Politics and Christianity

The relationship between Christianity and politics is a historically complex subject and a frequent source of disagreement between the Christian right and Christian left throughout Church history. From
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_and_politicsAccordingpolitics

According to the popular chronology of the first centuries BCE and CE, the world had attained the age of 5,000 years. Since it was also widely believed that the world would last only 6,000 years (1,000 years for each day of creation), and that the Messiah would reign for 1,000 years before the end of the world, it was evident that he was due to arrive. One of the most intriguing attempts to date his coming more precisely, can be found in the First book of Enoch, a complex five-book text that was composed between the third century BCE and the first half of the first century CE.

Herod (73-4 BCE) was the pro-Roman king of the small Jewish state in the last decades before the common era. He started his career as a general, but the Roman statesman Mark Antony recognized him as the Jewish national leader. During a war against the Parthians, Herod was removed from the scene, but the Roman Senate made him king and gave him soldiers to seize the throne. As 'friend and ally of the Romans' he was not a truly independent king.

 Let us go back to Judas the Maccabaean ('battle hammer') was able to reconquer the Temple of Jerusalem and restore the cult, an event that is still celebrated by the Jews at the annual Chanuka festival. In 152, the Seleucid pretender Alexander Balas appointed Jonathan brother to Judas as high priest. Actually, this was not allowed, because the new official did not belong to the Zadokite family, but neither had Alcimus been, so the appointment was accepted. (It has been argued, however, that this was the incident that caused the 'teacher of righteousness' to leave Jerusalem and organize the sect of Qumran.[Read about the Essean sect])  In 143: Diodotus (later Tryphon) executes Jonathan.

The struggle against the Seleucid kings continued in these years, and it lasted until 142 before the war aims -end of the garrison at Jerusalem and end of the tribute- were reached. According to one of our sources Jonathan made peace in the land, and Israel rejoiced with great joy. For every man sat under his vine or his fig tree, and there was none to fray them, nor was there anyone left in the land to fight against them, because the foreign kings were overthrown in those days. Moreover, he strengthened all those of his people that were brought low; the law he searched out; and every despiser of the law and wicked person he took away. Finally, he adorned the sanctuary and multiplied the vessels of the temple. [1 Maccabees, 14.11-15]

There is some justification to this claim, because in the days of Jonathan the old country of Judah was more or less restored.  In the following year, 141, the people elected Simon, a brother of Jonathan and Judas, as high priest. He added several towns to the country. This policy was continued by his son John Hyrcanus, who conquered Samaria, Idumea and gave his country a harbor (Azotus).

In 40, the Parthians invaded the Roman empire and captured Hyrcanus, whose ears were cut off. This made him unsuited to be king or high priest. For a brief period, Antigonus, the son of Aristobulus, was recognized as king of the Jews, but he was dethroned by the son of Antipater, king Herod the Great, who strengthened his claim to the throne by marrying a Hasmonaean princess.

Comment: Jesus of Nazareth and Simon ben Kosiba Simon ben Kosiba (132-135 CE) are the only Jewish leaders who are positively identified as Messiahs in the Jewish sources: Jesus is explicitly called 'Messiah' by Flavius Josephus, Ben Kosiba in several rabbinical treatises. In order to understand
the following text, it must be remembered that Ben Kosiba was known under two other names: his adherents called him Bar Kochba, 'son of the star' (a reference to Balaam's prophecy); and his enemies called him Bar Kozeba, 'son of the disappointment' or 'son of the lie'.. One final piece of evidence may be introduced. As we saw above, the contemporary Christian author Justin stated that Simon ben osiba
ordered Christians to be 'lead away to cruel punishments, unless they should deny Jesus as the Christ and blaspheme'. This only makes sense when Ben Kosiba feared a rival Messiah. From article by Jona Lendering © http://www.livius.org/men-mh/messiah/messianic_claimants17.html#Kosibamh/messiah/messianic_claimants17.html#Kosiba

The  foregoing explains the title given to Jesus of Nazareth as King of the Jews. Also it was that period that gave credence to the Anti-Christ as the Palestinian Tahmud suggest Kosiba to be.

