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Are Christians Anarchists?

 


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The Beloved Anarchist

The beloved anarchist

When I first heard of Christian Anarchism I thought it was an oxymoron. Can you be a Christian and an anarchist? The problem with this combination of ideas is that most people do not understand what “anarchism” is all about. Certainly there are anarchists who want chaos and may wish to do evil but the same is true of some so called Christians.

According to Wikipedia, “Anarchism is a political philosophy which considers the state undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, and instead promotes a stateless society.”

To suggest that the Greek word for anarchy (anarchía) literally means “lack of a leader” is misleading. The word leader is defined as a “person or thing that leads” “a guiding or directing head.” A leader does not necessarily have the power to order people to do anything. They merely take the lead, step out first and everyone else must choose to follow or not. We may and should distinguish between a leader as a guide and rulers as a directing head.

The Greek word archon in the Bible is commonly translated ruler with a completely different Greek word translated leader and guide.1 A leader may only be a guide - who is typically passionate for their cause and has experience - with whom one identifies and follows through voluntary participation or association. So an anarchy is not absent leaders but absent of rulers.

A ruler is clearly one who forcibly commands others and/or is at or near the top of a bureaucracy or hierarchical system that controls society with an exercising authority. The Bible translates the Greek word hodegos (odhgov)2 leader, or guide. The Greek word archon is translated ruler 22 times, prince 11, chief twice and magistrate and chief ruler once each. It means “a ruler, commander, chief.” The ancient Greek anarchia (αναρχία) does not mean the "absence of a leader" but the absence of “a ruler, commander, chief.” In an anarchy there may be many leaders but no “rulers, commanders, and chiefs.”

Is that not the kind of government described by Jesus to his faithful disciples at their appointment to His government?3 Was Christ actually setting His people free in spirit and in truth? Is there a state in an anarchy?

To suggest that a “stateless society” means there is no government, would not do the history of man justice. To promote a stateless society might simply mean there is no desire for a centralized corporate state ruling over the people by coercive means.

Nor does a stateless society mean there are no leaders among the people. It may mean the nature or status of those leaders differs from a ruler or lawmaker. If the leaders are titular4 as they are in a pure republic then those that perform the duties of government have no actual power to exercise authority over the people. In truth they are to only serve, not rule over the people.

All government or state power or power of the state originates in the people. The rights of man are endowed by God but man may choose to endow governments with a portion of those rights or powers of choice. That has never been God's plan.

What is commonly called the State is the result of the acts of people vesting power in another. That election of a man who could rule over the people even by the voice of the people5 was called from the beginning a rejection of God6 and carried with it a long list of consequences7 prophesied by God through Samuel. God allows the people to make foolish choices and tells them that he will not hear their prayers if they do.8

In a true government of the people, for and by the people - natural rights remain with the people. Where the people remain in a “natural state”, as God intended, before the creation of a “social contract”(whether implied or actual, defacto or dejure), the power of government remained with the individual. In this natural “state of society” the power of choice (liberty or right to choose), called the potestas,9 remained with every man within the family.10

The Romans called this form of government libera res publica, which means free from things public. It is this phrase which is the origin of the Latin word republica. But over time the word developed two senses and uses. A Republic in one sense is “that form of government in which the administration of affairs is open to all the citizens. In another sense, it signifies the state, independently of its government.”11

In the latter sense we can envision a republic as a system where the people retain their rights, hold the power of the state and the ministers are titular servants of the people. In such systems taxes remain voluntary and it is every man’s responsibility to protect his neighbor as he would desire to be protected by his neighbor. What would hold such a society together as a nation? Are there examples of such a government anywhere in man's history?

There is a rich history of such governments and nations operating as diversified networks of voluntary systems of faith, hope, and charity. In fact, “our modern reliance on government to make law and establish order is not the historical norm.”12 Modern history books have not only removed this rich record of independent and successful government but have expunged the concept from our thinking until we cannot even imagine the possibility of such a government.

Israel for almost 400 years operating with no central authority in their government, with little more than freewill offerings for support and an all voluntary army thrived as a nation. We also have the early Christians surviving and even thriving during the decline and fall of the Roman Empire under off and on persecutions. Christians said there was another king and because of their faith in Christ excluded themselves from the welfare13 of the Roman socialist state14 and provided for themselves through one of those networks of faith, hope and charity.

Christ taught the gospel of love, like Moses and Abraham15 and His ministers warned us not to covet our neighbor's goods16 or make agreements with unbelievers17. When society has no legal bounds between the parties within the community to coerce them to do righteousness in order to maintain the liberty one must exercise their responsibility to God and neighbor to retain their rights. Without legal bonds limiting the rights of the people in free society the emphases is upon relationship rather than any social contract itself.

Those relationships require diligence in voluntarism, forgiveness and giving. The slothful should be under tribute.18 A government where taxes are voluntary would require a peculiar kind of people. Their citizenship would have to be written upon their hearts and their minds. They would have to exercise their divine responsibilities to maintain their individual right as kings of their own house by aiding their fellow citizen in doing the same. It would require a citizenry that did not steal, injure or even covet his neighbor's goods or family. It would require that every natural citizen to come at a minute's notice to the aid of his neighbor to protect their God given rights.

