Christian Militancy: Chuck Baldwin’s Blatant Appeal to Violence

Militancy, in the name of Christianity, rose in the last quarter of the twentieth century. Virulent anti-government and anti-pluralist visions gave rise to Christian reconstructionism, dominion theology and groups such as the Army of God.

It has also produced, what is known today as the Patriotic American movement:

Patriotic dominionists teach that political action will advance the kingdom of God in America. Using the vehicle of Christian media, they have taught evangelicals for the past three decades that America is a Christian nation and needs to return to its roots. Almost every evangelical in the pew has been influenced in one way or another by this sect. Patriotic dominionist leaders and their organizations have been closely interlocked financially and politically with the conservatives from the political Right. The secular conservatives purport to uphold morality, which appeals to evangelicals. The combined force of conservatives and evangelicals flexes its political muscles in Washington. (Dominionism and the Rise of Christian Imperialism)

Those in the NAR have been promoting (and prophesying about) this coming ‘Christian militancy’ for years:

We are coming to the times when passive Christianity and passive Christians will cease to exist. There is a maturity, a discipline, and a divine militancy coming upon the people of God. Those who have succumbed to humanistic and idealistic theologies may have a hard time with this, but we must understand that God is a military God. The title that He uses ten times more than any other in Scripture is “the Lord of hosts,” or “Lord of armies.” There is a martial aspect to His character that we must understand and embrace for the times and the job to which we are now coming. (Rick Joyner, “TAKING THE LAND” November 29, 2005 Elijah List)

Today, Steve Lumbley at Apostasy Watch, offers further proof of this growing call going out for Christians to rebel and and embrace militancy:

Chuck Baldwin’s Blatant Appeal to Violence

In his most recent column, Remembering the Alamo, Pastor Chuck Baldwin extols the gallantry of the Alamo defenders and implies that Christians may soon be required to to take up arms against tyranny here in America;

Beyond that, how much longer do we have before it will become necessary for freedom-loving States such as Texas (and maybe Oklahoma, Montana, Wyoming, New Hampshire, Vermont or South Carolina) to declare their independence one more time? An argument could be made that Washington, D.C., is considerably more brutish and tyrannical than old Santa Anna ever was. I’m not so sure that it isn’t already time to again hoist the “Don’t Tread On Me” flags, shout “Remember The Alamo,” and renew the faith and courage of William Travis and Patrick Henry.

This is not the first time Baldwin has suggested that violence may be called for in defense of freedom in this country but it is certainly his most blatant appeal to rebellion. It is a direct invitation to discard the teachings of Christ and give heed to our carnal instincts.

Pastor Baldwin is not the only one traveling the road to rebellion. Joseph Farah, editor of WorldNetDaily recently penned a column (Is It Time For A Revolt) in which he suggests we withhold our tax dollars to protest the administrations Middle East policies.

Let me begin by saying that I am a native Texan. I can trace my family roots back to the days of the Republic of Texas. I am directly related to one of the most famous figures in the history of Texas independence. I am also a student of history. I say this to let you know that I am not some Johnny-come-lately with a revisionist view of history. But neither am I swayed by the heroic and rather simplistic view of freedom loving Alamo defenders put forth by Mr. Baldwin…

The struggle for Texas independence involved many complex motives and agendas. Some of these motives were noble by human standards and some were not but none of them had anything to do with advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Pastor Baldwin writes some moving words in his homage to the Alamo defenders. I must admit that something within me is stirred when I think of heroic men standing against hopeless odds in the face of certain death for the principles of liberty and justice.

The question though is this; are these principles of human liberty and justice the ones for which we are called to stand and die as Christians or are we called to proclaim a higher standard of liberty.

Nowhere in scripture are we encouraged or instructed to take up arms for or against any of the kingdoms of this world. Jesus said specifically that his kingdom was not of this world therefore his servants would not fight to prevent him from being persecuted and even crucified by a worldly kingdom.

