|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 5, 2023 8:34:26 GMT -5
Who’s side are you on in this CN debate?
Here is one of the better attempts I have come across, I repeat it here.
THIS IS A DRAFT VERSION
PLEASE SEND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGES BELOW OR THROUGH DM TO @cngstatement on Twitter
Draft 1 was released on May 1, 2023. Version 2 was released on May 23, 2023.
The final version will take shape in mid-July at the Council on Christian Nationalism
with a single-day conference to follow.
Authors: James Silberman, Dusty Deevers.
Contributing Editors: William Wolfe, Joel Webbon, Jeff Wright, Cory Anderson.
DEFINITION
CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM is a set of governing principles rooted in Scripture’s teaching that Christ rules as supreme Lord and King of all creation, who has ordained civil magistrates with delegated authority to be under Him, over the people, to order their ordained jurisdiction by punishing evil and promoting good for His own glory and the common good of the nation (Isaiah 9:6-7; John 1:1-3; 3:35; 17:2; Ephesians 1:20-21; Philippians 2:9-11; Colossians 1:15-18; Romans 13:1-4; 1 Peter 2:14; Deuteronomy 6:5, Matthew 22:37-39).
INTRODUCTION
Christian Nationalism is primarily concerned with the righteous rule of civil authorities, not spiritual matters pertaining to salvation. The desire for a Christian nation is not a distraction from the Gospel but rather an effort to faithfully apply all of Scripture to all of life, including the public square. As such, Christian Nationalism is not just for civil authorities, just as submitting to Christ’s Lordship is not just for civil authorities but for all people. After the Lord Jesus declared His sovereign authority (Matthew 28:18), He gave the Great Commission and commanded His followers, empowered by His everlasting presence, to make disciples of “all nations” and to baptize them and “teach them to obey all that I have commanded” (Matthew 28:19-20). Our Lord did not exclude all civil authorities from the command to submit to His authority and display allegiance to Him.
We recognize the existence of other definitions of Christian Nationalism. We certainly do not endorse every iteration of Christian Nationalism and explicitly repudiate some such forms, as will be evident in our affirmations and denials.
You may sign this document and delineate if you affirm civil authorities legislating both tables of the law or only the second table after the article.
We are honored to receive signatures now if you affirm the statement as it stands. We do not accept anonymous signatures. In July, we will host an editorial summit to discuss any necessary amendments, followed the next day by a conference (details forthcoming).
We affirm and deny the following propositions:
AFFIRMATIONS AND DENIALS
Article I: The Source of Truth
WE AFFIRM that the Bible is God’s Word, breathed out by Him as the only sufficient, certain, inerrant, infallible, necessary, and final authority for all saving knowledge, faith (what we must believe), and obedience (how we must live). We affirm that the light of nature in man and God’s works in creation and providence reveal God’s power and nature, leaving civil authorities without excuse for failing to govern justly as His servants, yet this knowledge is insufficient for repentance unto life in salvation. All truth claims and ethical standards must be tested by God’s final Word, which is Scripture alone. We affirm that the Bible is clear in all essential matters.
WE DENY that true beliefs, good character, or good conduct can be dictated by any authority other than God’s revelation.
Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Psalm 19:7-10; Isaiah 8:20; Romans 1:18-21; 2:14-15; Hebrews 4:12; 13:4; 2 Peter 1:19-21.
Article II: Orthodox Christian Faith
WE AFFIRM that nations are commanded to honor God by officially affirming the orthodox Christian faith as historically and universally defined and affirmed in the creeds (e.g., Apostle’s Creed, Nicene Creed, Athanasian Creed). We affirm that many denominational confessions articulate the orthodox Christian faith. We affirm that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, revealed in Scripture alone, to the glory of God alone.
WE DENY that a Christian nation must require or preclude membership in any particular confessional tradition or denomination.
Scripture: Acts 20:27; 1 Corinthians 15:1-5; 1 Timothy 3:2, 9; 4:1, 6; 5:8; 6:3, 10, 21; Titus 2:1; Jude 3.
Article III: The Standard of Justice
WE AFFIRM that God’s Word is authoritative on everything to which it speaks, and we affirm that God’s Word speaks abundantly regarding the nature and importance of civil government and justice. We affirm that God's moral law is enduring and binding on all people throughout all time, including civil authorities and nations, and that it is summarily comprehended in the Ten Commandments. We further affirm that every political thought must be taken captive to the obedience of Christ. We affirm that Christ will judge every civil authority according to their conformity to His command.
WE DENY that there is any objective standard by which to discern justice from injustice outside of God’s revelation, written on the heart and most perfectly revealed in Scripture. We deny that faithful civil authorities may rule autonomously from the rule of Christ. We deny that God approves of Christians embracing any political ideology or position prohibited by Scripture.
Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Isaiah 42:4; Matthew 5:17; Luke 12:42-48; Isaiah 1:10-17; Amos 5:10-24; 2 Corinthians 10:4-6, Exodus 20:1-17; Romans 2:14-15; 13:1-4.
