What Jeremiah really means is
It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct God's step
But, like I say, who cares?
It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct God's step
But, like I say, who cares?
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The only solution is God’s Kingdom, in the hands of His Son.
I have asked the Jehovah's Witnesses about when the governing body who are all of the 144,000 go to Heaven. Who will they obey then? Have I got even a lame answer? No! I got nothing.Sure, because the witnesses god and his "anointed" people on earth are powerless against satan.
Have you ever thought how this world would be if your anointed slave was governing the world? I mean they do such a fabulous job within your org, don't they?
That verse also applies to ourselves as individuals. While we may plan something, it may not be approved to succeed.Jeremiah 10.23 says that "It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.", affirming that humans are not capable of governing themselves.
The Bible also mentions a future kingdom that will be ruled by God himself ( Luke 1:33, Dan 2:44), but while we wait for that day to come, we are stuck with human governments.
Throughout history different kinds of government have had the opportunity to prove their worth. Some failed more than others but in my opinion, no human government has ever succeeded in solving people’s greatest problems: poverty, hunger, health care, education, employment, housing, life/work balance, citizen’s individual rights, etc.
Below is a list with the most popular types of government (definitions by www.dictionary.com):
Anarchy - a state of society without government or law.
Authoritarian - a governmental or political system in which individual freedom is held as completely subordinate to the power or authority of the state, centered either in one person or a small group that is not constitutionally accountable to the people.
Commonwealth - a group of sovereign states and their dependencies associated by their own choice and linked with common objectives and interests.
Communist - a system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole or to the state. All economic and social activity is controlled by a totalitarian state dominated by a single and self-perpetuating political party.
Constitutional - a government operating under an authoritative document (constitution) that sets forth the system of fundamental laws and principles that determines the nature, functions and limits of that government.
Democracy - a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.
Dictatorship - the form of government in which absolute power is exercised by a dictator -a person exercising absolute power, especially a ruler who has absolute, unrestricted control in a government without hereditary succession.
Ecclesiastical - a government administrated by a church.
Emirate - the state or territory under the jurisdiction of an emir - a chieftain, prince, commander, or head of state in some Islamic countries.
Maoism - the theory and practice of Marxism-Leninism developed in China by Mao Zedong (Mao Tse-tung), which states that a continuous revolution is necessary if the leaders of a communist state are to keep in touch with the people.
Marxism -the system of economic and political thought developed by Karl Marx, along with Friedrich Engels, especially the doctrine that the state throughout history has been a device for the exploitation of the masses by a dominant class, that class struggle has been the main agency of historical change, and that the capitalist system, containing from the first the seeds of its own decay, will inevitably, after the period of the dictatorship of the proletariat, be superseded by a socialist order and a classless society.
Monarchy - a state or nation in which the supreme power is actually or nominally lodged in a monarch/king.
Oligarchy - a form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class or clique; government by the few.
Parliamentary government - a government in which members of an executive branch are nominated to their positions by a legislature or parliament, and are directly responsible to it; this type of government can be dissolved at will by the parliament (legislature) by means of a no-confidence vote or the leader of the cabinet may dissolve the parliament if it can no longer function.
Republic - a state in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by representatives chosen directly or indirectly by them.
Socialism - a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.
Theocracy - a form of government in which God or a deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler, the God'sor deity's laws being interpreted by the ecclesiastical authorities.
Totalitarian - a government that seeks to subordinate the individual to the state by controlling not only all political and economic matters, but also the attitudes, values and beliefs of its population.
My question is: Can a human government ever succeed? If yes, which one(s) and how?
Personally, I don’t believe so because for a government to succeed, corruption would have to be eliminated and I don’t see that happening by human will. If we look at history, the more power people get the more corrupt they become.
Could you point out those supposed verses? Also, if you believe this, what other institutions have these "invisible spirit forces" controlled? Maybe your own denomination?The Scriptures inform us that invisible spirit forces are controlling politics behind the scenes.
So, we have no responsibility ourselves-- just have God and Jesus do all the work? That's not what the Sermon On the Mount says.You’ll see the frustration that people feel toward their rulers. The only solution is God’s Kingdom, in the hands of His Son.
