Archives For Political Theology

Mandatory Vaccinations turns the State into Masters & Citizens into Slaves

September 15, 2021 — Leave a comment

Medical conscription is a product of chattel slavery, it turns people into the property of the state.

It’s for this reason that the forced medical conscription of civilians is banned by constitutions and human rights codes.

Pro-mandatory vaccinators and those who launched a recent attack on The Ezekiel Declaration overlook this fact.

They also miss how forced medical procedures are contra to Imago Dei.

The Imago Dei mandates that the State, corporations, individuals and institutions have no right of claim to ownership of another person or their body.

Biblical injunctions against chattel slavery, and rules concerning indentured service emphasise the importance of this mandate.

Man and woman are made in the image of God. Not in the image of the State, superstitions, imaginations, idols, ideas or ideologies that seek to shape and control them.

Ergo, domestic vaccine passports (which really only are a euphemism for mandatory vaccinations) are a vile, inhumane, ironic negation of humanity.

“No jab, no job” is another way of saying “convert, or starve”.

A “choice” between the slave master swinging the whip, or doing the slave master’s bidding.

Forced medical procedures are the weapons of tyrants.

The problem isn’t just an arbitrary division between the unvaxxed and “vaxxed”, it’s the divide widened between those deemed “essential” and those “unessential.”

In blunt term: life worthy of life vs. ‘life unworthy of life.”

The cruelty this will spawn has no limits.

The door that allows Government to get away with mandating medical procedures under threat of losing your livelihood, gives them the power to mandate the theft of your land, your house, your savings, your kids, and your property.

Such is the dehumanising embrace of an arbitrary Us vs. Them -oppressor vs. oppressed – false dichotomy.

Look at the self-righteous “tone” in the opposition to Caldron Pool’s efforts to speak truth in love; to promote the Gospel’s liberating power to uphold life, light and liberty.

It’s shameful that some church leaders seem professionally threatened by other Christians, and not the outlaw governments telling them that they’re not essential.

It’s just as equally shameful that mandatory vaccination “Christians” are backing Government policies that will hurt families, under the guise of “loving your neighbour.”

Who are the selfish ones?

The ones pushing for the protection of civil liberties, or those happy to undermine them on a narrative that demands we all “fall in, line up, goosestep in unison, and salute, or else!?

I can tell you, it’s not the individual being bullied into leaping before they look.

Neither is it the family being told they’re selfish and ungodly if they “don’t follow the fear and give-in to the government without question.”

Christians are called to lead by example in separating truth from falsehood.

It’s not “selfish” to question manipulative propaganda.

It’s not “selfish” to communicate strong concerns, when medical science is being censored in favour of an approved political narrative.

This was illustrated by Premier of Victoria, Daniel Andrews, who has claimed that COVID-19 will become a “pandemic of the unvaccinated.”

This is despite the science showing that the vaccinated still carry and transmit COVID. That COVID is at its worst in those over 70, and those with comorbidities.

This is despite scientists stating that we should only vaccinate the vulnerable because mass vaccinations will create worse mutations.

Niceness and nuance are not an effective answer to manipulative propaganda.

Any Pastor who manipulates others into playing Russian roulette with a questionable “vaccine” is a disgrace to their office.

Anyone who argues that it’s “selfish” to pray, wait on the Lord, or practice the gift of discernment (aka informed consent), is preaching a doctrine of demons.

Anyone claiming that opposition to medical conscription is opposition to medicine is manipulating you.

As are those who scream “get the vaxx.” Don’t think. Don’t wait. Just do.

This isn’t faith. Nor is it loving.

Faith is a work of Christ. It is prayerfully minded action, worked out in us vis a vis the light of God’s wisdom (see 1 Timothy 3:16-17).

Anyone who doesn’t encourage you to wait, to pray and then act, are preaching a false gospel. (See King David’s list in Psalm 37, Psalm 91, and Psalm 27).

Faith seeks understanding. We’re to operate alongside, on and in the wisdom of God, not the wisdom of the World.

