The Civil Magistrate and
Revolution Against Corrupt Government
The Westminster Confession of
Faith expresses fundamental Christian principles from scripture. The
reformed faith was heavily influential on the founders of the United
States.Revolution is lawful when the government serves evil rather than good. John Gershner lectured on the Westminster standards and his
interpretation informs us of the practical consequences of the
opinions of the clergy of the day leading to the revolution.
Recall
that the reformed
church was established in
Britain before being brought
to the American colony, then the
United States. revolted against Britain, and the separation of church
and state developed, so this is an historically substantive topic,
one that follows the Christian logic expressed in the WCF.
Chapter
23-"1. God, the supreme
Lord and King of all the world, hath ordained civil magistrates, to
be, under him, over the people, for his own glory, and the public
good: and, to this end, hath armed them with the power of the sword,
for the defense and encouragement of them that are good, and for the
punishment of evildoers. "
This
is the fundamental Christian philosophy of the state.
Government
has the power
of the sword
and that is to
be used for the encouragement
of those that are good and the punishment of evil doers.
Government is a tool of God and is to bring glory to God. A true
government must not bring dishonor with sin unto God if it is to
stand.
John
Witherspoon and other signers
of the declaration reasoned
that a government was for good and not evil, and that the British
government wasn't doing good
to the colonies through a number of evil means,
and wasn't a true government and didn't have the right to exercise
that magisterial government
over the colonie.
s
Until
1790 the clergy -the reformed clergy especial-was an advocate for
social change and reform to
scriptural principles and therefor supported
the rebellion against evil
foreign government that was Britain. The
British government was not appointed by God or had advocate
that appointment
and was no
more a lawful government that
ought to be doing good to the
people of the colonies for
the glory of God. Anglican
clergy were about the only ones that supported continued British
Imperial Government.
Today
the United States government has taken anti-Christian position such
as homosexual marriage and abortion and made them official policy of
the state bring dishonor instead of glory to God. Often in history
that sort of thing does not work out well for the government.
"2. It is lawful for
Christians to accept and execute the office of a magistrate, when
called thereunto: in the managing whereof, as they ought especially
to maintain piety, justice, and peace, according to the wholesome
laws of each commonwealth; so, for that end, they may lawfully, now
under the new testament, wage war, upon just and necessary occasion.
"
This
does not mean jihad or expansionism. it means that people any place
have a civilian right to just government with a good magistracy
bringing glory to God and good to the people in conformance to scripture.
Government may defend the people against evil foreign and domestic.
Generally one
would expect the government to be a representative government, yet
for a time it is possible that a non-representative,
custodial government would be effective.
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