Submitting to Government

[Minister William T Hannaford]

Christ's followers are at peace with everyone and do not seek revenge or external change; rather they seek personal internal change. To them, the world is passing away and involvement in it is a waste of time. They are told to obey the law's of their governments and be submissive to their governments, no matter how oppressive. When you stop resisting government or its policies, or being concerned for who is doing what in government, you will be amazed at the freedom you will enjoy. The concerns of time are wasting. As I heard in meditation from the Lord, "You can spend your time trying to correct evil, or you can spend your time seeking me."

If you protest, or resist the government, or its policies because you think you "have been called" to do so, please read the below passages from the New Testament which deny such activities. Remember, it is written that Jesus Christ is the same today, yesterday, and forever. After reading them, ask yourself the question, from where does "the call" originate? Is the call from the Spirit of Christ within you? If you think you are "called" to do something, I ask you: Where in the Bible does it speak of being "called," as you use it? Called is to be summoned or named. The Bible has not a single reference to "called" being something that God is requiring you to do, except to come to Him. When he wants you to do something, he gives you commands and orders; not a feeling, not a desire, not a door opening, not a draw, nor a "call." This word is thrown around by some sects to justify anything anybody feels an inclination to do, as being "called." When you are led by God to do something, he tells you exactly what to do and exactly when to do it; he gives explicit commands or orders.

What government could have been more oppressive than the Roman government that crucified Christ? And yet, we can read that never was a word of criticism or protest, much less seditious suggestions, spoken by Christ or the Apostles before or even afterwards. The Roman government was also constantly involved in wars and insurrections; but never did any of his followers utter a word of discontent with the government or its policies.

The Bible teaches Christians to stay uninvolved with the world, including any political activity, and to live at peace with their governments and all men. Below are reference from the Bible which support submission to governments. Let those who can hear, hear. The Apostle Paul, in Romans 13, tells all Christians:

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities,
for there is no authority except that which God has established.
The authorities which exist have been established by God.
Consequently, he who rebels against the authority,
is rebelling against what God has instituted,
and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
For rulers hold no terror for those who do right,
but for those who do wrong.
Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority?
Then do what is right and he will commend you.
For he is God's servant,
and agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities,
not only because of the possible punishment, but also, because of conscience.
This is why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants,
who give full time to governing.
Give everyone what you owe him:
if you owe taxes, pay taxes;
if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect.

Peter says in 1Pe 2:3-4
"Be submissive to every human institution and authority for the sake of the Lord, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him top bring punishment and justice to those who do wrong, and to encourage those who do good service.

Even slaves are told to:
obey your earthly masters in everything:
and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor,
but with sincerity of heart and reverence of the lord. Col 3:22

Anyone who takes up arms is warned by Christ in the Revelations when he said,
"He that kills with the sword shall perish with the sword;
and here is the faith and patience of the saints." Rev 13:10

We know that wars and fightings proceed from the lusts of men, James 4:1-3
out of which lusts the Lord has redeemed us, and so out of the occasion of war.

We know that the devil is the author of wars, fighting, murder, and plots.(G. F.'s letter below)
Our swords are broken into plough shares, and spears into pruning hooks, as prophesied of in Mic 4:3
Therefore we cannot learn war anymore, neither rise up against nation or government with outward weapons.

Christ tells us:
You have heard it said; An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, but I say to you do not resist the evil man;
but if anyone strikes you on the right jaw or check, then turn to him the other one too;
And, if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, Let him have your coat too.
And, if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two.
And, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you
And, for if you love only those who love you, what reward can you have, for even tax collectors do that" Mat 5:38-47
And,"whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment" Mat 5:22

So Christ teaches us to love everyone, and to be as gentle as doves and lambs.
He teaches that violence is deplorable in his sight. Mal 2:16

And in Mat 26:53, Christ said to those arresting him,
“Do you not know that I could now pray to my Father,
and he would immediately provide me more that twelve legions of angels?
But how then would scripture be fulfilled that it must come about this way."

Not only would scripture not be fulfilled, but his sacrifice for the world would not have been made.
He further qualifies why he doesn't resist his arrest and crucifixion
when he explains that he really was not of this world.