This means informed choice, not forced compliance.

This means prayerfully seeking out the absolute best medical options provided by providence through the vocation of proper medical professionals.

The alternative to never ending booster shots, and totalitarian “health” measures must be sought out.

As Dr. Robert Malone and Peter Navarro argued in a recent article entitled ‘Sorry Facebook, forced universal vaccinations are not the answer.’

Vaccines are likely to produce stronger mutations, making the vaccine-mutation-vaccine cycle the stuff of Sisyphus.

In sum, covaxes are becoming as ridiculous as excessive lockdowns.

They’ve been tried, they’re not stopping the virus.

Surely securing a treatment and preventative, alongside better vaccines, is the better option?

For The Ezekeial Declaration’s critics, their energy would be better spent fighting against the virus, instead of fighting against those trying to stop corrupt leaders turning their citizens into the virus.

While some Christian leaders – who’ve long since sold out to Leftism – applaud the tiring oppressive nonsense of increasingly bad governance, there are others who see the precipice of this Abyss and are taking a stand against bad leaders dragged us all into it.

Daring to sigh with the wounded is an outworking of sacrificial love.

Risking livelihoods by rejecting medical conscription/chattel slavery is an outworking of sacrificial love.

Rejecting a theology of glory – which places Government on the same level as God – and choosing instead to live out the theology of the cross, is far from misrepresenting the Gospel.

The Ezekiel Declaration’s rejection of medical conscription is a definitive “yes” to Imago Dei, and by extension a stern “Nein” to chattel slavery.

This is the Church wielding the Gospel, reminding the State wielding the Sword, that it must radically reverse any and all policies that serve to enslave and harm, rather than liberate and heal.

Hated by both sides of the political divide for not surrendering truth to falsehood, martyred Latin American Priest, Oscar Romero wrote,

“What kind of Gospel does not disturb? What kind of Word of God does not rankle, a Word of God that does not touch the concrete sin of the society in which it is being proclaimed? What kind of church does not disturb people’s consciences and provoke a crisis, but instead issues nice, pious considerations that bother nobody? – what kind of Gospel is that?” (paraphrased)

It’s on the grounds expressed above that The Ezekiel Declaration has my full support.

People are not property.

As the 20th century shows: it’s best to draw a line in the sand, then bury our heads in it.

References:

Romero, O. 2018. ‘The Scandal of Redemption: When God Liberates the Poor, Saves sinners, and Heals Nations’, Plough Publishing (p.55)

First published on Caldron Pool, 7th September 2021.

©Rod Lampard, 2021.

In Political Theology, Politics , , , ,
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The Wisdom of Holy Fear Trumps the Vanity of Worldly Fear

September 9, 2021 — 2 Comments

Spurgeon described holy fear as an act that extends itself to happiness.

Holy fear, the Victorian preacher wrote, is the fear of God – ‘a quite grace which leads a man along a choice road, of which it is written, “No lion shall be there, neither shall any ravenous beast go up thereon.”

The fear of God is the beginning of ALL wisdom. Not worldly wisdom, which lends itself to vanity, but God’s wisdom which lends itself to the preservation of life, light and liberty.

Faith operates, not on a debilitating insecurity of the unknown, but on the certainty of the Word of God, grounded in God’s self-revealing.

God’s wisdom vs. Worldly wisdom.

The latter finds its home in tyranny, the former in the hearts of those who reject it.

Holy fear vs. Worldly fear is the choice between true wisdom and vanity.

God’s wisdom is the gift of true liberation. If, at the end of Holy Fear, man finds happiness, it’s because he’s granted freedom.

Holy fear isn’t a crushing fear. It’s a liberating essential that sets us free from a world demanding that we dumb ourselves down in order to fit in – that we package everything into a safe space, then fear everything, this includes fearing the fear of God.

