Are You Free, a Slave, or a Servant?

[Thundarstick]

1Pe 2:16-17
Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

This was the scripture used as the base of my devotional this morning and in the body of it was this statement.
"It often seems the emphasis of our world is on personal rights. As Christians we should emphasize our privilege to serve God and man because of the grace poured out in our lives."

I've often stated that you don't have to live in a free country to be a Christian and most American Christians look at you like your insane to talk like that. Then I look at early Christians and see that most lived in corrupt pagan societies, but their love for Christ and each other drew more and more to faith. I see brothers and sisters from other countries today whose faith and lives are so strong! Total freedom may even be detriment to Christian values. I see how freedom of the individual has been used in this country to corrupt it! If you go and read some of our founding fathers writings, you'll see that they believed our form of government only works for people that are in submission to God's laws. I'm seeing in my lifetime what going against these simple scriptures is costing our country now, and I'm sure the price is going to be much higher in the future!

Please express your thoughts on this subject.

[Half Dog]

“Honor the emperor”. I feel I have a vested interest in this country and the moron who is occupying the Presidents seat seems to be destroying my country. How can I stand up for what’s right and honor the emperor when the two conflict?

[dverna]

Half Dog, you beat me to it.


Thunderstick, you may be on to something. Could God want this country to fail to test our faith? When life is too easy, more people do not think they need God. I do not have answers for why things happen, but God is in control...or so we are led to believe.

[45workhorse]

“Honor the emperor”. I feel I have a vested interest in this country and the moron who is occupying the Presidents seat seems to be destroying my country. How can I stand up for what’s right and honor the emperor when the two conflict?

Amen brother!

[Ithaca Gunner]

I hope he means, ''Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's.'' In that context from the Bible.

[725]

Involuntary servitude is the fancy way to say slave. When my "way too high" taxes are taken from me for the gratuitous luxury of others, that is exactly what is going on. I'm forced to pay for the indolent, those on generational welfare, college loan forgiveness, and who knows how many other "programs" that are designed to buy votes for the empowered class. Involuntary servitude, indeed. I'm forced to work for the benefit of those who won't work. In the mid-1860's we put an end to some of that.

I'm proud to be a FDR. -- Frederick Douglas Republican. Unfamiliar with the term. I invite you to seek out and read the works of KCarl Smith. (Yep that is how he spells his name, KCarl Smith). He makes a good case for (forgive me Superman) truth, justice & the American way.

This is for the temporal world. My heart belongs to Jesus.

[Milky Duck]

I look at taxes as a tithe ...if you look back to origonal tithe...it was given to the leaders of church who were also leaders of community.... for the greater good of all...it went to look after the less fortunate and keep things ticking over....
it makes the deduction from my weekly pay a little easier to stomach.

[725]

If I could tithe for the betterment of the needy, I'd be happy as a clam. If you think your taxes are well spent on worthwhile ventures, I just might have a Brooklyn Bridge, you might be interested in, for sale in Montana. I love ya, brother, but I live by the words of Thomas Payne, "He who dares not offend cannot be honest." I wish my government only took a tenth of my income!! That would be. great!

[dverna]

I look at taxes as a tithe ...if you look back to origonal tithe...it was given to the leaders of church who were also leaders of community.... for the greater good of all...it went to look after the less fortunate and keep things ticking over....
it makes the deduction from my weekly pay a little easier to stomach.

I have wondered why tithing was sufficient to take care of the church and those in need centuries ago, but we now need to pay way more than 10 % in taxes and the church still expects 10%. Progress...got to love it.

[Milky Duck]

I hear you fellas,honestly I do...its just my way of getting "over it n on with it"

death n taxes the two things you can be sure of in life.

Ive made this statement before too.......and still stand by it.

IF my medical expences were covered by govt
if my dental expences were covered by govt
if there was zero tax put on food,services,fuel and MOST IMPORTANTLY education and a pension was guaranteed at a decent sustainable rate inflation adjusted...this K1W1 would be more than happy to pay 60% tax on every dollar I earn over my entire working life.
think about that one for a bit before replying...and NO Iam not a sociaist in any way shape or form.

[dverna]

I hear you fellas,honestly I do...its just my way of getting "over it n on with it"

death n taxes the two things you can be sure of in life.

Ive made this statement before too.......and still stand by it.

IF my medical expences were covered by govt
if my dental expences were covered by govt
if there was zero tax put on food,services,fuel and MOST IMPORTANTLY education and a pension was guaranteed at a decent sustainable rate inflation adjusted...this K1W1 would be more than happy to pay 60% tax on every dollar I earn over my entire working life.
think about that one for a bit before replying...and NO Iam not a sociaist in any way shape or form.

Are those “guarantees” the same if your earnings are at 5% of the average? Does someone who earned 300% of the average get the same entitlements, or more.

[GhostHawk]

I believe that God wants this country on its knees in a spirit of repentance.

Just as God scattered the Jews across the world. I believe he could destroy our country and scatter us as well.

The "Easy" way is for our country to return to God, repent, and get back on the path of God's Will.
But something tells me it is not going to be the "Easy" way.

Nobody died and made the USA the cop of the world. Or the only authority that matters.

We need to stop trying to run the world, turn inward, fix our own problems.

