Government is Evil... But God Can Use All Things For Good - (Christian Anarchy - Part 9)
This is the end
beautiful friend
I got lost in my thoughts and started singing The Doors while I was typing... anyway... I'm back to reality now.
This is the end. Finally. I'm ending with the same photo I began with. Am I lazy? Maybe, but I don't care. This series was a lot of work and I'm very grateful to those of you who've kept up with it. If you've just stumbled upon this blog, here are the links to the rest of the series:
- Can a Christian be an Anarchist?
- All Christians Should be Socialists
- What Does the Bible Actually Say About Government?
- Render to Caesar That Which is Caesar's
- Can a Christian be an Anarchist Without Rejecting Paul?
- What's Up With the Old Testament? i.
- What's Up With the Old Testament? ii.
- What's Up With the Old Testament? iii.
In this final post, I'm going to summarize what we've learned so far and give some final thoughts about anarchy and how Christians ought to relate to those who claim authority over them.
Summary
The TL;DR version of this series.
God - and by extension his word - is the highest authority of all. I would submit that God is the only true authority (one with the right to rule over others). As the creator of the universe, He certainly has the moral right and ability to rule his creation. Because Christians must recognize this authority, we cannot fully embrace the label "anarchist". Instead, I like to say that we are monarchists vertically (in our relationship with God) and anarchists horizontally (in our relationship with mankind.) One commenter coined the term Thearchist.
No, Christians shouldn't be socialists. Many who do not understand the implications of socialism will argue that since the Bible advocates for helping the poor and giving to those in need we must support government programs that have this aim. But all government programs are only made possible by theft and violence. Jesus said to give to the poor, he never said to vote that responsibility onto a gang of violent thugs.
The Bible tells us a lot of different things about government. First, and I think most importantly we are told over and over that The Lord is our true King and Master. God also warns us about the dangers of government and the danger of choosing a master over Him. We are also instructed to comply with the state, but this isn't because it's good and moral to follow the law. It's because being seen as "obedient" by the world may help the advance of the gospel more than if we were rebels. However, it is right... no, required, that we break the law if the law is telling us to go against God's commands.
But what is up with the old testament? God did create a kingdom on earth. If he has the authority to govern, he also has the power to pass that authority on to others. But Israel was unique in Scripture and in history. There is no indication anywhere that God has granted that same kind of authority to any other governments. The purpose of the Kingdom of Israel was twofold:
- To bring light (and judgement) to the surrounding nations. Much of this was accomplished by establishing laws that were incremental improvements upon the culture. We can see these laws improved upon over time even within the Nation of Israel (look at the example of slavery in my last article.)
- To create a cultural and historical context in which the coming of Jesus would make sense. God created a kingdom bound by laws to show them that there was no way they could ever achieve perfection and holiness. They needed a saviour. Jesus was... is that Saviour.
Final Thoughts and Verses
I may not like the fact that I have to live under these gangs who think they have the moral right to subjugate me. But Scripture reminds us over and over that God is pleased to use anything and everything for good.
Truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you [God] anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.
Acts 4:27-28 (ESV)
These people killed Jesus. They killed God's son. But if it weren't for these people in positions of power committing this atrocious act, our sins could not be forgiven. The debt wouldn't be settled.
I must recognize the reality that I live in. We should pray for freedom, but at the same time we must pray for our rulers and pray that God will use them for some good, evil though they may be.
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
1 Timothy 2:1-2 (ESV)
And that's all there is. There isn't any more.
This is the end.
Thank you for reading. If you liked this series, please follow me @sethlinson. You'll see a lot more anarchist content as well as a bunch of art and hand-drawn animation.
~Seth
You've done a good job, Seth. I've followed every line of each article with a great deal of interest. This is a topic I've studied in-depth for a few years, and still struggle to grasp in a way that doesn't cause at least some degree of cognitive dissonance.
There are lots of struggles in this study. It's not because God is confusing, but because I am limited in understanding the infinite. I can accept that, and embrace the struggle because it's worth it.
If you're interested in studying public policy from a Christian perspective further, you might want to check out these books. It's only exciting for folks interested in this stuff, and I found a few exegetical holes. But they're certainly helpful and well researched pieces. There's a Christian Libertarian discount on that linked page too.
This is so important.
Thank you for reading and supporting this series and for your insightful comments throughout. I haven't read any of the books in that link but they sound interesting. I'll add them to my list.
I have enjoyed your series and find your logic sound. The story of Israel in 1 Samuel 8 is the Word that opened my eyes. When we demand earthly leaders, we reject our one true King. Thank you for your series.
Thank you for your comment! I'm glad you enjoyed it. 1 Samuel 8 wasa big eye opener for me as well.
I don't think a born again Christian can be an anarchist for the simple fact that God is a God of Order, he is not a God of disorder and confusion. Anarchy by very definition is a state of disorder due to absence or nonrecognition of authority. Carnal Christians may try to help God by trying to bring his Kingdom to replace this fallacious system, but they will not prevail. Satan's system must rule the whole World for seven years and after that God, will do away with it and install his kingdom with Christ as a King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
I think your definition and perspective are way off. First and foremost, I'm not sure where you're getting your definition from but anarchism has never been defined as a "state of disorder due to absence or nonrecognition of authority". Sounds like you're relying on TV to define words for you. A simple Merriam-Webster search would have shown you that anarchism is defined as "a political theory holding all forms of governmental authority to be unnecessary and undesirable and advocating a society based on voluntary cooperation and free association of individuals and groups". There's nothing in that definition about not having rules and there's nothing in that definition about not having God as your authority. I think most anarchists that you talk to would agree that there is nothing wrong with having an authority over you as long as that is agreed to voluntarily and not by force. Even an amateur could read the NT and determine that Jesus was no fan of earthly governmental authority. Did he believe in the authority of God? Absolutely. But I believe is a stretch to say he believed in the authority of men. What the NT says he did, he did voluntarily for man.
Secondly, I do not know of any Christian Anarchists, these "Carnal Christians" as you refer to them, who believe they should "help God by trying to bring his Kingdom to replace this fallacious system". Every one of them that I know of simply wants a society based on peace, free association and voluntary exchange without government force and interference. They aren't trying to help God do anything. They're just trying to have a peaceful existence with the rest of humanity until His kingdom comes.
I'm not a Christian but I would much rather live in a world full of Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists etc. who believe this way than what we have had up until this point. More death and destruction has happened under earthly rulers acting falsely "in the name of God" than anything else. Isn't it high time we kick the earthly rulers to the side and let mankind live and interact with each other peacefully and voluntarily without the use of force?
I could not disagree with this statement more. I don't believe humans need violent systems and men in power to maintain order. We see spontaneous order all the time in our day to day lives simply because we have incentive to maintain peace and order. That incentive goes far beyond the fear that men in blue will take me away and throw me into a cage. I want to maintain my quality of life and preserve life itself. This is a natural impulse that causes most people to peacefully interact 99% of the time.
Tirany is always tirany, even when practiced in the name of a god.