We are faced with a clear choice between the fear of God, and the fear of man. We either embrace His ‘quiet grace’ and be led by it, or we embrace a self-righteous theology of glory and suffer the consequences for ditching wisdom in favour of vanity. Virtue signalling and self-promotion have no home in Holy Fear.

The old preacher when penning his own reflection on this referred to Proverbs, ‘Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.’ (Proverbs 28:14)

The prior verse states, ‘Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.’

Followed by verse 15, which reads, ‘Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people.’

The wicked ruler demands to be feared, is stubborn, hardened, controlled by appetite and arrogance.

Proverbs states that though the wicked ruler stamps up and down, true wisdom will win the day. For from it springs true freedom.

It’s the wicked ruler who uses crushing fear, not God. It’s the wicked ruler, not God, who is stuck in his ways, and its the wicked ruler, not God, who crushes freedom.

We’re often given the image of God being a long bearded, grey, grumpy old man with a big stick at the ready, keen to slap people down.

Reconsider the stereotype.

Holy fear liberates. Worldly fear incarcerates. Wisdom governs the former. Vanity the latter.

©Rod Lampard, 2021

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Superstition Replaces Reason, as Lockdown Activists posing as Experts War Against Freedom

September 7, 2021 — Leave a comment

What the past 18 months has revealed to the world is this:

In the post-modern era there’s an extremely thin line between an “expert” and an activist.

I’m in agreement with Peter Hitchens, “these past 18 months have been a major turn back towards what looks like superstition.”

Discussing mask mandates, and “mantras,” Hitchens told TalkRadio’s Mike Graham, “I wish more people would pay attention to the evidence.”

“The way in which people wear masks [for example], flapping around their chin, gaps in either side, putting masks in pockets, and taking them back out again…Anybody who knows anything about hospital mask wearing knows, you mustn’t touch them. As soon as you take them off the mask has to be replaced.”

For masks to be affective, “they have to be tightly fitted to the face, quite uncomfortably,” Hitchens explained.

 “It’s a simple point: even people who understand this must know these tokens people are wearing can’t do much good.”

Despite claims, “we know that there’s no proof masks protect from infection. If an infection can get in through a mask, why shouldn’t it be able to get out?”

Hitchen’s, paraphrasing Graham Brady, concludes, “masks are much more of a political symbol than an actual protection; people wear them as a sign of compliance with the new regime.”

Asked for his thoughts on the lifting of all COVID restrictions in Britain, on what was styled as “Freedom Day,” Hitchens replied, “it doesn’t feel all that different.”

Hinting at the lax attitude towards reason, in favour of a narrative, Hitchens stated,

“Nobody examines COVID statistics in a particularly rational of forensic fashion, because there’s this huge desire, both from the COVID Zero lobby, the people who want us permanently under control, and parts of the public living in fear.”

This fear, Hitchens asserts, “has gone in so deep; but fear is irrational, it’s completely immune to reason.”

For instance, offer any reasoned opposition, and “very rapidly the response turns to anger because the mob is safer in their certainty and fear than they would be in a reasoning world.”

Hitchens adds, “That’s what we’ve come to. Damage has been done to reason in politics, public life, broadcasting, universities, and elsewhere – which were already quite badly damaged.”

This is why, he argued, July 19 (aka ‘Freedom Day’) will attract attention from a lot of “COVID Zero people and the rest of the militants who want to permanently control [us] for “health reasons.” They’re waiting for their opportunity to say opening up on the 19th was wrong.”

They’ll “use figures obtained from tests looking for COVID numbers, that don’t necessarily indicate any actual illness. Then they’ll point to hospital admissions.”

Hospitalisation numbers are problematic.

Hitchens explained: “The last time I tried to look up the numbers of admissions, it showed people connected with COVID, had tested positive, but you couldn’t state that’s simply why they were in hospital, when they had been in hospital with something completely different.” 

Addressing the controversy over Dominic Cummings breaking his own lockdown rules, Hitchen quipped, “The people who devised these policies don’t believe their own propaganda. They don’t behave the way they tell us to behave!”

