The State as "Minister of God"

Romans 13:4 describes the violent, barbaric, sexually depraved Roman Empire as "the minister of God."

The Greek word translated "minister" is diakonos, from which we get our English word "deacon." The word means "servant," "one who serves." Diakonia, the "deaconate," is defined as:

1. service, ministering, esp. of those who execute the commands of others
2. of those who by the command of God proclaim and promote religion among men
   1. of the office of Moses
   2. of the office of the apostles and its administration
   3. of the office of prophets, evangelists, elders etc.
3. the ministration of those who render to others the offices of Christian affection esp. those who help meet need by either collecting or distributing of charities
4. the office of the deacon in the church
5. the service of those who prepare and present food

When most people hear the word "deacon," they think of a guy passing the offering plate down the row, or distributing to the poor from the church Food Pantry. They don't think of a Roman Centurion torturing Jesus to death. They don't think of a barbaric army killing fathers and sons, raping mothers and sisters, and unleashing a torrent of spears and arrows into the bodies of small children.

But God sends these evil rapists to "serve" His purposes. They are His "ministers."

This does not mean that governments have God's ethical approval. They are righteously condemned and destroyed by the same God Whose purposes they "serve."

Violations of International Law

It is important to remember that Rome (the capital of modern-day Italy) invaded Israel years before Christ was born. Even the United Nations (no friend of Israel) would condemn Italy in the strongest terms if she invaded Israel today and established a military occupation government over the people of Israel. But this is what Rome did. This invasion was morally, politically, and legally unjustifiable, and a clear violation of "International Law." It was unChristian. It was lawless and barbaric. But the Roman Empire "served" God's purposes. It was God's "minister."

The entity we call "the State" is an example of organized crime. Christians should do everything they can -- short of violence -- to rid the world of entities like "the Mafia" and "the government." All "governments" systematically violate God's Commandments against murder and theft -- that's the very reason men create them --  but in these very acts of disobedience, they "serve" God's purposes.

Let's look at a couple of examples in the Bible.

Isaiah 13: Lucifer's Army Self-Destructs

Isaiah begins a sermon against Babylon in chapter 13 which continues through chapter 14. Babylon is going to be judged for her lawlessness, her violations of Biblical Law. Her judgment will come at the hands of the Medes.

God's Sovereignty over the State

We see God's sovereignty in Isaiah 13 verses 3ff.

The soldiers of the Meden army are His "sanctified ones." (v. 3)

The Lord "commands" them.

He calls His "mighty ones." (v. 3)

He musters the armies together. (v. 4)

The armies of the nations

come from the Lord

to destroy the earth. (v. 5)

(Not the whole earth, just the land that pertains to Babylon.)

The destroying armies are "the weapons of His indignation" (v. 5).

This is the day of the Lord's "wrath and fierce anger" (vv. 6-9).

The coming destruction is a terror for these evil doers (v. 11).

God is sending a sword to cut them down (v. 15).

It isn't necessary for you or for me to take vengeance on Babylon; God will see to it; He and His "sanctified ones."

This is the language of Romans 13. It is not a compliment.

The Shaking of Babylon's Demonic Power

In verses 10 and 13, the effects of this destroying army are spoken of in terms of the "stars," which we have seen are a way of speaking of angelic or demonic forces associated with the State (see "Angels and God's Throne of Government" as well as "Stars and Idolatry"). Isaiah says Babylon's heavenly patrons are going to be shaken (Isaiah 10:13 - not all the heavens, just the "heavens" that pertain to Babylon).

J. Marcellus Kik, in his exposition of Matthew 24, has shown that this cosmic language is not to be interpreted naturally, or astronomically, as though the suns from other galaxies are going to be physically disturbed in the fall of Babylon, Idumea (Isaiah 34:4-5), Egypt (Ezekiel 32:7,8), or Israel (Matthew 24:29-31). Other writers have provided insight into the nature of these "principalities and powers."

