Comments on: How Would Jesus Celebrate Independence Day? https://www.chrismorton.info/2011/07/04/how-would-jesus-celebrate-independence-day/ Growth and Mission Mon, 24 Oct 2016 18:04:09 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.4.32 By: Chris Morton https://www.chrismorton.info/2011/07/04/how-would-jesus-celebrate-independence-day/#comment-8347 Wed, 13 Jul 2011 13:39:00 +0000 http://www.chrismorton.info/?p=2556#comment-8347 The Tertullian quote is a little over the top. However, his choice of the word “foreign” is important. It is important to realize that the means by which the State wages war are not the means of the Church. We should regularly rethink our interaction with it. Perhaps rather that “anti-state” we could think ourselves as “counter-state.”

]]> By: Samuel jones https://www.chrismorton.info/2011/07/04/how-would-jesus-celebrate-independence-day/#comment-8344 Tue, 12 Jul 2011 19:29:00 +0000 http://www.chrismorton.info/?p=2556#comment-8344 I don’t think I have to disagree with your main point to say that you go too far in a few details. Paul did explain in Romans 13, that God institutes governing authorities, and if we connect that thought to the end 12: God institutes governing authorities to enforce his justice. I don’t think we can apply those without discernment, but I do think it goes to far to assume that Christianity should be anti-state.

That’s not to deny that too many Christians, particularly in the US, associate their own nation and culture with their faith and ‘city on a hill’ Americanism. Also, there’s a blindness to the natural effects of atheism on the state. I like how the Truth Project folks put it: Without God to keep all the spheres of life in balance, the next most powerful sphere is the State, and it will in stages try to fill His roll and consume all other spheres of life.

I do think your main point is well made though. Our allegiance is first to Christ, his way, his body, and our hope is chiefly in our inheritance in Him.

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