Exloring Life Eternal

The original significance of baptism (immersion) was entrance into the Kingdom of God & hence the reason it is such a scandal in every generation where the call of the King is heeded.

Typically, it seems that when political issues become significant in the history of the Church, it means death of some sort or another. (I think of James, Savanrola, some Anabaptists, and the Methodist movement in the 1800's in England, and others.)

This reveals the danger of nationalism (i.e. replacing or equating the nation with the Kingdom of God). The party of the Nazi's the "Nationalist Party," or something to that effect, if I am not mistaken. I think that great discretion is essential in the area of
chosen allegiances.

Criticism of the nation that is vocal & effective is actually very costly for those who give a faithful critique, though the danger is far less than not recognizing & confessing the Savior who enables us to overcome our shortcomings. If the critique is accurate, God will bless the critic. If the critique is false, the critic will have many other critics to face as well.

Paul did not seem to appeal to Roman citizenship very regularly or significantly until he went to Rome ... & subsequently died (extant records indicate that it was an execution). He himself seemed to have regarded himself as a near abortion.

Jesus' own citizenship in Roman "Palestine"/Israel and as a Jew and part time resident of Galilee seemed to result primarily and a few off-hand remarks about the slyness of those in government, and then later in multiple trials before his death. His resurrection & the vacancy left in the resting place later demonstrated that indeed the King strong. His ascencion a few years later seems to indicate that the King took his throne.

To the knowledge of the general public (myself included), Jesus has not returned to earth yet. Still praying & working, dying & living in these United States, though I deeply long for a better country ...

Please pray with me for 2-4 new likeminded friends to be able to begin meeting regularly with me in the next few weeks. There is a ripe harvest & my heart is troubled & anxious, with the sentence of death within myself. I am feeling very alone in a new city. I covet your prayers.

Peace,
Mert