Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Application of Puritan Theology on Homosexuality -myassignmenthelp
Question: Write about theApplication of Puritan Theology on Homosexuality Issue. Answer: Introduction There has always been frequently asked questions against the engagement of Christianity in politics which incorporate that teaching anything explicitly over preaching of Bible is regarded as a distraction from the churchs mission. The worldwide overviews of Christianity while understanding the reality incorporates the civil government, and there are examples about the churchs faithful engagement with the politics. In the Old Testament, Daniel and Joseph served their civil government, which exerts its power in order to flourish further in their nations.[1] The worldview of the Christian incorporates that political theology gives recognition to every area of life which gives importance to the good works. In order to understand the same sex marriage in the light of the theology of state and church, it is important here to include the principle of Puritan theology in the issue of homosexuality. It has been pointed out that in many states it gives support to the gays and lesbians. There a re various political dominations who do not officially voice their support for homosexual marriage. Before applying the puritan theology, it is important to understand the theology in terms of relationship between state and church. Discussion Theology of Church and State relationship In respect to the theology of church and state relationships, regarding the issue of homosexual marriage, there should be a change in law due to the following reasons, Firstly, it will be marking an advancement regarding the cause of equality under the rule of law. It is the responsibility of a state to safeguard the rights of each of its citizens as well as creating the space and the legal structures in which there could occur the navigation of the competing rights without resorting to violent activities. Secondly, a change in law is necessary in this regard as because it will be marking a small but nonetheless major renunciation regarding the involvement of the state regarding a religious practice such as marriage. Ways by which a Christian might engage in politics In the modern post-Christian liberal democracy that exists in 21st century Australia, it is required for every Christian to have an active participation in the countrys national political discourse. In the traditional manner, the Australian church took into consideration more benevolent kinds of engagement such as letter-writing, meeting with local MPs, as well as signing petitions. However, in recent times, many Christians have shifted to social media campaigns, public protests, as well as certain kinds of civil noncompliance. It is mentioned below about the ways by which a Christian might engage in politics. Praying to the King When we are having a high view of the kingship of God as well as a practical outlook of human sinfulness, prayer is considered being the most influential way of engaging in politics. In 2 Timothy 2:1-2, Paul is urging that prayers, thanksgivings as well as intercessions should be made in respect of every individual, in respect of kings as well as for each one of those individuals who are in high positions, so that everyone might be leading a life of peace and tranquility, and which is considered to be dignified as well as godly in every manner. One of the efficient ways through which Christians are living out their godliness is via prayer in respect of the king to the King of Kings. There should occur holistic prayer, and it should not be simply to ask for political outcomes but also to intercede and give thanks in respect of our government. If God can do the changing of the hearts of pagan kings, then it is to him that we must be directing our highest attention. In the absence of pr ayer, no degree of lobbying, leafleting as well as letter-writing will be considered being effective. Caring for their souls The overpowering experience of the Australian politicians is based on abusiveness, ridicule as well as ingratitude. However, politicians are humans as well, and although, they can be easily dehumanized, they are also having souls and are individuals in requirement of the gospel. They are bearing responsibilities that we cannot even comprehend and most of the time the collateral damage of the political battle is their families. The Christians are required to be the shining lights throughout the world. As an alternative to the activity of undertaking pollie-bashing, it is required for us to take care of their souls. It is required pasturing them, supporting them, caring in respect of their families, inviting them to church, praying with them as well as telling them about Jesus. If being a Christian, a person is not caring for the souls of the politicians, then very few will do the same. Doing the homework One of the most challenging aspects of Christian political engagement is having an understanding not simply of the words of God but the world of God as well. When an individual is doing his homework and having a strong grip regarding the matter, he/she will be more readily be appreciating complex behaviour and will be avoiding oversimplification. The person will be minimizing the risk of unsophisticated linear thought process that will be transliterating in a clumsy manner a broad biblical principle regarding a complex policy concern. As a Christian, the individual will be having a more clear distinction amongst the virtuous biblical end and simply one of the various controversial political ways. As a Christian, when an individual will be failing to do the appreciation of the complexity relating to the world of God, he/she will be risking the aspect of supporting one specific policy in a simplistic manner to be the only probable way of expressing a broad biblical standard. The way to biblical justice is burdened with better godly purposes as well as complex practical challenges. The only way for an individual to do the gracious navigation of that path is when we are listening is a discerning manner to the word of God as well as the world of God. Counseling, do not simply criticize On the vestibule of the Victorian Parliament House, the words of Proverbs 11:14 are tiled stating that where there is no counsel, people are falling. However, in the multitude of counselors there occurs safety. In various ways, the aforesaid proverb does the capturing of the wisdom of the representative democracy regarding the Christians. In respect of the Christians of the New Testament, Caesar was considered to be our ruler. However, in a representative democracy such as in Australia, Caesar is in fact the sum of us and the people, via the Parliament, are regarded as the combined Caesar. This is stating that Christian people are bearing the accountability of Caesar for ruling in a justified manner, and not just by sharing their grievances regarding a recognized injustice, but by actually offering judicious advice for fixing the problem. Christian political engagement is required being more than a movement of protest. A Christian individual should be having the accountability for ru ling as the