A good Christian anarchist book: Civil Government: […] by David Lipscomb

in #christianity • 7 years ago

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David Lipscomb

Read or download the book here

The contents of Civil Government: Its Origin, Mission and Destiny, and the Christian’s Relation to it were originally published as separate parts in the Gospel Advocate from 1866-1867. They were collected into one book in 1913.

What the Book’s About

According to Lipscomb, God originally governed man directly, in the garden of Eden. After this, god governed indirectly: by prophets, judges, and natural law in the form of the Mosaic laws. Civil, or human government began with Nimrod at the rebellion at Babel. All existing states descend from this rebellion.

At some point, Israel demanded a king. God granted it to them, knowing it would be bad for them, as a punishment*. The very existence of human government is a punishment upon the wicked who wanted such government. Civil government is a curse upon the wicked.

The kingdom of God is to grow and crush all states under it. When Christ returns, Divine government will be reinstated, and all civil government will be destroyed.

Lipscomb further demonstrates that a Christian ought not be involved in government in any way.

A short review

Everyone ought to read this book.

That’s about all I have to say.

#anarcho-capitalism #anarchy #libertarianism
7 years ago in #christianity by
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     7 years ago 

    That's really dumb to say that a Christian should not be involved in government in any way. Where's your scriptural support for that?

    It's impossible for there to be anarchy and people to be free. When you have anarchy some criminal and his band of thugs takes control. It happens every time the government, military, and rule of law disappears from a society. Think of Mexico with the cartels or Somalia with their warlords.

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     7 years ago 

    Scriptural support for non-involvement in gov’t

    Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. (Matt 22:19-21)

    If we are to give our money to Caesar because his image is on it, ought we not to give ourselves unto God, whose image is on us?

    Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. (John 18:36)

    Christians are not to work by coercion, which is the very means by which the state works.

    As for your comment on anarchy

    In case you didn’t know, Mexico is no anarchy. What we need is a free market society.

    In any case, states will exist until God destroys them in the end.

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