Destination Church 11/3/24 Destination Church 11/3/24

The Church Is NOT a Religious Institution

Podcast Transcript (Listen to episode here)

Matthew 16:15–20 ESV

15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

As you’ve learned in the ekklesia training, the word church here is not “kurios,” the Greek word for church but “ekklesia,” a ruling council. Let me read you from my notes of the lesson, “The Ancient Battle.”

Ekklesia is the Greek word Jesus used for church in Matthew 16:18 in describing how the gates of hell would not prevail against the church. By the time of Christ, the word ekklesia had been in use for over 600 years. It had specific, well-acknowledged connotations. When early believers heard ekklesia, they didn't think of a building but of a ruling body. It was a political term, not a religious one.

The ekklesia was an assembly of the government in Greek city-states. Open to all male citizens over the age of eighteen, the ekklesia was responsible for declaring war, military strategy, and electing military generals and other officials, including chief magistrates of the city-state. Members voted on decrees, treaties, and law proposals.

This means that when Jesus said He was going to build His ekklesia, He meant He was going to build His governmental center. He was going to establish His ruling body with the revelation that He is the Messiah and the supreme ruler of the earth. The gates of hell would not prevail against the kind of assembly Jesus intended to build.

All you needed were two-three to form an ekklesia in any location in the Roman Empire no matter how far away. When you formed an ekklesia and decreed something as lawful (loosing) or unlawful (binding) you had the full might of the Roman government and army behind you.

Collectively, Christ followers are His government center on the earth and as such, we are to make sure that the ideas we share (in the form of sermons and teachings) support that original intent of the Lord’s. Unfortunately, much of what we do today as Christians is more along the lines of a religious organization. Here’s one more snippet from that lesson:

Now the Lord could have used any other word like maybe “edah” or “qahal” or even “sunagoge.” But, instead, he chose a “secular” word that was governmental in nature. It had been used for 600 years at this point. And nowhere was it used of heathen religious assemblies.

Why was it so important that is ruling council be built upon the revelation that He is the Christ? Because the Christ is the only rightful Ruler of all the earth.

Psalm 2:1–12 ESV

1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. 5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” 7 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” 10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Revelation 19:16 ESV

16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Psalm 110:1–2 ESV

1 The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” 2 The Lord sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies!

Isaiah 9:6 NKJV

6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

The word “anointed in Psalm 2 is where the term, “Messiah” comes from and Christos or Christ is the Greek version. As the Anointed One, the Messiah, He is the King of kings and Lord of Lords, the government of God rests upon His shoulder, and He is right now ruling in the midst of His enemies through His ekklesia. And, as stated in the lesson referred to above, our mission as His ruling council is to reverse the curse of Mount Hermon by expanding His rule throughout the nations. He’s asked for the nations; therefore, we must focus on nations.

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

ALL authority in both heaven and ON earth has been given to Him, then He gave it to us, and commanded us to make disciples of ALL nations teaching them the things He taught us, implying that if we are doing our job, the thought of a nation will be aligned with God’s and if we are not doing our job, the thought of a nation will be opposed to God; therefore, as the “church” goes so goes a nation. Our evidence of this is all throughout the Bible. You see God’s rule through His people in the affairs of nations from the very beginning.

Genesis 1:27–28 ESV

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

The word “dominion” means “rule.” Interestingly, in the Arabic, the twin word means “tread, trample” (rada).

Luke 10:19 TPT

19 Now you understand that I have imparted to you all my authority to trample over his kingdom. You will trample upon every demon before you and overcome every power Satan possesses. Absolutely nothing will be able to harm you as you walk in this authority.

The enemy’s kingdom has authority over all the kingdoms of the world and their glory UNTIL the ekklesia changes that (Luke 4:5). Unfortunately, the enemy has been more shrewd is seeking to influence the influencers than the people of God have been. We’ve been concerned with church attendance, tithes, parking lots, buildings, pet doctrines, denominations, and our own petties grievances and offenses.

We’ve lost understanding of our role in civil government, where our focus should be, and how to take nations. And we’re paying for it here in America. I once heard someone say that if America sneezes, the earth has a heart attack meaning that the health of America directly affects all other nations. We are THE superpower and the reason we are is HOW God set this country up in the beginning, which we’ll get into in depth later.

But for right now, I want to show you the governmental and civil nature of the kingdom of God from the very start.

In the beginning, Adam and Eve were co-rulers over the earth and everything in it until they ate from the tree and abdicated their rule to the enemy.
The very first challenge post flood was at the tower of Babel from Nimrod, the first world ruler and conquerer (Gen 11).
God told Abram that from him he would make “a great nation” (Gen 12:2).
Abram also had his own army who fought against other armies of nations and won.
Abram and his descendants regularly interfaced with world ruler and even made treaties with them as needed (Gen 21:22).
From Jacob came the 12 tribes, which formed the nation of Israel.
Joseph ruled and was successful in all that he did eventually becoming second to Pharaoh in Egypt (Gen 41:40).
Moses was a governmental leader who led a nation out of the world’s superpower of the time, Egypt. He was trained in Pharaoh’s house to rule but left it all. He helped establish the laws governing the nation of Israel, called a Lawgiver, which came directly from God. He formed the worship system after the pattern God gave him.
Joshua took Moses’ place and led the Israelites into the promise land to drive out the nations and establish Israel as a nation fulfilling the prophecy given to Abraham in Gen. 15:13-16).
God raised up King David to be the greatest king of the earth followed by his son, Solomon. Unfortunately, Solomon’s unfaithfulness to God opened the door to gross idolatry and judgment later. Each king interacted with other world rulers.
Solomon’s fame tied to the name of God went throughout all of the world attracting world rulers’ to consult with him and to solve problems. He is THE best example of the role of the ekklesia in the earth today.
All the prophets interacted with rulers and worked with rulers—Elijah, Nathan, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, etc. Their job was to primarily influence the kings of Israel and Judah but also addressed the kings of other nations.
Daniel served the leaders of Babylon starting with Nebuchadnezzar through the Medo-Persian rule until his death along with his friends and colleagues.
Jesus was of the lineage of David, the first true king of Israel. He came to establish the Kingdom of God referenced in Daniel. He established His ruling council and gave us the charge to expand His kingdom and disciple nations. He regularly interacted with both religious and political leaders as directed by Holy Spirit.
Paul is the best example of a marketplace apostle and influencer. Everywhere he went, he ministered to political leaders—governors, mayors, military leaders, etc. In fact, his entire goal (other than evangelizing 70 nations to reverse the curse of Mt. Hermon), was to get to Rome and speak with Caesar.