Article IV: The Definition of a Nation
WE AFFIRM that a nation is not merely an idea, abstract principle, or ideology but tangibly defined by a particular body of people in a particular place. We affirm that a particular people are necessarily bound together by a shared culture, customs, history, and lineage while sharing common interests, virtues, languages, and worship. We affirm, in regards to “place” that a nation is definitively set by both its borders and times physically defined by God (Acts 17:26). Thus, we affirm that nations should rightly maintain autonomous government of their people and place, with the necessary rights and duties to (1) prioritize the security of its people by maintaining its borders, providing for its common defense, and repelling invasions from without and insurrections from within; (2) promote the prosperity of its citizens; and, (3) enforce justice.
WE DENY that a nation should cede its sovereignty to international bodies that may subvert the will of the national interest for a global order. We deny any efforts to establish a “one world” governmental system before the return of Christ, as such efforts are a reenactment of the Tower of Babel. We further deny that sovereign nations must only be composed of mono-ethnic populations to be united under God. Therefore, as Christian Nationalists, we utterly repudiate sinful ethnic partiality in all its various forms.
Scripture: Genesis 11:1-9; Deuteronomy 1:17; 16:19-20; Psalm 2:8; 22;27; 82:2-4; Isaiah 2:2-3; 49:6-8; John 7:24; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 17:25-26; 20:21; Colossians 3:11; 1 Timothy 5:21; James 2:1-6, 9; 3:17; 1 Peter 1:17; Revelation 7:9.
Article V: The Nature of Christ’s Lordship and Kingdom
WE AFFIRM that in addition to possessing the titles of Savior, Messiah, and many others, Jesus, the Son of God, Who is truly God, is also the King of all earthly kings, the Lord of all earthly lords, and the Lawmaker for all earthly lawmakers. He is the possessor of all authority in heaven and on earth. We affirm that as God, Jesus Christ is preeminent over all creation, sovereignly rules over all things visible and invisible in heaven, earth, and hell, and ordains all things according to the counsel of His perfect will for the good of those in Him. We affirm that in His mediatorial rule, Christ rules by His Spirit and Word through the saints in their earthly authority. We also affirm that as sovereign King of kings, Christ has commanded all civil authorities, Christian and non-Christian alike, to execute His will on the earth to orient humankind toward Himself through the moral law. We affirm that Christ alone, through the blood of His cross, grants repentance and forgiveness of sins to reconcile sinners to His Father.
WE DENY any theology which would seek to segregate sacred aspects of life, where God’s Word is authoritative, and supposedly secular aspects of life, where the Christian must operate by a standard other than God’s Word. We deny any theology which claims that bringing God’s Word into the civil sphere is unwise, unfruitful, sinful, or anything other than fitting and required. We deny that Jesus’ kingship and lordship are merely heavenly or that His Word is only authoritative over confessing Christians. We deny that, solely by virtue of their claims to authority or the claims of those who support them, any human or group of humans who claim to be civil authorities are, in actuality, recognized by God to be civil authorities.
Scripture: Scripture: Hosea 8:4; Isaiah 9:6-7; Matthew 28:16-20; Acts 2:36; Romans 2:5; 13:1-5; 16:20; Ephesians 1:19-23; Philippians 2:9-11; Colossians 1:16-17; 2:9-10; Jude 6; Revelation 1:4-5; 17:14; 19:11-16.
Article VI: The Identity of Civil Authorities and the Source of Their Authority
WE AFFIRM that civil authorities are God’s servants of justice who must know who their Master is and what He requires of them. We affirm that all human authorities, including civil, possess authority only as it has been delegated to them by God and, accordingly, are accountable to Him to serve the people as revealed in His Word.
WE DENY the authority of civil officials and documents to contradict what God has said in His Word or to govern beyond the bounds God’s Word has established for them.
Scripture: Romans 13:1-4; Acts 5:29; Exodus 1:15-22; Daniel 3; John 19:11; Psalm 2:10-12; 1 Timothy 6:13-16.
Article VII: The Duty of Civil Authorities
WE AFFIRM that God has armed civil authorities with the sword of justice to promote citizens’ welfare without partiality by (1) writing and enforcing just laws that are a terror to those who do evil, (2) defending and approving those who do good, and (3) avenging victims of crimes with speedy justice and proportional punishments for evildoers.
We affirm that civil authorities must ensure that the church shall enjoy the full, free, and unquestioned liberty of discharging every part of their sacred functions without violence or danger. We affirm that civil authorities must discharge this duty without showing favoritism to, or bias against, any Christian denomination for their historic beliefs and teachings. We affirm that the government has the duty to intervene to prevent or stop any ceremonial practices that violate the moral law.
We affirm that civil magistrates have lawful authority to punish civil crimes like assault, murder, rape, theft, fraud, man-stealing, and false witness, and to ensure proper due process through the civil courts, payment of liability for verifiably proven harm, and proportionality of punishment.
WE DENY that civil authorities are tasked with being the caretakers of citizens or educators of children, as these duties belong primarily to the Church and to families, respectively. We deny that the civil government should endeavor to take on these responsibilities, and we deny that they do so to the benefit of society. Rather, such “charity” displaces families by creating a culture of dependence upon the state whose education tends to debauch children with godless philosophies and perverse instruction. We deny that, in Scripture, God ever approves of tolerance toward depravity like child sacrifice and mutilation and promotion of open, sexual perversion. We would follow our King, and He does no such thing.
