/the-kleptotonic-ep/little-lily-swing
In this episode, we attempt to learn from Jesus about how to have a political conversation. Jesus raises the stakes and plays chess while his opponents play checkers. Is there a way that we can use the same board and play a different game?
NOTES:
The episode comes from Scott's recent sermon on Matthew 22:15-22:
Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. 16 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin for the tax." And they brought him a denarius. 20 And Jesus said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" 21 They said, "Caesar's." Then he said to them, "Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." 22 When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.
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MUSIC:
Little Lily Swing, Tri-Tachyon, Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International, https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Tri-Tachyon/the-kleptotonic-ep/little-lily-swing
What a privilege to talk with Kaitlyn Schiess in the studio today! She was in town and made time for us. We are honored to talk with her about her new book, The Ballot and the Bible: How the Bible has been used and abused in American politics and where we go from here. We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did.
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MUSIC:
Little Lily Swing, Tri-Tachyon, Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International, https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Tri-Tachyon/the-kleptotonic-ep/little-lily-swing
We have had some conversations recently that have made us ask, "How can I know something is true?" This is especially true when someone claims to know the "real story" about a news event. What separates real news from false news? In this episode we discuss how you can know something is true. Some people call it epistemology.
NOTES:
We mentioned a website for kids that helps them discern what is true. Find it here. It asks three questions: Who said it? What is the evidence? Do you want to believe it? (If so, go back and ask the first two again).
We also talked about Plato's Allegory of the Cave.
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MUSIC:
Little Lily Swing, Tri-Tachyon, Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International, https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Tri-Tachyon/the-kleptotonic-ep/little-lily-swing
During last week's webinar, one-quarter of the questions could be summarized with this question, "When do I not need to obey? This is a question about Civil Disobedience. Civil Disobedience is a last resort.
NOTES:
We are indebted to David Innes and his book Christ and the Kingdoms of Men for help with this topic. You can listen to our interview with Dr. Innes here.
We also found some helpful articles:
https://knowingscripture.com/articles/romans-13-civil-disobedience-to-unconstitutional-unjust-laws#1
http://www.ethos.org.au/online-resources/blog/christians-and-principles-of-civil-disobedience
https://www.gty.org/library/articles/A120/can-christians-participate-in-civil-disobedience (Note: John MacArthur seems to have changed his position on this. At least during the COVID -19 crisis he did not follow this article.)
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MUSIC:
Little Lily Swing, Tri-Tachyon, Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International, https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Tri-Tachyon/the-kleptotonic-ep/little-lily-swing
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