So confused have some commentators been over Isaiah's link between the State and demonic forces that they have attributed Isaiah's prophecies against the State of Babylon to Satan himself! (Isaiah 14:12-14)  But it is an understandable case of mistaken identity!

A Kingdom Divided Against Itself

So why does God allow Satan and his henchmen to incite the State to war and oppression? Why does God command His "sanctified ones" to destroy another nation? Why does God use violence?

The answer is clear: Babylon has succumbed to Satan's temptation to be as gods (Genesis 3:5; Isaiah 14:13). They knew they risked God's judgment when they made their decision (Romans 1:18-32). God destroys both men and nations by allowing them to pursue their evil dreams. He advances His Kingdom by using lawless men and nations to judge other lawless men and nations. But this does not mean that lawless nations have God's ethical approval, nor should they have ours. God's "ministers" are evil and horrifying. We must not lose sight of just how evil the state really is.

God's judgment is fierce upon a lawless nation, such as Babylon, and He deals with Babylon in a covenantal way. Not just the king, but his citizens are affected. Not just the fathers, but their wives feel God's wrath. Not just the parents, but their (covenant!) children (all men are members of a covenant; all are either covenant breakers or covenant keepers; the issue is always Theonomy or autonomy). Thus verses 16 and 18 give graphic and upsetting detail of God's judgment on Babylon. The Medes are going to dash the children to pieces right before their mothers' eyes. This may be before, it may be after, they rape the mothers. Young men, who might be potential soldiers (even now 12- and 13-year olds are not uncommonly seen in jihadist uniforms or as members of Latin American "Liberation Fronts"), will likewise be dismembered and killed. One scholar blandly declares that these gruesome atrocities were "common to ancient warfare." 

You see, when it comes to the demon-empowered armies of the State, war really is hell!

Satan's kingdom cannot stand; it wars against itself. Satan provokes men to pride, covetousness, competition, and ultimately war (James 4:1-5; Revelation 13:7).  An associations of covetous men, called the "State," unwittingly carries out God's judgments upon another State, by destroying it in fearful war.  The "victorious" State is then face-to-face with God's judgment for their destructive ways, and will soon be judged by yet another State, equally covetous, equally proud, and so it goes, until Christ shall have put down all these "archists" (I Corinthians 15:24-25) by giving them up to self-destruction, when they can be replaced by Spirit-empowered Christian self- government.

Isaiah 10: A Summary of Isaiah 13

We can summarize Isaiah's doctrine of the State by looking at Isaiah 10. This is a prophecy against Israel. God is going to use Assyria in the same way He used the Medes against Babylon.

Verse 5 says the Assyrian army is the rod of the Lord's anger. Their weapons are the Lord's indignation.

Ultimately it is God Who is sending these unGodly barbarians. Their purpose is the judgment of a hypocritical nation, those who have incurred God's wrath. God gives the army "a command" (v. 6a) to steal, confiscate wealth and property, and in general to do the things the Assyrian army does best: to rape and pillage Israelites, treating them like sewage in the street (v. 6b).

Verse 6 is overlooked by most Christians, whose failure to separate from worldly influences has desensitized them to the violence of this verse. God says -- to Israel -- "I give him a command to spoil." Israel deserves this destruction, for in spite of a prophetic warning, they continue emulating the ways of the statists around them.

Israel, an adolescent nation from a conservative, middle-class background, looks enviously upon the lifestyles of "the beautiful people," the partying jet-setters of the nations. Like an air-headed teenager without responsible adult models, Israel twitters at the fashionable violence of the tauntingly rebellious punk-baalim and heavy-Ashtaroth rockers -- just a little worldliness without getting "too far" out of line.

God gives Israel a full dose of what these pagan Humanists really represent.

Assyria is only serving God's purposes unwittingly. Assyria is not doing what they do because they know God wants them to. The Assyrian "does not so intend" (v. 7). The Assyrian soldier is just a big "party animal;" with a couple of six packs under his belt he just isn't satisfied with a bag of loot and a couple of cunts (cf. Judges 5:30). He goes for the gusto (cf. Isaiah 13:16-18). Are you titillated or amused at that language? Then imagine it happening to your wife and daughter. Israel also winked at such prophetic imagery.