Scripture: Genesis 1:27; 2:24-25; 9:5, 6-8; Exodus 21:12, 16, 18-19; 22-25, 33; 22:1; Leviticus 19:15, 35-36; Deuteronomy 1:16-17; 16:18-20; 17:6; 19:15-21; 22:25; 25:13-16; Ecclesiastes 8:11; Matthew 19:4-6; Romans 13:1-4; 1 Timothy 2:2.
Article VIII: The Purpose of Civil Government
WE AFFIRM that God’s purpose for civil government is to establish justice for His glory and the good of all people. We affirm that unjust laws harm people and that just laws reflect the character of God and point people toward their need for a Savior.
WE DENY that the purpose of civil government is to establish a secular, neutral, or godless order. We deny that any government is capable of neutrality as every individual and system has moral preferences and functional gods (i.e., ultimate allegiances and ultimate standards by which they judge reality). We further deny that natural law is a different standard from God’s moral and universal law summarily comprehended in the Ten Commandments.
Scripture: Matthew 12:30; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Galatians 3:24; Colossians 3:17, 23; 1 Peter 4:10-11; 2 Peter 3:18; Exodus 20:1-17.
Article IX: Spheres of Authority
WE AFFIRM that God has established spheres of authority such as the home, the Church, and the civil government. We affirm that God has given unique responsibilities and instructions to authorities within each sphere. We affirm that authorities in each sphere are subject to the rule of Christ, each retaining authority over its own sphere while being checked and balanced by the others. We affirm that parents, as the authority in the home, have been given the “rod” for instruction, training, and discipline in wisdom and righteousness. We affirm that only the Church has been given the “keys of the kingdom” for the binding and loosing of gospel professions (i.e., the practice of church membership and discipline) as well as God’s Word for the preaching of the law and gospel with the aims of conversion, sanctification, and discipline. The civil government has been given the “sword” as God’s servants to maintain justice and civil order by punishing evildoers, avenging the innocent, commending the good, and, thereby, promoting citizens’ general well-being.
We affirm that Jesus Christ has appointed over His Church both government and discipline, and no law of any government should interfere or hinder the due exercise thereof among the voluntary members of any assembly of Christians, according to their own profession and belief.
WE DENY that human authority in any sphere possesses absolute or unchecked authority, even within their sphere, as Christ delegates all human authority; therefore, all are accountable to Christ and His moral law whether they acknowledge it or not.
We deny that civil authorities may assume to themselves the administration of the Word and sacraments or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven for church discipline but must be uniquely protective of the free exercise of the Christian faith according to the dictates of conscience under the orthodox Christian faith.
Scripture: Proverbs 13:24; 22:15; Deuteronomy 6:7-9; Ephesians 6:1-4; 1 Samuel 2:8; Psalm 62:11; Proverbs 8:15-16; Jeremiah 27:5; Daniel 2:21; 4:32; 5:21; John 19:11; Romans 13:1; 1 Peter 2:13-17; Revelation 1:5; 17:14; 19:16; 2 Chronicles 26:18; Matthew 16:19; 18:17; 1 Corinthians 12:28–29; Ephesians 4:11–12; 1 Corinthians 4:1–2; Romans 10:15; Hebrews 5:4; John 18:36; Acts 5:29; Psalm 104:15; Acts 18:14–15.
Article X: On Nationalism and Policy Priorities
WE AFFIRM that nations possess an inviolable right to establish justice and safeguard the peace and prosperity of their own citizens. We affirm that implementing Christian Nationalism in each nation will pursue punishment of each nation’s great evils and promote each nation’s thriving. We affirm that the specific, short-term priorities of Christian Nationalism in the context of the United States are to call our nation, in her laws, formally to acknowledge the Lordship of Christ, to declare solemn days of humility and repentance, to abolish abortion, to define marriage as the covenant union of a biological male a biological female, to de-weaponize the federal and state bureaucracies which target Christians for censorship and persecution, to secure our borders and defend against foreign invaders, to recapture our national sovereignty from godless, global entities who present a grave threat to civilization like the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the World Economic Forum, etc., and, to exercise restraint in international military intervention and adventurism in overseas “democracy building.”
We affirm that different forms of just government can achieve just laws, and we do not seek to coerce nations into one particular form of government.
WE DENY that seeking to maintain and assert national sovereignty has anything to do with prejudice against any particular ethnicity or nation. We deny that sinful ethnic partiality has any place in the Church of Jesus Christ or in a nation that seeks to honor Him; on the contrary, a Christian nation would be impartial in judgment.
Scripture: Jonah 3:6-10; Exodus 20:12; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Exodus 20:13, Genesis 1:27, 5:2; Deuteronomy 6:7-9; 16:18-20; Ephesians 6:1-4; Romans 13:1-4.
