Dear Reader,

I write this tract to encourage you to have faith in Jesus and endure hardship of all kinds for the sake of the Name. I encourage you to pull yourselves away from the base thinking of this wicked world.

It is no secret that your government and your culture do not speak the truth to you, but lie and deceive to control you. Yet the One who is Truth and Light has already told you in His Word everything you need for godly living. Some of you believe you live in a nation untouched by tyrannical power, corruption or slavery. Yet many today would deceivingly enchain you in body, soul and mind for their own gain. You do not live in a world maintained by either liberty or the crowning achievements of man. Instead you live in a deception that would turn every free man into a mindless brute, subject only to the whims of the State's passions and prejudices.

Why must I write to you, who call upon the Messiah, to convince you to adopt a particular, political concept? Don't each of you have the freedom to follow your own philosophy or political opinion? Well you might have this freedom - at least for now. The day will come, as it has often in history, when tyrants will outlaw religions and seek to control your thoughts and confessions of faith. Yet, if you claim to take up the cross to follow the Master, you have given up your right to choose your philosophical outlook or to wander away from the biblical worldview.

When it comes to self-government, Christians must strive to be one in heart and mind on how to deal with our neighbors, our enemies, our skeptics and our friends. Our politics must not be the virulent darts of warfare, ready to destroy those who disagree with materialistic notions of personal utopia, forced equality or apocalyptic heaven-on-earth. Rather, it is the duty of each believer, let alone their privilege, to proclaim the freedom and the individuality of our fellow man. And so the good news of the Savior should neither be promoted nor prohibited at the point of a rifle, but disseminated throughout the earth with self-sacrifice, love and obedience taught by the Master.

The truth is that powerful politicians and religious leaders have lied to you. While Bushes and Clintons carry Bibles into churches, the legislatures and pulpits devour the houses of widows and orphans and hard working families. Charlatans claim to right the wrongs of past generations, while burdening you with the greed and power of all-pervasive government replete with more police powers and nanny rules and less freedom for you or your children.. Such government demands more and more of your taxes while demanding your worshipful allegiance in defiance of Scripture. Friends, these things ought not to be! These leaders have silenced most churches, who now obey man rather than God for the sake of the almighty dollar. Most churches allow politicians to control the pulpits rather than keeping the Bible as their only rule of faith.

I urge you to read the following with great soberness and self-honesty. My prayer for you, dear reader, is that you would have and keep no other King but Jesus!

Because Messiah died and rose again for sinners, a humbled brother.
 

INTRODUCTION

What is Liberty? Liberty is the natural right of an individual to live as they please, as long as they do not violate another's rights.

What is a Christian? A Christian is an individual who believes in the good news of Jesus' salvation, has repented from sin and lives in obedience to the Master through meekness, self-sacrifice and love.

Only some friends of Liberty are Christian. But all Christians must embrace Liberty.

“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”  Galatians 5:13-14

How can it be that a Christian can believe, let alone promote, the idea of Liberty -that all people have the right to worship and live as they see fit? Isn't the Bible full of explicit commands such as, all people must believe in God, no one one may sinfully covet, and homosexuality is sin? The Bible does give these specific commands. But on this side of eternity, we must uphold these commands as the biblical rule of Christian assemblies, not the police power of government over believers and unbelievers alike. Unfortunately, many modern theologians and pastors have jumped ship from the ark of bibilical orthodoxy and plunged into the frigid waters of hypocrisy, legalism and power. They too often twist God's Word to force their own political opinions and vain attempts to gain power on believers, as well as unbelievers.

“But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”  Romans 14:10-12

What does the Bible say about this sort of teaching? Are we to pass laws forcing others to behave like Christians because we ourselves are too cowardly and hypocritical to imitate Jesus in our own lives and truly love our unbelieving neighbors?

“But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.  For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?  But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person!”  1 Corinthians 5:11-13 [Emphasis mine]

The Bible is clear that the new covenant of the Messiah's blood does not allow us to take up sword or legislation to force conversions or Christ-like behavior. Unlike Charlemagne who forced converts to Christ through fire and sword, Christians must shun the ways of the world when it comes to our evangelism. We win others for Jesus through our bold proclamation of the good news and the faithful obedience of our lives.

“Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.  And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.”  Romans 13:10-12

The philosopher, Augustine of Hippo, was one of the first in the early church to demand the use of the State's police power. He advocated the physical submission of heretics who would not believe as he did. It was Augustine's recklessness that served as theological fuel and impetus for the subsequent Dark Ages branded with inquisitions, crusades, religious tyranny, holocausts and profuse bloodshed. These are truly not the ways of Jesus! Such ways are the murderous traits of the Enemy who would take the good news and turn it into a religion of hate and power. It has been wisely said before that when religion and government are mixed, Satan enters both.

"Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him. And look! One of those who were with Jesus reached and unsheathed his sword, and struck the high priest's slave, cutting off his ear! Then Jesus said to him, 'Put your sword back into its place, because all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword!' " Matthew 26:50-52

Are we to pass laws forcing others to make charitable contributions through heavy taxation because we are too lazy to donate to the poor and must force others instead?

“And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision”  Galatians 2:9-10 [Emphasis mine.]

The Bible consistently prohibits believers from engaging in theft. A person's property is their own in the eyes of God. No one can take that property by force or fraud, because it is a direct offense to the Creator. The Bible even condemns the attitude of that wrongfully desires someone else's property. This rule of biblical law clearly forbids Christians to steal things for themselves and arguably forbids them to pass laws giving politicians the power to steal from others.

“Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?  Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?  Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?  For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.”  Romans 2:21-24 [Emphasis mine.]

The question of theft is the heart and matter of taxation. Legitimate taxation is the tax Christians should voluntarily pay in a social compact for the necessary things agreed to be kept in common with all. When you mix this taxation with the false government notion that revenue can be collected from society against the will of even one taxpayer or to only benefit a particular group, we find the source of unjust enrichment and the evil that people fall prey to. From these corrupt roots, power takes over the minds of our leaders and they no longer remain our peers in office! Instead they turn into politicians and princes who rule over us. It is an affront to God for Christians to promote such tax-based spending because of their own pursuits and dreams. Surely it amounts to nothing less than thievery.

"But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." 1 Timothy 5:8

Although the Scriptures require us to pay our taxes and give honor to whom honor is due (so long as it does not compromise our faith), we must discern the taxation that Scripture requires us to pay. Taxpaying can be a means for Christians to be a blessing to undeserving, hostile governments, such as the wicked Roman Empire. But there are times when even Christians should consider if their voluntary paying of unjust or illegal taxes betrays or offends our very conscience. Christians and other Liberty-minded people can come together and mutually form a government to secure the blessings of Freedom and greatly diminish or altogether eradicate forced taxation. Impossible, you might say - but not if a social compact is truly based on principles of individual rights, voluntary contributions and self-reliance. These are the ingredients of true community - once known as self-government.

Socialism forces us to pay for politicians' special interests, which destroy community and causes government-dependence. Some might say that what I am proposing is anarchy. This is an unfair term because I do not believe in chaos, but rather the voluntary organizing of self-government that protects our rights and our families. Tyrants always despise the true freedom of the people that God permitted them to protect - people like parents who want to raise children as they want, people marrying whom they wish, skeptics believing what they want and poor folks keeping the little they earn.

"Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.  Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.”  Romans 13:7,8

This tract will strive to dispel the modern myths that penetrate the Christian Culture and tempt millions into apathetic slumber. We must not keep any sacred cows honored among the brothers, for the idols of Big government have invaded our consciences and infected our children with the ideas of State-worship and false godliness. Because of this, it is imperative that we understand the context of why the good news of Jesus must remain free and unregulated! We must remain true to the Scriptural teaching of government and deny the claims of false men who would twist the truth to their own advantage and gain. Christians must worship Jesus the Messiah as the only King, not the government and its leaders, who sacrifice our lives and our children on the pagan altars of modernism, materialism and war!

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour.  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”  1 Timothy 2:1-4


 

I. You Will Not Steal: The Liberal Philosophy

Many Christians today wrongly believe that it is the responsibility of government rather than the Church to clothe the naked, feed the poor or lend a helping hand. We have so disobeyed our biblical mandate to reach others for Christ that we resort to passing all kinds of abominable legislation taxing the life out of our hard working neighbors. Such is the deception and the danger of mainstream liberalism. Many Christians believe the promise that a government can tax its way into prosperity, free health care, anti-poverty utopia and crime-free neighborhoods. But this is all a lie. For who would pay for such a nefarious scheme bent on making a demigod of the State and reducing the population to serfdom? Can the followers of Christ allow, let alone actively champion, such a cause for those obsessed with riches and power? The answer should be no.

“Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.  Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.”  James 5:4,5

Liberalism leads to Big Government and promotes the idea that government is inherently wiser than parents, teachers, pastors and even the Scriptures. Although there will always be unbelievers in the world who challenge our faith, there will come times when evil men will arm themselves with the powers of lawmaking and enforcing that law. In such times, Christians cannot voluntarily obey men rather than God, and they must not be tainted with participating in such wicked deeds. But is it any different now just because Christians are not being openly persecuted? Should Christians support and cheer liberalism when it is philosophically committed to passing laws that violate our consciences and are enforced by the police powers of the State?

You might wonder how in good conscience I could characterize Liberalism as the philosophy of theft. After all, many liberal activists in this country support racial equality in the eyes of the law. Some also denounce America's military interventions around the globe and the international coups engineered by our intelligence services. Others decry the loss of civil liberties when enforcement agencies like the Justice Department wish to spy upon the private lives of law-abiding Americans. Many loathe the monopolies of greedy corporations which bribe politicians in the name of capitalism. In all these things a number of them do right in supporting individual liberties against the ever-growing tentacles of government. However, in regards to other issues, Christians must separate themselves from the socialism of liberals. Although liberals may denounce politicians for certain abuses, they nonetheless make a god out of government in other areas.

Liberalism is a philosophy of theft because it deprives the individual from their rights by creating a government system that loots our wallets and controls our actions. When the Nanny State controls the education of our children, the retirement of our elderly relatives, the workplace, the home, the playground and the church, we find there is no aspect of human existence that is not regulated, controlled or taxed by the all-pervasive Eye of government. While some Liberals cautiously look out for Big Brother to steal their freedom, they unwittingly set up Big Nanny to control our finances, our families, our breadwinning and our religion. Friends, these things ought not to be.

There are numerous examples of how Christians have unjustifiably trusted the government rather than God. For example, the raising of our children is a sacred duty. Therefore no Christian should rightly beg or demand that any level of government manage or pay for the education of their children. Every laborer is worthy of their wages. Therefore, it is an abomination that Christians openly rejoice when the government robs men blind of their earnings with no end to the insatiable lust of politicians. The providing of healthcare and other physical needs is the responsibility of parents and grown children. For Christians to cheer on Social Security, which is funded by involuntarily robbing our helpless, younger neighbors, is both a scandal and an offense to justice. These are surely not the functions of government that Christians should endorse.

No King but Jesus means that a Christian must not put a trust in government that only belongs to their Master, even if Congress passes such laws into effect!


 

II. Let God Judge Them: The Conservative Philosophy

Many Christians will be shocked when they discover that most conservatives behave like big-government minded liberals, except they want Christians to think otherwise. Conservatives talk the talk of Liberty and yet do more harm than liberals do to its cause. Helpless Christians often feel resigned to elect conservatives to office on the state or national level. Yet when those conservatives win the majority from liberals, these charlatans wreck havoc on our personal freedom, our churches and our wallets. These are the same politicians who use God's Name to win votes and claim to support smaller, more responsible government. Only God will be the true keeper and judge of their campaign promises. He will reward each conservative politician a hundred times over for the misleading promises they propagate to win power, money and control for themselves and their friends in high places.

I earlier described Liberals as supporting a wholesale philosophy of theft, and yet I spare them much wrath for they are at least honest about their erroneous and misguided principles. But conservative politicians use God's Word and claim to be both emissaries of Christ and the stalwarts of family values, while growing the power and control of government faster than the liberals. They deserve the sharpest of criticisms and in particular cases, outright denunciation.

The same politicos who claim that America is a Christian nation topple over one another to falsely instigate wars around the globe in order to spread American military might by force. They claim to support family values by passing laws to persecute homosexual unbelievers while hypocritically giving government God's power to regulate marriages. These who claim that our government is one of law and not of capricious men, pass ungodly laws to regulate: the churches, the private consumption of drugs, the over-filling of our jails with innocents in violation of justice, the spending of our tax dollars with no caution or restraint, and the idolatrous worship of government as our temporary Savior. And conservatives are better than liberals?

“And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.” 1 Samuel 8:7

Christians are required to present our message of true hope and salvation in Jesus Christ not by the sword but by the non-coercive life of mercy and humility. If we claim to know Him and desire to bring His message to the ends of the earth, it is the Gospel alone that must melt the sinner's heart and persuade the lost to repentance. It is an abomination to God when modern-day Christians are so lazy and complacent that they solicit politicians to secure a sanitized culture by passing laws that punish non-Christian behavior.

