From the Family Research Council...

Today, the U.S. Capitol unveiled what one congressman has called a "$600 million godless pit," a palatial underground visitors' center which is at the heart of an ongoing debate over the place of America's religious heritage in the nation's capital. Not only does the basement of the House and Senate's home have new galleries, theaters, and gift shops, but, as 108 congressmen rightly argue, it should also include an honest and complete portrayal of America's religious roots.

Initially, planners had scrubbed references to "In God We Trust," the Pledge of Allegiance, and the Founders' faith. The Architect of the Capitol, who is responsible for the renovations, came under fire from the building's own residents, the U.S. Congress, for omitting such basic references to the Almighty. Although some of the concerns were addressed before the center opened this afternoon, dozens of leaders and organizations like FRC are still troubled by the politically correct nature of the exhibits, which are historically incorrect...

To help sound the alarm, contact your congressmen and ask them to restore Christianity to its place of prominence in the U.S. Capitol...
Family Research Council

You cannot discount the other organized religions of the world. It is not christian to do so.

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Not Christian? Well, that's debatable. But in any event, we are not talking about minimizing other religious beliefs, here, we are talking about preserving America's history.

And There Is Promoting The Missio Deo:

And as I see it, the two are alike not at all.

As to restoring Christianity to its place of prominence in the US Capitol, my congressman is the last person to whom I would turn for that.

Yahweh alone is establishes his church. The premise that it belongs to the state to 'restore' Christianity constitutes public blasphemy.

The original post is predicated upon Constantine's great compromise, a compromise that is in collapse even as I write. The Christian's sole allegiance is to Jesus Christ. Since they owe him everything, they owe the state nothing.

When this is understood, the state will not hesitate again to redden your streets with Christian blood. That is when believers shall have recognized their true identity in Jesus Christ.

Public Blasphemy

Quoting kustomlady - To help sound the alarm, contact your congressmen and ask them to restore Christianity to its place of prominence in the U.S. Capitol...

Response - As to doing what you ask, I agree with PublicBlasphemy 100% as to not contacting our government to solve our problems. What has the world to do with Christianity in doing the will of God? Is there any issue that is hard for God? If He is interested in preserving our history, does he need my vote or assistance in accomplishing that goal? Why would you ask us to help you in accomplishing something that is not a part of the word of God? We do not put our own leaders into power; God does, and all that we're asked to do is pray for the ones that He puts there. Do you seriously believe that God is caught off guard and fretting that our history is going in the basement? I'm sort of interested where in the Bible it says we are to be involved in these things?

In Jesus' name - larry

I read some of a book that indicated that the early settlers claiming to be Christian at first just set up towns where different religious groups could have each one's own cup of tea. They were not unified, just leaving England so they could have their own way without the king influencing their affairs and religious matters. That's not very Christian, I would say. And now we have this cultural sort of thing, of ones picking and choosing where they go and church so they can do their own thingy. So, I must deal with how You, God, really want ME to live, and not be too pressed to be trying to tell secular people what to do. How about > ME < and what You want *me* to be obedient to do ? ? ?

"though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered." (Hebrews 5:8) So . . . if we are looking for things to go our way, instead of learning to obey . . . no way, we need to pray (o: And obeying includes 1 Timothy 2:1-2 >

"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence."

So, I pray FOR President-elect Barack Obama, since he is "in authority". And praying in God's love means having *hope* for Barack > love "hopes all things", we have in 1 Corinthians 13:7. And if God has commanded this praying FOR Barack Obama, then we can be sure that God will make our obedient praying for him amount to something. And so, if we are truly believing God to bless President-elect Barack Obama, we are not going to be giving hospitable place to negative assuming that he is going to do all the evil that ones have been implying and even guaranteeing. Even in dealing with Satan himself, "Michael the archangel...dared not bring against him a reviling accusation", we have in Jude 9.

Paul has written, of a leader > "he is God's minister to you for good", in Romans 13:4. So, I understand that God uses secular leaders for His good purpose. Let us take advantage of any situation, then, for God's good intention, like Joseph did > Genesis 50:20-21 > "'But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.' And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them."

After Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, he then took advantage of this situation, helped secular leaders, and managed Egypt through a major famine, so many people were saved alive. Then he was in power to do whatsoever he could to those brothers, but he built his family relationship with them and comforted and helped them.