All the other examples in the Bible were not just concerned with growing a church in a building (in fact they didn’t exist yet). They were concerned with taking nations just like Jesus told them to and that required influencing the hearts of those over those nations.

Beware of the Leaven

Mark 8:14–21 ESV

14 Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” 16 And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. 17 And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” 20 “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” 21 And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”

I want to break this verse down for you so you know what will be absolutely necessary as a marketplace apostle, a solutionary and influencer.

The phrase “watch out” means “to come to understand as the result of perception—to understand, to perceive, to see or recognize.” Beware is “to be ready to learn about future dangers or needs, with the implication of preparedness to respond appropriately.” One is to recognize and the other is to prepare now to respond to a future danger—leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod. What exactly is this leaven? Many try to over spiritualize it but Jesus told us plainly what it is in Luke 12:1.

Luke 12:1–3 ESV

1 In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.

The leaven is hypocrisy. Let’s read both verses in the Passion.

Mark 8:15 TPT

15 And as they were sailing across the lake, Jesus repeatedly warned them, “Be on your guard against the yeast inside of the Pharisees and the yeast inside of Herod!”

Luke 12:1–3 TPT

1 By now a crowd of many thousands had gathered around Jesus. So many people pushed to be near him, they began to trample on one another. Jesus turned to his disciples and warned them, “Make sure you are not influenced by the hypocrisy and phoniness of the religious leaders. It permeates everything they do and teach, for they are merely serving their own interests. 2 Everything hidden and covered up will soon be exposed. For the facade is falling down, and nothing will be kept secret for long. 3 Whatever you have spoken in private will be public knowledge, and what you have whispered secretly behind closed doors will be broadcast far and wide for all to hear.

Hypocrisy are hidden motives and agendas that serve the interests of the one hiding them while acting like someone else on the outside a.k.a. being phony. Leaven in the Greek is a fig. ext. that denotes “hypocritical behavior, probably implying hidden attitudes and motivations.” In Matthew 16:6, Jesus confined leaven as their teachings as well, which is hypocritical teaching meaning they said one thing but did something quite different. There’s only one leaven permissible and that’s the leaven of the kingdom. Any other kind of leaven is destructive because it’s sin, which disturbs and penetrates daily life (1 Cor. 5:7).

The Greek definition for hypocrisy is “to give an impression of having certain purposes or motivations, while in reality having quite different ones.” It’s to pretend. It was “generally used for flattery or evil deception.” It was originally used to describe “playing a stage role.” It’s something that God cannot tolerate (Job 22:16). Idolatry is considered a form of hypocrisy (Deut. 18:13).

It is equated with falsehood and lying, especially in John. It corrupts the conscience and cannot receive the truth. Its eye is on man not God. It can only defend itself through the persecution of others (John 8:37). What is outwardly performed is most important versus what is believed in the heart. And it’s even tied to blaspheming the Holy Spirit (Matt 12:22-37; Mark 3:20-30).

The opposite of hypocrisy is purity and sincerity. You’re the same in front of people as when no one is looking. You don’t act or put on a show. You are more focused on inward transformation that manifests outwardly versus with externals that mean nothing. Being real and authentic is a core value. You say what you mean and mean what you say.

The warning is twofold: recognize and be ready for it as you would any other dangerous thing and nothing that is covered up will remain hidden. I think this warning is particularly important because when you start influencing influencers of nations, you will be around a lot of hypocrites but also be tempted to be something on the outside that you are not in order to feel included or gain access. Jesus never adjusted who He was based on His audience. He spoke the truth to ALL audiences.

Peter and Paul

Galatians 1:10 ESV

10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

This epitomizes Paul. He had learned to live before an audience of One. He wasn’t interested in man’s approval and didn’t care about their disapproval. Peter, on the other hand, struggled in this area.

Galatians 2:11–14 ESV

11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

Peter would act like a Gentile until the circumcision party came to town and suddenly he’d act like an observant Jew. Paul recognized this and that it was spreading (like leaven does) and put a stop to it immediately. Anytime you feel the need to act, STOP. You’re in dangerous territory. The best thing you can do is be a person of integrity.

Destination Church 3/11/19 Destination Church 3/11/19

The Black Robe Regiment

Podcast Transcript (Listen to episode here)

One of the most fascinating aspects of the formation of this country is the role clergy played. And let’s not forget the Biblical model of ministers influencing leaders and nations. Elijah’s entire ministry was confronting a wicked and unrighteous government under Ahab’s rule. Joseph was an influencer in Egypt. David was a king. Daniel served several world leaders as well as his friends. Of course, we are not to interact with world leaders and nations under the OT ministry of death (2 Cor. 3:7). Jesus gave us our instruction:

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

We are to teach them to observe all that Jesus commanded us. The OT is the Bible, God-inspired, but perfect theology is Jesus who came to give life; therefore, we must make sure that Acts 10:38 is the Spirit we operate in.

Acts 10:38 ESV

38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

We are to engage nations and national leaders. The idea that we are going outside our bounds just doesn’t like up with the Bible. The idea that clergy shouldn’t be involved in government or science started in the 1920’s and 30’s. Even in the book of Acts, you see Paul’s main call and focus was the leaders of mountains.

Acts 9:15 ESV

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.

Before Gentiles, KINGS, and the children of Israel. This is why he was determined to get before Caesar. From the foundation of America, Christians leaders felt it was their duty to engage government. For many, the way of government was a reflection of the way of the church and her leaders. Morality was for them key in whether a nation survived.

The Real Influence

When you think of America’s founders, you might think of Paul Revere, John Hancock, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and John Adams as the most instrumental. And you would not be wrong. But John Adams himself declared that the “Rev. Dr. Jonathan Mayhew and the Rev. Dr. Samuel Cooper were two of the individuals ‘most conspicuous, the most ardent, and influential’ in the ‘awakening and revival of American principles and feelings’ that led to our independence” (The Role of Pastors and Christians in Civil Government).

Other ministers include George Whitfield (who became a good friend of Benjamin Franklin), James Caldwell, and brothers, John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg and Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg. How did these ministers help lead the way to independence? It was the work they did in “shaping the thinking of the nation, and…the work of Christians in founding our government.”

Let’s look at the shaping of the thinking of our nation. Today, sermons are easily captured by video, audio, or text and distributed throughout the world within seconds. We have thousands of Christian books we can easily purchase in both written or digital format. We have podcasts. The access to Christian material is unprecedented. Unfortunately, with it comes a lot of wrong doctrine and man’s ideas that have no basis in Scripture. But we are definitely blessed with technology and with that comes the power to influence others more easily and on a wider scale than back in our founders’ days.

