Cedarville Magazine
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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
.
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