This hideous State-sanctioned violence is obviously not sanctioned by God in His Law. It is the antithesis of Godly conduct. And so, not surprisingly, Assyria shall be judged by God for their lawless destruction. The very destruction that "served" God's purposes.

We see then that God is sovereign over the State and its brutal ugliness. God allows Satan to raise up a State and its armies, and uses this gorilla-machine to judge other machines -- covetous, irresponsible, hypocritical nations -- like the United States? -- punishing them -- taking vengeance upon them -- in His wrath. All things -- but especially the State -- serve God's Kingdom purposes.

• View | Thesis 48: The State Serves God by Sinning
• View | Thesis 49: The State As Sanctified “Servant”/ “Deacon”/”Minister”
• View | Thesis 50: The State Does Not Serve God Self-Consciously
• It is impossible to self-consciously obey God's Law while being "the State," because being "the State" is a violation of God's Law.
• "The State" as Criminal
• View | Thesis 51: Only One King Self-Consciously Serves God

• The Origin of "the State" ("Civil Government") - Political Philosophy 101 According to the Bible
• "The State" Defined
  • The State: A Monopoly of Violence
• Romans 13 and the Christian Anarchist
• How the State's Violence is "for our good"

God Ordains Evil

     The Bible says comparatively little about heaven and hell, so talk about so-and-so's eternal destiny is an easy abstraction.  Such talk is also politically innocuous: The Bible says much more about the oppression of the weak by the politically powerful, and it is here — in the sphere of human history — where "Calvinism" is seen to reflect the teaching of the Scriptures.

     It is especially the prophets who speak of certain powerful people as having been created to carry out evil acts in history — in defiance of God's revealed Law for all human conduct. One thing that so frequently landed the prophets in prison was their unhesitating readiness to

• challenge the unquestioned moral legitimacy of the State
• identify evil empires as "reprobate"
• name their agents as rebellious creatures of God
1. which unwittingly serve God's foreordained purposes,
2. even as they carry out their own violent secular agenda of oppression, extortion, and murder,
3. which are met with God's unreserved and well-deserved condemnation. 

     Evil is not autonomous, said the prophets.  The Evil Empire is under the complete control of God.  And evil does not triumph in the long run.  This is political bad news: Every year is an "election year."

     Predestination is thus "good news" for those who hunger for peace and thirst for justice, because it means that those who hunger for war and profit from injustice are not ultimately in control (Luke1:51-52).  The pervasive teaching of Jesus and the prophets is that God sends evil against evil, so that justice can be established.  As often as the four Gospels record Jesus' promises of blessing for the sheep of His Kingdom, they record His threats of cursing for the goats of Empire-worshiping Israel.  Jesus summed up this concept of predestination in history: 

"All they that take up the sword shall perish with the sword" (Matthew 26:52).

This is not Jesus engaging in statistical analysis of demographic surveys. This is Jesus speaking as the One through Whom "all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers" (Colossians 1:16). "The best way to predict the future is to create it."

     Even if destruction comes at the hands of a sword wielded by violent marauders of a despotic empire, Jesus and the prophets still see it as "the Sword of the Lord" (Isaiah 34:6; Jeremiah 12:12; 47:6).

     As human beings obligated to obey God's Law, we are rebellious fools if we abandon the way of love and adopt Satan's political temptation (Luke 4:5-7), "electing" other human "representatives" and "calling" them to use the sword, either in San Quentin or Iraq.  But God's ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9).  God can create "the State" and use it to accomplish Divine Ends.  God can bring an Assyria into existence so that Jesus' Word concerning the sword can be fulfilled. 
     Thus God "ordains" the State (Romans 13:1).

Empires
serve (from Gk., deaconeo, "to minister")
God's purposes (Romans 13:4).

     Shall we then "sign up" with "God's minister"?  If God is using the Clinton-Bush-Obama-Trump-Biden regime to judge Saddam Hussein or Vladimir Putin, shall we head down to the "School of the Americas" to take classes? Isaiah answers, "Woe to the Assyrian" (10:5).  Those who wield the sword are cosmic losers.

