Understanding God’s View of Government: Part Two

On By Tyler BoydIn Uncategorized1 Comment

Part Two: Some Questions You May Be Asking

First read part 1 here.

“How do we know Satan wasn’t lying? He is after all the “Father of lies” (John 8:44)”

This is a very important question!

If we are to come to the conclusion that earthly governments are good, and we should therefore dedicate our efforts to restoring such a “good government”, we must first be able to conclude that Satan is not really the one in charge of human governments.

Is that a conclusion we can draw? Well, for one thing, you’re right about Satan. We can’t trust a single word that slips from his forked tongue.

But it is worthy of notice that Jesus never questioned the truth of His claim. This event is also described as a “temptation”. If Jesus believed Satan was lying to him, and was therefore unable to deliver on his promise, could we still say that his was a temptation?

But perhaps more importantly, we have the fact that Satan was not the only one to make this claim. Jesus several times refers to Satan as the “prince” or “ruler” of the world (John 12.31; 14.30; 16.11). Paul says that he is the “god of this world” and “the prince of the power of the air” (2 Cor. 4.4; Eph. 2:2). John says “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5.18).

So no, we can’t necessarily trust that Satan was telling the truth, but I think it is fairly safe to assume that Jesus, Paul and John were telling the truth.

 “But Jesus is continually described as the King of Kings. We continually read that God rules over the nations. Jesus said in Matthew 28:18, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” How then can we say that Satan rules human governments?”

Great question. This is why I said, under my 4th point that Satan rules human governments “sort of.”  And we must conclude that there is at least a sense in which Satan does rule the nations, based on what we have observed already. But there is an even greater sense in which God always overrules Satan’s unlawful authority.

Since all authority has been given to Jesus, there is therefore no authority which has been given to Satan. So in whatever sense Satan does rule over the nations, his authority has been taken, not given. His “authority” is “unauthorized”.

When Satan is described as being the ruler of the world and the ruler of the kingdoms of this world, it seems to refer to this present evil system of opposition to God. As governments oppose God’s people, strive for earthly possession, kill their enemies, steal money, etc., they are in sinful rebellion to God. They are living under Satan’s control. Satan is leading their rebellion against God’s authority.

But the Bible never teaches that Satan is the ultimate ruler of this world. The book of Job gives us some insight into Satan’s limited power. Satan challenged God to remove Job’s blessings. God did allow Satan to remove Job’s blessings, but God restricted Satan from taking Job’s life. When Satan exercises his authority, it is because God allows him to do so (for now).

Another great example can be found in Isaiah 10:5-15. Isaiah teaches that God sent Assyria to punish Israel for her sins. The Assyrians did not know that they were being used for this purpose, and had a different wicked purpose in mind all along. Even though God used Assyria as his minister to execute vengeance, the Assyrian nation was proud, arrogant, and continued in their rebellion to God and their service to Satan. Yet God’s control of Assyria was so complete that He compared them to an instrument in His own hand, like an axe or a saw in the hand of a woodworker. God can and does use governments, of which he does not approve, which continually blaspheme His name, to ultimately do good for His righteous people.

So who ruled Assyria? God or Satan? The answer is both. Satan ruled Assyria in that they rebelled against God. But God overruled Assyria’s rebellion to accomplish good.

“But doesn’t Romans 13 teach that God created government for good, and therefore approves of government?”

Romans 13 teaches that God ordained government. The definition of the word “ordain” means to “establish as a law; order; fix; decide”.  The word does not imply approval, neither by its definition, nor by the context of Romans 13. Throughout Scripture, God ordains many things of which He does not approve. He ordained that Israel should have a king, yet he did so in anger (Hos. 13.11). He ordained the wicked nation of Assyria as a minister to punish the wickedness of Israel, yet He did not approve of their actions (Isa. 10.5-15). God “foreordained” that Jesus would be crucified, yet He did not approve of the actions of those murders (Acts 2.22-23; 1 Cor. 2.7).

Romans 13 never teaches that earthly governments are good. But it does teach “it is a minister of God to you for good” (v. 4). There is a difference between calling something good, and saying that something is “for good.” Assyria was created “for good”; the Babylonians were created “for good”; the Romans were created “for good,” but God never calls them good. Consider how Paul used the phrase “for good” just a few verses earlier:

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. – Rom. 8:28

Does Romans 8:28 teach that all things are good? Is tribulation good? Is distress good? Is persecution good? No. But through God’s providence, they all work together for good.

Romans 13 means exactly what it says, and it can’t be twisted to mean things that it doesn’t say. Romans 13 does not teach that God approves of government, or that he calls them good.

“If government functions under the rule of Satan, how could God command us to obey Satan in anything?”

Submitting to Satan? That certainly has a weird ring to it doesn’t it? The good news is that is not what Christians are commanded to do.

1 Peter 2:13 commands us to “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king or as to one in authority.” Why are we commanded to obey? Not for the government’s sake; not for Satan’s sake; but for the Lord’s sake. When laws conflict with the rule of God, of course we must break them (Acts 5.39). But otherwise, we are to submit to them, for not doing so would unnecessarily get in the way of our mission to build up God’s kingdom.

Neither does Paul in Romans command us to obey Satan. He does, however, command us not to be “overcome by evil, but to overcome evil by good.” How do we do that, Paul? “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities.” Paul describes our subjection to government as an application of overcoming evil by good.

“I concede that governments are very often corrupt, reflecting the values of Satan rather than the values of God, but aren’t there exceptions to this generality? For example, when governments help the poor, limit alcohol consumption, or improve workplace safety, how can it be said that this is Satan’s work?”

Firstly, let us remember that Satan has always been more than willing to compromise with those with those who will serve him if by so doing he is able to extend his dominion. Is this not precisely the offer Satan made to Jesus in the wilderness? Satan was willing to allow Jesus to rule over all the kingdoms of the world if Jesus would simply concede to bow down to him as the ultimate authority. Have you ever considered how many “good laws” Jesus could have passed if he held political office? He could have ruled with great love and compassion, yet by so doing, Satan would have been the victor.

As Christians we proclaim that Jesus is our King. If we act as if the kingdom of God is insufficient to accomplish God’s work without the assistance of kingdoms of men, we are proclaiming an insufficient Christ. Should it surprise us that Satan would offer beautiful compromises accomplish this end?

Secondly, we should remember Paul’s admonition to the Corinthians:

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. – 1 Cor. 10.3-4

Christians are not to use fleshly weapons to accomplish our goals. Fleshly weapons are the only power earthly governments possess. How do they improve healthcare? How do they limit alcohol consumption? How do they end poverty? By passing laws.

What gives these laws any force? Government officials with fleshly weapons. Fleshly weapons are the only strength governments have to enforce any of their authority. To use political means to accomplish good is to use weapons Christians are not to use.

“Can a Christian ever serve in political office? Should they even vote? Should they serve in the military or even in the police force?”

These are great questions. We are not of this world, but we are in the world. This tension creates some difficulties that are not always easily resolved. I am content with putting forth what Scripture teaches, and leaving it at that. In Scripture, human governments are introduced to us in rebellion to God, they always continued as enemies of God’s people, their very character is contrary to service to God and they are (at least in a sense) ruled by Satan. To answer questions such as these, which are not plainly taught in Scripture, we must honestly reflect on what we can understand from Scripture and apply those teachings the very best we can. We are never to judge fellow Christians for the decisions they make in service to God (Rom. 14), but we also must be careful not to twist the Scripture’s teachings to fit our preconceived conclusions.

As Christians, we serve only one master. In light of this, we should recognize that “All the nations are as nothing before Him, They are regarded by Him as less than nothing and meaningless” (Isa. 40:17). Our job is to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. Nothing must distract us from this task.

I leave it each individual to apply this in their lives as they conclude it best in their service to God.

Understanding God’s View of Government: Part One

On By Tyler BoydIn Uncategorized6 Comments

Part One: Recognizing The Rebelliousness of Man

The Bible often speaks of governments, kingdoms and nations. Government can be defined as the authority which rules a nation or state. The word kingdom can be understood as the realm over which the king or governor(s) reign. The word nation would then refer to the group of people who live under the dominion of a common government. For the sake of this article, when I use these terms I am using them to describe human government, earthly kingdoms and earthly nations as opposed to the government and kingdom of God.

Government affects our lives daily. From the smallest details, such as how fast we should drive, to life altering events, such as whether or not we are at war, we daily feel the impact of government. For better or worse, the pages of history have been written by politicians.

It is therefore understandable that most people place their hopes on “right” political views (their own, of course) overcoming the “wrong” views, the “right” person (their own candidate, of course) overcoming the “wrong” person in elections, the “right” government (their own government, of course) gaining power over the “wrong” governments, and the “right” militaries (their own, of course) gaining victory over the wrong militaries.

Unfortunately, far too many Christians have allowed their political passions for what is “right” (i.e. their own political opinions) to lead to distraction and division. They are distracted, as they pour their hearts into building up earthly kingdoms. They cause division as their contentions for what is “right” politically puts them at odds with other Christians who have different political loyalties.