Therefore we can conclude that Jesus began His earthly ministry at the age of 30. Since it went on for 3 1/2 years before Jesus was crucified, it is safe to say that He was 33 at the time of His death.From
http://carm.org/questions/about-jesus/how-old-was-jesus-when-he-was-crucified/old-was-jesus-when-he-was-crucified/

Jesus of Nazareth (circa 43 - 4 BCE). Christianity followed the passing of Jesus with St. John.
ST JOHN
John was one of four fishermen among the Apostles. His character was a reflection of his Master's. He was with Jesus at His Transfiguration and in the Garden of Gethsemane. John braved the hostile crowd to be at the foot of the Cross when his beloved Lord was crucified. Jesus entrusted to John the care of His Mother Mary. John left Palestine about 55 AD after Mary, Mother of Jesus, died. He spread the Gospel throughout Syria and Asia Minor. When John laid his hands on people they received the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is not known when he wrote the Gospel of John, or his three Epistles. Speculation is between 38 and 67 AD. It is known that he lived in Ephesus for many years, where he discipled Ignatius and Polycarp, two of the well known Apostolic Fathers of the church. John was exiled to the
Island of Patmos as an old man and it is there he wrote Revelation in 97 AD. He was the only Apostle known to have died of natural causes (estimated to be 100 years old) and his tomb is in Ephesus. Andrew founded the church in Byzantium (Constantinople or Istanbul) in 38 AD. He was crucified on an X shaped cross in Patras, Greece around 75 AD. Relics of his bones are in many countries including Scotland. The X on the British Flag, the Union Jack, is in honor of St. Andrew. From
http://hubpages.com/hub/When-Did-Christianity-StartChristianity-Start

 Let me give you an example. The Bible teaches that Jesus is uniquely God in the flesh. He died, rose from the dead and will return to establish his kingdom. Those are basic things, and if you think differently on any of those details--and there are actually more than that, but those are examples of essential doctrines--if you think differently on any of those details, then your view is not Christian. You have a non-Christian viewpoint. But not only that, you are also not a Christian. Why? Because these are views that define what Christianity is, and if you don't fit the definition you are not a Christian. It's that simple. From http://www.str.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5248

..a cursory glance at Scripture demonstrates that the Christian Gospel has clear political impli-cations—such as private property rights (1 Kings 21:1ff; Proverbs 13:22; Matthew 20:15), the limitation of human government (Psalm 22:28; Daniel 4:25; Romans 11:36, 13:4), and the establishment of three distinct legitimate governments (familial, ecclesiastical, and civil: see Ephesians 6:1, 4; Deuteronomy 6:7; Matthew 7:9-10; 1 Timothy 5:4; Titus 2:1ff; 1 Corinthians 5:12-13; Acts
6:1; and 1 Timothy 5:16). Can Christians be prohibited from speaking where Scripture itself speaks? From http://www.reformationonline.com/christianity_politics.htm

First  it is important to properly define political involvement. Some say that voting is an indirect form of involvement, however that leaves the basic question unanswered. Others questionably claim that Jesus, in teaching of the kingdom of God, took an extreme political position that challenged the authority of Rome i.e. he opposed the existing order of which Caesar-worship was part. Then according to this hypothesis the gospel itself is political in nature since it challenges the status quo.
But again this fails to address the real issue, since it does not tell whether Christians should seek political office. I define political involvement not in indirect terms such as voting and being abreast of
current issues, but directly seeking office and positions of rulership, or seeking to influence local and national leaders. By all means Christians should be aware of political issues, vote, and have personal
preferences.From http://www.bibleissues.org/politics1.html

Now that we understand the circumstances of Jesus' being and the catastrophe of building Christianity as a Religion across the known world, we can see the future development of Sectarianism as the Pharisees and Scribes, Essenes and Sadduces, and the Nazarites and Zealots of back then. Are we bent on re-living those events mostly repainted? The Rasta Movement in Jamaica is reminiscent of the Nazarites with a sprinkling of Zealot fervour.  Most counties support two parties as the Pharisees and Sadducees and we can see the plot, if one wishes to.
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