This is inconsistent with the life of service that our own Master led when He freely dined with the prostitutes and tax collectors. Jesus always condemned sin and hypocrisy whether it was from the thief or the temple priest. God looks on the inside of the heart while man only looks at the outside. Yet, since Christians are not God and are not omniscient as He is, we must share our message of life to all who are willing to hear us; regardless of tattoos, divorce experiences, sexual orientation, skin color or music interests. Cookie-cutter Christianity has not only undermined the church but it has also uprooted our political integrity by leaving us with garbage electoral choices.

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”  James 1:22-25

The message of discipleship in the Scriptures is that Christians must make godly living their own personal responsibility and not that of other Christians or unbelievers. Having a local adult video store in the area, or the fact that prostitutes exist somewhere in the world, is not a valid excuse to stop obeying Christ as we ought to. It is instead an opportunity for mercy and grace in reaching those who are lost and are under the power of the prince of this world. No legislation, regulation, ordinance or statute can bind the power of Satan from blinding men and women and leading them to the broad gate of destruction. When Christianity is adulterated with politics, Satan always enters both! But the Son of Man has already come and bound the strong man with the chains of the glorious gospel, setting captives free through the victory at the cross! Even our meek and humble Savior did not defeat the dark prince through hosts and legions of angels ready at his command! Instead he lovingly and obediently was led to a cruel cross for sinners like you and me!

“Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.  Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.  And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”  John 12:30-32

Christians must let God judge those unbelievers who are outside of the Church. It is our Scriptural duty, however, to judge those who claim to be followers of Christ and yet blaspheme the name of God among Gentiles. Conservative politicians should be at the top of this list. Next should be the pastors across the land who have watered down the gospel for the sake of church growth and higher church revenues. The gospel is offensive enough to unbelievers who think that they do not need Christ and can earn salvation on their own merits. Why then should Christians make the gospel unnecessarily offensive by behaving hypocritically and trying to force the gospel on others? Christians should have no part with conservative politicians who promise spiritual utopia by punishing the immoral, the homosexual, the adulterous, the agnostic, the dissident or the outspoken enemy of Christianity. These promises are false and empty, as well as utterly enticing to those Christians who prefer the government to do the work of the Church.

“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”  2 Corinthians 5:20,21

Christians are to be light to the world in obedience to the one true Light who came to shine hope in the darkness of men's utter misery. Christians should not be fawning over the wicked government of modern Israel, but they should be the city on the hill - the true Israel, the people saved by Messiah Jesus! It is not the Church who needs the government, but the government who needs the Church - to pray for it and keep it in check in all accountability and justice so that the gospel may be free and Christians take no part in its bloodshed and tyranny. When government goes to war, it must be Christians who shout the loudest to demand evidence and explanation for state-sponsored violence. When government abuses our liberties and places our children in bondage, it must be Christians who question those actions and establish the moral high ground for liberty and truth. When government taxes us to death, regulates every aspect of our lives and then bribes the churches into becoming non-profit corporations, it must be Christians who fall on their knees to their Master for the courage and strength to oppose the idols of our day!

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour.”  1 Timothy 2:1-3

No King but Jesus means Christ is our only head and true source of security and contentment and we eagerly wait for His return to bring justice upon the earth.


 

III. Romans 13 : Legitimate Government is of God

When government is run, controlled and monopolized by liberals and conservatives, what should be our biblical view of government? It is crucial to address one of the most misunderstood passages in Scripture related to the basis of government and politics. The 13th chapter of Romans has often been used to justify the actions of governments throughout the centuries characterized by atrocity or utter folly. Christians have too often been guilt-ridden into accepting the government's decrees because to do so would be to oppose God Himself - or so they argue. Romans 13 has been cited, explained and re-hashed to somehow baptize and legitimize the bloody deeds of evil men who usurp thrones and presidencies to blind their people. This pamphlet disputes that a proper reading of Romans 13 forces Christians to accept the government of a Hitler, a Mao, a Stalin or a Lincoln. Romans 13 is not a blank check for dictators and charlatans to cloak themselves in the name of God. It is the explanation of divine origin for legitimate government and it is the standard by which the corrupt political systems of today must be tried and prosecuted under.