The Argument:

	God Sends Evil
	Often the "evil" which God sends against His enemies is the army of a depraved Empire
	Evil is carried out according to God's Sovereign Plan by statists who think they are exercising their "free will."
	Sometimes the evil God causes an Empire to do makes the State its own worst enemy.
	Some would prefer to believe that God does not predestine evil, but that it "just happens."
	Such "Arminians" (and other politicians) receive God's judgment.
	As pacifists, Christians are not to resist the Evil Empire with violence, but are to "submit" to it.
	The fact that we are to "submit" to these evil acts of evil empires does not mean that these empires have a legitimate existence, even though we recognize that they were "ordained" (predestined) by God.
	In addition to human beings, God often sent angels to carry out evil acts, or to prompt humans to do evil.
	These angelic beings (demons) were often called "powers"
	Conclusion: Calvinists are Non-Archists

God Sends Evil

Joshua 23:15 "Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all the good things have come upon you which the LORD your God promised you, so the LORD will bring upon you all evil things, until He has destroyed you from this good land which the LORD your God has given you.

1 Kings 14:9-10 "but you have done more evil than all who were before you, for you have gone and made for yourself other gods and molded images to provoke Me to wrath, and have cast Me behind your back; {10} "therefore behold! I will bring evil on the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam every male in Israel, bond and free; I will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as one takes away refuse until it is all gone.

1 Kings 21:29 "See how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the evil in his days. In the days of his son I will bring the evil on his house."

2 Kings 21:12 "therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whoever hears of it, both his ears will tingle.

2 Kings 22:16,20 "Thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will bring evil on this place and on its inhabitants; all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read; {20} Surely, therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring on this place." ' " So they brought back word to the king.

Nehemiah 13:18 "Did not your fathers do thus, and did not our God bring all this evil on us and on this city? Yet you bring added wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath."

Numbers 14:35 'I the LORD have spoken this; I will surely do so to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against Me. In this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.'"

Deuteronomy 29:21 "And the LORD would separate him for evil from all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this Book of the Law,

Deuteronomy 30:15 "See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil,

Judges 2:15 Wherever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn to them. And they were greatly distressed.

Job 2:10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Job 42:11 Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold.

Psalm 54:5 He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth.

Isaiah 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

Jeremiah 6:19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.

Jeremiah 11:11 Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them.

Jeremiah 18:11 Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.

Jeremiah 19:3 And say, Hear ye the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, the which whosoever heareth, his ears shall tingle.

Jeremiah 19:15 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon this city and upon all her towns all the evil that I have pronounced against it, because they have hardened their necks, that they might not hear my words.

Jeremiah 23:12 Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 25:32 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.

Jeremiah 32:42 For thus saith the LORD; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them.

Jeremiah 35:17 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have pronounced against them: because I have spoken unto them, but they have not heard; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered.

Jeremiah 36:3 It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.

Jeremiah 36:31 And I will punish him and his seed and his servants for their iniquity; and I will bring upon them, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and upon the men of Judah, all the evil that I have pronounced against them; but they hearkened not.

Jeremiah 39:16 Go and speak to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished in that day before thee.

Jeremiah 44:2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Ye have seen all the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, and upon all the cities of Judah; and, behold, this day they are a desolation, and no man dwelleth therein,

Jeremiah 51:64 And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be weary. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.

Lamentations 3:38 Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth evil and good?

Jeremiah 42:6 Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God.

Jeremiah 26:3 If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.

Jeremiah 26:13 Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you.

Ezekiel 7:3-5 Now is the end come upon thee, and I will send mine anger upon thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense upon thee all thine abominations. {4} And mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity: but I will recompense thy ways upon thee, and thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee: and ye shall know that I am the LORD. {5} Thus saith the Lord GOD; An evil, an only evil, behold, is come.

Daniel 9:12-14 And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem. {13} As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth. {14} Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice.