One of the most basic reasons Christians get distracted and divided by politics is because of an assumption that government, in spite of continual corruption and rebellion against God, should be viewed as a righteous institution on the same levels as the family and the church. And since it is thought that governments hold such an important influence on the pages of history, we should therefore contend for our “right” views.

It is time for us to reconsider God’s view of government. Jeremiah stated that man is wholly incapable of ruling and directing himself.

I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not in himself,
Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps. – Jeremiah 10.23

In contrast to the words of Jeremiah, human governments are founded upon confidence in man’s self-sovereignty. God recognizes the unrighteousness and disobedience of all human governments as being in rebellion to His authority.

“But wait, this can’t be right. God created government. He calls government good. Your position is inconsistent with the clear teaching of Romans 13.”

I realize there will be some questions and objections. I intend to examine some of these in light of scripture in part two. But for now, please consider the following points.

1. Earthly Kingdoms are Introduced to Us in Rebellion to God

The first time we read of a “kingdom” in scripture is the kingdom of Nimrod in the land of Shinar, that is, Babel (Gen. 10.9-11). Too often the “Tower of Babel” has been taught as just a children’s Bible story about disobedience to God. We need to get back to recognizing how the Babel incident fits into the narrative of the book of Genesis.

The book of Genesis has two major themes: 1) to identify the origins of Israel’s enemies, the Gentile kingdoms, and 2) to identify the origins of God’s kingdom of Israel. Genesis 10-11 identifies the origins of the kingdoms which descended from Japheth, Shem, and Ham. Right in the middle of this table of kingdoms we find the account of the tower of Babel, where the rebellious character of these Gentile kingdoms is revealed. This was written, not just to give a random example of disobedience to God, but to tell us why these kingdoms were scattered over the earth and to introducing us to the rebellious nature of these kingdoms. Therefore, earthly kingdoms are introduced to us in rebellion to God. (I’ve written more on this point here.)

“But the New Testament teaches that God created government for good.”

You’re right. We’ll discuss this more in part two. But first, keep reading.

2. Human Governments Continued as Enemies to God’s People

Human governments continually fill the role of being the enemies of God’s people. This is true from the time we are introduced to Babel in Genesis, to Pharaoh and Egypt, to the Canaanites nations, to the Assyrians, to the Babylonians, all the way until Rome is described as Babylon in the book of Revelation. They continually worship other gods, exercise violence, and live according to their own desires.

As Paul addressed the wickedness of the Gentiles in Romans 1, he very specifically identified the issue of who they chose to honor, give thanks to, look to for wisdom (v. 21-22), and worship and serve as their authority (v. 23- 25). We can conclude that much of what made the Gentile people wicked in God’s eyes was their decision to serve their own authorities rather than serving under God’s government.

We do have numerous examples such as Ruth and Rahab, who, though being Gentiles, forsook their allegiance to their own nations and accepted the Lord’s rule, and joined themselves with His people. This shows that God has never been a respecter of persons. But Paul shows that God has always been displeased with those who would trust in their own authority. Not only were human governments introduced to us in rebellion, they also continued in their rebellion all throughout the Biblical narrative.

3. The Character of Human Governments is Contrary to the Character of God’s Servants

God’s servants are to lay up their treasures in heaven. (Matt. 6.19-21).Yet gentiles and their governments continually strive to gain and protect more earthly treasures.

God’s servants are commanded,

Do not worry then, saying ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek these things; for your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. –  Matt. 6.31-32

To the extent that our trust is in God, servants of God do not worry. Gentile people and their governments do nothing but worry! (Just watch the news for 5 minutes and this point will be confirmed).

God’s servants are to be known for their humility and gentleness, placing the needs of others above their own (Eph. 4.2; Jas. 4.10-12, 1 Pet. 3:8, Phil. 2.3-5). Most all political fights and national fights are based upon both sides feeling like they are better than the other.

God’s servants are commanded to be, well, servants. This is vastly different from the kingdoms of this world, which are all about exercising power over others.

But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20.25-28

God’s servants are commanded love their enemies (Matt. 5.43-47). Kingdoms of this world continually fight against their enemies. Jesus seemed to understand that human governments cannot be sustained without fighting, for he said “If my kingdom were of this world, then My servants would fight.” But then he quickly added, “My kingdom is not of this realm.” (John 18.36-37).

Not only are human governments introduced to us in rebellion to God, and not only are they continually presented to us as enemies of God’s people, but their very character is completely contrary to what is pleasing to God.

“You make some interesting points, but I’m not sure that this is a fair description of all governments. What about when political action is used as an avenue for service, for example, passing a bill that improves medical care, decreases drunk driving, or limits prostitution? All of these are wonderful and good uses of government. How can these be wicked?

Let’s mark this as one of the questions to address later. But for now let’s at least agree that God’s servants have a very different set of values from those of the world. As a general rule, governments do not reflect the righteous values of God’s servants, but rather the wicked values of the world. Can governments possibly be used by Christians to promote Godly values? Before answering this, please consider point number four.

4. Human Governments are Ruled by Satan

At least sort of…

And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore if You worship before me, it shall all be Yours.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.'” – Luke 4.5-8

It is important to notice that Jesus did not dispute the devil’s claim that he owned all the kingdoms of the world, and that he could deliver them over to Jesus if he wished. There is nothing in the text to indicate that Jesus doubted Satan’s ability to make good on this offer.

How much trust should Christians place in human governments that are ruled by Satan? As much as Jesus trusted them, which is none at all.

It is also important to notice that Satan was only willing to give these kingdoms to Jesus if He would worship him. Since worshiping God and worshiping Satan are mutually exclusive, it would have been just as mutually exclusive to worship God while ruling those earthly kingdoms.

Ok, you’ve been very patient. Thank you. Now let’s address some of those questions in part 2.

Do We Really Act Like There Is Only “One Lawgiver”?

On By Tyler BoydIn The Authority of God8 Comments

My deepest desire is to see the church grow. I want to see the church grow in number and in spiritual strength. I want to see my brothers and sisters in Christ experience all the blessings God has stored up for them.

Satan wishes to see otherwise. Satan recognizes that as long as Christians are submitting themselves to God as the only sovereign and the only lawgiver, they will in fact be blessed by God. For this reason, Satan wants Christians to believe that they can find success independent of God’s authority.

Satan has often tempted man to rebel against the authority of God. The Bible begins by telling us of Satan tempting Eve to trust the serpent’s lies in the garden (Gen. 3), and the Bible ends by telling of the destruction of those who worshiped the dragon and gave authority to the beast (Rev. 13). In the pages which lie between, there are dozens of instances of Satan tempting men to reject or rebel against the authority of God. When Satan is successful in turning men away from God’s authority, he is likewise successful in keeping them from the blessings God has in store for them.

Scripture is abundantly clear, “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy” (Jas. 4.12). I suspect that most Christians will readily admit this fact. But our adversary is deceptive. Satan finds his success, not by tempting Christians to openly deny the fact that God is sovereign, but by tempting them to reject and rebel against the authority of God in practice. For example, if I were to claim to believe in the sovereignty of God, but then in practice I speak evil of any Christian who does not agree with my personal opinions, or judge those who don’t live up to my personal expectations for how a Christian should appear, have I not ceased to submit to the authority of God? Have I not rather, in practice, acted as if my own personal opinions and judgments are every bit as authoritative as scripture?

Even when we claim that we submit to God as the only sovereign, when Satan tempts us to act upon our own personal authority, we have in practice jumped up onto the judgment seat of God and proclaimed ourselves equals with God! When Satan tempts us to respect general consensus of preachers and elders to the point that we have ceased to honestly examine the truth as taught by Scripture, we have in practice acted as if those men are themselves co-authorities with God. When we exalt and defend any man-made laws or man-made judgments above God’s word, we are in practice rebelling against the authority of God.

If Christians are going to both proclaim and live as if God is sovereign, we must first really understand, believe and take the heart that God is sovereign, and He is the only lawgiver. If we fail to understand this very important point, we will miss the blessings God has promised to those who submit to His rule.

God is Sovereign                      

The Bible emphasizes the sovereignty of God in a number of ways. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He is above all things, and preexisted all things. He is the “Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end” (Rev. 21.6). “By Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible”, including but not limited to all earthly “thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities” (Col. 1.16). There is no limit to His wisdom and knowledge, and His judgments and ways are unsearchable (Rom. 11.33). Absolutely nothing is too difficult for Him (Jer. 32.17). God is in control of all things and rules over all things. He has power and authority over nature, earthly kings, history, angels and demons (Ps. 103.19). Even Satan Himself has to ask God’s permission before he can act. (Job 1.11-12).

God is the ultimate source of all power and authority. There has only ever been one Man, Christ Jesus, who can share these exalted claims with God Himself. It is Christ alone who has been exalted “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body” (Eph. 1.21-22).

