“but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.” 1 Timothy 3:15 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/1ti.3.15.LSB
Civic Duty Principles
Objective Principles
Objective principles to consider when choosing a party or candidate to vote for.
Cannot support a party or candidate that supports the culture of death (abortion, euthanasia, etc…).
“They have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command, and it did not come upon My heart.” Jeremiah 7:31 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/jer.7.31.LSB
“So you shall not pollute the land in which you are; for blood pollutes the land, and no propitiation can be made for the land for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed it.” Numbers 35:33 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/num.35.33.LSB
Cannot support a party or candidate that is a champion for or affirms the wrath of God as displayed in the LGBTQ+ movement.
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness… Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them… For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions; for their females exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural… And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to an unfit mind, to do those things which are not proper,” Romans 1:18, 24, 26, 28 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/rom.1.18-28.LSB
Cannot support a party or candidate that does not honor marriage as God has defined it between one man and one woman.
Before any governments or churches, God ordained the family!
“Haven’t you read,” [Jesus] replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” Matthew 19:4-6 (Jesus quotes from Genesis 1:27 and 2:24) Matthew 19:4-6 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/mat.19.4-6.LSB
The Scriptures start with a marriage, God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number” (Adam and Eve, Genesis 1:28), and they end with a marriage, ”Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.”“ (Revelation 19:7 LSB)
Marriage is a reflection of the gospel!
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she would be holy and blameless… This mystery is great, but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.” Ephesians 5:25-27, 32 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/eph.5.25-32.LSB
Learn from the example of Saint Valentine (Valentinus 269 A.D), he defied the Roman Emperor unto death for the gospel and God’s institution of marriage. Marriage is greater than any earthly empire!
Cannot support a party or candidate that is an enemy of Israel.
“For thus says Yahweh of hosts, “After glory He has sent Me against the nations which have taken you as spoil, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.” Zechariah 2:8 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/zec.2.8.LSB
Cannot support a party or candidate that is not a friend to the Church.
“First of all, then, I exhort that petitions and prayers, requests and thanksgivings, be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” 1 Timothy 2:1-2 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/1ti.2.1-2.LSB
Lessons from Romans 13:1-7
From “A Revolutionary Reading of Romans 13: A Biblical Case for Lawful Subjection to the Civil Magistrate and Dutiful Resistance to Tyrants” Timothy L. Decker, Founders Press 2023. https://press.founders.org/shop/a-revolutionary-reading-of-romans-13/
Abuse of Romans 13
“Romans 13 has been abused… Romans 13 does not primarily address to what extent or how much a Christian should obey the government but rather how they should not disrupt the current government by private revolution… Paul is not demanding unquestioning obedience to one’s government, even if that government has righteous foundations… Rather, it necessitates an attitude of respect and honor to one’s duly ordained civil magistrates, and it prohibits private revolution against that magistrate… If this is an institute ordained by God, then that institute carries with it a deserved respect and honor. However, if we skip to verse 7, we can see that fear/respect is due to the government when they act honorably and respectably.”
Civil authorities have God ordained duties to fulfill.
“The prescriptive interpretation [of verses 3-4] holds that Paul is teaching what duties a government must fulfill, being tasked by God. If they fail to carry out what God prescribes for them, then there are systems created by God within the institution of human government itself, mainly in the further delegation of power to the lesser magistrate. This would also be used to explain when resistance is required on the part of a citizen.”
Judgement for Government Negligence
“A government not willing to protect its citizens from vandalism, rioting, looting, theft, [illegal migrant invasion], and all sorts of criminal activities, including physical violence, is in severe danger. This danger stems from the fact that they will incur the wrath of God for abdicating their primary role tasked by God himself.”
The Church, Christians and ministers as public figures, has a duty to be the prophetic voice for truth.
“As the pillar and buttress of truth (1 Tim. 3:15), the local church is to have a prophetic voice in various spheres of society, promoting biblical truth… how else can magistrates be held accountable to that message except from the prophetic voice of the church? In this way, Christians, especially ministers ordained to gospel ministry, ought to engage in this governmental sphere prophetically… John the Baptist serves as a prophetic example… Mark 6:17-18.”
Pastoral Negligence – Pulpit Malpractice
“It is difficult to fathom that our local leaders and representatives would practice their authority in legislation and administration righteously when the church remains silent as to how they are to serve their constituents righteously… Acceding to the common evangelical mantra to keep politics out of the pulpit is not an option if one is to preach the whole counsel of God… for the preacher to say nothing would be nothing less than pulpit malpractice.”
“If [a gospel minister] shall speak straight out & boldly, fearless of man, & only fearful lest he should grieve his God, he will stir the kennels of hell, & make all the hounds of Satan howl at his heels.” Charles Spurgeon
When resistance is required.