Article XI: Big Picture Agenda
WE AFFIRM that the Christian Nationalist project entails national recognition of essential Christian Orthodoxy (Article II) as a Christian consensus under Jesus Christ, the supreme Lord and King of all creation, and the establishment of the general equity of the Ten Commandments as the foundational law of the nation. We affirm the responsibility of civil authorities to protect the soul, not to convert the soul.
ALTERNATIVE OPTION FOR THOSE WHO AFFIRM
LEGISLATING ONLY THE SECOND TABLE
WE AFFIRM that the Christian Nationalist project entails national recognition of essential Christian Orthodoxy (Article II) as a Christian consensus under Jesus Christ, the supreme Lord and King of all creation, and the establishment of the general equity of the second table of the Ten Commandments (laws 5-10) as the foundational law of the nation, with warnings informing citizens of the consequences of blaspheming the One, True, and Living God often resulting in second table violations, namely, the harming of our neighbors’ lives and property.
WE DENY that laws against public blasphemy coerce conversion or hinder religious liberty in private.
Scripture: Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:1-22; Matthew 22:36-40; Romans 3:20-21; 13:8-10; James 2:8-10.
Article XII: On the Vocation and Calling of Christian Officials and Legislators
WE AFFIRM that God extends the rule of Christ in the world by calling to and gifting Christians as His servants on vocation as civil authorities. We affirm that citizens are to submit to our civil authorities, as unto Christ, for His glory and our good. We affirm the need for more theologically sound Christians to enter the political realm to proclaim the excellencies of Christ and His Law.
WE DENY any theology which holds that Christian participation in the civil realm is necessarily unwise, unfruitful, sinful, or anything other than a fitting and necessary vocation and calling for Christians.
Scripture: Exodus 18:13-26; 20:12; Deuteronomy 1:17; 16:18-20; 17:1-20; Isaiah 1:17; Romans 13:1-4, 6; 1 Corinthians 7:7, 17; 2 Corinthians 9:8; 1 Timothy 6:18; 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
Article XIII: The Great Commission
WE AFFIRM that Christ’s commissioning of His Church to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them, and teaching them to obey all that He has commanded includes civil authorities who are to be called to repentance, faith, and obedience to Christ. We affirm that the Church is to instruct civil authorities regarding their identity and duties as servants before the throne of Christ. We affirm that this duty is a Great Commission issue.
WE DENY that there is any sphere of life in which the command “teach them to obey all that I have commanded” does not apply, including politics and government.
Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20; Luke 18:1-8; Philippians 2:9-11; 1 Corinthians 10:31.
Article XIV: The Uses of the Law
WE AFFIRM that applying the core moral principle of each of the Ten Commandments to a nation’s laws, also known as “general equity” (1) reflects to citizens both the perfect righteousness of God and our own sinfulness and shortcomings; (2) secures civil order by restraining evil through protecting the righteous from the wicked; and (3), guides Christians into the good works that God has planned for them, and thus are an essential aspect of keeping the Great Commission in teaching all nations to obey everything Christ commanded.
We affirm that God is the Creator of all and gives grace to the world. We affirm that God is the Savior of many, calling them through the gospel.
We affirm that no man will be saved by works done under the law. Yet we affirm that the law is a tutor, and when laws are just, they accurately reflect the character of God, and in this way alone, just Christian governments serve the Church in its mission of evangelism. We affirm the inescapable reality that civil authorities possess a moral and spiritual foundation and orient citizens toward truth and morality, whether good or evil.
WE DENY that God intended the Ten Commandments solely for Old Covenant Israel, but rather they it represent the enduring righteousness of God that is to be loved and obeyed for the good of man and the glory of God.
Scripture: Romans 3:20; 4:15; 5:13; 7:7-11; Galatians 3:19-24; Deuteronomy 13:6-11; 19:16-21; Romans 13:3, 4; Ephesians 2:10; Titus 3:8; Ezekiel 36:27; Jeremiah 32:39-40.
Article XV: On the Distinction Between Law and Gospel
WE AFFIRM that the gospel is the royal announcement to the world about God acting in the person and work of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit to abolish sin and death and reconcile sinners and the world to Himself through His sinless life, substitutionary death, resurrection, ascension, reign, and future return just as God graciously planned from eternity, promised throughout Scripture, and achieves within history. We affirm that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, revealed in Scripture alone, and to the glory of God alone. We affirm that all sinners are commanded to repent and believe the gospel and, upon doing so, are justified before God, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and caused to love God and His Law and to walk zealously in good works that God has prepared. We affirm that Christ’s kingdom is at hand and that He will continue to work until all His enemies are defeated, and the knowledge of His glory covers the earth as the waters cover the sea.
We affirm that God gave Adam a Law of universal obedience written on his heart, that this same Law continued to be the perfect rule of righteousness after the fall, and that God delivered it upon Mount Sinai in Ten Commandments. We affirm that the general equity of this Law is the essential moral principle embedded by God in each command which: all men are bound by God to obey, reflects God’s holy character, and applies in various circumstances in each sphere of life. We affirm that obedience to this moral Law is the delight of all who are born again in Christ, those empowered by the Holy Spirit to love God and their neighbors as themselves by doing the good works that God has planned for them.