Besides this one Man, there has never been, nor will there ever be, any emperor, king, president or congressman, no church leader, passionate preacher, nor charismatic elder who will ever come anywhere close to claiming this kind of authority. God reigns through Christ alone. There is only one lawgiver.

Two Contrasting Attitudes towards God’s Rule

The book of Genesis tells of two sharply contrasting attitudes towards God. This book of “beginnings” tells not only of the “beginnings” of God’s nation of Israel, but it also tells of the “beginnings” of the gentile nations surrounding Israel.

The origins of the gentile nations are described in Genesis 10-11. (I’ve written a whole article on this topic here). These nations were dispersed across the earth as a result of the rebellion at Babel. Here at Babel, men had attempted to “make a name for themselves” by building a tower to the heavens. By building this tower, they believed they could prevent themselves from being scattered abroad over the whole earth (Gen 11.4). This action was in direct rebellion to God’s commandment to Noah to “populate the earth abundantly and multiply it.” The men at Babel rebelled against God’s authority, and the result as “confusion.” All the nations surrounding Israel found their origin in this outright rebellion against God’s authority.

Held in stark contrast to this rebellion is the account of Abraham, beginning in Genesis 12. Abraham was a man of great faith who submitted Himself to God’s rule. Abraham refused to trust in the strength and authority of man. In Genesis 14 after Abram helped rescue Lot and the people of Sodom, the king of Sodom offered to give Abram a gift. Abram’s response makes it very clear where Abram placed his faith. “Abram said to the king of Sodom, ‘I have sworn to the LORD God most High, possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not take a thread or a sandal thong or anything that is yours, for fear you would say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’” Not only did Abram have faith that God was the one who gave him his blessings, but he refused to even accept a gift from this gentile king, lest there be any confusion over where Abram’s great blessings came from! God gave Abram his riches, and Abram wanted God to get all the credit!

Moses the Law-giver

When the family of Abraham grew into a nation, God gave them their laws. Moses became the lawgiver. It is sometimes said that Moses was Israel’s lawmaker, but this is a mistake. God was Israel’s lawmaker. Moses was his lawgiver. God still maintained sovereignty over his people. Even in the very nation He established, God never gave any human or power beneath his throne the right to make laws or to govern his people. He reserved this right to rule for Himself.

God separated this nation of people from all the gentile nations surrounding them (Deut. 7.6). The Israelites were explicitly forbidden from marrying or making alliances with any of those surrounding nations who did not submit to God’s authority (Exod. 11.7, 23.32-34; Deut. 7.1-8). Israel was under God’s government, and therefore they were not to bind themselves in any way to those nations which were founded upon rebellion to God’s authority.

Israel’s Attempt at Self-Rule

Whenever Israel trusted in God’s rule, God blessed them with success. However, it wasn’t long before Israel departed from God’s authority and therefore began to reap the consequences of her rebellion (Judg. 3.5-8; 4.2). From that time, the state of affairs in Israel continued to digress until the time of Samuel. In 1 Samuel 8, the people asked Samuel for a king “like all the nations.” God permitted Israel to have a king, but he never approved of their request (Hos. 13.11).

With very few exceptions, the kings of Israel and Judah were very wicked, who continually turned Israel further and further from God’s rule. They continually turned Israel to idols, to alliances with foreign nations, and to self-rule. From the time of the crowning of King Saul through the end of the Old Testament, Israel continually suffered disaster after disaster, exactly as God had warned that they would (1 Sam. 8.10-22).

Applying Lessons from Israel Today

Throughout the entire disastrous history of Israel, God had one thing on his mind: the raising up of His anointed, His king, and the establishment of His kingdom. Just like the nation of Israel, God has never surrendered His sovereignty to man. Even Jesus Christ our King said, “I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak” (John 12.49).

Israel eventually found out that God actually knew what was best. Israel thought that she could rule herself. She thought that the wisdom of a “king” would lead her to be more successful and more prosperous. She thought she could both follow God and make alliances with the ungodly nations at the same time. Israel’s rebellion against God’s authority resulted in her ruin.

Therefore, let us remember:

  • Regardless of how much we respect our preacher, there is only one lawgiver.
  • Regardless of how kind and loving our elders may be, there is only one lawgiver.
  • Regardless of how much we may trust the “general consensus” of those in our particular sect of believers, there is still only one lawgiver.
  • Regardless of how “right” we might think our own personal opinions may be, they will never share the same authority as those laws which are given by the one lawgiver.
  • Regardless of how practical, how wise, or how much “common sense” our opinions may be, there is still only one lawgiver.

May God’s Kingdom, the church, never follow after Israel’s mistakes! May we never seek to rule ourselves! May we never seek to “tweek” God’s laws to make them better! May we never seek to make alliances with non-believers or with their “gods” to advance God’s kingdom! May we continue to submit to the one and only lawmaker!

God will continually bless those who willingly submit to His righteous rule. He will rule His submissive children with grace and love. He will bless those who serve Him.

There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you to judge your neighbor?
James 4:12

The Subversive Book of Romans

On By Caleb CoyIn Christian's Relationship to Government2 Comments

Let’s talk about how subversive the Book of Romans is.

I mean, for the only book of the Bible written directly to people living in Rome—not to mention one that is so long and has so much to say—the city itself (and the Empire of Rome that the city is the seat of) is practically silent. In fact, the city itself is only named twice in the beginning, and in passing, merely as the location of the Church Paul writes to (1:7,15).

Which is weird, right? I mean, if an apostle wrote a letter to Christians in Washington D.C., we might imagine he’d have all this stuff to say about America, about our country, about what the “founding fathers” wanted and how Christians in America—particularly her capital—have all this potential for turning the capital of the world’s most powerful empire into the hands of God. “Now let’s get a Christian in the white house and Congress and turn this nation [back] to God.”

So why don’t we see much about Rome in the book of Rome? The truth is, much of the Letter to the Church in Rome is saying all kinds of things about Rome, both the empire and the city.

  1. The first reason why Paul is not going to say anything about Rome in the letter is to protect the Christians there and elsewhere. It’s no secret that Christianity was a peaceful “threat” to Roman Empire, but Paul is not going to say anything obviously negative in a letter that might be apprehended by Roman soldiers. Jesus taught us to understand that we will have an enemy in every earthly nation, but his followers were not taught to make a habit of upsetting earthly leaders just for the sake of it. Persecution will come, but it shouldn’t be because we outright insulted earthly leaders, but because our teaching threatens their power. So, if Paul thinks Rome is a stinking heap of manure, he’s not going to write that, but it doesn’t mean he’s not thinking it. Like any good Christian, he’s clever as a snake.
  2. The second reason why Paul is not going to say anything about Rome in the letter is to silence the significance of Rome. By making Rome only a place on a map, Paul is reducing the capitol of the empire to its rightful place in the plan of God. Despite all the powerful leaders, vast structures, and impressive festivities, Rome is nothing but a heap of ruin and sin to God. It doesn’t have to be said. Paul is effectively yawning at the empire, as if to say “Everybody’s all like ‘Hail Caesar!’ and I’m over here like ‘Praise Jesus!'”
  3. The third reason, and of course most important, is simply that Paul is writing a letter to Christians about Christ and his Kingdom. What could be more important? Nothing on earth. No matter how important it looks to the eyes of the flesh. Not even Rome.

Let’s look at how Paul’s silence about Rome actually says a lot about how God’s kingdom relates (and doesn’t relate) to Rome—and how it matters us as Christians in America:st_peters_square_vatican_city_-_april_2007

