“It is blasphemy to call tyrants and oppressors God’s ministers,” said Jonathan Mayhew in 1749. “They are more properly ‘The Messengers of Satan to buffet us.’ No rulers are properly God’s ministers, but such as are ‘just, ruling in the fear of God.’ When once magistrates act contrary to their office, and the end of their institution when they rob and ruin the public, instead of being guardians of its peace … they immediately cease to be the ordinance and ministers of God, and no more deserve that glorious character than common pirates and highwaymen.”
I stumbled across this magnificent condemnation of Satan’s citadel, the State, in an article entitled “Authority From the Governed — Nowhere Else!” by Rev. David Whitney. The piece offers further ammo against the “Romans-13-requires-unlimited-obedience-to-the-government” heresy among Christians. I highly recommend this quick read if you’re trying to convince our siblings in the Lord that disobedience to tyrants is obedience to God.
10:46 am on July 17, 2014
