Jesus was an Anti-Nationalist
One of the more overlooked ways in which Jesus brought God’s ethical ideal into full bloom — or as Matthew …
Theology
Josephus on the Origin of the State
In The Antiquities, Josephus mentions that the first human government was built by Nimrod, the mighty hunter from the book of Genesis. This appears to be consistent with Genesis; no other organized government (unless you count a “clan”) is mentioned before his. Genesis is, first and foremost, a book of origins, and thus this original human government can arguably be taken as archetypal.
Government and Political Authority
In my experience, many Christians fail to carefully define their terms when talking about government and political authority—and this leads …
Where Christian Libertarians Part Ways with Ayn Rand
Christian theology begins with a creative process, which God himself executes and deems good. From there, filling and subduing his …
Jesus Shows Us What a Truly Free Human Looks Like
Scottish theologian Stephen Neill was excited and challenged by the story Christianity told about humanity. As a missionary, he spent …
Ministers, Submission, and Partisanship
“There is not a word of intimation in the Sacred Scriptures that indicate that it is the duty of any Christians to support, maintain, or defend any institution or organization of man, farther than a quiet, passive, but conscientious and faithful submission to its requirements, may have a tendency to sustain it. That submission he must render, not as a duty he owes to government on account of any virtue or merit it possesses, but as a solemn duty he owes to his Maker. This sense of duty to God connects him with all the governments and powers of the earth just alike. It permits him to become the partisan of none.”
“Give Us a King”
This article continues a series of weekly posts originally authored by David Lipscomb, an important figure in the Churches of …
The Seen and Unseen Kingdoms
In this entry, Lipscomb continues his thesis that ordinances of God are not all intended to be carried out by his set-apart people, the Church, using the examples of heaven and hell.
The Cruelty of Quarantine: A Response to Tim Challies
Tim Challies is a reformed pastor and longtime blogger based in Canada. He recently published an article lamenting the quarantine …
Are States the Ministers of God?
A common objection to the idea that the state is founded in rebellion against God is the language of the Bible describing various kings and leaders as “God’s servants” or “ministers”. Romans 13 can be included as one of these texts. But do such verses justify their actions?
Does Romans 13 Justify Nero, Pharoah, or Nimrod?
Lipscomb approaches the issue with a new tact this time around, and brings up Romans 13 in the process. He suggests that if Romans 13 is the justifying scripture for allowing Christians to participate in bloodshed, then “Nimrod and Abraham, Pharaoh and Moses, Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar, Paul and Nero, stand precisely upon the same footing as approved and accepted subjects [of God].” Of course, he says this is illogical, and we must reject the former premise.
David Lipscomb Against Union Conscription
This article continues a series of weekly posts originally authored by David Lipscomb, an important figure in the Churches of …
David Lipscomb Against Confederate Conscription Acts
Notable in this piece is the way in which Lipscomb and his co-authors argue for their firm non-violent stance. They are to “submit quietly” to the government save where submission would require violation of God’s law. Their view, of course, is that joining an army to kill would be a violation of God’s law. Would only Christians today see the wisdom in such a firm belief?
Doug Wilson is Wrong About Libertarianism
Does society always and in every case break down to atomistic individuals?
The Spirit of the Church and of the World-Powers
Having stridently argued for the position that the kingdoms of the world are not of God through both Old and New Testaments, Lipscomb now seeks to differentiate the particular spirit of the Church versus the world-powers.
Babylon: The Archetype of the State
We wish to call attention to the biblical use of the term Babylon. It is given in Scripture as the name of the first, and in many respects, the head of the world-governments. It is derived from Babel, and means confusion. In the early days of the human family, and even to the present time, among the ruder nations of the world, all names are significant. This is especially so of the Bible names. Adam, means of earth, hence, he that was made of earth was called Adam. So of Babylon, it means confusion, strife; therefore, that which especially introduced confusion and strife into the world, was termed Babylon.
John’s Revelation and World-Powers
Lipscomb now addresses the symbols in Revelation in greater detail, ultimately to level a scathing indictment of the 19th-century church. Some protestants interpret the “mother of harlots” as the medieval era Roman Catholic Church (Constantine and beyond). Fine, Lipscomb says, but who are the daughters of this harlot? Are they not the protestant churches?
God’s Kingdom and the World’s Kingdoms are Separate
This article continues a series of weekly posts originally authored by David Lipscomb, an important figure in the Churches of …
Jesus’ Temptations and World-Powers
This article continues a series of weekly posts originally authored by David Lipscomb, an important figure in the Churches of …
The Church of God Among the Nations
This article continues a series of weekly posts originally authored by David Lipscomb, an important figure in the Churches of …
The Old Testament Kings and God’s Justice
In our investigations we have found that God, at all times, kept a wide gulf of separation between his Jewish kingdom and subjects, and the world-institutions by which they were surrounded. No alliances—no affiliations—no courtesies as equals with the man-governments or their subjects, were never engaged in without receiving a signal mark of God’s displeasure.
Biblical Origins of Human Government
This article continues a series of weekly posts originally authored by David Lipscomb, an important figure in the Churches of …
God’s Provisions of Authority
This article continues a series of weekly posts originally authored by David Lipscomb, an important figure in the Churches of …
The Church of Christ and World-Powers
This article begins a new series of weekly posts authored by David Lipscomb, an important figure in the Churches of …
Does God Take Part in Wars?
The article below was written in January 1866 by David Lipscomb, an important figure in the Churches of Christ in …