  • Paul, a Roman citizen, doesn’t even introduce himself as a citizen of Rome. He could have used that to his advantage in case he was searched by a Roman soldier. It’s like he doesn’t care. His citizenship is in Heaven, and although elsewhere in scripture he’s mentioned his Roman citizenship (Acts 16), he only uses it to convenience the Gospel and humble Roman authorities. Instead, he reaches them as one sent in the name of Christ “in power” and “among all nations.” It’s a subtle way of saying, “I’m writing to the citizens of a great power stretching across the earth—you know, Jesus’ kingdom.” Burn.
  • Paul is eager to go to Rome, but not to do anything associated with Rome itself. It’s like, “I can’t wait to go to D.C. and meet some special people.” “Political leaders?” “Um, no. I’m visiting the Church there.”
  • Right after Paul mentions Rome, he says he’s not ashamed of the Gospel (1:16). It’s a brave move of defiance. “I don’t care what they do to me. I love Jesus and his Message.”
  • And then, right after that, he says “the wrath of God” is against all who “suppress the truth.” Another subtle move, implying that Rome is being judged by God for persecuting Christians and practicing horrible sin. Talk about a subtweet.
  • He calls God the God of the Gentiles (3:29). Oh, and by the way, he’s the only God. A spit in the face of Jupiter, Diana, Baal, and any other false god in the world.
  • He says that Christians are heirs of the world, being by faith children of Abraham. In other words, not Rome. Taken to its ultimate conclusion, if he had no humility, Paul might could have well said, “Hey, Caesar, this world you rule? It actually belongs to my God, and therefore we’re going to get it in the end. Not you.”
  • He tells Christians to be happy they’re being persecuted. That’s a show of defiance. To be sad is to show weakness and defeat, or even guilt and repentance. Governments don’t harm people hoping they’ll be happy about it. They want to stop something. Not only is Paul encouraging the faithful, he’s telling the Church and those who persecute her that such suffering can make them stronger, better people. “The more you hurt us, the more powerful our hope.” Bold words from a leader in a cult dedicated to a helpless man-god who died in the hands of Roman soldiers.
  • He says Christians are united as a new creation through Christ’s death. Real subtle, but it’s there. A group of people being united despite the empire is scandalous. Calling them a new kind of person that doesn’t live under the same rules as Rome is scandalous. And both those things being under a man Rome executed for rebellion is scandalous.
  • While Law was a big deal to Romans, Paul never mentions Rome’s law or its “source.” Instead, he says we delight in the Law of the Lord.
  • He literally says, “if God is for us, who can be against us?” (8:31). Imagine this letter being read in a secret basement in the midst of the capital. How rebellious! Any antagonism toward Christians Paul sees as insignificant and powerless to topple God’s plans. “Who can bring any accusation against God’s elect?” (v33). He might as well add, “I dare you.” Oh, and by the way, he implicitly says, “our King you killed, he came back. You can’t stop him.”
  • And then, right after that, he says Christians are “more than conquerors.” Rome is just a conquering empire. That’s it. All they do is exercise temporary power over people’s bodies, but not their hearts and souls. Christians have a better role: We are ruled by a more powerful being, and we can use love to conquer hearts, truly convicting people of real power. Paul even says that nothing, not even Rome, can stop Jesus. Only he does it without actually naming Rome. He says “rulers” and “powers.” We smell what he’s cooking. He then adds firmly, “I am speaking the truth.” Boom.
  • He says there’s no meaningful distinction between any race, ethnic group, or nationality. That’s anti-empire.
  • He says people who carry the Good News have beautiful feet. The main reason is to praise people for spreading the Gospel, but it’s also implied that the one thing Rome tries to oppress is actually beautiful. Always rebellious. “We’re gonna do it anyway, because it’s awesome! And those who do it are awesome!”
  • He says Gentiles can be “grafted” into Abraham’s lineage, essentially inviting Roman people to happily “defect” to Jesus.
  • He tells Christians not to act just like typical Romans, but instead transform into a better way of living. Abandon the culture you’re in, he means, and adopt the culture of the man Romans hung on a cross for treason.

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But WAIT A MINUTE. He also says “let everyone be subject to governing authorities,” (13:1) and even says that God set them in place, and that they are servants of God. So now what? Is Paul tooling out? Is he actually endorsing Rome?

This is a very misunderstood passage. It’s important to remember the context here. The whole time Paul has been implicitly defying Rome as demonic and impotent (what John also does in Revelation). He’s NOT about to shill out to Caesar just for the sake of peace and order. If you look at his use of language, Paul is not endorsing Roman rule, but merely asking Christians to respect the order and relative justice these leaders inadvertently bring about, but he phrases it in a way that makes him look like an obedient, non-hostile law-abider. But it’s not because Rome is good, but because Rome is a tool God uses to carry out his justice.

Earthly powers inherently rebel against God by claiming authority they don’t have, but God can even use their efforts at control to bring about his vision of justice. This is why Christians aren’t supposed to rebel just for the sake of it, or disobey laws just to say “stick it to Caesar.” Our rebellion should be for the Gospel, not to pick a fight. Hence why Paul’s letter is very anti-Rome without being up front about it.

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  • Right after offering conditional respect to rulers, Paul immediately tells his followers to follow a better legal system, put on their armor for a fight, and kill Roman culture. Only, the fight is not physical, and the killing of another culture is not oppressive, but voluntary. We kill the culture in us, not in Romans. Unlike Rome, we don’t force people to assimilate. Instead, we use love to invite them to Jesus. Paul even goes on to demonstrate how flexible and non-judgmental true Christian culture is, despite being so anti-Roman.
  • Paul directly quotes Isaiah, claiming Jesus came to rule Romans (and other Gentiles). Just not by force, but by a love more powerful than force.
  • He lays out his plans to travel everywhere the Roman empire stretches, praising Jesus the executed traitor and making more of his followers. Between the lines, “oh and yeah, I totally plan to stretch through your whole empire and repeat this stuff. I have no plans to quit. Oh, and plenty of your subjects are happy to help me. They’re everywhere, and more will be joining them.” He even names some followers by name. Unashamed.
  • He tops it off with a reminder that Jesus is for all nations (not Roman rule), according to the command of God (not Caesar), to bring about obedience of faith (not obedience to Roman rule). And not just to Paul’s God, but to the only God. A-men. Mic. drop.

In recap, Paul defies Rome by pointing to God’s grace instead of Caesar’s power, calling for Christians to trust in the Messiah Rome had executed, abandoning any cultural practices (many of them Roman) that are against Christ, and boasting in how God has helped him spread the news of a nation encompassing all nations that has nothing to do with Rome.

Paul also says a lot about how Jews aren’t saved just for “being Jewish” either. Holding to Jewish law and culture won’t save them because it’s not trusting in Christ. Being in the lineage of Abraham won’t save them any more than being a citizen of the greatest empire. For us, being “American” has nothing to do with making us saved, even if America’s origins included some Christian values.

“Thirteen Propositions” of Thomas Campbell’s Declaration and Address

On By The Christian ExileIn Uncategorized

Editor’s Note: Thomas Campbell, upon withdrawing from the Seceder sect of the Presbyterian church, had gained considerable influence among the Christians in Washington County, Pennsylvania. In 1807 Thomas Campbell and several other like minded Christians formed the “Christian Association of Washington” for the purpose of promoting Christian unity and encouraging denominations to unite together on the faith and practices revealed in the Bible. Neither Thomas Campbell nor any other member of the association had any intention of forming a new sect. (It is therefore important to remember that at this time the phrase “Church of Christ” was used not to refer to one particular sect, but was rather used to describe the one universal church). In order to clarify the intentions of their newly formed association in a clear and definite manner, a “Declaration and Address” was written and adopted by the association. The following thirteen propositions were written to encourage Christians to put an end to controversies caused by matters of opinion, expediency, and human inferences. These thirteen propositions will continue to be of great interest to any who desire to see greater unity among Christians.

Let none imagine that the subjoined propositions are at all intended as an overture toward a new creed or standard for the Church, or as in any wise designed to be made a term of communion; nothing can be further from our intention. They are merely designed for opening up the way, that we may come fairly and firmly to original ground upon clear and certain premises, and take up things just as the apostles left them; that thus disentangled from the accruing embarrassments of intervening ages, we may stand with evidence upon the same ground on which the Church stood at the beginning. Having said so much to solicit attention and prevent mistake, we submit as follows:

PROP. 1. That the Church of Christ upon earth is essentially, intentionally, and constitutionally one; consisting of all those in every place that profess their faith in Christ and obedience to him in all things according to the Scriptures, and that manifest the same by their tempers and conduct, and of none else; as none else can be truly and properly called Christians.

2. That although the Church of Christ upon earth must necessarily exist in particular and distinct societies, locally separate one from another, yet there ought to be no schisms, no uncharitable divisions among them. They ought to receive each other as Christ Jesus hath also received them, to the glory of God. And for this purpose they ought all to walk by the same rule, to mind and speak the same thing; and to be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment.

3. That in order to do this, nothing ought to be inculcated upon Christians as articles of faith; nor required of them as terms of communion, but what is expressly taught and enjoined upon them in the word of God. Nor ought anything to be admitted, as of Divine obligation, in their Church constitution and managements, but what is expressly enjoined by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ and his apostles upon the New Testament Church; either in express terms or by approved precedent.

4. That although the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are inseparably connected, making together but one perfect and entire revelation of the Divine will, for the edification and salvation of the Church, and therefore in that respect can not be separated; yet as to what directly and properly belongs to their immediate object, the New Testament is as perfect a constitution for the worship, discipline, and government of the New Testament Church, and as perfect a rule for the particular duties of its members, as the Old Testament was for the worship, discipline, and government of the Old Testament Church, and the particular duties of its members.

5. That with respect to the commands and ordinances of our Lord Jesus Christ, where the Scriptures are silent as to the express time or manner of performance, if any such there be, no human authority has power to interfere, in order to supply the supposed deficiency by making laws for the Church; nor can anything more be required of Christians in such cases, but only that they observe these commands and ordinances as will evidently answer the declared and obvious end of their institution. Much less has any human authority power to impose new commands or ordinances upon the Church, which our Lord Jesus Christ has not enjoined. Nothing ought to be received into the faith or worship of the Church, or be made a term of communion among Christians, that is not as old as the New Testament.

