We Have No Idea
When The Kingdom Is Coming
And We Haven’t Been Commissioned
To Make It Happen

One form of Old Testament government, studied curiously by Christians and surprisingly entertained in recent times, is a Theocracy.

In simple terms, the word means the rule of God. Sounds intriguing but that definition is rather slim. It provides no detail and in practice has proven to be nightmareish depending on the parties forming such a government.

The idea provokes many questions.

Who will lead in a theocracy? What religious activities will it require? What prohibitions will it enact?

Those are just a few of the questions and the answers could and probably would change depending on who is in office. Religious rules can be quite obsessive and any new Pharaoh could change the rules at will based on how he or she perceives God.

If the JW’s win out, we won’t be allowed blood transfusions. If the Catholics win out, we won’t be allowed birth control.

Remember, a theocracy is a state, a religious state, governed by the rule of God. Because God is the understood Ruler, but cannot be seen, the leader’s connection to God is presumed and legislation, about which questions wouldn’t be allowed, neither needs nor requires consensus.
[Read more…] about 6 Proofs The New Testament Kingdom Is Not A Theocracy

The Supreme Court
Has Become The New Tribunal

In the colonial years of American history religion was very prevalent. Several denominations were represented: Lutherans, Presbyterians, Baptists, Anglicans, Quakers and even Catholics. This plurality was only grudgingly accepted, however, as every colony adopted an official religion.

Puritans and Anglicans were the most prominent but States like Pennsylvania and Rhode Island accepted and encouraged a pluralistic approach.

Historically, that level of religious diversity usually ended in a dog fight. Europe’s Thirty Years War (1618-1648), motivated largely by Catholic attempts to reseize political control, was a good reason for Protestants to escape to the New World.

But abuse wasn’t committed only by Catholics. Even when Catholics weren’t scheming for political advantage the Protestants were killing each other in an attempt to gain power. For Europeans it seemed there was no end in site.

It’s as if the religious in Europe were trying to bring Matthew 10 to everyday life.The best option was to cut and run.

Religious freedom (aka the desire to escape religious persecution) was one of the main reasons immigrants gambled on the long and fraught journey to settle on American soil.

But the abusive nature of religion didn’t fade easily. It’s a strange thing but religious aggression immigrated to America too.

The Puritans (aka Congregationalists), the first Protestants to settle in America, dominated the New England colonies. Their first order of business was to combine church law with civil law and the entire community was held to that standard. Anyone who didn’t show up at church regularly was in trouble. [Read more…] about From The Dark Ages To The Modern Era, Catholics Have Come Full Circle