For them, they would produce what was called a “published sermon.” Only a small fraction of a minister’s sermons were published because of the considerable amount of time and money to do so. Only sermons with an especially high demand were published. And a high-demand sermon was one that had a life-changing significant impact on those who heard it.

Looking back at the published sermons reveals what most interested the nation and what the church believed. There were topics on earthquakes (after one hit New England in 1755), the Great Fire in Boston, the solar eclipse, and even a sermon on “A Moral View of Railroads.” Whatever was important and practical for the citizens, clergy taught on. There are even sermons on aging as well as executing criminals! These were called occasional sermons and were topics that Americans wanted to understand and gain a Biblical point of view. Surveys have shown the same desire to know what the Bible says on abortion, borders, and more. But for some reason we stay away from these.

They would also publish “annual sermons” like the once-a-year practice of preaching the Artillery Sermon to local military using the scriptures to lay out the proper role of the military. Another annual sermon was the Election Sermon. The first documented Election Sermon was in 1634 in Virginia. It was the longest form of annual sermon in America.

These sermons emphasized their dual citizenship as citizens of heaven but also citizens of America, a “stewardship government that belonged to ‘We the people.’” This sermon outlined what God expected from their stewardship like civil duties, selection of leaders, the scriptures on the election process, and more. Often these sermons were regularly preached before our founding fathers like John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and before the Council, Senate, and House of Representatives.

Another sermon was “A Voice of Warning to Christians in the Ensuing Election of a President of the United States.” Ministers would set forth the candidates’ and parties’ positions, compared them to the Bible, and advised whether a Christian should vote nor note vote for a candidate. Why? They understood that there is not any Biblical model where God’s ministers remained silent with civil leaders or about civil issues.

On top of the sermons, many ministers served in civil government. Thomas Jefferson encouraged the lifting of restrictions against ministers holding office in Virginia. Many states had no such restrictions or they were reserved against specific denominations like Catholicism. He said, “I observe…[in the Virginia] Constitution an abridgement of [a] right…I do no approve. It is the incapacitation of a clergyman from being elected.”

The Declaration of Independence

Many found fathers attribute one man, John Locke, for most of the ideas in our Declaration. John Locke was considered a theologian and wrote a verse-by-verse commentary on Paul’s epistles as well as a topical Bible called, “Common Place-Book to the Holy Bible” that listed verses in the Bible by subject. He was not a deist as many claim. In fact, when Christianity was attacked by anti-religious enlightenment thinkers, he defended Christianity in his book, “Reasonableness of Christianity as Delivered by the Scriptures,” and then when he was attacked because of that book, he responded with another, “A Vindication of the Reasonableness of Christianity.”

However, his “Two Treatises of Government” was the most influential in the Founders’ philosophy in the Declaration. In fact, one signer, Richard Henry Lee, said that the Declaration was copied from Locke’s treatises. The book is less than 400 pages long but Locke included 1500 Bible references “to show the proper operation of civil government.” (Role)

The Constitution

Our country is the longest on-going constitutional republic in the history of the world. Our constitution was not a compilation of the best clauses and ideas from others countries but was and is an original and uniquely American document. This then begs the question of where the ideas came from.

Political scientists have had the same question so they took on the task of analyzing some 15,000 writings from the Found Era over 10 years with the goal of isolating and identifying the “specific political sources quoted during the time surrounding the establishment of American government.” (Role) They felt that if they identified the sources of the quotes, they could figure out the origins of the Founders’ political ideas. Their project revealed that the single most cited authority was the Bible, a whopping 34%. Everything from immigration laws to citizenship to capital punishment to the branches of government to tax exemptions for churches (that still exist today), a republic form of government including election of officials, and much more.

READ PAGES 18-20 BRACKETED IN ROLE

The esteem our Founders held Christianity is what created a welcoming environment of other faiths. To them Christianity was far superior and need to worry about other religions.

Biblical Basis for Voting

Podcast Transcript (Listen to episode here)

Proverbs 29:2 NKJV

2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.

The founding fathers quoted this principle more often than any other. And they also understood that no matter how good our documents or laws are, they are useless under wicked rule. In America, we decide whether the righteous or the wicked rule. We have that choice. But due to wrong theology or a passivity or maybe a general lack of desire for any of the candidates running, we’ve not taken voting as seriously as we should. And let me be clear—the most important elections are local and state because the order of authority according to our founding documents is we the people then state then the federal government. If your local and state governments are not righteous or corrupt, there is no defence against an overreaching government on all levels.

I heard one man say that while many conservatives have been voting Republican in federal elections, we’ve lost a nation. We’ve been distracted with just the federal elections thinking the president is the most important. Again, it’s local leaders, county leaders, school boards, state leaders, etc. that will determine the direction of this nation. It’s kind of like the idea of evangelizing a city but it remains unchanged. We must learn how to take mountains.

In recent presidential elections, 41 percent of born again Christians did not vote. If only 10 million of these had voted along with other Christians, it would determine the outcome not only of the presidential race but also the control of the US House and Senate. So why are Christians not voting?

Why Are Christians Not Voting?

I believe the dominant reason is not understanding its importance and the power we hold by voting. Some might say that our vote doesn’t count, that we are no longer (or never were) a Christian nation, that neither candidate is qualified or likable, or that we are not supposed to be infected with the leaven of Herod a.k.a. politics.

Let me address each:

I will concede that there have been numerous corrupt elections (probably from the start during our found fathers’ days), but proof that our vote does count was seen in Donald Trump’s election. No one—not the media or other politicians—believed Trump has a snowball’s chance in hell to win the election. It was a joke. He was a joke. But he won because many, many more went to the polls and voted for him than they expected; therefore, any nefarious activity fell short. A more recent example is in Virginia where a Republican beat out the democrat. In presidential elections, you might have 30% plus show up as poll watchers to make sure there’s no shady activity. Ninety-five percent at this election showed up prohibiting such activities. The same thing should have been done in New Jersey. Volume and poll watching are going to be crucial in every election this point forward.
There’s way too much evidence that we were a Christian nation than I can get into now. But let me give you some background.
READ SOME OUT OF “THE ROLE OF THE PASTORS & CHRISTIANS” & THE AMERICAN STORY.
Entire colonies were formed to preserve Christianity or expand it such as Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
And, don’t forget, the clergy that played a role in founding this nation and the war starting on a church’s lawn by a pastor with his congregation, which I detailed in Black Robe Regiment.
And listen to this quote from the U.S. Congress after a year long investigation into whether America was founded on Christian principles in 1854. READ PG 21-22.
Unfortunately, there’s a lot of teaching out there that erroneously teaches that our founding fathers were Masons and designed this nation based on that demonic group but that’s not true.
Go into some of that from the book.
I’m going to dive into the idea of the likability of candidates later in this teaching, but nowhere in our documents or laws or the Bible is a leader to be picked because they are likable or SEEM qualified. We are to use discernment and righteousness, which I’ll define in a moment.
And, finally, Jesus defined what the leaven of Herod was—political hypocrisy. God does not like hypocrisy or being fake and play acting that you’re one thing while actually being someone else. This was never to be a statement not to be in politics. Moses, Joseph, Daniel, David were all in politics. In fact, the founding fathers took Romans 13:4 that refers to governing authorities as ministers literal and many ministers were also in government. What better place for us as governmental people than in government?