“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.  Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.”  Romans 13: 1-2

God clearly allowed fallen men to institute for themselves some ways or means to form groups of equal protection and defense. These groups were often made along ethnic or language-based lines out of convenience and familiarity. There is no doubt that this was God's grace to wicked people in different areas so that they would not forever destroy each other and live in utter poverty and starvation. But the same God who is just and right demands justice and rightful behavior from those governments. God ordains governments by allowing men the opportunity to oversee one another so that their freedom, their property and their safety will not be compromised. The German nation had a legitimate ruler until Chancellor Adolf Hitler, through intrigue, intimidation and terrorism, usurped power in violation of the people's consent. Surely the Jews and the Christians murdered under Hitler had little consent to his ruthless rise to power. Can it be said that God established Hitler, so that all Christians were required to fall down and worship the Fuhrer? Did God not despise bloody usurpers and despots like Pharaoh, Korah, Absalom, Nebuchadnezzar or Antiochus Epiphanes? Consider the description applicable both to Antiochus and the foreshadowing of the Anti-Christ:

"And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries." Daniel 11:21

It is folly then to assume that because Paul in Romans 13 explains the divine origin of government that Christians must simply accept any abuse or misuse of such a collective authority as the approved works of God. If this were true, then the entire book of Judges stands in contradiction to Romans 13, where time and again God raised a violent deliverer to revolt and throw out the conquering government enslaving the Israelites. If this were true, then righteous king Joash had no right overthrowing the wicked government "ordained" by God. If this were true, then the Lord Jesus should not have celebrated the Festival of Lights based on the Hanukkah story of Jews violently throwing off the chains of their Greek conquerors. If this were true, then every Christian must petition that we revert ourselves back to British colonies, since Christian pastors and congregations took up arms en masse to challenge the divine authority of King George and paid dearly with their lives. If there is a government that rightly protects its people then the authority is legitimate. But if the government oppresses, controls, manipulates and fleeces its people, then Christians cannot be considered bound to obey it. Even for conscience's sake, there comes a time when Christians may need to rise up in arms to protect their neighbors and their families. Romans 13 is the origin and description of legitimate government not just any government.

"For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:  For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil." Romans 13:3-4

We previously defined Liberty as the natural right of an individual to live as they please, as long as they do not violate another's rights. What rights then does any government naturally have? The answer may shock most Christians. A government has no natural rights at all! The founders of the American republic understood quite well that the entire legitimacy of the government comes from the consent of the people. This was widely believed by Christian and non-Christian patriots who threw off the chains of British tyranny. God created people and God ordained government established through the consent of those people. A government is a collective approval by the people of a necessary agreement to protect them as a whole from violent enemies without and violent agitators within, e.g. rapists, murderers, thieves. Criminals, however, do not always mean these violent agitators. A government can unjustly label someone a criminal simply because politicians target new enemies or victims. Throughout history, Christians, patriots, intellectuals, scientists, and even the handicapped have suffered the brutal hand of governments who effectively punished them as criminals. Take Nathan Hale for example. We revere him today as a moral and upstanding patriot who gave but one life for his country. Yet the British government considered a man like him as a rebel, an anarchist, a blasphemer, a traitor, an ingrate and above all a criminal.

"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.  If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." Daniel 3:16-18

Even though Christians have the duty of conscience to obey legitimate government and the freedom to disobey illegitimate government, it does not mean that Christians can loot, kill and destroy as they please. We are bound by a higher law of morality and ethics that very few politicians could even begin to understand. If we obey the laws it is because we honor Christ. If we disobey the law it must be for the same reason. Friends, fear not what man can do to hurt you, even our own Master resisted the decrees and orders of earthly rulers who called upon him to disobey God. Rather, guard your consciences and give honor when it is due but never forget your first honor and your first love to Christ Jesus our only God and Savior.

“Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.”  Romans 13:5

The conscience of a Christian demands that everything we do be based on a heart that honors Christ. Therefore, it is just as important to obey our conscience grounded on the Word of God when we listen to the authorities, as when we must disobey them. The American churches are no longer allowed to preach that Christians should disobey the government when conscience calls it. They are not even allowed to endorse a certain political candidate or party because Christian pastors have bended the knee to the IRS and traded the inheritance of God for the love of money. If we take the fifth verse of this chapter seriously then we must ask where our consciences are when our churches have fallen asleep, lulled by the corporate greed of the Christian culture and the soothing reassurances of career politicians. Recently, when misguided Christians asked for Congress' permission to amend USC Title 26, known as the IRS code, and restore more freedom to the pulpits while staying on the government dole, they were quickly and pathetically slapped down! Friends, how far can we stray from Christ and not risk He is who Alpha and Omega from removing our lampstands because we forsaken our first love for the worthless love of this world?!

