Cedarville Magazine, Fall 2014

Cedarville Magazine | 5 weapons of human warfare. Spiritual weapons include the Word of God (Eph. 6:17), which is sharper than any two-edged sword (Heb. 4:12) wielded by human hands. In 2 Corinthians 5:20, Paul writes that we are ambassadors for Christ, as we plead with others to be reconciled to God. Pleading as an ambassador presents a stark contrast to the use of force or coercion. Peter states the matter as being prepared to make a defense for the hope within us (1 Pet. 3:15). The Greek word translated as “defense” is apologia , from which our word “apology” comes. In context it means we provide a defense or give the reason for the hope within us. Nowhere in the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18–20 or Acts 1:8 do you see the use of force. Rather, you see the obligation of every believer to spread the “good news” of Jesus Christ. Perhaps Paul says it best in Romans 10:15, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” The doctrine of salvation resides in the spiritual kingdom and rests on the understanding that a person must repent of sin and believe in Jesus Christ. This faith is more than mere knowledge, because even the demons believe the facts about Jesus and tremble at His presence. Salvation comes when the Holy Spirit performs the miraculous work of regeneration in our hearts that leads to saving faith, which allows us to turn from our sin and identify with Christ. Such a decision cannot be forced and does not belong to rulers of the worldly kingdom. Salvation does not come through relatives, church membership, or recitation of a prayer. Salvation comes through the communication of the Gospel — delivered by humans and accompanied by the power of the Holy Spirit so that a miraculous work of grace occurs in the hearer. Human forces could never coerce such an unbelievable change with external pressure. Salvation resides in the spiritual kingdom under the authority of God, who alone has the power to forgive sin. Moreover, the spiritual kingdom’s discipline resides within the church as granted in Matthew 18 and 1 Corinthians 5. The Worldly Kingdom We live in a world full of evil. For that reason God has granted authority to rulers of the state, and Scripture commands that we obey them. Paul in Romans 13 states that God in His ultimate authority has instituted the state for the punishment of wrongdoers. Thus, the state exists to constrain evil and to praise those who do good. Peter, likewise, indicates that we must be subject to human authority, yet, in the book of Acts, this same Peter refused to obey human authorities when they dictated that he not share the good news of Jesus Christ. How do we balance this? With Peter, we obey the rulers of the worldly kingdom in matters in which they have authority. Once the rulers of this world begin to dictate rules forbidding or contradicting God’s rules, we must obey God rather than man. God has granted the state authority, but that authority is limited to the worldly kingdom and has no power over the soul. Conclusion Space does not allow for a more complete defense of religious freedom, yet I hope you will contend for the following basic tenets of religious freedom wherever God sends you. These six principles are not new and can be found throughout history, especially during the Anabaptist and early English Separatists movements, which fought to establish religious freedom: 1. Under God’s ultimate authority there exists a worldly and spiritual kingdom. 2. Civil government has no authority over the soul or the spiritual kingdom. 3. Spiritual discipline should be handled by the church. 4. Voluntary faith cannot be coerced. 5. Killing heretics ends any evangelistic opportunity. 6. Complete religious liberty should be extended to all groups — even the heretics. Fighting for religious freedom does not always come easily. Many have lost their lives fighting for freedom in the spiritual kingdom because it was perceived as treason in the worldly kingdom. I close with a quote from one of those jailed for his defense of religious freedom and with the prayer that we will follow his example. “The King is a mortal man, and not God, therefore hath no power over immortal souls of his subjects, to make laws and ordinances for them, and to set spiritual Lords over them. If the Kings have authority to make spiritual Lords and laws, then he is an immortal God and not mortal man. O King, be not seduced by deceivers to sin so against God whom you should obey, nor against your poor subjects who should and will obey you in all things with body life and goods, or else let their lives be taken from the earth.” —Thomas Helwys Thomas White is the President of Cedarville University. He has authored or contributed to numerous books, including First Freedom: The Baptist Perspective on Religious Liberty . Follow @DrThomasWhite Website: drthomaswhite.com