John 18:36
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.

Paul was a citizen of Rome.

Acts 22:25-28
And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned? When the centurion heard that, he went and told the commander, saying, “Take care what you do, for this man is a Roman.” Then the commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” He said, “Yes.” The commander answered, “With a large sum I obtained this citizenship.” And Paul said, “But I was born a citizen.”

He was imprisoned by Roman authorities on false charges brought by his Jewish adversaries. His rights as a Roman citizen were violated. Yet in all this he never suggested that the answer was to fight in the flesh against the Roman government. Paul did not imply that perhaps it was time to revolt against the wicked leaders of that day. He did not suggest to his followers that they form a political action committee to protest his imprisonment.

In all the persecution endured by the apostles and early church fathers we never see any hint of fighting against human governments and kingdoms.

Too many Christian leaders have falsely equated patriotism with godliness.

Patriotism is not something unique to the United States. Patriotism is common to every nation and culture. It appeals to mans fleshly sense of pride and sectarianism. It causes us as Christians to feel no connection or responsibility to our Christian brothers and sisters in other parts of the world. Patriotism mixed with Christianity makes us think that just because someone is patriotic they are also Godly.

The founding fathers of this nation were great patriots but they were not all Godly men. Benjamin Franklin was an avowed atheist all his life. Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense which was instrumental in stoking the embers of revolution in America. But Paine was a radical Deist who compiled his own list of bible inconsistencies along with his advocacy of Deism in a tract called  The Age of Reason. Thomas Jefferson believed in God but did not accept Jesus as Lord. He did not believe in the virgin birth and created his own version of the bible by editing out all references to miracles. Other founders such as John Adams seem to have had a true relationship with Christ but nevertheless were swayed by the carnal humanistic reasoning of the day.

Today we see the same sort of carnal reasoning among many of our so called Christian leaders. Some, including Chuck Baldwin, have become quit adept at twisting Romans 13 into something other than what it says.

Romans 13:1-2
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.

That seems pretty straight forward doesn’t it. All authority is ordained by God who is sovereign over the affairs of man. If you find yourself under the authority of a tyrannical government it is because God has ordained (or at least allowed) it. Even in these cases we are admonished not to resist the authority lest we bring judgment upon ourselves. This interpretation is entirely consistent with the actions of all the apostles in their dealings with human kingdoms.

But Baldwin and others think they have found a loophole.

Rom 13:3-4
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.

Now we are told that our obedience to authority is applicable only as long as that authority is doing good. And who decides when a government is doing good or doing evil? Why we do of course! With this simple stroke of human reasoning, we rather than God become sovereign over our affairs. By mixing our reasoning with the Word of God we make the Word of none effect.

Was it good that Paul was imprisoned on false charges? By our natural reasoning we would all say no. But God used it to advance His kingdom.

The same applies to all the hardship and persecution endured by the saints. Even when governments are doing that which we see as evil, God can and often does use it for His own purpose. If we do what is right we have no reason to be afraid of authority even when we suffer by it because we know that in our suffering Gods sovereign plan is being carried out.

John 15:20
Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

Now please do not misunderstand me. I have not said that our submission to human authority must be absolute. The whole counsel of God as well as evidence from church history demands that we resist human authority under two conditions.

1.) When any government compels Christians to commit sinful or immoral acts.

2.) When any government prohibits Christians from carrying out the instructions of our Lord such as proclaiming the gospel.

When either of these elements are present we must obey God rather than man. At this time however, with the exception of a few isolated and mostly correctable incidents, our government has forced neither of these conditions upon us.  (More HERE)

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Its all part and parcel of the same package folks, Dominionism. It can go by many names, Political Christianity, Joels Army, etc.. but its the same false teaching, operating by the same spirit — the spirit of antichrist. Even the teachings of  Christian Zionism is part of this ‘whole’.

Its all an attempt to take us away from the true Gospel, the real Christ, and biblical Christianity.