John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton <baron.acton@aldenham.org>




Christians should not use government as a tool to control others' moral
behavior by the threat of force. The proper role of government is to
protect you from those who would use force to bend you to their wills
-- not to itself become such a threat.

Jesus said "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hears my
voice, and open the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with
me." Jesus refuses to force His way through that door. He enters by
invitation only. Jesus does not force us to stop sinning -- which he
certainly has the power to do -- but to show us the way to a right
relationship with God. This reconciliation comes as a result of
individual choice.

This is what Christianity is all about. Individuals become Christians
voluntarily by accepting Jesus and their Lord and Savior. Forced
conversions are not really conversions at all. It is important to
note that only individuals can become Christians. Not nations.
Not governments.

Contrast Jesus' methods with those of government. The common denominator
in all government activity is the use of force: Government either forces
you to do things, forces you not to do things, or forces you to pay for
things. If Jesus never used force to accomplish His ends, then by what
authority do Christians authorize the initiation of force in the name
of God?

The Christian religion posits an all-powerful God who nevertheless
permits humanity to turn its back on Him. This shows an extreme
respect for free will and for the very sort of individual choice
that is hated by statists as they attempt to enforce their will
upon the people through the power of government.

The basic principle of Libertarianism is not anarchy. There are real
limits. My free will ends where yours begins. Neither the community
nor I have any claim whatsoever on your property or your life, and a
libertarian legal system would be structured around that principle.
when one individual decides the fate of another, it is nothing more
than the ancient law of tooth and claw.

The Christian concept of salvation through faith is that God does
not force His saving grace on anyone; the person must come to Him,
genuinely desire to be absolved of punishment for sin via Jesus
Christ, and ask for salvation, which only then is granted. This
is libertarian at the core.

If the Son of God sets you free, you are free indeed!



.

Relevant Pages

  • 60 Questions For The Christians
    ... "To be full" God ... 1.To be son is to be less than divine and to be divine is to be no ... How could Jesus have the attributes of sonship and divinity ... 11.Why do Christians say that God is three-in-one and one in three ...
    (alt.religion.christian)
  • Questions For The Christians
    ... According to most Christians, Jesus was God-incarnate, full man and ... "To be full" God ... 1.To be son is to be less than divine and to be divine is to be no ... 11.Why do Christians say that God is three-in-one and one in three ...
    (alt.religion.islam)
  • Re: The Islamic and Christian views of Jesus: a comparison
    ... Source of information about Jesus in Islam ... The Quran was revealed by God to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings ... Do Muslims believe he was born of a Virgin Mother? ... Like Christians, Muslims believe Mary, Maria in Spanish, or Maryam as ...
    (comp.sys.mac.advocacy)
  • Re: 60 Questions For The Christians
    ... insult as such words could only come from an unbeliever in God. ... it is incredible that such words should come from a Prophet ... statement was said by a Prophet (Jesus), ... You:> According to most Christians, Jesus was God-incarnate, full man ...
    (alt.religion.christian)
  • Re: THE FOUNDER OF CHRISTIANITY
    ... Did Jesus or his Apostles follow a religion called Christianity? ... Jesus made it clear that his mission from God ... Christians may think, Jesus had no intention of starting a new ... Allah is disguised by Satan to deceive Muslims to fast ...
    (soc.culture.singapore)