Realigning our relationship with government

How does being a follower of Christ affect the way someone enters into political discussions?  The message in the Bible is clear: Worship God; respect the government. (Message recorded 02-05-2012) Key Texts: Mark 12:17 (NLT) 17 “Well, then,” Jesus said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” His reply completely amazed them. 1 Peter 2:13-14 (NLT)13 For the Lord’s sake, respect all human authority—whether the king as head of state,14 or the officials he has appointed. Going Deeper: Dietrich Bonhoeffer's "three possible ways in which the church can act towards the state."* Question the state regarding its actions and their legitimacy. Aid victims of any state action, even if they do not belong to the Christian community. Go beyond bandaging the victims "under the wheel," and "put a spoke in the wheel itself." *Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy; (151-2) Metaxas, Eric; Thomas Nelson Publishing 2010. Questions for Reflection and Discussion If you are a follower of Christ, how does your identity as a Christian affect your involvement in government? Paul instructs Titus, a church leader to: "Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers" (Titus 3:1). How can we as a church follow Paul's advice? Is there a point when believers should stop submitting to the government? How would we know if we got to that point? How will the truth in Scripture regarding your relationship with the government change the way you participate in political discussions?