associative Caesar is demanding that we as Christians are connecting the words of God with the world of God and then commending in a constructive manner solutions that are centered around Christ in respect of the societal injustices. Distinguishing a gospel-centered worldview Even as Christian political engagement is considered to be realistic, it should as well be clearly centered around the gospel, both in form as well as substance. The gospel is considered being unique regarding the fact that it is conforming to no party platform, as well as yielding to no greater worldview and is challenging every ocracy as well as ism in the human historical scenario. The Christians should be commending not simply the temporal creative betterment but the eternal redemptive betterment regarding the gospel that an individuals political engagement must then be adorning. It also needs to be stated that when the Christian political engagement should be considered being authentically Christian, then it should be pointing towards Christ. Relation between Church and State in the context of homosexuality Through the understanding of the puritan theology, they do not allow the religious leaders to hold political office or serving the juries and in the similar way, they prevent the political officials from serving any religious functions.[2] However, puritans allowed more interactions between state and church. The officials of Government collect special taxes in order to support the religious activities of the churches, which are congregational. The puritan model provides for the compact relationship between the state and church. The civic republicans however pointed out that there would the establishment of religion of a more diffused nature, the ones who would give recognition to the diversity of religion. The early Puritans carry along with them the belief that same sex marriage should be restricted.[3] The Puritans as a general do not take into consideration that marriage is not a religious actions, instead it is regarded as a contract of law under the Governments authority. Purita n theology is regarded as one of the important features of the law of different countries and it is regarded as the authoritative and valuable sources of the insights for solving the difficulties in the legal issues. The thoughts of the Puritan provide a balance, which is historical to the other arguments which are theoretical in nature. However, there are no proper existence of the proper systematic Puritan. The historical Puritans have not developed any and the contemporary advocates of the covenant theory have not taken consideration of the task. However, the law and the societys ordering were one of the vital concerns for the Puritans. The same sex marriage was not considered to be ethical enough previously, against this background, legal recognition has to be given to the people who are going for same sex marriage by the Government under the jurisprudence of the Puritans. To render special protection to this relationship, the first principle of the covenant theory of principle that, relationships between the people in the society carries importance in the overall scheme of the life. The fundamental thing about this ideology is that achieving an independent road and among these covenants, marriage is regarded as quite special and it best describes the communal nature of cooperation, love and care.[4] The marriage encourages the important level of the societal involvement. The views of the Puritan suggest that marriage needs protection and special care. Marriage is important in terms to the people who are involved and they are regarded it as the utmost importance to the society. Marriage as an institution provides a common good to the individuals living in the society. Giving such high respects to the covenants between the two people, irrespective of the fact to which gender they belong, is pure. The Courts of different countries recognized that the rel ationship which is based on one to one which is regarded as the important relationship to the fulfillment of the liberty.[5] Therefore, this has further prevented the states to not interfere made by the individual about whom and whether to marry. The courts specially of United States of America had to struggle a lot in order to articulate a logic for such protection to the relationship. For example, the countrys Bill of Rights provides a zone of the autonomy of individual into which the government might not invade or violate the regulation of the individuals decisions in their private life. The covenant theory recognizes that there would be no public life which should be separated from the collective and individual existence. The main aim of the covenant theory of the puritan is to provide service to the society, hence it could be stated that for the sake of public good, the theory needs to be implemented properly. However, there are problems arising all around the world including Australia that the catholic Christians prevented the same sex marriage and they even donated 1 million in order to stop the same sex marriages as it is destroying the traditionalism of the nation and the belief. Conclusion Therefore to conclude it can be stated, in this modern century, it is important to take into account the importance of the homosexual marriages is getting importance all around the world with time, through the utilization made by the protestants by redefining marriages and make it more of a social contract one rather than religious. The Newer ideology of puritan gives birth to the newer policy after judging the trend of the newer generation and through the utilization of concepts of marriage on the basis of the contractual term, it can be stated that Puritan theology believes in the equality of the society and everyone in the society must be given equal respect. References Apple, Michael, and Linda Christian-Smith, eds.The politics of the textbook. Routledge, 2017. Beeke, Joel R., and Mark Jones.Puritan Theology. Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, 2012. Brown, Michael Grant.Christ and the Condition: The Covenant Theology of Samuel Petto (1624-1711). Reformation Heritage Books, 2012. Dallas, Joe. "Christianity and Homosexuality."Accessed August8 (2015). Furey, Constance. "Relational Virtue: Anne Bradstreet, Edward Taylor, and Puritan Marriage."Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies42, no. 1 (2012): 201-224. Hambrick-Stowe, Charles E.The practice of piety: Puritan devotional disciplines in seventeenth-century New England. UNC Press Books, 2013. Hasbany, R. L. (2013).Homosexuality and religion. Routledge. Pederson, Randall J.Unity in diversity: English puritans and the puritan reformation, 1603-1689. Brill, 2014. Subhi, Nasrudin, and David Geelan. "When Christianity and homosexuality collide: Understanding the potential intrapersonal conflict."Journal of homosexuality59, no. 10 (2012): 1382-1402. Wakefield, Gordon S.Puritan devotion: Its place in the development of Christian piety. Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2015. Wald, Kenneth D., and Allison Calhoun-Brown.Religion and politics in the United States. Rowman Littlefield, 2014.
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