“To have been given the power to determine the quality of our government and its leaders, and then not to use that power, is reminiscent of the servant who received a trust from the Master and decided not to do anything with it—not to get involved.” (David Barton).

What Makes One Righteous?

Righteousness in the Greek is “dikaiosune” and means justice. It is the essence of “to dikaion,” that which is just. It’s the “act of doing what God requires.” Listen to this:

The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament 1343. δικαιοσύνη dikaiosúnē

and in the case of the nonbeliever, the claims of that higher authority which a person adopts as his own standard. Dikaiosúnē, righteousness, is thus conformity to the claims of higher authority and stands in opposition to anomía (458), lawlessness.

For the person who does not know God, righteousness is the idea that there is a higher authority and as such adopts that as his own standard in government. You see this with the least of religious leaders like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. But listen to what these had to say and what they also did.

READ PG 23-24 (THE CHRISTIANS ROLE IN GOVERNMENT)

I’m sure you can see why the enemy has worked overtime through vain philosophies and feckless leaders both in the church and government to remove all traces of God from the government, schools, court system, etc. If man doesn’t at least acknowledge God and have some type of respect for Him and His people then that person will be lawless.

It’s not necessarily whether a nation is Christian or not but how that nation treats the people of God that determines whether it’s a sheep nation or a goat nation.

Matthew 25:31–46 NKJV

31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ 41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ 44 “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

For America we were founded as a Christian nation; therefore, we must reverse the curse and within our Constitutional Republic that is by education and elections.

Proverbs 29:2 ESV

2 When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.

And here is the one thing that we as believers should hold as a standard when voting for leaders—abortion. I’m amazed how Christians will dismiss this as if it’s a pesky fly or will justify voting for someone who believes in abortion because they don’t like the other candidate or their demeanor. I’ve even had people tell me that the person they voted for couldn’t believe in abortion because they’re Catholic. That’s no longer the case because across all denominations there is a breakdown of righteous thought.

Don’t Trade for the Beautiful

For some reason, Christians have gotten it inside their heads that we must vote for a Christian leader. The reality is we must vote for the one He has anointed. This requires discernment because often we look at the outside not the inside of a person or even where God is operating.

1 Samuel 16:1 ESV

1 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.”

1 Samuel 16:6–13 ESV

6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.” 12 And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

This is one of THE best examples of what I’m talking about. And choosing a leader based on externals or mean tweets can be disastrous. Let me give you some context for the next example we’re going to look at—Absalom.

Absalom was one of David’s sons. He had a sister named Tamar and a half brother named Amnon. Amnon lusted after his sister and finally one day tricked her into caring for him while he pretended to be sick. He raped her and the supposed “love” he had for her turned into hatred. And David did nothing. Tamar was sent off as a ruined woman never to marry and Amnon got away with it. Absalom was very angry and bitter.

One day he invited his brother to a banquet and killed him. Instead of David executing justice, Absalom executed justice. David then executed judgment against Absalom and exiled him, which is absolutely fascinating. Neither is right. David should have punished his son and Absalom shouldn’t have taken matters into his own hands. Eventually, Joab convinced David to send for Absalom.

2 Samuel 14:22–24 ESV

22 And Joab fell on his face to the ground and paid homage and blessed the king. And Joab said, “Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord the king, in that the king has granted the request of his servant.” 23 So Joab arose and went to Geshur and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. 24 And the king said, “Let him dwell apart in his own house; he is not to come into my presence.” So Absalom lived apart in his own house and did not come into the king’s presence.

Even though he said he could come back, he refused to see him! Absolutely baffling and unfair!

2 Samuel 14:25–28 ESV

25 Now in all Israel there was no one so much to be praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. 26 And when he cut the hair of his head (for at the end of every year he used to cut it; when it was heavy on him, he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head, two hundred shekels by the king’s weight. 27 There were born to Absalom three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar. She was a beautiful woman. 28 So Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, without coming into the king’s presence.

English Standard Version Chapter 14

31 Then Joab arose and went to Absalom at his house and said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?” 32 Absalom answered Joab, “Behold, I sent word to you, ‘Come here, that I may send you to the king, to ask, “Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me to be there still.” Now therefore let me go into the presence of the king, and if there is guilt in me, let him put me to death.’ ” 33 Then Joab went to the king and told him, and he summoned Absalom. So he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king, and the king kissed Absalom.

First, we see that Absalom was very handsome. Beautiful, in fact. For two full years Absalom lived in Jerusalem without ever seeing his father. Then when he tried to call for Joab to discuss it, Joab refused until Absalom set his field on fire to get his attention. Basically, Absalom is like why am I even here. I could have stayed in exile.

2 Samuel 15:1–6 ESV

1 After this Absalom got himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him. 2 And Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the way of the gate. And when any man had a dispute to come before the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, “From what city are you?” And when he said, “Your servant is of such and such a tribe in Israel,” 3 Absalom would say to him, “See, your claims are good and right, but there is no man designated by the king to hear you.” 4 Then Absalom would say, “Oh that I were judge in the land! Then every man with a dispute or cause might come to me, and I would give him justice.” 5 And whenever a man came near to pay homage to him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him. 6 Thus Absalom did to all of Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

Absalom is operating in the leaven of Herod using political intrigue to take over the kingdom. The problem with that is that God didn’t select him to be king. He selected David and then Solomon after him. The kissing of his hand is what you do to kings back then and even today in some parts. Absalom tricks his father requesting permission to go to Hebron to pay a vow and while there is crowned as king. The ploy didn’t work. You can read all about it in 2 Samuel.

