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2010-09-23 Home Front: Politix

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Posted by Fred 2010-09-23 00:00|| || Front Page|| [1 views ] Top

#1 My blog has been in an informal hiatus as I have pursued research leads in the areas of Christian spiritual renewal. I have met with much success, but only if one disposes of many invalid preconceptions, unwarranted emphases, and unarticulated assumptions. One hobbling concept that I am just beginning to address is that of unlimited submission: leaders in the church teach unquestioning and almost blind submission to themselves on the part of church memebers, and use passages from Romans to teach a similar submission to the governing authority, regardless of the fact that Paul lived under an empire and we under a democratic republic. The result of this one-sided teaching is that we are transforming the government of a democratic republic into Caesar, just as it transforms those who should be shepherds over the flock of God into little Caesars. I have found liberal Christians using these passages to tell conservative Christians not to protest ever rising taxes, now that Obama is president and democrats control congress.

What is either missed, or deliberately ignored, is the concept of "command responsibility", which is the symmetric complement of "submission": in every passage where Paul teaches submission in the family or the workplace given to one side is an equal command to the relevant authority to take due good care of those submitting to them. When anyone in the Old Testament or the New is accused of unbelief, or lack of faith, it is lack of faith in God's Command Responsibility: it is a refusal to believe that God takes seriously His responsibility to take good care of those who submit to Him. Even a cursory review of Old Testament history attests to the displeasure of a God who is insulted when it is covertly implied, or stated openly, that He does not take care of those who obey him.

Here's the kicker: the Declaration of Independence is the first statement of the fact that submission to authority has limits, that those limits are crossed when the authority does not fulfill its command responsibilities, and that submission can be properly terminated under those conditions. It declared that the British Crown had violated those responsibilities, documented persistent violation of those responsibilites, and declared that the obligation to submit to the British Crown was therefore abrogated. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, recognized no such countervailing responsibility and thus opposed the American Revolution, calling on American Methodists to remain loyalists. The call was ignored by a large majority of Methodists.

Similar calls that Christians should submit to a corrupt and oppressive government should be similarly ignored. It was never the intention of God that any man submit to a ruler such as Kim Jong Il who recognizes no obligation whatsoever to those under him, because God is not like Allah, who does not recognize any responsibilities whatsoever to whoever worships him.

This concept is still being hashed out, and this is probably the first public articulation of it, so cut me some slack while I work out the details.

Posted by Ptah 2010-09-23 08:45|| http://www.crusaderwarcollege.org 2010-09-23 08:45|| Front Page Top

#2 Intriguing commentary Ptah, but that's why I always come here. I will leave you with following local address for continued studies on the topic of submission:

100 Raoul Wallenberg Place SW
Washington, DC 20024

Posted by Besoeker 2010-09-23 08:56|| 2010-09-23 08:56|| Front Page Top

#3 ...a nation is her people and not her government.

And the principles upon which it stands.

Posted by JohnQC 2010-09-23 10:28|| 2010-09-23 10:28|| Front Page Top

#4 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!...You blind guides, straining out a gnat while swallowing a camel. Matthew 23

Seems like we are there today with regards to governmental Pharisees.

Posted by JohnQC 2010-09-23 10:37|| 2010-09-23 10:37|| Front Page Top

#5 Ptah, I'll be interested to see your further development on this.

Posted by JohnQC 2010-09-23 10:42|| 2010-09-23 10:42|| Front Page Top

#6 Good stuff there Ptah.

Posted by swksvolFF 2010-09-23 17:26|| 2010-09-23 17:26|| Front Page Top

#7 I'll join in the echo: Very interesting, Ptah.

And, thank you, Fred, for the Warren article ... exactly one of the reasons I read Rantburg.

Posted by ExtremeModerate 2010-09-23 17:49|| 2010-09-23 17:49|| Front Page Top

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