We affirm that a Christian nation provides cultural conditions conducive to the perpetuation and thriving of the family, the preservation and advancement of the Christian church, the spread of the gospel for salvation by the Church, and the abundance of blessings to the nonbelieving.
WE DENY that the content of the gospel includes obedience to the Law and that any work of obedience merits salvation. We deny that law-keeping contributes in any way to justification before God or declaring the sinner righteous based on anything other than faith in Christ. We deny that the Law can be separated from the love of the personal God who gave the Law. We deny that citizenship in a God-glorifying, Christian nation or anything outside of the above affirmation has any saving power.
Scripture: Isaiah 42:4; Ezekiel 36:27; Habbakuk 2:14; Matthew 5:16; John 3:16, 14:6; Romans 1:16; 5:8-19; 8:16; 1 Corinthians 10:31; 15:24-25; Ephesians 2:8-10; Colossians 1:10; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Titus 2:7, 14; 3:1, 8, 14; Hebrews 4:15; 10:24; 1 Peter 2:12; 2 Peter 1:8.
Article XVI: On Civil Disobedience
WE AFFIRM that categorical opposition to civil disobedience is idolatry of the State. We affirm that civil disobedience is a proper Christian response to civil dictates which: (1) command what God forbids; (2) forbid what God commands; (3) overstep their jurisdiction; (4) bind the conscience where God alone has jurisdiction; or, (5) have no basis in rationality (a just law is always a rational law). We affirm that lesser magistrates may and sometimes must disobey a lawless higher magistrate to obey God. For example, lesser magistrates–such as State governments, counties, and municipalities–must disregard any order, statute, or ruling from a higher magistrate–such as the Federal government–instructing them to allow abortion. We affirm that civil disobedience, although sometimes necessary, is rarely the normative relationship between a citizen and their civil government.
WE DENY that men’s consciences, homes, churches, or states are bound by legal or moral inventions of men apart from the Word of God. We further deny that civil authorities have the right to coerce or command obedience to the dictates of men apart from God’s Word. Moreover, we deny the authority of rulers to squelch civil disobedience if the free and necessary worship of and obedience to the Triune God is being hindered.
Scripture: Daniel 3; Exodus 1:15-22; Acts 5:29; Exodus 20:2-3; Deuteronomy 24:6; Romans 13:1-4; 1 Peter 2:13-14.
Article XVII: Methodology
WE AFFIRM that the Kingdom of God does not advance by carnal means but by the working of the Spirit in bringing men to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. We affirm that culture affects law and that law also affects culture. We affirm that while political maneuvering and cultural expertise can be good and helpful, God works most powerfully through bold proclamation of His truth by His people. We affirm that God uses means yet is free to work without, above, and against them at His pleasure.
WE DENY that pragmatism should be the driving force behind the decision-making of a Christian movement.
Scripture: Psalm 20:7; 1 John 5:1-5; Acts 27:31, 44; Isa 55:10–11; Hosea 1:7; Romans 4:19–21; Daniel 3:27.
Article XVIII: Just War
WE AFFIRM that war is only to be waged: (1) for a just cause, by a just magistrate, involving the protection of human life from persecution; (2) as a last resort when peaceful methods of conflict resolution have been diligently pursued and exhausted; (3) in pursuit of achievable goals; (4) with the pure motive and intention of establishing peace and justice as quickly as possible; and, (5) by moral means that scrupulously avoid civilian casualties and only inflicts as much violence as is necessary for the achievement of the objective. We affirm that even when a war is just according to the above criteria, nations should be extremely cautious in discerning whether a proposed war is wise, taking every contingency into account. We affirm that many wars throughout history have been waged for sinful purposes, such as greed, revenge, and lust for power and fortune.
WE DENY that war is ever a means by which the gospel, or simply good ideas about government and society, are to be spread. We deny that holy wars are ever morally permissible. We deny that governments may coerce civilian participation in unjust wars.
Scripture: Genesis 1:27; Exodus 22:2; Deuteronomy 20:10; Psalm 144:1; Ecclesiastes 3:8; John 18:3-11, 36; Romans 12:18-21; 13:4; 2 Corinthians 10:4; 1 Peter 2:14.
Article XIX: Imago Dei and Equal Protection
WE AFFIRM that all civil authorities have a duty before God to uphold justice by establishing equal protection under the law for all image-bearers of God from the moment of fertilization, which is conception. We affirm that civil authorities must reject all partiality in judgment by asserting the same legal prohibitions and available sanctions against homicide that exist to protect persons after birth and persons before birth.
WE DENY that any law which classifies abortion as a lesser crime than homicide or which allows any class of humans to murder preborn children with legal immunity is a just law.
Scripture: Exodus 20:13; 22:22-24; 23:2-3; Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 1:16-17; 16:18-20; 24:17; 27:19; Psalm 82:1-4; 94:6; Proverbs 18:5; Isaiah 1:16-17, 23; 10:1-2; Jeremiah 5:28; 7:5-7; 21:12; 22:3; Ezekiel 45:9; Amos 5:15; Matthew 7:12; 22:39; 23:23; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8; 3:9.