The main thing is that David had made many mistakes and had a man murdered. He was horrible at dealing with family issues. And his ineptitude put the country in turmoil. Absalom appeared so attractive to the citizens. He listened to them. He lamented their lack of representation. He gained their support. And ended up dead because God had NOT chosen him. He might have been a “better” king but he wasn’t chosen.

Cyrus

Isaiah 45:1–6 ESV

1 Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed: 2 “I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, 3 I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name. 4 For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know me. 5 I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, 6 that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other.

Cyrus was the pagan king of Persia that defeated Babylon. He was also the king that allowed the exiles to go back to Jerusalem and rebuild. He didn’t know God. It says plainly that God named him and would equip him even though he didn’t know Him for the sake of His people. Cyrus is called His anointed. God grasped his right hand and put him in as king.

Here’s another example of God using a pagan ruler.

2 Chronicles 35:20–23 ESV

20 After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Neco king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to meet him. 21 But he sent envoys to him, saying, “What have we to do with each other, king of Judah? I am not coming against you this day, but against the house with which I am at war. And God has commanded me to hurry. Cease opposing God, who is with me, lest he destroy you.” 22 Nevertheless, Josiah did not turn away from him, but disguised himself in order to fight with him. He did not listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God, but came to fight in the plain of Megiddo. 23 And the archers shot King Josiah. And the king said to his servants, “Take me away, for I am badly wounded.”

Here we see that Pharaoh Neco is on a divine mission from God to war against the Assyrians but Josiah didn’t hear God in Neco’s words. God had anointed Neco to fight the Assyrians and Josiah got in the way and it cost him his life.

In 2020, this country chose the one who sounded peaceful and unifying and seemed more pleasant than Trump only to find a wicked and lawless leader who has done everything he can to destroy this country.

The most important gift we need right now is discernment. We traded the “orange man” in for the beautiful man and instead got corruption.

“Now more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand those high qualities to represent them in the national legislature…[I]f the next centennial does not find us a great nation…it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces.” James Garfield.

We have failed in controlling the political forces. Sixty-nine percent of the nation says that keeping religion out of schools and government has gone to far, 61% support prayer in schools, 74% want the 10 commandments back in the classroom, and 64% oppose late-term abortion. So why are the majority not being represented? Because we have abdicated our influence by not being involved at the polls and in the mountain of government. Listen to what Charles Finney, a leader in America’s Second and Third Great Awakenings said:

“The church must take the right ground in regard to politics…[T]he time has come that Christians must vote for honest men and take consistent ground in politics…Christians have been exceedingly guilty in this matter. But the time has come when they must act differently…God cannot sustain this free and blessed country which we love and pray for unless the church will take right ground…It seems sometimes as if the foundations of the nation are becoming rotten, and Christians seem to act as if they think God does not see what they do in politics. But I tell you He does see it, and He will bless or curse this nation according to the course [Christians] take [in politics].”

It’s on us. Our culture has moved the wrong way because of our lack of involvement. We are the most powerful force. Just as we were in the Revolutionary War and in the abolishing of slavery, we are now at that time in history, an epoch, where we will either save this country or lose it. We are the restraining force that is sustaining America. If America falls, so does all of the world. It is up to us to leave a legacy for our grandchildren and great grandchildren. We must not be as Hezekiah who didn’t care what happened to his family once he was gone. We must rouse ourselves from our complacency and take action to save America.

“There is no dissonance in these declarations. There is a universal language pervading them all, having one meaning; they affirm and reaffirm that this is a religious nation…this is a Christian nation.” U.S. Supreme Court 1892.

Destination Church 3/11/19 Destination Church 3/11/19

Romans 13 & Peaceful Non-Compliance

Podcast Transcript (Listen to episode here)

Romans 13:1 ESV

1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

This verse is the perfect example of why it is the SUM of the word that is truth not parts of the word. Any time a part is made a sum, it is deception. It was during COVID, that I heard this verse quoted more than in my 32 years of being a Christian as the reason churches shut down, submitted to mask mandates, and some are even submitting to the so-called vaccine (it’s really a gene modifier not an actual vaccine).

And, yet, n this context of submitting to governing authorities, there are numerous examples of the people of God resisting unjust government, which we’ll get into in-depth. So who is right?

In any argument, it is important to define the terms, which we’re going to do now, and then we will elaborate on who really has authority as far as the United States of America.

The word “governing” is “to exercise continuous control over someone or something” like kings, governors, etc. And please keep in mind that Paul lived under kings and rulers unlike here where we have a Constitutional Republic. Authorities is “one who has the authority to rule or govern.” And, finally, subject is “to submit to the orders or directives of someone.”

Ok. With the terms defined, you might think that all the pastors who obeyed the federal government and shut down their churches from the start are the right ones. But let’s go on.

The word “instituted” means “to cause someone to be in a state involving an order or arrangement.” It means “to place, set, appoint, arrange, order.” It’s also “to possess certain characteristics.” The idea here is that God defined and set in order proper authority and that it must possess certain characteristics. We know that righteousness and justice is the foundation of His throne and mercy and truth are always before Him; therefore, legal and proper authority is going to be based on righteousness (doing things the right way, which is His way) and justice. In addition, all righteous authority must keep truth and mercy before it or justice will become perverted and unsanctified mercy will become the deciding factor.

Romans 13:2–5 ESV

2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.

Listen to the Passion Translation:

Romans 13:1–5 TPT

1 Every person must submit to and support the authorities over him. For there can be no authority in the universe except by God’s appointment, which means that every authority that exists has been instituted by God. 2 So to resist authority is to resist the divine order of God, which results in severe consequences. 3 For civil authorities don’t intimidate those who are doing good, but those who are doing evil. So do what is right and you’ll never need to fear those in authority. They will commend you for your good citizenship. 4 Those in authority are God’s servants for the good of society. But if you break the law, you have reason to be alarmed, for they are God’s agents of punishment to bring criminals to justice. Why do you think they carry weapons? 5 You are compelled to obey them, not just to avoid punishment, but because you want to live with a clean conscience.

These passages were considered in the founding of our nation and defined the role of government—punish those doing evil with weapons and protect the rest of society. But what if civil authorities are corrupt and begin to go after the good? What then? Or what if they create laws that directly contradict God’s laws? All you have to do is read the books of Kings and see the disastrous rule of wicked leaders to see that what Paul wrote is the ideal original intent of God and yet it doesn’t always happen.

By the way, Paul then addresses taxes.

Romans 13:6–7 TPT

6 This is also the reason you pay your taxes, for governmental authorities are God’s officials who oversee these things. 7 So it is your duty to pay all the taxes and fees that they require and to respect those who are worthy of respect, honoring them accordingly.

What Do You Do When Government Goes Bad?

With the terms defined and the original intent of God established, let’s look at examples of government gone bad and the response of the people of God. I’m going to summarize with the scripture references for your own study.

Joseph. The best example is Joseph and Pharaoh. After Joseph interpreted the dream Pharaoh had plus advised the Pharaoh on what to do, he was appointed as second-in-command over all of Egypt. When the drought the Pharaoh dreamt about arrived, Egypt became the world’s superpower and Joseph’s family moved to Egypt. Pharaoh gave them the land of Goshen, a very fruitful and beautiful piece of land. And the Israelites prospered and grew until a new king “who did not know Joseph” came into power and began to fear how powerful the Israelites were. He feared that they might join any enemies in a war; therefore he enslaved all of Israel but that didn’t stop them. He then told the Hebrew midwives to kill all of the newborn male children. This coming from the king was a law and must be treated as such. If we go with the mindset of many today, they should have aborted the male children. Listen to their response: “ But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live.” The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ex 1:17). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. God blessed the midwives and gave them families, too. The Pharaoh commanded all his people to throw every Hebrew male into the Nile. God was not about to let the murdering of children go. He planted Moses in Pharaoh’s house, the very one that would bring down the world’s superpower was raised in that house. The midwives practiced peaceful noncompliance. Gen. 41-Exodus 1.
Moses. The entire confrontation of Moses against Pharaoh along with the 10 plagues was resisting unrighteous government to end slavery among his people and birth a nation. Moses was the first abolitionist. Exodus 3-14.
Rahab. She is another example of peaceful noncompliance. Fast forward to post Moses. Joshua is now the leader getting ready to take the Israelites into the Promise Land. But before crossing, Joshua sent two men (not 12 probably to avoid Moses’ mistake) to spy out Jericho. They lodged with Rahab, a prostitute. When the king found out, he demanded that she release the spies into his custody. Instead of obeying the king, she hid them and told the king that she didn’t know who the spies were and that they had left through the gate the night before. She then helped them escape Jericho with the promise that she and her family would be spared. Why? Because she had heard all that the Lord had done so far and she feared Him. She practiced peaceful noncompliance. Joshua 2.
Daniel and his friends. There are several examples of Daniel and his friends not obeying unrighteous and unjust government. The first started with the Babylonian’s National Nutrition Plan. The king assigned a daily portion of food and wine that Daniel determined not to defile himself with. He approached the chief eunuch with his dilemma and requested vegetables only. The chief agreed even at the expense of his own life by disobeying the king. Another example (and one that shows how crazy unjust rulers can be) is Daniel’s friends refusing to comply to Nebuchadnezzar’s law demanding everyone worship his image. When Darius became ruler, his wicked leaders persuaded him to create a law that said no one could pray to any god but Darius for a specific time. This appealed to his ego and he decreed it. Here’s what the Bible says, Daniel did, “10 When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.” The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Da 6:10). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. Daniel practiced peaceful noncompliance. When he was arrested, the king could not save him because he couldn’t revoke his own law. Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den but God saved him. Daniel 1; 3; 6.
Mordecai. We see another example of the Medo-Persian practice of making laws that cannot be revoked in the story of Esther. Mordecai practiced peaceful noncompliance with Haman, which provoked him to wrath. He convinced the King to write a law that would allow all Jews to be exterminated. Once this evil plot was exposed, the king couldn’t revoke his own law but made another that empowered the Israelites to take up arms and defend themselves. Suddenly no one wanted to fight them. The Book of Esther
The Apostles. The book of Acts is filled with peaceful noncompliance and the use of citizenship as an aide to protection. The first instance is right after Peter and John healed the lame beggar. As Peter preached the gospel of the kingdom, the priests, the captain of the temple (same ones that arrested Jesus that night), and the Sadduccees came to see what was going on and were incensed. They brought them before the same council and leaders that crucified Jesus and asked them by what “power or by what name did you do this?” The implication is basically in whose authority are you doing these things. Peter preached to them and they admonished them not to speak the name of Jesus again. Peter and John said, “But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ac 4:19–20). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. Acts 3 and 4.

Later they were arrested and put in prison. An angel set them free and told them to go preach at the temple directly opposing the religious leaders’ charge not to preach the name of Jesus. When the leaders found them disobeying them, they said, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.” The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ac 5:28–29). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. Acts 5.

You have Paul and Silas arrested in Philippi. After the Lord sent an earthquake to free them, they remained there and converted the jailer. They then questioned the authorities if they had a right to beat uncondemned men who were Roman citizens. Of course, they didn’t and set them free with an apology. All of these practiced peaceful noncompliance and here with Paul used his rights as a citizen for his defense. Acts 16:35-40.

The antagonist in ALL of these stories were unrighteous government with some unrighteous religious leaders thrown in. Some laws are no law before God. And some rulers are no rulers before God.

Hosea 8:4 ESV

4 They made kings, but not through me. They set up princes, but I knew it not. With their silver and gold they made idols for their own destruction.

1 Samuel 8:5 ESV

5 and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.”

1 Samuel 8:18 ESV

18 And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”

Later we’ll get into voting and how important it is for us to vote, but as you can see from these three verses, it is possible to install leaders that are not God’s choice. We must beware of Christian Buddhists (JC Hall).

Going back to all of the shutdowns, mask mandates, and more, it’s important to recognize that we don’t live under kings; therefore, mandates and decrees are not laws we must obey. They carry no legal authority. But let me specifically provide a verse that is in opposition to church shutdowns.

Hebrews 10:25 NKJV

25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

The word assembling is not referring to a “solitary or occasional act but as customary conduct.” So whom are we to obey? God or man? The church has more legal precedent in this country than the federal government has. In fact, it was the church that helped form many of the states, write their constitutions and bill of rights, and the Revolutionary War actually started on the church lawn of Jonas Clarke when 70 of his congregation confronted the British who opened fire on them, which takes me to the next point—who actually has the most authority in America?

The True Source of Authority in America

What exactly makes a government just here in America? It’s the consent of the people because it was the PEOPLE that began to form the colonies later termed states. A simple examination of the formation of the 13 colonies reveals a pattern of those who came over from Europe would establish governmental structure that included a constitution and/or bill of rights to protect the rights of the people in that state. All of them included religious rights. You’ll also find that most often it was either clergy who created these documents and governments or clergy working with non-clergy to do so.