6. That although inferences and deductions from Scripture premises, when fairly inferred, may be truly called the doctrine of God’s holy word, yet are they not formally binding upon the consciences of Christians farther than they perceive the connection, and evidently see that they are so; for their faith must not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power and veracity of God. Therefore, no such deductions can be made terms of communion, but do properly belong to the after and progressive edification of the Church. Hence, it is evident that no such deductions or inferential truths ought to have any place in the Church’s confession.

7. That although doctrinal exhibitions of the great system of Divine truths, and defensive testimonies in opposition to prevailing errors, be highly expedient, and the more full and explicit they be for those purposes, the better; yet, as these must be in a great measure the effect of human reasoning, and of course must contain many inferential truths, they ought not to be made terms of Christian communion; unless we suppose, what is contrary to fact, that none have a right to the communion of the Church, but such as possess a very clear and decisive judgment, or are come to a very high degree of doctrinal information; whereas the Church from the beginning did, and ever will, consist of little children and young men, as well as fathers.

8. That as it is not necessary that persons should have a particular knowledge or distinct apprehension of all Divinely revealed truths in order to entitle them to a place in the Church; neither should they, for this purpose, be required to make a profession more extensive than their knowledge; but that, on the contrary, their having a due measure of Scriptural self-knowledge respecting their lost and perishing condition by nature and practice, and of the way of salvation through Jesus Christ, accompanied with a profession of their faith in and obedience to him, in all things, according to his word, is all that is absolutely necessary to qualify them for admission into his Church.

9. That all that are enabled through grace to make such a profession, and to manifest the reality of it in their tempers and conduct, should consider each other as the precious saints of God, should love each other as brethren, children of the same family and Father, temples of the same Spirit, members of the same body, subjects of the same grace, objects of the same Divine love, bought with the same price, and joint-heirs of the same inheritance. Whom God hath thus joined together no man should dare to put asunder.

10. That division among the Christians is a horrid evil, fraught with many evils. It is antichristian, as it destroys the visible unity of the body of Christ; as if he were divided against himself, excluding and excommunicating a part of himself. It is antiscriptural, as being strictly prohibited by his sovereign authority; a direct violation of his express command. It is antinatural, as it excites Christians to contemn, to hate, and oppose one another, who are bound by the highest and most endearing obligations to love each other as brethren, even as Christ has loved them. In a word, it is productive of confusion and of every evil work.

11. That (in some instances) a partial neglect of the expressly revealed will of God, and (in others) an assumed authority for making the approbation of human opinions and human inventions a term of communion, by introducing them into the constitution, faith, or worship of the Church, are, and have been, the immediate, obvious, and universally acknowledged causes, of all the corruptions and divisions that ever have taken place in the Church of God.

12. That all that is necessary to the highest state of perfection and purity of the Church upon earth is, first, that none be received as members but such as having that due measure of Scriptural self-knowledge described above, do profess their faith in Christ and obedience to him in all things according to the Scriptures; nor, secondly, that any be retained in her communion longer than they continue to manifest the reality of their profession by their temper and conduct. Thirdly, that her ministers, duly and Scripturally qualified, inculcate none other things than those very articles of faith and holiness expressly revealed and enjoined in the word of God. Lastly, that in all their administrations they keep close by the observance of all Divine ordinances, after the example of the primitive Church, exhibited in the New Testament; without any additions whatsoever of human opinions or inventions of men.

13. Lastly. That if any circumstantials indispensably necessary to the observance of Divine ordinances be not found upon the page of express revelation, such, and such only, as are absolutely necessary for this purpose should be adopted under the title of human expedients, without any pretense to a more sacred origin, so that any subsequent alteration or difference in the observance of these things might produce no contention nor division in the Church.

Restoration: A Biblical Principle

On By Lance MosherIn Restoration1 Comment

There was only one time in the history of the universe that restoration was not needed. That time was between Genesis 1:31 and Genesis 3:6, when sin was nonexistent.

God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. Genesis 1:31.

When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. Genesis 3:6

All of creation was affected by the sin of Eve and Adam. Of course, that does not mean that all of creation was guilty of the sin. But even we, though not guilty of Adam’s sin, are affected by it.

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned. Romans 5:12

For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 1 Corinthians 15:21

Death reigns over this world, so long as sin is in it. The serpent’s goal was to deceive the woman, and through her disobedience, introduce death into the world. The beauty is this: God had a plan all along. To the serpent, God said,

And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her seed;
He shall bruise you on the head,
And you shall bruise him on the heel. Genesis 3:15.

Though Satan’s goal is to reign over mankind through death, God’s plan is hostile toward death. The key words in this passage are “I will…” Before turning to the woman and the man and detailing their individual punishments, before they had a chance and beg on their knees for redemption, God revealed His will to redeem, to restore, mankind.

Since that moment in the Garden, mankind has known God as the God of Restoration. When creation is separated from its Creator, it is God’s mission to restore. In that moment in the Garden, God revealed that His instrument of restoration would be the “seed” of the woman (i.e., Christ).

Many centuries passed between that moment in in the Garden and Jesus’ atoning sacrifice. But even while creation waited for the “fullness of time” (Gal. 4:4), God continued to reveal Himself as the God of Restoration. When mankind had tainted all of creation with continual sinfulness, God restored the world through a flood and the salvation of one family. When God’s people were held captive by pagan Egyptians, God restored their place of prominence in His plans. When the nation of Israel was corrupted by bad kings and false gods, the true God sent prophets to restore the nation to their first love. When the city of God was in ruins, God sent Nehemiah to begin the long process of restoration. Nehemiah is best known for his work to restore the wall in Jerusalem (Neh. 3; 6:15-19). In addition, however, Nehemiah (and Ezra), speaking for God, also called for the restoration of:

  • Confidence in the Lord (Neh. 4:11-23)
  • Fairness in trade and care for the poor (Neh. 5:1-13)
  • Understanding of the Law (Neh. 8:1-8)
  • Holy days and feasts (Neh. 8:9-18)
  • Repentance and forgiveness (Neh. 9:1-4)
  • Acceptable worship (Neh. 9:5-37)
  • National purity (Neh. 13:1-3)
  • Tithes (Neh. 13:10-14)
  • Sabbath-keeping (Neh. 13:15-22)
  • Family purity (Neh. 13:23-29)

A reading through the book of Nehemiah quickly demonstrates that God is the God of Restoration. God sets out a plan, and when His people forget it or are otherwise unable to live out that plan, He provides the admonishment and means necessary for restoration. What is the lesson for us today? God continues to provide a way for and demand restoration when His plans are forsaken.

To build is difficult. To destroy is simple. To rebuild is often the most difficult. In all of the cases that God’s servants called for restoration, pain and sacrifice were required. Money, selfishness, time, personal possessions, friends, and even marriages had to be surrendered. Was it easy? No. Was it painful? Yes. Was it worth it? Absolutely.

Today, many of God’s plans have been forsaken. Marriages are treated as disposable. Godly parenting is replaced by worldly philosophies and the workplace. The question of salvation is the most confusing question in the religious world. The body of Christ has been chopped, sliced, distorted, and forgotten. Worship has turned inward, where the heart and mind of people are most important. Allegiance has been placed into the establishments of men. Restoration is needed just as badly today as it was in Nehemiah’s time. Is there hope?

We might be tempted to look at Nehemiah and Ezra as privileged, since it seems they were commissioned specifically to the task of restoration. They had “direction” from God. Do we not? What did Nehemiah and Ezra use to call the people to restoration? They brought no new revelation. Instead, they used the Law of Moses, which had already been revealed centuries before.

We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses. Nehemiah 1:7.

They found written in the law how the Lord had commanded through Moses that the sons of Israel should live in booths during the feast of the seventh month. So they proclaimed and circulated a proclamation in all their cities and in Jerusalem… Nehemiah 8:14-15.

Now the rest of the people… are taking on themselves a curse and an oath to walk in God’s law, which was given through Moses, God’s servant, and to keep and to observe all the commandments of God our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes. Nehemiah 10:28-29

It did not take long after Jesus established His church for selfishness to creep into the body of Christ (Acts 5:1-4). As time went on, the influence of false teachers increased. Many of the epistles of the New Testament were written to Christians who were either already under the influence of falsehood or were at risk. Over and over, the Lord’s disciples were called to go back to what they had first received.

I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! Galatians 1:6-8.

Just as in the Garden, where falsehood has influence, restoration is required. People need to return to the original blueprints.

  • For marriage, let us return to God’s plan from the beginning (Matt. 19:1-9)
  • For parenting, let us return to the simplicity of love and admonition (Eph. 6:4)
  • For salvation, let us return to the “pattern of teaching” (Rom. 6:17)
  • For unity, let us return to the one body (Eph. 4:4-6)
  • For worship, let us return to what God seeks (John 4:23-24)
  • For allegiance, let us return to the sovereignty of Christ (1 Tim. 6:13-16)

All of this will require sacrifice. But isn’t that the call of discipleship?

And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” Luke 9:23-26.

When people of the 21st century destroy the home, forsake the Lordship of Christ, and denominate the church, God’s word remains the same. The opportunity for restoration is now. Hear the call, heed the call, and then begin to call others.

