Romans 15:4 Project Blog: American Liberty, A Christian Issue?

Is the liberty and freedom of America important to the Christian? Do Christians have a duty as American citizens?

I would argue that it is important and that we do have a duty. Many people use Romans 13 as a ‘submission at all costs’ hammer. But I think that in a democratic republic which is by the people, for the people, and of the people there is an element of responsibility to be discerned from the Apostle Paul’s statements.

And yet, I often hear (and correct me if I’m wrong) that it isn’t our place to get involved in the government of nations. What would our forbearers think, who gave the greatest sacrifice?

“‘The highest glory of the American Revolution was this, it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity’
– John Quincy Adams” (qtd. in Berman)

Hear This! It’s not that the Christian religion was entombed in politics and government or that politics and government were entombed in Christian religion, but that a civic government was framed on the principles of Christianity (of, by, and for Christian people) that makes self-government for ALL people possible! If you truly reflect on this and wrestle with it, and reason it through, you will see the miraculous and transcendent accomplishment that is found in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution of the United States of America.

“‘We have staked the whole future of American civilization not upon the power of government, far from it. We have staked the whole future of all our political institutions on the capacity of man for self government, on the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to sustain our selves, according to the ten commandments of God’ – James Madison” (qtd. in Berman)

True freedom is internal and can only come when we submit to God’s will for our own and seek our eternal destiny no matter what external circumstances we find ourselves in. It is the outward manifestation of this discipline for God’s will in our individual lives that makes a free and self-governing nation possible.

“God's will is His choice, the expression of His perfect freedom. Insofar as they make God's will their own, therefore, Christ's disciples act in perfect freedom, even as God acts. Their discipline (discipleship in action) is thus the basis of their freedom.” (Personal sovereignty by Alan Keyes)

We have lost this aspect of our heritage and therefore, “the American people are so close to losing their capacity for self-government — and their constitutional position of sovereignty over their government at all levels. We are being thrust aside by forces that take advantage of our moral vulnerability to turn us from free people into masses dominated and virtually enslaved by the manipulation of our selfish passions.” (Keyes)

Here we are, on the edge. A push to one side means continued liberty for ALL people in America, and a push to the other leads back to a dark age where certain death was the end to those willing to preach God’s Word outside of the politically correct and authorized version and where the population was kept ignorant and dependent on tyranny.

What was the world like prior to the founding of America? Well let’s see, it was called the dark ages! “The treasure that came to these shores had been hidden from the English-speaking world until shortly before they came: the Geneva Bible. It’s content is important because it helped transform a people who lived in the Stone Age and came with starving men on three little boats, and built the most amazing culture the world has ever known. . . The price that was paid: the shedding of the blood of the martyrs. . . including Tyndale who was burned at the stake (the faggots smoldered and didn’t light, so he prayed for the king, and the executioner had to choke him to death).” (Foster)

Shall we dishonor their sacrifice with apathy and indifference? ‘Thank you, brothers, for your faith and sacrifice that bought us the gift of freedom to read, worship, and live out our faith in the one and only true God! Now I’m just going to get comfy and let it slip away because surely the affairs of men aren’t the affairs of God’s people!’

Or what about John Wycliffe, “He was the one who said the government is of the people, for the people, and by the people…based on the Bible. He said the top-down structure with the Pope and King having so much power was wrong, that Jesus was Lord over both.” (Foster)

But today we are afraid to stand against the passage of hate crimes and other discriminatory laws that directly target biblical preaching and teaching because it would be ‘getting politically involved’. Have we lost all sense of duty to the men and women whose shoulders we stand on today? Do we lack the courage to hold God’s word above mans?

“As goes the Bible….so goes the Constitution. The principles founded have their basis in a culture that understands that God is watching and that he is absolute and supreme! As we have gone away from biblical truth we have also gone away from the principles established in the Constitution.” (Berman)

Maybe we need to be reminded of our brothers and sisters in other regions of the world. As the Apostle Paul said, “Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.” (Philippians 1:14)

In Eritrea: “Compass reported that on August 19, police arrested 10 members of the Full Gospel Church in the Kahawata suburb of Asmara, who had gathered in a home for worship. Compass added, ‘The four women and six men accused of worshipping together were put into detention at Police Station No.2 in Asmara.’” (VOM)

In China: “SHANXI PROVINCE - On July 14, Chinese authorities interrupted Bible reading and prayer in the home of Sister Kong Lingrong. While Sister Kong and several children from 10 to 15 years of age were reading the Bible and praying, the authorities stopped the ‘illegal meeting’ and said that children were not allowed to believe in Jesus. As a result of the incident, Sister Kong is being harassed by authorities and the electricity and water to her home has been turned off.” (VOM)

Brothers and sisters, Knights, as Dr. Richard Land recently proclaimed, “. . . let’s heed the call to stand in the gap and repair the hedge and claim the promise of God when He said, ‘If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land’ (2 Chron. 7:14, NIV). May there be a new birth of freedom, may there be a new birth of morality, may we stand in the ways and see the old paths and heed the watchmen on the wall.” – Amen.

Works Cited:

Berman, Dr. David M. “As the Bible goes. . . so goes the Constitution” Christian Worldview Network. 9/5/2007

Foster, Marshall. “The Bible’s Impact on America” Christian Worldview Network, 8/3/2007

Keyes, Alan. “Personal Sovereignty” Renew America.

Land, Dr. Richard. “Watchmen on the Wall” Christian Post. 8/23/2007

VOM. “VOM-USA News and Prayer Update (August 28, 2007)” Voice of the Martyrs.

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Romans 15:4 Project Blog

Thursday, September 13, 2007

American Liberty, A Christian Issue?

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