We should be grateful that a secular source is confirming what we know to be truth (it would be true regardless of their findings)

There are many people who are skeptical or reject Biblical truth (to their own harm) so a reference from the world is helpful in helping them to see the truth.

Here is the command (no loopholes)

Forsake NOT the assembling of yourselves together.

But a Christian is to obey man more than God?

Read the context please

“For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:”

how is shutting down a church service not a terror to good works and a solace to evil. Remember if they do this to one congregation regardless of beliefs they will be able to do to all.

The passage clearly says DO THAY WHICH IS GOOD and you will have praise not persecution of the same.

Nick wrote:
This is of the topic of the article, but MacArthur's "lordship salvation" has some theological issues. For example, he confuses some of Christ's requirements for discipleship with His requirements for salvation.

Could you give an example where the Lord makes a distinction between being a disciple and being saved?

Into which category would the following quote from the Lord fall, in your thinking?

"For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall man give in exchange for his soul"

  In reality supporting a candidate doesn’t mean you support his lifestyle anymore than buying a product means you support the companies political goals  I own many Apple products, that doesn’t mean I support their leftist agenda.  My wife’s computer is Windows based and has MS Office, that doesn’t mean we are in agreement with Bill Gates.    

If you don’t want to vote that is your choice.  You would do well to not try and bind the consciences of  other believers in shackles to your thinking when they are trying to obey God by choosing the candidates that will do the most good.  (Again see Galatians 6:10)  That is the standard, not the lesser of two evils, but which will  do the greater good.

Whether we like it or not, whether we agree with it or not, we are currently under a two party system here in the States.  For your vote (an opportunity to do good) to matter  it will support either the Democrat or the Republican candidates for government.

The Democrats have clearly showed their disdain for Christians while Trump has supported them.  The Democrats have clearly showed their support for the killing of babies while Trump has been pro-life.  The Democrats have wanted judges to write the law (the job of the legislative branch) while Trump has appointed judges who interpret the law according to the Constitution.  Why would you turn down an opportunity to do good to others and fellow believers?

Neither party is doing a great job.  Frankly they both stink (with notable exceptions for certain individuals). We don’t place our hope in politicians, we look to God from whence comes our help. Faith produces works.

It is interesting that some posters are making out voting for a candidate a sin.   

Trump is not running on a platform supporting blasphemy or infidelity or gambling any more than Biden is running on a platform for sniffing women and influence peddling for your kid.  

Frank has very often correctly pointed out that a person running on strictly Christian principles would not be elected into office

We live, by God’s grace, in a fallen world ruled by fallen men.  There was not government set up during Biblical times where power to govern was controlled by those who were to be governed.  It was always those who governed ruling over the citizens not the those who governed being subject to the citizens.  (We have strayed very far from this) Thus we are in a situation outside of specific Biblical instruction .  We must follow Biblical principles.   You cannot rightly establish participating in government as a sin from Scripture.  Elijah, at God’s direction, even aided the  ungodly king of Israel (a blasphemer) against the Syrians. Does that mean Elijah supported evil?

After the fall human will, thinking and feeling became slaves to the fallen nature of man.  Remember Scripture says the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.  Romans 6 reminds us we were servants to sin (a servant is not free).  They would not because it is not in man according to I Corinthians 2 to understand spiritual things in and of his own self.  When a sinner comes to the Lord we see his response, what is unseen to us is the convicting and quickening work of the Holy Spirit, the drawing work of the Father, and the cleansing work of the Son.  Remember only God can grant the necessary faith and repentance.

Spurgeon has a sermon entitled Free will a slave.  I am sure there are numerous places you can find the transcript of it.  It is read here if you want to listen.

Ladybug wrote:
You can't seem to comprehend what was stated US…..

Why would God demand a response if He already knows?

Ever read Genesis 3?

What part of “Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption…Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
Rom 9:25  As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.” Do you not understand? The passage deals with national not personal election. Context IS important.

It would take multiple posts to show you that God lays out a command and tells the people they should obey it and also lays out consequences for not obeying it. Read your Bible, you can’t miss it. (Genesis 22:18;Joshua 1:8; Luke 11:28; I John 5:2&3)

I see this all too often. The topic that brought me into this thread was the fact that God commands, in this case to repent and believe, demand a response from the hearer. I never deviated from that in my discussion. To be honest, it is ludicrous to suggest otherwise. Actions have consequences (see Galatians 6:7&8) To say a passage that is specifically speaking about the national election of Israel (see Romans 9:4 and note the thought is continued in 9:24-30) means that God doesn’t expect a response is simply bad hermeneutics.

Ladybug never could find a single word in any of my posts that showed I denied the truth of election or the necessity of the work of God in regeneration but apparently because she could not disprove my points showing that the passages clearly taught there was expected response by the hearer (Greek active voice) I somehow got off on an unnecessary “rabbit trail” and what false accusations did I state in any post??????

John UK wrote:
They didn't have this problem in Bible days.

Unprofitable Servant wrote:
Quote anything I have posted that shows I do not acknowledge that please

Ladybug wrote:
Likewise, if you don't see t...

You seem to say that when we use the Biblical  phrase

Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved

That we are trying to say this means that anybody can call, or all have the ability to call

Not what I or it is saying because it is not so (John 12:38-40)

This  is what saith the Scriptures not so called Arminianism.

The same active voice imperative mood is found in Matthew 26 where our Lord admonishes Peter, James, and John to watch and pray. The need to do both was the responsibility of the disciples as our Lord was doing both.  

The command to flee fornication (I Corinthians 6:18) same pattern active voice imperative mood.  It is us who have been given the command that need to flee
Examples could go on and on, but the Scriptural teaching is always those who hear the command must respond, the hearers are the ones who are acting in response to what they heard.
Isaiah 30:18

I am not that familiar with Arminian beliefs and so never base my thinking on their doctrinal bent.   Let us consider what the Scripture says for correct understanding.  

Luke 13 3&5

I tell you, Nay: but, except *ye repent*, ye shall all likewise perish.

To use your analogy, into whose court did the Lord put the ball?  While we know repentance is from God (Acts 11:18) He did not say except I grant you repentance (which is the only way they would have repented) He said except YOU repent.  Again in the Greek the verb repent (which is indeed an action verb) is in the active voice which as previously noted means the subject (ye) is the doer of the action.   

Whom did our Lord call to repentance?  I can not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.

What did Paul preach (Acts 26). But showed that…they (Gentiles) should repent and turn to God and do works meet for repentance