Comments on: Christianity Politically Useless? http://deregnochristi.org/2007/03/24/christianity-politically-useless/ The Reign of Christ Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:42:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Anthony Cowley http://deregnochristi.org/2007/03/24/christianity-politically-useless/#comment-477 Anthony Cowley Tue, 27 Mar 2007 18:28:14 +0000 http://deregnochristi.org/2007/03/24/christianity-politically-useless/#comment-477 My present denomination, the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (formerly known as the Seceders) has the following modification to the Westminster Confession 23:3 - what think ye? - : III. The civil magistrate may not assume to himself administration of the word and sacraments, or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven;e yet, as the gospel revelation lays indispensable obligations upon all classes of people who are favored with it, magistrates as such, are bound to execute their respective offices in a subserviency thereunto, administering government on Christian principles, and ruling in the fear of God, according to the directions of his word; as those who shall give an account to the Lord Jesus, whom God hath appointed to be the judge of the world.f Hence, magistrates, as such, in a Christian country, are bound to promote the Christian religion, as the most valuable interest of their subjects, by all such means as are not inconsistent with civil rights; and do not imply an interference with the policy of the church, which is the free and independent kingdom of the Redeemer; nor an assumption of dominion over conscience.g e II Chron. 26:18; with Matt. 18:17; and Matt. 16:19; Eph. 4:11-12; I Cor. 4:1-2; Rom. 10:15; Heb. 5:4. f Isa. 49:7, 23; Rev. 21:24; Col. 3:17; II Sam. 23:3; II Cor. 5:10; Ps. 122:9; Ezra 7:23, 27-28; Rom. 13:3-4, 6. g Ps. 2:10-12; John 18:36-37; James 4:12; Rom. 14:4; [See also letters "e" and "f"]. My present denomination, the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (formerly known as the Seceders) has the following modification to the Westminster Confession 23:3 - what think ye? - :

III. The civil magistrate may not assume to himself administration of the word and sacraments, or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven;e yet, as the gospel revelation lays indispensable obligations upon all classes of people who are favored with it, magistrates as such, are bound to execute their respective offices in a subserviency thereunto, administering government on Christian principles, and ruling in the fear of God, according to the directions of his word; as those who shall give an account to the Lord Jesus, whom God hath appointed to be the judge of the world.f Hence, magistrates, as such, in a Christian country, are bound to promote the Christian religion, as the most valuable interest of their subjects, by all such means as are not inconsistent with civil rights; and do not imply an interference with the policy of the church, which is the free and independent kingdom of the Redeemer; nor an assumption of dominion over conscience.g

e II Chron. 26:18; with Matt. 18:17; and Matt. 16:19; Eph. 4:11-12; I Cor. 4:1-2; Rom. 10:15; Heb. 5:4.
f Isa. 49:7, 23; Rev. 21:24; Col. 3:17; II Sam. 23:3; II Cor. 5:10; Ps. 122:9; Ezra 7:23, 27-28; Rom. 13:3-4, 6.
g Ps. 2:10-12; John 18:36-37; James 4:12; Rom. 14:4; [See also letters "e" and "f"].

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