Kim Davis and the Roots of Protestant Resistance to Civil Authority

National Review ^ | September 8, 2015 | DAVID FRENCH

[xzins]

From the article:

As John Knox stated, “True it is, God has commanded kings to be obeyed; but likewise true it is, that in things which they commit against His glory, He has commanded no obedience, but rather, He has approved, yea, and greatly rewarded, such as have opposed themselves to their ungodly commandments and blind rage.” Calvin was even more blunt: “For earthly princes lay aside their power when they rise up against God, and are unworthy to be reckoned among the number of mankind. We ought, rather, to spit upon their heads than to obey them.” In support of this assertion, the Reformers could point to no shortage of biblical examples, including such luminaries as David and Daniel.

[cripplecreek]

"It was Sunday morning early in the year 1776. In the church where Pastor Muhlenberg preached, it was a regular service for his congregation, but a quite different affair for Muhlenberg himself. Muhlenberg's text for the day was Ecclesiastes 3 where it explains, 'To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven; a time to be born, and a time to die, a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted...'"

"Coming to the end of his sermon, Peter Muhlenberg turned to his congregation and said, 'In the language of the holy writ, there was a time for all things, a time to preach and a time to pray, but those times have passed away.' As those assembled looked on, Pastor Muhlenberg declared, 'There is a time to fight, and that time is now coming!' Muhlenberg then proceeded to remove his robes revealing, to the shock of his congregation, a military uniform."

"Marching to the back of the church he declared, 'Who among you is with me?' On that day 300 men from his church stood up and joined Peter Muhlenberg. They eventually became the 8th Virginia Brigade fighting for liberty."

"Frederick Muhlenberg, Peter's brother, was against Peter's level of involvement in the war. Peter responded to Frederick writing, 'I am a Clergyman it is true, but I am a member of the Society as well as the poorest Layman, and my Liberty is as dear to me as any man, shall I then sit still and enjoy myself at Home when the best Blood of the Covenant is spilling? ...So far am I from thinking that I act wrong, I am convinced it is my duty to do so and duly I owe to God and my country."



A Christian who isn't politically active is no Christian at all.

[xzins]

my Liberty is as dear to me as any man, shall I then sit still and enjoy myself at Home when the best Blood of the Covenant is spilling?

Great line, cc. Thanks for the post.

[cripplecreek]

We need to remember men like George Whitefield and the fact that the seeds of the American revolution were sown by the colonial churches.

Its why the left is so desperately afraid of Christianity, they know that Christians can inspire their downfall.

[agere_contra]

Martin Luther supported tyrannical civil authority when it came to the bloody repression of the Peasants Revolt.

To kill a peasant is not murder; it is helping to extinguish the conflagration. Let there be no half measures! Crush them! Cut their throats! Transfix them! Leave no stone unturned! To kill a peasant is to destroy a mad dog!

I wouldn't lovingly compare him to Kim Davis.

[cripplecreek]

Its also important to note that Frederick Muhlenberg changed his mind and joined the fight after the British pulled him from his home in the middle of the night so he could watch them burn his church to the ground.

[xzins]

They all had their faults, and they all had their strengths.

[agere_contra]

Che Guevara had a lovely singing voice.

[xzins]

Passivity before tyranny does not protect the passive.

[xzins]

And a nice beard

And one hell of a capitalistic t-shirt company

[agere_contra]

Hah!

[reagandemocrat]

All I can say is: This Catholic stands with Kim Davis.

[xzins]

Christianity itself, and its many wings, have all at one time or other had their moments of rebellion from civil authority.

[FreedomPoster]

Any mention of Che deserves a posting of my favorite picture of the man:

[Partisan Gunslinger]

Martin Luther supported tyrannical civil authority when it came to the bloody repression of the Peasants Revolt.

Has any pope ever supported tyrannical civil authority?

[agere_contra]

LOL!

God bless the Bolivians for exercising legitimate civil authority on his ass. Justice was never better served.

[Old Sarge]

Okay, stop that, I LOL’ed loud enough that the prairie dogs are poking their head sup...

[agere_contra]

Some have. Which ones are being idolized in this article?

Martin Luther supported the brutal, shocking repression of the German peasants by the nobility. Why is he being held up as an positive example in this post?

[ForYourChildren]

LEX,REX