But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent. Revelation 2:4-5.

Restoring the Mission

On By Tyler BoydIn Restoration

The church was created for a mission. However, it seems that there is much disagreement among Christians as to what that mission is.

Some place the emphasis on the church’s responsibility to change the world now, while others place the emphasis on the church’s responsibility to prepare themselves and others for a future in eternity. Among those who emphasize the importance of solving social problems there is too often a de-emphasis on doctrines of sin, salvation, heaven and hell, and eternal life in heaven. Likewise, those who focus solely on meeting spiritual needs sometimes get the idea that the only hope for social justice and the end of poverty and war is to die and go away to heaven, where justice will be restored at last and peace and love will finally abound forever. Neither side accurately reflects the teachings of Scripture.

The mission of the church cannot be separated from the resurrection of Christ.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures… But if there is not resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, your faith also is in vain…. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. – 1 Cor. 15.3-4, 13-14, 19

Did you hear that? Paul said that Christ’s death for our sins and His resurrection is “of first importance”; not political or social reform. Yes, Jesus showed deep compassion for the poor, the sick, the dispossessed and the outcasts in society. And as important as these things are, “first importance” is the forgiveness of sins at the cross.

Paul goes on to state that if Christ had not been raised then our faith would be in vain. Any “mission” that would not require the resurrection of Christ is NOT the mission of the church. Developing social programs to alleviate poverty, increase education, and end drug abuse could be implemented by any organization of men, with or without the resurrection of Christ. Any group of men could call for positive political change, with or without the resurrection of Christ. If the mission of the church was simply to alleviate social ills, why did Jesus have to die on the cross?

The mission of the church is not just “going away to heaven.”

At the conclusion of Paul’s famous discussion of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15, Paul did not conclude by saying “Therefore, make sure your sins are forgiven so you can lift up your eyes to heaven and wait for that glorious day when you finally get to come into My Kingdom, and receive a brand new body, never again to suffer pain or poverty, but rather to finally enjoy perfect justice and peace and love.”

Notice carefully Paul’s conclusion:

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. – 1 Cor. 15.58

Your toil is not in vain. What work you do in the kingdom of the Lord is not wasted. When you fully submit your life to Christ, doing works of justice and peace and love, and help others to do the same, you can know that your labor will be worth it! The resurrection not only gives us hope of a better future, it also means that whatever work for God we do today is not wasted!

The Mission of the Messiah

To better understand the mission of the church, it is helpful to first understand the mission of Jesus Christ. If you were to ask the average person why Jesus came to earth, you would probably get an answer like “To seek and save the lost” (Luke 19.10), or perhaps “To die on the cross so that we might have the hope of heaven”. While both of these are absolutely true, to state either of these answers alone would be incomplete. To fully understand the mission of the Jesus, we have to first understand His role as the promised Jewish Messiah.

For hundreds of years before Christ came to earth, the prophets had foretold the coming “Kingdom of God.” As Isaiah foretold, this coming Kingdom would be a “light of the nations” so that His salvation “may reach to the end of the earth” (Isa. 49.6). In this coming Kingdom, once more it would be said that “God reigns” (Isa. 52.7). The coming Messiah would be one who would bear our griefs, carry our sorrows, be pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities, and chastised for our well-being. “And by His scourging we are healed” (Isa. 53.3-5) from the consequences of our sins.

Someday God would reign again, through His coming Messiah. In this Kingdom, the effects of sin would be reversed, and man would once again submit themselves to God and His Anointed King!

Shortly before Jesus began His ministry, John the Baptist preached the gospel of God, saying “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 3.2). In other words, the time was finally here! Someone was finally coming to who “brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” (Isa. 52.7).

By viewing the role of Jesus from the perspective of God’s Kingdom as promised in the Old Testament, we can sum up the mission of the Messiah in three ways:

  1. The Messiah came to proclaim the good news of His kingdom. When Jesus began to preach, Matthew summed up his message by saying, “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’” (Matt. 4.17). Notice that Jesus didn’t simply go forth preaching about himself, but rather he went forth preaching about the coming of the prophesied kingdom of God! The kingdom he preached wasn’t one that was somewhere up in the sky. Nor was it some kingdom that we would only experience after death. Rather it was God’s reign! His Kingdom was coming now! He prayed and proclaimed that God’s will was to be done “on earth as it is in heaven.”
  2. The Messiah came to enact the good news. Jesus practiced what he preached. Not only did Jesus proclaim the release of captives, sight to the blind, and freedom to the oppressed, He literally backed up those proclamations with action! He released those who were captive to sin! He made the blind to see! He gave freedom to those who were oppressed! Not only did Jesus teach that we should turn the other cheek and love our enemies, but He “when He was reviled, did not revile in return; while he was suffering, He uttered no threats.” (1 Pet. 2.23). Not only did Jesus proclaim that God’s kingdom was at hand, but He lived in submission to the Father’s authority in all that He said and did. (John 14.31).
  3. The Messiah brought the gospel through His suffering and resurrection. It was not enough to simply come and proclaim that “God reigns”. As long as man still bore his sins, he would continue to be separated from God. For this reason, Jesus “Did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10.45). He was sent to fulfill the mission that was prophesied by Isaiah, as one who would be “crushed for our iniquities” upon whom the LORD would cause “the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.” Sin and death destroyed our relationship with God. Of all the things that Jesus did while He was on earth, this was the work that Paul described as being of “first importance.”

The Mission of the Church

Jesus fully and perfectly accomplished His mission. And yet there is still work to do. Shortly before His death Jesus said to his disciples “As the Father sent Me, I also send you.” (John 20:21). There was still work to be done.

In 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Paul spoke of Christ having “reconciled the world to Himself”, and yet, Paul recognized that He himself had been entrusted with the “word of reconciliation” as an “ambassador for Christ.” There was still work to be done.

Luke began His second letter to Theophilus by speaking of the works that “Jesus began to do and teach”. The rest of the book of Acts is about the work of Jesus that the apostles and the early church continued to do and to teach. There was still work to be done.

The mission of the church is to continue the mission of Jesus and to call others to follow Him in His mission as well. Consider carefully the words of the great commission:

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. – Matt. 28.18-20

  1. Our mission is to proclaim the good news of His Kingdom.  Notice that our mission is not to proclaim simply that Jesus reigns in heaven, and one day we can go away and enjoy His Kingdom there. Jesus said that all authority has been given to Him in heaven and on earth. Jesus is Lord already. Right now, Jesus reigns, over the earth. (Rom 6.23; 10.0; 2 Cor. 4.5; Phil. 2.9). It is our mission to proclaim the gospel of His kingdom, thus bringing new disciples into His kingdom.
  2. Our mission is to enact the good news through total submission. The message of the gospel has, from the very beginning, been a message about God’s reign, His Kingdom, and our submission to His Kingdom. It is a message of His authority, our discipleship, and our obedience to what He has commanded. Since King Jesus reigns today, we must live like He is in charge! Whether it be visiting the widows and orphans, or loving our enemies, or feeding the hungry, we must strive to submit ourselves to His authority. Failure to stand up for justice, peace, and love is not just  overlooking a small detail (Matt. 23.23); it is denying our discipleship; it is denying that we believe Christ reigns; it is refusal to live as His Kingdom.
  3. Our Mission is to suffer and be raised with Christ. 

For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, “Who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth”; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.” – 1 Pet. 2.21-24.

As long as we are here on earth, we are called to suffer along with Christ. Jesus Himself said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matt. 16.24). We were called for this purpose. And since we know that Jesus reigns as Lord, our suffering in the Lord is not in vain.

 

Your Toil Is Not In Vain

“For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus “every knee will bow,” of those who are in heave and on earth and under the earth.” – Phil. 2:9-10

Have you ever imagined what it would look like if God literally was in charge of the earth right now? What if the entire earth was His Kingdom, filled with His disciples, who submitted their lives to Him? What would that look like?

As of yet, not every knee has bowed. But Christ is already King. The mission of the church is not to establish some sort of “utopian” kingdom of God on earth. But as the church, we are commanded to be a colony of heaven on earth (Philippians 3.20-21). We know that Christ already reigns over the earth. It is our job to live like it. We are God’s kingdom on earth, proclaiming to and showing the world that God already reigns. The Christian mission is to declare to all nations that Jesus is Lord, He has been exalted, and He currently has the name which is above every name, in anticipation for the day when every knee shall bow.

Christians don’t have to patiently wait around for the day when God will reign and make everything right. Neither is it is not our job revolutionize earth through social and political reforms. Although we are not called to build a heaven on earth, we must not forget that we do have a mission to do the work of heaven while on earth.

