Calling for a Return to the Doctrinal Ideals and Kingdom Ethics of the First Reformation
When one thinks of religious conflict and persecution in the Americas, the slaughter of Huguenots at the hands of the Spanish necessarily comes to mind. Hundreds were killed in northern Florida during the sixteenth century as Spain took exception to the notion of a French Protestant colony proximate to their vast Caribbean empire.
Many Evangelicals will undoubtedly celebrate the recent legislative moves in Texas and Florida and both governors (one Catholic and one Evangelical) are certainly viewed as allies or even champions in the Christian Right's culture wars.
https://agradio.org/paul-and-his-roman-constitutional-rights
This reading of Paul is common in Evangelical circles but a more careful reading of the passage reveals that it has been misunderstood.
The title of the movie is taken from George Elliot. In Middlemarch she writes:
"The growing good of the world is partly dependent on
unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might
have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited
tombs."
Though Evans (Elliot) was an infidel, the quote as it stands
is true and worthy of reflection. We might modify it a bit and rather than
think in terms of the 'growing good of the world', instead we can ponder the
testimony that will be revealed in heaven itself. Hebrews 11 tells us that the
'winners' in terms of the Kingdom are those who wandered about destitute,
living in caves and other lonely places, suffering torture and even death. In
the world's eyes they were losers but as Christians we don't see these things
or reckon them as the world does.
Why The Church Must Reject Politics (Part II)
Peter knows that these teachers will be engaged in activity
that will lead to the Church being associated with evil action. In his second
epistle he also speaks of those who despise government and speak evil of
dignities.
Why The Church Must Reject Politics (Part I)
These are questions that I have addressed many times but I'll
address some specific points that have been raised and are worthy of
consideration given the present moment.
Romans 13 makes it abundantly clear that the powers that be
are ordained by God and to resist the power is to invite judgment and
condemnation.
Recovering the First Reformation - Toward a Proto-Protestant Narrative of Church History (VII)
The Great Schism which erupted in 1378 generated a new wave
of dissent which while not unrelated to the earlier movements and impulses,
nevertheless generated more radical factions which for a season took up the
sword. These movements failed and yet in most cases the core ideas and
commitments endured and the survivors would eventually merge back into the
non-violent sword and coin rejecting, non-Sacralist and separatist posture of
the movement's first wave. They would not be challenged or tempted again with
regard to Sacralism until the time of the Magisterial Reformation.