Listen to the Declaration of Independence:

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

The people instituted the governments in this country TO SECURE OUR INALIENABLE RIGHTS. No state or federal constitution gives us our rights. God gave us our rights; therefore, no man is to take them away. We the people created the states; therefore, we the people possess the true authority of the states.

People > the states

After the Revolutionary War, the founding fathers recognized that we must unite as states in order to secure our posterity. At that time, we joined together to fight a common enemy but each state was independent and separate from one another (sovereign) but it was also recognized that if we were joined together as sovereign states under a common union, we would be better protected against outside enemies. Even so, many states were very, very reluctant to create a federal government because they saw how well that went in England.

The founding fathers set to work on the Constitution of the United States of America. Here is the beginning defining purpose of it:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

There’s that “we the people again.” Here is the responsibility of the federal government:

1. Form a more perfect union (Matt. 12:25).

2. Establish justice (Rom. 13).

3. Ensure domestic tranquility (1 Tim. 2:1-3).

4. Provide for the common defense (Rom. 13).

5. Promote the general welfare (not welfare as in handouts) (1 Tim. 2:1-3).

6. Secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our children.

Most of the structure of the government and wording of our founding documents were from scripture and sermons preached back in that time. These six things are the responsibility of the federal government.

In order to pass the constitution, they needed nine states to ratify, which means “express consent.” All 13 states did provide consent but several only consented with the express demand for a Bill of Rights that clarified some of the things in the constitution. Let me quote you Amendment 10:

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

This is where the idea of “states rights” come into play. But here is an even more important key—the states created the federal government, therefore, the states have more authority than the federal government.

states > federal government

The federal government was severely limited in its powers. The states were limited in its powers by the people.

people > states > federal government

So what has happened? Ignorance of our founding documents and history is the first “what happened?”. Second came the states refusing to say “no” to federal government encroachment. And third, the people not demanding that their state-elected officials live by their own state constitution and the US Constitution. Over many many decades, we’ve lost more and more individual rights and states’ rights, which has now positioned us in a precarious state.

Urgent education is crucial in this day and hour. And just like in the beginning of this country, it is going to take the believers to save it. A just government is at the consent of the people. As believers we must ask, “Are they ruling justly according to the state constitution?” If not, we are to peacefully non-comply. And the sheriff is key to this. Every county in this nation must have a constitutional sheriff because just as the Constitution is the highest law of the land, the sheriff is the highest law enforcement of the land and has more authority than the president of the United States because he was elected BY THE PEOPLE unlike all other law enforcement officers. A sheriff that is not constitutional will carry out orders that violate our rights if he or she is not careful.

The Answer

The answer lies in local, county, and state governments because that’s where the real authority and power are located. We’ve been distracted with federal elections for decades and have almost lost this country. Urgent education, peaceful noncompliance, active engagement in local, county, and state elections, including running for office, and electing constitutional sheriffs will turn this country back around. Elect leaders only that support the constitution and get out of office those that don’t. It only takes 3.5% of a population to change things through peaceful noncompliance.

SOMEWHERE GO INTO THE CRAFTSMAN ASPECT FROM BILL JOHNSON’S MESSAGE, WHEN AT WAR, CREATE.

Page . Exported from Logos Bible Study, 2:33 PM August 9, 2024.

Destination Church 3/11/19 Destination Church 3/11/19

The Christian & Patriotism

Podcast Transcript (Listen to episode here)

With this rich history of the governmental role of God’s people throughout the Bible as well as New Testament examples of influence, it’s important to trace the history of God in America and address the question of patriotism. Now, if you’re not from America, take the lessons you’ll learn here and apply them there!

Many believers feel that you can’t be patriotic to one’s country and loyal to the kingdom of God. This idea is short-sighted at best because God’s intent it to give the nations to His Son as an inheritance, which is why Jesus gave us authority to disciple nations.

Psalm 2:7–8 ESV

7 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.

The best way to disciple a nation is with indigenous peoples. One’s loyalty to one’s country should never trump loyalty to God. Even so, loyalty to one’s country a.k.a. patriotism is actually a natural progression of one’s loyal love to God because He loves nations like He does people.

Let me give you an example:

Luke 19:35–40 ESV

35 And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

This event is extremely significant because it’s tied to Daniel’s 70 weeks prophecy.

Daniel 9:24–26 (ESV)

The Seventy Weeks

24 “Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. 25 Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. 26 And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed.

From the decree to the coming of the Prince was fulfilled to the exact day when Jesus role a colt into Jerusalem. Exact. And by riding a colt, He was coming in peace for a king riding a horse was coming to war (Rev 19:11-16). The phrase “an anointed one shall be cut off” is very interesting. It means “to make a covenant,” which is what Jesus did but also is a word used to describe a capital punishment of death--”kill i.e. put to death by any means.” The next event is that the “people of the prince (the counterfeit a.k.a. antichrist) to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.

Back in Luke 19, we see the people rejoicing and crying out the Messianic praise of, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.” The people were recognizing Jesus as the Messiah, and the Pharisees did not like it and demanded that He rebuke His disciples. No one understood that Jesus’ first coming was to destroy the works of the devil and His second destroy the enemies of God, His people, and His city. Jesus response was that if these were silent, the stones would cry out.” I like how the Passion says that the stones would “break forth with praises!”

Luke 19:41–44 (ESV)

Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem

41 And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, 42 saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side 44 and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

The word “wept” is UNCONTROLLABLE WEEPING. Jesus could not be consoled. Why? Because the hardness of the religious leaders’ hearts blinded them to the very visitation of the Prince prophesied by Daniel. Because they did not “know the time of your visitation,” Jesus saw the fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy that after He was cut off, “the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed.” That’s exactly what happened. In 70 AD, General Titus took Jerusalem completely destroying the city and burning the Second Temple down to where not one stone was left.

But here is the main point: Jesus was loyal to God and yet wept uncontrollably over His beloved city and country at the destruction coming. He was patriotic.

Patriotism is defined as “a person who loves, supports, and defends his or her country and its interests with devotion.” God has been devoted to His nation for millennia but His devotion to Israel did not trump His devotion to mankind whom He loved; therefore, God became man and kicked off the first part of Daniel’s prophecy: “Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place.”

Thank God He included us in His work of finishing THE transgression (started with Adam and Eve), putting an end to sin, and atoning for iniquity. He restored righteousness to all who believe. But that work includes His original nation. The problem was that the fallen state of man could not do this work; therefore, God came as sinless man and did it for us creating a covenant with us. And, now, we are citizens of His kingdom.