In June, Cummings, who is the former aid to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, alleged the Ministry of Health’s bureaucratic ineptitude had hindered Britain’s early COVID response.

Cummings also laid blame on Boris Johnson’s reluctance to buy into COVID hysteria. Accusing the Prime Minister of not acting early enough to lockdown Britain.

Hitchens recognises the importance of “really strong precautions.”

Precautions should be weighed and measured by sober-minded experts, not pathos driven activists posing as professionals.  

Left in the hands of the latter Western society will be set further adrift. Even if capable, it will not be able to reconnect with its moorings.  

Such as Thomas Sowell illustrated in his 2004 Empirical study of Affirmative Action,

‘Any “temporary” policy whose duration is defined by the goal of achieving something that has never been achieved before, anywhere in the world, could be more fittingly characterised as eternal.’

WATCH:

First published on Caldron Pool, 7th September 2021

©Rod Lampard, 2021

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“Papers Please” Passports are a portal towards a COVax Caste System

September 3, 2021 — 3 Comments

Vaccine passports serve a purpose for international travel. There’s little use or need for them on a domestic level.

Certification between countries where tried, time-tested, scientifically indisputable safe and effective vaccines are necessary for pragmatic tourism.

Abstracted from this context those passports are arguably problematic.

A “papers please” police state is built on a culture of suspicion. There is no due process. No mercy. No habeas corpus.

Domestic papers which grant permission for movement and privilege are also the substance of caste systems.

When discussing India’s Affirmative Action programs, Thomas Sowell explains that although India is the ‘world’s largest multi-ethnic society, it’s the most socially fragmented.’

There’s a hierarchy. The lowest are the “backward classes”. Such as ‘tribal groups outside the mainstream, and the “untouchables” (Dalits).’

India’s Dalits ‘constitute about 16% of the country’s total population, and members of the backward tribes another 8%.”

Sowell adds, ‘these two very poor and historically outcast groups are greatly outnumbered by members of the “other backward classes, who constitute 52% of all Indians.’

He continues, the “untouchables” have been outcastes in the literal sense of not being one of the four broad categories of castes recognised by the Hindu religion.’

Consequently, ‘they could not draw water from the same well used by caste Hindus – and, in some places, still could not in practice, decades after they had the legal right to do so.’

Dalits face restrictions and ostracization.

For instance, in the 1930s,

 ‘…discrimination against harijans (untouchables) extended to restrictions on entry into cafes and “eating houses,” access to village amenities like wells and cemeteries, and on the clothes they wore – their right to wear shoes was a frequent point of contention.’

Social stigma encourages social fragmentation.

Violence against outcastes, Sowell states, has been widespread.

Citing an article from 2001, in India’s The Hindu, ‘attacks on Dalits (most often orchestrated by collectives representing upper caste interests) and even massacres of men, women and children are indeed a regular feature in most parts of the country.’

Though these ‘horrors are in retreat’; affirmative action programs such as a quota system benefiting the “backward classes” has ‘eliminated what goodwill the upper castes had for the lower castes.’

‘Partly,’ Sowell writes, ‘because of an overestimation of the effectiveness of preferential policies’, which only end up benefited a very small amount of those they’re designed to help.

Sowell’s conclusion: preferential policies create ‘poisonous intergroup relations and [are] real dangers to the fabric of society.’

When it comes to advocates of the COVax domestic passport, two points of relevance exist.

First, the non-COVax are already being treated like they’re part of a “backward class.” Dismissed as “anti-vaxx”; “anti-science” troglodytes.

Why would anyone jump onto the same boat as a bully, who’s also happy for you to be oppressed, until you do as they do?

Secondly, pro-COVax privileges are preferential policies. This is affirmative action. In the words of believers: ‘positive discrimination.’

Why would any sane person support as system that divides the people, and feeds bad government?

Many in Australia’s media are vying for the very things that in any other context, that same media would be crying out against.

A caste system isn’t going to end COVID or the widespread COVID madness attached to it.

