THE KI NG' S BUS I NESS He has so clearly and persistently taught in His Word and emphasized by the life, teachings and death of His Son? German philosophy is as danger ous for the world now as was Canaan- itish idolatry in the days of Joshua and woe be to us and our allies if we stop short of its complete annihilation. As Israel suffered for her failure to act as God’s avengers to the full measure of His desires so will we and the world suffer thru the centuries if we stop in the conflict until God’s appointed task is done. And now you are ready to ask about the non-resistant life and teachings of Jesus. God’s Prince of Peace 1. God sent His Son preaching the gospel of peace and good will. The king dom of God was at hand. John the Baptist proclaimed it. Jesus proclaimed it. He sent His disciples to proclaim it. He announced its laws in the Ser mon on the Mount. He lived in accordance with the laws of that kingdom. But men would not have it so. They refused the kingdom; they crucified the King. They would have none of His laws and despised His life of lowliness and meekness, of gen tleness and forgiveness. From that time the kingdom waits for its establish ment, and we are taught to pray, “ Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.” As followers of Jesus we have in the Gospels our instructions, pattern and guide for individual life in the sinful world. With the most non-resistant thing Jesus said or did Paul was in full accord, in Rom. 12:24-21, as bidding upon the individual Christian in his private life. But as citizens we become a part of God’s instrument for the min istration of righteous judgment against, evil doers whether they act singly, or in mobs, or in organized governments, and must not fail Him when He wishes to use us.
1036 Standeth God, within the shadow, Keeping watch above His own.” • 5. God has ordained governments to execute His vengeance on evil doers, (Rom. 13:1-7). In the twelfth chapter the individual Christian is exhorted to bless those that persecute them, to avenge not themselves, to give food and water to their enemies. “ Vengeance helongeth unto Me. I will recompense, saith the Lord.” Then follows. “ The powers that be are ordained of God.” “ If thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain; for he is a minister of God, an avenger of wrath to him that doeth evil.” Since vengeance helongeth to God He may minister it thru whatsoever agent He may deem wise. Civil Government is here expressly charged with this mis sion of avenging wrath on evil doers. We all recognize the fact that a nation that does not avenge speedily and adequately wrongs of every sort within its own borders has failed of its God-given mission and has no longer any excuse for existence. If a nation be God’s instrument for the ministra tion of justice within its own borders, who will argue that the God of all the nations of the earth may not use one nation to execute His judgments upon another? As citizens of the govern ment we become an integral part of God’s instrument of vengeance on evil doers. We are bound to come to the help of our government in the arresting of individual wrong doers, in the dis persing of mobs or in the upholding of justice and the ministering of judgment as our government may be called upon by the God of, all nations to act on His behalf. Now, has not God called upon our nation to avenge, on His behalf, the deluging of His world with innocent blood; the attempt to fill the world with the philosophy of the survival of the fit test measured by the brutal standard of might; the nullifying of all those prin ciples of justice, mercy and love which
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs