Archive for libertarian christian
Romans 13 and National Defense
Posted by: |Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. (Romans 13:1-5)
Christian apologists for the state, its leaders (when they are Republicans), its military, its spy agencies, and especially its wars (and especially when they are started by Republicans) sometimes refer to the above passage from the Book of Romans as if it somehow justifies their blind nationalism, their cheerleading for the Republican Party, their childish devotion to the military, their acceptance of national-security state, and their support for perpetual war.
There is no greater abuse of this passage than when it is applied to national defense. I have come across two examples of this recently.
Tags: christian libertarian, libertarian christian, national defense, Romans 13, self-defense, statism, war
Are You an Imperial Christian?
Posted by: |The tenets of imperial Christianity include things like blind nationalism, belief in American exceptionalism, willful ignorance of U.S. foreign policy, childish devotion to the military, cheerleading for the Republican Party, acceptance of the U.S. empire, and support for a perpetual war on terror – all, of course, with a Christian twist for effect. In other words, the views of Mike Huckabee, Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann or Rick Perry.
I have some simple yet pointed questions for Christians who subscribe to, or can be characterized by, the above things:
- Is the president of the United States God?
- Is America the nation of Israel?
- Is the United States the client state of God?
- Is the U.S. military the Lord’s army?
- Does the United States enjoy a special relationship with God that other nations don’t have?
- Is the Christian’s sword anything but the word of God?
- Does the Bible command any Christian to kill any adherent of a false religion?
- Does the Bible command any Christian to go on a crusade against Muslims?
- Does "obeying the powers that be" mean that Christians should always do anything and everything the government says?
- Does the Bible say that anyone other than God should receive unconditional obedience?
- Is it okay for Christians to participate in U.S. government wars just because God commanded the Jews in the Old Testament to go to war?
- Does the Lord approve of everything the U.S. government does?
- Does the Lord approve of everything the government of Israel does?
- Is being patriotic more important than being biblical?
- Is the Republican Party the party of God?
- Is it more scriptural for a Christian to be in the military than in the ministry?
- Does God need America’s help to protect Israel?
- Does God need the U.S. military to maintain order throughout the world?
- Is the U.S. military a godly institution?
- Is the CIA a godly institution?
- Did God command the United States to build over 1,000 foreign military bases?
- Did God command the United States to station troops in over 150 countries?
- Does God always approve of U.S. foreign policy?
- Is it biblical that churches send more soldiers to the Middle East than missionaries?
- Did God appoint the United States to be the world’s policeman?
- Does the New Testament command churches to hold special military appreciation days?
- Does the New Testament command churches to glorify the military on the Sunday before national holidays?
- Have U.S. wars always been just, right, and good?
- Are all Muslims terrorists?
- Was every Iraqi and Afghan killed by the U.S. military a terrorist?
- Does the New Testament encourage Christians to wage war against anyone or anything but the world, the flesh, and the devil?
If you are a Christian and answered in the affirmative to one or more of these questions, then I understand why you are an imperial Christian. Repent.
But if you are a Christian and answered in the negative to all of these questions, then why are you an imperial Christian? Why do you make apologies for the state, its leaders, its military, its wars, its imperialism, and its interventionism? Why are you so devoted to the Republican Party? Why do you sing songs to the state in church on the Sunday before national holidays? Why do you encourage Christian young people to join the military? Why do you recite meaningless prayers for God to bless U.S. troops engaged in unjust wars?
Think about these things. Pray about them. Meditate on them. Just don’t be an imperial Christian.
Originally published on LewRockwell.com on September 28, 2011
Tags: christian libertarian, Christianity, civil religion, ethics, libertarian christian, theology, war
On Libertarian Controversy, in Brief
Posted by: |I’ve received a non-trivial number of comments, both public and private, about some of the articles posted here in the past month. Some people wonder why I would post things from other people that contain statements with which they know I don’t personally agree. It’s quite simple, really…
Controversy is no stranger to libertarians. We believe so strongly in such powerful principles that we cannot help but be pulled into a good debate. We work hard to hammer out ideas, to speak truth in the face of power, to persuade people of a better way of thinking and living.