Healthy Parts, Healthy Body

On By Daniel boydIn Kingdom Life, Restoration, The Authority of God

Healthy: A Flexible Word

When it comes to our bodies, the definition of “healthy” is often a moving target that changes with each person you ask because people use different standards and reference points when comparing a given body to an imaginary “ideal” body. Does healthy mean there are no aches or pains right now or does it also include having none of the chronic disorders such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and elevated inflammation markers (with all of their ranges of progression)? Is a person with two previous heart attacks and slightly reduced heart function, but who feels great, has a sharp mind, and still has the ability to be “active” (another word that’s tough to pin down) considered healthy even though he is now at higher risk of future heart issues? What about age? Is an 85 year old who is able to keep up with the young guns who are just now turning 60 deemed healthy, even though his strength is no where close to the average 25 year old?

A growing approach to assessing health is to also consider the “whole person” rather than just the surface point of symptoms. Modern science is growing in understanding how the body’s incredibly complex organ systems, with each of their hierarchy of functions from the organs down through the tissues, cells, proteins, DNA, and necessary nutrients, impact and are affected by the other organ systems and their constituent parts. I.e., the digestive system sends signals through the nervous system that affect the blood supply via the cardiovascular symptom that intricately maneuver the muscular system in its proper functioning to digest food. And the effects are not all local to what we might consider its “primary” purpose. Eating a meal and the functions needed for it affect the brain, heart rate, respiratory rate, hormonal regulation, kidneys, etc.

Every function of the body, each with its own complex inter-workings, communicates with other parts so as to maintain homeostasis, which is the proper and effective functions and composition of the body. And when just one part is not functioning effectively, its effects can cause a chain of dysfunctional events that may or may not be apparent to the individual. The complexity I’ve briefly described has not even included the vast interconnections between the “hardware” of organ systems and the emotional status of the individual.

At the risk of pushing a biblical analogy further than its intended purpose, I believe the common image of God’s New Covenant people as the Body, of which Christ is the Head (Eph. 2:22,23; 3:11-16), itself made up of unique, yet unified, parts (Rom. 12:4,5) is such a good illustration for assessing our spiritual health both as a single unit and as individual members. What better way to illustrate the unity, maturity, unique tasks, mutual effects, and common purposes of the Church than to compare it to the chief object of creation, that which was made in the image of God (Gen. 1:27). But qualified as being not under the headship of Adam, but of Christ, who himself is “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation” (Col. 1:15-20). He is the model of submission and yet effectively exercises God-given dominion over all things (Ps. 8), even death.

Jesus: A “Healthy Template” for the Church

Here we can have our standard, our reference point for what can be deemed “healthy.”

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. Ephesians 4:11-16

Here we have a standard for what it looks like for the Church to be healthy. A healthy mature Church looks like Christ in every way. The unity of faith and the unity of the knowledge of the Son of God is a picture of maturity and stature. A healthy thinking, healthy functioning Body does not chase the trends of human societies, is not swayed by arguments based on faulty human reasoning, or deceived by outright lies. Rather the mature Church boldly reflects the love and will of God into the world as we imitate God himself (Eph. 5:1,2). Much of Ephesians is a detailed description of what that looks like. Where God created man in His own image and subsequently gives him dominion to be the agents of God’s authority over the lower creation, the Church lives it out by ruling our bodies and properties in a God-glorifying way and serving and loving one another.

It is not 100% accurate to say that the Church ought to restore the 1st century church (is it desirable to imitate 1st century Corinth?). Rather, our goal is to restore it to the model of health and maturity revealed to us by Christ himself and the Spirit of God through the apostles and prophets (Eph. 2:19-22).

Healthy From Every Angle

Consider the complexity of the human body once more. The body cannot be said to be restored to full health if all of the organ systems are sound but the vascular system is hardened. In fact, atherosclerosis will prevent the other organ systems themselves from remaining healthy. The body is not healthy if muscles are strong but the digestive tract is swollen and inflamed. In fact, decreased nutrient intake will eventually weaken the muscles. The church is not restored to Biblical health if beliefs about judgment and eternity are Scriptural but they neglect the poor and oppressed. In fact, Biblical hope and anticipation for the age to come shapes our motivation to implement the effects of God’s current reign in the “now time” (Matt. 25:31-46). A church who strives for the true and authorized ways to offer worship to God on a weekly basis but neglects opportunities to express brotherly love to one another will have not restored the characteristic of God’s church being a family. In fact, worship in an environment that is void of mutual love for one another will quickly deteriorate away from being worship done in spirit and in truth.

Just as restoring the health of the church must address the “whole person” and not neglect different “organ systems” (as if they can so easily be pulled apart from one another without destroying the person), a healthy body also relies on healthy organs within it. A person is not healthy if the liver hardened. Cirrhosis of the liver will in fact destroy the other organs and their functions. A person is not healthy if the thyroid is unregulated. In fact, a dysfunctional thyroid can destroy the bones, metabolism, hair growth, temperature regulation, and memory of a person.

The church is not restored to full health if its people thrive in benevolence, offers scripturally consistent worship, shares the gospel with many but whose members are giving up fights against addiction, are being swayed by the mindsets and powers of the world, scratching whatever itch comes around, or silently drifting off unnoticed. This aspect of the restoration ought to remind us that there should never be a feeling of “We have arrived.” A healthy church is evangelistic, bringing in younger generations, and growing in Biblical wisdom and knowledge at every level. All of these present opportunities for growth and maturity at every moment in time.

A Healthy Church is Full of Healthy Christians

If the church is to be restored to health, we must commit ourselves to being restored to health as individuals, which will include healthy attitudes and behaviors towards one another corporately (Rom. 12:3). Having spiritual health as individuals will result in looking different than the world. A collection of individuals that are different than the world will be a nation that looks different than the nations of the world. Ephesians 3 goes on to say in verse 22 that we are to “lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” Healthy is good. Healthy is effective. We have a picture of what healthy looks like, but it is a conscious effort.

 

Don’t Want To Vote For Trump; Can’t Vote for Hillary. What Should A Christian Do?

On By Tyler BoydIn Uncategorized

Uh oh. It is looking more and more likely that Trump will win the Republican nomination. Now what? Should I vote for Trump? Hillary? A third party candidate who doesn’t have a chance? Or should I abstain from voting at all? What should a Christian do?

1. Remember the Bible is Silent About Voting

The Bible doesn’t say one word about voting. (And no, this isn’t because they didn’t have elections in the Roman Empire.  They did). We must abstain from making commandments where God has not spoken, and from passing judgment on other Christians who approach their opportunity to vote differently than we do. (James 4:11-12). If you decide to vote for one candidate or another, there is no Biblical authority to require others to do so (or for that matter, to require others to vote at all).

2. Keep Your Confidence in God’s Sovereign Choice

Recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes – Daniel 4.32

Jesus said to Pilate,

You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above. – John 19.11

Paul reminded the Roman Christians who were living under the dreadful rule of Nero,

There is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. – Romans 13:1

Sometimes it can truly baffle the mind to understand why God would exalt certain men to their thrones. Why did God exalt the Babylonians? Why did God exalt the wicked Assyrians? Why did God exalt Pilate? Nero? King George III? Adolf Hitler? Barack Obama? Hillary or Trump?

We may not always understand God’s reasons, but if there is one Being in the universe in whom we can fully trust, it would be the God who is merciful, gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, Yahweh. Although our votes may be wasted on candidates who will not end up winning, we can be thankful that His vote counts most.

3. Keep Your Confidence in God’s Sovereign Authority

Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger
And the staff in whose hands is My indignation,
I send it against a godless nation
And commission it against the people of My fury

Yet it does not so intend,
Nor does it plan so in its heart,
But rather it is its purpose to destroy
And to cut off many nations

Is the axe to boast itself over the one who chops with it?
Is the saw to exalt itself over the one who wields it?
That would be like a club wielding those who lift it,
Or like a rod lifting him who is not wood.” – Isaiah 10. 5, 7, 15

In speaking of the same Assyrians, Habakkuk wrote,

You, O LORD, have appointed them to judge;
And You, O Rock, have established them to correct. – Habakkuk 1.12

Although our rulers may (like Assyria) have no intention of willingly submitting to God, God still uses them to accomplish His will. (Also consider Jeremiah 25:9-12, where God calls Nebuchadnezzar “My servant“). Paul confirms that God continues to function in this manner, even in the era of the New Testament, when he spoke the following words in regard to the wicked emperor Nero:

For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God, and avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. – Romans 13.3-4

We can take great courage in knowing that while our rulers may think they are in charge, the Lord Most High still rules in the kingdoms of man.

4. Remember that governing authorities exist for the good of God’s children

It is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. – Romans 13.4

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. – Romans 8.28

God used the wicked Assyrians and Babylonians to punish His children for their unfaithfulness, and ultimately to preserve a remnant that would put their faith in God. God used Pilate to crucify Jesus, thus giving us the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Through the persecutions of the Roman Empire, the early church learned to place their hopes firmly in the heavenly city, whose ruler and maker is God. Through their persecutions, God taught His children patience, thus helping them to grow in their maturity. As wicked as these rulers were, God chose them for a purpose, He used them to accomplish His purpose, and ultimately these authorities served as ministers of God for the good of His children. With this confidence, we can rejoice in whoever God chooses as the next president, however wicked he or she may be.