Such as India’s Hindu scheduled class structure. Where Dalits and the “backward classes” face (and have faced) restrictions and ostracization.

Is it religion or science that justifies this?

An apartheid between the COVaxxed and un-COVaxxed will carve a caste system in the fabric of Australian life.

This isn’t something to celebrate or welcome. It’s something to resist because precedent matters.

Informed consent should be respected. Any erosion of civil liberties, rejected. This isn’t hard to add up.

It’s one thing to encourage the COVax. It’s another to demonise others, and beg the Government to take away rights because other people have chosen to show more discernment in their decision making.

The media in Australia are choosing militant medical tyranny, over a duty of care to make sure “democracy doesn’t die in darkness.”

India has the longest running affirmative action programs in the world. These programs had a use-by date, and yet they’ve been extended and expanded time and time again.

Remember, when discussing the issue of mandatory COVax and certification, we’re talking domestic “papers please” police state oppression, not pragmatic tourism.

The former we have no choice over. The latter we do.

Give the government an inch on this, and they’ll run a mile.

If that happens, Democracy’s death certificate will read: cause of death, a complicit and compliant media re: COVID-19.

First published on Caldron Pool, 3rd August 2021.

©Rod Lampard, 2021.

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Domestic Vaccine Passports Exalt the Ignorant & Enslave the Free

September 3, 2021 — Leave a comment

Threats of medical segregation via vaccine passports have exposed a critical societal weakness.

Medical segregation is a consequence of a greater segregation between those conscious of their rights, and those ambivalent towards, or unaware of those rights.

There is a divide between those who know what and where their rights come from, and those who’ve never been taught the basics.

This illiteracy separates civic minded citizens from those who either choose to ignore, or are taught to ignore civics and theology.

In this context, medical segregation is a lot less concerning than the divide between those who know their rights and those who don’t.

The greatest tool to subdue a once politically savvy, theologically literate population is to encourage a culture that prides itself on leaving politics to the politicians, and throwing theology into the dustbin of history.

Australians learn very little about the history and contemporary application of civics and theology.

From accounts about Australia’s newly proposed curriculum, we’re set to learn even less.

Corrupt bureaucrats benefit from this ignorance.

A poor understanding about civics and theology, or no interest at all in them, makes for a bloated bureaucracy.

It fills the ranks with educated elitists controlling a docile public, while you pay them well for the privilege.

A people ambivalent towards politics and religion are a people easy to hide corruption from.

A public ignorant of their roots, nation, and the richness of their heritage are easily abused. 

A people unaware of their rights, and where those rights come from, are easier to control.

They’re also easier to influence, and easier to govern.

It’s no surprise then, that brothels, liquor stores and fast-food restaurants remain open despite lockdowns.

An intoxicated, overweight polis is no threat to the sword, should the State choose to wield it against its own people.

A people uninterested in politics and religion will be governed outside their interests.

Consequently, a people left uneducated by an over-educated elite, are fodder for whatever sinister desires fat cat career politicians want to impose on an otherwise free people.

A corrupted bureaucracy benefits from a people who avoid talking about politics and religion as if doing so was a civic duty; even obedience to God.

There’s no need for me to run-on about how many times Romans 13 has been employed to justify ungodly compliant subservience, instead of Godly servanthood leadership.

With what’s currently unfolding in Afghanistan largely thanks to Joe Biden’s horrifying example of bad leadership teaches:

Governments will not govern in our interests if we don’t take an interest in how they govern.

Governments will not govern well, if we don’t care who, or why they are governing.

Governments will govern outside the law, if we don’t know or care about what freedoms exist that allow those being governed the right to hold bad governments accountable.

They serve the people; the people do not serve them.

Society, liberty and individual responsibility cannot thrive on a “we only know what’s best for you” – and we in the bureaucracy get to determine this – basis.

One consequence of a people either uninterested, or uneducated enough (if at all) in their rights and responsibilities, has been the quick formation of a COVID “vaccinated” class and their separation from the “vaccine” hesitant.