My kingdom belongs not to this world.
If my kingdom were of this world,
my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews,
but as it is, my kingdom is not of this world. John 18:36

So Christ's kingdom is not of this world, and neither do his followers look to the earth for their rewards, but rather to heaven and to things above.

And Paul in 2 Timothy Chapter 2:4 says “a good soldier does not get entangled in civilian affairs; his aim is to satisfy and please the one who enlisted him.” Paul is speaking to Timothy, a fellow minister and teacher for Christ; and is telling him to stay out of affairs of the world, (including any political activity), but rather to be solely involved in the work for Christ’s kingdom, a spiritual kingdom that is not visible to this world.

Therefore his servants do not fight as he told Pilate, the magistrate who crucified him.
And did they not look upon Christ as a raiser of sedition? and did not he pray,
"Father, forgive them, for they know what they do?"

Here is what William Penn said about submitting to governments:

.. so faith and patience succeeded fighting, in the doctrine and practice of these people. Nor should they be obnoxious to civil government for this, since they cannot fight for it, they cannot fight against it... But though they were not for fighting, they were for submitting to government, and not only for fear, but for conscience's sake, where Government does not interfere with conscience, believing it to be an ordinance from God, and where it is justly administered, a great benefit to mankind. (taken from William Penn's Introduction to George Fox's Journal)

William Penn speaks from a time when thousands of "children of the light" were imprisoned, hundreds to their death, and never did they oppose the Government. Never did they assemble for any reason other than to worship or transact the business of the church, i.e. relieving suffering. It was a time of: bloody civil wars that brutally killed entire families, the oppressive government of Oliver Cromwell, several kings, many conflicting Parliaments, and severe persecution - including 13,000 being sent to prison, over 300 killed by injuries or imprisonment, and 200 sent to slavery. But there were no member's protests, other than letters and personal, courteous pleas as to the injustice of the persecutions - never a group of people demonstrating and protesting even their persecutions; much less some other policy of any of the many governments they faced.

All who take to the streets for insurrection or even to protest social or political issues, beware - you are violating the commands of Christ and his example. True religion is to visit the widows, the orphans, and to keep yourself unspotted from the world. Turn inward; make peace inside by receiving fully the Prince of Peace who gives you a peace that passes all understanding. Prize your time; you only have so many days on this earth. Seek the renewal of the inner man to the point that you are one with Christ and God, with the mind of Christ, and under his full control.

From George Fox's Letter 359
And keep out of the restless, discontented, disquieted spirit of the world about the government:
for you know it as been always our way to seek the good of all,
and to live peaceably under the government,
and to seek their eternal good, peace,
and happiness in the Lord Jesus Christ,
and to lay our innocent sufferings before them,
who have suffered as lambs and sheep, and made no resistance,
but have "prayed for them that persecuted us, and despitefully used us, and hated us,"
according to the command of Christ.

George Fox

If you are persecuted as a Christian, obeying the laws of your country, it will to his glory, and great will be your reward in heaven. You can try to reason with oppressive governmental authorities, but you are not permitted to resist the government. The minute a group of Christians even starts discussing resisting their government or its policies, their meeting has crossed the line from worship to political action, and left the doctrines of Christianity.

Despite the Christians being commanded to stay uninvolved with this world, which to them is passing away, they are under command to “assemble themselves together, so that they can encourage each other to practice love and good deeds. Hbr 10:23-25. As in the early Quakers time, when a law was passed forbidding the assembly of more than five persons in other than the "state approved" religion, since the law is in direct conflict with a command of God, it was disobeyed then and should be disobeyed now. However, as did the Quakers, meetings should be in a regular place open to inspection; not secret, hidden, or under some pretext such as eating together. By being open, you show you have nothing to hide and declare you have no opposition to your government. If government officials show up, pray for them, welcome them, appeal to them, show them your peace and love to all men. Despite massive persecutions, in this manner the Quakers eventually prevailed, and the government persecutions eventually stopped.

