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Discussion of George Gillespie's Wholesome Severity Reconciled with Christian Liberty
Re: WF: Deut.13:6-9 
Subject: Re: WF: Deut.13:6-9
From: Richard Bacon 
Date: Wed, 07 May 1997 09:07:25 -0500

At 07:29 PM 5/6/97 -0400, Jonny Keen wrote:

>The New
>Testament does not subject the Christian Church to the authority of the
State that it
>should be governed and extended by political measures, but to our Lord and
King only
>as an independent territory alongside and altogether independent of the
State, that it=20
>may be governed and edified by its office-bearers and with spiritual
weapons only.

Does Gillespie's use of Deuteronomy 13:6-9 imply Erastianism?  IOW, is
there anything in GG's use of Dt. 13 that indicates that the church
as the church is to be "governed and extended by political measures?"  Or
is this simply a modern point of view of the editor or publisher of the
Belgic Confession footnoting his way into an historic document?  Do we=
 really
understand what GG is saying at this point?  Or are we attempting to
interpret GG and the reformers in light of the modern American zeitgeist?=20

I ask once again, where is the *Scripture* testimony that the magistrate
cannot or should not enforce God's commandments?

Note for example, that Romans 13:4-6 refers to the magistrate as the=
 minister
of God for good and as "a revenger of wrath upon him that doeth evil."  Is
worshiping a false god and teaching others to do so not evil in Paul's
estimation?

1 Timothy 2:2 indicates that we are to pray for kings and for all in
authority -- so that we may live not only quiet and peaceful lives, but
also to do so in all godliness and honesty.  In order for that to take
place, must there be a standard of what godliness and honesty is -- and
is the magistrate required by God's justice to protect godliness?

What of Ephesians 1:20-22, in which we are told that Christ is over
all principality, power, might and dominion, in both *this world* and
the next, thus the head over all things *to the church?*  How should we
understand his headship over principalities and powers *to the church*
if the magistrate is to take no care regarding his will for his church?

Should we understand Isaiah 49:23 as referring to this present time, or
is it relegated to the time of Cyrus?  What of Isaiah 52:13-15 -- in=20
what sense are future kings (i.e. future to Isaiah) going to shut their
mouths at Messiah?  In what sense are kings required to "kiss the son?"

Here is Calvin:

BOOK IV  CHAPTER 20  SECTION 5
AGAINST THE DENIAL OF MAGISTRACY

Those who are desirous to introduce anarchy object that, though anciently
kings and judges presided over a rude people, yet that, in the present day
that servile mode of governing does not at all accord with the perfection
which Christ brought with his gospel. Herein they betray not only their
ignorance, but their devilish pride, arrogating to themselves a perfection
of which not even a hundredth part is seen in them. But be they what they
may, the refutation is easy. For when David says, "Be wise now therefore O
you kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth," "kiss the son, lest he
be angry" (Psalm 2:10, 12,) he does not order them to lay aside their
authority and return to private life, but to make the power with which they
are invested subject to Christ, that he may rule over all. In like manner,
when Isaiah predicts of the Church, "Kings shall be thy nursing-fathers,
and their queens and nursing- mothers," (Isaiah 49:23,) he does not bid
them abdicate their authority; he rather gives them the honorable
appellation of patrons of the pious worshipers of God; for the prophecy
refers to the advent of Christ. I intentionally omit very many passages
which occur throughout Scripture, and especially in the Psalms, in which
the due authority of all rulers is asserted. The most celebrated passage of
all is that in which Paul admonishing Timothy, that prayers are to be
offered up in the public assembly for kings, subjoins the reason, "that we
may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty," (1 Tim.
2:2.) In these words, he recommends the condition of the Church to their
protection and guardianship.

Hypertext=A9 Blue Banner Ministries.  Used by Permission


Dick Bacon
Poster of the text and keeper of the order.