And many an Indian wanted to make Gandhi the governmental leader but he refused, but not because he thought government was intrinsically evil. He preferred to continue on with his teachings, much like Jesus did.When they wanted to make Jesus King (and He would’ve been the best), he got away from them.
Could you point out those supposed verses? Also, if you believe this, what other institutions have these "invisible spirit forces" controlled?
So, we have no responsibility ourselves-- just have God and Jesus do all the work? That's not what the Sermon On the Mount says.
And many an Indian wanted to make Gandhi the governmental leader but he refused, but not because he thought government was intrinsically evil. He preferred to continue on with his teachings, much like Jesus did.
"Government" simply is an institutional set-up for making decisions, and if you're married you have government operating in your own household that determines how family decisions are to be made. The same is true with your own religious institution. There's nothing intrinsically immoral with that.
It makes no sense, imo, to interpret what Jesus said as being anti-government as it doesn't make any sense, particularly since God set up Laws found in the Tanakh as to how government leaders were and are to behave. Do you honestly believe anarchy would be better? Do you honestly believe that this is what Jesus wanted?
Thanks for your response above, and I'll get back with you tomorrow.I gave you two passages, but there are more. Further, at 2 Corinthians 4:4, Satan is called "the god of this world." That's why it's going down, governments, institutions, and all. (Daniel 2:44; 1 John 2:15-17) Not necessarily all the people, though.
No, helping individuals and families is great. But anything else is futile. It's like trying to remodel the Titanic....why? The whole thing is going to sink. Nothing wrong with saving the individuals, though.
You're right.
Anarchy? Anti-government? Of course not! Again, the Scriptures highlight what we should do....be obedient, and follow their laws. (Romans 13). In fact, you won't find any JW's joining any group trying to overthrow any government, not even ones banning our activity. We're simply neutral. (John 17:14-16) But governments' authority has limits. -- Matthew 22:17-21; Acts of the Apostles 5:28-29.
You said "God set up Laws found in the Tanakh as to how government leaders were and are to behave." Yes, for the ancient Israelite nation. (How many other governments follow them?)
No matter what situation we face, in whichever jurisdiction we reside, we continue to preach about God's Kingdom and Jesus' role in it. -- Matthew 24:14.
Take care.
No, helping individuals and families is great. But anything else is futile.
I think he means helping the future be what God wills it to be. I do not agree, just so you know. I can help the future, but no on purpose. I don't care what you think.What else is there?
Jeremiah 10.23 says that "It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.", affirming that humans are not capable of governing themselves.
I think the most popular answer is to sin.While waiting for Jesus to return and govern the world, what do you suggest we do in the meantime?
While waiting for Jesus to return and govern the world, what do you suggest we do in the meantime?
Ah, so I betcha ya thought I would forget and let you off the hook! Hehehehehehe!I gave you two passages, but there are more. Further, at 2 Corinthians 4:4, Satan is called "the god of this world." That's why it's going down, governments, institutions, and all. (Daniel 2:44; 1 John 2:15-17)
But individuals form groups, such as with your Kingdom Hall.No, helping individuals and families is great. But anything else is futile. It's like trying to remodel the Titanic....why? The whole thing is going to sink. Nothing wrong with saving the individuals, though.
But you can't avoid anarchy if no one were to get involved with getting politically involved. If we want to have a say in our earthly destiny of our families, voting is the way to do it. Jesus never said nor implied that we just take what's coming and wait for death and judgement-- quite the contrary. The very early church was well admired for its activism in helping others, even putting their own lives in danger such as when they helped take care of those who had leprosy. It was one of the reasons why the church grew fairly rapidly.Anarchy? Anti-government? Of course not! Again, the Scriptures highlight what we should do....be obedient, and follow their laws. (Romans 13).
And I certainly have no problem with that, but hopefully it doesn't just stop at "preaching" as Jesus demanded more than just words-- he demanded moral actions, especially to help those who may not be able to much help themselves.No matter what situation we face, in whichever jurisdiction we reside, we continue to preach about God's Kingdom and Jesus' role in it. -- Matthew 24:14.