“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.  Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”  Revelation 2:4,5

Romans 13 is a passage of Scripture that lays down the duty of Christians to obey the legitimate government established by God and warns them that they have much to fear from God when they cause evil in society. Yet chapter 13 does nothing to bind Christians to those illegitimate and abominable governments who would use God to their own ends and spill the blood of innocents in the process. When Christian men, like Dietrich Bonhoeffer who rose in opposition to Hitler, rise in defense of their countrymen, it must be conscience who rules the day and not the wicked acts of rulers who will one day face the Great Judge and receive their just punishment as the true criminals.

No King but Jesus means that although we honor legitimate governments in our lifetime our true rulers must be our consciences anchored by God's Word, whether it be in times of peace or in times of revolution.


 

IV. Big Government and the Good News

The freedom of the gospel of Jesus is the greatest political aim of Christians. If the gospel should come under persecution, there is no doubt that the Spirit of God would mightily water the fields of faith with the blood of martyrs. Yet, Christians should not hastily pray for persecution but rather pray for peace everywhere. They should pray for our dear brothers and sisters around the world - especially for those who tonight will spend their night in a lonely prison cell, in a torture chamber, under the knife of an attacker or watching their houses burned down. God will surely avenge them all and will soon come to restore His justice upon the earth with the glorious return of His Son. But when Christians have an opportunity to speak out about our rights and freedoms on behalf of ourselves and our neighbors, we must strive to keep the gospel free by allowing individuals to believe what their conscience dictates. Without the freedom of religion, the gospel is either abominably forced upon others or it itself becomes the target of violent hatred and opposition.

“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.”  Philippians 1:27, 28

Big government always wants to become bigger. Big government supported by liberals and conservatives will eventually diminish the freedom of religion. This in turn will adversely affect the freedom of the gospel, regardless of who's elected to office. Christians must loudly and consistently restrain from allowing the gospel to be compromised by the flattering promises of politicians or the manipulative deceptions of Christian leaders, or vice-versa. What makes us Christians is not what defines us as far as our positions on issues but what choices we make when we claim to live for Christ and yet deny him by our worldly addiction to power, money and glory. If we feed the monster of Big government we are only fueling the fires that tyrants and despots rise out of. We must be Christian people - but we must also be thinking people! Christ never asked us to check our brains at the door of salvation; let alone our consciences. Therefore, if our desire is for the message of hope to go throughout the whole earth, we must be willing to be consistent with the freedom of the gospel in our own backyards.

No King but Jesus means that Big government is inconsistent with the worldview in which Christians love their enemies, pray for peace, spread the gospel by love instead of force, and lay their lives down for their friends.

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”  Ephesians 5:15-17

Conclusion

Every year, thousands of political offices are filled by men and women in whom we place our greatest confidence and trust. For many Christians, the line between honor and idolatry is blurred by those who seek political expediency above the Word of God -our true source of manna and sustenance. If the churches are to repent and turn back to the Scriptures as their only bedrock of faith, and not the priests of our day (the pastors, televangelists or the deacon boards), we must all seriously ask ourselves: do we truly have no King but Jesus? Even if your nation boasts a monarch sitting on the throne, he or she is but a mere human being robed in majesty only for the benefit of your countrymen, not for the sake of their own glory. There is but One Majesty worthy of our attention, our worship, our honor and our lives. It is Christ Jesus, who was once the humble servant come to earth for our sakes and yet now sits in glory and will one day return to judge the world in righteousness!

Judgment must surely begin in the house of the Lord, so I pose to my readers the question for you to think and pray about. Do you have no King but Jesus? Or has your pastor, your youth group leader, your Congressman or your President taken the role that no man deserves? Have you traded the glorious truth and depending on God in exchange for making a god out of government for your needs and desires? Have you sought the ways of men to create a Christian nation instead of relying on the power of God through the preaching of the gospel? Have you lived in the fear of government and men instead of living according to your conscience and the Word of God? Christians must embrace Liberty and tear themselves away from the vain enticements of liberals and conservatives and fear no King but Jesus!

My hope and joy for you, dear Christian, is that you would seek again the hand of the Master, who saved even someone as worthless as me, and is transforming us into the image of His Son! Fear God and love Him, for in spite of what you deserve and what His holiness demands, all heaven stood silent in awesome anticipation when the Son of Life died and rose again for you!

Your fellow servant and humbled brother in Messiah,
Onesimus