No sane, loving person chooses to embrace segregation.

No sane, loving person chooses to embrace oppression.

No sane, loving person welcomes their neighbour’s executioner.

Yet there seems to be those in society who want to do all three.

On this side sits life-destroying lockdown advocates.

On one other side, those who understand lockdowns, but choose to stand for life, light and liberty.

There is a divide in society.

This divide isn’t between the haves and have nots, it’s between those who know their rights, and those who don’t.

It may sound cliché, but the answer is education.

Regardless of melanin, minority or material wealth, Australians should be raising the next generation of ANZACs: mindful of civics and theology; God, Queen and country.

Mum’s and dads educating their kids as far as they possibly can, wherever, and whenever it is in their power and ability to do so.

This should happen long before parents march their kids off to an industrial education complex, where they are less exposed to education, and more, and more exposed to Ceasar’s vacuous, mind-killing indoctrination.

We should be raising ANZACs who run towards self-sufficiency for themselves and their families, and away from the cold, bony fingers of Government.

We should be raising ANZACs who are prepared, if necessary, to run towards the fight for life, light, and liberty, not away from it.

We should be raising ANZACs who are well informed enough to turn away from ungodly, unchristian, and anti-Western governance.

We should be raising ANZACs who will see through falsehoods, and walk towards truth without regard to how dampened their spirit is, or despondent, and demoralised they are.

The greatest tools used to subjugate a people are fear and ignorance.

Civics and theological illiteracy, is a pox on the West.

This plague separates a free people from those who’d rather the false promises of government dependency.

For them it’s easier to bury their head in the sand than draw a line in it.

They do this because they’ve either never been taught why, where, when or how to draw it; or because they’ve been conditioned to show no interest in doing so.

This is a detriment to our society, its future and the children who will inherit it.

First published on Caldron Pool, 19th August, 2021.

©Rod Lampard, 2021.

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MacArthur: “The greatest threat to truth and virtue in this country is the government.”

August 30, 2021 — Leave a comment

Any sane, fed-up, liberty loving citizen will benefit from John MacArthur’s June 13 sermon, ‘When Government Rewards Evil and Punishes Good,’

Time constraints meant I couldn’t get to it after a friend dropped me the link mid last week.

The recent rash, health hazard lockdown in New South Wales seemed to provide an opportune time to tune in.

I call these excessive lockdowns a health hazard because in all frankness that’s exactly what they are.

They’re an illogical way to fight COVID-19.

It makes no sense for public health experts to issue public health orders that hurt healthy people.

The same goes for public health orders that hinder unhealthy people who need to get healthy.

Pinning them to their couch, fast food and Netflix – among other mind-numbing, life sucking drugs and devices we’ve allowed into our lives – isn’t a logical, holistic health strategy.

The excessive use of lockdowns will kill.

I’ve already argued how CCP-19 medical tyrants are harming cancer research.

We also published a piece in February pointing to the World Health Organisation’s regional director for Europe who warned that,

‘Coronavirus measures will have a ‘catastrophic’ impact on hundreds of thousands of cancer patients who’ve had appointments cancelled and screenings delayed during the pandemic.’

Additionally, information provided by Caldron Pool on Monday strongly backs the conclusion that public health orders are creating a public health crisis.

Christian’s ought to be on the frontline fighting this on behalf of the poor, the wounded and the vulnerable.

While some are. Many aren’t.

Instead, they post selfies of themselves getting “vaccinated.” Usually accompanied by a manipulative comment like “man up”, “be a big boy,” or “do your duty and help us get out of this mess.”

Some lurk on social media smugly calling those who choose to practice more discernment, “anti-vaxxers.”

Rather than stand with the vulnerable and encourage the gift of discernment, they call the “vaccine hesitant” and those who are more civic-aware “selfish.”

Any Christian who would rather self-promote, than sigh with the wounded stands on extremely thin ice.

