Certainly! Below are three cross references for each topic based on the provided scriptures and themes:
1. Religious Liberty
- Matthew 5:10-12: Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. This highlights the importance of standing firm in faith despite persecution, aligning with the theme of religious freedom.
- Galatians 5:1: For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. This emphasizes the value of religious freedom as a core tenet of Christian belief.
- 1 Peter 2:15-16: For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. This reinforces the idea of exercising freedom in a manner that honors God.
2. Religion and Government
- Romans 13:1-2: Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. This verse directly addresses the relationship between religion and civil authority.
- Matthew 22:21: Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. This signifies the dual obligations of the faithful to both their faith and their government, emphasizing the role religion plays in civic life.
- Psalm 33:12: Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage. This underlines the notion that a nation’s strength derives from its acknowledgment of and reverence for God.
3. America's Role in the World
- Isaiah 60:1-3: Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. This speaks to the idea of America as a beacon of hope and freedom in the world.
- Matthew 5:14: You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. This illustrates the concept of America as a shining example of freedom and democracy.
- Micah 6:8: He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? This conveys the ethical and moral responsibility of nations to act justly in their global interactions.
These cross-references deepen the understanding of Reagan's themes and their Biblical foundations.
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