That’s a theological claim dressed up like a historical one. History doesn’t hand out gold stars for “priestly nations.” That’s a label from a religious framework, not a universal fact. Yes, Old Testament Israel claimed that identity—Exodus 19:6, “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” But that’s textual self-description, not a historical monopoly. Given the number of lies and errors in the Bible, it is a foolish source, anyway.
You want real-world analogs? Look around: Tibet under the Dalai Lama—a theocratic state ruled by monks. Hideous government. Ancient Egypt—pharaoh as god-king, priesthood entwined with state. Caliphates—Islamic governance with religious law at the core. Different scripts, same core: religion at the helm of national identity. Israel wasn’t alone. It’s just the one some people are still reading about on Sundays. So no, that claim doesn’t hold. Not historically. Just devotionally. Know the difference. Christians don’t want power? Ugh, no. Not true. Look at the priest-ridden island of Ireland until very recently. God you’re naive. Wake up.
First, there are no lies or errors in the Bible. There are many books which explain the paradoxes and apparent contradictions.
Even if you believe the Bible is not inerrant - and many Christians do believe that - Christianity doesn't rest on inerrancy, correct ecclesiology, or faultless soteriology. Its foundation is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. St Paul is extremely blunt: if Christ has not been resurrected, we who believe in Him are still guilty before God, our faith is a con, and we're fools for living according to it.
The evidence of Christ's resurrection is strong. Again, read. Read Gary Habermas' books, he's one name who just came to mind. There are many others.
You tell me about a priest - riven Ireland. Gee, it's a shock to me that the Church would have been despoiled by corruption. I can tell you that except maybe 5,000 people, Reconstructionists and Catholics such as Adrian Vermuele, American Christians aren't power seekers. Look at the way Christians have accepted Trump's appointees, very few of whom are our idea of Christian lives well lived. But we are realists.
What's interesting is that many nonbelievers are coming our way on a lot of issues, such as transgenderism.
The Bible never commands Christians to seek power, or even hints at it. Instead, St Paul says, we are to pray for godly leaders who will at least leave us alone. We're to aspire to what Paul calls "quiet and peaceable lives," because it's by our conduct that unbelievers may start to suspect that we're on to something.
That’s a theological claim dressed up like a historical one. History doesn’t hand out gold stars for “priestly nations.” That’s a label from a religious framework, not a universal fact. Yes, Old Testament Israel claimed that identity—Exodus 19:6, “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” But that’s textual self-description, not a historical monopoly. Given the number of lies and errors in the Bible, it is a foolish source, anyway.
You want real-world analogs? Look around: Tibet under the Dalai Lama—a theocratic state ruled by monks. Hideous government. Ancient Egypt—pharaoh as god-king, priesthood entwined with state. Caliphates—Islamic governance with religious law at the core. Different scripts, same core: religion at the helm of national identity. Israel wasn’t alone. It’s just the one some people are still reading about on Sundays. So no, that claim doesn’t hold. Not historically. Just devotionally. Know the difference. Christians don’t want power? Ugh, no. Not true. Look at the priest-ridden island of Ireland until very recently. God you’re naive. Wake up.
First, there are no lies or errors in the Bible. There are many books which explain the paradoxes and apparent contradictions.
Even if you believe the Bible is not inerrant - and many Christians do believe that - Christianity doesn't rest on inerrancy, correct ecclesiology, or faultless soteriology. Its foundation is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. St Paul is extremely blunt: if Christ has not been resurrected, we who believe in Him are still guilty before God, our faith is a con, and we're fools for living according to it.
The evidence of Christ's resurrection is strong. Again, read. Read Gary Habermas' books, he's one name who just came to mind. There are many others.
You tell me about a priest - riven Ireland. Gee, it's a shock to me that the Church would have been despoiled by corruption. I can tell you that except maybe 5,000 people, Reconstructionists and Catholics such as Adrian Vermuele, American Christians aren't power seekers. Look at the way Christians have accepted Trump's appointees, very few of whom are our idea of Christian lives well lived. But we are realists.
What's interesting is that many nonbelievers are coming our way on a lot of issues, such as transgenderism.
The Bible never commands Christians to seek power, or even hints at it. Instead, St Paul says, we are to pray for godly leaders who will at least leave us alone. We're to aspire to what Paul calls "quiet and peaceable lives," because it's by our conduct that unbelievers may start to suspect that we're on to something.