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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Governmental Authority? | Rom 13:1 | stjones | 74616 | ||
Hi, Montag; My reply won't be entirely scriptural because I think we need to have a clear understanding of the events in question. Like most human endeavors, the American Revolution was not motivated by a single idea or principle. There were strong financial and political forces at work that might have been sufficient to start the War for Independence (in strictest political science terminology, it was a rebellion, not a revolution). But there was a strong intellectual and moral force at work too. Note the language of the Declaration of Independence - a statement that Christians, Deists, and admirers of British philosopher John Locke could all subscribe to: "We hold these truths to be self-evident [not revealed in the Bible], that all men are created equal [Paul says that equality is in Christ], that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights [John Locke], that among these are Life, Liberty [freedom in Christ] and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men [Romans 13, John Locke]". The growth of the Colonies always had a strong religious component - from evangelizing the heathens to fleeing religious oppression. It is easy to see how a thoughtful Christian of the time, balancing Romans 13 against Acts 4:19-20, could conclude that independence was justified. Hope this useful. Peace and grace, Steve aka Indiana Jones |
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2 | Governmental Authority? | Rom 13:1 | Montag | 74625 | ||
Steve, thanks for taking time to add to this discussion. i'm not an expert on all the ideas of Locke but i am very familiar with his philosophical influence on our founding fathers. i agree that the war for independence was much more complicated than a group of men saying, "we will rebel and make our own government because we don't like this one." and i would much rather believe that their actions were Biblically justifiable in some way. i don't think there has been a more oppressive government than the Roman authority that the early Church had to deal with. you would think that if any group of Christians had a right to rebel against governmental authority then they would be granted that right. Paul didn't see it that way though, he was convinced that regardless of the actions of government, we should be subject to them (unless in direct violation of God's commands, thus Acts 4). i can see how the revolution occurred using the philosophical/religious influences of the day... i'm just not sure they were Biblical. God bless, Montag |
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