Template:Politics
Politics
What does politics mean?
How can our approach to politics effect liberty?
Was Christ and Christianity political?[1]
What is the definition of politics and how and why do they differ?
One definition of Politics is:
- 1. The art or science of government or governing, especially the governing of a political entity, such as a nation, and the administration and control of its internal and external affairs.
- 2. Political science.
- 3. The activities or affairs engaged in by a government, politician, or political party. Yahoo
But also Politics is defined:
- The activities associated with the governance of a country or other area, especially the debate or conflict among individuals or parties having or hoping to achieve power. Google
Governance refers to "all processes of governing, whether undertaken by a government, market or network, whether over a family, tribe, formal or informal organization or territory and whether through laws, norms, power or language." Wikipedia
There are two ways to govern. To govern others is to "control, influence, or regulate a person or persons, their actions, or the course of events", or to govern may mean to govern oneself that is to "conduct oneself, especially with regard to controlling one's emotions and actions".
The form of politics that dominates a society may be the outcome of the collective or the individual. The more individuals govern themselves respecting the rights of others the more liberty there will be. The less they care about the rights of others the less liberty. This is why the slothful will be under tribute.[2]
God gave us two things, life and choice. How much do we use our life and choice to give life and choice to others? And how much do we choose use our life taking life and choice from others?
Engaged in politics
What we call engaged in politics or even a politician who may or may not be engaged in the process or hope to achieve power over the governance of the people way take two forms. One is the restoration of freedom to the individual or the reduction of that freedom through the centralization of the power of civil affairs in the hands of a few.
Some people seek power over their own life and not over the lives of their neighbors. Someone seeking the power of choice over his own life or what we call liberty, is still engaged in politics even though he may not vote for power or benefits or run for office. He may merely be doing what he can to govern his own life desiring to move in or toward a free society. If he engages with other people this movement will include gathering with others who are also engaged in the activities associated with the governance but according to the perfect law of liberty.
- Acts 23:1 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived <4176> in all good conscience before God until this day.
Whether you are free or bond it is the spirit[3] by which you act and live that determines if you are seeking the kingdom of God or not. The Way you think and see the word will be different and your choice will change and you will be changed by your choices.
Modern Christians often do not fully understand the true meaning of religion at the time of Christ they may seduce them into an unhealthy entanglement with the politics of the world rather than the politics of the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
Download most recent Recording mentioning the politics of the Kingdom
Politeia
The term Greek politeia[4] which we see translated commonwealth in Ephesians means "the administration of civil affairs". The same term is translated freedom in Acts 22:28[5] To grasp the significance of this term politeia as both "the administration of civil affairs" and "freedom" you may want to seek to understand why some say Paul was a Roman citizen.
If political was relating to the government or the public affairs of a country or nation and a nation is "a large aggregate of people united by common descent, history, culture, or language, inhabiting a particular country or territory and the word comes from the Middle English, via Old French from Latin natio(n-), from nat- ‘born,’ from the verb nasci ... and Christians are suppose to be born again as a peculiar people or nation then was Jesus political?
Paul tells us that in Philippians 1:27:
- "Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;"
The word "conversation" is politeuomai [6] which means "to be a citizen" which means "to administer civil affairs" of that city of light.
We are told in Philippians 3:20:
- "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:"
The word conversation here is again politeuma[7] which is also defined "the administration of civil affairs or of a commonwealth".
The late Middle English: from Old French politique ‘political,’ via Latin from Greek politikos, from politēs ‘citizen,’ from polis ‘city.’ But Jesus was a polis also as we see in:
- "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid." Matthew 5:14
The term city was the Greek word Polis.[8]
- "That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth <4174> of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:" Ephesians 2:12
Christ preached a kingdom, a government, where men were not bound by oaths and contracts but by coming together in one accord through the law of love for one another.
This is why we see in Ephesians 2:19, 22:
- "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner [stone]; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."
The term "fellow citizens" means "possessing the same citizenship with others".[9]
Christ and the Apostles were very involved in the politics of the kingdom of God which can set the captive free when the people repent of their covetous practices and unforgiveness. As they seek that kingdom at hand they will be learning to love one another as Christ loved us while attending to the Weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith which include caring for the needs of our neighbors and the widows and orphans of our society through Pure Religion in matters of health, education, and welfare. We are NOT to provide for the needy of society through the Covetous Practices and the men who call themselves benefactors but who exercise authority one over the other like the socialists do.
