Roger Duke
Feb 272 min read
Roger Duke
Feb 272 min read
February 21 - I Believe in God Ordained Government
Roger Duke
“Then he said to them, ‘Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s’”
Matthew 22: 21
This entry is taken from Daily Readings - John Bunyan a 366 day devotional edited by (and posted with permission from) Roger D. Duke, Scholar-in-Residence at Stage & Story, and published by Christian Heritage Press.
Each month focuses on a different book or writing by Bunyan. For February: My Confession of Faith (or A Confession of My Faith and a Reason of My Practice, or, With Who, and Who Not, I can Hold Church-fellowship, or the Communion of Saints)
I believe that magistracy [the office of magistrate] is God’s ordinance, which he hath appointed for the government of the whole world. And that it is a judgment of God, to be without those ministers of God, which he hath ordained to put wickedness to shame.
Whosoever therefore resisted the power, resisted the ordinance of God; they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation [judgment]. For rulers are not a terror to good works but to evil works. Will you not then be afraid of the power, do that which is good and you shalt have praise of the same. For . . . [the magistrate] is the minister of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he beareth not the sword in vain.[1]
For he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil. Wherefore, you must need to be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience’s sake. For because of this you need to pay tribute also; for they are Gods ministers attending continually unto this very thing. Many are the mercies we receive from a well-qualified magistrate. And if any shall at any time be otherwise inclined, let us shew our Christianity by patient suffering for well doing—that it shall please God.
Footnote:
“Beareth the sword,” according to John McArthur is metaphor for capital punishment.
John Bunyan was a preacher, theologian and author, whose best-known work, The Pilgrim's Progress, has challenged and influenced readers for almost 350 years.
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