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From: jwn3u@Virginia.EDU (John William Nelson, III)
Subject: Re: Christian Nation?
Message-ID: <D84z8B.Kq3@Virginia.EDU>
Organization: University of Virginia
References: <12658@gos.ukc.ac.uk>
Date: Sat, 6 May 1995 03:04:58 GMT
Lines: 28

bln@ukc.ac.uk  writes:
> >However, it would be interesting to see someone try to develop
> >a system of law based on the New Testament.  
> 
> But one of the major points of the New Testament is that we cannot
> live by law. Look at the Pharisees. They were so tied up in rules
> and regulations and 'religion' that they forget the whole purpose
> of the rules. Jesus Christ came to set us free from the bondage of
> rules and regulations and by following him and recieving salvation
> we are 'changed', not by our efforts but by him.

So I guess your opinion on the matter would be that no one
should try to form a Christian Nation.  That's fine with me,
too, because I generally agree with your interpretation of the
message of the NT.  However, every time someone comes along to
show us that we are living for the rules and not for what is
beyond the rules (i.e. God) the people who follow are just
going to make more rules to worship.  Many Christians worship 
the NT for example.  I think it would make more sense to design
a well-integrated set of rules for people to follow AND an
interpretive meaning for those rules for anyone who wanted the
real thing.  That way, at least, the transition from lay
idolater to true believer could be made without tearing society
completely to shreds (as happens every time the disciples of a
new prophet start missing the point and worshipping the rules
all over again).

	-J
