What is the Biblical role of the civil government? Is it to be a neutral 'referee' promoting tolerance and pluralism?
Is it to engage in social engineering?
Is its role limited to protecting citizens from criminals and invasion?
Or does the Bible require the civil government to support the church? If so, which church, and how?
The Bible and therefore the authors of the Westminster Confession (original version XXIII: III) and Catechisms (Larger Catechism q. 191) expressly state that the civil magistrate is to favor and maintain, that is, actively support, the church. (By "church" is not meant Buddhist temples or Islamic mosques.)
Few sermons like this have been preached since the time of the Reformation. More are needed.
For more on this topic, showing that this preaching is in accord with classic Reformed thought, please see the free books listed at http://www.swrb.com/newslett/freebook/civgov.htm or hear John Knox's "Reformation, Revolution and Romanism (1558)" (free MP3) at http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=1030075041 Also see, John Brown of Haddington's, "The Absurdity and Perfidy of All Authoritative Toleration of Gross Heresy, Blasphemy, Idolatry, Popery, in Britain" (1797, 1803 edition) and C.J. Brown's "Christ's Kingship Over the Nations Maintained and Defended in the Establishment Principle, or, The Principle of the National Recognition of Religion", both at http://www.swrb.com/catalog/b.htm
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swrb.com (9/28/2007)
“ The Reformation of Civil Government! ” Good to hear the classic Reformation views expounded here! "Dr. M'Crie in his STATEMENT OF THE DIFFERENCE, shows that all the Confessions of the Protestant and Presbyterian Churches of the Reformation, both in Britain and on the Continent of Europe, held and maintained the Establishment Principle." M'Crie goes on to give extracts from THE CONFESSION OF HELVETIA; THE CONFESSION OF BOHEMIA, called the CONFESSION OF THE WALDENSES; THE CONFESSION OF SAXONY; THE FRENCH CONFESSION; THE BELGIC OR DUTCH CONFESSION; THE CONFESSION OF THE ENGLISH CONGREGATION IN GENEVA; THE SCOTS CONFESSION and THE WESTMINSTER CONFESSION, all proving that "these confessions harmoniously agree in declaring as with one mouth that civil authority is not limited to the secular affairs of men, and the public care and advancement of religion is a principle part of the official duty of magistrates."
#16 - Top Played Sermon (48-Hours) on 10/27/2008