It’s this trend that MacArthur’s sermon smacks up the side of the head.

“The true church,” MacArthur asserted, “follows Christ, not the government.”

The power of government is not its own. God gives it, and God can take it away.

Though people in power can become lawless, there is no such thing as a Lordless power.

Their power is on loan to them through the office of vocation, under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Consequently, God will hold government accountable for how that power is used.

Speaking from Romans 13, MacArthur explains,

“The role of the government is to restrain evil; and when it functions to restrain evil, it is fulfilling its God-ordained purpose…It is designed as a necessary restraint in a world of sinners.”

He adds,

“This is God’s design for government. The problem is, when government ceases to function by God’s design, it yields up its authority.”

“When government turns the divine design on its head and protects those who do evil and makes those who do good afraid, it forfeits its divine purpose.”

MacArthur then lists how today “In our world rulers are designing a culture that protects the immoral.” 

First, “it desires to protect criminals, and makes those who do good afraid.”

Second, “criminals are unrestrained because they don’t fear the consequences, but the police are restrained because they fear the consequences of stopping criminals.”

Third, by propagating lies, protecting liars and persecuting those who speak the truth, “it praises the evil and persecutes the good.”

The conclusion being that “God’s design for government has been entirely corrupted.”

A corrupted government turns everything upside down, “like putting [Canadian] Pastor James Coates in prison for preaching but letting rioters go free.”

For him,

“The greatest threat to truth and virtue in this country is the government because they have totally prostituted their God-ordained design. All through history, government is the ultimate persecutor of people. Satan has to get ahold of government; and that’s where he operates—always work through government…Satan always works through evil rulers to persecute the people of God.”

COVID era government attacks on civil rights aren’t new.

For example,

“Look, in Acts chapter 4, the Jewish leaders said to the apostles, “Stop preaching!” In Daniel 3, Nebuchadnezzar said, “Stop worshiping!” Again, in Daniel 6—we didn’t read it—the rulers said, “Stop praying, or we’re going to throw you into”—what?—“the lions’ den.”

MacArthur continues,

‘So we are beginning to see persecution from government. This is the most formidable persecution: COVID, LGBTQ, transgender, social justice—all these new ideologies are now going to become the only acceptable moral standards. And if you don’t accept them, you’re going to be the enemy of the government. Truth, the Bible, Scripture is going to be cancelled. The government’s taking control; they want to take control of absolutely everything. The church has become the main enemy of the government—nothing new.”

He closes with prayer, but not without first reminding us that Romans 13, when removed from the context of Christ’s Lordship, has been used to justify “horrendous abuses of individual human rights”:

“Hitler’s Holocaust, racism in the apartheid of South Africa, both the Jews in Germany and blacks in South Africa were viewed as a threat to public health and national security… “‘Trust us,’ said government…‘we truly have your best interests at heart. All we want to do is help . . . keep you safe.’”

Preaching from Romans and Revelation, MacArthur acknowledges the battle lines between the World (Kosmos), Satan and Parousia (physical return of Christus Rex – Jesus Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords).

The Lamb wins. The Lamb has already won. The Lamb will overcome.

We can vent at government abuse, and vent we should.

Be Ephesians 4:26 angry. Fervent in prayer as James the brother of Jesus instructs (James 5:16).

Likewise, James in 4:7, restrained righteous anger stops the triumph of evil.

This reflects where I think MacArthur’s main points land.

As I wrote last week, Government as God is a government gone wrong.

The full transcript of MacArthur’s sermon can be accessed here.

WATCH:

First published on Caldron Pool, 18th August 2021.

©Rod Lampard, 2021.

In Political Theology, Politics, Theological Reflection , , , ,
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Those in Office Now Need to Remember that They are accountable to a power much higher than the Office on loan to them

August 26, 2021 — Leave a comment

The world is worse off for not having leaders like Reagan, Churchill, etc. who understood that they were accountable to a power far greater than the office on loan to them.

I miss them.

Kyrie Eleison.

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