Article XX: On “Neutrality” and the Separation of Church and State
WE AFFIRM that the Church and the state each possess their own sphere of influence. For example, church officials ought not to write or enforce civil laws in their capacity as church officials, and civil officials ought not to administer church ordinances or dictate doctrine in their capacity as civil officials, even while both spheres are under the absolute authority of Christ.
WE DENY that the separation of authority between the Church and the State means there must be a separation of God and the state. We further deny that there can ever be a separation between religion and state., as everyone possesses views about ultimate reality, purpose, and cause, which inform their morality and preferred policies. We deny the idea that a nation’s laws do not impose morality and religion.
Scripture: Matthew 12:30.
Reply
Quick Reply |
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 8, 2023 10:29:49 GMT -5
Joshua Haymes
@haymes_joshua
Not Feeling God Lately…
Over the past decade of ministry, I have often heard the phrase… “I don’t feel God.” Or… “I haven’t felt the Lord lately.”
Now… This phrase must naturally bring up attendant questions…
What does it mean to “feel” God?
Do we have any guarantee from scripture that we are supposed to “feel” God?
I believe that many who use the phrase “feel God,” are caught up in a culture of emotionalism that has taught them to look to emotional experiences for their hope, peace, and joy, rather than looking to the risen Christ by faith.
In other words, if has been more than a few weeks since their last weepy worship session they begin to feel that God has left them, or that something is inherently wrong in their walk with Christ.
This way of approaching the Christian life is folly, and leads to chasing dopamine rather than Jesus.
That being said…
We must never forget that the Christian Religion IS IN FACT an experiential religion. Unlike every other religion on the planet, Christianity offers ongoing experience with the true and living God. The third person of the Godhead literally indwells you!
If you have been following Christ for any length of time you have undoubtedly had extraordinarily special and beautiful experiences with God. We experience deep conviction for sin, and the incredible joy of forgiveness and mercy. We experience peace that passes understanding as we put our faith in the God who works all things together for good for those who love him and are called according to his purposes.
In short… The Scripture promises the believer that they have unfettered access to incredible peace and excessive joy in Christ by faith.
Thus… When someone says they have not been “feeling” God lately, the question needs to be asked. Are they referring to an unhealthy emotionalism? Or are they referring to the fact that they have not been experiencing the peace and joy that has been promised to them in scripture?
If the latter… If you have no peace and joy in your life as a Christian… Something is in fact, very likely, wrong.
Those who put their faith in Christ are promised peace and joy all over the scriptures.
At this point some diagnostic questions are in order… 2 immediately come to mind.
1. Might I be under God’s discipline for unconfessed sin? That’ll rob you of your peace and joy.
2. Am I walking in obedience in what God has called me to.
God will not allow you to hide away in unconfessed sin undisciplined… It is poisonous to your soul, and the Holy Spirit won’t just let you go on poisoning yourself without intervening.
Confess your sin to God and receive forgiveness(1 John 1:9), and confess your sin to fellow brothers or sisters to get healing (James 5:16).
Lastly, you need to ask yourself if you have been obeying God in what he has called you to in his word.
If you are a Father, have you been washing your wife in the Word?
Have you been prioritizing the discipleship of your family, teaching them to pray, repent, rejoice in, and worship the living God?
Or have you been coasting, doing just enough to get by so you can get the kids to bed and relax in front of a screen?
Whatever station God has placed you in in life, he has outlined in his word, what your priorities ought to be, and how best to please God in your calling.
Study the word.
Love the God of the Word.
and obey the Word!
If you have been convicted to pray more with your children or to lead them regularly in family worship, and you have neglected to do so, you are living in sin…
The Spirit of God has convicted you, and you have not made obedience a priority… This too may cause you to be truly lacking in the peace and Joy department.
Lastly… It is possible that you are in a Spiritually dry season that is not disciplinary in nature, rather The Lord may have some good plan for you that comes about in a hard providence…
For any in this season, I want to leave with you one of my favorite C.S. Lewis quotes from Screwtape Letters.
“Our cause is never more in danger than when a human, no longer desiring, but still intending, to do our Enemy's (God’s) will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken and still obeys.”
|
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 13, 2023 20:21:42 GMT -5
Joshua Haymes received a reply
Joshua Haymes
@haymes_joshua
The cultural sickness of our nation began in the Pulpits.
How nice guy preachers brought about a culture of death.
This morning, YouTube recommended an Andy Stanley sermon (apparently YouTube doesn’t know me as well as it thinks it does).
I watched the first half out of morbid curiosity, And yes… the sermon is as bad as the title indicates it would be.
As I was sacrificing precious minutes of my life that I can never get back watching this Andy Stanley sermon I was thinking of myself…
THIS right here, is how we ended up with gay marriage,
drag queens, Twerking in front of children,
skyrocketing divorce rates,
and millions of dead babies…
Jesus has called his people to be the salt of the Earth.
We are meant to be a People that seasons a culture and prevents it from decay.
So if the culture is decaying all around us, what does that mean?
It means that we have lost or salt!
Good for nothing, but to be thrown out and trampled under foot.
