Why Magufuli administration misses the point on Government splurge

Status
Not open for further replies.
How to Be a Good Citizen

Politicians: how do we treat them? Governments and local councils: how do we view them? Taxes: do we really need to pay them? What about evil regimes? If you live under a Hitler or Stalin are you supposed to obey them?
‘Be a good citizen,’ writes the apostle Paul. ‘All governments are under God. Insofar as there is peace and order, it’s God's order. So live responsibly as a citizen. If you’re irresponsible to the state, then you’re irresponsible with God, and God will hold you responsible. Duly constituted authorities are only a threat if you’re trying to get by with something. Decent citizens should have nothing to fear’ (Romans 13:1–3, MSG).
This would have been a radical idea to Paul’s original readers. In the ancient world most people saw religion and government as intertwined. The early church was still adjusting to the idea that the Messiah was not going to rule over his people in an earthly government. Those around them would have worshipped Rome and the Emperor as god. Yet here Paul tells them to follow Jesus as their King and still submit to Roman authority.
Paul’s teaching in Romans 13 needs to be balanced by Revelation 13. Revelation 13 was written at the time of the persecution of Christians under the Emperor Domitian. The state is seen as the ally of the devil (pictured as a red dragon) who has given his authority to the persecuting state (pictured as a monster emerging out of the sea). At worst, government can be demonic.
Both Romans 13 and Revelation 13 are true. There is good government and there is bad government. There is a good side to human government but there can also be an evil side. As Oscar Cullmann remarks, according to whether ‘the state remains within its limits or transgresses them, the Christian will describe it as the servant of God or as the instrument of the Devil’.
How then can you live as a good citizen?


Sent from my SM-A715F using JamiiForums mobile app
 
Psalm 89:38-45

Pray for those in authority

Israel was a theocracy. Church and state were inextricably intertwined. The ‘anointed’ leader of God’s people (v.38) was also the one who wore the ‘crown’ (v.39) and sat on the ‘throne’ (v.44).
The kings in the Old Testament were regarded as anointed by God. Yet many of them sinned and were unfaithful to the Lord. The psalmist writes, ‘But you have rejected, you have spurned, you have been very angry with your anointed one. You have renounced the covenant with your servant and have defiled his crown in the dust’ (vv.38–39).

Lord, I pray for our government and all the other leaders of our nation. May they never be covered with shame. May they govern well and wisely.



Sent from my SM-A715F using JamiiForums mobile app
 
How to Avoid Arguments, Deal with Disputes and Stop Fighting

The referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU resulted in a 52:48 split in favour of leaving. The campaign was acrimonious, the nation was divided, and the main political parties soon descended into infighting and division. This is one example of what we see across the globe. Every news update seems to include stories of arguments, disputes and fighting.
When sin entered the world, arguments, disputes and fighting began. Adam blamed Eve. Cain murdered his brother. The history of the world ever since has been one of conflict of all kinds.
When people turn away from God, they start fighting one another. We see the breakdown of relationships wherever we look: broken marriages, broken homes, broken relationships at work, civil wars and wars between nations. Sadly, the church is not immune. Right from the start there have been arguments, disputes and in-fighting.
How should we handle conflict?


Sent from my SM-A715F using JamiiForums mobile app
 
1 Chronicles 9:1b-10:14

Stop fighting

‘The Philistines fought against Israel… The fighting grew fierce around Saul’ (10:1,3). Saul was attacked by the Philistines and died as a result. We find this account in 1 Samuel 31. However, the writer of Chronicles adds an explanation: ‘Saul died in disobedience, disobedient to God. He didn’t obey God’s words’ (1 Chronicles 10:13, MSG).
As we look back at the book of Samuel we can see that the real problem was that Saul became jealous of David. David did everything he could to submit to Saul and to be on good terms with him. Saul would have none of it. He was out to get David. This internal dispute weakened Saul and made him vulnerable to an attack from outside.
We see today how internal disputes among the people of God make us vulnerable to attacks from outside. Jesus prayed that we would be one in order that the world would believe (John 17:23).

Lord, help us to be peacemakers, to stop the infighting and seek unity in order that the world will believe.

Pippa Adds

Proverbs 18:22
‘He who finds a wife finds what is good.’
What more is there to say?



Verse of the Day

‘… there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother or sister’ (Proverbs 18:24).


Sent from my SM-A715F using JamiiForums mobile app
 
1 Chronicles 11:1-12:22

Put your hope in the coming of the King

Our hope is in Jesus, the King, who will one day return and establish his kingdom forever. As we read of the kings of the Old Testament, it is important to remember that they, even at their very best, only faintly foreshadowed the ultimate king, Jesus.
In the chronicler’s eyes, David was the ideal king: ‘You were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord your God said to you, “You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler”’ (11:2). They ‘anointed David king over Israel, as the Lord had promised through Samuel’ (v.3). ‘David became more and more powerful, because the Lord Almighty was with him’ (v.9).
David did not do it all on his own. He needed a team around him. He had a group of thirty Mighty Men, which included the Big Three. I am so grateful for the mighty men and women who support and encourage Pippa and me as we try to lead. We could not begin to do what we do without an amazing team around us.
Amasai, chief of the thirty, ‘moved by God’s Spirit’ said to David, ‘We’re on your side… We’re committed… all’s well with whoever helps you’ (12:18–22, MSG). This must have been a huge encouragement to David.
In these scriptures, we see a direct equation of the Kingdom of Israel with the kingdom of God (see 1 Chronicles 28:5; 1 Chronicles 29:23; 2 Chronicles 13:8). There was no question about the continuity of kingship because it was guarded by God.
Yet, when the chronicler was writing this (hundreds of years later) there was no king. He wrote about the past in the hope that in the future a king like David would arise. This was the hope of Israel – a coming king. Jesus was that king. He was ‘the anointed one’, the ‘Messiah’ (Psalm 89:51).
Now our hope is in the return of Jesus. As Bishop Lesslie Newbigin put it, ‘The horizon for the Christian is “He shall come again” and “we look for the coming of the Lord.” It can be tomorrow or any time, but that’s the horizon. That horizon is for me fundamental, and that’s what makes it possible to be hopeful and therefore to find life meaningful.’

Father, thank you that all the hopes of Israel were fulfilled when Jesus, the anointed king, came. Thank you that we can now look forward to his coming again.
‘Praise be to the Lord forever! Amen and Amen’ (v.52).

Pippa Adds

1 Chronicles 11:10–25
I have mighty men (and women) in my family. They are taking on the giants of injustice. They are also useful for carrying suitcases!



Verse of the Day

‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit’ (Romans 15:13).

References



Sent from my SM-A715F using JamiiForums mobile app
 
And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Luke 12:15‭-‬19‭, ‬21 KJV
Luke 12:15-21 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground o | King James Version (KJV) | Download The Bible App Now

Sent from my SM-A715F using JamiiForums mobile app
 
Naam [emoji1545]
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…