Amos 3:6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?

Micah 1:12 For the inhabitant of Maroth waited carefully for good: but evil came down from the LORD unto the gate of Jerusalem.

Micah 2:3 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall ye go haughtily: for this time is evil.

2 Samuel 17:14 And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.

Often the "evil" which God sends against His enemies is the army of a depraved Empire

Judges 3:12 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD.

2 Samuel 7:14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:

2 Samuel 12:11 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.

1 Kings 5:4 But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.

1 Kings 9:9 And they shall answer, Because they forsook the LORD their God, who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have taken hold upon other gods, and have worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath the LORD brought upon them all this evil.

2 Kings 19:7 Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and shall return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.

2 Chronicles 20:9 If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.

Proverbs 16:4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

1 Chronicles 5:26 And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, even the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, and brought them unto Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river Gozan, unto this day.

Jeremiah 4:6 Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction.

Jeremiah 9:16 I will scatter them also among the heathen, whom neither they nor their fathers have known: and I will send a sword after them, till I have consumed them.

Jeremiah 21:10 For I have set my face against this city for evil, and not for good, saith the LORD: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.

Jeremiah 24:10 And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers.

Jeremiah 25:27 Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you.

Jeremiah 25:29 For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD of hosts.

Jeremiah 29:17 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.

Jeremiah 42:17 So shall it be with all the men that set their faces to go into Egypt to sojourn there; they shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: and none of them shall remain or escape from the evil that I will bring upon them.

Jeremiah 44:27 Behold, I will watch over them for evil, and not for good: and all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them.

Jeremiah 49:37 For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger, saith the LORD; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them:

Ezekiel 5:17 So will I send upon you famine and evil beasts, and they shall bereave thee; and pestilence and blood shall pass through thee; and I will bring the sword upon thee. I the LORD have spoken it.

Ezekiel 14:21 For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?

Ezekiel 28:23 For I will send into her pestilence, and blood into her streets; and the wounded shall be judged in the midst of her by the sword upon her on every side; and they shall know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 29:19-20 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will give the land of Egypt unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall take her multitude, and take her spoil, and take her prey; and it shall be the wages for his army. {20} I have given him the land of Egypt for his labour wherewith he served against it, because they wrought for me, saith the Lord GOD.

Amos 9:4 And though they go into captivity before their enemies, thence will I command the sword, and it shall slay them: and I will set mine eyes upon them for evil, and not for good.

Evil is carried out according to God's Sovereign Plan by statists who think they are exercising their "free will" (or "just doing my job").

2 Samuel 17:14 And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.

Isaiah 10:5-7 O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. {6} I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. {7} Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few.

Micah 4:11-13 Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion. {12} But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither understand they His counsel: for He shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor. {13} Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.

Acts 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Acts 4:25-29 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? {26} The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. {27} For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, {28} For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. {29} And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

Acts 13:27-28 For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew Him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning Him. {28} And though they found no cause of death in Him, yet desired they Pilate that He should be slain.

Revelation 17:17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil His will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

Sometimes the evil God causes an Empire to do makes the State its own worst enemy.

Deuteronomy 2:30 But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day.

1 Kings 12:15 Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform His saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

Daniel 11:27 And both these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed.

Some would prefer to believe that God does not predestine evil, but that it "just happens."

1 Samuel 6:9 And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast to Bethshemesh, then He hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that it is not His hand that smote us: it was a chance that happened to us.

Such "Arminians" (and other politicians) receive God's judgment.

Zephaniah 1:12 And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.

As pacifists, Christians are not to resist the Evil Empire with violence, but are to "submit" to it.

• The Biblical Case Against "National Defense"
• A Theonomic Defense of Pacifism
• Why All Christians are "Pacifists" (Acts 5:29)
• Deposition of a Christian pacifist in federal court.
• Pacifism or Mass Death? [off site]
• Why Americans Have Trouble Hearing God's Law on Peace
• The Prince of Peace and the Law of Love
• "Self Defense" and the Way of the Cross
• "Capital Punishment" and Liturgical Bloodshed
• "National Defense" and Liturgical Bloodshed
• Pacifism, Limited Government, and Anarchism
• Pacifism and "National Security"
• How to Become a Theonomic Pacifist.
• The Violent American Revolution of 1776 vs.Christianity

Matthew 5:39,41 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. {41} And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

Jeremiah 29:7 And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.

