Why I Am Not A Statist

“Joh 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.” This essay will be on the issue of big government, from a Bible-believing “political atheist” perspective. Now, when I say “Political Atheist”, I simply mean infidelity in civil government to improve the welfare of society. One must study the corruptions of both right and left paradigms in order to arrive at this position. The purpose of this essay is to reprove faith in the State to IMPROVE the welfare of man and society (“creating an ideal society or world”), whether it be from a right or left wing platform. Throughout the ages, leaders that have attempted to promote utopian ideals end up running tyrannical or police-type governments.  “…[T]he words ‘statism’ and ‘statist’ describe institutions and political practices in which executive authority gathers increasing levels and varieties of power into its hands.” (https://pages.uoregon.edu/kimball/sttism.htm). Number One. The first reason why I am NOT a Statist is because Statism killed the Lord Jesus Christ. The religious conservatives (Acts 23:8) of Jesus’ day lobbied the Roman governor Pontius Pilate to execute him, out of envy and spite (Matthew 27:18; Mark 15:10; John 7:7). Jesus of Nazareth was a man approved of God among the people (Acts 2:22); and he converted many out of the Jewish fundamentalist system (John 4:1-2). The governor KNEW that this Jesus of Nazareth was an innocent and just man (Matthew 27:19, 23); yet, because he wanted to appease the people of the state, he delivered THE TRUTH (John 14:6) to be executed (Luke 23:25). The fundamentalists of the day swore allegiance to Caesar (John 19:15); because they had long ago rejected the God of heaven as their King (I Samuel 8:7). This, dear reader, is Statism for you. Number Two. The second reason why I am not a Statist is because Statism looks to civil leaders/politicians for deliverance. Every four years in the United States, the nation holds an election for the office of the President and Vice President. Politicians from both the right and the left speak great swelling words of vanity; and sell themselves through many ads and rallies to gain men’s persons in admiration because of advantage (II Peter 2:18; Jude 16). The people, both liberal and conservative, cry out for change and deliverance from government corruption. Though on the surface, the candidates appear to disagree on how the federal government ought to be run, but indeed, the man elected continues the same centralized government scheme running since the Reconstruction. With American politics aside, let us examine this error in the scripture; for there is no new thing under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Let us commence with the example of Saul the son of Kish. The cry of Israel for a king to rule over them like the kings of the nations was a result of their rejection of the God of heaven as their ruler (I Samuel 8:7). Saul’s kingship was a reward for Israel’s disobedience and idolatry. Samuel prophesied of the Jackboot-style leadership of Saul before he was anointed (read I Samuel 8:10-18); and yet, Israel stubbornly begged for a king. Next we look at Herod in Acts 12:20-23. The people of Tyre and Sidon looked not to their Maker for nourishment, but to an earthly king. Herod’s little “Make Tyre and Sidon Great Again” rally was not much different from a Bernie or Trump rally of this age. The king came off as a god in his oration, and kissed not the King of kings; wherefore, he was taken out, according to the prophecy of Psalm 2:12. We can multiply examples, but one more shall suffice for this article: the Man of Sin, the Wicked yet to be revealed (II Thessalonians 2:8). This fellow is a different beast, in that he will oppose and exalt himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped. Whilst we do not read of the moniker, “THE ANTICHRIST”, this man may appropriately be called THE ANTICHRIST, because he IS by definition. This son of perdition is Statism incarnate, who will probably allure both liberals AND conservatives. This man will be used of God to separate the true sons of Israel from the sons of Edom. He and his cronies shall say, “Peace and safety” (Echoing the conservative cry of Law and Order), when sudden destruction awaits them (I Thessalonians 5:3). Dear reader, repent of your faith in princes for temporal, national salvation (Psalm 146:3). Number Three. The third reason why I am not a Statist is because of blind obedience to the civil powers, including vexatious laws.  In the Vatican-approved modern English corruptions of the scripture, blind obedience to the State is implied, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” (Romans 13:1; New International Version). “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” (Romans 13:1; New King James Version). With these readings in the new versions, we can see their influence in the attitudes of many professing Christians in America. In the HOLY scripture, we read, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” (Romans 13:1) The scripture gives “wiggle room” for God-fearing citizens to subject themselves to God, the “higher than the highest power”, over the State, if the will of the State demands the citizen to disobey the will of God. Two plain examples are found in the Egyptian midwives and the prophet Daniel. “16 And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. 17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. 18 And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive? 19 And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them. 20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty. 21 And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.” (Exodus 1) Here, we not only see God permitting disobedience AND lying to the State, but he also BLESSED, because of the fear of the Lord in these women. “7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree. 10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime…22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.” (Daniel 6) Here, we see God’s deliverance of a law breaker from execution. Note how innocency in the eyes of God trumps guilt in the eyes of the State. Dear reader, do you fear the wrath of the State more than the wrath of God? Number Four. The fourth reason why I am not a Statist is because Statism yokes church with state. The opening text for this essay makes it plain and clear: the kingdom of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ is NOT of this world. This is not to say that a saint should not seek to influence the powers that be to further the second great commandment; in fact, this is God’s commandment for civil authority (Matthew 22:39 c/w Romans 13:9). The greatest example of the yoking of the Church with State is found in none other than Roman Catholicism. In actuality, Roman Catholicism is nothing more than the Roman Empire’s religion rehashed. In ancient Rome, subjects of the Lord Jesus Christ were persecuted as atheists for refusal to worship Caesar as god. Roman Catholicism throughout the Dark Ages enforced its religion by the force of the State, wherever it was able to convert the State; just as ancient Rome enforced its religion by the force of the State. A more subtle yoking of the church with state is through a church applying for tax-exemption status and state incorporation. With the 501(c)(3) IRS tax code, the State gives a church legal recognition and becomes its head. This common practice among Baptist churches is scripturally unlawful, for we read “…[CHRIST] is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.” (Ephesians 5:23). So what’s the point of this point? The point is to expose Baptists who boast of their Baptist history of separation of church and state while being unwittingly yoked with the State through state incorporation. REPENT, you STATIST! “Why should I make a man my trust? Princes must die and turn to dust; Their breath departs, their pomp and power, And thoughts, all vanish in an hour. Happy the man whose hopes rely On Israel’s God: he made the sky, And earth and seas with all their train, And none shall find his promise vain.” (Isaac Watts) I remain, Philo Logos (Lover of the Word)