For the sake of the kingdom.

[MoreCoffee]

In politics it's become common for political parties to act for their own advantage and to gain votes so they can win elections even if such action may harm the nation. Christians despite the admonition of the holy scriptures also engage in politics for their own advantage so that they can gain adherents and increase their influence (and income) even if such actions may harm the work of the gospel and the interests of the Kingdom. What comes first in the way you conduct yourself the interests of your party or something else?

 

[Lamb]

Could you name a few examples of these interests that where we receive some gain?

 

[MoreCoffee]

Could you name a few examples of these interests that where we receive some gain?

I did in the first post. Didn't you see "so that they can gain adherents and increase their influence (and income)"?

 

[Lamb]

I did in the first post. Didn't you see "so that they can gain adherents and increase their influence (and income)"?

What examples though give us those things according to your thoughts for the OP?

 

[psalms 91]

What examples though give us those things according to your thoughts for the OP?

And how does that differ with the history of your church?

 

[Lamb]

And how does that differ with the history of your church?

Why are you asking me this when I was asking for examples from the OP?

 

[MoreCoffee]

What examples though give us those things according to your thoughts for the OP?

I was thinking of some of the folk who use their religion or their reputation for being Christian to further their career in politics and some others who make a very luxurious living out of their preaching. There is also some of the testimony that was given to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse where it became clear that many who were called to testify put the interests of their organisation (church, para church, and school or other institution) before and above the interests of those who were abused. But there are many other subtle ways in which people can seek the advantage of their group even if in doing so they damage the proclamation of the gospel. Can you not think of anything that does that?

 

[tango]

I was thinking of some of the folk who use their religion or their reputation for being Christian to further their career in politics and some others who make a very luxurious living out of their preaching. There is also some of the testimony that was given to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse where it became clear that many who were called to testify put the interests of their organisation (church, para church, and school or other institution) before and above the interests of those who were abused. But there are many other subtle ways in which people can seek the advantage of their group even if in doing so they damage the proclamation of the gospel. Can you not think of anything that does that?

An old friend of mine always said he dreaded doing business with anyone whose email signature included the Ichthus fish because he knew there was a good chance he was going to get stitched up somewhere along the way. The flip side, another friend of mine ran a business that was overtly Christian in nature and always made absolutely, positively sure that every invoice was paid on time because they said doing anything less was a bad witness as it showed a lack of integrity.

There are certainly a number of people out there who make a very good living out of selling ostensibly Christian books. Some of them present a version of the gospel so badly twisted it's all but unrecognisable.