 "Let everyone who is Godly pray to you while you may be found" (Psalm 32:6) Civil Government as God's Sword Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resists the power, resists the ordinance of God... For he is the minister of God to you for good.he bears not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that does evil... (Rom 13:1-5). With diplomacy having proved fruitless, the U.S. is now at war with Saddam Hussein and his wicked regime. Thousands of Islamists across the globe have pledged with Saddam to strike against Americans, Christians and Jews "on the ground, at sea and in the air" as part of a larger Jihad. Anti-war, anti-Bush Americans shamelessly rail against the President as fervently as the French, Iraqis and Islamists. Yet, President Bush and Congress have steadfastly fulfilled the unpopular role Scripture teaches God has given them. --God Ordained Civil Government & Use of The Sword - God anoints civil governors to use the power of the sword to accomplish the righteous purposes. Christians should uphold their leaders and pray that they wield that power with wisdom and success. --Protection - Calvin wrote, "the Lord has designed [government] to provide for the tranquility of the good, and to restrain the waywardness of the wicked; by which two things the safety of mankind is secured: for except the fury of the wicked be resisted, and the innocent be protected from their violence, all things would come to an entire confusion. this is the only remedy by which mankind can be preserved from destruction [if we fail to support government's righteous use of the sword] we avow ourselves as the public enemies of the human race (Calvin's Commentary: Romans 13). --Justice - Earthly authorities are the agents of God's wrath. Even "a wicked prince is the Lord's scourge to punish the sins of the people. [But] the well ordered administration of a commonwealth [will effect] rewards for the good, and punishment for the wicked . [It is by] Divine goodness [that men] are defended by the sword of princes against injuries done by the wicked" (ibid.). --The Sword Must Not Be Born in Vain - "They. are armed with the sword, not for an empty show, but that they may smite evil-doers. whenever he visits the guilty with death, by executing God's vengeance, he obeys His commands. Contend then do they with God who think it unlawful to shed the blood of wicked men. (ibid.)." Ambrose, Aquinas, Calvin taught that for the civil authorities charged with the public safety, ineffective use of the sword was just as wicked as its unrestrained use. Calvin taught that God's wrath could be understood only when it is intermingled with His love, justice and mercy. America's Christian roots, despite our current backslidden condition, have remarkably taught our attitude toward national defense and war. Our philosophy and methodology of precision warfare, kindness toward our enemies, efforts to protect non-combatants, determination to maintain discipline among our troops, etc. may model a Biblical view of warfare more perfectly than any nation in world history. For this we should be deeply thankful! Please Join Us in Ceaseless Prayer: -Heavenly Father, TURN America in REPENTANCE to You (Joel
2:15-20). -ANOINT those You ordained to Protect us at home and abroad.
STOP the terrorist horde & OPEN the Muslim World to the
Gospel. In Jesus' Name, Amen (Gen 45:7; Ps 107:33-42; 121:all;
Mt 24:14).
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