The Way of Christ was like neither the way of the world of Rome nor the governments of the gentiles who depend on those fathers of the earth through force, fear and fealty who deliver the people back in bondage again like they were in Egypt. Christ's ministers and true Christians do not depend upon systems of social welfare that force the contributions of the people like the corban of the Pharisees which made the word of God to none effect. Many people have been deceived to go the way of Balaam and the Nicolaitan and out of The Way of Christ and have become workers of iniquity.
The Christian conflict with Rome in the first century Church appointed by Christ was because they would not apply to the fathers of the earth for their free bread but instead relied upon a voluntary network providing a daily ministration to the needy of society through Faith, Hope, and Charity by way of freewill offerings of the people, for the people, and by the people through the perfect law of liberty in Free Assemblies according to the ancient pattern of Tuns or Tens as He commanded.
The modern Christians are in need of repentance.
"Follow me!" —Jesus the Christ.
- One of the most important things to do is to become involved in a network of Charitable Practices. Everyone should want to join a Living Network of Love and Charity.
- If you think you have a calling to be a Minister of God or you might want to dedicate your life to Christ as an Ordained Minister of His Holy Church, contact us to start the process of discipleship and become the benefactors who exercise only love, NOT authority.[10]
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The politics of the mind
The politics of the mind is the politics of the soul.
When the Israelite’s demanded of Samuel in 1 Samuel 8:5, that they should have "a king like the other nations" they were asking for someone to appoint a "supreme court". The king would be an "Apotheos".
Because of the corruption among the Levites who were taking "bribes" their cities of refuge were not doing their job. This was because of the sloth of the people who did not care about justice for their neighbor as much as their own idleness. Their desire and sloth will take them from a free nation to one under tribute.
The king also became the "commander in chief"[11] to fight their battles for them instead of the peoples militia that had worked so well before. Eventually that king did a "foolish" thing according to Samuel. The Saul Syndrome would cause his kingdom or government to fail.
What did he do that was so foolish?
He forced the sacrifice of the people to support his army. This was the beginning of taxation in the one free nation where the "take and take and take" of Samuel's prophesy would dominate the politics of Israel.
If we remember that the people's desire for a king like other governments was because they had already "rejected" that God should rule over them in their hearts and minds.
They were so blinded by that rejection that even after Samuel's explanation they still wanted to give power to a government to do that which they could have done for themselves if they had not been slothful in the ways of God.
If they were still bound together by the love of God and each other through the Pure Religion of righteousness according to the perfect law of liberty their cities of refuge could have been expunged of corruption from the bottom up.
In the kingdom of God as Christ appointed the people are gathered in groups of Ten where every day is voting day. The temple of God is mad of the living stones you choose from the bottom up for the people are the treasure of the kingdom.
Temples as bank
In the "Temple Cleansing and Temple Bank" by Neill Q. Hamilton, explains the:
"function of the Jerusalem temple as a bank[12] and its connection to the cause of His death."
"A brief history of banking in temples in the ancient world will prepare us for an understanding of the Jerusalem temple bank."
Rameses, "I don't have to remind you, Moses—the temple grain is for the gods."
"What the gods can digest will not sour in the belly of a slave." Moses.
The Ten Commandments 1956 American film about the Egyptian Prince, Moses.
The granaries of the temples were store house to provide a social safety net in time of dearth or famine for society and ensure the loyalty of their citizens and subjects.
Many of the temples of Rome functioned as financial institutions, investment brokers, social safety nets, or other government service providers from building roads, docks, bridges, or aqueducts and even the minting of coins or keeping public records of lands and family lineage like birth registration. The temple at Ephesus provided some banking and investment services for 127 different countries.
Others were banking on the Kingdom. The Qumram of the Essenes, as well as Jesus and the early Church called for a temple made without hands but constructed of living stones.
The Essenes called that community a "temple of men" or the miqdash adam.
Ten elders of families gather together as an altar of 'adamah' e.g. clay in a free assembly and choose the living stones for |heir altars of sacrifice for the practice of Pure Religion which is the Corban of Christ, His Eucharist.
