12/26/23 THE STATE IS UNDER ORDERS

12/26/23 THE STATE IS UNDER ORDERS

This is controversial and uncomfortable, but it is very current. I hope you read it. This is not a copy from someone else. 

Make no mistake, God has appointed Government (the State) to protect the law abiding and oppressed and to punish criminals and violent aggressors. God has given the sword of steel to Government (the State}.
Make no mistake, Christians are not God's instruments of violence and physical judgment (according to the New Testament). God has given the Sword of the Spirit to believers.
But just as individuals will be judged according to their faith and submission to God, so also will Governments, Nations, Leaders. God holds each one accountable for their own choices and actions. When men refuse to faithfully submit to Christ and do the will of God, they are opting into the judgment of God.

The believers (the true Church, not a denominational or national organization) are in the world, but we are not of the world.
God uses the world, Government (the State), carnal means to accomplish His will.
This does not mean that God ordains for believers to be instruments of carnal violence. 

READ THE NEW TESTAMENT.
*God does not command Christians to be violent, to take up the sword of steel against other humans, even for self defense or other people, including Christ.
*God does not commend Christians for being violent, for taking up the sword of steel against other humans, even for self defense or other people, including Christ.
*God condemns Christians for being violent, for taking up the sword of steel against other humans, even for self defense or other people, including Christ.
*God commands Christians to not be physically violent and He commands Christians to not retaliate and He commands Christians to not harm our enemies or His enemies.
*God commands Christians to do good to our enemies and to pray for those who abuse us and to love our enemies.
*God does not command Christians to oppose Government (the State), or law or justice, or the State's protection of the law abiding.
*God commands Christians to submit to legitimate Government rule (State rule), which does not oppose New Testament responsibilities of Christians, and to obey the Government (the State), except when it requires disobedience to God.
*God commands Christians to render to Caesar that which is Caesars. This is not a blank check, which allows politics to do evil (murdering the innocent, oppressing the weak, persecuting Christians).
*God commends believers who submit to the law of love, who love their enemies, who are willing to suffer and lose all for their faith , who follow the Prince of Peace, who follow in the steps of Jesus (and do no violence), who do not war according to the flesh, who do not wield the sword of steel.

Being a Christian is a proactive stance for right and against sin.
Being Christian is not a passive submission to a wicked world.
Being Christian is contrary to religious and irreligious societies.

Violent civil action is part of political, social, religious resistance, but it is not part of New Testament salvation.
Don't be surprised at racial or political violence.

When you see "Christians" being violent, you are seeing a fake Christianity.
When you see Christian armies, killing other armies, you are seeing a lie.
Christians do not oppose Government (the State) for doing what God appoints government to do.

Christians recognize the right of Government (the State) to protect and to punish according to God's rule.
Christians do not allow society to recruit them for violent actions.

Lawlessness may come in opposition to legitimate authority, but...
Lawlessness also comes in the guise of Government.

All authority is required to submit to God and whenever an authority opposes the rule of God, that "authority" is in anarchy and should not be followed in their anarchy.
Do not follow popular Christianity, modernized Christianity, Reformed Christianity, sinning Christianity, Western Christianity.
Follow Jesus and New Testament revelation.
Personally pursue and practice New Testament Christianity.
Love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, and love your neighbor as you love yourself, and love your enemy, and love with a perfect love, even as your heavenly Father loves with perfect love.

Biblical Christians do not oppose the will of God. Christians follow Christ, regardless how difficult the way man be.

We should follow legitimate authority.
We should not follow "authority" that advocates personal disobedience to the revealed will of God in the New Testament.

As I said, READ THE BOOK.
I have noticed that most people who promote a Constantinian, Papal or Reformed view of violence in Christianity, have other areas of their own personal beliefs and life which are in conflict with other Biblical truths. Don't be swayed by popularity or supposed authority, if their position is not in agreement with the New Testament.

God requires that we love and obey Him more than we love our self, our family, our community, our nation, our politics, our lives, our wealth, our health. Do not allow your love for partisanship, love for State, love for race, love for power, love for family, love for personal rights and liberties, love for country, love for force, love for ease come before your love and obedience to God.

There are pastors who actually agree with the non-violent (not to be confused with the Pacifist) view, but they do not teach it or promote it because it is not popular.

The Biblical view is hated by the supposed Doves and the supposed Hawks of society. Bible Christians will be hated by all men.

It is better to obey God than to obey men.