The problem in our nation is not radical leftism.
It is a Church who has lost its salt.
Our cultural rot flows from compromised pulpits, from nice guy, effeminate preachers using The Lord’s day to give a Ted talk on how to deal with meanies, instead of expositing The word of God to equip the Saints for the work of ministry.
Our culture is dead and rotting because of nice guy preachers, who feared man more than they feared God.
BUT… there is good news!
We serve a God who raises the dead!
Hope for our nation, for our culture, begins with reformation in the house of God.
And thanks be to God, he is raising up a new generation of God Fearers!
Men who care nothing for the praise of man but seek diligently for the approval of their Heavenly Father.
Men who love the Word of God, and love their people enough to tell them the truth even if, or perhaps, especially if it hurts their feelings.
May God give a special grace to those faithful pastors on this Lords day.
May the Spirit of God empower their preaching, convict their parishioners, and lead to an outpouring of repentance and faith.
|
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 13, 2023 21:15:05 GMT -5
The Forge reposted
Joshua Haymes
@haymes_joshua
5 easy steps you can take to avoid becoming a Christian Nationalist.
1. Avoid or explain away all scriptures that point to God’s intention to save the nations. ( small sample size)
- Genesis 22:18 “And in your offspring shall all the
nations of the earth be blessed.”
- Matt. 28:19 - “Make disciples of all nations.”
- Psalm 22:27–28 “all the families of the nations shall
worship before you.”
- Isaiah 11:9 - “The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”
2. Bash Cultural Christianity every chance you get.
We don’t want a culture in which the main influence on its norms and customs is Christianity. Far better if our culture is openly hostile to Christ and his Church. Sure, it may mean that we will have a culture marked by the most wicked and debauched rebellion imaginable… But at least we will be able to spot those fake cultural Christians!
3. Insist on a losing strategy.
Sure, fight to end abortion, Fight to end child mutilation, but for sure don’t plan to be successful. If you plan to be successful and strategize accordingly, Christianity might once again become the primary influence in our country… Then we’re back to the dreaded cultural Christianity.
4. Totally believe our post-modern, largely pagan understanding of our nation's history.
Be sure to ignore the systematic attempt by secular historians to de-Christianize our history.
Ignore the influence of John Calvin, and John Knox on the Christian founders of our country.
Just because our founding fathers definitely viewed the United States as a Christian country founded upon Biblical principles built by men with a thoroughly Christian worldview doesn’t mean that WE should believe that.
Remember modern historians are totally trustworthy and their historical narratives are definitely not shaped by their godless worldview.
5. Finally, and this one is really important. Be sure to adopt a high form of Chronological Snobbery.
When anyone brings up the fact that the United States began as a Christian country… Immediately say the word SLAVERY until they shut up.
This one is very important. You must adopt the position that you are morally superior to our founding fathers because you live in the year 2023 and they do not.
You must unquestioningly believe that YOU would have had the foresight and moral fortitude to take a position that virtually no one else in the world had come to yet.
You must believe that you would have been willing to sacrifice friends, social status, and opportunities to take a radical position because of your commitment to The word of God. Also never mind the fact that Christians in government (Christian Nationalists) brought about the abolition of slavery in the West.
Follow these steps and you should be safe.
|
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Dec 7, 2023 11:51:06 GMT -5
Post
See new posts
Conversation
SOVEREIGN BRAH 🇺🇸🏛️⚡️
@sovereignbrah
·
12h
What are the best arguments for postmillennial eschatology?
Joshua Haymes
@haymes_joshua
1. The overarching narrative of scripture.
Redemption history begins with God, promising Abraham, that he would be a blessing to ALL the families of the earth. And that has descendants would be like sand and stars.
And yet many people believe that Christians are going to be a minority all throughout history. Sand and stars shouldn’t make you think minority.
Abrahams seed (Christ) ends up, being a blessing to all the families of the earth.
The church has been growing and the kingdom of Christ advancing all throughout history.
The story of God‘s people begins with Abraham, and ends with all nations, tongues, and tribes worshiping the risen Christ.
2. The teachings of Christ.
Jesus said the kingdom is like a mustard seed. It starts small and grows to be the biggest tree in the garden.
It is also like leaven That eventually leavens the whole loaf.
Christ was the mustard seed that was planted 2000 years ago and the kingdom has been growing ever since.
Christ is the second Adam, who has come to remake the human race. And in the great commission, he told us to disciple the nations.
Postmils simply believe that he wasn’t sending us on a fools errand. He actually expects the nations to be discipled!
3. But what about those passages that indicate that there will be tribulation in the end times?
Postmils take a partial Preterist view of revelation. This means that we believe that those passages that speak about tribulation, are referring to the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D., just as Jesus predicted in the Olivet discourse. They are not referring to the end of human history.
4. Be careful. Adopting this position is a pretty crazy paradigm shift.
Post millennialism actually destroyed my church plant. 💯worth it tho.
|
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Dec 7, 2023 11:54:56 GMT -5
How Postmillennialism Destroyed My Church Plant
January of this year I, along with the 2 other leaders of our Church plant made the decision to shut it down.