While the "seven men" in Acts 6 formed a sort of "bank" to handle funds as needed. They were a kind of nonprofit bank more like a decentralized credit unions today than the common for profit bank.
Everything about the Kingdom of God is decentralized because it is delivering a power of choice or liberty to individuals rather than to a central power or treasury.[13]
The prohibition by God is not in having a government or even voting. It is in the "covetous practices" and sloth which leads to "murder", "theft", debt upon your children.
Anyone voting to give power to men who call themselves benefactors but only take from their neighbor or borrow against the future of children so they can have free stuff today is taking a "bite" out of their neighbor. The more they do that the more they themselves will be snared and devoured by what should have been for their welfare.[14]
Like Jesus said in Matthew 7:22 "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
Today, like in the days of Christ and the Pharisees the people who think they believe in God may only believe in an image of God created by the doctrines of men. The modern Christians may be sitting in darkness again. They cannot see how far from the kingdom of God, The Way of Christ and the righteousness of God they have gone. They, because of their pride and selfishness, cannot see their need for repentance.
People may not be the Christian they want to think they are. They may just be believing in a false image of Christ that has been created in their own mind that say that it is okay to covet you neighbors goods through the agency of governments even though Christ said it was not to be that way with you.
Is the pursuit of Christ and his kingdom of righteousness the purpose of His Church?
The church appointed by Christ is a government institution that operates by faith, hope, and charity and is not like the government of the "world" which are institutions of force, fear and fealty established by men.
This truth is suppose to bring us to repentance?
- ↑ Was Jesus political 2012 podcast http://www.hisholychurch.net/audio/2012-02-11WasJesuspolitical.mp3
- ↑ Proverbs 12:24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
- ↑ 1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
- Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
- Ephesians 6:8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
- Colossians 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
- ↑ 4174 ~πολιτεία~ politeia \@pol-ee-ti’-ah\@ from 4177 ("polity"); TDNT-6:516,906; {See TDNT 649} n f AV-freedom 1, commonwealth 1; 2
- 1) the administration of civil affairs
- 2) a state or commonwealth
- 3) citizenship, the rights of a citizen
- ↑ Acts 22:28 "And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom <4174>. And Paul said, But I was [free] born.
- ↑ 4176 ~πολιτεύομαι~ politeuomai \@pol-it-yoo’-om-ahee\@ middle voice of a derivative of 4177 polites "the inhabitant of any city or country" from the word polis; v AV-live 1, let (one’s) conversation be 1; 2
- ↑ 4175 ~πολίτευμα~ politeuma \@pol-it’-yoo-mah\@ from 4176; n n AV-conversation 1; 1
- 1) the administration of civil affairs or of a commonwealth
- 2) the constitution of a commonwealth, form of government and the laws by which it is administered
- 3) a state, commonwealth 3a) the commonwealth of citizens
- ↑ 4172 ~πόλις~ polis \@pol’-is\@ probably from the same as polemos 4171 meaning war, or perhaps from polus 4183 meaning many, much, large; n f AV-city 164; 164
- 1) a city
- 1a) one’s native city, the city in which one lives
- 1b) the heavenly Jerusalem
- 1b1) the abode of the blessed in heaven
- 1b2) of the visible capital in the heavenly kingdom, to come down to earth after the renovation of the world by fire
- 1c) the inhabitants of a city
- 1) a city
- ↑ 4847 ~συμπολίτης~ sumpolites \@soom-pol-ee’-tace\@ from 4862 and 4177; ; n m AV-fellowcitizens 1; 1
- 1) possessing the same citizenship with others, a fellow citizen
- 1a) of Gentiles as received into communion of the saints
- 1b) of the people consecrated to God
- 1) possessing the same citizenship with others, a fellow citizen
- ↑ Matthew 20:25-26 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
Mark 10:42-43 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
Luke 22:25-26 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. - ↑ Emperator, emperatoris m. commander in chief Collins L.E. Dict. ‘62.
- ↑ Mark 11:15-19, Luke 19:48-49, Matthew 21:12,13
- ↑ Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
- ↑ Proverbs 1:10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. 11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: 12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: 13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: 14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: 15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: 16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. 17 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. 18 And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. 19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.