As for the OP, I am free, who chooses to serve the Lord God Almighty, his son our Lord Jesus the Christ, and the Holy Ghost.

[Good Cheer]

What GhostHawk said.

[ioon44]

Yes, I really agree with what GhostHawk has posted.

There are two nations in the history of the world that have been founded upon God and His word. Thus, the uniqueness of USA and Israel is that both of them were founded on the belief in God and on their unique interpretation of God’s guidance.

Ancient Israel worshiped false god's that led to their downfall. Are we on the same course or will we repent?

[Milky Duck]

Are those “guarantees” the same if your earnings are at 5% of the average? Does someone who earned 300% of the average get the same entitlements, or more.

that will always be the fly in the ointment...how to encourage folks to get off bum and do some work....
if the answer is found and the encouragement,either carrot or big stick isnt seen to be too draconian...oh the world would be a much better place.
I believe the entitlements should be equal...in your two examples the other 35% of income would still make one group have a much better choice of lifestyle and the other would still be closer to the breadline. but both would arguably be better off in long run.
free education and medical just has to pull up standard of living long term.

[dverna]

that will always be the fly in the ointment...how to encourage folks to get off bum and do some work....
if the answer is found and the encouragement,either carrot or big stick isnt seen to be too draconian...oh the world would be a much better place.
I believe the entitlements should be equal...in your two examples the other 35% of income would still make one group have a much better choice of lifestyle and the other would still be closer to the breadline. but both would arguably be better off in long run.
free education and medical just has to pull up standard of living long term.

Too many pitfalls my friend.

Many will not work if they can depend on handouts.

Free education sounds good....but what good is a degree in History, Political Science, English, Spanish, Music, Basket weaving etc etc. Not too many jobs in those areas. And we will be paying for it.

Someone has to wash dishes, clean floors, pick up trash etc etc.

I saw what happened when our government threw money at people during the virus we cannot mention. People making more money than when they had jobs. These same people have not returned to full time jobs.

Socialism fails under its own weight.

But maybe Americans are lazier than people in other countries.

[Milky Duck]

we have folks here,now who earn ...nope earn is wrong word...recieve more $$$ per week for sitting on bum and breeding a new child every 3 years ,than most working folks pocket after doing hard graft for 40 hours a week... and our current bunch of pillictitions seem to encourage them to do it under guise of "raising children out of poverty" its all a crock of poohs.... Solo mum can still use her "benefit money" to buy smoke,alcohol or drugs.... its actually harder for a married couple on benifit than a solo mum...and its financially hard to move into employment as part time work is taxed to point you pocket less per week than if stayed home....

[Good Cheer]

Choosing who you will serve is the only freedom you have.
Other than that the game is rigged and all the rest is illusion.

[popper]

if you look back to original tithe It was an offering/tribute to God! Later ended up as a tax as the 'gov' was the Israelite leaders. Then a general tax for 'public' use. Hint - Greeks and Romans used it for control of 'less' desirables.
As for today, The US Gov and 50% of 'Christian' churches are run by perverts, blasphemers' and criminals. What do YOU think God's answer will be? Yup, just look to scripture for the answer.

[.429&H110]

From Biblehub I cribbed:

The Ten Commandments

1And God spake all these words, saying,

2I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

( you know the rest...)

Our Lord frees slaves.

Thank you Jesus.

[fixit]

In answer to the original question, yes on all counts. Scripture spells out each one, and each makes sense in their proper context.

[Messy bear]

We are both free and in bondage. Both free in Christ and a slave to the flesh that trips us up every day.
We are servants to our fellow man

[fixit]

Well said.... Of course, knowing it and doing it is where the work begins!

[Wayne Smith]

I am a servant of Jesus Christ but also a friend and He is my savior.

If you look at the Old Testament and all the tithes and offerings that was required (remember, they were a theocracy, so all the offerings and tithes went to run the government and the Church) the total was very close to 50% of the total income. If you add the taxes we pay and the tithe it isn't greatly different. And we have a lot more old people to support than they did, too.

[Kosh75287]

“Honor the emperor”. I feel I have a vested interest in this country and the moron who is occupying the Presidents seat seems to be destroying my country. How can I stand up for what’s right and honor the emperor when the two conflict?

Support the CONSTITUTION, and you will, in so doing, support the country. Robin Williams REALLY said it all in the movie "Man of the Country", when he said "Politicians, like diapers, should be changed often and repeatedly, and for many of the same reasons".

[Char-Gar]

Christianity thrives best when it is unpopular or even persecuted. American churches contain many "pew polishers" who only polish pews with the backsides. There are precious few real disciples among them. When times get difficult, they disappear. Many bemoan the diminishing number that attend churches in America but I do not. With Christianity becoming unpopular in America, there is a cleansing taking place in churches.

[sparky45]

Interesting viewpoint C-G; I tend to agree. For over two years now my wife and I have missed going to Church (health reasons, wife has advanced Parkinson's) and the Church as a whole has gone down in membership that participates in the Services. We have a Minister that is retirement age and now "out and about" within the community (she has visited at out house ~ 4 times) in the last two years. There is a Facebook page that displays each Sunday's Sermon, but I have stopped my Facebook identity so I only occasionally see the Service via text service. We have sketchy internet (less than 4000 live in my county). I feel that when it comes to crunch time, the Church WILL become more active, at least I hope so.