This was an extraordinarily difficult decision for multiple reasons, not the least of which was that planting this Church in Los Angeles was plan A and I had no plan B.
It would be a lack of faith after all to have a plan B right? In any case, among the reasons we decided to close down our church, I would name Postmillennialism as perhaps the most significant factor that led to our final decision.
Let me explain.
We planted our Church with a fundamentally pessimistic view of Gospel advance throughout human history. By this I mean that, while the gospel will change many lives, most people in human history will reject the gospel, and ultimately Christ will return to a world that is in chaos.
Thus, by that logic, the best we can do as the Church is to remain a faithful witness until the time of his return. These eschatological assumptions have a tendency to create what I’m calling Kamikaze Christianity.
A Kamikaze Church Plant
Me and my core team spent 6 years trying to plant a church in one of the most difficult areas, in one of the most difficult cities, in one of the most difficult states to plant a church in.
We read Keller, we read Chester and we were ready to make the sacrifices to be in the city and for the city.
Thus we were sent out, three 24-year-old church planters with our little core team, with the full support of multiple sending churches and sending agencies.
Not a single person in our Church owned a home in the city, nor were there any prospects of ever owning a home where we lived. The young singles who had committed, struggled for years to find a godly spouse (the dating pool in LA for a godly spouse is sparse, to say the least).
We had young couples putting off having children for financial reasons, and other families who dreamed of starting businesses but knew they couldn’t do it in our location.
These were all necessary sacrifices that we were willing to make so that we could be in the city and for the city.
And then… In the span of about 6 months, as we were preaching through the book of Daniel, all three of us pastors came to Post-mil convictions.
At first, it was exhilarating! “Wow! This means that heaven is going to be WAY more full than Hell! It means Christ ACTUALLY intends for us to SUCCESSFULLY disciple the nations!”
I liken the experience to watching food coloring drop into a glass of water. At first, you’re just thinking about how cool that little droplet looks as it hits the surface of the water, but then, as it mixes in, it changes the color of everything.
After we got over our initial excitement about the theological implications of Postmillennialism we began to realize that there are very practical missiological implications as well.
If you believe you’re going to lose the war, the Kamikaze mission can make sense.
At least we can make a difference right?
But you believe that you are going to win the war, all of the sudden your tactics change dramatically!
If you believe that Christ and his church will successfully disciple the nations, you start asking completely different questions. Instead of “How can I be a faithful witness right now?” You start asking “How do we advance His Kingdom in our generation and set our great-grandchildren up for even greater kingdom success?
All of a sudden the fact that my parishioners were putting off getting married, having children, and starting Christian businesses, all to help start this church plant in a place where virtually none of them could ever afford to live, revealed itself to be totally reckless and irresponsible.
I was calling people to put off having dominion, being fruitful, and multiplying, all so that we could plant a Church that, statistically, would likely not last 20 years.
In my head, I heard the refrain "I require obedience, not sacrifice."
And so, Ironically, it was this great Postmil hope that led to the destruction of our little church plant.
Postmillennialism requires the believer to totally rethink his Great Commission tactics. If we are going to successfully disciple our nation we have got to start thinking long term. We have got to start thinking generationally. We must dispense with kamikaze Church planting, and actually be strategic in our planning.
I have since moved to the Nashville area to join a Church with these glorious convictions. It was one of the best decisions of my life.
1 Cor. 15:25
“For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.”
|
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Dec 10, 2023 17:08:04 GMT -5
Post
See new posts
Conversation
Joshua Haymes
@haymes_joshua
3 Categories of Calvinists
Light, Medium, Dark Roast
What kind of Calvinist are you?
1. Light Roast Calvinism
(Calvinistic)
Those who like the Soteriology of Calvin (TULIP), but reject the broader systematic theology of the reformers.
Examples:
- John MacArthur
- John Piper
2. Medium roast Calvinists
(Calvinistic, Confessional)
Those who have a Calvinistic Soteriology, and also subscribe to one of the historic reformed confessions. If you are medium roast, it’s almost certainly the 1689 London Baptist confession. Many medium roast Calvinists are actually between medium and dark roast. They would subscribe to covenant theology, but reject some of its implications, namely, that of pedobaptism.
Examples:
- James White
- Voddie Baucham
3. Dark Roast Reformed
(Calvinistic, Confessional, Covenantal)
Those who subscribe to Calvinistic Soteriology, one of the historic reformed confessions, and Covenant Theology.
One of the primary distinguishing factors between medium and dark roast is the question of baptism. Are the children of believers born as pagans outside the covenant? Or are they born into the covenant as they were in the OT? Dark Roast Reformed folks argue that children of believers are included in the New Covenant, and should thus receive the covenant sign of baptism.
Examples:
- R.C. Sproul
- Doug Wilson
Ps. I consider all of the above mentioned men, great men of God, and have benefited from their teachings.
Pps. Light, medium, and dark roast Reformed are not broadly accepted terms. I made them up to help distinguish between different reformed camps. If you use them in a conversation pretty much no one will know what you’re talking about… unless you’re having a conversation with me lol
|
|