5. Be Prepared to Submit to Whoever God Selects as President

We are not merely commanded to submit to those rulers who we think do a good job ruling. In keeping with the historical and textual context of Romans 13, even if our next president ends up being the modern version of Nero, the worst enemy Christians have faced in decades, our responsibility remains the same:

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are appointed by God. – Romans 12.29-13.1

Yet as Peter makes it clear, our submission is not motivated out of our support for the person in power, but rather:

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise o those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. – 1 Peter 2.13-15

This is not a time to grab our pitchforks and torches and charge the White House lawn. To rebel against whoever is elected is to rebel against the Lord’s ordained authorities. Rather than overcoming their evil with evil, we are to overcome their evil with good. We do this through our peaceful submission to them.

6. Pray

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness  and dignity. – 1 Timothy 2.1-2

As Christians, we are commanded to pray for world rulers. It should be noted that our prayers should be for “all who are in authority”, and not just for the ones we want to be in authority, and not just for those under whose authority we ourselves live. It is therefore a prayer for the advancement of God’s Kingdom, and not for the advancement of one particular kingdom of men, for the purpose of the prayer is for the welfare of the saints, that they may flourish in peace, godliness and dignity under the reign of those rulers.

Jeremiah expressed similar words when he said:

Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare. – Jeremiah 29:7

No passage in Scripture even remotely suggests that we should be praying for our leaders for the purpose of advancing the cause of earthly kingdoms. Yet we must be in constant prayer for our leaders  for the sake of the advancement of God’s kingdom.

Conclusion

See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give  thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. – 1 Thessalonians 5.15-18

Regardless of who you vote for, or if you even choose to vote at all, may we never stop rejoicing in Christ our King. God is in control, and in this we can have great confidence. May we continue to trust in Him while laboring for the advancement of His eternal Kingdom.

Excerpts from “An Interview Between an Old and a Young Preacher” by Barton W. Stone

On By The Christian ExileIn Christian's Relationship to Government2 Comments

Editor’s Note: It is often argued that since God ordained governments, it is right for Christians to support and maintain those governments. In the following article, Barton W. Stone addresses this commonly held belief. This excerpt is taken from “Interview Ninth” from “Interview Between an Old Preacher and a Young Preacher”, originally published by James M. Mathes in the “Works of Elder B. W. Stone” (1859). You can read the interviews in their entirety here. For additional study, take the time to view the hyperlinks you will find throughout this article.

Old Preacher–Well, my son, what success have you had in enlisting soldiers for the holy war since we last met?

Young Preacher–None, none. The way is completely obstructed by counter currents of worldly policy, called politics. This appears to be the all-absorbing theme, and spring of action among the people of every age, sex, religion and profession in the land. It is a thick veil thrown over eternity and eternal things–it is an opiate which has induced a senseless torpor to religion–it is ruination to Christian character–it has banished shame from the heart of the professor, who seems to enjoy the revels of the day… The small still voice of religion can not be heard in such a turmoil, nor can she have entrance or abode into hearts so heated with politics….To preach during such excitement appears in vain; and yet to refrain I can not. I find a few, and but a few mourners in Zion, who weep for her desolations. This upholds my sinking spirit, with the heart-cheering truth, the Lord reigneth. Here the young preacher’s sorrows burst into a flood of tears, and prevented further utterance.

 O. P.–My son, wipe your tears and trust in the Lord. It is true a dark cloud hangs over the world, which may burst in vengeance or mercy. An exterminating war has long been waging between religion and the world, and “the fight will be maintained until the weaker dies.” A compromise can never be effected between them; for whosoever loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him; and whosoever will be a friend of the world is an enemy to God. The friendship of the world is enmity to God. To seek the friendship of the world and the friendship of God at the same time, can not be done consistently with truth–it is a vain work; and yet this work, vain as it is, seems to mark the professors of Christianity at the present day; almost an armistice seems to be concluded between the world and professed Christianity. The God of this world has blinded the eyes of professed Christians, and is fast leading them deceived into their ranks into captivity–into bondage and death. Christians are virtually forsaking the government and laws of heaven to prop up and sustain the governments and laws of men, whether those men and laws be ecclesiastical or political; in fact, they are based upon the same foundation.

      Israel were always scattered when they forsook the laws and ordinances of heaven and followed their own devices. Their enemies prevailed against them, and led them into captivity; nor were they ever gathered together from their dispersions, till they returned to the laws and ordinances of God which they had forsaken. These things were written for our example, on whom the ends of the world are come. We must return to the government, laws and ordinances of our rightful king, the Lord Jesus, before we shall ever be gathered together and become worthy subjects of his kingdom. We must unite our energies, advance the government and kingdom of our Lord, and meddle not with the government of this world, whether human, ecclesiastical, political or civil; all others aside from that of heaven will be put down by a firm decree of our Lord before the end come.

Y. P.–You astonish me. Are not the civil powers and governments that be, ordained of God? And is it not the duty of Christians to be subject to them, and to sustain them? Do instruct me on this subject.

O. P.—If it be the duty of Christians under one worldly government to uphold and support that government, then it is the duty of Christians living in every worldly government to uphold and support that government; those living in North America must uphold and support the democracy of all the United States; those in Britain must support the monarchy of England; those in Russia must support the despotism there; those in Rome must support the government of the pope, the man of sin, the Antichrist of our rightful Lord; those in South America must support every petty tyrant that wades through blood to sit in the supreme chair of State. These governments must be supported and sustained by all their power, influence, blood and treasure. Can we for one moment think that the Lord enjoined on his people under the Caesars of old to uphold and defend their bloody governments, which enjoined the extirpation of the Christians, or to force them to abandon their religions and sacrifice to idols? Can we think it possible that the government of the pope, the man of sin, the true Antichrist, must be supported by Christians at the expense of all their influence, blood and treasure, and that by oath, and I may add, at the expense of their own souls? I grant that Christians are bound to submit to the powers as far as to pay their dues, as custom, tax, etc. But they are not enjoined to seek for nor fill those powers, and thus sustain the government. How awful the thought that the Lord would enjoin on his followers to sustain and support the antipodal, the antagonistic government of Rome, which aims at the subversion of his own!

 Y. P.–You confound me; but are not the powers or governments that exist ordained of God? Is it not then right for Christians to support or maintain them?

O. P.–If all the governments which exist are ordained of God in the common acceptation of the term, then it undeniably follows that all the jarring governments on earth are Divine and good–constitute parts of his own government. Will this be admitted by any intelligent man? No, not one. The translation of the verse (Rom. 13.1) has caused this confusion. The words are ordained, in our version, are in the present tense, but in the original, are in the perfect, and should be translated have been ordained. Trace the history of God’s government from the beginning, and we shall find that he, as monarch of the world, always gave his own laws to his people for their government, but always ordained or appointed men to rule under him according to those laws. But we never find that he ever gave authority to uninspired men to make laws in any age or nation for the government of his people. The authorities or executors of any laws but his own, it is evident he did not ordain.

The people soon, through their depravity, became dissatisfied with God’s government and laws, and began to depart from the laws of Heaven, and to legislate for themselves; yet they retained the authorities and offices which God had ordained. Then were the people scattered, and formed nations, and made laws, and instituted governments for themselves, retaining the offices Divinely ordained to execute the laws, not those laws given by God, but those made by themselves. Thus the whole world is divided into kingdoms, states, governments and parties, whose opposite laws and governments, create collision of interests, strife, war and carnage. The kind purpose of God was to reunite the jarring world, and to make them one, and to reconcile the world unto himself by his Son. This will never be effected till they all return to the government and laws of God, and forsake their own. These laws are given us by Jesus Christ, and when received and fully acted upon will unite the world in harmony, love and peace; wars will cease to the ends of the earth, and discord and strife be known no more forever. It will truly be the kingdom of peace–of heaven on earth.

Y. P.–Could we live on earth in safety without civil government? Would not the strongest sect of professed Christians persecute and oppress the weaker, unless checked and restrained by the civil authorities? Would not the wicked part of the world continually bring upon us tribulation and distress?

O. P.–We may imagine a thousand difficulties; but have we not a king in Zion, who is jealous for the glory of his Church upon earth? Is he not almighty? Can he not check and restrain opposing powers? Will he not hear prayer, and interpose in time of need? To these queries our enlightened judgment answers in the affirmative; but where is our faith? Can we trust in this king? Persecution would add a score to the ranks of Immanuel for one cut off. The Church would continually gain from the world by the truth, and sufferings for it, until he whose right it is to reign triumphantly over all. While civil governments exist, we may, as did Paul, appeal to Caesar from the judgment of our enemies; he is to keep his subjects from injuring us, because we honestly and punctually pay our dues to his government. The amalgamation of Church and State is an unholy alliance, and every advance to it is a departure from truth. The world is beginning to be awake to this subject. Yet some of the parties seem to cast a wishful eye to the highest.