Jeremiah 27:12 I spake also to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live.

Jeremiah 38:17-18 Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon's princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house: {18} But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon's princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand.

Romans 12:14, 18-21 - 13:4  Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. {18}:If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. {19} Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. {20} Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. {21} Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. 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. {2} Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. {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: {4} For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

1 Peter 2:11-24 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; {12} Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. {13} Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; {14} Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. {15} For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: {16} As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. {17} Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. {18} Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. {19} For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. {20} For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. {21} For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: {22} Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth: {23} Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously: {24} Who his own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Matthew 26:52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

As Non-Archists, Calvinists recognize that the fact that we are to "submit" to these evil acts of evil empires does not mean that these empires have a legitimate (moral) existence (even though we recognize that they were "ordained" [predestined] by God).

Jeremiah 30:16 Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey.

Matthew 26:52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

In addition to human beings, God often sent angels to carry out evil acts, or to prompt humans to do evil.

Psalm 78:49 He cast upon them the fierceness of His anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.

Judges 9:23-24 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech: {24} That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren.

1 Samuel 16:14-16 But the spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. {15} And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. {16} Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.

Luke 4:5-7 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. {6} And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. {7} If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.

These angelic beings (demons) were often called "powers"

Colossians 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

1 Corinthians 15:24 Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Ephesians 1:19-21 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, {20} Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, {21} Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

Conclusion: Calvinists are Non-Archists

• Barack Obama does not bear the Bomb in vain.
• Saddam Hussein did not bear weapons of mass destruction in vain.
• God dispatches evil angels.
• God sends "the sword."
• God predestines evil.
• God "ordains" the State.
• He who bears the sword is evil.

Romans 13:1-4 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. {2} Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. {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: {4} For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

How a Non-Arrchist prays through Romans 13.

Only one Christian Movement — Anarcho-Calvinism — stands resolutely against the greatest source of lawlessness, disorder, crime, chaos, and immorality in the entire world: "Organized Government."

Deposition of an Anarcho-Calvinist in Federal Court.

Is God Less Glorious Because He Ordained that Evil Be? - John Piper

Total Predestination
CONTENTS

Isaiah's Doctrine of Predestination

Edenization of the Earth: Reversing the Stalinization of Life

The thirteenth chapter of Paul's letter to the Romans is the classic passage used by Christians to justify the existence of the State. The famous language "The powers that be are ordained of God" is found in that chapter.

Actually, this website is devoted to only the first 7 verses of Romans 13. If we have a "hidden agenda," however, it is to view these seven verses in the context of the entire Bible. Those who see in Romans 13:1-7 a divine approval for "the State" take it out of its Biblical context.

Systematic Theology

"The whole theory of civil government and the duty of citizens to their rulers, are comprehensively stated by the Apostle in Romans xiii.1-5" (III:357).

We believe Hodge is mistaken. His sentence says, "x + y are comprehensively stated in Romans 13," where "y" = "the duty of citizens to their rulers." "x' must surely include "the duty of rulers to their citizens." All of this is certainly not spelled out "comprehensively" in Romans 13. It turns out very little is spelled out in Romans 13.

Our position is that Romans 12 and 13 must be taken together as a unit. Romans 12 says "don't return evil for evil; submit to evil, even (Romans 13) the most evil thing on the planet: the State." Most Christians, including Hodge, miss the point:

• First,  the Bible has much more to say about the State than is found in Romans 13. One must also consult Revelation 13, Isaiah 13, and the books of the Kings, as well as the scathing denunciations of the State by the Old Testament prophets. Read through every verse in the Bible and ask yourself, "Is this where God commanded human beings to form 'the State?'" Your answer will always be "No."

