Disclaimer

The author of this blog does not advocate hate or unprovoked violence against any group. The purpose of this blog is to provide the very best information regarding philosophy, mindset training, and technique for the Christian Martialist in their broader Biblical, theological and cultural contexts. Nothing posted here should be construed as promoting or excusing hostile speech or acts toward anyone.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Christ's Alternative to Armed Revolt, 3

Continued from "Christ's Alternative to Armed Revolt, 2"


When one sphere like the state collapses, the church is left to fill the gap. She cannot, however, take the place of the state and pick up the sword. Like a Christian wife married to a rebellious husband, the church must bring the civil sphere to obedience by proper activity in its own category. The best description of this role is shadow government. A shadow government is understood as representing the true government, acting and waiting in the shadows for the present system to fall. When it does, the shadow government becomes the ruling government, or appoints another to take proper rule. ((James Jordan, "The Church as a Shadow Government" in The Tactics of Christian Resistance, Christianity & Civilization #3)

The Apostle Peter exhorts Christian wives to influence their unbelieving husbands through example of life (I Peter 3:1). This represents an individual application of Christ's statement that the Church must collectively serve as a city set on a hill.

Most evangelical Christians will accept that much, in theory at least. They balk, however, when we start talking about the covenant community as a shadow government. For them, that's taking it a step too far.

They don't see the Kingdom of God dominating the world in this age as the Parable of the Fig Tree teaches. Nor do they see this dominance coming as the result of an organic operation within and upon society as the parable of the leaven teaches.

Therefore, to suggest that the Church must operate as a shadow government in an alien and hostile environment sounds as a clanging cymbal in their pietistic ears. To them, the totality of the Christian life consists in their personal piety, attending meetings and impressing the first two upon their families.

When the Apostle Paul wrote to believers in the First Century, he assumed his audience knew that the religious foundations of any culture determine its institutional & social structures. In fact, Paul seemed genuinely surprised that Christians in Corinth didn't seem to get that concept when it came to the administration of law and justice.

Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? (1Corinthians 6:1-2)

Roman imperial law had something in common with contemporary American jurisprudence: both reject God's Law and character as the fundamental basis for justice. Since we live in God's world, we need to acknowledge that His nature provides the fount and form of justice. A system derived from any other source will, at its core, be essentially unjust.

Thus, Paul deemed it unthinkable that any believer would look to an inherently unjust system for justice. Instead, he appeals to the Corinthians to set up a shadow court to administer justice in settling differences between believers.

I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. (1Corinthians 6:5-6)

Many evangelicals interpret that passage to mean that one believer should not sue a believing brother. The context makes it plain, however, that Paul does not here utterly proscribe lawsuits, but forbids appealing to an unjust, ungodly court system when the case involves two believers. He encourages, rather, a suit settled by a shadow court on the basis of godly wisdom (i.e., the wisdom of God's Law/Word).

In the instance of jurisprudence, at least, we can see that God's Word plainly lays down a blueprint in which the local church must operate at least one aspect of a shadow government when and if an ungodly system offers the only institutional alternative.

Continued here (Click Link)

4 comments:

  1. Great series, as usual. I'm liking this idea....

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  2. I have to admit the idea is not original with me . . . or with James Jordan . . . or even the Apostle Paul. God gave us the paradigm. Too bad the Church largely rejects it.

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  3. This is indeed true, but "popularization" is also incredibly important, no?

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  4. Incredibly important, yes. We cannot repeat God's truth too often or too emphatically.

    BTW, it's good to have you on board with Christian Warrior Online. I've missed your comments, insights and encouragement. I know how busy your life has been recently, and I appreciate your taking the time to share your input.

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