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New Hampshire Confession of Faith #16

Romans 13:10-7 

XVI. OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT

We Believe that civil government is of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society; and that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed; except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the Prince of kings of the earth. 

Note: We should all be good citizens. This is indicated in the text verses. Christians have never rebelled against governments. Any religious leaders who advocates violence against government is leading his followers the wrong way.

  1. THE NEED FOR GOVERNMENT
    1. Church Government. Church government governs only people in a particular local congregation. It has no effect upon people at large in the community.
      1. Church government is local: it applies to each individual local church
      2. Church government is congregational: the people of the church regulate the government. It is not regulated by a hierarchy or by a group of bishops or elders.
      3. In true Baptist church polity, the regulations are produced from the scriptures.
    2. Civil Government. Civil government governs all the people of a community, whether it is a local township, a state, or a national government.
      1. Without civil government good order would be null, and a community would have anarchy - Titus 1:6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
      2. Some would respect others' rights; others would deny others' rights.
      3. Some would be like brute beasts - See 2 Peter 2:10-14
      4. Evil doers could not be restricted or punished without civil government - Romans 13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to [execute] wrath upon him that doeth evil.


  2. THE DIVINE APPOINTMENT OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT
    1. God knew the need for society and laws
      1. We are not born to be alone. No man is an island - Romans 14:7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
      2. Laws are made for good order, and God has ordained them for our good. See Romans 13.
    2. God did not approve only one type of civil government
      1. Christians have lived under all kinds of civil governments: patriarchal, monarchial, republic, democratic, etc.
      2. No civil government is perfect. God has divinely appointed that men live together with the regulations of law so that they may live in better harmony.
    3. Because of God's appointment, we are to pray for our leaders
      1. See 1 Timothy 2:1-3
      2. Our leaders have great responsibilities and have great temptations.
    4. We must respect the office of our leaders.
      1. If you cannot respect the man in the office, then respect his position as an officer of the divinely appointed position.
      2. He is the agent of God for good.


  1. OBEDIENCE TO CIVIL RULERS
    1. The scriptures warn us against lawlessness
      1. Romans 1:28-32 And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
      2. Christ kept the law
        1. He honored the Jewish Sabbath
        2. He also paid taxes
      3. Paul kept the law
        1. Acts 25:11 For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.
    2. Obedience and Disobedience
      1. On the one hand, we are taught by scripture to obey the law (See our text).
      2. On the other hand, we are taught that God's law is superior to civil law.
        1. Matthew 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
      3. Any disobedience to the law must be for conscience sake and according to the scriptures.
        1. Prejudice should never be a part of our decision to disobey the law.
        2. Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the [other] apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
        3. When man's laws are contrary to God's laws, then we are bound to disobey man's laws, not God's laws.
      4. Christ is above all earthly rulers. He is King of kings and Lord of lords.
      5. Therefore, we believe that governments should not set up their own religions. That is the concept of the so-called "separation of church and state."
      6. Churches should not run governments, and governments should not run churches.

 

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