This would mean they would have to love the righteousness of God and their neighbor as much as themselves. This of course was required when Christ appointed a kingdom, His government, to his faithful disciples . His prime directive to the people19 included the decree for those who would lead that they were not to exercise authority one over the other. Yet, His government ministers of His appointed kingdom were not to be rulers (archo). They were expected to be the benefactor to the people20 by the free will contributions of the people, for the people, in pure religion.21 The Corban of the Christians was not like that of the Pharisees - nor that of the modern State.22

If an anarchy is a way of governing ourselves without the coercive rulers of the corporate state then Christ preached anarchy for the righteous. But the voice of the evil23 people who fear liberty24 are slothful, rejecting God, elect rulers who do exercise authority. They and are snared in a net of their own making.25

No people, no nation, can be free nor should be free, as long as they covet their neighbor's goods through the socialist state, through rulers and lawmakers who exercise authority one over the other. If they have entered into such covetous schemes their only hope is to repent and seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness. They must form a body of free assemblies bound by faith, hope and charity alone which is righteousness.26 This is what the early Church did and the modern Church has failed to do.


The Beloved Anarchist 2012-04-21

Straight talk on BlogTalk 2012-04-21
Half hour on the Beloved Anarchist
http://hisholychurch.net/audio/20120421anarchismBR.mp3


Audio broadcasts on Anarchism 2012-04-07

Christ and Anarchism

Saturday mourning Keys of the Kingdom Interview with Kevin Craig, April 7, 2012
http://www.keysofthekingdom.info/KOK-120407.mp3

Half hour Blogtalk Anarchism
http://hisholychurch.net/audio/20120407AnarchismBT.mp3

More on Anarchism on the Sabbath Hour
http://hisholychurch.net/audio/20120407AnarchismFR.mp3





Footnotes



1odhgov hodegos “ a leader of the way, a guide” to lead properly, to guide in a way.

2Matthew 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders <hodegos> of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

Matthew 23:16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides <hodegos>, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!

Matthew 23:24 Ye blind guides <hodegos>, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

Acts 1:16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide <hodegos> to them that took Jesus.

Romans 2:19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide <hodegos> of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,

3Luke 22:29 “And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; “Matthew 21:43 “Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. Luke 12:32 “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Matthew 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Matthew 10:7 “He said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.”

Luke 9:2 “And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.”

Luke 9:60 “Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.”

4“In name only” see Definition of a republic http://www.hisholychurch.org/study/gods/cog7rvd.php

5Voice of the People http://www.hisholychurch.org/news/articles/voice.php

61 Samuel 8:5-22 “... And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.”

71 Samuel 8:5-22 “According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.9 Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them. And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king. And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants....”

81 Samuel 8:5-22 “... And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day. Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles. And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD. And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.”

9In the law of the Latins, the word potestas signifies generally a power or authority by which we do anything. Patria

Potestas signifies the authority which a father had over of his children, grandchildren, and other descendants. When this right or power was vested in the State the agent of government became the father of the people. See Call no man Father

http://www.hisholychurch.org/sermon/fatherabba.php

10Leviticus 25:10 “And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout [all] the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.”

11Republic. Black’s Dictionary 3rd Ed. p1536.

12Part I of The Enterprise of Law : Justice without the State by Dr. Bruce L. Benson.

13Psalms 69:22 “Let their table become a snare before them: and [that which should have been] for [their] welfare, [let it become] a trap.”

Romans 11:9 “And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:”

14The Corban http://www.hisholychurch.org/sermon/corban.php

15Leviticus 19:18 "Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I [am] the LORD."

Matthew 5:43 "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy."

Matthew 19:19 "Honour thy father and [thy] mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

Matthew 22:39 "And the second [is] like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

Mark 12:31 "And the second [is] like, [namely] this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these."

Mark 12:33 "And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love [his] neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."

Luke 10:27 "And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself."

Romans 13:9 "For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if [there be] any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

Romans 13:10 "Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love [is] the fulfilling of the law."

James 2:8 "If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:"

16Mark 7:22 “Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:”

Luke 12:15 “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”

Romans 1:29 “Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,...they which commit such things are worthy of death...”

Romans 7:7 “What shall we say then? [Is] the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.”

Romans 13:9 “For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if [there be] any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

1 Corinthians 5:10 “Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.”

1 Corinthians 5:11 “But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.”

Ephesians 5:3 “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;”

Ephesians 5:5 “For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.”

Colossians 3:5 “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:”

2 Timothy 3:2 “For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, … Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

Hebrews 13:5 “[Let your] conversation [manner, way] [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

2 Peter 2:3 “And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”

2 Peter 2:14 “Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:”

Exodus 20:17 "'Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s."

Matthew 19:17 "And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments."
John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
John 15:10 "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love."
1 John 2:3 "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments."
1 John 3:22 "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight."
1 John 5:2 "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments."
1 John 5:3 "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."
Revelation 12:17 "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."
Revelation 14:12 "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."


172 Corinthians 6:16 “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in [them]; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

18Proverbs 12:24 “The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.”

19Matthew 5:43 “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.”

Matthew 19:19 “Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

Matthew 22:39 “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [Mark 12:33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.]”

Luke 10:27 “And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.”

Romans 13:9 “For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

Romans 13:10 “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

Galatians 5:14 “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

James 2:8 “If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:”

20Matthew 20:25 “But Jesus called them [unto him], and said, Ye know that the princes [archon] of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you”

Mark 10:42 “But Jesus called them [to him], and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule [archo] over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you:”

Luke 22:25-26 “And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye [shall] not [be] so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.”

21Pure Religion http://www.hisholychurch.org/news/articles/religion.php

22To Heal Our Land http://www.hisholychurch.org/sermon/healland.php

23Romans 13:3 “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:”

24http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/books/THL/higherpower.php

25Proverbs 1:10-19 “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.”

26Find and JOIN your Local Living Network http://www.hisholychurch.org/network/localnet.php






 

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