“If the civil magistrate does not uphold what is prescribed to him in Romans 13:3-4 and the church’s prophetic voice has been ignored, then at that point the Christian finds it his duty to resist those who act dishonorably and out of alignment with the prescriptions of Scripture (esp. Rom. 13:3-4).”
“If error or tyranny exists in the civil magistrate, built within the God-created sphere is a means of correction… God has equipped this sphere with it’s own ability to correct itself through what is often referred to as superior and lesser magistrates. If either the superior magistrate or lower magistrate has erred in the making or enforcing of laws (or lack thereof), correction begins within the sphere of the magistrate. That means the lesser magistrate is to correct the higher magistrate and, if need be, interpose itself between its citizens and their superior magistrate… Matt Trewhella’s fine book The Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrates [2013] defines the doctrine in this way: ‘When the superior or higher civil authority makes unjust/immoral laws or decrees, the lesser or lower ranking civil authority has both a right and duty to refuse obedience to that superior authority. If necessary, the lesser authorities even have the right and obligation to actively resist the superior authority.’ … The pastors of Magdeburg [1550 AD] … defined the doctrine as follows: ‘Whenever a superior magistrate persecutes his subjects, then, by the law of nature, by divine law, and by the true religion and worship of God, the inferior magistrate ought by God’s mandate to resist him.’ This was similar to [John] Calvin’s [1536 AD] description that the ‘popular [lesser] magistrates have been appointed to curb the tyranny of kings… By the ordinance of God, they are its appointed guardians.’”
“The basic principle of Christian resistance is to overcome evil with good. This means good laws, good wars, good magistrates, good criminal penalties, but also good worship, good families, good business, good suffering, and good death. Duty is the right good at the right time.” Toby Sumpter https://x.com/tjsumpter/status/1819754040777191912?s=46&t=Ag2lESY3ntUopWo1gN17hw
Romans 13:1-7
“Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist have been appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists that authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of that authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword in vain, for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of that wrath, but also because of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.” Romans 13:1-7 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/rom.13.1-7.LSB
For Further Reading or Viewing:
Really good conversation about A Revolutionary Reading of Romans 13: A Biblical Case for Lawful Subjection to the Civil Magistrate and Dutiful Resistance to Tyrants. We need to pray for our church leaders to re-learn these old and very costly won theologies. https://youtu.be/0cxGEjKbJn0?si=GDDORCCMkN6a7Yq_
A Revolutionary Reading of Romans 13: A Biblical Case for Lawful Subjection to the Civil Magistrate and Dutiful Resistance to Tyrants https://press.founders.org/shop/a-revolutionary-reading-of-romans-13/
The Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrates: A Proper Resistance to Tyranny and a Repudiation of Unlimited Obedience to Civil Government by Matthew J. Trewhella https://a.co/aVQzfiR
“The Magdeburg Confession: 13th of April 1550 AD by Pastors of Magdeburg” https://a.co/5X7W9us
Slaying Leviathan: Limited Government and Resistance in the Christian Tradition https://canonpress.com/products/slaying-leviathan
By What Standard? God’s World…God’s Rules https://press.founders.org/shop/by-what-standard-gods-world-gods-rules/
The Essential Church https://watch.amazon.com/detail?gti=amzn1.dv.gti.aa4a63f3-44a5-499c-8846-06d00c6d0c56&territory=US&ref_=share_ios_movie&r=web more here: https://essentialchurchmovie.com/
Household Prayer: Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God https://ministry.family.blog/2024/02/15/household-prayer-resistance-to-tyrants-is-obedience-to-god/
Just War / Just Cause Theory https://ministry.family.blog/2020/01/29/just-war-just-cause-theory/
THE GOOD NEWS
There is a God that created the heavens and the earth. We humans are created in His image.
We are sinners, we have rebelled against Him, our Creator. Our rebellion has brought “all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice… envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness” to the world. Romans 1:29-31 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.1.29-31.ESV
Therefore we justly deserve our due punishment of death and damnation, “as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.’” Romans 3:10-12 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.3.10-12.ESV
But good news! God is merciful and loving. Jesus is God the only begotten Son and He took our punishment upon Himself in our place. Jesus rose from the dead, defeating death and securing the hope of our salvation.
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1co.15.3-8.ESV
““Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”” Acts 2:36-38 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/act.2.36-38.ESV
We need only repent and believe it. Repent: turn away from our sins, proclaim Jesus is lord and savior, and we will be forgiven our sins and have life ever after! “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”” Romans 10:9-11 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.10.9-11.ESV
There is hope. Believe in Jesus! ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.3.16.ESV
It doesn’t matter who you’ve been or what you’ve done, God stands with arms wide open, ready to forgive you. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.1.9.ESV
Dobra Family Ministry 