A more baseless assumption, one more in direct conflict with God’s teaching, was never made by man, than the idea that when the civil authority commands the Christian to do something contrary to the law of God, and he does it, the responsibility rest upon the civil authority, and not on the individual who violates the laws of God at the behest of the civil ruler.
Does Romans 13 mean that we, as Christians, should just submit to the state? Or is there perhaps a better, more nuanced way to understand
“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.”
This article begins a new series of weekly posts authored by David Lipscomb, an important figure in the Churches of Christ in the United States.
The article below was written in January 1866 by David Lipscomb, an important figure in the Churches of Christ in the United States. Learn more
This episode was originally recorded for the Bob Murphy show, where Bob and Norman Horn have a provocative conversation that will enlighten both believers and
This is a guest post by Gregory Baus. Gregory is a sometimes itinerant English teacher, and graduate student in philosophy at North-West University, South Africa.
Is the Bible “pro-government?” Simple answer, no. Yes, we find governments operating throughout the Bible. We even see various governments ruling over God’s chosen people.
This guest post, the second of two parts, was written by our friend Kollin Fields. (Go to Kollin’s first article.) Readers should remember that guest
This guest post, the first of two parts, was written by our friend Kollin Fields. Readers should remember that guest posts are not considered official
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