Now *we* the real Christians are the ones really on top of things; in our spirit and minds and attitudes, then, let us pray and expect how God will bless, and be ready to exploit any of this world's stupid nonsense for our good agenda with God (o:

Thanks, Larry:

And thank-you, com7fy8! Not only do you give us a positive message and agenda, but you offer a vision of the world in which God’s providence is active everywhere. This makes it possible for us to live as God’s people in the world. This recognition that God’s work with leaders and people groups shows that salvation is concerned with far more than the ‘individual.’

God works with whole communities of people. Matthew’s version of the great commission comes as a command to go to and to baptize nations of people. The word, ‘nations’ is ‘ethnos,’ or what we would call ‘people groups.’ That actually continues the OT tradition in which the prophets proclaimed judgment and salvation for cities and nations.

It is because we have forgotten what God is doing in the world, and the nature of God’s work among us, that we become easy prey for any and all ideologies offering alternative (read heretical) ways to envision the nature of the world, and therefore the believer’s place in the world. Very often, this attack comes as patriotic idolatry. And we fall for it!

Every time!

Especially in America, the church is divided. Churches are separated, and have forgotten their identity and vocation as a holy nation. As a result, the witness of the church is inept, compromised and profoundly confused. It has no sense of what it means to be a society under God, or a community of reconciliation. It is unready to confront the powers.

We must recover that sense of the community of God in order to show the world what it means to live in the City of Salvation rather than in the city of death. To that end, your recognition of God’s work among peoples in community with one another, and with their leaders, is truly refreshing. So let us covenant to strengthen our common life in Christ.

Public Blasphemy

Our Apostle Paul wrote, "Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith." (Galatians 3:24) To me, this means the Old Testament with its moral do's and don'ts is meant to escort people to Jesus. Those laws can keep a person alive long enough to come to Jesus. So . . . law, then, can indeed be very helpful. We need good laws for helping to keep people from destroying themselves until they can get to Jesus. But, of course, no law can make people love. So, ALL need Jesus Christ (o: "learn from Me," Jesus says, "and you will find rest for your souls." (in Matthew 11:29)

I have been noticing how in my church I can not get right with God, all by myself > "we are members of one another", we have in Ephesians 4:25 > we are members of each other, depending on each other for the flow of the love-blood of the Holy Spirit among us (o: "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5)

So . . . before we can fight properly for public laws that are right > we need to get real with God, ourselves.

You can't be a good soldier unless you first have become a good citizen (o: Or else, how will you know what you are fighting for? Also, a good soldier represents and is an example of all the good things his/her nation stands for > "nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." (1 Peter 5:3) I have been informed that during World War Two America had soldiers who would not torture their German prisoners but they would treat them right and show them how Hitler's regime was wrong; and this won over those prisoners to give helpful intelligence information to the Americans. Ones would want to become citizens of America, I understand, because of that.

We are not just trying to control laws; we want people to defect to Jesus and join us in how God has us loving . . . submitting to how You, LORD our Father and Jesus, have us sweetly and sensitively enjoying You and how You have us "submitting to one another in the fear of God." (Ephesians 5:21)

If I understand you, you're saying that we can have Biblically defined relationships ONLY with other believers. And with that, I very much agree.

We together--the people of God--are being saved.

Every faith tradition has its own affective language of piety. And what people say both reflects and shapes how they think about their faith. Some faith communities say things like 'Jesus is my personal Savior.' That really isn't a part of my faith tradition.

Where I live, we confess that Jesus Christ is head and Savior of the church, of which I, by faith, am a member.

The examples you cite--Peter (the flock), and Paul (the body), plus the plurals you reference (our hearts, Spirit given to us, etc.) very much confirm the body/flock images you use. The fact that everything in Christ's body touches the rest of the body is by design. That is the way our Savior ensures the unity of the church in mutual ministry under Christ's headship.

Christian unity has been called many things, and it has been defined as many things. What I see is that Jesus Christ is the head of the church (Ep 1:22; Co 1:18). When we recognize that the Headship of Jesus Christ is the issue, other things seem to fall into line.

Whether by allowing pollution into the body, or by hacking it asunder needlessly, his interest in the body is paramount. So it is our interest also.

Blessings!

Public Blasphemy