Judas didn’t understand this epoch. He, like many including the other apostles, thought that Jesus was coming in the role of an earthly king to drive out Israel’s enemies and hearken an age of liberty for Israel that would continue forever. That is coming but not in His first coming. Because Judas ascribed to Jesus a role He was not there to do at that time, he became offended and betrayed Him. But does that mean that there is never a time for conflict to free a nation? Absolutely not. God will ALWAYS exhaust all options before war. War is man’s decision not God’s.

This takes us to the second definition of patriot, which is “a person who regards himself or herself as a defender, especially of individual rights, against presumed interference by the federal government.” Here’s the deal. Individual rights are not GIVEN TO US by man or even documents no matter how brilliant like our Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights. These documents were created to protect our INALIENABLE RIGHTS GIVEN TO US BY GOD against unjust government. Our rights come from God; therefore, a patriot is one who is committed to defend individual rights from unjust governments.

The Revolutionary War

Ecclesiastes 3:8 ESV

8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

As stated, when the Lord returns a second time He is returning to wage war but He first had to wage war against the enemy and judge him before waging war against His physical enemies. Our job is to recognize the time we are in.

1 Chronicles 12:32 ESV

32 Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command.

Fast forward to America. We are British subjects who have established 13 colonies all loyal to the King of England until their loyalty to God created a conflict. You see, the Pilgrims came to America to establish a government that recognized individual inalienable rights. One of those rights was freedom to worship, which was not allowed in England. Even though, they were British subjects, they were establishing liberty over here that would eventually culminate in a stand off with England. How? How did our founding fathers recognize and understand the need to form a new country?

I highly, highly recommend Krisanne Hall’s teachings on all of this at libertyfirstsociety.com. She is America’s constitutional lawyer and has researched it all from ORIGINAL SOURCE DOCUMENTS or “straight from the horses’ mouths.” And one thing she has discovered is that our founding documents were actually formed over 760 years (1016 to be exact) from five original documents--the 1100 Charter of Liberties, the Magna Carta, the Petition of 1628, the Grand Remonstrance of 1641, and the English Bill of Rights.

It was through the progression and mistakes of a totalitarian government from the throne that our founding fathers learned from and formed a Constitutional Republic. We are NOT a democracy nor are we a democratic republic. We are a CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC. And with the power and wisdom of God, they recognized that our rights don’t come from man or documents but from God; therefore, in the pre-amble of our Declaration of Independence from England, they penned that the purpose of government is “to secure these rights,” our natural rights (God-given). That’s the ONLY purpose. These were then outlined in our Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Even then, some were concerned that any government would mistakenly assume that our rights came from them using our founding documents. In fact, it was this fear that caused the Danbury Baptists Association of Connecticut to write Thomas Jefferson about their concerns. In his letter, he wrote:

Gentlemen

The affectionate sentiments of esteem and approbation which you are so good as to express towards me, on behalf of the Danbury Baptist association, give me the highest satisfaction. my duties dictate a faithful and zealous pursuit of the interests of my constituents, & in proportion as they are persuaded of my fidelity to those duties, the discharge of them becomes more and more pleasing.

Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.

I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection & blessing of the common father and creator of man, and tender you for yourselves & your religious association, assurances of my high respect & esteem.

Th Jefferson
Jan. 1. 1802.

The separation of church and state as a phrase is not in the Constitution but as an idea it is in the first amendment, which means that the first amendment was a wall between the church and state meaning that the state could not establish a single religion over another nor interfere in the free exercise of worship. It was NEVER meant to kick God out of government. This topic is too expansive to deal with here but stay tuned to, “We, the Deplorables,” podcast for an episode devoted to this topic specifically.

England, of course, did not agree with our position and after much back and forth decided to wage war against us colonists. From the start, the pilgrims established government in their colonies based on the Bible and self-government. They also learned from their mistakes. For example, Jamestown started off as a socialist town with common gardens, etc. but it didn’t work because the lazy sat at home. In Plymouth, they established a free market capitalist model and prospered in extraordinary ways.

If you look at the formation of Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and many more, they were established on Bills of Rights and faith in God. Our final constitution was modeled very closely after Virginia’s Bill of Rights. On top of that, many government leaders were also clergy. And the sermons of the day were overtly political. Not only would they preach the Word against the King’s oppressive control over how American colonists worshiped, many despised slavery, which was British Law. That was one of the 27 grievances listed in our Declaration of Independence. America’s first Anti-Slavery Society was formed in 1774.

READ PGS 8-TOP OF 14 CHRISTIANS ROLE IN CIVIL GOV’T.

There’s even more:

READ PGS 15-17 MID; 18-22 MID

And even the most “unreligious” leaders were more favorable toward Christianity than most today.

READ PGS 23-26; 30 BOTTOM-32 MID

One of the most quoted biblical principles by our founding fathers was Proverbs 29:2:

Proverbs 29:2 ESV

2 When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.

They understood a piece of paper called the Constitution was no good in the hands of a wicked ruler. The key to a successful government is not how good our documents or laws are but how good our leaders are. And they also recognized that good leaders lead by Biblical principles.

READ PGS 35-36 TOP

Charles Finney was a great example of recognizing the role Christians have in their government, especially in America.

READ PGS 36-37

With the understanding of the clear Christian nature of our cause of liberty, George Washington sought three times to gather an army to prepare for a coming invasion by the Brits and failed. It wasn’t until he went to the clergy, the same clergy that regularly preached sermons concerning political matters, that he was able to gather an army. I highly recommend you listen to “Black Robe Regiment” on the podcast to learn how integral clergy was in the formation and defense of this nation. In fact, the term “Black Robe Regiment” was meant to be an insult by the British and they would later admit that it was the clergy that sparked the war. We also sparked the abolition of slavery.

The Revolutionary War is an example of a time to war. We as a people are very reluctant to conflict. We are very patient. However, it is time for the “Black Robe Regiment” to quit hiding behind Romans 13 and engage in peaceful non-compliance and turn this nation around before we end up in another war. When you examine the conflict God followers experienced in the Bible, it was always against unjust governments. There is no scripture nor doctrine that supports abdicating our role in voting, government, the marketplace, or any other sphere. The founding fathers knew it, the clergy from that time knew it, and it’s time for us to know it.

Read these: https://christianheritagefellowship.com/christian-quotes-from-the-founding-fathers-2/

Page . Exported from Logos Bible Study, 2:33 PM August 9, 2024.

The Church Is NOT a Religious Institution

The Black Robe Regiment

Biblical Basis for Voting

Romans 13 & Peaceful Non-Compliance

The Christian & Patriotism

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