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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: Ed Miles 
Date: Wed, 07 May 1997 14:09:16 -0500

Richard Bacon wrote:
[snip]
> 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?

Is it possible that, through a general spirit of all-embracing ecumenism
and unwillingness to publicly and vehemently denounce heresy and false
teaching when it occurs, the non-Christian or marginally Christian magi-
strate no longer has a clear, viable definition of the church from which
to be able to discern who he is to defend?  Without a coherent demarca-
tion separating the church from her imitators, and so much evil having
been perpetrated in the name of God, ample opportunity has been given to 
the God-haters to blaspheme that holy Name.  And, with the model of the 
true church blurred by false images, an alarmed community of infidels
has
concurred with secular government to effect more totalitarian restric-
tions against the "radical Christian right."  If we're looking for a
place 
to lay the blame for the plight of the church in our intensely secular 
(in the sense that they emphatically deny Christ's lordship) society, 
we must be very careful not to trip over it.  In other words, 
because of a pietistic, pseudo-philanthropic failure to man the walls in 
an overwhelming defense of the faith once for all delivered unto the 
saints, let alone to mount an attack against the gates of hell, might we 
be guilty of placing a stumbling block in the path of our own progress?

In the sage words of that marsupial philosopher, Pogo, "We have met the 
enemy, and he is us."

[snip]
> Should we understand Isaiah 49:23 as referring to this present time, or
> is it relegated to the time of Cyrus? 

Read the last line of Is. 49:23.  Are we waiting on the Lord, hoping for
Him?  Or are we so caught up in wanting to have kings lick the dust of
our feet that we're trying to force the issue, thereby hoping in our-
selves and our use of carnal weapons to fight spiritual warfare?
  
> What of Isaiah 52:13-15 -- 

A reference to the broadening scope of the new covenant.  The gentile
nations, to whom the promises had not been made, the oracles not given,
who were not looking for the coming Messiah, were now given the gospel.
We who had been far off were made nigh by the blood of Christ.

>  In what sense are kings required to "kiss the son?"

They have a moral responsibility to be "nursing" parents to their sub-
jects, and to embrace Christ and His Law.  They will be called to 
account for this responsibility.  Few will hear, "Well done, thou good
and faithful servant."  But, I fear that we must bear some of the re-
sponisiblity for their failure because we have forced upon them a
nebulous view of Christ's Word and Church. 

[snip]
> 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.

Drive through the church parking lots in your city on any given Sunday 
morning taking note of the various bumper stickers which address the
sub-
ject of Bill and Hillary.  What percentage of them enjoin us to pray for
their salvation and rapidly progressing sanctification vs. the
percentage 
that demand impeachment or render derogation in a variety of forms? 
Once 
again, the failure rests squarely upon us, and only residually upon the 
realm.

Respectfully,
ed