Why the hell are the republicans complaining about Obama expanding government when they currently hold the record for government expansion and spending? Hypocrites.
On another note: If government has the power to take one penny of yours, they have the power to take it all.
Refuse to be a good peasant. Do not let peasant status be the legacy forced upon your children and grandchildren. They will be free men and women, standing on their own feet, only if you stand up on yours and say the one word upon which freedom rests: NO.
I think that there are a lot of Christians out there who get baffled by this question. Not just Christians, but people in general. Many would answer something along the lines of, “Big building, stained glass windows, pipe organ”. Others would say something along the lines of, “Where two or more are gathered in His name…”, but that begs the question of if a couple guys are hanging out at and having a spiritual discussion, are they a ‘church’? Then there is the theological answer: “Where the word of God is rightly preached, and the ordinances (sacraments: marriage, baptism, communion…) are rightly practiced”.
I tend to go with the theological answer, but I would use scripture to describe it: They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:42).
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching: Word rightly preached.
They devoted themselves to the fellowship: Loving each other.
They devoted themselves to the breaking of bread: Communion (Sacraments).
They devoted themselves to prayer: Lifting each other up and worship.
Church is not defined by a building, but by people. It’s not a Sunday morning event, but a lifestyle. If more ‘churches’ would recognize this, then maybe more non-Christians would be drawn to Christ.
[W]hoever desires liberty, should understand these vital facts, viz.: 1. That every man who puts money into the hands of a “government” (so called) puts into its hands a sword which will be used against himself, to extort more money from him, and also to keep him in subjection to its arbitrary will. 2. That those who will take his money, without his consent, in the first place, will use it for his further robbery and enslavement, if he presumes to resist their demands in the future. 3. That it is a perfect absurdity to suppose that any body of men would ever take a man’s money without his consent, for any such object as they profess to take it for, viz., that of protecting him; for why should they wish to protect him, if he does not wish them to do so?… 4. If a man wants “protection,” he is competent to make his own bargains for it; and nobody has any occasion to rob him, in order to “protect” him against his will. 5. That the only security men can have for their political liberty, consists in their keeping their money in their own pockets, until they have assurances, perfectly satisfactory to themselves, that it will be used as they wish it to be used, for their benefit, and not for their injury. 6. That no government, so called, can reasonably be trusted for a moment, or reasonably be supposed to have honest purposes in view, any longer than it depends wholly upon voluntary support.
–Lysander Spooner,
No Treason: the Constitution of No Authority
I watched the movie “V for Vendetta“, (required viewing for anyone who considers themselves an anarchist, even an non-violent one such as myself) and found it to be an excellent social commentary applicable today. If you are unaware of the story, V is is a graphic novel written in the ’80 as a challenge to “Thactherite Facism” in Britian. While the movie condenses the series down, the premise is that the government is essentially taken over by an extremist/fundamentalist/fascist/racist political party (conservatives) put into power by instilling fear in the people and promising peace. They obtain “peace” by crushing “inferior races, religions, homosexuals”, setting up cameras on every street corner “for your protection”, strict curfews…always for ‘the peace’. It also comes with a complicit media.
So while conservative governments are usually accused by the socialist of using fear to imitate and oppress the people, I don’t hear any of the caterwauling when the left does the same thing:
“Worst Economy Since Great Depression”
The Lie of Global Warming
Media Fear Mongering
Health care Crisis
And the list goes on: Smoking and other safety concerns, salt, ad infinitum.
So where is the outrage? I’ve listened to Obama: The only hope is government. While I am not a Bush Apologist, people exploded when he ran the bank bail out down our throats, so where is the disgust with the near trillion dollar spending bill Obama trying to get passed before anyone has a chance to see what it actual entails?
One of the great quotes from the move was, “People should not fear the Government. The Government should fear the people.” I expect the entity of government to steal from us (tax), oppress us in the name of protecting us, and try to control us in every way. That’s the nature of government. But people need to stop empowering the government to do so, and stop expecting the government to take care of us. With Godly wisdom and a strong community behind you, don’t sell yourselves into the slavery that the State offers.
A friend at work gave me an old mp3 player this last week, and it has been a true blessing. Instead of listening to music however, I have been loading up lectures, sermons, bible readings…It’s great! There are tons of college and university lecture series available out there, so everyday is like taking a class or two with out the pressure of homework. Coolness!
I have some friends, some folks I wish I could spend more time with but life and distance make it difficult. But I count he and his wife as a good friends non-the-less. At various times over the last few years, they have seemingly called ‘out of the blue’ to check up on my wife and I, and it always seems to happen at key times. When I struggled with depression a few years ago, his wife called, gave me a word of encouragement, and prayed for me. Once when my wife was out of work and and struggling: same thing. When I have struggled with church stuff, he was there, even just to listen to me vent. Kind, compassionate, carrying, always an ear to hear and a word of encouragement.
Tonight I was feeling some stress from the added responsibilities of church leadership, feeling a bit loaded down, when ‘out of the blue’, he called. While the reason he called was innocent enough, the timing was impeccable. With a listening ear and ready encouragement, my spirits where lifted.
Thanks John and Marjorie for being there over the last few years. Your friendship means more than I can express. Or have expressed.
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