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1Every person should obey the government in power. No government would exist if it hadn't been established by God. The governments which exist have been put in place by God. 2Therefore, whoever resists the government opposes what God has established. Those who resist will bring punishment on themselves. 3People who do what is right don't have to be afraid of the government. But people who do what is wrong should be afraid of it. Would you like to live without being afraid of the government? Do what is right, and it will praise you. 4The government is God's servant working for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid.
Individual Freedom Vs. anything else
Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth
The opposite of statism is capitalism.
How does capitalism differ from statism?
Only capitalism declares that each and every man, may live his own life for his own happiness, as an end to himself, not by permission of others, but by right, and that government's sole responsibility is to protect those rights, and never violate them, because they are inalienable.
http://www.capitalism.org/faq/statism.htm
Popes, Atheists and Freedom
Secularists should recognize that the pope's fight is their fight.
"Karol Wojtyla, like many dissidents who emerged in these years, had lived with the daily reality of the communist system. John Paul pushed Vatican policy toward a public, unapologetic claim for individual freedom."
Days after Benedict XVI chastised China before thousands in St. Peter's Square last week, a Chinese newspaper run by the People's Daily replied to his defense of Christians there: "The Vatican has to face the fact that all religious beliefs are free in China, as long as they do not run counter to the country's laws."
Why we fight
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1What causes fights and quarrels among you? Aren't they caused by the selfish desires that fight to control you? 2You want what you don't have, so you commit murder. You're determined to have things, but you can't get what you want. You quarrel and fight. You don't have the things you want, because you don't pray for them. 3When you pray for things, you don't get them because you want them for the wrong reason-for your own pleasure.
20In a large house there are not only objects made of gold and silver, but also those made of wood and clay. Some objects are honored when they are used; others aren't. 21Those who stop associating with dishonorable people will be honored. They will be set apart for the master's use, prepared to do good things. 22Stay away from lusts which tempt young people. Pursue what has God's approval. Pursue faith, love, and peace together with those who worship the Lord with a pure heart. 23Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments. You know they cause quarrels. 24A servant of the Lord must not quarrel. Instead, he must be kind to everyone. He must be a good teacher. He must be willing to suffer wrong. 25He must be gentle in correcting those who oppose the Good News. Maybe God will allow them to change the way they think and act and lead them to know the truth. 26Then they might come back to their senses and God will free them from the devil's snare so that they can do his will.
Genesis 13:7 And quarreling arose between Abram's herdsmen and the herdsmen of Lot. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time.
Genesis 13:8 So Abram said to Lot, "Let's not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers.
Proverbs 17:14 Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.
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3Avoiding a quarrel is honorable. After all, any stubborn fool can start a fight.
6A godly life brings huge profits to people who are content with what they have.
http://gwt.scripturetext.com/1_timothy/6.htm
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