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.
Theology
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?
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 …
God’s justice is better than man’s justice: A response to Tim Keller
Tim Keller recently published an article entitled, “A Biblical Critique of Secular Justice and Critical Theory.” His article is a sort of apologia for his conception of “biblical justice” and its relationship to the social justice conversation. While we could likely agree with some of his sentiments, other things he says are just plain wrong. His characterizations of libertarianism as being in conflict with biblical justice warrant a response.
The Glaring Inconsistency
The following article was published by David Lipscomb in The Gospel Advocate on roughly January 30, 1866 — not even a …
Jesus Was Not a Socialist
Our dear friend Larry Reed, an advisor to LCI and former President of the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE), recently …
N.T. Wright on Caesar and Christ
Doctor Wright points to how the early church revolutionized the way we think about our fellow human beings by caring for the poor and downtrodden and how those actions must be emulated in our current age as well. But what about some of the questions that split the churches right down the middle? Questions like: Should we employ coercion in our attempt to care for the poor and educate people? Can we implement the Sermon on the Mount in the world of politics?
Avoid Spiritual Treason
We celebrate Independence Day in the United States on July 4th to commemorate American colonies rejecting the British monarchy. That is the day when the Continental Congress announced a plan for American self-government. As Christians thinking about this historical event in America and its meaning, it is instructive to look at the time when Ancient Israel adopted its monarchy.
Ep 175: COVID, Riots, and Mimetic Theory, with Michael Hardin
We welcome Michael Hardin for the first time to the podcast. Michael Hardin is an independent scholar residing in Pennsylvania. …
Should Christians Just Shut Up When the Government Speaks?
I am not on Twitter for the same reason I am not on Facebook: I have too little free time …