Neither can the Christian contribute to any religious activity that violates their conscience, including a state imposed religion. Nor can a Christian "swear" or take oaths , (i.e. in court to swear to "'tell the truth", implying they normally lie, which is inadmissible to those continually committed to the truth; neither can they claim the aid of God, the earth, the Bible, your head, or anything they are asked to swear by).

And of course, a true Christian has been changed so much that he or she cannot even hit another person, (the image of God), much less take up arms for fighting and killing. If drafted into the military, however, you can still submissively serve in some non-violent way.

In China there have been forced abortions to those with one child already. Of course you cannot fight, but you must make every effort to escape the procedure for the life of the child. If my wife went into hiding, I must be prepared to suffer torture or death to keep her location secret. The same reasoning would hold true for shielding Jews in Nazi Germany from deportation to death camps. These are laws that violate the universal human conscience, and as such, must be disobeyed; but even these governments would not be targets of Christian overthrow or sedition or even protests by citizens of their countries. Pleas, yes. Organized protests, no.

For such denials and impositions on a Christian conscience, Christians throughout the ages have gone to prison and suffered torture or even death. This doesn't mean that Christians should take to the streets to protest; but rather, simply continue to meet together, fail to contribute to any state imposed religion, refuse to swear, and refuse to bear arms, whatever the consequences - even death.

And should a Christian be harmed by government officials, they are told to forgive them, and not seek revenge, for should they be harmed for their goodness, they will be recompensed in heaven.

But for those who do harm to his chosen peaceable people, they will have to answer to the Creator of all; vengeance is mine, said the Lord. It is a terrible thing to wrong the apple of the Creator's eye; it is a terrible thing to "fall" into the hands of the Living God. Persons responsible, if not the structure of the entire government, will be destroyed. If you are an official of government persecuting followers of Christ for doing nothing but meeting to worship, beware, the Lord's arm will eventually stretch out against you; you will deeply regret your persecution of the innocent, who love all men and mean you and your government no harm.

From George Fox's Journal:

If all that profess themselves Christians walked in the spirit of Christ, and by it did mortify sin and evil, it would be a great ease to the magistrates and rulers, and would free them from a great deal of trouble, for it would lead all to “do unto others as they would have others do unto them," and so the royal law of liberty would be fulfilled. For if all called Christians walked in the spirit of Christ; by it to have the evil spirit and its fruits cut down in them, then, not being led by the evil spirit, but by the good spirit of Christ, the fruits of the good spirit would appear in all. For as people are led by the good spirit of Christ, it leads them out of sin and evil, which the magistrate's sword defends against and so would be an ease to the magistrates. But as people err from this good spirit of Christ, and follow the evil spirit, which leads them into sin and evil; that spirit brings the magistrate into a great deal of trouble, to execute the law upon the sinners and transgressors of the good spirit. That spirit, which leads people from all manner of sin and evil, is one with the magistrate's power, and with the righteous law. For the law was added because of transgression, and that spirit which leads out of transgression must be one with that law which is against transgressors. So that spirit which leads out of transgression is the good spirit of Christ, and is one with the magistrates in the higher power, and owns it and them; but that spirit which leads into transgression is the bad spirit, and is against the law, against the magistrates, and makes them a great deal of troublesome work. The manifestation of the good spirit is given to every man to profit from; and no man can profit in the things of God but by the spirit of God which brings to deny all sin and evil. It is said of Israel, Nehem.9. “The Lord gave them his good spirit to instruct them, yet they rebelled against it." If all people would mind this manifestation of the spirit which God has given to instruct them, it would lead them to forsake all manner of sin and evil, enmity, hatred, malice, unrighteousness and ungodliness, and to mortify it. Then in the spirit of Christ they would have fellowship and unity, which is the bond of peace; then would love and peace, which are the fruits of the good spirit, flow among all that are called Christians.

Here is a letter from George Fox to Government officials in the time of their great persecution:

A Testimony from the people of God, whom the world calls Quakers, to all government officials , from the highest to the lowest.

