Each one of you have given a very articulate, well thought out viewpoint.
OB-1 It is refreshing to see someone who does recognize Who we get our rights from. As much as I love our declaration of independence, and Bill of Rights, I realize that they do not grant liberty at all. They recognize infringments to a liberty which we already possess as individual human beings AND they state the rights (esp. the BOR) in document form that should be refered to for validity before ANY subordinate legislation is even considered for a hearing by the governments.
I believe that many of our problems concerning this evil that I think you are refering to OB, are a direct result of individuals ignoring the One from whom they derive thier rights. For instance the rights of life, liberty, and self preservation are violated by any authority which places itself above THE AUTHORITY, by passing laws restricting the free exercise of said rights.
The Constitution does not give these rights. Governments do not give these rights. God gives mankind these rights. How governments and indeviduals exercise these rights are left up to the free volition of each.
Unfortunately, because of free volition, governments and evil individuals sometimes punish the innocent for exercising that which God has given. For instance, rather than justly punishing a criminal for his criminal behavior, gun laws are passed. It may simply start w/ an NRA approved law which punishes someone for using a certain weapon in the commision of a crime...a gun. Next, comes registration and govt permission before a law abiding man can obtain the means to defend his life, and preserve the lives and welfare of his family.
If govts do not give their permission for these, they are violating God given rights. If a man exercises these rights even though the govt authorities deny him permission to do so, he can suffer grave consequences. Everything from fines, jail sentences, property seizure, rape (in prison), ostracism by the media, legal fees, years of separation which denies him the ability to provide ANYTHING for his family, etc. ad nauseum....
Yes, I think you put it right when you used the term "evil". When God told the disciples to sell something that was needed for something that was needed even more, He was not recommending Christian activism or revolution. He rebuked Peter, who thought that was what He meant, when Peter cut off the soldiers ear. Jesus didn't need someone to protect His life from the govt and the evil religious crowd of His days on earth. He knew that it was time for the One Who gave the right to life to give His own life, in a torturous death (spiritual And physical) in atonement for all sins; so that eternal life would be an absolute reality to everyone one believes (places thier confidence solely) in Him as thier Savior from the Lake of Fire. This may be offensive to some, yet there was a time when our society recognized this in large part and realized that this historical event is THE basis for life, liberty, and the preservation thereof. The signature below refers to that responsibility, yes, that mandate to have the means to defend oneself and family if needed, because the times are evil.
I do not believe that we are ever going to rid our nation of these evils altogether, but it is very relaxing to recognize Who is the Author of our liberties.
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"But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip; and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one." -Jesus Christ (Luke 22:36, see John 3:15-18)