Description

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

1. The example of Paul

-Standing on rights (Acts 16, 22, 25)
-Waiving rights (1 Corinthians 8:1-11:1)

2. Lawsuits
-Two views: no litigation or no litigation against fellow believers
-"Why not rather be wronged?" (1 Corinthians 6, Matthew 5)

3. American Revolutionary War (1775-1783)
-Which side would you find yourself on?
-Submit to which authorities? (Romans 12, 13)
-If this intrigues you, please hear the podcast on the American Civil War.

4. Civil Disobedience
-Only when man's law opposes God's law may we resist.
-It is justified only when the command of man contradicts the law of God, not when the law of man contradicts our personal preference or convenience.
(Daniel 3, 6; Acts 4-5)

5. Christian Government
-There is no such animal! The experiment has been tried, with catastrophic effect.
-Two separate spheres (faith and politics).
-Beware Dominion theology (Genesis 1:28), whose aims are not dissimilar to those of the radical Muslims.

6. Ultimate allegiance
-Many Christians are confused about the relationship between the church and the state.
-Text of the Pledge of Allegiance (1892): I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Note: The words "under God" were added in 1954.
- No follower of Christ can pledge ultimate allegiance to a flag, or to the state that it represents.
- [The following letter has been taken from Christianity Today, Oct. 2012, p.62.] "As one who has served over 31 years in the U.S. Coast Guard... I do not believe churches should display the American flag in their sanctuaries. 'No other flag or pennant should be placed above or, if on the same level, to the right of the flag of the United States of America' (U.S. Code Title 4 Chapter 1). The usual practice in our churches is to display both the American flag and the Christian flag in the sanctuary. Since the American flag must be displayed in the preeminent position, this symbolically places our allegiance to our country over our faith in Jesus Christ and our citizenship in his kingdom." -- Ted Brandsma (Littleton, Colorado)

7. The example of Christ
-Philippians 2

Conclusion

• Law and government are expressions of God's sovereign authority. Insofar as the authorities don't ask us to violate biblical principles, we are to obey the law.
• Our individualistic society is heavily focused on rights, privileges, and entitlements. Yet a Christian is willing to waive his or her rights for the greater good.
• Some of us need to rethink the relationship between church and government.
• In all things, our example should be that of Jesus Christ (Philippians 2). Whom do we resemble more:
  • an individual bent on his rights, or
  • the one who ceded his rights in order that the poor might be made rich, enemies might be loved and convicted of their lack of love and holiness, and the bleeding, breaking heart of God might be revealed?