WE are peaceable, and seek the peace, and good, and welfare of all,
as in our lives and peaceable carriages is manifested,
and we desire the eternal good and welfare of all, and their souls' everlasting peace.
We are become heirs of the blessing before the curse was,
and of the power of God before the devil was, and before the fall of man.
We are heirs of the gospel of peace, which is the power of God;
and we are heirs of Christ, who have inherited him and his everlasting kingdom,
and do possess the power of an endless life.
Knowing this our portion and inheritance,
this is to take off all jealousies out of your minds,
and out of the minds of all people concerning us,
that all plots and conspiracies, plotters and conspirators against the king,
and all those who aid or assist any of the above, we always did and do utterly deny to be of us,
or to be of the fellowship of the gospel, of Christ's kingdom, or his servants.
For Christ said, " His kingdom was not of this world, if it were, his servants would fight."
Therefore he bid Peter, “to put up his sword;
for,” said he, “he that takes the sword shall perish by the sword.”
Here is the faith and patience of the saints,
to bear and suffer all things,
knowing as we know that vengeance is the Lord's,
and he will repay it to them that hurt his people and wrong the innocent;
therefore we cannot avenge but suffer for his name's sake.
We know that the Lord will judge the world in righteousness, according to their deeds,
and that, when everyone shall give an account to him of the "deeds done in the body,"
then will the Lord give every man according to his works, whether they be good or evil.
Christ said, he came not to "destroy men's lives;"
and when his disciples would have had "fire come down from heaven,"
to have consumed those that did not receive him, he told them,
" they knew not what spirit they were of," that would have men's lives destroyed;
therefore he rebuked them, and told them,
" that he came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them"
Now we are of Christ's mind, who is the great prophet, whom all ought to hear in all things,
who commanded his, "if they strike you on one cheek turn the other,
and render to no man evil for evil"
This doctrine of his we have learned,
and not only confess him in words, but follow his teaching;
and therefore we have suffered, and do suffer all manner of reproaches, scandals,
slanders, spoiling of goods, buffetings, whippings, stripes, and imprisonments for these many years,
and can say, "the Lord forgive them that have done these things to us,
and lay not these things to their charge !"
We know the Jews' outward sword, by which they cut down the Heathen outwardly,
was a type of the inward sword of the spirit,
which cuts down the inward Heathen, the raging nature in people.
And the blood of bulls, lambs, rams, and other offerings, and that priesthood which offered them,
together with other things in the law, were types of Christ, the one offering, and of his blood,
who is the everlasting priest and covenant, our life, and way to God,
the great prophet and shepherd, the head of his church, and the great bishop of our souls,
whom we witness come;
and he doth oversee and keep his flock.
For in Adam, in the fall, we know the striving, quarrelling,
unpeaceable spirits are in the enmity one with another, and not in peace;
but in Christ Jesus, the second Adam, that never fell, is peace, rest, and life.
The doctrine of Christi who never sinned, is to "love one another,"
and those who are in this doctrine hurt no man,
we are in this doctrine, in Christ, who is our life.
Therefore it is well for you to distinguish between the precious and the vile,
between them that fear God and serve him, and them that do not,
and to put a difference between the innocent and the guilty,
and between him that is holy and pure and the ungodly and profane;
for they that do not so, bring troubles, burdens, and sorrows upon themselves.
This we write in love to your souls, that you may consider these things;
for those that hate enemies, and one another, we cannot say they are of God,
nor in Christ's doctrine, but are opposers of it.
And those who wrestle with flesh and blood, with carnal weapons,
are gone into the flesh out of the spirit.
They are not in our fellowship in the spirit, in which is the bond of peace, neither are they of us,
nor have we unity with them in their fleshly state, and with their carnal weapons.
For our unity and fellowship stand in the gospel, which is the power of God,
before the devil was, the liar, the murderer, the manslayer, and the envious.
Now Christ's mind and his doctrine being to save men's lives,
we who are of Christ's mind are out of and above these things.
Our desire is, that in the fear of the Lord you may all live,
that therein you may receive God's wisdom, by which all things were created,
that by it all may be ordered to his glory.
This is from them that love all your souls, and seek your eternal good.

Therefore Should we be involved in Polotics?

[Rev. John & Tabitha Pike]

Wow! This is another amazing article. You have done so well with this. God bless you brother and keep on keeping on for the Lord.