• Second, we should enter into this discussion with a deep distrust of "the State." At the most basic level, we all know that it's wrong to steal, and wrong to kill. The Bible also specifies that it's wrong to take vengeance against our enemies. "The State" was invented by human beings -- not by God -- to circumvent these most basic commandments.

• Third, what Romans 13 says about the State is hardly flattering, when understood correctly. What exactly does Paul mean by "the powers?" He's talking about demonic, satanic powers. See Ephesians 6:12 and everywhere the Greek word exousiai (pl.) is found. This issue is huge. Romans 13 has a negative, rather than positive assessment of the State. "Ordained" simply means "predestined," not "morally approved." An ungodly, tyrannical, murderous dictator is still "the minister of God." because he "serves" God's purposes. God predestines all things, even evil.

"The State" is evil.

• Fourth, we agree with most Christians that this passage encourages "submission" to the State, but not "patriotic" submission; rather, the submission that Paul had just finished teaching about in Romans 12:

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.  Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
Romans 12:21, 19, 14

Just because we do not take up arms against evil-doers does not mean that evil-doers somehow have God's divine approval. This is the teaching of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount: "Resist not evil" (Matthew 5:39). Just because we "turn the other cheek" does not mean that cheek-slappers are a "divine institution." Cheek-slappers will be judged. We leave such vengeance to God.

This fourth point is important, and it contains great irony.

• Since we believe the State is evil, we oppose patriotism, but as followers of Christ, Christian non-archists do not take the path of violent revolution against it (1 Peter 2:21). We denounce even the American Revolution (1776). Vine & Fig Tree advocates pacifism.

• Those who believe Romans 13 teaches patriotic support of the State also believe that we have the right to overthrow it -- with violence if necessary -- whenever it is deemed to be "ungodly" or disobedient to God's commandments (not including commands not to take vengeance and fund acts of vengeance by extortion).

• We non-rchists are more submissive to the State than those who claim it is a "divine institution," which they can overthrow by violent revolution whenever they can rationalize it with pious platitudes. ("Platitudes" because they are not invoked to critique the day-to-day operations of murder and theft which are inherent in the very nature of the State. Holding the State accountable to God's Law is only done by the party out-of-power against the party-in-power when the party-out-of-power wants to gain control of the machinery of the State.)

It should be easy enough to remember the three neglected themes of Romans 12-13:

• Powers - Demonic
• Predestination - Total
• Pacifism - not Patriotism

The masses have learned a subtle lesson from the teachers of the traditional interpretation of Romans 13. The message of Romans 12 and the Sermon on the Mount -- love your enemies, leave vengeance to God -- is said to apply only in our "private" lives. But as public officials, we must be "practical," "realistic," (or, as Christians might put it) "Godly" men of "dominion." We must kill our enemies and take vengeance on a massive scale through the State. Nobody wants to be "unrealistic," "impractical," or "idealistic." 

We all know that "public" is more important than "private." That's "the real world." And so the violent techniques of the State inexorably become imported into our "private" lives, and forgiveness and love of enemy are lost in the gossamer bedtime stories of women and children.

Eight hundred years ago, Western Civilization believed without question in "the divine right of kings." Anyone carrying around a copy of the U.S. Constitution as a model of government and suggesting that an orderly society could survive without a king would have been mocked -- or executed. Ideas we take for granted today -- like "consent of the governed" -- would have shocked the conscience of our medieval forebears.

In a few generations, a consistent "free market" approach to civil government will be the norm. People will shake their heads when they consider the 20th century State and the support it received from Christians in America -- a society that permitted the confiscation of nearly 75% of everyone's income by organized governments which murdered hundreds of millions of people.
 

You'll recognize one of those archists above as Adolph Hitler. Hitler did not kill six million Jews. Name one Jew whom you can prove Hitler killed. Six million Jews were killed by six million Germans who chose to wear a silly uniform, walk a silly goose-step, and follow the orders of a beyond-silly, pathologically evil man. These Germans were archists. They were "ordinary people." Just like you.