fiatlux

In the "kingdom of heaven," not America or anywhere on planet Earth, Christians have no rights: we are to be slaves to Christ, which bestows upon us life, liberty, and joy for God's glory alone, by grace and the Holy Spirit, not by the Constitution or government. Love of neighbor is the bottom line. How do I know this? Jesus said it. When asked how to gain eternal life in the story of the Good Samaritan, "love of neighbor" was his response. The present predominant message of the Church on Religious Freedom has corrupted the message of Christ. Such worldly freedom is yeast.

This whining was not tolerated under Ancient Rome and from all indications by Early Church writers, while under often terrible persecution, such "rights" were not even considered, and this was the biggest growth period of the faith. Maybe Romans13 was influential in stifling these earthly sniffles. "Do not rebel against the ruling authorities." Why not? Romans13 gives this explanation further down as to why and how a Christian citizen should act: "love of neighbor."

Taxes of the empire were taken for pagan practices that included gross immorality as well as infanticide, never mind a number of other things against God's righteousness. Jesus said to pay the taxes and Paul said not to rebel. Not Hillary or Barack but Jesus and Paul. The government is not telling you to abort or to have a same sex marriage, just as it is not telling you to divorce and remarry, be a banker, be fat with possessions as well as literally, have its flag in church, or hate Muslims.