But we also know that we don’t have all the answers, and that what we have to say is not the final word. Let’s be willing to hear other voices too. Whether it’s revisiting our theory of rights as Doug Douma has challenged us to do, or working out a consistent theology of public policy as John Cobin’s essays have been teaching us, or trying to understand self-defense from a Christian perspective, let us keep our minds open and tongues civil as we discuss, debate, and work toward greater liberty. Remember when you first discovered the principles of liberty and how you had to keep an open mind as you deconstructed your previous thought patterns. We haven’t finished that task yet.
Finally, even though the topics are serious, let us not take ourselves too seriously. We are not so important to be exempt from being patient, kind, and humble – all of which are great virtues no matter what perspective you come from.
That being said, what topics are challenging you to think differently these days? Speak out in the comments and give me an idea of what you are thinking… Perhaps it can be addressed in future articles? Until then, be of good cheer liberty lovers.
Tags: christian libertarianism, controversy, hot topics, libertarian christian, libertarianism
Is it time to resist tyranny?
Posted by: |This essay continues the Christian Theology and Public Policy Course by John Cobin, author of the books Bible and Government and Christian Theology of Public Policy. It is the final installment of a seven part series dealing with Christians and rebellion against the civil authority, originally titled “Christian Views on Rebellion.”
Not only are the great majority of rulers recorded in the Scriptures wicked, they also share certain common immoral character traits. And such bad behavior even arose in otherwise good theocratic rulers. While it is said that “anger rests in the bosom of fools” (Ecclesiastes 7:9), it also seems to rest in the bosom of kings and other civil authorities. Pharaoh got “angry” (Genesis 40:2; 41:10) and King Saul became both “angry” and “displeased” (1 Samuel 18:8), as did King David (2 Samuel 13:21) and the princes of the Philistines (1 Samuel 29:4). Good King Asa was likewise affected, being enraged with a seer and oppressing some of God’s people (2 Chronicles 16:10), and King Uzziah was angry with the priests over the divine technicalities of a ritual (2 Chronicles 26:19). Nebuchadnezzar responded “in rage and fury” to the faithful Jews (Daniel 3:13). King Ahasuerus’s “anger burned in him” after Queen Vashti refused to obey him (Esther 1:12). Sanballat was angered by the Jews’ rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls “and took great indignation” (Nehemiah 4:1, 7). The “princes” were angry with the Prophet Jeremiah, beat him, and cast him into prison (Jeremiah 37:15). Herod was “exceedingly angry” with the Magi (Matthew 2:16). Herod had also been “very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon” (Acts 12:20a). Herod hated Jesus too and desired “to kill” Him (Luke 13:31). Perhaps political power tends to promote the sin of anger? Or is this tyrannical anger induced from within a ruler by the hateful adversary of good, viz. the devil?
Tags: Bible, christian libertarian, Christianity, divine right of kings, ethics, libertarian christian, theology, theonomy
This essay continues the Christian Theology and Public Policy Course by John Cobin, author of the books Bible and Government and Christian Theology of Public Policy. It is the sixth installment of a seven part series dealing with Christians and rebellion against the civil authority, originally titled “Christian Views on Rebellion.”
In my previous two columns, I outlined the two historical schools of Evangelical thought regarding the nature of the state and public policy: (A) the Integrated Authority School and (B) the Competing Kingdom School. In this column, I pick up that discussion by delineating in greater depth the principles of Competing Kingdom School, and the two views associated with it.
The competing kingdom school views the state as an entity entirely distinct from the church and family insofar as promotion of the Kingdom of God is concerned. Some proponents of this school would see the state as benign, although it often rears up its ugly side to assail the church of God. Others would view it as significantly aligned with Satan’s kingdom and his efforts in the world. Either way, the state is not a special sphere of authority along with the family and the local church.
Tags: Anabaptists, Bible, christian libertarian, Christianity, divine right of kings, ethics, libertarian christian, theology, theonomy
Norman Horn is the creator and primary writer for LCC. Learn a little bit about him in the 